Sunday night. Cambridge, Mass. 3-day school break weekend for me and Mother Nature was out here…read moreacting like a straight-up fool with all this rain. But the rain didn't stop us from going out for something sweet. The debate was either grab our fave chocolate mousse in Cambridge or make a run to The Scoop N Scootery in Arlington since we had just finished with sushi not far off. Scoop won. My kid had been here before, so she already knew the drill. She gave me the whole rundown: the crazy lines, the ordering situation, what to get, how it works, all that stuff. I guess this is what young folks do. We got here at around 9+pm and I'm thinking, it's late, it's pouring, nobody is gonna be out. Wrong. Cause look at us too!!! People were still packed on the sidewalk, ordering from the outside tablet kiosk and waiting for their ice cream like it was a beautiful summer afternoon. That's when I knew this place had to be serious. Luckily, we parked out front and ordered. Brace yourself because there are LOTS of ice cream flavors, toppings, combinations, different CORE fillings... I mean- the options just kept coming! And the tablet will help you navigate how you want your finished product. Give them about 15 minutes or so before pickup. Worked out just fine for us since we were parked right outside. The ordering setting up kinda gave me pandemic flashbacks. You remember- when restaurants had tables blocking the entrance and everybody had to order from outside? That's the vibe here. But I'm also not sure if that's their regular setup or because it was almost closing time(?). I kept it simple with chocolate ice cream, chocolate sprinkles and a cannoli cream CORE. Babyyyy. First off, these folks aren't stingy with those chocolate sprinkles, any of their toppings or other add-ons. And that cannoli cream in the middle was everything! Rich, creamy and worth the calories. The chocolate ice cream might be basic- but it was delicious. Smooth, chocolatey and fresh! Not a hint of freezer-burn taste. My daughter decided to show out and went with a red velvet cake situation, s'mores and salted caramel ice cream (?). The girl literally had her cake AND ate it too! I was impressed with my first Scoop visit. The flavors are on point, the portions aren't playing around and that freaking cannoli CORE was outrageously good. I'd come back in a heartbeat. Because if a place has folks standing outside at 9pm in a straight-up downpour just to get their ice cream fix, you already know they're doing something right. And just like that, I got Scooped!

Nice ice cream shop with big portions. I've had their demogorgon, Vader, blueb and cannolis and…read morecream sundaes. I've also made a customized version of the demogorgon to add caramel core and fudge sauce. You mostly taste the toppings more than the actual ice cream. The demogorgon is great for the chocolate on chocolate craving. I didn't like the Vader as much because the frosting on top is too sweet. Cannolis and cream I subbed the Oreo frosting with their homemade whip. Their whip doesn't taste like anything sadly and their frosting is overpowering. I probably wouldn't get this again since all you taste is the chocolate chips and a hint of Oreo. The yogurt itself was bland. For the blueb sundae I love the fresh blueberries, pudding and crumb topping. It's very nice for a fruit ice cream just wish the ice cream was more flavorful. Order online for easier pickup as there is only 1 screen to take orders at and no seating inside. Quick service. Has picnic tables outside to sit and not too bad to find parking on the street. Has some little tables but limited and twinkly lights at night. Staff seemed very stressed when people crowd around and needs better organization of the pickup area vs ordering vs waiting to avoid this frustration/rudeness from the staff.

Good as ever, new flavors like peanut butter banana whip and salted cookie and cream make for an…read moreeven more interesting conglomeration of flavors overall. Open till midnight on weekends. Yum!

I went in here a couple weeks ago and I just totally forgot to leave a review and I feel so bad…read morebecause the man behind the counter was so welcoming and friendly. He Let me and my friend try numerous different flavors. Everyone was delicious but I got the blueberry cheesecake that was just Unbelievable. It really was. I try not to eat unhealthy but it was just too good to not finish the whole thing and wanna go back and I've been back and they've been super accommodating every time so many different flavors so many toppings you really can't go wrong with anything in there. The ambience is great. It's beautiful inside super clean ton of space Definitely a hidden gem because Belmont has a lot of different ice cream places, but nothing compares to this one.

Good soft serve and solid mix of regular ice cream flavors available. The ice cream server hooked…read moreit up mixing Oreos and vanilla manually to create a great cookies and cream. Right next to the old homey Arlington theater.

