Ahh. Parkside Candy. A historical gem open since the 1920s. As others have mentioned, the character of this place is truly one of the primary reasons for visiting it -- aside from the delicious soup and ice cream! While some claim their ice cream is home made, it's NOT -- it's actually Turkey Hill ice cream (but still DAMN good!). Don't expect pretentious, fancy service either, here you'll come and find true Buffalo character. From their food, I have tried the soup (they were serving chicken noodle today). It was $2.50 for a bowl and full of savory deliciousness. The kind of soup that is hearty and great to have when you're sick (or when you're healthy). There's not too many vegetarian options here, although you can get an egg salad sandwich (which I have not tried). You want to come here for the decor, the great prices and the character. Come enjoy the history of Buffalo at Parkside Candy. read more

I love this place been going there since I was a kid riding my bike there with my friends now I can take my kids there now my girlfriend loves it a nice family business great prices everybody need to come here 5 stars read more

I want to love this place, I really do.. But it just doesn't quite hit the bar.. So this review is only for the candy. I can't really comment on it's other sweet offerings. First of all, this place has so much potential. It's got a lot of charm and character. But to be honest, it's in quite disrepair. From the outside, this place looks abandoned.. The paint is peeling, the sconces and trims are gouged and stained... It looks decrepit. I can only imagine what it used to look like in its heyday. However not everything is gloomy... The inside is a lot cuter than the outside. The cabinets are filled will adorable pyramids of chocolate and candy. But even still... Things look a bit dirty and in disrepair. There is so much potential. Most of the hardware seems original and turn of the century but things seem to be caked with decades of grime and layers of paint. But it's cute. The place has such an air to it. It doesn't take much of an imagination to see what this place must have looked like a hundred years ago with bright candy striped soda jerks and bins of candy. The candy in itself was also a bit of a disappointment... I bought an assortment of dipped chocolate bonbons - some jellies, caramels, toffees, and nougets.. Also a pack of sponge candy. The chocolate they used is disappointing. It's got a bit of grain to it and doesn't quite snap like it's been tempered properly. The prices are reasonable but things don't taste like what I would expect from a historical candy boutique. I also bought some lollipops and those were also... A bit of a letdown. Again I really want to love this place. If even just for the appreciation of how old it is. But there needs to be some changes and a bit of a facelift before it can again become a central Buffalonian institution. read more

Parkside Candy - What a secret gem of a place! - Candy Stores Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Very handsome interior.. look up at the ceiling. The ice cream was very mediocre (choc peanut butter). $3.50 single scoop. 2 stars for SLOW. Another body working would really help. read more

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Um is this not the cutest desert place ever?! After grabbing brunch with my roommates we didn't want the food to end so we decided to stop by parkside for dessert. The candy and chocolate can be a bit pricey but come here for the ice cream! We got the grandma special which was 8 ice cream scoops with loads of topping for less than 10$! This is an extremely adorable place for a date or even just a great way to end the day. Plus the staff members have the sweetest smiles! read more

Parkside Candy - Candy Stores Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Free samples! Cute inside! Reasonable prices! I didn't try the ice cream but bought lots of chocolates for gifts.

This time went back for some ice cream. A few basic sundaes but served in metal (rather than disposable) dishes. Prices low for what you get (was that a $4 chocolate chip cookie sundae?) And water served in mini Coke glasses. Woodwork is holding up, but not the upholstery in the nook bench. Not sure why Yelp (or Parkside) resists being also categorized as an ice cream shop here - I'd think it'd drive more business to them, and boost candy sales. But it is also true that ice cream is not mentioned at their website. As it is, Parkside remains a unique experience that can't be directly judged against other ice cream options in the area. read more

The candy itself is fantastic. The only reason for the one star is the service. The man who helped us was at first kind, gave us 2 free samples and was pretty knowledgeable about the different types and flavors of candy. That kindness only lasted until he found out we were only buying suckers and a few single pieces of chocolate. I attempted to pay with my debit card since I wasn't carrying any cash and he basically laughed at me. He said since it was less than 5 dollars they really weren't making any money and refused to allow me to pay with my debit card, claiming since he gave us free samples we should have spent more. He was a fucking prick. No other way to put it. read more

