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    Lake Effect Artisan Ice Cream

    4.6 (354 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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    Anna G.

    This would be a super fun place to take kids to try different and interesting ice cream flavors. I went on a weekend night so it was pretty busy. The line lasted about 15 minutes so not too bad. I got the flight of 5 which is a generous size for 1 person if you're hungry or 2 people if you want something lighter. Some of the flavors were a bit too strange for me but some were excellent classic flavors. The 5 I got and their rankings: 1. Salty caramel: excellent, a classic 2. Peanut butter epiphany: another classic with a nice strong peanut butter flavor 3. Frozen hot chocolate: nice, light chocolate flavor 4. Sesame: the most unique I would say. I didn't enjoy the flavor much but it was fun to try 5. Paula's glazed donut: not a huge fan of this because the donut pieces were stale Overall a fun and enjoyable experience you should definitely try.

    Caramel Corn Crunch
    David E.

    Spoons down... it's been decided. This is the best ice cream in Buffalo. Perhaps even the best ice cream in north western New York. The flight is a great way to try a lot of ice cream with mini scoops. But if you're up to a large amount of ice cream, the sundaes are amazing. I had the Caramel Corn Crunch and the caramel corn as a topping was inspired, giving a nice crunch. Service was quick and the interior was a nice place to get out of the rain. Just be warned no inside seating, just a counter you can stand at.

    Trio
    Jamie K.

    The best ice cream I have had in a long time. This place was popping when I got there. The prices are very cheap compared to others. Have scoops! One scoop is enough for dessert! I was shocked when I saw how big they were. There is a "sample size" - omg that is amazing. 5 or 9 mini scoops! That's epic!!! Totally worth trying!! Would love to have this by me. This is a 10/10!

    Strawberry ice cream with hot fudge and rainbow sprinkles
    Elira M.

    Listen I wouldn't have gotten that sundae just for myself had I known how large it was, but DANG was it good

    Today's choices
    Linda M.

    After reading a review the other day from a fellow yelper, Rita j, I was reminded that I had to get over to Lake Effect. I've been to their location in Lockport but never here. So many interesting choices! I love going thru their long descriptive menu. Great to have so much variety but hard to choose. I decided on the black raspberry truffle with dark chocolate chunks. They didn't skimp on the chocolate chunks. Chocolate makes everything better! My husband ordered a revolution coffee milkshake. Coffee supplies by Public Expresso. Both were excellent! Nice place with outside walk up counter and plenty of picnic tables. Though I prefer the Lockport location only because it has an indoor counter where you can actually see the different ice creams. 2023-63

    Coffee Boba, we tossed both of ours
    oralia l.

    Artisanal ice cream is the BEST! We made a stop here after visiting the falls and it was 100% worth it! The flavors are amazing and the ice cream is so high quality. The customer service was great Their prices are great Quality outstanding I'd personally pass on the boba. The texture of the boba is very thick with an unpleasant, it's gummy not chewy. The coffee flavor in it was very artificial Definitely get ice cream

    Julie C.

    I love going here on a beautiful sunny ice cream craving day. The only thing is...SO DOES EVERYONE ELSE LOL it's so crowded with long lines here on a perfect day, not the worst wait though and by the time you get your ice cream all those frustrations dissolve. Great hugeeeee portions!!! Expect to feel nauseous afterwards .... They have nice outdoor seating and sometimes I have to wait a couple minutes but usually end up getting a seat.

    Emily B.

    They don't miss. I've ordered their pre order packages and they're always AMAZING! Have been many times for just ice cream at the shop as well. Always wonderful

    Single scoop of Paula's Glazed Donuts
    Lindsay D.

    This cute little ice cream shop was exactly what my family needed one late night after dinner despite it starting to get cold outside. We got a strawberry milkshake, a single scoop in a bowl, and a single scoop in a waffle cone, and we ate like kings. The flavors were fun and original and flavorful. The employees were friendly, attentive, and quick; what more could you want? The parking is a bit tight, but thankfully it's not like they were jam packed and parking was a premium. Just something to keep in mind for the summer months.

    Yum!
    Laura G.

    So glad they are open during the winter, because just because it's cold out, doesn't mean I stop loving ice cream. Also super happy that they have seasonal flavors like Eggnog and Jingle Cookie. I was hoping to try both holiday ice creams, but didn't want to eat too much before dinner. My son said he was willing to help, so we ordered "two of the smallest scoops you have." After we saw the first dish, we knew there was no way we could finish another bowl, so unfortunately we decided to stick with just one flavor. The Jingle Cookie had that nostalgic flavor that I love, plenty of cookie bites, and a smooth, creamy texture. Very impressed by this ice cream scoop. I only wish they had kiddie size scoops so that I could have tried Eggnog. Would love if they could put a small table or some tall stools for seating inside during the winter, because it's not as enjoyable eating in the car and by the time I get home, it's soup. Definitely some top-notch, locally made ice cream in the Buffalo area. Good spot to take out-of-towners.

    June 30, 2022
    Anna W.

