Graeter’s Ice Cream

Your typical ice cream shop with tasty homemade ice cream. Really enjoyed my black raspberry.

I discovered Graeter’s Ice Cream on the menu at Mesh on Mass a few years ago and that’s when the waiter told me that they were carrying it at Kroger’s. When I heard Graeter’s was opening a shoppe in Broad Ripple, I had to make plans to stop in.
So glad I did. The Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip is my favorite. I only wish I lived closer so that I could try more flavors more often!

I’ve been in twice so I thought I should give it a review. I loved the ice cream – great selection of flavors, rich and creamy. Both times I was in there, the floor was simultaneously dirty and smelled very strongly of some sort of harsh pine scented cleaner. It was so strong that I can’t imagine wanting to actually eat ice cream inside the shop – can’t taste ice cream while smelling nasty chemicals. I would have thought it was just a fluke that one time if it hadn’t been just as bad the second time. My advice? Get the ice cream and eat it outside where you can taste it without tasting pine sol!

Well, this is tied for my favorite ice cream place in Indianapolis (Handels has been my favorite up until this point). Before choosing the black raspberry chocolate chip, I sampled the caramel ice cream and salted caramel gelato. Both were amazing. I prefer ice cream over gelato because I like it to have more of a bite, rather than be close to soft serve. The portion for 1 scoop was enormous. I’ll be back over and over again!

Décor was boring; Not the cleanest and Their set up for the cash registers were kind of confusing.
But overall the workers were nice and the ice cream was good.

Oh goodness. As a cinci native and a former (although it brief) employee, greaters has a very sweet place in my heart. I was thrilled to learn it was coming to Indy… and my waistband was not when I saw it was just a few blocks away
I will say, greaters is by far my favorite ice cream in the entire universe. I’m still convinced that there is a magic ingredient that makes this so. I have tried every flavor and below are my absolute faves.
In addition, this location stole my heart when an employee was making my free Sundae (you get one on your birthday if you are part of the rewards club!) and I told him I was a former employee, he proceeded to ask me if I wanted some extra toppings. Ah! As if the ice cream wasn’t enough to keep me coming back!
Faves: Black raspberry chip
Salted caramel
Chocolate chip cookie dough
*the dark chocolate gelato is good if you MUST watch your calories
Tip: scoops are HUGE. Order a «child’s scoop» for a more reasonable portion size

I knew very little about Graeter’s Ice Cream before tonight’s visit to their location at 56^th & Illinois in the Butler-​Tarkington neighborhood. Oh sure, I’d heard of Graeter’s and several of my friends swear by the place.
You know an ice cream parlor is a bit of a sensation when it offers both ground and next-​day air shipping options. Graeter’s is a growing Midwestern-​based chain with locations in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana (3), and Kentucky. Despite having been around in various ways since 1870, Graeter’s is fairly new to the Central Indiana market. As is fairly well known, they offer up what tastes like truly gourmet ice cream at non-​gourmet prices. Still a family-​owned business and now in its fourth generation of being so, Graeter’s uses what is called the French pot process and are the only commercial manufacturer in the world to do so. They make ice cream in two-​gallon batches.
Let that sink in for a minute — two-​gallon batches for a multi-​location chain. Amazing.
This location has two entries with the main door having a nicely done wheelchair ramp leading to it and a fairly easy to maneuver glass door. As has been noted, the décor is similar to that of a 50’s style ice cream parlor with less emphasis on neon and more on the warmth that is fairly common in this neighborhood. Despite the fact it’s in the low 50’s and raining in Indy, the place had a decent crowd of mostly small families and a few others. The ordering counter is obvious and tonight was staffed with two people, both of whom were friendly and helpful. Options include the usual ice cream parlor fare with some deviations including ice cream, gelato, shakes, sundaes, and low glycemic ice cream. They also have candies and some other options, though I find it kind of refreshing that they don’t so completely flood their menu with options that you can’t make up your mind. They have a Sweet Rewards program that is free to join and, not surprisingly, they have pints and other things you can get to go.
For just over $ 3, I ordered a single scoop of double-​chocolate chip in a cup. Quite honestly, I was amazed at the generosity of the serving and from the first bite to the last it was impeccable ice cream. I’m not even sure that ice cream can be impeccable, but I’m absolutely positive this was impeccable. The chocolate was smooth and mixed beautifully, the chocolate chips were generous and satisfying. As an occasionally spastic paraplegic, I can occasionally struggle with ice cream — especially as it melts. There was no such problem here as the ice cream stayed consistent and was an absolute delight.
The dining area is modestly sized — I wouldn’t call it small, but it’s certainly not a big space. Several small tables are situated in the area and it’s a very communal arrangement that still allows for some privacy.
I am torn between the 4 – 5 star range. The ice cream definitely has become an instant favorite of mine and I’m already contemplating my next visit. This may sound insensitive, but I was somewhat taken aback by an intrusion into the experience by a deaf person who was walking around the store soliciting donations — I’ve seen this person around Indy and while I’m sensitive to his plight, especially being a paraplegic/​amputee myself, I’m not a fan of this type of intrusive behavior and was dismayed that this could and did occur without being stopped by an employee. While the ice cream’s affordable, though some prices do go higher, it just added a layer of awkwardness that made the experience less enjoyable.
So, for now, I’m sticking with a 4-​star rating and acknowledging that in the end Graeter’s may very well snag that fifth star.

