Black Cat Ice Cream

Ice cream shop · Des Moines

Black Cat Ice Cream

Ice cream shop · Des Moines

2

2511 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311

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Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by Black Cat Ice Cream
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null
Black Cat Ice Cream by null

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Housemade ice cream with unique flavors & ice cream nuggets  

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2511 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311 Get directions

blackcaticecream.com
@blackcaticecream

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2511 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311 Get directions

+1 515 689 7466
blackcaticecream.com
@blackcaticecream

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Aug 9, 2025

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@eater

The 36 Best Restaurants in Des Moines, Iowa

"Alex Carter started Black Cat out of a walk-up window at a downtown bar and music venue. In June 2021, the ice cream shop found a permanent home in the former Woody’s Smoke Shack space in the Drake neighborhood. Many of the from-scratch flavors are inspired by local ingredients or classic Midwestern childhood desserts, such as peanut butter puppy chow, butter-flavored ice cream with chunks of fried Twinkies (a hit come state fair time), bomb pop sorbet, and sweet corn with raspberry. In fall 2024, a second Black Cat will jump onto the scene in the walkable Valley Junction neighborhood." - Karla Walsh

https://www.eater.com/maps/best-des-moines-iowa-restaurants
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@travelleisure

Des Moines Travel Guide: Des Moines Is More Than Corn Fields and the State Fair — Here’s What We Love About This Midwest Capital

"Black Cat Creamery churns some of the best in the entire county with exciting flavors and a perfect texture,” according to Booz. “They also have vegan and gluten-free options!" - Karla Walsh Karla Walsh Karla Walsh is a freelance writer based in Des Moines, Iowa. She has written about travel, health, food, wine, psychology, fitness, beauty, and beyond for more than 15 years. She has visited four continents and near

https://www.travelandleisure.com/des-moines-iowa-travel-guide-8674304
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Robby D

Google
I have nothing bad to say about blackcat other than it's often super busy but that's with good reason. Their ice-cream is some of the best I've ever had, and I don't mean just in Iowa. I mean in the US & Europe. The staff are kind, the space is nice and the flavours are wild and unique and they're always swapped around meaning you get to try something new every time you visit. I've been coming here for years now, since they were at their previous location and if you're in the area and have been living under a rock, or just passing through you should stop by immediately and try some. You won't be disappointed. On my last visit, I did something a little different from usual. Usually I'll snag two scoops in a cone, but this time- I tried their ice-cream nuggets. The special this week had Lemon Ice-cream dipped in white chocolate and breaded in honey nut breadcrumbs before being flash frozen into delightful shapes and they were delightful and delicious. That honestly applies to everything I've tried here. I've been dozens and dozens of times and I'm never disappointed. I really can't think of anything I'd like them to improve. They do one thing and they just kill-it.

Audrey Klunenberg

Google
If I was independently wealthy and not lactose intolerant, I would eat here almost every single day. I came in today and tried the crème brûlée ice cream and the honey cornbread as well in a sugar cone. It was the perfect little treat I needed to get me through the day. I want to come back and try every new flavor they roll out.

Dan Evans

Google
Grateful for the tip from a close friend, as they recommended Black Cat, and it was amazing, a superb combination of vibe, selection, and comfort. Um, oh yeah, awesome ice cream! Neighborhood shop, this place rocks. Great interior and terrific murals highlight the courtyard. I had a double scoop of Red Velvet Oreo and an amazing flavor that meshed Twinkees and butter, and I cannot wait to return. Plus, I saw Bob Gibson there.

Michelle McDearmon

Google
We were in Des Moises for 3 days and went here everyday! Unfortunately, they are closed on Monday - but everyone deserves a day off... But my guess is, they are making ice cream on that day. I especially loved the Red Velvet ice cream! The Lemon Cheese Cake and Raspberry Cheesecake was super yummy too. I had to get a few t-shirts to represent the love I have for Black Cat ice cream back home in Salt Lake City. I'm forever ruined on other ice cream - Black Cat is simply the BEST! Loved the vibe, the staff, the mural of various black cat photos and the outdoor patio is charming!