I went here on a Sunday night with my father, brother and daughter for some ice cream. This place has recently been restored to its original glory and when you walk in the doors it's like you're being transported back in time. Even the employees are dressed like how they did back in the day. When we arrived we were the only customers and were greeted by a friendly man with a great smile. He told us to have a seat and they would bring us some menus. We opted to sit in the booth at the back of the shop. We were given menus and I expected there to be only ice cream but to my surprise this ice cream shop offers actual food too. Just sandwiches and small stuff but nonetheless good to note for the next time I come here. Seeing as we were there for ice cream we browsed the ice cream selections. They have what you would expect, sundaes, floats, cones, shakes, etc. Along with a variety of ice cream selections and cones. I ordered a small hot fudge sundae with whipped cream (whipped cream costs extra), my brother had a large hot fudge sundae with whipped cream, my dad also had a large hot fudge sundae but I whipped cream and my daughter had a double scoop of cookies and cream ice cream on a regular cone. The waitress took our order and our ice cream came out 5 minutes later. All I can say is....the ice cream...the whipped cream....that hot fudge....SO GOOD SO DELICIOUSLY GOOD. I can't even begin to describe how good it was. I devoured that sundae, as did my dad and brother devour theirs. That is how a sundae should be. The whipped cream is what I loved the most, it was real fresh whipped cream with just the right amount of sweetness. So good. After we ate we checked out the shop. Drooling over the candies in the display cases. The sell pretty much any candy you would like and it's all locally made behind the store in their factory (support local). All in all we had a GREAT experience here. The shop was gorgeous, the employees extremely friendly and courteous. I will definitely be back. read more

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So if you're looking for something new, modern, and hip ... this isn't the place. However if you are looking for something vintage and classic this is the candy shop for you. There were two ladies working and very helpful and knew much of their products. I got to try something Buffalo and enjoyed it, the Sponge Candy (dark/milk) I actually liked the dark more. So Sponge Candy is sort of like a airy puffy butter finger. I wasn't a fan of the milk chocolate buffalo. They had a ton of assortment of chocolates, gummies, taffies, they also sold sandwiches? and shakes and sundaes! I really enjoyed the small touchdown I had. (it has like vanilla, chocolate, peanut butter mixed into it!) had it topped with whipcream, marsh mallow fluff, and a cherry on top. Haven't had a sundae like that in forever! Candy is made in a factory near I believe I was told from the employee. read more

Parkside Candy - Get the touchdown! A rewarding 6! - Candy Stores Near Me - Buffalo, New York

The employees were super friendly. Nice selection of candies. The sponge candy is terrific.

The place is beautiful inside. And the chocolate is ok. I was sad to find out that the ice cream is Turkey Hill ice cream. To bad it is not homemade. And the toppings for the ice cream tasted very processed. Nothing seem to be homemade. read more

Nothing has changed at this location since I was a kid, since my mother was a kid, and when my grandmother used to go. I'm loving the sea foam green married with brown trim and the detail in the walls and ceilings. Hands down the best place to get Banana splits and they have sandwiches too! I haven't tried them myself, but the service at the table brings back the traditional ways of a malt and chocolate shop. On the one hand, paying for the bill was tough, especially if you wanted to get chocolate to go there doesn't seem to be a concrete System if a crown forms. My mother and I were the first to pay, and we were browsing the chocolate. Once we knew what we wanted, that was when employees made themselves unavailable. Once we ate there was no follow up for questions about their products, and when we were ready it took a lot of work to get assistance. There wasn't clear signage on the process to order nor was their a designation of a line or a check out area. We were skipped by two people although our order was in the back. A minor issue, hence the four stars for the rest of the experience. I think there was a cultural component on our end. The set up is more like a mom and pop butcher than the usual structured retail space we are used to today. read more

