Birdsall Ice Cream

Was visiting for an interview and was told to go here. It was delicious. I had the fudge sundae and butter brickle. Both were sooo good. They make the icecream at this store. Very unique taste. no commercialized taste like cold stone, 31, etc.

This is THE local hot-​spot for your ice cream desires. Not a fan of ice cream, so I opt for a slushy during my visit. Delicious! My mother gets a chocolate sundae every time. Whatever you do — don’t touch under the counter top! Your hand may stick to the layers of gum.

Been a favorite stop since I was a child. They have the best homemade peach ice cream around. Also love the frosty malts.

There’s a reason why this place has been around since the 1930’s, scooping up some of the best ice cream in the states. Get a marshmallow shake with extra marshmallow. You can thank me later.

I have family in Mason City, and every time I come here, I have Birdsall’s. I should also say that I come here a lot. :D

This place is AMAZING!!! Great ice cream and run by a great family. Next time I’m back in Iowa I am making a trip to Mason City to get some great ice cream. If you are looking for some great Iowa ice cream, go to Birdsall Ice Cream!

This place is so legit it’s not even funny! It defines the type of spot you should be getting your creamed nourishment.
It’s a spot that’s straight out of the 50’s and they do a good job keeping in that way. The ice cream continues to be served up in drums and they make it in house. The malts are spectacular and the fudge is superb.
We’ve been by a couple time and our observations in addition to what’s been mentioned:
— The Vanilla here is the best we’ve ever tasted
— The banana fudge is made with real bananas
— The place has been owned by the same family for more than 50 years
We had a lovely talk with the owner who is genuinely excited about the service he provides and passionate the iced goodness he makes. This should be on anyone’s must try list if you’re in the area, or if you just love ice cream!

The best thing about small towns is that they always have their own little quaint ice cream shop that all the locals suggest you go to, and this place is it!
The shop is very clean and has quite the eclectic feeling like you teleported to the 1940s and found the cool ice cream shop you just had to stop by. And you do, you have to stop here!
My boyfriend is a butterscotch fiend and this places does all sorts of delicious things with their butterscotch ice cream. He loves their butterscotch malt milkshakes. I personally love any sort of ice cream with caramel so I chose a scoop of caramel swirl ice cream in a waffle cone. My only complaint is that their waffle cones are more like sugar cones in waffle form, which wasn’t too bad, I would have just preferred the waffle taste instead of the sugar.
So if you’re in the town of Mason City then stop in for a scoop or two! You won’t be disappointed.

Stopped on a whim and had a sundae. Ice cream was good; not outstanding. I would definitely have it again next time I’m in town. Super clean store and reasonable prices for pretty high quality ice cream. Support your local restaurants — they’re a disappearing treasure!

Great ice cream and a cute old-​fashioned atmosphere, but they do not take credit cards, only cash or checks, which was inconvenient.

This place is a Christmas tradition for my family. I visit Mason City every other Christmas, and there is a lot of charm to the place. For instance, it is constantly snowing here, so whenever you drive you hear that weird humming sound that tires make on new-​fallen snow. The air is so cold that if Bear Grylls himself had to survive outside for a night, he wouldn’t. He’d die. However, the people of Mason City are so warm and friendly that it is happy and joyful to be in their company.
The love and companionship are so heart-​warming that sometimes you might even need to cool down. That’s why we go to Birdsall’s every Christmas, despite it being an Armageddon of snow outside, because our family loves each other so much that we’ll die if we can’t cool-​down the heart-​warming.
Birdsall’s itself is a throw-​back to old fashioned ice cream, mainly because it was established in the long ago of yester-​year. They make their ice creams and serve them up good and proper. They are so good that they ruin ice cream for me for the rest of the year, when I have to go back to not Mason City and live my life.
I recommend everything here. I have yet to have a bad experience, and I go about 3 times a year (I sneak back sometimes when the family is busy).

There is nothing like Birdsalls! The ice cream is wonderful but the hot fudge is even better!

It’s ice cream! How could you go wrong?
The history and fact that’s it’s locally owned makes it even better!

A time-​capsule that doubles as an ice cream parlor. It looks as if this place hasn’t changed since the 1950s. Ice cream is made on premises.
I enjoy ice cream very infrequently, as it doesn’t hold the mystical spell over me that it does my spouse. Being impervious to it’s charms, I found the Dutch Apple with large real chunks of apple contained within to be remarkable and the most pleasurable cone in recent memory. Independent. Family owned and operated. Great products and a history that contributes to the sense of community in Mason City. Very special indeed.

Is there a button to push on Unilocal for 6 stars? How about 10???
The place never changes — incredible ice cream, hospitality, and service. There aren’t many things that can live up to the nostalgic memories we all have of our youth, but Birdsall’s does. I take that back — Birdsall’s exceeds that; as I’ve grown, moved, and traveled when I am able to get back to Mason City I find that their ice cream is in fact world-​class. Birdsalls uses the same ice cream recipes they used in 1931; their love and passion for what they do makes for an experience you can only have in Mason City, and those of us fortunate enough to have grown up here cherish…

Cute little ice cream shop in lovely Mason City. In laws are down the road in Hampton and have been going to Birdsall’s for over 40 years. Scrumptious ice cream and a marshmallow shake made with marshmallow cream — I can’t find it anywhere else. That thing was fabulous. Birdsall’s gets five stars for terrific, long-​standing service in the community and for all the memories it holds with my husband and his side of the family.

Classic ice cream parlor, and the place to go for ice cream in northern Iowa. Interior unchanged from the 1950’s with long counter near street and nifty curved counter with swivel stool seating in the back. The owners have traditionally employed charming high school girls who work quickly to deliver your order with perfection. I generally order the hot fudge sundae, but the various ice cream flavors are always tasty and tempting. Basically anything you order here will be outstanding. The place to go on a hot summer evening for sure.

I went here over the Independence Day holiday thanks to a family tradition. The ice cream is very cheap compared to most companies, such as Marble Slab. The ice cream isn’t extremely creamy and reminds me of Blue Bell ice cream in Texas.
The company does make their own ice cream, so that’s a plus.