Cristhian Villarreal

Google
Fun welcoming ice cream shop. Interior is a comfy café style lounge. Staff is polite, pleasant, and helpful. The walls inside are used as a shrine for adorably cute and mischievous black cats of course. The menu regularly has a couple gluten free or vegan/dairy free options at least it has had the handful of times I've been here. I love all their unique and creative flavor names. Once you taste you'll be on cloud 9, i promise. Highly recommend merely for the variety of delicious flavors alone. Oh and they also have a playful Black Cat patio you can enjoy your treat out on weather permitting.

Katie G

Google
Such a cool place! First off, this place is so cute and in a super beautiful part of the Drake neighborhood. The ice cream flavors are so unique and tasty. Some flavors I would never imagine for ice cream but were delicious. Definitely a spot for more adventurous eaters as there isn’t a guaranteed “normal” flavor like chocolate or vanilla always available. Love that the menu seems to change so frequently. Definitely a spot I’d come back to.

Jen

Google
One of my favorite places to go & worth the wait! I expect a wait at peak times and last time at the new location I noticed the sign regarding no samples during busy times. Ppl trying something before they decide is something I EXPECT to be a substantial part of the wait. Black Cat has the most unique flavors & combos out there and sometimes...you just don't know. My son got the movie theatre flavor last time and it wasn't great. 😩 I went w yuzu white chocolate bc I'm familiar w the flavor profile and I'm very sorry to say that it was disappointing. Doesn't deter me at all; I appreciate the originality! That said I really think that samples should be available anytime & I believe most customers would be ok w that if they appreciate Black Cat like we do. Great new location, btw!

Autonomous Gypsy

Google
Year-round, this award winning ice cream scoops up some of the most delicious and widely creative artisanal ice cream in - not just Iowa, but, America! Yes, I can easily say that I scream for Black Cat Ice Cream, EASILY my favorite ice cream shop in the world! I can not get enough of the RVO (Red Velvet Oreo), Brown Sugar Cookie Dough, Crème Brûlée, and and and… 100 crafted flavors later…. Can’t get enough!
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Douglas W.

Yelp
4.6 +Extremely high quality and interesting flavor profiles to boot. It's seriously great. Fantastic job on the newest location!
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Daniel E.

Yelp
This ice cream lover is officially obsessed with Black Cat Ice Cream, which combines delicious creativity with a cool vibe in a neighborhood shop. It checks every box. The superb exterior opens to a fun interior that feels really comfy. Tremendous customer service. Humorous photos are all over the place, and fun food options are highlighted. Their courtyard is terrific, with fun murals all over and plenty of shade. My two-scoop combo, blending Red Velvet Oreo with Twinkee Butter, was truly awesome, and I loved every nibble.

Iz Y.

Yelp
My opinion of Black Cat Ice Cream is a positive one. Walking in, the atmosphere was interesting with the choice of decor being witch-like and a lot of black cat motifs. Their menu is usually updated everyday with new flavors to try, and the staff are very cherry when serving their customers. I really liked how instead of using spoons for their ice cream, they use wood sticks for us to eat it with. The ice cream itself if pretty high quality itself and the price for it is justifiable.
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Kathi B.

Yelp
When we were in town visiting our friends who live in Johnston, they insisted that we include a visit to Black Cat Ice Cream for what they considered one of the best ice creams they have ever had. So, naturally, we happily obliged...and were so glad that we did! Black Cat is such a unique ice cream joint! From their website "Based out of Des Moines, we serve hand-crafted small batch artisanal ice cream. We utilize grass-fed natural dairy and ingredients sourced from local producers to create our one-of-a-kind flavors." The staff was super friendly and let us taste many different flavors. We were a little disappointed that the red velvet oreo was not on the menu the day we went, but that being said, everything we did sample was delicious! They change the flavors everyday...just be sure to check their website before you go (which we did, which is why we thought we could get the oreo. It turns out we checked the website too early in the day and the menu hadn't been updated from the previous day yet).
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Jaimie K.

Yelp
We tried this unique hot spot for the first time and it didn't disappoint. The ice is very unique and delicious. My favorite is the crème brûlée; it's super rich! The service is great, staff is incredibly friendly. They have a beautiful outdoor patio area to sit at as well. Don't forget to check out the wall of black cats!
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Jeff T.

