Ellen's Homemade Ice Cream

ELLA took time to ask if I needed help amid a flurry of activity. The name Ice Cream do not do justice to the weekly rotating menu of wraps, soup, and salad and pre packaged items, marked vegan when appropriate. The place has a great fun vibe with bright colors. Friendly staff. I opted for hummus and veggies, and thanks for the veggie option instead of standard pita. Minestrone soup, the weekly puck was great. Of course how could I come here and not try the truly home made ice cream? I never heard of banana pudding chocolate chip and my palate was pleased with great ice cream. Accessible venue with medium weight door. Accessible tables with a view of historic Charleston area.

I would give full marks for the ambiance. I've seen many ice cream shops, but this one is by far the most colorful, eye-catching, and cool looking shop. The girl at the counter was friendly and helpful. The ice cream itself was good. The texture was creamy with just the right amount of sweetness.

I brought both the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams from Wheeling Park High School to this ice cream shop, and the experience was excellent. Even with a large group arriving all at once, the staff stayed friendly, attentive, and efficient. The owner personally checked in to make sure we had everything we needed. Despite the initial chaos, our orders were prepared quickly and correctly. We had a great time. Highly recommend!

It would be a CRIME to visit Charleston and not stop here. Every single flavor I tried was perfection. And they offer samplings that are very sizable! They also have a 21+ flavor that was incredible. Highllly recommend and will totally stop by again!

While on a 2-1/2 months stay in Charleston to take care of my late identical twin brothers estate, I usually took a daily break at Taylor Books. A week before I was to return to Morocco, I decided to treat myself to an ice cream at Ellen's, on Capitol Street. I bought a salad shortly after I arrived two months before, but I wanted to try Ellen's ice cream. As soon as I entered, I was delighted with the blast of cool air since it was hot and humid outside. I glanced at the ice creams and then asked a clerk if there was any Butter Pecan, and he said yes. As I watched, I was shown different size of round containers and settled on a medium size. I was surprised to see that it was weighed on a scale. I paid by card and took my ice cream to a table off to the side. After eating a few bites, I enjoyed it but thought it could have had more chunks of pecans and a more intense buttery taste. Frankly, it was a bit of a disappointment, and the price was $5.13 including tax. A month earlier, when my two sisters were visiting from Florida and Virginia, we were invited by friends to a country pizzeria on a farm with chickens located an hour north of Elkview. Its home-made Butter Pecan ice cream was the best I ever had in my entire life, with many large chunks of pecans and a rich, creamy taste. By contrast, Ellen's was merely OK. I enjoyed the ice cream, but frankly it could have had more pecans. It was definitely not as tasty as what I had at the other place. At least I tried Ellen's, but I doubt I would order that ice cream again. Perhaps another flavor. That said, the popular downtown spot appears to have a loyal clientele of locals and visitors to Charleston, like myself. Ellen's is attractive, refreshingly air-conditioned, and it has comfortable seats inside with half a dozen white tables with chairs outside on Capitol Street and on Brawley Alley. Debit and credit cards are accepted, along with cash. The bright colorful walls inside are beautiful.

Locally Made Ice Cream This is my first time back to Ellen’s since it was sold to new owners. I could tell that they have made adjustments and improvements to the space and menu. The ice cream is now on display in new cold cases. The serving area has been realigned to better accommodate the lines that form on the weekends. The food menu has been expanded. I paired the featured flavor of pistachio salad (like a Waldorf salad) and espresso Oreo in a waffle cone. I got a small with two flavors. I didn’t see the kids cup size which use to be our go to portion. The flavors are unique and delicious. The atmosphere is bright and cherry with a newer bar seating area at the window. They sell storemade seasonal cookies too.

Ellen's serves good ice cream. Staff is friendly enough and the remodeling they've done has made the operation much smoother My issue is this: Ellen's at one point was the best ice cream in the entire state. As the women who's name is on the door has retired, the quality has slipped. It's not inconsistent, but it's not what it used to be. Ellen's ice cream is now maybe second or third best in the city. It's convenience in downtown Charleston and good quality will keep me recommending it, but I miss when Ellen ran the place.