This is my second time here but I regret even walking back into this building. I walked in and was looked at by an employee but no welcome from anyone. I looked around for a while then I sat down. That's when an older woman asked if I was waiting for the bus or waiting for an order and I said I was looking at ice cream flavors. I left out for a second but came back in and that's when I went back to the ice cream part and the older woman came back to ask if I'd be serviced. She then got the younger girl to make me an ice cream. No one wore hair nets, gloves, or cleaned their hands in anyway. I asked if they had hand sanitizer and the older woman said "..uh you can wash your hands in the bathroom, right through that door" but she seemed to busy to show me where the door was bc they're mirrors and look undetectable to me. The older woman then said "You better be buying something" while I was trying my THIRD sample. The younger girl attending to me asked for my spoon, that was in my mouth, back when I asked to try another ice cream. Overall the service is bad and the people are weird. read more

Parkside Candy - coconut and moose tracks - Candy Stores Near Me - Buffalo, New York

What a find!!! Once again, I owe thanks to Jan and Michael Sterns book of 500 places to visit before they're gone (or something like that). The building looks perfectly innocent. We had no idea the low key exterior would be hiding such a beautiful old fashioned candyshop. The center of the shop houses old school icecream shoppe tables encircled by counters selling homemade ice cream, and some of the best chocolates and candys I've had in years-- all handmade in the attached factory building. The domed ceiling; the glass tiny windows; even the design of the counters all reminded me of places we bought candy when we were kids, and the ladies that worked there really seem to love working there and all of that added to the experience. We bought old fashioned hand made lollipops, SO good, in every flavor-- butterscotch, strawberry swirl, rootbeer, peach, grape and even chocolate. There were tons of truffles, but more importantly, they had WONDERFUL solid milk and white chocolates-- in bar form, on sticks like lollipops, or shaped like buffalos. So creamy they made a hershey bar seem like a joke. The icecream was fantastic and old school too, and while there were lots of creative flavors, when the ice cream itself is this good, you really dont need to look any further than the vanilla or chocolate. If you are anywhere near Buffalo, NY a visit to Parkside Candy is a must-do trip. read more

Man, this is a two sided review. Lower stars for the ice cream. Higher stars for the ambience and experience. So... I'll settle on three stars unfortunately. Took my 3 year old here for an early Valentine's Day treat. We waited until 12pm on that Sunday b/c that's when it opened--- yet when we got there, the signs said they had special hours for Valentine's Day weekend and they opened at 9am. I checked their Facebook and Twitter accounts beforehand and they mentioned NOTHING about these special hours. C'mon guys - you have the accounts, use them to update your customers! We bought some Valentine's day candy --- all delicious! Their quality of chocolate is top notch and their sponge candy is better than ANYWHERE else in Buffalo. We've tried over 2 dozen places and have yet to find the same ratio of chocolate to sponge, quality of chocolate, and "meltiness" of the sponge when you touch your tongue to it. We got ourselves a couple sundaes but were disappointed. $4.25 for a small and there was probably less than a full scoop of ice cream in there. My cookies and cream ice cream was gritty/grainy and tasted like it had freezerburn. Not worth the money by any stretch. The news reports that they spent major $$$$ on significant renovations. It looks pretty similar inside, just more "touched up" and less run down. However, they are far from complete. My daughter wanted to sit in the cute curved bench nook, but there was still tons of water damage, it looked like the cushion had been pulled up, and there were exposed staples and rotted rood splinters sticking up. Yuck. And not safe. The bathrooms are also still a DISASTER - peeling (lead???) paint all over the walls, zero updates whatsoever, and no working cold water. This was *terrible* because after we ate our sundaes, my toddler had goopy, sticky marshmallow sauce all over her hands & we had 3 seconds to wash it all off before SCALDING hot water came burning out of the faucet. No good. This is a MUST to repair ASAP for the safety of your customers. A sign is not acceptable for more than a couple days - call in a plumber and have it corrected. Based on the condition of the sign, it looks like it's been this way for a WHILE now. How are your employees *adequately * washing their hands before handling food? You can't wash for more than a couple seconds before burning yourself! yuck. I don't like to think about it. :( So... go for the chocolate and the (renovated) ambience. But don't look too closely at the details until they're finished (and I certainly hope they still have more to do...) read more