Yelp
Came for the Killer Bee and was not disappointed even though it had been hyped up a lot. It's sweet, has a spicy kick, and the ice cream is just really solid quality as well. Great creamy mouthfeel. The other two flavors happened because they let me do tastings and I couldn't say no to either one. Yes I ate all three with almost no help, and no I don't regret it one bit. Amazing ice cream, very cool retro punk vibes, and overall just a fun experience.
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Courtney F.

Yelp
I love ice cream. I live for it. And there's nothing better than trying local ice cream spots on work trips. But this one, this one stood out above all the rest. The location is SO cool. The aesthetic perfectly matches the name. The decor was very carefully chosen to fit the vibe. It was so cute. Service was good, getting people through the line and quickly as possible. I ended up with one of their weekly flavors which was fantastic and so flavorful, I loved looking at all their different options and what they came up with. If I lived here, I would be here all the time trying everything. We also shared some nuggets and omg these are SO cool. It's weird when you first open them and they are literally shaped like chicken nuggets, but the flavor is fantastic. They are super filling though so I would recommend those over a scoop of ice cream or vice versa. Great experience on a hot day. This place is super cool.
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Maya Q.

Yelp
We have continued to visit this ice cream and the quality and flavors have only gotten better and better. Today I had a double scoop of peach brown butter sorbet on top of molasses cookie ice cream on a sugar cone and wow. This was PEAK PERFORMANCE dessert. The flavors were great on their own but blended perfectly. The cone was crunchy and fresh. My husband bought a pint of chocolate ho oh flavor as well and it was creamy and rich. Cannot recommend this spot more one of our fav places in des moines.
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Emily B.

Yelp
Best funky fun well thought out Ice Cream flavors in DSM!! I love going to this place. Quick service. ALWAYS a line out the door. Soo many flavors to choose from. & the ice cream NUGGETS!!! To. Die. For.!!!! Don't sleep on this place! Your kids will love it. Your grandma will love it. You will want to move right next door!
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Adilene S.

Yelp
We stopped in for ice cream for the first time and was not disappointed. The ice cream is so good. You can taste the quality of their product and the ice cream nugs are so good too.
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Pearl Z.

Yelp
Definitely recommend going during one of their cat adoption events! During nice weather they have cat adoption events with the local shelters. Also love their ice cream nuggets!

Ellie A.

Yelp
I used to live in Des Moines and this was my favorite ice cream place! I presently came back for two days and I had to make sure I came back to black cat!

Tracy S.

Yelp
Outstanding ice cream! They know what to mix together for pure deliciousness! Every time I'm in Des Moines, I have to stop by! Never disappointed!!!
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Todd B.

Yelp
4.5* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 4* 06/17/2023 This place has been on my Want to Go list for a while and finally got to experience it on Father's Day since we were in the area (and I LOVE ice cream). It is a bit of a surprise as you pull up, as it is in a very residential area - leading you to initially think the map is wrong. The exterior is clearly recognizable as a business though and everything about this place is quite unique if not a little eclectic - from the modern facia to the black cat painting on the sidewall...and then the black cat bike in the patio area. Sticking with my nature of wanting to try something new, my wife and I ordered the Ice Cream Nuggets (see picture) split between 3 Classic & 3 Killer Bees - and really enjoyed them. As the name implies, they looked like chicken nuggets...but were filled with ice cream and had a corn flake crust. If you've ever had fried ice cream at a Mexican restaurant - think of it as that but on a smaller scale with bite-sized finger-food portions. They were very good - and the Fudge dipping sauce was an excellent complement! If you like ice cream as much as I do, you will definitely want to stop and sample some made from scratch daily unique deliciousness! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com
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Paige B.

Yelp
Cute spot! Has a few vegan options...2 or 3 at a time. I had the horchata sorbet. I was initially hesitant ordering it because I'm used to oat milk or other vegan alternatives but the sorbet was great!
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Christine I.

Yelp
The best ice cream shop in the Drake area. Service has always been friendly. Depending on the day it can get fairly crowded, but plenty of people just stop in to get their ice cream to go. Not a lot of seating inside, it is fairly small. But they have a very cute patio. If you walk out the back to the patio, you'll see the corner full of cat pictures :) Their flavors rotate a lot but they update their website and Instagram on what's happening. I've had their ice cream nuggets and they're pretty big. I do let them thaw a bit after getting them because you do have to bite into it. They do take Apple Pay.
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Sumita B.

