Timmy O’s Frozen Custard

:‘c
Come to Jackson Heights, Timmy! Pretty please?

I just called and got the bad news — Timmy shut down his shop. He says that he hopes to open another store in the same area next spring, and to keep an eye on the internet for news.
I will be in mourning for the next week.

Alright, I’m finally giving in and awarding my first five-​star review to Timmy O’s. This shop deserves it — it’s Ooooo Soooo Gooooood!!!
I’ve been making the trek out to Timmy’s — for those of us who don’t live in Queens, it’s a trek — for a couple years, usually 2 – 3 times a year during the summer, most recently as part of my — extended — Jackson Heights food crawl (stop #5!).
Timmy O’s serves frozen custard. I think Unilocaler Jack X. has it a little backwards; the comment should say «if you’re not from the Midwest, you probably haven’t had frozen custard.» Frozen custard is all over the Midwest, most famously at Ted Drewes in St. Louis. Anyway, as many Unilocalers have pointed out, frozen custard is kind of like ice cream, but it contains egg, more butterfat/​cream, and has a much lower air content than regular ice cream (Wikipedia tells me that frozen custard has ~20% extra air, whereas ice cream can have as much as 100%). Long story short, it’s richer and packs so much more flavor into every mouthful than ice cream — it’s awesome.
Timmy O’s frozen custard, in particular, is heavenly. The vanilla is the best I’ve had in my life. So is the chocolate, but I’m usually more of a vanilla person. When you bite into it the flavor resonates so well in your mouth; it’s not overpowering, but it’s enveloping and unmistakable. Timmy uses the same custard base as Shake Shack (they both order it from a farm upstate), but a different kind of vanilla extract. His is better. I just tried some that I have in my freezer — managed to get a pint back to the Upper West Side without a car, now that takes skills!!! — and it’s perfect.
If you’re wondering how I know so much about this, it’s thanks to no one other than the man himself. Timmy is a great person and the reason that this place deserves five stars instead of four. The first time I went he walked my friend and I through the history of the shop, how he gets his ingredients and makes his custard. He even let us add the vanilla into the custard base — it comes in a pouch — and shake it up. Then, he let us taste it as it came fresh out of the machine (literally, the instant it came out of the mouth, while it was still in midair).
In addition to the vanilla and chocolate, I’ve also tried the horchata, orange and pumpkin, and they’re all fantastic. For the quality and quantity of the product you get, his prices are ridiculous. I usually go for a small — I’m a lactard — which I think is around $ 3, and I can’t believe how much I get for it, plus sprinkles.
Earlier on my food crawl I spotted a sign in a restaurant window — somewhere in the 80s between Roosevelt Ave. and Northern Blvd. — that they were serving Timmy’s vanilla and chocolate. I can only hope he expands, either through more locations or distribution, in order to bring this treat to more places. The Lemon Ice King is the big neighborhood draw, but Timmy O’s really puts it to shame.
I really want to try one of his frozen custard cakes. Who’s coming with me?!

For those who arent from NYC, they probably havent had frozen custard…
it is similar to soft serve ice cream in texture but much richer and contains egg in it. It is much richer than soft serve and gelato.
The custard here is delicious and they rotate their menu around so they have a different flavour going daily.
The store itself is small but clean and the owners and workers are extremely friendly. They are readily willing to talk about custard and explain the differences to you if you dont know what it is.
Other details:
1. Delicious
2. Cheap
3. Different desert

Timmy O’s Frozen Custard is a fairly new discovery for me, and I’m glad I found it! The first time I walked in there, Timmy was very helpful in advising me on which dessert to pick out. He explained the differences between ice cream and frozen custard and was extremely patient with me and my coworker.
I wound up going for a smoothie and he was even nice enough to tell me exactly what ingredients he used for it!
Timmy O’s is definitely on my to-​go-​to list whenever I’m in Corona (which is very often!).

Timmy O’s was probably serving Frozen Custard before Shake Shack started serving them.
After a satisfying meal of tacos and beating the crap out of a piñata, we stopped by for something cold. It rained that day and we were just looking for some shelter but lucky thing Timmy O’s was just round the corner.
I got a small size, it’s not listed on the menu but you can ask for it and Timmy O won’t object.
I had the Orange Pineapple Custard. It was the special that day. It reminded me of an Orange Creamsicle. Deliciously refreshing and it hit the spot. After I finished it, I was full. Custard is much thicker and filling than regular ice cream.
The only odd thing here is that they serve food. It looked like an ice cream bar to me. They even have slush puppies, remember those?!

