Don't be deceived by the aesthetics. Ice Cream Social is a clean and well designed business with friendly and attentive staff. However, I was underwhelmed with their flavor options. I went with the strawberry and cookies n crème. The strawberry was tasty. However, the cookies and crème had some sort of weird artificial flavor and I couldn't finish it. I most likely will not come back not recommend this place. read more

Yummy ice cream. Fresh, light and crispy waffle cones. Tasty flavors... some unusual ones. Ie lavender. Brisk service. Best to go on a beautiful day and go sit by the water. read more

So great ice cream - hands down incredible ice cream. 5 stars for taste. The issue is although signs are posted no dogs allowed, people bring dogs in to a food establishment. I love dogs, I don't love their feet on indoor tables and chairs people eat on. As summer takes off, getting ice cream is amazing, but the fact that they do not uphold no dogs allowed inside is concerning. There are plenty of shaded seats outside available. My son had a dirty scooter, we park d it outdoors to not get ground filth inside. Definitely concerning. read more

Love this spot! This shop serves both classic and creative flavors, and this location is my favorite due to the location. Ice cream at the waterfront on a sunny summer's day? YES PLEASE. The line is long and the shop is small, but it goes by really fast, and besides, you wouldn't wanna stay inside a shop when it's nice out, no? The base isn't super, super, creamy, so -1 star here. Will have to say that their matcha coconut and rose flavors are my favorites so far! For having ice cream here, you can have free parking for up to two hours. Just go on over to the tablet within the first 15 minutes of parking and input your license plate info to get it waived. read more

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We stopped by Ruston Way after an afternoon at the Museum of Glass and ofc I couldn't pass on a local creamery. * ROASTED BANANA I'm not sure if I got any roasted notes but regardless it was a really good banana flavor. I'm a huge fan when it tastes like the real thing and not artificial laffy taffy banana. I found it comparable to the some of the top ice cream shops in San Francisco. * ALMOND POPPYSEED Tasted just like the name - almond flavor upfront with poppyseed notes coming in after. If you've never had almond flavor just think if the scent of almond extract is what you are tasting. I was honestly surprised there is such a good ice cream shop out this way and I'd recommend a stop here before/after walking along the waterfront. read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Single Split Scoop of Roasted Banana + Almond Poppyseed in a Waffle Cone - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

Even on a cold day we wanted ice cream. We had seen this place when we walked out of parking and decided to try it later in the day. There was a long queue at all times. I got Buttered Pecan and Lemon Raspberry Swirl, I loved both the flavors I got. The others in the group got Chocolate Chocolate Swirl, Roasted Banana, and Salted Caramel, I tried them all and liked them. read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

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Higher price point ice cream joint for nothing special. Coming from up north, my experiences are reflected here, although it seems to be a very popular ice cream spot in Tacoma. They have a sample cart so that's cool. Unfortunately it seems like they just operate it whenever they feel like it as they "ran out" of samples with a full pint available and take a break from it often. Luckily, they don't have any flavors that are out of the box. Unfortunately, that's also a con because the flavors are all pretty standard. Ice cream melts faster than usual, which may be a pro or con depending on your preference. My party's cones were dripping as we waited to pay after a larger party. The day wasn't particularly hot either especially while we were still indoors. Felt a bit off. Also got a pint to share and it was melting already after checking out. Anyways, pair this with a cone with a hole at the bottom, well you'd figure that's no fun. Ice cream melting and leaking so not only wasted, but also annoying. I am not a fan of the chocolate chip options. Peanut butter chocolate chip is nice for the peanut butter ice cream but they use whole chocolate chips unlike the standard square-chip type you'd find in ice cream. These become solid in ice cream as you'd expect and become bothersome to eat like M&Ms in McFlurries, though if you like that, go for these options. I will compliment the banana though, it doesn't taste artificial at all. Not sure if there's necessary a "roasted" taste. They ran out but luckily opted to try the pint, wasn't disappointed in the choice. read more

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Slow service. Be prepared to wait. We came and there was a long line. Staff kept leaving so only one person was working at a time. Just when you thought a second was coining on shift the first person left. Took considerably longer than was reasonable. read more