Yelp
Local ice cream with unique flavor combinations. Our group got ice cream nuggets w strawberry dip, cookie monster, spumoni, orange cake/sherbet. All flavors were delicious. We lucked out and there wasn't a long line. Inside has a small seating area, but head out back to patio and more seating.
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Andrea T.

Yelp
Stopped here on a warm, Autumn, night for my second visit. The line was much shorter than the first time I came, which was during the summer. My husband was along for this trip. Sadly, the flavor I really wanted was already devoured by other customers so I went to my backup plan. I had Beetlejuice and Brown Butter Cookie Dough. My husband had Trick-or-Treat and Red Velvet Oreo. The ice cream itself is fine. We enjoy the fun combinations for flavors that are available. We were disappointed with this visit as both of our should have had candy in them. My husband's Trick-or-Treat had one, small piece of candy. When the description for the flavor lists four different candies in it, you'd think you'd have lots of candy in a scoop. It just wasn't that. My Beetlejuice also had only one piece of candy. My Brown Butter Cookie Dough had a single, small piece of dough. My husband's Red Velevet Oreo seemed to have an ok amount of Oreos. Not the best trip to this tasty spot. Hopefully a next one will fare better.
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Katelyn J.

Yelp
This is the most unique ice cream store I've ever been to! I love it simply for the that! I sampled their red velvet Oreo and killer bee. They are not afraid to mix in spice, the killer bee had habanero! I had to go with the ice cream nuggets, who can say they've had that?! They were vanilla rolled in cereal crumbs, and a few choices of dipping: chocolate, cookie butter, habanero strawberry. I went with chocolate and to add another sauce was .50. In total my ice cream was $10, so a little pricy for 6 ice cream nuggs. But the service was fast, and the store was clean! I love the ice cream treat! Words of advice: pay for the extra dipping sauce. If you love dipping in sauce, one cup wouldn't have been enough. Also, the nuggets start hard as a rock so if you don't like chewing ice cream give it a few minutes. But, be warned they warm up fast and get harder to hold. I should have gotten a spoon for the end. But all that to say it was fun and I can't wait to bring friends!!
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Ed L.

Yelp
Thanks to Google Maps. I was searching around my hotel and there was an ice cream parlor a block or so away from Drake University. I was like, I'm on vacation here in Des Moines in late October 2022 before the winter cometh, so I figured why not? Black Cat isn't the normal type of ice cream parlor that you are accustomed for the usual suspects when it comes to the standard flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberries. They have pre-made mixtures of themed ice cream concoctions that may enrich your tastebuds and is cool to have in the community, especially so close to Drake University campus. My experience here in late October 2022 started when I was looking for dinner in the area within walking distance. I noticed Black Cat first before walking to Drake's Diner. And so, I was here at Black Sheep first to check things out and to pick up a pint to have with my dinner. Upon arrival, Black Cat is a small ice cream shop next to a local park in a suburban neighborhood. The line was short and I was indecisive. While I was waiting on the side, a group of 6 people decided to show up and in line. I guess that was okay, since I got in line afterwards. The entire experience took about 20 minutes, with 10 minutes of waiting and for the line before me to clear out. I asked the counter guy if they had any chocolate items. He showed me one that is a creamy one that had chocolate bits mixed in. I asked for a pint of that and that was it. The overall experience here at the Black Cat in Des Moines, Iowa was quaint, quiet, casual, and good. While the long line gave pause to what I was doing here in this city, it reminded me about all the things that lead me to here. With that said, I thought that the flavor that I picked up was reasonably good and delicious. While they do sell ice cream here, I had preferred on regular chocolate or chocolate fudge, but this will do in the meantime until I find something otherwise. For the most part though, it was a cool visit to a local ice cream parlor to supplement my dinner in a nice area of Des Moines, IA. Although there was enough lighting here and it was still daylight out when I was here, it did seem dark in here a little bit. The ambiance was cool, although I did wear a face mask due to the number of people in the store with me at the time. And so, if you are in the area and want that alternative taste that is ice cream, consider Black Cat in Des Moines, IA. The prices here are pretty reasonable for ice cream actually. The restaurant itself is small and walk in traffic is always welcomed. This Black Cat Ice Cream is located at 2511 Cottage Grove Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa. It's about a block or so from the main campus of Drake University. They accept major credit cards as well as cash. For myself though, I walked here from my hotel on University Avenue to here. If you are coming by car, there are plenty of street parking nearby. Of course, there is Lyft and Uber, if you are needing their service. For the folks who use public transportation, consider the routes that the local DART uses and plan accordingly. All I can say is that it was worth coming here to Black Ice Cream. Too bad I couldn't buy more otherwise, I'd have to run a lot more miles just to have more ice cream. Then again, it is worth it in the end, I think. Best bet would be to come early enough to secure parking. Not sure if they rotate ice cream flavors, but its worth coming to see year round. 4.0 stars for the overall experience. 5.0 stars for the ice cream and the ambiance. 3.0 stars for the prices and 4.0 stars for the service. Support local! B
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Haley R.