I turn to Led Zeppelin’s «D’Yer Mak’er» with an important one word substition for inspiration when trying to best describe Timmy O’s:
Timmy Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You just have to go oh oh oh oh oh
Yes, folks, it really is that good.
After 5+ hours at the US Open watching the Warinka-​Querrey duel and an always delicious dinner at Nixtamal, the final leg in my birthday trifecta was to find, identify and consume mass quantities of Timmy O’s custard.
Making a left from Nixtamal onto 104^th, we proceeded past a church where I quietly apologized to my body mass index for what I was about to ingest.
I immediately spotted the god of frozen custard on the steps of his business. Timmy was a pleasure to speak with as he gave my wife and I samples of his flavors and chatted about the business.
There are many reasons to visit Corona and the surrounding area– Timmy O’s is definitely a welcome addition. The man has passion for frozen custard and is effectively a one man shop. We talked about other locations in QNS and Brooklyn for his shop. Apparently his product is also available at M. Wells in LIC. It’d be great if one day his frozen custard was for sale at the US Open.
But I digress… I opted for a medium bowl of two scoops– one chocolate, one vanilla. He uses fresh ingredients, as I discovered when tasting banana flavor that. actually tasted like banana, real banana and not the kind of syrupy substitute passed off as banana.
Yet I opted for tradition and was not at all disappointed. A rich, creamy taste overwhelmed my buds– this was no ordinary iced cream and was something completely different. All I knew was that I liked it, wanted more and was selfishly happy this was not a franchise for then calories would have to be posted.
Timmy O’s is well worth a visit. In fact, I implore the Unilocal community to visit so this amiable man and shop become a fixture in the Corona community for years to come.

There’s not too much I can add that other reviewers haven’t said. It is the best frozen custard ever and one of my all-​time favorite desserts.
I heard about this place and on the same day I forced my boyfriend to drive us to Corona — he wasn’t too happy about it. However, once he tried the amazing wonderfulness that is Timmy O’s frozen custard, all of the grumbling was forgotten and he was a very happy camper.
The only bad side is that, as many others have mentioned, the location totally stinks. I’d love it if Timmy O moved somewhere else — preferably Long Island City, right next to my apartment building.
Next time I go I plan on having my custard in the store at one of the bar stools so I can chat with Timmy because he is awesome!

5 stars easy for being the best custard in New York City! It is going to be in the 90’s all week so make it out here to Corona! This is one of the last weeks of the year that it will be so hot! Take advantage of the heat enjoy some custard!
Timmy O’s put’s Shake Shack to shame!
But, I am worried that it might not last due to the location. We encouraged him to open up a new location and gave him some ideas of other locations in Queens and Brooklyn.
I have had a lot of frozen custard around the country. Most of the frozen custard I have had is flavorless or close to flavorless because the emphasis is usually on the texture. But Timmy’s has flavor and texture. He explained that most places that serve custard order it with the flavor. He adds the flavor himself. My husband had banana flavored custard which is by far the best we have had and he used fresh bananas to make it. I had a custard slushie. They were both superior and delicious!
The slushie wasn’t overly sweet as slushie’s can be. It has a sophisticated taste.
Timmy himself as everyone has pointed out is really friendly and he has a passion for his custard. We talked about Ted Drewe’s frozen custard in St. Louis that he went to while in frozen dessert school, he knows his custard!
We had to walk 6 miles afterwards though to walk off the calories!

Thanks to Mr Jeff O, I finally got to try this place as part of his Jackson Heights Food Crawl! It’s been on my Unilocal bookmarks for a while now. I just never had a chance to make it over there… but I’m GLAD that I did! This place has the best homemade custards (which is really just ice cream like dessert but made with more eggs).
In my opinion, the store is in a terrible location. I personally never head over in that direction except to have some Italian Ice at the famous Lemon Ice King (
).
Upon entering the store, we’re greeted with a really nice man named Timmy. Giant but a gentle man. I love going to small businesses, especially because I grew up in my parents’ small business… but I also know that his own heart & soul is into the business. I love seeing the passion in his eyes.
Onto the custard, there are really a few flavors that he specializes in (Vanilla, Chocolate, and a Flavor of the Day). All of which are made fresh. After trying a few samples, I settled for just the classic vanilla. Plain Jane = me! The vanilla custard is really smooth. PURE PERFECTION!
If you haven’t already, head over to Corona for some really really really really good custard. You won’t regret it!
Madagascar Vanilla Custard —
Menu —
Frozen Custard Cakes are better than Ice Cream Cakes

