"Eastern-inspired ice cream and other sweets, next door to La Vaquita in Durham" Stopped by this lovely shop at 7pm on a Saturday evening. The name a little hard to catch, but it's a small greenish building immediately beside La Vaquita on Chapel Hill Road (with the giant cow on the roof). The outdoor area is quite nice, with a fenced outdoor area having swings and other seating/ space for families. We were greeted quite warmly when we arrived. They had maybe ~15 flavors of ice cream or similar (will return to that in a second) as well as other sweets like baklava. But this is not your ordinary ice cream shop-- the flavors were unusual. Cucumber, date, and others caught my eye, but I didn't try those. Unlike one Yelp reviewer's comment, when we went, there was both a regular pistachio as well as a vegan pistachio option. I got something different-- I tried the falooda... a Persian inspired ice-cream-like dish with rose syrup and small cooked noodles. The texture is slightly like an italian ice, but the flavor was great. However, there's more-- on a table off to the side, there were separate lemon and cherry flavors that we were invited to try adding to the falooda. Let me tell you-- either addition turned a good dish into a heavenly dish! Sooooo good. Try it, but only if you're open to "this isn't just ice cream". There were also some wafer cookies to the side we were invited to have with our respective dishes. Seating inside was stools at benches facing a thin window bar-- outside is nicer if you have a big group and/ or if weather is nice, but it was fine. I did stop by the restroom briefly, and it was clean, too. Overall, definitely plan to come back to this eastern-inspired ice cream shop, and I encourage others to give it a try too! read more

Delicious ice cream with unique flavors! The staff is attentive and helpful. The ambiance is so cute! It's also really nice that there's a playground outside for families to enjoy, and it's fenced in so you feel protected from traffic. Love how convenient this is to my house! read more

Pistachio - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Delicious Persian ice cream with cute outdoor seating (they even have a playground!). The staff member we interacted with was very friendly and let us try several flavors. I especially enjoyed the saffron pistachio and cucumber flavors. He shared that they planned to increase their offerings in the next few months to include charcuterie, wine, and beer, so definitely be on the lookout for that! They have a small parking lot out in the front of the building, and the interior is clean and nicely decorated. The outdoor part has a shaded area and they even have small fire pits for people to hang out by! read more

Pistachio - Saffron pistachio ice cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Came on a Thursday afternoon and enjoyed a double scoop of mango and pistachio/almond. For two scoops and a smoothie it was $20... pretty expensive but the ice cream was great. The smoothie on the other hand was just overpowered by apple juice so if you like apple The Berry one is for you The vibe inside was super cute, very chic and the guy at the counter was helpful and greeted us when we walked in. Overall a decent spot! read more

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Durham has no shortage of amazing ice cream spots and Pistachio is one of them! We got a couple of things: - Cucumber Ice Cream: My sister and I did a double take when we tried this- the cucumber essence was VERY strong but it tasted great? Super refreshing. - Creamy Rosewater: Again, the rosewater essense was really present; overall, we enjoyed this but we kept getting these solid white bits which didn't add much to the flavor. We googled it later- it could be bastani sonnati, frozen chunks of heavy cream. - Baklava: Pretty classic. - Bamieh: First time trying this, they're like bite-sized donuts soaked in syrup. Pretty good, very sweet. There's plenty of free parking in the front. The service is fast. The ambiance is SO nice: both indoor & outdoor seating available, the outdoor is in like such a nice garden setting with benches, swings, etc. 9/10 would recommend! read more

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Iranian ice cream. It's a thing. I grew up with an ice cream shop run by post-revolution immigrants, so I sought this out. The flavors were as distinctive as I had expected. You can't go far without running into a pistachio in this cuisine, but they also had a mix of fruity flavors and several non-dairy options, as well as shakes, coffee, and a few other goodies. The berry-based flavor I got had mixed in small noodles like a falooda, while the green tea provided a marvelous contrast. The setting is a splendid looking industrial building with outdoor space for when the weather is nice. It's expensive ice cream, but my feeling has always been that if you're going to do dessert, do it right. read more

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The ice cream is amazing. The attention to details delights the senses. Beautiful seeting along with great seating accomodations. The staff is very courteous. read more

I have always wanted to try this place and what better day to try it than national ice cream day. I got the saffron pistachio and turkish coffee flavors. I have to say this may be some of the best ice cream I have had in durham. The texture was silky smooth and the flavor itself really embodied the flavors. They also have a wide variety of flavors you don't find in your everyday ice cream shops. Outside of ice cream, they also have coffee and desserts which I hope to try next time. The atmosphere here was perfect. Felt very zenful. They also have a nice garden area outside where you can sit under a canopy and also some random swings. My only advice would be that some of the seating has ants currently in the summer so be careful of that. The staff was super friendly here as well and let us try many different flavors. The prices were definitely on the higher side but I think it was worth it. Plenty of parking as well. Overall, I would argue this may be my favorite ice cream place in Durham now. I will definitely be back. My only critique is the ants outside on the large center table but that can definitely be fixed! Looking forward for another visit. read more