Graeter’s has a unique taste to ice cream that is unmatched by others. This particular location does not have the best parking or a lot of space inside, but it was nice to see a Graeter’s location in Indianapolis. They still offered treats for sale inside. And this location also offered low-​glycemic ice cream.

Having family in Ohio I knew about Grater’s and mourned the fact it wasn’t close enough to me. Then the food gods blessed me and a Graeter’s opened in Indianapolis. Sweet victory. The physical store is nothing special, but it has indoor and outdoor seating which makes ice cream a year round treat in the unpredictable Indiana weather. Best part of Graeter’s ice cream is the chocolate chips. They are like a chip/​sliver off of a giant chocolate glacier. YUM! You must get a flavor with chocolate chips to uncover these sweet surprises. Every chip is unique but equally delicious. Graeter’s most famous flavor is Black Raspberry Chip. I’m not the biggest fan solely because fruit flavored Ice cream seems like an oxymoron to me. But if ice cream was meant to resemble fruit, Black Raspberry Chip would be my first choice.

It’s Spring and my body is craving ice cream! Went to Greater’s and we got there just in time… Right before the long lines hit. Apparently, everyone else in the city was thinking about ice cream also. Anyhow, we had a great time. I got sorbet and it was wonderful… A little on the sweet size but pretty good. I got the small and wish I would have gotten the kids size, it was still more than what I was wanting.
There was a new guy working and he seemed like he was still learning the ropes… He gave me and my husband heaping cups of ice cream but in another friends cup the ice cream was barely coming up to the rim of the cup. So it wasn’t very consistent.
Other than that, we had good service and good ice cream!

Graeter’s ice cream is okay, especially if you like chewing on giant pieces of fudge. The portion sizes are also large; I’ve been unable to finish the single scoop version, especially when served in a paper bowl. I prefer the black raspberry chip of the flavors I’ve tried (i.e. bourbon pecan, mint chip, and mocha chip).
Why 3-​stars?
— Graeter’s ice cream flavor is not amazing to me and weirdly tastes better in the store-​bought pints rather than at this actual location.
— On both visits, the tables and floors were fairly dirty and sticky (although the store was busy each time).
— Again, on both visits, the place smelled vaguely like bleach-​combined-​with-​bathroom (or «antiseptic») when we entered, instead of freshly cooked ice cream cones or other expected scents. It was a bit off-​putting.
— This location was missing a bit of the charm and old-​school feel found at the downtown Cincinnati location.
I wouldn’t avoid Graeter’s, but would be more likely to buy its ice cream pints from local grocery and spend my ice cream shop dollars at BRICs or Lick.

It was an absolute wonder to find out that this location was opening when it did. I had grown up closer to Cincinnati, its home location, so when I moved to Indy, it was sad to have to say goodbye to Graeter’s.
This is probably one of my favorite ice cream locations in the city. Yes, it’s a bit pricy, but you get what you pay for. It’s absolutely delicious, with a variety of options and flavors.
Oddly enough, I crave ice cream a lot more in the winter time than in the summer, so I’m glad that they’re still open. This location is perfect to match the attitude and atmosphere of the 56^th and Illinois neighborhood. Parking is a bit limited but there’s always street parking.
If you’ve never had it, it’s a must try!