Essentially no wait, staff were VERY helpful and friendly, the decor is charming, and the ice cream was delicious! We got a berry gelato (it was a little granular but had an excellent flavor) and the espresso Oreo ice cream was AMAZING!! 🥰

Not only was the ice cream exquisite, but the warm environment created by the caring employees made the experience unforgettable. My soccer team and I dined in not just once or twice, but three times, and each visit exceeded our expectations. The staff's kindness filled our team with joy and satisfaction! If I ever find myself in West Virginia again, I will definitely return, not just for the ice cream, but for the amazing staff

Thank goodness I live an hour away or I would be eating great ice cream every day. Love to visit this friendly place when I'm in town.

I love-love-love walking around a city or downtown where I've never been and discovering places as I see them. What's even better is one of those places is a ice cream shop! Now don't let my singular focus mislead you as they do have loose leaf teas, wraps, and other meal options. But again, I was there for the ice cream. In particular was the banna pudding sundae advertised on the sign. I was so set on having it that instead of finding somewhere for supper first, I stopped here so I won't miss out (they close at 8 pm during the week). What a work of art! The quality ingredients and the perfect blend of flavors were all I had anticipated and more. If I am ever near Charleston (WV) again, I will be stopping here.

This ice cream was above average but so were the price points. I don't know who is paying 10 dollars for a sundae but if you feel so compelled, I can't stop you. This place's sundaes are quite good though. I got the peppermint brownie thing and it honestly made my day. If you want happiness in a cup at like 2 dollars more than you would normally spend. I would go back. Also the hot chocolate here was super thick and warming but like the ice cream my wallet cried just a little as I bought it.

Price is more costly than store-bought "ice cream" which barely meets the definition. The quality more than makes the cost difference nothing. The taste is fantastic. I highly recommend!

This evening, drove in from Ripley to Charleston with Kayla and Deacon to pick up his new glasses at EyeMart Express. After we ate dinner while waiting for the glasses to be ready, we drove downtown to Capitol Street to Ellen's Homemade Ice Cream across from Pies and Pints. We parked easily on the main street and walked right in. Got there about 6pm. Deacon choose a scoop each in a cup of Vanilla and Mint Chocolate Chip. Kayla went with a Lemony Chiffon tasting delicious cup (had to sample it...ummm delicious ) I went with a sorbet called Exotic Fruits which included Mango, Passion Fruit & I believe something like Kiwi, but it was to DIE FOR!!! Absolutely % awesome!! Tip and all I spent $20 on our dessert outing. We sit inside at window facing what is now called Brawley Walkway but when I was young...er...lol it was called Fife Street..and I enjoyed sharing memories with them of shopping on capitol Street and what I refer to as the good Ole Days...60s-80s in downtown Charleston!!!! Thanks Ellen's for some great Ice Cream and a stroll down memory lane!!!!

Staff here is super friendly and so accommodating. My boys couldn't choose between flavors and they were kind enough to do a split scoop. Flavors were nice and creamy with good flavor. Interior kept clean: tables, counters, floors and bathrooms seemed all well cared for. Small bakery case near registered looked really yummy too! Would definitely return

A tough one for me to review. Once again - all my kid wanted was chocolate ice cream. And with his lactose intolerance, he needs lactose-free ice cream, non-dairy ice cream, or frozen yogurt. We had read that this place has chocolate frozen yogurt. Score! We were in town for 4 days and for 3 days we kept promising him we'd go there. On the last day we walked there and he was SO EXCITED. Alas. Alas. When we arrived - no frozen yogurt of any kind. Only one dairy-free froze treat. I don't even remember what it was. Some sort of fruit. Apricot sherbet or something? Can't remember. Boooo! He was so disappointed! When we expressed our disappointment and that we understood that they'd have chocolate frozen yogurt, we for nuttin from the gal behind the counter. Not that she could magically change the offerings. Not that she was in charge. But we just wanted some sort of acknowledgement. Maybe a sorry...even though of course it wasn't her fault. But she could've commiserated with us? That would have felt better rather than the stony silence. So, my son got apricot sherbet with chocolate sauce. Husband and I got peppermint ice cream. Other son got Oreo cookie. Look - the ice cream was delicious. Gal behind the counter ultimately warmed up and was friendly. We all left happy. So I'm giving 4 stars, even though it was a very rough start.

Enjoyed our visit one Saturday afternoon. Soft and creamy! Variety of flavors. Felt that the prices were steep.