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Really wanted to like this more... The single scoop is a big portion but expensive at ~$7. I wish you could split it into two flavors. The unique flavors are awesome but the taste and texture are *shrug* for the price. There were little white noodle things in the cherry flavor that had no real taste and really detracted on texture for me. The space inside is so cute. Bright, thoughtful touches, good energy. The outside space is awesome but not cohesive kinda seems like random stuff was just put together read more

love pistachio! i got the chocolate (basic i know) but it was fantastic! the worker was also super sweet as well and let us try as many flavors as we wanted. my friend got the coffee and loved it! would totally come back read more

Pistachio - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I wanted to like this place...this was our experience: its our anniversary and we're wanting some ice cream to celebrate, checking out a new spot for us, so we choose pistachio because the pics online portray a cool outdoor space so we check it out. but when we arrive and look at the flavors available, it's evident this is not your average ice cream joint. first off, no pistachio ice cream anywhere to be seen. then they have all sorts of odd flavors such as cucumber, lavender, rose, etc. I sampled them all, hoping maybe they would taste better than they sounded--they didn't. the weirdest flavor that I sampled, however, I don't remember the name of, but I do remember that it had dry rice noodles in it(I guess for the crunchy texture) but it definitely had the feeling of eating a loofa in my ice cream. 0/10 for that flavor. The most normal flavor they had was vanilla, so that's what we ended up getting, and it honestly felt sad and disappointing, but has made for a great story to tell to many, many people since. and looking at the menu now it seems like maybe we just came on an off day? Cause it does seem like they have some other "normal" flavors at least listed on the menu online. I give it two stars because the outside ambiance did deliver -- great place for kids--if you could get them to try any of the flavors *shrug* read more

A new ice cream shop with ample, easy parking and a gorgeous space, complete with a kid-and dog-welcoming fenced yard! In addition to the basic chocolate and vanilla options, Pistachio offers middle eastern flavors like Turkish coffee, rose, date (pairs so well with the chocolate!), and their signature saffron pistachio (intriguing and fun to taste, but a little too savory for me to want a whole scoop). The building is just lovely, and the adjacent grassy fenced yard is thoughtfully set up. There are swings (infant, kid, and porch), small tables and chairs, and a massive covered picnic table. I also spotted dog bowls and a soft play mat. This would be a lovely spot to have a sweet play date or date date, accented by that date ice cream! read more

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Delicious inventive ice cream paired with a classy mad-hatter tea party ambiance. Inside is clean and bright with a nice amount of intimate indoor seating. Tables are small, so smaller groups would feel more comfortable for indoor enjoyment of your ice cream, coffee or pastry. Outdoors there is a large garden area that has plenty of eclectic seating options, including chair swings! A little play area for younger kids is a nice touch too. The ice cream was decidedly delicious. We opted for a ginger rose water and matcha green tea and both were fantastic. I definitely recommend this unusual little spot filled with whimsy. read more

Pistachio - Outdoor water station. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Best ice cream in the area in my opinion! Their lavender flavor is divine, and not too sweet like other shops. The coffee flavor tastes great too. Only thing is that the creamy rose water didn't have enough rose flavor read more

Pistachio - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I highly recommend this place! I tried Saffron ice cream, it was amazing!even better than the ones in Iran!!! I will definitely go back! read more

Pistachio - Saffron ice cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Absolutely the best ice cream this side of Atlantic! We were so happy to discover this hidden gem right here in Dirham The flavors are very unique, not the standard ones you find in any ice cream store. We have tried Saffron Pistachio, Alfonso Mango, Orange blossom as well as ginger rose water and each one is distinctive and super delicious. The flavors come through so well My favorite is the ginger rose water with subtle hints of rose water and ginger! There is plenty of outdoor seating with even a swing seat for cozy couples Get to this place ASAP and find your favorite flavor!! read more

Great ice cream and unique flavors. The saffron was super yummy and so was the lavender. It was a bit on the pricier side, but worth it! They also have a great playground area for families. read more

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Best ice cream I've ever had: beats the hell out of Van Leeuwen, The Parlour, Two Roosters, or any of the other ice cream places that have been favorites of mine until now. read more

Pistachio is the new ice cream/gelato spot I didn't know I needed. The vibe is cozy and welcoming, perfect for grabbing a sweet treat. They have a fun outdoor area to hang out in if it's not tooooooo hot or cold, plenty of parking and there are tacos next door if you want dinner and dessert in one stop. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth checking out! read more

