This place got me through college, and if you're a struggling Grinnellian, it will get you through too. I was always a huge fan of the daily froyo flavors and some of the hot foods (do try the cheese curds!). Portion sizes are gigantic, which I cannot complain about. read more

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We love the Dari Barn!!! Barnyard Nachos, pork tenderloins, and of course the ice cream treats. I recommend the Highland Cow cyclone!!! read more

Dari Barn - Barnyard Nachos and a small Highland Cow Cyclone. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

Love local ice cream shops with friendly service and great treats! This place has a huge menu for food as well as ice cream. Our party had a blackberry malt, Monster cyclone and the cow bell sundae. Prices are very reasonable and sweet treats were delicious. I appreciated the mini size sundae after having just finished dinner. It allowed a sweet treat without too much guilt . If we lived closer to Grinnell, I'm sure this would be a weekly stop during the summer months! read more

You can't drive through Grinnell without visiting the Dari Barn. Locally owned and operated right off highway 6. The food is made-to-order and hot... always worth the wait! There are a lot of options on the menu and the ice cream choices are very creative. They have a yogurt of the day that is always delicious. This has been one of my favorite outdoor-only ice cream shops for over 25 years. read more

Great piece of Americana. I prefer the cyclones over the sundaes but plenty of folks were just getting soft serve cones and looked very happy. Don't sleep on the food; cheese burger was char grilled and spot-on but the fries with chili and cheese were the star of the show. Went there two days in a row for what it is worth. read more

My husband, kids and I come atleast once a week. This is a local spot for everyone. Jessie cyclone is my favorite but recently tried the milkshakes so yummy!! read more

We are having random ice cream spot adventures this summer. We stopped here on an Iowa road trip and are so glad we did! It is a still original retro walk up orders restaurant. We sat on the west side in what are probably the original bench tables. On the east side are new patio tables and shade umbrellas. The menu is huge and has some flavor combos I hadn't seen before. We went with Elvis Cyclone (like a DQ blizzard) and a seasonal apple pie sundae. Both had the vanilla soft serve base and were delicious. We could have easily split a small sundae and been happy. The small Cyclone and shakes are 12 ounces and a medium is 16 ounces. Order accordingly! read more

Cute little mom-and-pop ice cream joint with a huge menu of both ice cream AND food. The ice cream was whippy and smooth, with the cookie dough topping being particularly delicious. To my surprise, the food was also a hit! The pizza burger hit the spot, and the mozzarella sticks had great cheese inside, though the breading was a bit thick. It took a while to get our food, and they forgot one of our ice creams, but it was a busy summer night. Overall, it's a charming spot in Grinnell to stop for a sweet treat or bite to eat! read more

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The food is always great! I come here with my family often and we love it! I would recommend the Birthday Cake Cyclone! It's to die for!

We went here for ice cream and they have a great variety of sundaes, shakes and cyclones. We did not try anything from the food menu but everything we had for dessert was great. The service is quick and have a good amount of outdoor seating. Highly recommend. read more

Great ice cream- a family favorite & visitors always ask to go back! Also love their barn ranch is awesome on their fries!

Dari Barn is the perfect (and only) sweet treat spot in Grinnell! An absolute must when in the area!

Five trips and haven't regretted a thing yet! Took the first four trips to realize there was food too. Fried cheese, fried pickles, fried tenderloin, and a number of desserts--I'm good read more

From Olympus the Spartans did descend.....I think it's because Dari Barn (Yes that's the correct spelling) was up top! Seriously, this spot is as real as it gets when you're looking for legit ice cream and fries to die for! Located just down the road from Grinnell college in what looks to be a renovated barn next to a tractor lot - sick I know! They've got 3 or 4 large tables for sitting at after your trip to one of the two walk up windows. The only downside here is they only take cash, but that's where the negative ends and it's a small price to pay for some amazingness! The ice cream is super thick and comes in plenty of flavors, however, the true excellence is in the shakes, malts and sundaes. They've pack it in thick, use really good ingredients and make you want more. This is the sort of stuff you'll spill on your shirt on purpose so you can have some later. We had chocolate and chocolate cherry shakes as well as a chocolate banana malt - all incredible. The close second prize at this joint was the fries. We straight up watched a dude, we assume the owner, peel the potato and fry it up right. Served in a styrofoam cup like when you were a kid and just as delicious! One of the top 5 places I've ever had ice cream and next to a tractor depot to complete the true Iowa experience! Go check this place out if you're town, passing through or a connoisseur of things that don't suck. read more

Dari Barn - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

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We would be missing an important piece of Americana if not for Dari Barn. They are a classic small-town grill/ice cream shack that successfully puts their own local twists on things. Wifey and I have found several things that we really enjoy, but there is enough on their menu that we are still exploring just about every time we go! I realize I am somewhat picking nits here, but the only thing that keeps them from 5 stars for me is that their timing is/can be really off with ordering ahead. This is nothing to stop us from being regulars. Though it can be annoying enough to make things really good, but not really great. Often, they'll have the ice cream waiting, but will wait to start on the food until you "check in". TIP: They'll put the ice cream back in the freezer while you wait, if you ask them to! You know what, though? They are hiring young people to work the counters and giving good experience. While there's little issues here and there, the service has been really good and pleasant. There's nothing like small-town magic. Some recent challenges with their yogurt machine have changed flavor availability a little bit. They chalk it up to an epic opening night asking so much of their machine(s) -and believe me, it was amazing to see the lines!!! read more

Endless choices and great outdoor seating. Four of us each had something different; it was all great.