The best place in East Arlington. Super friendly staff and the prices are so reasonable. There are…read morea few tables outside and a ton of tables inside. The ice cream is from Richardsons, and it's so good. They also have soft serve. Love, love, love coming here. Sometimes we get an Italian ice for a walk on a hot day. We

Best ice cream in the city (Richardson's is best on the north shore) IMHO. The vanilla is so…read moredelicate and creamy. I love to get this with chocolate sprinkles. I also appreciate the risks they take with new flavors. There are vegan and dairy free options as well as cakes and pints to go. Love this place. The kids at the service counter are sweet. There are seats inside at tables or outside on benches. Parking is easy at meter spots on the street.

I am a long-time Rancatores fan, which makes it all the more painful to write this disappointed but…read morehonest review. Rancatores prices have notably increased over the last few years (up to $7.50 for a small!), but I have remained a loyal customer due to the ice cream's superior quality. However, as serving sizes have become less generous alongside rising prices, it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify my patronage. Last Sunday, I went to the Rancatores Belmont location and received the following serving for a small. I included the (normal-sized) plastic spoon for scale to demonstrate the minuscule size of the scoops. It's one thing to say that a small is two scoops (though it is not described as such), but even if you believe that, two half-sized scoops does not cut it! I love Rancatores, but I was left feeling upset and robbed after my last visit. I want this local business to succeed, but I hope they can better control the quantity and quality of their product. Until then, I fear I will be staying away from Rancatores.

Went for a walk to CB Scoops on a warm day after a series of snow storms and I think a lot of…read morepeople had the same idea. Store was packed! I love Richardson's Ice cream so it was a great surprise to find out that they have it here. I got the mint chocolate chip and coffee and my partner got the shamrock shake ( a special before Saint Patrick's Day). Both were very delicious. The shake was a lot more in volume than we expected so we weren't able to finish it. Highly recommend here if you're in the area and craving a sweet treat! Also noted that there was a sign saying they stopped selling food due to low demand and sales. What a shame!

Very cute local ice cream shop, nice treat after a long two hour hot outdoor college tour at Tufts.read more

Solid delicious stuff! A bit pricy ($4 for a kiddie cone!) but the portions are generous (said…read morekiddie cone is plenty for most adults). Great flavor options (the pineapple was fantastic!) but the classics are there and great too. COVID Note: scooper gloved but not masked, service through a window.

Delish frozen custard and friendly staff. I always switch it up since they have seasonal flavors…read more Such a treat!

An incredible ice cream spot in Cambridge! Perfect for relaxing, catching up with friends, or doing…read moresome work - there is some seating, outlets, and wifi. Everyone is so kind, great music, all around an amazing vibe. Their ice cream is one of a kind. If you are with a couple of friends, I think the best bang for your buck and the best way to sample a bunch of flavors is to get a flight. It comes in a cute egg carton and it's a great way to share. I love their banana pudding and strawberry rhubarb. They have some dairy-free and sorbet options too. Outside of their ice cream, they have some pastries that look delicious as well as coffee and matcha. Would love to come back over and over again to try different seasonal flavors and fill up my punch card.

Yum! We stopped by for ice cream and I really wanted to try the banana pudding. They had a…read moreseasonably blackberry pie flavor as well so I got a split single scoop in a cup. Loved the banana pudding which tasted just like banana bread with the aroma of a baked good. The blackberry pie was good too but a bit too sweet for my liking. I do wish I got more banana bread as it seemed like my scoops were mostly blackberry pie but it was a nice stop for an afternoon sweet treat.

Best soft serve / maple creemee around!! Dare I say their…read moremaple creemee is better than ones we've had in Vermont Love stopping by on summer afternoons or evenings! The window solely for soft serve helps keep the line moving without disrupting shoppers inside for groceries.

Went here a couple of weeks ago and the cashier was extremely slow. We waited 15 minutes in line…read moreonly for him to say they may have ran out of ice cream as we got to the front of it but they should have more soon. When it was our turn he just walked off and started messing with the machine. Then another lady came out and the two of them were working on the machine for another 10 minutes. No one said anything to all of us waiting, they just had a line of people standing there without addressing anyone. When someone finally asked if they had any left and the lady said no not until tomorrow. Just really awful customer service and a poor way to run things.