The sun in August is a bit aggressive, which forces each pore in my skin to pull off a double shift while having a broken leg and running off a single cup of crappy coffee. What a life. But speaking of coffee, oh my goodness, the Espresso Oreo cooled me off like a glacier shoved down my slim fit trousers. That was some of the most immaculate ice cream right there. The employees were rather keen and patient as this was my first venture here off Capitol Street. I'll be back -- once I finally pay my five million pores for working 17 hours of overtime.

The local ice cream of choice has a good sized menu (though it was pretty much all dairy). I got a mint chip milkshake, drinking it from the cup to avoid any annoyances with chips being stuck in a straw. The milkiness came through more strongly than the mint did, but it was suitably rich. If I came back, I'd likely be more adventurous in my ordering. Of note, their ice cream is also available through Appalachian Tea.

We have stopped for ice cream many times and always loved it but the big showstopper today was the Pokéball ice cream cake they made for my son and his best friend's 8th birthday party! So delicious, beautifully decorated, and made for two very happy birthday boys!! For reference, we ordered a 10" cake with vanilla cake and vanilla/chocolate ice cream. Probably the first birthday party ever without a ton of leftover cake! This will be our new family tradition for sure!

Stopped in for a treat after dinner across the street. It was right before closing time, but they were very busy and the people just kept coming in. The one girl that was working who was wearing glasses and had pig tails was extremely rude. She wouldn't even look at me when I was giving her my order, she scooped my ice cream, then slammed the bowl on the counter. I have never received such terrible service from someone before. We were excited to get ice cream while visiting the city from out of state, but it was not a good experience and I feel sorry for anyone who receives terrible service there. Everyone else seemed friendly and the girl who was working the register was very kind and helpful.

Friendly staff, yummy ice cream and great location! Would definitely recommend, so glad we stopped while in the area.

Great lunch spot for take and go! Fresh salads. Best ice cream. Just a nice place to sit and watch people go by

There is something about ice cream and hot summer days. Maybe it reminds us of childhood memories, maybe it can even transport us back to those simple days of childhood. Good selection and good quality make for a winning combination. I definitely recommend here.

Great treat on a warm day! Really enjoyed my ice cream. The service was prompt. Fabulous raspberry flavors. Can tell it's quality ice cream. Just an overall treat!

Honestly Ellen's needs more competition. I understand the ice cream is homemade but the prices are absolutely ridiculous. I visited recently and ordered a small, hot fudge milkshake. That's vanilla ice cream and a pump of hot fudge. When I got to the register the total was over $8. I asked if she accidentally added my friends milkshake to my order as well, she said no it's just for one. A small milkshake, should not cost that much. I feel so bad for families with little ones who ask for a sweet treat while they're out. I'm sure it's breaking the bank.

very nice staff but the icecream i got was freezer burnt and completely frozen solid. when asking for a different flavor they told me i would have to purchase instead of exchanging it.

Amazing homemade quality ice cream with various flavor selections of ice cream and sherbet. We have to take visit every time we visit the town

Lovely place for homemade ice cream and healthy lunch options. Ellen's is very community minded.

I ordered the Charleston Crunch. The ice cream was smooth, dense, and creamy. I was very happy with the boiled peanuts, which were quite fresh and the perfect texture.

If you're looking for wonderful ice cream and friendly staff, look no further than Ellen's. Ellen's has become a staple of Charleston throughout the years. Their homemade ice cream is delicious (I recommend the raspberry chocolate chip ice cream). It's definitely a go to during the warm summer months on Capitol Street.

Cool little ice cream shop on Capitol street in downtown Charleston. Homemade ice cream is great and they have a verity of flavors. I opted for the raspberry. It was good but I've had better. They serve food and coffee and stay really busy. It's a local favorite. The service is always great and today was not any exception.

Super friendly staff, amazing tasting homemade ice cream. My #1 flavor is always coffee and they nailed it here. Also tried cookie dough, espresso Oreo and black raspberry. All very good flavors! Go here and try it out!