Stopped in on our drive from Chicago to Omaha because my wife and I are always searching for out-of-the-way, small town spots whenever we travel. And Dari Barn fit the bill to a T. Crowded and busy, outdoor seating, three young ladies serving up fast food and ice cream. Perfect place to stop during a summer road trip. We ordered the breaded pork tenderloin, served hot and fast with all the fixin's. Delicious. Turtle Sundae didn't disappoint either. Caramel, hot fudge and whole pecans with delicious soft serve vanilla ice cream. This place is a gem. Don't stop at McDonald's or Burger King on your way across I-80, take a short detour and hit up the Dari Barn. read more

Dari Barn - Ice cream! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

My, how I love a slice of small town America; Dari Barn is just that. Thanks to Yelp and reviews from the locals, I made a pitstop off I-80 to satisfy my ice cream craving (it's fewer than four miles north off the interstate). My husband and I split a breaded tenderloin sandwich ($4.25) and medium turtle sundae ($3.90). The sandwich was hot, fresh and tasty, and well assembled. The turtle sundae, while slightly underwhelming for the price, hit my sweet tooth's spot. This is obviously a local institution. There was a steady stream of locals enjoying sandwiches and ice cream, some recognizing friends and acquaintances. An equal amount studied the menu as ordered from memory. I'll return for the friendly, cozy and nostalgic feel of the place. read more

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Hey all! This place is Terrific. Classic small town ice cream stand but has BIG flavor. They have a decent food menu as well. I had a very filling chicken bacon ranch wrap and our table split some fried pickles. The wrap was yummy, the pickles, meh. I wasn't a fan of their breading, but it didn't stop me from dunking them in ranch and popping them in my mouth To finish up the meal, I chose the butterslinger sundae. Oh my! I am full, happy and ready for a food coma nap! The seating is all outside and there is no restroom. So, plan accordingly. Sorry, no photos, I gobbled it up so quickly. This place is a simple, classic, delicious ice cream stop. read more

This is possibly the best place you can get ice cream from. The shakes are amazing! The staff is very friendly. The service is quick and the menu is large! For those who haven't had it, you're really missing out. Would highly recommend to anyone! read more

Ice cream for the gods, that's what they sell at dari barn! I had never had chocolate ice cream THAT RICH. While most people seemed to order cyclones most often, I personally enjoyed chocolate ice cream waffle cone the best and banana strawberry smoothie second. Honestly, it will be great no matter what you order. Taking a walk to dari barn was like a sacred routine for me. My friends and I would go there almost everyday when we lived down on 4th Ave during summer time. We enjoyed not just the ice cream but the time that we spent talking, laughing, complaining and de-stressing on our way to dari barn. For a few dollars, you could enjoy the best ice cream on earth and collect invaluable life-long memories (sweetest ever). What are you waiting for? read more

I can't quite explain why I am so obsessed with this place. Maybe it is because I always have to trek through the hot Iowa summers to be rewarded with their cool treats. Maybe it is because it can only be found in Grinnell, IA and I will always have a special place in my heart for this one. Maybe because it is soft serve ice, and you can never go wrong with homemade soft serve. Whatever the reason is, I literally go there constantly. There's something about homemade soft serve that is just truly gratifying. It is thicker than soft serve you find at McD's but also not quite normal ice cream. They're cookie dough is delicious and they always load tons of it into their ice cream. Don't discount their side items, like their fried cheese curds or their corn nuggets. Typical Iowa delicious-ness. I always try to find to make a (very unhealthy) dinner out of just their sides and ice cream cyclones. Musts: -Any type of their cyclones -Cookie dough sundae -Grasshopper sundae -Corn nuggets -Cheese curds -Monkey bites -Money bite sundae Mehs: Uh, absolutely nothing. Okay the mini's are such a copout...really, you need to indulge in at least a small. Don't try to be healthy at this place! PLEASE BRING BACK THE REAL MONSTER COOKIE DOUGH CYCLONE!!! Bring back the cookie dough, marshmallows, chocolate chips, peanut butter cookie dough, and so much more--how could you get rid of this!?!! It was perfection. And the new version is nothing close to being as good, let's be real. read more

Dari Barn - Grinnell Chamber of Commerce Pinterest page - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

Try the Grasshopper. Mint + Chocolate + Iowa Countryside= Complete joy! Yes grasshopper, cash only... But with your cash comes goodness, happiness, possible super powers! read more