A long line to get the best treat that Tacoma has to offer. Wait 30 minutes for this tray. read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - I've cream - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

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Nothing is more perfect than getting ice cream on a nice hot day, but beware of a long line since everyone has the same idea. Though the line does move rather quick. There is a menu right outside the shop so you can think of what you want before going in. Due to covid, there's only a certain number of folks inside. I ordered the almond poppy seed and I see the hype. It has a nice balance of flavors and taste similar to the poppy seed muffin from Costco! You can taste the almond flavor. I feel like if it had actual almonds it would be even better. This flavor is usually on the menu but there is a monthly set that rotates per month. read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Almond poppy seed single cone - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

The ambience is very open and welcoming. They have tables indoor & outdoor. The ice cream is delicious. Since they always put in different special for the day. They could be a wait, but it's worth it. I had the Passion fruit which I love and tried the lemon meringue which was also good. read more

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If you're in the area, def make time to come here! I really enjoy coming here and walking on the trail with friends! They have a variety of everyday and seasonal flavors. I would highly recommend the lavender! Peanut butter and jelly was great too! Came around 7 pm and waited around 15 mins. Walked past again around 8:30 pm and the line was LONG. Shows how much people love coming here and willing to wait! read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Lavender Ice cream (seasonal flavor as of September 2021) - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

My sister and I were at Point Ruston for dinner on the waterfront. I saw that Ice Cream Social was around the corner, so I preferred to get dessert there. I've never been to Ice Cream Social, but it appeared to be amazing spot based on the reviews. Plus I'm always down to support a family-owned local business. I can certainly appreciate how Ice Cream Social's ice cream and waffles were handmade with quality, organic ingredients. We arrived at Ice Cream social around 5:30pm on a Monday. It wasn't that busy, so we were assisted right away. Customer service was great. The young ladies were all very friendly and super helpful. Since there was no sampling due to Covid, our main server offered suggestions on what to get as well as pointed out the popular flavors. I ordered a caramel sundae with a scoop of almond poppyseed and a scoop of coffee and donuts. The sundae also came with optional whipped cream, nuts, and cherries. I was extremely happy with my sundae, and I thought that the ice cream flavors were excellent. I'm a huge fan of marzipan and almond extract, so naturally I gravitated toward the almond poppyseed ice cream. The coffee and donuts ice cream was a seasonal flavor, and I thought it was on point to what the name implied. The chunks of donut pieces in the ice cream were nice surprised in each bite. read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Almond poppyseed and coffee and donuts caramel sundae - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

If you've been down to Ruston on a nice day, you've probably seen the line at Ice Cream Social... I finally hopped into it and I'm glad I did! You can't miss their location. A cute, white brick building with ICE CREAM SOCIAL wrapped around the building which makes it perfect for photo ops, if you so wish. It was a nice day when we went so the line was about 15 people deep. However, we got through it in about 10 minutes. They work fast and efficiently! Ice Cream Social is doing a great job of adhering to COVID-19 limits. Tables & chairs are off-limits, outside and inside floor markers are set for social distancing, and the staff wears masks and gloves. They've got a ton of really awesome flavors that sound delicious. It was earlier in the day and they were already sold out of the Roasted Banana, which I'm still sad about.... Banana is one of my favorite flavors! I rolled with the punches and got one scoop of the Valhalla Coffee and one of the Almond Poppyseed in a cup. I'm a coffee ice cream FANATIC and honestly... I think the Almond Poppyseed was my favorite. It was so delicious. Don't get me wrong, the coffee was amazing too, but that Almond Poppyseed... I need to go back and get more. They also sell beverages, merchandise, and take home pints of ice cream. Definitely recommending checking them out if you've got a sweet tooth or happen to be nearby on a hot day. read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Cups always! Cones are too messy - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

Really creative ice cream flavors here! This location struggled a bit with keeping flavors in stock while we were there - it was a heat wave, but it's still sad to have your mind set on a flavor only to find it's out. Anyway, one suggestion for improvement: they make their own waffle cones (yum!) but won't sell any waffle cone bits to sprinkle over your cup of ice cream. Odd since they have lots of broken waffle cone bits that just go in the trash can. read more

