238 FOOD & DRINK SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2025.C0M | BEST OF PHOENIX 2025 e e e B E S T I C E C R E A M CREAM OF THE CROP 3000 E. RAY ROAD, BUILDING 6, #103, GILBERT CREAMOFTHECROP-AZ.COM Cream of the Crop is the creme de la creme of frozen treats around the Valley. Tucked inside a former Quonset hut that’s now home to the shopping and dining space Barnone in Gilbert, Cream of the Crop churns small-batch ice creams drawing on local and playful flavor combinations. This joint isn’t Baskin-Robbins, so you’ll usually only find a handful of flavors being scooped, but each is rich and inventive: Think date and orange blossom or straw- berry and rose water. But customers will also find classics such as mint chip, as well as vegan sorbets. Though the Gilbert scoop shop is the best place to find seasonal and limited flavors, Cream of the Crop’s ice creams are also dished up at Valley restau- rants around town. e e e B E S T T U M M Y - F R I E N D L Y I C E C R E A M LIX UPTOWN ICE CREAM 3343 N. SEVENTH AVE. 602-908-3630 GETYOURLIX.COM Lactose: It’s a real bitch. Globally, nearly two- thirds of humans have trouble digesting it. A smaller slice of humanity is straight-up lactose intolerant. At Lix Uptown Ice Cream, though, that’s just about the only intolerance that’s welcome. The hip scoop shop serves almost exclusively lactose- or dairy-free frozen treats, all in an inclusive and funky environment — think neon paintings, comfy couches, manne- quin heads, board games. The flavors are just as unique. The mango sticky rice sorbet is a fan favorite, but don’t overlook the Gansito, inspired by the popular Mexican snack cake. If scoops aren’t your thing, get a milkshake, ice cream cookie sandwich or a sundae. Then take a seat in the shop’s wonderfully quirky back room as you enjoy your tummy-friendly dessert. Before you leave, grab some pints for home. Your taste buds and your sensitive stomach will thank you for it. e e e B E S T M I L K S H A K E S THE STAND 3538 E. INDIAN SCHOOL ROAD 602-314-5259 THESTANDPHX.COM This mom-and-pop, drive-thru-only burger stand is one of Arcadia’s simple gems. And its milkshakes in particular are something special — The Stand throws Thrifty scoops (vanilla or chocolate), fresh cream and mix-ins into a classic ’50s-style mixer. In combination with the salty flavors of a tasty burger and fries, these shakes slap. The drive-thru’s website also notes that it has a secret milkshake menu that includes flavors like cold brew coffee, cookies ’n’ cream, horchata, black ’n’ white and during the fall, pumpkin. Though the elements are simple, this shake has been elevated from the ranks of other drive-thru treats. High-quality but nothing too fancy, it’s this year’s best milk- shake. e e e B E S T O L D - S C H O O L I C E C R E A M P A R L O R THE SUGAR BOWL 4005 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD, SCOTTSDALE 480-946-0051 SUGARBOWLSCOTTSDALE.COM A sweet cloudburst of nostalgic charm, the Sugar Bowl has long been a staple of Old Town Scottsdale. When the iconic spot opened its doors in 1958, it was the first family-friendly restaurant in Scottsdale. Quite a bit has changed in the dining industry in the decades since, but the shop has remained true to its origins as a retro sock-hop-styled diner. The vintage soda-fountain decor, pink booths and patterned floors recall the aesthetics of postwar American culture — and so do the menu’s items. Notable ice cream orders include the three-scoop Camelback Soda, the “extra-luscious malt” lined with marsh- mallow, hot fudge or caramel. They serve food too, in case you want something a little more nutritious. The Sugar Bowl delivers an authentic slice of ice cream-parlor history, where every sundae comes with a scoop of nostalgia.