Recommendation: Great ice cream and delicious Special Sundae combinations. Not a lot of seating, but there are open areas of grass to sit on! Also, get the Tip: Credit card payments have to be above 5 dollars, so pair up with someone or get a warm snack alongside your ice cream! Dari Barn is a classic dessert shop in Grinnell. Usually open 11am to 10pm all days of the week, it's a great stop in the middle of a hot afternoon or as a treat after dinner. I'd recommend trying the Special Sundae flavor combinations as a Cyclone, which mixes the toppings up into a Culver's Concrete Mixer style of treat. This can get a little expensive though, so consider looking at the $4.75 Single Size Sundaes, which come in a long banana split style dish. The one I got, Trick or Treat, had cut up Snickers, Twix, M&Ms, and other candy under two scoops of vanilla ice cream and big dollops of whipped cream. I went a little out of my comfort zone, as I normally get a small or medium sized Special Sundae. Ghost Buster or Grasshopper are my go-to favorites, but I'd be interested in trying Polar Bear or Dusty Road in the future! Additionally, I highly recommend the Mac and Cheese Bites. They are 5-6 fried bundles of Mac and Cheese and are delivered to you piping hot! So delicious. Anyway, Dari Barn is totally worth a visit on a hot day in Grinnell. Friendly staff, many friendly customers, and a great product. read more

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Dari Barn Sweetshop, aptly named, is a local favorite. During the humid and sweltering summers you'll find plenty of folks lined up for a taste of Dari Barn's delicious, thick and creamy soft serve ice cream. There are usually only four flavors to choose from: Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, or Blackberry. Although Dari Barn lacks flavor options they make up for it by having plenty of ways to eat your soft serve ice cream; cone or cup, toppings, dipped in chocolate, shakes or smoothies, and sundaes. I've learned by trial and error that the only way to eat soft serve at Dari Barn is either in a cone or cup with toppings or in a cone dipped in chocolate. For example: the shakes were too runny and the strawberry shortcake sundae was topped with withered strawberries. At Dari Barn "you can have it your way, but don't get crazy" (Bon Qui Qui). Plain and simple is the way to go and simplicity has never tasted so good. read more

If I walk 8 blocks to Dairy Barn, and then order a large vanilla swirl with crushed M&Ms, and then walk the 8 blocks back, the exercise and the swirl pretty much cancel each other out, right? What more classic Mid-West scene could one paint than that which unfolds every night at Dairy Barn? Dark-blonde farmers in NASCAR t-shirts pull up in American pickups, and discharge the family onto the gravel parking lot: light-blonde kids and a Revlon 91-blonde wife ($6.99 at Walmart---the Revlon, not the wife). The kids repeat their order to mom again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again to make sure mom gets it right. Mom contemplates what the hell happened to her life as she places the family's order with the zit-faced teenage girl who is working for less than minimum wage at this happy, family-owned business. The teenage girl takes the order, and as she starts assembling the various tasty desserts, silently laughs to herself "That will NEVER be me!" The order fulfilled, the family occupies one of several wooden picnic tables out front, next to the highway. The husband watches the highway, U.S. Highway 6, which actually runs coast-to-coast. If the husband got in the truck right now and headed east, he could be in Chicago by midnight, away from the mortgage on the home and the loan payments on the pickup and the damned boss, and even away from his own wife, who's figure has just never rebounded from the third child in five years and who now seems tired, entirely lacking that amazing spark of life that so captivated him back in high school, as she was giving him a hand job under the football field bleachers. How did she evolve into this woman? What happened? And, maybe if he stays here, whatever it was will happen to him too. Dessert eaten, the kids climb on the tractors at the farm implement dealership next door. Mom yells at the kids to get down, but doesn't get up from the picnic table for whatever reason. Her yells echo over the heads of the other patrons, many of whom have kids who will soon be climbing on those same tractors later. As the sun sinks slowly in the west, a gentle pink and purple hue paints the entire scene. The yellow flourescent light hums audibly above the windows where you place your order. Out in the back of the gravel parking lot, teenagers are laughing and talking too loudly and trying to convince each other (and themselves) that they have the world figured out. The hum of mosquitos mixes with the hum of the flourescent light and the hum of the bug zapper, which doesn't actually attract mosquitos but the owners and most of the patrons don't know that, so everyone feels a little safer, just like you're supposed to at the airport despite similar problems. read more

Softserve ice cream was awesome. I travel the USA tasting soft serve ice cream and I give this an 8.5. Coming back tomorrow

This is the best ice cream ever! It's creamy and amazing, and they give you so much of it! Their menu is a bit confusing, but it is worth deciphering. Trust me. read more

I'm lactose-intolerant and I still thought that was some bomb-ass ice cream. I had the cookie dough cyclone and it was fresh and delicious.

Excellent little place to grab food locally. Their deserts are incredible, the ice cream is super thick and the sheer amount of toppings can satiate pretty much any appetite. Their food is also pretty good, it can be a bit pricier then the other places in town however it's pretty dang good. Give it a try. read more

Dairy Barn is yummy!! I had frozen yogurt and it was very smooth with a rich taste. The flavor of the day was black raspberry.