I love when I discover new delicious finds in Queens and this is definitely on of them. I mean… frozen custard… helllllooo!
I had the flavor of the day which was banana and I did a back flip when I put the spoon in my mouth. I mean, truth be told… I love a frozen dessert but the frozen custard is quite good. They have a wide selection too (cups, cones, shakes, sundaes, banana splits, slushies, floats, etc.)
Timmy O was really friendly and encouraged my friends an I to spread the word (which I did). Just a great staff and it makes you want to come back again and again.
Highly recommended — It’s hot out, go get frozen custard!

Timmy’s a big, affable man and his creamy, frozen custards are just as bold in flavor and inviting in taste and value.
My friend Jeff O., the mastermind behind the 2010 Roosevelt Ave Taco Cart Crawl, decided we cap off our ceviche/​LENGUA taco/​fritada eating excursion (yes! I had cow tongue for the first time IN MY LIFE and it was delicious~!!!), with some frozen custard at Timmy’s.
I shared a small double-​scoop cup with a friend and had their flavor of the day (Mocha) and Vanilla. The consistency of the custard here is velvet. It’s rich, it’s thick, and very much egg-​based. He and I, along with other members of the taco tour, enjoyed this decadent dessert, and though their flavors are limited, I found comfort in knowing that what I got was all natural and free of preservatives. Without pause, I’d go for any one of Timmy O’s 3 or 4 flavors over the heaping pile of 31 selections offered at a Baskin Robbins anytime.
Best part of my experience is that Timmy graciously gave me some soaked hand towels to wash away the stickiness on my fingers. That is customer service. I’ll never forget this man’s kindness. With that said, I want to go back and try… maybe not a custard this time, but a peanut butter sundae!

*6^th Stop on Jeff O’s 2010 Roosevelt Avenue Food Crawl*
What a delightful find! The frozen custard here is really quite good. I lived in Virginia near the very famous Carl’s in Fredericksburg, a place that garnered lines down the block and then some. While I enjoyed their custard very much, I found the custard here to be even better. And regardless of how you like your custard, you will be able to order it here. They have cups, cones, shakes, sundaes, concretes, banana splits, slushies, floats, and take out pints — a most impressive selection.
I opted for a regular-​sized vanilla custard sundae ($ 5) with hot fudge, fudge brownie, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. This was so good! I was impressed with just how much custard there was. I had a lot of difficulty finishing it, and I know I would never have been able to make it through the large size offered at a dollar more. I truly think there must have been a pint of ice cream in my cup. Beyond the delicious custard, I really liked each of the add-​ins.
Timmy himself was especially friendly and supremely adept at handling our very large crowd. In no time at all, everyone had what they wanted. Silence fell over the establishment as we were busily eating away at the sweet delights. Timmy was pretty good at chatting everyone up and was gracious enough to offer up the employee bathroom for one of the girls in our group without even a moment of hesitation. Just a great down-​to-​earth guy whose business you really want to patronize again and again. An ideal business. I wish there were more places like this around — the world would be a better place. Highly recommend.

I signed up for a Unilocal account just so I could write a review about this place. Seriously.
For those of you who favor your frozen, 12 month «shelf» life scoops from the ice cream conglomerates, take note. You won’t find what you’re looking for here. But, if you’re a total food snob like me and you’re looking for the creamiest, most decadent, satisfying, home-​made dairy treat, this is the place to be. Timmy only uses fresh ingredients and he whips up his flavors daily. No stuff served up from a 5 gallon drums that was frozen for Gosh-​Knows-​How-​Long hauled in a truck from a warehouse in Who-​Knows-​Where.
Now, frozen custard is its own breed of frozen deliciousness. It is thick, with a substantial texture that hangs around on your tongue a little longer than the standard frozen fare. It has a higher egg content, so it is much richer, and thusly much more satisfying. Think Mr. Softee with a little pudding added and blended to perfection.
My favorite treat is the concrete mixed with cookie dough and pecans, topped off with a cloud of whipped cream and some colored sprinkles for show.
My only complaint is that Timmy doesn’t have any other locations, and this one is a bit of a beast to travel to. With that said, it’s worth the trek.

