Baskin-Robbins: A Favorite Ice Cream Store
Written: Apr 25 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Wonderful ice cream; great waffle cones
Cons: Price can be a factor
The Bottom Line: Baskin-Robbins is not just ice cream; it is family time, too.
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| beckish's Full Review: Baskin Robbins |
When I was growing up, going to Baskin-Robbins for ice cream was a real treat. It was only on special occasions that we got to go there, and every trip was magical. When I became an adult, the mysticism faded ever-so-slightly, but once I had children it came back full force.
Why that happened escapes my understanding. Perhaps it was because my mother-in-law at the time owned a combination flower shop/ice cream shop and I was surrounded by yummy ice cream during most of my leisure time. And perhaps when she closed the ice cream shop I felt deprived. At this point I don't know the exact reason; I only know that we started going to Baskin-Robbins on a regular basis for a fun family activity and treat combined.
What I Like
Variety
First of all, my main focus would have to be the variety. Baskin-Robbins bills themselves as having 31 flavors, and I always enjoy looking at the different flavors when we go. My favorite will always be licorice, however, even though my tongue ends up black every time I order it. :-) I did find out some interesting things about this store that I would like to share. The reason for the 31 flavors is: one for every day of the month. And they actually have over 1000 flavors; they rotate them which is why your favorite new flavor might not be available every time you go.
I have tried other kinds, of course. And I have found several I enjoy but I always end up going back to my favorites; licorice of course, as well as double chocolate almond and good old fashioned vanilla.
Another variety factor is the way you can order your ice cream. When my children were very small, we would generally go with one scoop of ice cream in a dish. As they got older, cones were the venue of choice. And I absolutely love Baskin-Robbins waffle cones.
If you are not in the mood for plain ice cream, you can always choose a specialty dessert. My favorite in this arena has always been the brownie cake delight. Yum!
Cleanliness
I have never gone into a Baskin-Robbins and been displeased with the cleanliness of the seating or the serving areas. I tend to think that this restaurant puts a lot of focus on cleanliness and emphasizes this with the employees, because it is rare indeed to have never had a bad experience with cleanliness in a restaurant. In fact, I can't even remember seeing a table that needed to be cleaned in a Baskin-Robbins.
Staff
Most of the employees at the Baskin-Robbins we go to are young, teenagers working at after-school jobs. Still, I have always been pleased with the friendliness and helpfulness of the employees. They might be young for the most part, but they are well-trained in the area of customer service and it shows in the way they treat the customer. Maybe working in an ice cream store is just incredibly low-stress; but whatever the reason, I can find absolutely no fault with any of the staff I have encountered on our many trips to Baskin-Robbins.
Birthday Club
Baskin-Robbins has a birthday club for kids. It is easy to join; simply fill out a card for the child. And when their birthday comes up, a card will arrive in the mail for a free ice cream. The kids used to love getting these! Now I only have one child who qualifies ( I believe the maximum age is 12) but the older kids have many fond memories of their birthday ice cream from Baskin-Robbins.
Negatives
Cost
Granted, all prices tend to go up; but I think the cost of a single scoop ice cream cone is a bit excessive at this point. Maybe I am behind the times, but I remember when one scoop of ice cream cost around fifty cents. (And that was not all that long ago!) Nowadays, however, one scoop of ice cream at Baskin-Robbins will cost you around $1.25.
Ice Cream Cakes
Okay, they look spectacular when you view them in the display case. And yes, they taste quite good. Not as good as other ice cream cakes, however, and the price is not even close to worth what you get product-wise in my opinion.
Final Thoughts
I consider going to Baskin-Robbins more than just time for a treat; it is family time. When we go we always sit at a table and enjoy our ice cream. It is a fun time for all, and tasty too. The kids look forward to these trips, as do I.
I highly recommend Baskin-Robbins for ice cream and desserts in general, with the exception of the ice cream cakes. And hey; ice cream is healthy! It has calcium in it. :-)
Enjoy!
Recommended:
Yes
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