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Insanely long line in the afternoon. About 30 wait and the ice cream was just ok? A lot of flavors ran out so we just had butter pecan and it was average. Not worth the wait. read more

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A tasty little ice cream shop worth stopping at! It's nice they offer samples of their flavors so you can make a more informed choice on what you want. I sampled the Blackberry and Coconut Almond Poppyseed. Blackberry was fine but that Coconut Almond Poppyseed blew me away so I got the 4oz cup of that while mom got the 6oz cup of Blackberry. Even though I got the smallest size, it's still a lot of ice cream. But my ice cream was top notch and tasted exactly like a poppyseed muffin! Yum! I really enjoyed it. Sadly, it is a seasonal flavor so it won't be around all year. The staff was friendly, helpful, and had smiles across the board. Also it wasn't busy at all with no line and only one family inside eating when we arrived. Overall, this is a great place to grab some ice cream and if you're lucky enough to show up while they still have the Coconut Almond Poppyseed, it's definitely worth having, or at least trying a sample of it to see if you like it as much as I did! read more

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The freshest ice-cream you'll ever eat! Priding themselves to be family owned, and made with local Tacoma based ingredients, this icecream joint has people hanging out in Rustin Way lining out the door. From flavors like almond poppyseed, to valhalla coffee, and roasted banana, this popular stop perfects locally sourced ingredients into great ice cream. Not only is their ice-cream great, the vibe of this place is super friendly and inviting. From young kids working the counter, and the bright interior decor and designs, this is an ice-cream store you can feel free to hang out in to beat some of the summer heat. Grab a kids, single, or double. Single 1/2 flavors and still pretty larger or double for 3/4 flavors in either a cup or waffle cone. Cone is an extra dollar. The staff whips up the fresh waffle cones on the stop and it's impossible to avoid the smell when walking around the strip. Sure the ice-cream isn't the cheapest you'll ever buy priced at around $6-8 but you're supporting a local business, eating some of the freshest most innovative ice-cream, and being social while waiting in their super long lines! Bring your cravings and your patience cause this joint is always super busy! read more

Just stopped by one chilly evening for a cone and was surprised to see such a line waiting! Loved the decor inside, it was light and friendly but just a bit messy because they were quite busy that evening. I loved my choice in ice cream, coconut milk with almond poppy seed and milk chocolate vanilla swirl. My husband grabbed a couple other flavors along with their drip coffee. Will come back with the kiddos! I guess my only downfall was the chairs weren't as comfy as other places, but at least they had them and at least what they produce in ice cream is delicious! read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Happy hubby at the end of his cone! - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

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PROS: - Locally owned with fresh and locally sourced ingredients - One of two locations in Tacoma - Huge portions especially if you get the waffle cone - Great variety of rotating flavors - Chic aesthetic CONS: - Super duper long line all the time that moves slowly - High price point - Parking must be validated here at the Ruston location - No samples due to COVID-19 :( - Ice cream is good but not amazing - however this is just my opinion as I am partial to Snoqualmie brand, Tillamook brand, salt&straw, and gelato VERDICT: - Overall a great option to get a sweet summer snack and walk around the waterfront if you are willing to wait in line. I wish they had smaller options other than the kids size! Maybe a 4-flavor flight option, eyyyy?!? read more

We happen to walk by here. So glad we were brave to give it a try. Very unique and delicious ice cream. They gave military discount and very friendly. read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Flavors - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

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I feel like one cannot go to Point Ruston without stopping here before heading home. As usual, I got the coffee and chocolate brownie on a waffle cone. Single scoop is about 6 oz while a double scoop is 10 oz. This is per the staff's advice. You can do the single scoop as a half and half on two flavors. I would say the single scoop is more than enough for one person. Pricing is very fair considering the location. Texture is decently creamy and flavor not overly sweet. So come here and grab a scoop or two and sit outside taking in that blustery weather while the speakers on the light posts serenade you with jazzy elevator music. A sweet ending indeed! read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Chocolate Brownie bottom, coffee up top. - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

