Justin M.
Yelp
Remember back to when you were a kid, a child with no cares in the world other than special occasions? What were they? Mine was after I played a baseball game or driving back from the James Island movie theatre when sometimes my or friends parents would take us to a local children wonderland. The place that brought relief to a hot and humid area with cool treats is called "Ye Old Fashioned Ice Cream".
Up until this visit, I've never been in the Summerville location however the local chain does a great job ensuring the aesthetics that define it's soul are present in every locations. The quaint red arches that give way to menus, the old time brown and black furniture, the ice cream refrigeration case, the mixers, fryers, everything echoes back decades to my childhood, and I love every minute of it. Even notice the manners and curtesy the staff gives their patrons hasn't changed either, and it's oh so low country (yes I pick up on that since I've lived out of SC for more time now than I lived in it).
Enough of the past pleasantries, what about the food!? You won't find some fancy herb garden laced homemade Seabrook pickles with romaine lettuce, a 19 grain yeast, infused sourdough bun, etc but what you will find is a simple yet tasty cheese burger. The hot dogs are flavorful and has that whole "take me out to the ball field" feel which is so much better than a national chain. The fries are always fresh and never soggy. Cooked to order and to perfection!
Now for the star of the show, in my opinion is the "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!" First, I opted for the praline shake. Oh, the cream was so tasty and the caramel nuggets were chopped fine enough to fit up the straw. Sucking down the first bites I was instantly 10 again looking for my trapper keeper to keep notes on, after just watching The Goonies at the theatre with my jelly fish swatch watch telling me its time for Transformers on cable! I opted to give the shake to my mom b/c what I was truly after was the double scoop of cookies and cream on the waffle cone. WOW, the sizes have changed with the scoops. I remember my little hands and mouth barley outpacing the drips of cream coming down. Surely, I'm now.. much older and I could beat the drip. Nope, somehow Ye Old Fashioned knew I got older and gave me huge scoops! The flavor after all these years was still perfect and huge cookies in there were an absolute treat.
Now I'm not sure which is more prevalent in my mind, the memories of a great restaurant from bygone years or a simple place with offers great food without pretention. Regardless I'm making the suggestion, make some new memories. Take a date there and share a shake, take your kids there and build up lasting smiles, or just go because you need an itch scratched. I promise you won't be disappointed.