Yelp
Ice cream nuggets are so good and look like chicken nuggets!! My friend and I were in town for a concert and we wanted to try some places that we'd never been before. Ice cream is delicious and the theme is really cool.

Laurette K.

Yelp
This was a pathetic experience Saturday afternoon at 4:00PM. There's only very limited street parking. It was a busy time! Only one gal up front working counter alone. A person or two in back stirring up mix for freezers. Of course all kind of characters I prefer not to see were also customers & the staff heavily tattooed & pierced! By the time I purchased gift certificates and pushed through the waiting lines, more folks were out the door. I bet 25 people were behind me. watch the uneven sidewalks, driveway approach and step without a handrail. $7.00 for one dip of ice cream in a cone plus lots of tax. She even added tax onto my certificate purchase but was so irritated I let it slide because of the crowd. Product is fantastic.
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Karma L.

Yelp
This place was amazing! The ice cream was delicious I got the Zombie Flesh and loved the spearmint flavor! The service was great and quick, there was only two people and a giant line. I love the ambiance of the place, It felt like a family owned place and loved the courtyard.
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Mallory S.

Yelp
Worth a 2 hour drive and long wait in line. From cute black kitty Cat themed atmosphere, to fun flavors and never before seen ice cream options, this is a must try. I can't get over the ice cream nuggets! Rich but delicious and whimsical, they come with side sauce to dip in and are sure to satisfy a sweet tooth. It's trendy but popular for a reason and a great meet up spot! The spicy honey flavor is amazing, and they have vegan options that are sure to please.
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Natalie K.

Yelp
Finally made it to black cat after a couple of years in Des Moines. It did not disappoint! We've tried to go in the past but sometimes the line can be insanely long. We ended up getting the ice cream nuggets and a cup of a seasonal Halloween flavor. I think it's safe to say this is the creamiest ice cream place in Des Moines and they have such unique flavors. Not to mention, options for vegans! The inside has a little seating but there is more outside.

Arleth A.

Yelp
The ice cream chicken nuggets are very good and I like the vibe in the shop and I really likes the dipping they gave me
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Sarah N.

Yelp
A very cute little ice cream shop that has unique flavors and atmosphere. It's located in a location that previously had been accouple of different BBQ restaurants but the location works much better for this. The inside is a bit cramped but if the weather is nice there's ample seating outside. They have a gated patio and several picnic benches outside of that area. The ice cream was tasty. I got the Bourbon Banana's Foster which was very tasty. I can't say it had much Bourbon flavor but that suited me just fine. It tasted like the actual dessert, which is my favorite. I had been to their previous location and enjoyed it. I'm glad to report it still impresses me! I would definitely go back!
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Danielle D.

Yelp
Ice cream was delicious! They are stingy on the tasters, max 2 per person. As someone who has a hard time deciding I didn't appreciate this lol it feels silly to complain about but it shouldn't be such a big deal. Otherwise it was great!
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Marianne H.

Yelp
Stopped in because was in the neighborhood and needed a cool down treat for the evening. Arrived and there was a long line out the door. It moved a lot faster then I expected. I tried the watermelon sorbet as recommended from the staff. It tasted like fresh watermelon. Very refreshing. We enjoyed our sweet treat on the patio just before a downpour drenched us. It was a fun summer evening.
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Junior C.