Simply, it is the best spot to get a homemade ice cream in town - especially, it is made of all natural ingredients!  Location is very ideal for family's and couple's weekend hangout and picnic on the waterfront, Ruston Playground by Point Defiance Park.  When we visited last weekend, the store was fully packed with people lining up to get an ice cream.  See attached pictures.  It took us almost 20 minutes to get our cup of the ice cream.  We ordered double in a cup; coconut almond poppyseed and valhalla coffee.  It was definitely worth it!  Valhalla coffee is my favorite.  Coconut almond poppyseed is much better than the regular almond poppyseed.  Staff makes waffle cones there as soon as the order comes in.    Ice Cream Social offers an interesting way of letting customers trying samples.  You get to try samples outside the store while lining up and waiting.  Be sure to pick the flavor you want while trying samples because the staff won't provide the samples when it's your turn to order. Parking garage is located right next to the shop.  All the shops in the mall provide free 2-hour parking validation.  You need to register your car plate number with using a tablet device available by a cashier. read more

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Let's start this with the positives. The ice cream. It was a honeydew mint sorbet. So light and delicious. The mint overpowered the honeydew flavor but still IF I went back (but won't see below) id get it again. We also got the banana. Really good banana flavor. Tasted like real banana and not the flavoring most taste like. Now the bad part. I had a coupon for 50% off. I showed them the coupon before I ordered. I asked for a scoop with two flavors mixed in a cup. They said sure not a problem. They made a mistake and gave me two scoops. Ok not the end of the world. I go to pay and realize that I have to pay full price for their mistake because my coupon was for a single scoop. Honestly had they just discounted the thing by 50% id have been find paying extra but they refused. My kids had already taken a bite while I was paying so basically it was just pay and get out. Super rude gal I tried to speak to and explain the situation and I finally left just saying I didn't want to argue. Save your money and your sanity and just go to Baskin-Robbins. This is one store that has lost my business. Shame on them. read more

Came last night and waited for 25 plus just to get in the door! I liked how they put the sample cart outside so that once you got to order the line moved quicker inside (they should probably always do this at this point of the year... maybe they do?) I sampled the vegan coconut banana (yum) and the black sesame (interesting). I ordered a scoop of the vegan coconut banana in my own cup (yes I brought an insulted cup to sneak in to the theater so that my ice cream stayed cold), and a side cup of the vegan hot fudge. For some reason this time I was a little disappointed with the flavor. The coconut banana tasted delicious as a sample, but with once I got it the flavor was off... I am still trying to decide if this is due to the fudge or it was the actual ice cream. I might have to try it again without the fudge. Either way- thanks ICS!!!! LOVE YOU GUYS! read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Lines!!!! - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

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My friend wanted to get some birthday ice cream while we were in town so I had to say yes! There was a line when we showed up mid-afternoon on a Saturday. It was an overcast day, although pleasant out. I can see how this place would get super busy on a hot summer day! The line moved relatively quickly, but I had enough time to choose my flavor/size. Although I can inhale a pint of ice cream no problem, I decided to be a responsible adult and went for a kid's size scoop of the Vegan Coconut Stracciatella in a cup. The serving size and price were pretty standard, and the ice cream was tasty. Definitely a plant-based coconut milk flavor, along with those chocolate pieces. The other vegan option was a sorbet, which just doesn't do it for me in general. It would be nice if there was another vegan ice cream flavor option, but I'll take what I can get! My friend loves their Roasted Banana flavor. The shop is cute--there is a decent amount of seating outside, or you can take your treat over to the water for a view, which we did. The employees were nice, it was a pleasant experience overall. I'd come back again if friends/family wanted to stop by for ice cream while in the area. read more

They always have such fun flavors and we enjoy stopping in here after our weekend movies. Be prepared for a line out the door, even when it's cold, but my daughter thinks it's well worth it. They also have dairy-free options. read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Chocolate ice cream with sprinkles. Delicious! - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

The ice cream is good. There is normally a long line but there was no line today. We sat outside and one of us in our party fell from their deflective chairs. Instead of coming out and checking on the person injured, they said "oh sorry" and went on about their business. His shoulder is hurt and I personally didn't like how they responded. Luckily it wasn't one of our elderly relatives. read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

Waited in line for about 45 mins but was so worth it. The icecream and cone literally did not need any toppings. It was that good. Roasted banana was really good! read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

