Johnny V.
Yelp
I freaking love banana split! True, part of the reason I love this place so much is that I've been going since I was a child, but it's actually a very small part. I don't go to banana split just for the sense of nostalgia, I go there because it's really good. Even when I had to drive a bit I would make the trek, and let me tell you why: the ice cream (I know that seems obvious). The closest thing to their ice cream is Dairy Queen; it's just as smooth as Dairy Queen, but even heavier and creamier. They've got many different ice-cream creations--though I'd be lying if I said that I've tried them--but I go with just a few:
a cone with vanilla ice cream and their 'crunch' (an awesome mixture of sprinkles and something else that's very tasty)
the eponymous banana split, which always has good quality bananas, and plenty of flavorful toppings (I forget which ones they come with, as I always request just the strawberry).
the strawberry sundae, which--again--comes with a generous amount of strawberries to go with their awesome soft-serve ice cream
the banana malt, which provides an awesome and harmonious marriage between a deep, nutty, malt flavor, and a sweet (NOT SUGARY), fresh, pronounced banana flavor.
In my opinion, Banana Split isn't just a place you should stop by if you're in the area--though you most definitely should if you are--it's a place worth a trip when you're in the mood for ice cream. It's embedded in the neighborhood, but is easily located because 1) it's on a corner across the street from Garfield Park (is it still called that?) and 2) if you're on Sheffer road coming off of Farnsworth, you literally have to turn right or veer left to avoid plowing into it. Try it!