This local ice cream shop is located in downtown Charleston. They make their deliciously eclectic flavors in house and offer a wide selection of ice cream, coffee, and lunch/dinner options. Parking is a little tricky when there is something going on downtown. There is street parking and then a parking garage located behind the building. It only costs a dollar if you park for less than an hour. I opted for the chocolate waffle cone with two scoops -- raspberry chocolate chip & espresso Oreo. Both were delicious and the chocolate waffle cone was the best choice! I'm a sucker for a good homemade ice cream spot. And Ellen's did not disappoint. If you are in the area, come by to check them out.

Long story short, It's good enough, but we've had better. Let me start with a question mark. Why the 5% surcharge for using a credit card for payment? Moving on, the overall experience was positive, and the shop is definitely in the most (and the only) happening part of downtown Charleston, it turns out. Staff were friendly and did a great job of acknowledging us and other customers before they walked up to order, and the space, including the men's restroom, was clean and comfortable. Now the ice cream. There's a local ice cream shop where we live that is quite possibly one of the very best we've been to, so our expectations were high. While the waffle cone was gigantic and my mocha almond was delicious, yet not quite as good as, say banana ice cream at our local shop. The mint chocolate chip ice cream with extra fixings (hot fudge and roasted pecans) was spot on, and the serving size for both was very generous. I'd be happy to stop here again.

Such a cute little stop in Charleston, WV! The menu was so vast and there was a little bit of everything. The staff was so friendly and helpful! We were greeted instantly and they let us try a few flavors before ordering. The only reason I chose 4 stars is because the organization and store could use a tad bit of cleaning up! We ended up getting pepperoni rolls which were so flavorful despite being a small little roll, a mint tea which was so refreshing and we each order something sweet. I got the chocolate hazelnut gelato which had actually pieces of hazelnut in it to add some texture, which was in a cinnamon waffle cone! My boyfriend ordered a small cup (1 scoop like mine) of dirty chocolate ice cream which was 3 times the normal amount of cocoa powder in chocolate ice cream! So rich and creamy! Definitely stop in if you can!

Love this place and it's WV PRIDE. Cannot go wrong with the Black Raspberry option which is in my opinion the best anywhere!

Delicious homemade ice cream, loved the flavors. I got the heath and chocolate, they were great together...such a cute little place.

We stopped into Ellen's after we had some pizza from across the street. They had some ice cream specials and I got the Girl Scout cookie Samoa flavor and it was so good !! There were chunks of the cookie in the ice cream as well as being flavored like it with Carmel drizzling inside. I topped it off with some rainbow sprinkles because those make any dessert better !! A great quick dessert

Wow, wow, wow! We stopped by Ellen's after having lunch around the corner, and I could not be happier with that decision. Paul and I both got a single scoop of ice cream on a sugar cone. He went for the Heath, and I opted for the Dutch chocolate. We both agreed that the ice cream was amazing. Besides the ice cream, service was also outstanding. The women who were working there were all smiles (sincere ones) and were patient with us as we considered our options. Wow!

The service was terrible we walked in me and my girlfriend and the lady at the counter looked at us like we were aliens when I like to think we are 2 normal looking people she said to us what would we like she took my girlfriends order then I tried ordering and she walked away then I said I would also like something and she said oh ok and then she rolled her eyes after we ordered she'd very rudely said "if your done ordering you can go pay" and I have never felt scared in a ice cream shop I felt like my dad had just yelled at me. She then was very obviously talking about us with her co-worker because she was whispering and staring right at us you made a hell of a story for us on our visit to Charleston this place is a no go because of customer service

Delicious ice cream, great space and great location! You can eat inside or at one of the outside sidewalk tables. They have soft serve or traditional ice cream, enjoy!

Great speedy service! Huge selection of flavors. Everyone at Ellen's is conscious of allergies. I was able to get a gluten free and dairy free option. The rosemary lemon sorbet was so flavorful and not too sour! Loved it! I highly recommend Ellen's!

One of my favorites spots in Charleston! Ellen's ice cream is a treasured business that has been around for a long time. Ellen keeps the nicest and most helpful employees running here shop and great food options along with the best ice cream!! My go to is the coffee down under: espresso, milk, ice and ice cream. They have been times I may have had two in one day.. I can't find a treat like this anywhere else. The perfect mix of a coffee fix and sugar fix. Try a wrap or cup of soup! You cannot go wrong. All fresh and homemade. The black bean burger is a personal favorite. The brownie is worth a splurge too! When I come home to visit Charleston I look forward to catching up with friends and family at Ellen's! Support local businesses!