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What is not to love about this place? The inside character is stunning - I even brought my whole bridal party here for pictures and to enjoy an old fashioned milkshake. They have a simple menu of soups and sandwiches, which I have heard are good. I have had a banana split and milkshake there - and they were scrumptious! read more

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A local classic whose somewhat-worn exterior appearance does not belie its incredible interior. Absolutely adorable art deco-ish, semi-Victorian looking features that have changed little since its opening decades ago paired with some diner-style seating and rows of glorious house-made candies and sweets. As a lollipop addict this place is the TITS for unusual flavors and a very reasonably-priced alternative to grocery store "old fashioned" lollies - they even have a kind that tastes like apple pie! They also have a short but tasty menu of sandwiches that can be paired with daily selections from their small soup bar for a very reasonable price, along with the obligatory ice cream and shakes. The staff tends to be older, so they are always on their game and knowledgable about the product, however they can have a tendency towards being somewhat cantankerous. This is one of those rare places that the experience of looking around is just as satisfying as the goods you actually purchase - it gives you a tiny glimmer of the grandeur old Buffalo must have enjoyed, when immense pride was taken in how a business was designed and adorned. read more

This is my favorite ice cream shop in Buffalo. Great location for UB students. Very friendly staff. And a very beautiful looking place. read more

Parkside Candy - Parkside Candy Interior - Candy Stores Near Me - Buffalo, New York

This frozen-in-time chocolate shop is as adorable as it is authentic. Beautiful dark wood fills the interior, and small original tiles cover the floor. The place is almost to large, except for the fact that it's the original, so you can ignore the fact that the space is too big for it's current offerings. The middle section that displays the goods feels awkwardly setup, and could use a redesign, but everything along the walls- the ice cream parlour, checkout, and glass display cases, are perfect. The confections themselves are incredibly delicious- and they have a large variety on offer, including some sugar free options as well. Friends are always blown away with the old time charm when I bring them there for their first taste of sponge candy- which, of course, they make exceptionally well. read more

A Great place to get ice cream and chocolate chocolates. It is very cold Z and romantic. Very kid friendly. Very impressed with the atmosphere. Clean, warm, and staff was accommodating. It smells delicious the minute you enter the doors. This Parkside Place has been in this area for more than 40 years. The only problem is there's no free parking. But staff and manager will accommodate you to your satisfied. If you're lucky to find a good free parking you could go up and down the street to other boutiques. This is an area for UB South and North students. read more

It was really a beautiful place and they have the most amazing chocolate. Plus if you on a diet they have sugar free chocolate and many other types of sweets and candies!! read more

The sponge candy is a one of a kind treat. Worth every calorie. The Pecan Dixies are so fresh, and delicious. I prefer the dark chocolate. read more

This place is so cute!! You step in the door and you're taken back to the old days. It's worth it to go here just to see the inside. I haven't tried too many of their candies, but I can say that their peanut brittle is excellent. The ice cream was great as well, as was the sandwich I had there. The chocolates and candies are pricey, but very beautiful. I would definitely be coming here more if I lived in Buffalo, but since I'm in Rochester this place is only an occasional treat. read more

I'm not from the area, so I relied on Yelp to find me some sponge candy to take home to the family. Having been through some of the sketchy areas of Buffalo, I really wasn't sure what to expect so I just rolled the dice. From the looks of the outside, I was a bit hesitant to stop (but it was a pretty decent area). Once I stepped in, OMG...it was like going back in time. The inside was fabulous. Has the interior changed from the early 1900's? I was very impressed with the selection of candy. There were people there enjoying ice cream and other items. I just needed the sponge candy, which they had in abundance. I come to WNY a few times a year. I'd love to come back and try other candy or even the ice cream. Maybe just come by to show the family next time out. Definitely a destination. read more

I came here just to see the interior of the joint. But of course you can't do that without buying something or be classified as a creeper. Its so beautiful in here. My friend and I sat at the far back of the store where there is an old time booth with a cushion/material so old I didn't want to sit on it. I just sat there with my mouth open and said wow like a million times. I got two scoops of black raspberry ice cream. I don't know the brand, but it was only OK. I say come here, get some eh ice cream and gape at the awesomeness. Bring a date here that you want to impress with your Buffalo knowledge. read more