Super cute store and very nice staff. I'm not an icecream connoisseur but the icecream was good and there were some inventive flavor options, however, the prices are off the wall. $8 for a single scoop waffle cone is a lot, even if it were excellent icecream. Nice outdoor space. The spot itself is a bit hard to find with no clear signage designating the store. Overall, will probably explore another icecream spot next time read more

Pistachio - Store front - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Best pistachio ice cream I've ever had. They have lots of other Persian inspired flavors. Shop is cute. There's plenty of outside activity space for kids and parents. Give them a try. read more

What a great spot!!! Great place with kids to play outside...The ice cream was absolutely delicious with some familiar and also some very unique flavors. They have a variety of coffees also! Highly recommend relaxing outside in a garden area!! We will definitely be back... read more

Awesome, unusual flavors. We tried the Turkish Coffee, the Date, and a Berry sorbet. Wonderful! Will be back.

This is a VERY Durham ice cream parlor / coffee shop. The flavors are a bit nontraditional, very Persian inspired flavors so keep that in mind if bringing picky folks although they do have some traditional flavors like chocolate or cookie dough. The service was nice and quick. There's a nice quiet interior and a big exterior space if you want to sit outside. a nice addition to the ice cream scene in Durham. read more

I don't even know that I was *consciously* praying for a gelato spot with the flavors of Persia. Either way, this is the ice cream shop I've been dreaming of! ALL my favorite flower water and/or fruit flavors, with or without nuts, several vegan options, plus Chocolate and Vanilla from Maple View because of course. Little Waves coffee drinks; my cappuccino was on point. Delightful side yard with work space in and out. If you thought Durham didn't need another coffee and/or ice cream spot, you were wrong. Go immediately. Just dont eat the last of the Date flavor before I get back. read more

Pistachio - gelato selection - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Had read about this place, but just went about a week ago. I've visited twice and definitely will do so again. I really like the saffron pistachio, but I tried the lavender last time I went and it is outstanding. I've had lavender from somewhere else, but this was much better. Staff is friendly. The first time I went was with a friend and we ate in the store. There were 2 syrups on the table but haven't tried either as yet. I highly recommend Pistachio and hope their sign arrives soon, as it may be a little hard to notice from the road. A little pricey (for me) but I'm going anyway. read more

So unique, flavors so amazing. All family run. Outdoor area to linger and enjoy your treats.

The texture of the ice cream was not good. All 4 flavors had too many crystals and 3 of the 4 had lumps of butterfat. The saffron pistachio and lavender had just enough small lumps that the mouthfeel was unpleasant. The pint of prepackaged rosewater was the worst with small pea sized visible lumps of butterfat throughout. I thought the Persian cucumber was great, the family didn't much like the flavor, it was different but good and the texture didn't have the lumpy butterfat. Overall, I was disappointed. read more

Incredibly good ice cream, unique flavors. Honey almond, mango and date among the standouts for me.

Heard about it online and decided to stop by. So glad we did! Ice cream was delicious--we got the saffron pistachio and the faloodeh and both were fantastic! Staff were friendly and willing to answer questions, and we got to sample a few flavors before making a selection. There's also a fantastic outdoor area with tables and swings. All-around, lovely, and definitely something to check out. read more

Pistachio - Outside area - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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New favorite ice cream joint in Durham. The persian inspired flavors were delicious and unlike anything I've ever had. I tried and enjoyed the saffron pistachio, rose water ginger, orange blossom, turkish coffee and sour cherry. Each pushed the boundaries of what I thought ice cream could taste like. There are also some more basic flavors for the less adventurous. The latte (using grounds roasted down the road at cococinnamon) also hit the spot. The outside seating area has a distinct aesthetic with swings for kids, fountains and some good places to post up and do some work. Service was friendly and helpful. read more

Amazing Persian ice cream! Great outdoor space for family and friends to hang out and had a well thought out gated outdoor space for children! read more

Pistachio - a living room with a green wall - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Unique flavors for my palate, and delicious! Such a sweet garden to sit in as well. Very family friendly and I could see myself having a coffee there in the mornings. Staff (owner?) was nice too. read more

Wow I'm not getting the positive reviews. Crazy high prices (7$ for a single scoop) for very mediocre ice cream. The wafers that come with were stale as well. Nice enough staff and nice outdoor space but there are just too many other good reasonably priced alternatives with really good ice cream in Durham (Parlor, Jeni's, Two Roosters, etc.) to seek this place out. I will not be back. read more

The saffron pistachio ice cream is absolutely delicious! I can't wait to come back and try other flavors. Lovely outdoor seating area too!

There were unique flavors and they are delicious. The inside is beautifully decorated and the service was great.

This ice cream store is a new hidden gem in Durham. They have an incredible selection of unique and delicious flavors. The staff was super kind and welcoming. This is going to be our new go to ice cream spot! read more

Great coffee ice cream and the chocolate is 10/10. Lovely new place to take family and friends.