Yelp
Literally some of the best ice cream I've ever had. A friend recommended this place to us during our stay in West Des Moines so we had to check it out. Some of the flavors we tried were: Triple Chocolate with brownie bits, Breakfast Trash which tasted like fruity pebbles with bits of pop tarts , Vanilla Brownie, Brown Butter Cookie Dough, Cinnamon Roll, and Pineapple Upside Down Cake!! All extremely good. A must try for everyone FYI: flavors change weekly!
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Nav S.

Yelp
When I say you need to visit this place in the Des Moine area I mean YOU NEED TO GOOOOOO! With that being said super cute little location kind of hidden in a residential area. This place was recommended my a local. My husband ventured out and decided to get one scoop of each. He got the cherry almond cake and I got the red velvet orea( sounds weird but sooooo good). The flavors a different but really good not overly sweet. We spent about 6.35 including tip for both scoops. We got the scoops in the same cup it was an additional 2 dollar if we wanted a different cup. They also have a cute patio where you can sit enjoy the ice cream and just relax. We however opted out because it was toooooo HOT! Street parking but since it a residential area you should have no issue at all. Check them out guys! We will definitely be back probably tomorrow lol

Michael L.

Yelp
My second time here and sorry to say really not good. As a DSM native that has lived overseas for 30 years (home for the holidays) this place joins a long list of DSM top reviews that are only good if you don't know better.
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Libby N.

Yelp
Black cat is your classic neighborhood ice cream shop. It's a great edition to the drake neighborhood. Their flavors are made from scratch daily and the outside seating is a perfect place to lounge in the shade and enjoy this amazing artisan ice cream. Their flavors change all the time but they have some staples from red velvet Oreo, brown butter cookie dough, etc. Some friends and I went and we all got a cup with two scoops. Parker -Red Velvet Oreo "I could eat this every single night" -Brown Butter Cookie Dough "I love the taste but I didn't get any cookie dough" Syd -vanilla bean bourbon "you can actually taste the bourbon! Def getting this again" -Brown Butter Cookie Dough " I think I got all of Parker's cookie dough" Me -sugar cookie "I wish this was a staple. Love the chunks of sugar cookie and ice cream tastes like cake batter" -brown butter cookie dough "definitely needs more chunks of cookie dough"
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Chris C.

Yelp
Brown butter cookie dough is amazing. But it's all good. I'm glad we stopped! Red velvet Oreo amazing. Chocolate covered potato chip good, but super potato tasting. Iowa island was yummy too.
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Luke X.

Yelp
Fun flavors to check out. Great location. I love the Halloween theme flavors this month! The cat walk is awesome too. The patio is a nice space to enjoy my ice cream!
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Rachel W.

Yelp
Delightful ice cream Delightful service Delightful outdoor area Black Cat Ice Cream is a...delight!
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Benjamin G.

Yelp
This place has the most unique ice cream ever! Think about it who came up with an ice cream that stings your mouth?!? And to top it all of the ice cream is awesome.
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Gabby M.

Yelp
ice cream is very delicious and rich. service was super sweet and it was nicely decorated! i bought a super soft crewneck
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Holly N.

Yelp
These are interesting. I really want to try the original ones bc captain crunch has a weird feeling in my mouth always. Same with salted chocolate pretzel ice cream flavor. Red velvet Oreo is so good. Cookie Monster and rice crispy was alright too!! Cute little place to sit and eat outside.
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Heidi H.

Yelp
So many choices.....don't let the line scare you. It was out the door but moves pretty quickly. The outside was packed with people enjoying the amazing ice cream. I tried two flavors. The cream cheese lemon cake which was my favorite and the watermelon. I cant wait to come back again.

Abby W.

Yelp
This place is popular! After trying their ice cream (5 different flavors), I can see why! There was a long line when I arrived, but it went fast. They serve you quickly because the line forms fast. (I didn't mind, some people might like more personable service). We could see an employee making the ice cream. That was really neat. New flavors daily. I'm sure they're all good! It's all street parking, but I don't consider a short walk a negative thing. But something to consider and plan for. Prices are a little high, but the quality seems worth it. They've got tables inside along with an outside patio area with lights and seating to enjoy your ice cream. Local places are my favorite. We will plan to be coming back.
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George The Croc I.