I had company from out of town, so we had to check out Parkside and see the interior renovations (exterior revamp coming this spring). It's a beautiful old candy store with wooden cases and an unusual oval ceiling that makes you think you're buying sweets from the Victorian era. On one side of the oval are the candy counters, the other side has an ice cream stand while there are little café tables throughout the store to sit and enjoy your frozen desserts. Staff was friendly, the choice of bonbons incredible, but we all remarked that there was a decided lack of smell for a candy store. I've been to other candy stores where the heavenly scent of cooking caramels, chocolates and roasted nuts would fill the air. For some reason, Parkside was neutral on that front. Definitely worth checking out for those with sweet teeth (they also have sugar free chocolates as well). I'm anxious to see the exterior renovations! read more

I give this place one star for being old and authentic... one for being absolutely BEAUTIFUL inside (I felt like I was sitting in the middle of a wedding cake.... who doesn't love THAT?).... and one for their delicious chocolates. The ice cream sundaes, however, left a lot to be desired. First off.... they're VERY pricey. Like nearly $7 for a "not too big" banana split. Then.... they are really NOT ALL THAT GOOD. There are way better ice cream parlors in the area (King Condrell's, Antoinette's, and Alethea's). The ingredients in the "split were traditional ... a halved (nice and fresh) banana, and a scoop each of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream. The chocolate was topped with chocolate sauce, the strawberry with strawberry sauce, and the vanilla with crushed pineapple. Then there was whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry. The problem is that nothing (except, believe it or not, the banana) tasted particularly good. The ice cream (not home-made... "Turkey Hill, I believe) had ice crystals in it, the sauces were overly sweet, artificially flavored generic brand sludge. And, the whipped cream came straight out of a can. Ewwww! My advice.... skip the ice cream.... enjoy the ambiance..... and buy some delicious chocolates to enjoy at home or give as a much appreciated gift. read more

Parkside Candies is a wonderful, whimsical shop full of delectable treats. Items I've bought here include large chocolate dinosaurs (solid, not hollow), peanut butter cups, sponge candy (of course) and much more. Great gift items here include boxes of chocolate buffalo (I've had them in white, dark, milk and orange chocolate). The offerings change by season; favorite Christmas gift: boxes of small chocolates shaped like toy soldiers/snowmen/etc. and pumped full of chocolate. Definitely don't miss out on the ice cream here, either. It looks like an old-fashioned ice cream parlor inside, and they have amazing shakes and sundaes. I suggest mint chip w/ hot fudge, or a banana split. The servings are generous and it's delicious! Great ice cream place. read more

I second what Debbie said. What a find!! A buffalo gem. I hope to do a photoshoot or two here soon, it's so adorable inside. Built in the 20s. So many homemade candies & chocolates. The hubs has eaten lunch there & reported that it was "a sandwich shop kind of place" & good. He took me there for candies/to see the inside. read more

5 stars for charm. 3 stars for chocolates. Averages to 4 stars. As soon as you enter this shop, you feel like you've stepped back in time. It is completely charming! A great place to take an out-of-towner for a taste of old Buffalo and some sponge candy. As for the candy, I must admit I'm kind of a chocolate snob. I prefer my truffles and candies dark and exotic. Their candy is good to fine. It is very traditional and old school in many ways, but if that's what you like then you will likely love this shop. I can't wait for warmer weather so I can try their soda/ice cream shop. Mmmm! read more

This was completely a random place that me and my friends encountered. We were down at south campus having lunch and afterwards, we were walking around and encountered this place. I was a bit hesitant to go inside, but went in anyways. The inside looks completely different from the outside. People always say never judge a book by its cover and this is the place that fits the saying. We brought ice cream from there and it was amazing. One of the best ice cream place I had in buffalo. I told one of my friend about the place and she was like ohh I have to try it. Ever since then she would always bring someone here to try the ice cream. She recommended to everyone and I been there a couple of times myself already. Definitely going on my list of dessert places to go :) read more