    Even with five-star rated ice cream, this location is not going to be my destination any more. It's just me, and I know they could do much, much better. I remember from the past a nice raised patio in the front of the building, with umbrellas and clean picnic tables. Nowadays, there's not a single shelter from the pounding sun on a hot day. Also, all the picnic tables are covered with peeling paint, dirt and ours had additional sticky ice cream. It was a hot day, and we already did some walking before we got there. The little room on the side was closed to the public, unfortunately. Being tired from the heat I was hoping to have a scoop or two while enjoying some air conditioning. It wasn't the case. You order and pay at one window, and pick up at the second window. It's an easy and fast process. After they discontinued making my favorite 'Butterbeer', I don't have any flavor in mind which I really crave. I still like 'Strawberries & Cream', and my partner always goes for 'Black Sesame'. Can't wait to get my first ever ice cream flight this summer to figure out which flavor is The One after the mourned 'Butterbeer'. I'll definitely visit the Lockport location for that. P.S. I received this message a few days ago. Thanks a lot! It seems like Lake Effect Ice Cream on Hertel Ave. could be a five star experience again. Nice:) "I just read your review that you posted yesterday. 'Butterbeer' just came back to the shop yesterday. And we just dropped off all brand new tables at the Buffalo shop three days ago. We have been working on the tables for the past few weeks and just were able to get them to the Buffalo shop. 'Butterbeer' was never discontinued, it couldn't be made until just now because one of the ingredients we need has been on backorder for two months."

    Loganberry and London Fog ice creams!
    Kate M.

    It's ice cream season! Buffalo is the first place I've lived that has four distinct seasons...and I love that summertime means ice cream for everyone! I have been wanting to make it to Lake Effect for quite a while now, and it totally lived up to its reputation. I went here with a friend on a hot day after a long walk, so it was the perfect time for ice cream! I had seen a lot of great photos here on Yelp and my expectations were high. I had no idea what to choose, but the earl grey tea flavor, London Fog, sounded interesting...and, being pretty new to Buffalo, I felt like I had to try the Loganberry flavor, too. The Loganberry was served a bit soft, so it was reminiscent of gelato, not a big problem...but I'm not sure I'd get that flavor again. The London Fog was firm and delicious! The price is good at $4.50 for two scoops. It was so big that I had to bring some home. I was very happy! (And it actually refroze really well.) I'm definitely excited to take my husband here, he's going to go nuts! And I can't wait to get back and try more flavors myself.

    Wayne B.

    Always a safe bet to bring the kids, also for adult treats. Plentiful options, things you wouldn't even think about wanting in an ice cream. I got black sesame ice cream, and it was amazing! (sampled first) Seating area is great, though it might be nice if they screened it in, as the bees love their ice cream, too. PS. My dogs definitely loved the pup cups.

    Meyer lemon.

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    Milkshakes are totally delicious. We will be back and look forward to trying other flavors. :-)

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    I love that you have black sesame ice cream! (All the best cities do.) It was delicious. Thank you!

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Lake Effect Artisan Ice Cream

    Does anyone know if the hertel location is open all year round?

    For the first time they will be open year-round this year!

    Do they make their own ice cream OR sell someone else's ice cream?

    They make it.

    What's your favorite flavors!?

    The peach Bellini was incredible!

    Do they have sugar-free flavors as well?

    Unfortunately they don't.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    At a Yelp Elite event at Brazen Brewing a couple years ago, I sampled a few of Living the Cream's…read moreflavors and took his card. I'll be honest, I've been putting off ordering a few pints because I didn't want to make the effort/time for picking it up. Thanks to a dear friend, a fellow Yelp Elite, I've FINALLY had the opportunity to try some pints, and holy smokes, Living the Cream is phenomenal! Note that in to order flavors, you'll want to follow "livingthecream_" on Instagram, "living_the_cream_" on Facebook, which showcases any new flavors being crafted and hosts the link to place your order. I tried two flavors: Oreo Brownie Smash and Orangey Eggnog Stracciatella. Oreo Brownie Smash is Oreo cookie ice cream with brownie batter swirls, Oreo cookies & cream cookie dough, and half-baked brownies and Orangey Eggnog Stracciatella is spiced eggnog ice cream infused with Jim Beam and Platter's dark orange chocolate stracciatella. Just. WOW! Absolutely no complaints, each was bursting with flavor and packed with so many mix-ins. I loved finding huge Oreo cookies & cream cookie dough chunks and just how chocolatey Oreo Brownie Smash was thanks to all the brownie bits swirled in. The Orangey Eggnog Stracciatella had the creamy, comforting flavor of eggnog with a nice nip of Jim Beam that let you know it was there but never overpowering. The crunchy bits of the dark orange chocolate stracciatella cut through all the creaminess, only elevating the ice cream overall. Opening both pints, I was super impressed how jam-packed they were - It took a bit of effort to get the lids off, the pint was on the cusp of overflowing! So I didn't order these pints so I can't give you the most accurate pricing info, but after trying a couple flavors, I'm happy to order a few pints myself without thinking too much about the cost. I'm really glad Living the Cream is out here, churning up amazing ice cream flavors for Buffalo! As a few other Yelp reviews mention, make a little room in your freezer and treat yo'self to a couple pints of some of the creamiest, mix-in full ice cream you'll ever have!