Yelp
Delicious local ice cream place. Love the black cat theme. They always have unique flavors, I remember the first time I came here they had mac n cheese ice cream which was pretty popular regret not trying it then maybe they'll have it again soon. When I went recently they had a chili ice cream but I went for the lemonade raspberry sorbet that day. Pretty good :) One thing to note that always confuses newcomers is that you don't pay and order first at the register, you get your ice cream first and then pay. Unique and delicious ice cream store worth visiting if your nearby. Street parking only.

Jesalyn C.

Yelp
I wanted to leave a good review, truly, as I have had had a couple people recommend this place to me. But I just can't. If you enjoy ice cream with hardly any flavor, then this might be the place for you. I agree with others who have said the ice-cream has a bit of a gummy texture too. Im a huge ice cream lover, and appreciate different textures and flavors, and truthfully I'm not easy to disappoint. But I was definitely disappointed. I tried the cream cheese lemon cake, the nutter butter and some of my husbands strawberry nuggets. With each, the target flavor was hard to detect. If that was the only problem I wouldn't be too upset. But this was my first time there and I wanted to try a flavor or two before committing to $5.50 for a one scoop cone. (Small at that) After asking to try a second flavor as I didn't care for the first one, I was told very rudely "Yes, but no more after that." That really rubbed me the wrong way as I was being very quick about it and was only planning to try two anyway. Again, I had never been there and wanted to make sure I liked whatever I chose to order in a whole cone... The other individual working made a very rude comment about some other customers as well. I'm willing to overpay for ice-cream that's actually good, but why would we pay $15 for a small cone and 6 ice cream nuggets that aren't good when there's equally terrible service. They do have a couple things going for them. Being the location, the outdoor seating area, and the unique flavors (maybe some of them are better who knows). The nuggets are a cool concept but again, lacking flavor. There are much better establishments in the Des Moines area with much better service.
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Annika B.

Yelp
OMG they have amazing ice cream... it's not too sweet or heavy. They have fun, interesting flavors, a convenient location, and I adore the old building - even though that meant they had to close the week of the heatwave because the AC couldn't keep up. But I'm willing to forgive them for that. There was a bit of a line and only one guy at the helm, but he handled it efficiently and moved everyone through rather quickly. They have limited bar seating inside, but a quirky, shaded seating area outside (where ice cream is meant to be eaten). The prices were as expected ($5-$6 range) and worth every penny. Overall, a great experience and excellent ice cream!

JK S.

Yelp
The different flavor options here are often fun and typically include at least one thing you'll never find anywhere else. They don't really do toppings here, but with a lot of the flavors having stuff mixed in I have never missed them. There's a small amount of space to sit indoors, but the outdoor seating is best with kids and a bunch of drippy ice cream.
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Jacob K.

Yelp
I'll start with this: the ice cream was very good. Unfortunately I'm giving a 3 star review due to the unkept atmosphere inside and outside. We love hole in the wall businesses but Black Cat's layout felt dirty, awkward and undesirable. If we came back it would be strictly for takeout.
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Kayla Z.

Yelp
Stopped in while we were in the neighborhood and were pleasantly surprised at the short line. The line was not so short when we left! I chose the lemon cake ice cream in a cup, only $5 and it was sooo good! We sat on the patio which had plenty of seating. Can't wait to go back and try more flavors!
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Stephanie P.

Yelp
Yummy homemade ice cream shop! If you are in the mood for very creamy ice cream with regularly changing flavors this might be what you are looking for. The owner is very kind and they have a great outside seating area so you can relax and enjoy your ice cream treat over a nice conversation. I tried the chocolate with chocolate covered graham crackers and the graham crackers were plentiful and the chocolate was rich in flavor and I also had the pistachio ice cream and it had a mild pistachio flavor but I would have liked some pistachio chucks in the ice cream too. It is a must try place...
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La-Tica W.

Yelp
Delicious homemade ice cream treats here. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the location and the businesses that have shared that location previously. You can try a flavor before you buy it which is a nice offer! There is space outside yo enjoy your treat immediately without leaving.