Part of our recent trip to Buffalo included a mission to compare all the wonderful chocolate shops that dot the area. We had five on our list, and wound up getting to four of them (Mike's was the one we had to cut, so something to look forward to). The four we hit up were Parkside, Fowler's, Watson's, and Condrell's. So the ground rules for the judging were that we'd stick with the chocolates, get a few common specialties at each (chocolate-covered sponge candy, meltaways, and some sugar-free selections), along with anything that we felt like having and any shop-specific items that jumped out at us. What we discovered, after bringing home way, way too much chocolate, was a) too much chocolate is not good for you, and b) the results: Parkside was probably our biggest disappointment. The space itself is great, it's big, spacious and charming - obviously a lot of history to the place. I liked their large selection of chocolates and candies, but they just weren't as good as we were hoping - the quality of the chocolate is just average, and the counter lady seemed pretty disinterested. And, not sure if there was an incident the day we came, but the place had a slighly musty odour that was a little disconcerting. It's a good place to explore if you've never been, but I suspect it's better in summer when it's probably busier and it makes sense to stop for one of their sundaes. read more

Since I was a kid my parent drive by this place to go down town Buffalo before the trans rails came in. One the favorite places for Robert Redford film the Natural here in Buffalo. So I finally to come here at Parkside. I thought would be like a old fashion soda fountain. Walk in this place like you went back in time. In beside buying icecream sundae or a milk shakes. Also sell there candies that make in factory behind the store. When I was there I order old fashion Rootbeer Float. Serve in tall soda glass. Was the best Rootbeer Float I have since I was growing. I will be back. read more

Parkside Candy - Candy Stores Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Took my six yr old for the fist time. She calls this place magical. The service is friendly and the ice cream sundaes were fabulous. Hers was seriously giant and served in what I imagine was a silver plated bowl. It is charming. Great place for families or a daytime date. read more

Parkside Candy - Love it. - Candy Stores Near Me - Buffalo, New York

I had the 2 scoop sundae and was unhappy because they charged extra for pretty much everything. I'm surprised I didn't get charged to use the ice cream dish. I've never been to an ice cream place that charges extra for whip cream, especially a hot fudge sundae! read more

I'd never been inside Parkside until a friend suggested we meet there for lunch. I was expecting an expensive milkshake then we'd head off for proper food. Well, unknown to me, they do sandwiches as well! Granted they don't have an expansive menu, just four sandwiches, but the sandwiches are cheap and good! I always get the chicken sandwich which is amazing! The milkshakes are huge, creamy, and really cheap. Their truffles are a bit pricey, but everything else is right on the mark! The waitstaff is amazing and always friendly. I highly suggest this place for anyone looking for a cheap lunch in a great place!! read more

Disappointing..... C'mon Parkside! you need to up your game and not rest on your historic reputation. Buffalo has lots of worthy competition now. Brought my husband in on a recent trip back to my hometown, and it was "ok". 1. Please hire a professional to improve your displays. My yard sales look better. 2. purchased lots of sponge candy ( of course), truffles, peanut butter cups and a few other items as gifts, spending a significant amount of money. You need to have lovely, turn of the century design gift bags, for presentation - not the thinnest plain white doughnut bags you can buy. I am almost embarrassed to present these gifts! 3. No postcards? Ugh. No t-shirts? c'mon. You are missing opportunities here. 4. Your website needs sprucing up with professional images of your lovely store. 5. Get an antique espresso machine if you must. Get in on the coffee boom! Next trip we will hit Oliver's in Batavia instead. Haven't been there in 40 years, but hopefully there is still some energy there! read more

Being a true Buffalonian, Parkside candy has been a favorite of mine since 1965. I now live in Napa California and yearn for a little taste of Buffalo every now and then. This year for Easter I ordered Easter candy and of course a pound of sponge candy. The Easter candy came 2 days later. Alas, no sponge candy. I waited another day to no avail so I called Parkside and spoke to a very nice woman who apologized several times and assured me she would send it out right away. Two days later it arrived. Easter was saved and everyone is happy. Thanks Parkside for a job well done and great customer service. read more

Great candy! Love the raspberry dark chocolate jellies! Pretty close to campus which allows me to go more frequently!