If you are like me and have a sweet tooth, you know that ice cream is one of the best ways to satisfy it. And, Cold Stone is the best place in Corvallis for the job.
The best part about Cold Stone is the choices you have. Sure Baskin Robins has 31 flavors. But, you just get ice cream and the cone. At Cold Stone, there are fewer flavors of ice cream, but there is a greater variety of choices in what you can add to your ice cream.
The company has many "signature" items that they have created, but you can even add to that. My personal favorite is the "All Lovin' No Oven". It is cake batter ice cream with cookie dough bits, whipped cream, and warm fudge all mixed together. Personally, I like to add a chunk of fudge brownie in there too (I told you I had a sweet tooth).
But, you are also totally free to create your own sweet treat from the ground up. The amount of creative freedom at Cold Stone is about the same as at a frozen yogurt place, but you get a lot more substance for the same price.
You don't have to just get ice cream either. They offer a number of other delicious options. You can get milkshakes that use the same ingredients as an ice cream creation, but whipped up and served with a straw. You can also get fruit smoothies that use the same fruits that you can order in your ice cream. And, if you really need energy, you can get a frappuccino as well. They also make ice cream cakes that can be tailor made to whatever the occasion may be. If you are going to want some ice cream down the road, you can get your own personal mix or their signature creations in a supermarket style to go container that you can take home and enjoy at your leisure.
If you are in the mood for something warm with your ice cream, you can order from their "hot stone" menu. Just like at a sit down restaurant or birthday party, you can enjoy a warm, baked treat a la mode. With a scoop of ice cream of your choice, you can pair it with a warm, gooey, brownie, chocolate chip cookie, churro, or even funnel cake.
All of their ice cream is made fresh in-house every day. When they are getting low on a flavor, one of the always super friendly staff members will bring out a new batch. Personally, I think this makes the ice cream taste better. It has a much smoother consistency than place where the ice cream is made in a factory and trucked in to the store. The smoother ice cream is also easier to eat than the hard packed stuff.
The main downside (or benefit depending on how you look at it) is Cold Stone's location. As a student who prefers to live closer to the University to cut down on commute time by biking or walking, Cold Stone is a bit far. Located between Circle and Walnut on 9th street, it can take some time to get there by any means of transportation. The best way would be to drive if you are living on or close to Oregon State. The plus side of it being further out means that I am less tempted to go there more often. This makes it more of a special treat to go there. Plus, it keeps money in my pocket.
That being said, Cold Stone is well priced. It is more expensive than Baskin Robbins and about the same price as any frozen yogurt. For a signature creation, prices range from $5-6 depending on the size. To create your own, you will pay $4-5 if you don't add depending on the size. More than one extra add-on will cost extra. Their warm desserts are upwards of $6. In terms of the cakes, expect to pay at least $15. But if you are a college student, you probably will not have to worry about this. Overall, you get a great deal for how much product you get and what you pay.
This makes it a good spot for dessert on a date. If you pay for you and your date, have $10-12 dollars ready.
In addition, the Cold Stone Creamery website is easy to navigate and very helpful. You can locate a store in your area and get the low down on all of their services. You can even find all of their flavors of ice cream and every single topping you can put on your creation. read more