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Great ice cream. They change flavors monthly and many of them are quite unique. Good location, too! Price is fair. A single cup cost $6.04 (after tax) and you can get two scoops. It's all handmade and they use local ingredients. read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - prices are of April 2022 - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

We came in today and as we walked in, all the workers just stared at us up and down. No greetings, nothing. Asked for samples, still, not a single word! That was so awkward. We ordered our ice cream and the finale was the cashier, lazy, leaning against the counter not even facing us, didn't say a single word, just stared hard to see what I was tipping. No thank you, no have a good day, nothing. At that point tipping shouldn't even be expected from them (yes I still tipped out of generosity) but That overall was the worst experience I have ever had anywhere. Management, please reconsider your employees as this is losing you business. Service -100 stars. Ice cream 4 stars. read more

Love the coffee ice cream here. Sweet and smooth tasting. I wish I was able to go back! read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Menu outside. - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

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Took the family down here to play at the waterpark and take in the scenery and this time there wasn't a line so, we dipped in and were quickly served. Ice cream was great and the waffle cone sealed the deal. As others have said, it is a tad pricey and there can be lines at peak times. but your paying for ice cream on the waterfront. Enjoy! read more

This is the best ice cream ever! You won't regret giving it a try. It is not overly sweet but full of ingredients and flavor.

I will always recommend ice cream social. They are local, fresh and have options for everyone. Non-dairy, vegan, sorbets and creamy selections. Their cones are made fresh in house, you can get single, split single scoop, doubles, cones and cups. You can also get pints to go. It's ALWAYS CONSISTENTLY DELICIOUS! read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Chocolate Orange on top of cranberry orange in a cone - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

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Currently pregnant and drove 25 minutes, one-way (with my husband and two toddlers) after dinner from Federal Way JUST to have a their cookies-n-cream icecream, after having it once before. We wanted to get out for a drive and get some wind in our face so we werent planning on getting off of the car, with exception for myself who waited in line. After paying and while waiting for my order, they delivered my entire order incorrectly - some incorrectly doubled, some in cups, and some in cones. When i repeated my order, they let me know they ran out of cookies-n-cream, which they failed to mention as I requested 4 orders (2 of which were doubles) of cookies-n-cream before paying. They were pretty busy and pushed me along when I stood there in shock (realizing not only did I drive this far and already paid for this order) hoping we could remedy my situation or at least return/get my money back as I would not have order doubles on part of my order. The young gal just thanked me for understanding and pushed me along but I was pretty disappointed and upset since it's not a cheap place. read more

I may or may not have come to the ice cream social store by Tacoma general every week while I was in my final trimester of pregnancy back in '15, and I may or may not have gained a large amount of weight due to that consistency and lack of self-control that I displayed.... I moved away and had forgotten about this place until I saw it on yelp again now that I have since moved back. I had to give it a shout out from what I remember it being. I should go get me another cone sometime! I remember there being very unique flavors and the taste was just amazing along with the creaminess of it. I remember the employees being helpful and those yummy Stroop waffles were delicious as well! read more

Yummy! Stopped in for a snack! Really delicious ice cream! I had the mint chip and cookies n cream. Both were really nice. Cone was good too! I love the smell of cones being made when you come in too. Such a nice area as well. Love the location. My only suggestion is to improve the atmosphere and seating inside. It's a little basic and not super inviting in there. But it gets the job done. read more

Ice Cream Social - Ruston - Outside on a cloudy day. - Desserts Near Me - Ruston, Washington

My wife and I are ice cream snobs and while the inside is cute the LINE & ice cream are NOT WORTH IT! For a cone that's made right infront of you I expected better. Honestly you're better off with Ben & Jerry's for the price. read more

Friendly staff! There are no samples currently but I wanted to try a little of the pistachio; the staff happily gave me a small scoop atop my cone rather than doing half and half of two flavors. We had blueberry, cookies & cream, pistachio and chocolate peanut caramel swirl -- all delicious! Waffle cones are made in house and we're quite tasty! Employees are strict on customers wearing masks; they will provide one if needed. There is only one table inside but there are more tables outside. read more

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