Believe the hype. The frozen custard is good!
Timmy O’s explained that the secret is in the eggs. Ice cream is whimpy because it skimps on eggs (protein deficient) and relies on air and cream for a creamy texture. Frozen custard is the opposite, using eggs as the emulsifier and little air. The end product is thicker, creamier and smoother. I had the chocolate variety as well as the flavor of the day — way better than any dark chocolate gelato fancypants ice cream concoction that Ciao Bella or Laboratorio del Gelato could produce.
Eggs, people, eggs.
Timmy O’s also has a great utilitarian vibe going on. The place is tiny and simple. The owners feel like friendly Midwesterners. The flavors come in three varieties: chocolate (with Belgian cocoa), vanilla (with Madagascar vanilla beans), and flavor of the day. None of this fancy stuff. The custard speaks for itself.
I’ve been feeling quite a bit of Queens pride lately, and I am glad Timmy O’s has become a frozen treats force in the borough.

This review is for Fan #95
Timmy loves his custard. Over a year ago, he was layed off and had his ‘Fuck it’ moment. Going back on his St. Louis culinary training, he opened up his own custard shop in Corona. We in Queens, are very fortunate Timmy did so.
His custard is sooo good. Custard is basically ice cream, but with egg in there. something like that. It’s awesome. I had a root beer float. I love how the lady asked me to grab my own A&W from the fridge. There’s something about that…
Tortilleria Nixtamal and Timmy O’s should for now on be a ‘thing’ — as they are only a couple of blocks from the other and both made by passionate people who are working class artists. Timmy is knowledgeable and nice as anything. For a man who sounds and looks like he should be driving a big rig, it’s special to hear him talk about the differences of ice cream and custard the way it melts over your tongue and your mouth savors it. He is definitely someone who loves his work.
Here’s what’s becoming apparent to me lately. This is a bar! There are seats just like an old soda shop, you sit there and chat with the bartender. Timmy is a jovial guy and you can talk to him about nearly anything. Timmy O’s is a proper name for a bar too.
With Timmy O’s, Nixtamal, and Leo Latticini’s so close, this block is something special. I bet I could throw a baseball to each from each other… and I played left out most of my short career. Corona!

Timmy O’s makes an ice cream cake (sans ice cream and sans cake) better than Carvel! The frozen custard holds up better than ice cream and Timmy O’s decorate their cakes quite nicely. Rumor has it that they even make a horchata flavored frozen custard. Way to go Timmy!

Old school lunchonette in Corona with the owner serving lunch counter faves and custard on the cheap. Specials like a burger, fries, and soda for $ 5. Same special with a frank also for $ 5. I was there for the custard post Tortilleria Nixtamal. Custard of the day was blueberry pie, with chocolate and orange being mainstays. Timmy O. attended the Frozen Dessert Institute of America where he honed his craft. Custards are creamy and smooth and orange tastes like an old-​fashioned creamsicle. Prices are very reasonable in this part of Queens.

Frozen custard is essentially ice cream, with eggs and butterfat added in. It’s the egg yolks and butterfat that make the final product so much thicker, creamier and smoother in both taste and consistency.
They serve vanilla and chocolate, and one or two «Flavors of The Day». When I went, they were chocolate chocolate chip and blueberry pie. I opted for a regular size serving of the blueberry pie. It was vanilla based with large chunks of actual pie crust with lots of berries mixed in. It was very similar to soft serve, except that is was just so much better. It’s the perfectly smooth consistency that makes it taste so much more rich and luxurious than plain old ice cream. It didn’t even need any toppings, although they had a lengthy list of them for anybody who’s into that.
Timmy O’s is a hidden gem in Corona. One that I never knew existed. How long has it been in business, and why didn’t I find it sooner? Timmy O himself is always in the store. At first glance, he may look like an intimidating figure, but I think he’s just a big frozen custard loving teddy bear. He makes you feel very welcomed, offers samples and is passionate about his product. I like that, and I like Timmy O’s.

Tommy O is awesome. The owner AND the place. He taught us the difference between custard, gelato and ice cream while I perused through the menu. They serve pizza, empanadas, fries, and hot dogs! I had the special of the day which was dulce de leche. So creamy and smooth.
Frozen custard makes me giddy. And yes, I did say that out loud in public in front of people I just met for the first time.