There’s good ice cream and there’s Graet (er’s) ice cream. Once you go Graeter’s you don’t go back. At least that’s what I always say.
The ice cream is leaps & bounds better than any I’ve ever had. Although the physical store itself could be made a little cozier, I have to rate the place five stars because they serve a truly five-​star product.
They’ll let you sample any flavor, so definitely so that. You MUST order a flavor with chocolate chips in it. They are known for their massive and incredible-​melt-​in-​your-​mouth chocolate chips. You never know how big of a piece you’ll find in your ice cream.
Famous flavor: Black Raspberry Chip
I’m not into fruit ice cream because I’m a big believer in peanut butter and chocolate always. However, this will rock your world and change your mind. Do it.

I’ve really enjoyed eating Graeter’s ice cream at restaurants around town that feature it on their dessert menus, and have picked up some pints at the grocery stores that carry it, but somehow hadn’t made it into the shop until now!
This is high-​quality, meaning, super-​high butterfat, decadent ice cream! It is so rich that one of their very generous scoops is plenty for an average person! I had the black raspberry chip and the real raspberry flavor with chunks of high-​quality dark chocolate was amazing! Definitely worth the cost! It’s not as if this is an every-​day treat anyway right?
The cakes in the freezer were calling to me… I’m thinking they’d serve at least 12, maybe more… so the price comes out to just a little over $ 2 a slice… way cheaper than a restaurant dessert. I must remember this the next time I need an interesting dessert for a get together and don’t feel like making something myself!
There was a big line at 8PM on a Saturday night, but it moved nicely and was worth the wait! There was also a ton of parking available on Illinois, so we didn’t need to resort to the CVS lot!

If I were a slightly less practical person I’d consider packing up everything I own and moving to Broad Ripple… just to make it a shorter trip to Graeter’s. We don’t make it here as often as I’d like, but we still manage to get there often enough to remember why we love it.
The inside of the place is fairly large with a good amount of seating. They also have a bunch of local art on the wall for purchase, which is a nice touch. We’ve always had great service and, even on a busy night, there are a good number of workers and they manage to get through the line pretty quickly. There’s also a few patio tables outside and we’ve often seen people out there with their dogs. Now, the ice cream itself… wow. It’s all quite good but their Black Cherry Chocolate Chip is definitely my favorite. The hand-​scooped goodness in a waffle cone makes for the perfect summer night treat. And now I have to stop writing this review… the drool pouring from my mouth at the thought of Graeter’s is in danger of ruining my keyboard.

Great stop for ice cream and to sit outside and watch the traffic and people go by. If you like chocolate you are going to love this place. Their flavors with chocolate have HUGE rich chunks of chocolate. A single scoop of chocolate peanut butter was so so rich and delicious! Definately made a mental note to stop back here!

When I was a kid, I loved when we’d go to Cincinnati and stop at Graeters. I’ve since learned that Cincy has an even better ice cream shop, Aglamesis, but Graeters is still, forgive the pun, great.
They have a spectacular technique for making «chocolate chip». They swirl in large amounts of soft chocolate, but amazingly, it doesn’t get hard. This results in really good mint chocolate ‘chip’ (a personal favorite), and also their awesome raspberry chip.
The only problem with this location is that parking is a little hard.

Best ice cream in town. I had the chocolate, almond, coconut ice cream and highly recommend it. They have a great selection of flavors as well as sundaes, Malts, shakes, cakes, etc. There is no drive through – but there is a nice patio out front with umbrellas for covered seating.

Yes. Yes.
And here’s why:
–I’m obsessed with the fact that they hand pack all of their ice cream and use a small batch approach to making each flavor
–very friendly service at this location
–I know everyone is all about the black raspberry with chocolate chips ice cream, but I had to go for the dark cherry and chocolate ice cream (AMAZING). Still thinking about 48 hours later
–for next time: they make fountain sodas — better yet, they have my favorite flavor: lemon!

What’s not to love with iced cream? This place is delish. I can be here everyday as their selection is oh so good.
Prepare to park on the side streets. The place is hard to miss.
Their iced cream is deliciously thick and hand packed. You’ll be lost in their toppings and their sundaes are awesome. Each time I come here, I always get two scoops of sundae on a waffle bowl and I also get a milkshake to go. So sinfully delicious!