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    Rosie's Handcrafted Ice Cream - Rosie charms

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    4.5(24 reviews)
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    Pictured: Oreo milk ice cream…read more BuffaliciousBites gives Rosie's Handcrafted Ice Cream 5 stars!

    Previously, I had only been to their EA location. I was surprised to walk in and see a bar to the…read moreleft & the ice cream selection on the right. There were no patrons at the bar when I visited, but it was around 1ish in the middle of the week, so not too surprising. There is both indoor and outdoor seating for enjoying your ice cream or beverage. There is also a big glass window where you can see the ice cream makers in action... How neat is that?! I had to get a cinnamon waffle cone because they are made in house and absolutely delicious! Not to mention, I've never seen a cinnamon waffle cone elsewhere and I love cinnamon! That was the easy decision... Then I had to narrow it down to just 3 different flavors to get in my cone. I ended up choosing off the seasonal menu because I don't get out Rosie's way often; I got the Spiced Mocha, Joshalicious and 42 Drunken Raisins (see descriptions in pics). I enjoyed them all as I usually do when I have ice cream. It's tough for me to meet an ice cream that I don't enjoy. I love that Rosie's has such creative flavors too. They even have one with crickets in it that I want to try called Cherry Chirp. Unfortunately it was not on the menu this time. The service was fast & friendly. I would definitely visit again and wish there was a location closer to Lockport!

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    4.6(199 reviews)
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    To the Point:…read more Ordered $150 plus worth of product that was acknowledged but I never received. (Previously shopped at Watson's Chocolates, East Amherst,, Never had issues.....) Sadly disappointed at the customer service. I contacted the store for delivery specifics and I submitted an order online on the afternoon,12/16/25. I was informed by the (young sounding, likely high school age) employee that the orders usually ship 1-3 business days (according to the website US priority mail) but with the holiday may be up to 5 business days.....ok that will still work. I received an email shortly after I ordered online that the order was accepted and being processed. Card was charged on 12/17/25. Order was to have the items during the Christmas holiday. 12/27/25 No order arrived. I sent an email to address listed on website, inquiring about my order. STRIKE 1 12/30/25- NO response from mgt. STRIKE 2 12/30/25 called the store requesting to speak with a manager, request refused. Employee instructed me to send email to the address listed. I stated that had already had been done, had not received a reply, and requested again to speak with a manager, Denied. Employee stated and attempted to check store data base regarding order. Was told that they didn't have the access level to check deeper, Thus the reason to speak with a manager... No information, tracking regarding my order was accessed STRIKE 3 Was told it would be looked into and I would be notified via phone. I understand holiday is busy mail season, US Priority states 1-3 business days, 9 Business days later, no order arrived. Poor service and no confidence in any further order deliveries, based on my experience.

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    I kept reading the hype about Sweet Jesus so on my last visit through Niagara Falls, the hubby and…read moreI decided to stop and get a sweet treat. Our consensus was that this place is definitely over-hyped. Neither of us was a fan of the ice cream here, and it's one of our favorite desserts. It has a weird consistency that doesn't even taste all that creamy, and the plain vanilla has zero flavor. The ice cream had a very light and fluffy texture that was unappealing, sort of like Cool Whip versus real whipped cream. I prefer my ice cream very thick and creamy. The flavor comes from the toppings, which were also a little bit boring. There are lots of weird sounding flavor combinations that they call "cone builds" that have sauces and toppings that are over the top, but we opted for a cone with cookie crumbs and cookie dough for me, and Oreo for him. The cookie crumbs were very stale and the cookie dough just tasted like regular old cookie dough topping, nothing special. I also thought the ice cream shop was very dirty. It didn't seem very clean or sanitary and if that sort of thing bothers you'd I'd recommend skipping this place. The toppings were falling all over the counter, which was an absolutely gross mess, and our cones were given to us already dripping and sticky (yuck). The prices are high but then again, that's to be expected since this location is right on the main tourist drag in Niagara Falls. It's right at the end of the street by the falls, so you can walk over and eat your ice cream and look at the water. We paid like $22 CAD for two mediocre ice cream cones. This is a one and done place for me for sure.

    A Bit of a Letdown This Time Around…read more We've had Sweet Jesus before--mostly at mall locations--and we've usually really enjoyed it. But this time around on Clifton Hill, it just didn't wow us. We went with milkshakes: I got the Birthday Cake, and my wife got the Mango. Hers was okay, but my Birthday Cake shake was super underwhelming. It was way too liquid-y, the cake bits had an odd texture, and the overall flavour was just bland. Normally Sweet Jesus is known for bold, indulgent treats, but this one fell flat. Also the cardboard straws are TERRIBLE. Broke a couple just trying to get them through the plastic lid. The location didn't help either--Clifton Hill has gotten way more crowded than it used to be, and this spot became chaotic pretty fast. Might've just been an off visit, but based on this experience, we'd probably stick to the mall locations next time.

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    Sweet Jesus - Sweet baby Jesus this is so good

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    Lake Effect Artisan Ice Cream - icecream - Updated May 2026

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