Love Rancatore's, a local icecream and frozen yogurt spot that I have come to since I was a kid…read more They have rotating homemade flavors so you can always enjoy something different. There's classic flavors like cookie dough, but also more unique ones like ginger snap molasses. Today I tried the cocoa joel--chocolate icecream with chocolate chips and oreo pieces. It was creamy and the oreo pieces and chocolate paired nicely together. I usually like getting a cup or cone, which sizes range from micro to large. Or if you want to get a frappe you can do that as well! They also sell pints to go and ice cream cakes which is a nice option. A little pricey but it's homemade so you pay for the quality. Sometimes there is a line but usually it moves quickly. Lots of seating inside or you can take it to go and eat outside around the center if the weathers nice. Pro tip: They have complimentary magnets you can take one as a souvenir!

Came here for the first time with a group of friends after dinner. Hubby and myself each ordered a…read moresmall cup. My flavors were black sesame and cookie dough ice cream. Total for 2 small cups came out to approximately $15 (not including tip). What's Hot - Quality. Delicious. Wonderful flavor and not too sweet, which I definitely appreciate. The black sesame flavor I ordered was subtle, exactly how black sesame should be. The dough in the cookie dough ice cream was a good texture and not goopy. - Variety. Awesome! I was pleasantly surprised they had a black mochi flavor, which is rare. There were standard flavors like cookie dough, strawberry, cookies and cream, etc.... There were additional flavors that are not common, including kulfi, which includes pistachio and cardamom. Their staffers also told me that certain flavors, like black sesame, are seasonal, so something to be aware of. They also sell pup cups (yes, for your pet), pints, quarts, ice cream cakes of small, medium, and large sizes. - Cost. For 2 small cups at $15 is not unreasonable, especially given the quality of the ice cream. - Service. Pretty good. We were able to ask for samples before we made an order. My friends and I were there on a relatively busy evening. When my husband and I asked for specific samples, their staffers talked to each other to ensure who was helping whom, to streamline service and our orders, which I found very helpful. All the staffers I talked to were sweet and helpful. When I asked them questions about specific flavors, they had answers, including providing me contextual information. - Layout. There is indoor seating, including tables and chairs, and high bar seating area. It's spacious enough inside to accommodate customers whether they stand or sit to eat, including just looking at what they have. - Location. Fairly easy to find and conveniently located to other shops and restaurants. - Parking. There is street parking available and parking lots nearby, but availability will depend on day and time you come. What's Not - Acoustics. They play music at a relatively loud volume. Noise carries easily inside. As such, it's difficult to hear others, including having a conversation with those you are with. - Parking. There is street parking, but availability will depend on the day and time you arrive, so be prepared to not find parking; spending time looking for parking, and; walking. Final Answer Definitely a place worth returning.

Cannot go wrong with this place. Perfect classic ice cream cone with really great range of flavors…read morefrom basic to more fun flavors. You can sample all flavors and they have milkshakes, sundaes, etc. Service was really awesome! Place is really small so perfect to buy and eat elsewhere or on a walk. Butter crunch is INSANE and salted caramel pretzel was seasonal, really good if you like texture variety. I got a small in the cone total $8.75. Coming back for sureee

A niche ice cream shop in Harvard Square. Located in a relatively quiet alley, it's not crowded,…read morebut the ice cream is excellent. Charles River Crunch: Signature flavor. Rich and smooth like peanut butter, with a pure and intense bittersweet flavor from the dark chocolate, and crunchy almond toffee bits. The first few bites were delicious, but it got a bit cloying after a while, and frankly, it did not look very appetizing... Coconut: American coconut ice cream was as satisfying as ever. A light and natural sweetness. Butter Crunch: Not too sweet, with a subtle buttery aroma. Colombian Fudge Avalanche: Dark chocolate and Colombian coffee, rich, full-bodied, and with layers of flavor. Chocolate Orgy: Dark chocolate ice cream with dark chocolate chips. Frozen on the firmer side, the chocolate chips are quite hard; I didn't like the texture. The shop is small, with two bar stools inside and a table and two chairs outside. It's basically only for takeout.