Great ice cream. That simple. I love when the city closes some of the local streets down to let for more outdoor setting. Just grab some ice cream and people watch. A great evening.

Everything is homemade here. The staff was tough, energetic and very friendly. They were busy on the Saturday night our family of four came in. We had 4 different ice creams in cups. I had one of their specials which was smooth and creamy. It was great. My daughter had mint chocolate chip and it tasted like the essential oils smell. I loved it. She ate it up. A very good stop and we are very happy.

Fabulous ice cream. Better than you will find anywhere. Excellent salads and sandwiches.

My family is ready to come after the people who rated this place less than 5 stars. Ellen's is that good, and it is that serious.

Nice little ice cream shop I forgot the price for 2 kids and one adults I had the strawberry milkshake float We had pizza across the street before had

We came here on valentines night after having dinner across the street with our daughter. The staff members made such impression on us I had to write a review. They were so sweet and patient with my daughter. They showed her the flavors and sprinkles and let her pick everything out herself, making her feel independent and happy! She said they were as sweet as the ice cream! Also of course, the ice cream was amazing!! Their hot fudge sundae was delicious!! Can't wait to go again!

I'm so happy to find a delicious local ice cream shop! My friends and I checked out Ellen's on a weekday. The flavors are great and some of them rotate based on the season. And of course, the workers will let you sample the ice cream before you make a decision. OREO ESPRESSO. yum! definitely my favorite and also my first time seeing this flavor. I loved it and I would highly recommend it. I got my ice cream in a cup, but you can choose between the cones and add toppings! There are weekday specials, so check out the sign outside the door or in front of the register. Some days are half off coffee products or 1/2 off of a scoop of a particular flavor. *If you can only have dairy-free ice cream, they don't offer a lot of options. Maybe just 1-2, depending on the day.

We stopped by here after they closed FestivALL due to thunderstorms, usually get Mint Chocolate Chip which they had here real with NO FAKE dyed green! But we saw the Heath! AMAZING!! This is definitely on our list for next year!!!

I was enticed to visit Ellen's when I saw the word "homemade". I'm such a sucker for the word. Walking in, I was greeted by the friendliest West Virginian in the world who was happy to make sure I had the best experience possible. I had originally planned to order one scoop, but when he suggested I top pumpkin with a scoop of Guinness ice cream, I couldn't say no...after all, it was all homemade! My rating is three stars, because as it suggests, it was A-OK. The ice cream was creamy, but taste buds weren't blasted with flavor; both flavors were actually subtle, which isn't what I had hoped. In short, if you need ice cream and don't want to visit a chain, then Ellen's is a fitting option for you and your family.

Friendly ice cream parlor definitely. Huge selections including cafe choices. Quick friendly staffs and services. Plenty small tables around for couples. Also the area invites a nice stroll with ice cream cones.

Ice cream is super creamy and delicious. they have so many different flavors and some speciality flavors that you can only get at Ellens. Everyone is super friendly and helpful. The one thing I would not recommend is the berry smoothie. It is wayyy too sweet. I couldn't even finish half.

This is the best local ice cream shop I've ever been too. It has really great seasonal fun ice cream types and sorbet and sherbet. They also serve lunch. It's great for kids. We love sitting outside and people watching down capital street.

Poor, poor service. Upon entering, i had made it known this was my first visit. A woman kindly greeted us and had taken a phone call in the back room. After twenty-five minutes of standing in the lobby, with no other customers but my guest and me, the five additional workers in the shop did not once speak to us (we were standing at the register) nor make eye contact. The woman that had first spoken to us did not direct any workers to attend to us, not to mention she did not ever come back to take our orders. After specifically taking a trip to this area to try this ice cream spot, it wasn't worth the lack of costumer service.

Ultra-rich small batch housemade ice cream. Huge scoop sizes at reasonable, fair prices for the quality. Some of the flavors I had were better than comparable flavors at famous places like Toscanini's in Boston or Jeni's Splendid ice cream. Recommend getting the ice cream special flavors of the day, because they're likely experimental flavors that don't often appear on a standard ice cream shop menu like the pear thyme sorbet or whiskey vanilla that I had on the days I visited. Friendly quick service too, even when there were long lines. Such a nice ice cream spot in downtown Charleston.