June 26, 2008
Forbes Traveler Doesn't Get Local Ice Cream
Andrew Huff at Gapers Block's Drive-Thru blog called Forbes Traveler's decision to include Margie's on its list of the best ice cream in America "lazy ice cream journalism," while Mike Nagrant lists his alternatives at Serious Eats.
Far be it from us to pile on, but Margie's doesn't even rank in our favorite ice cream parlors. Sure, it's kitschy. But we don't care how many times Al Capone came back or if the Beatles dropped by after they played Old Comiskey Park. Huff makes a valid point; why not highlight the Original Rainbow Cone if you're looking for a sense of history? Or Gertie's Ice Cream?
Then there's a place like Bobtail that makes custom flavors and is family friendly. For a real treat, one could head over to Canaday le Chocolatier for some homemade gelatos and sorbets. In short, there's variety here. We just wished the folks at Forbes Traveler would have recognized that.
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What? What is wrong with you Chuck Sudo! Please reprimand yourself by pouring hot fudge into your eyelids.
Margies is the best. The best you hear me? The best!
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I'm surprised you left your basement long enough to form that opinion, matty. While Margie's may have the atmosphere and decor down, the ice cream is subpar, at best.
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And you do know I kid you about the basement crack, right?
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Margies has gotten me laid several times over. Other ice cream means nothing to me.
;D
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The Original Rainbow Cone is quite excellent. Good call. I haven't been there in years. I guess I really am a northsider now :(
I like Margies, but mostly because I'm around the block from the Montrose location. It gets the job done.
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Are we talking about ice cream or sex?
I hate to do it, but I agree with Chuck -- the quality of Margie's ice cream is Dairy Queen-esque at best. I used to like Zephyr's. And, I'll still travel out to the burbs to get some Plush Horse. There was this little family-owned place in downtown Tinley Park that made wonderful ice cream...and egg creams!
Oh, and how can I forget Capannari's in Mount Prospect....great, great homemade ice cream.
I realize that none of these places are in the city. But, if you get a chance, I highly recommend them.
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matty: HA! Why mess with a good thing, then?
K: I might have to bike down to Original Rainbow Cone this weekend. Or maybe Papa Smiles on Archer if I'm feeling like a daredevil.
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Actually the originally Margie is buried in the glass case with all the toys that you can grab with the mechanical arm for a dollar! Why do you think it smells like old decay in there? Honest Pilgrim! The toy chest game is the size of a small coffin filled up with stuffed animals and other junk toys. Dig around long and deep enough and you just might see human bones! My ex actually managed to get the wedding ring off Margie’s skeletal finger, after she put in 25 dollars worth of quarters. We had been drinking. As the place was closing. I went to sleep and when I woke I remember my ex disappearing into the bathroom, never to be seen again.
Its good ice cream but its cursed!
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frp: ooohhh, egg creams. Eleven City Diner makes a very good egg cream. It's a good reason to visit when the crowds are down.
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Yay! Egg creams in the city! I had no idea! I must go have one...then, go to Mario's Italian Lemonade for a pineapple italian ice...or cantaloupe.
Now I can't stop thinking about chocolate egg creams....in my best Homer Simpson, "Mmmmmm, egg creammmmm....[drool]."
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...chocolate egg cream....
Yes, yes, yes, redundant. I know. I wanted to point that out before I got crucified.
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...chocolate egg cream....
Yes, yes, yes, redundant. I know. I wanted to point that out before I got crucified.
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margies = definition of overrated.
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Exactly Chuck, RAINBOW CONE, hands down!
I was pleasantly surprised to see this as the suggested alternative. Nice to see more south side eats being mentioned on the blog.
Also an honorable mention in my book is The Plush Horse [Yelp]. Take a trip to the south burbs in Palos, its worth it.
If ice cream isn't your thing I might suggest some Gelato from Lavazza in the Loop, or Ventrella if your in Lincoln Square/Ravenswood area.
My old fave was PURPLE COW, but it seems they dissapeared of the map. They used to have a shop in (Beverly?), and moved to Orland Park around 143rd & LaGrange. They closed that down too. The banana ice cream was the s---!
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Rainbow cone kicks ass and plush horse is damn good to. Its amazing something south of U of C gets mentioned here.
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after being treated rudely by the old guy sitting in a booth counting cash, I wouldn't recommend Margie's to my worst enemy.
To hell with that place.
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Wow. Rainbow and Purple Cow. Alternate between the two and you had a summer of fun. The Purple Cow was in Beverly on Western. Rainbow had them beaten hands down for quality, but what kid is gonna complain about ice cream.
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Rainbow and Purple Cow. OH yeah! But how about the Beverly Yogurt Oasis? It's at Western and 103rd. I worked there for the summers of 1993 and 1994. Classic. I learned some valuable life lessons there like:
When sticking your head under the frozen yogurt machine and filling your mouth with frozen yogurt, only do this in short quick spurts. If you fill up your mouth with too much ice cream at once, you'll get the world's worst ice cream headache.
Oh yeah! (check out 13 more life lessons at Ice cream shop life lessons).
It's too bad that the Beverly Yogurt Oasis has merged with some hot dog stand. The pure simplicity of frozen yogurt and ice cream is now tainted with fast food. But my memories remain pure and delightful. Viva la Beverly Yogurt Oasis!
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I'm gonna cast my vote for Homer's up in Wilmette...
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Take it from a person who actually grew up in Bucktown, Margies SUCKS.
I still live 2 blks east from them on Armitage and back in the day we'd rather drive to Ben & Jerry's or the Zeph.
Dirty dishes, sour staff and unremarkable ice cream at best.
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I guess I'm a little pleased that an out-of-town writer managed to get all the way to Western & Milwaukee. Expecting a trip to the other end of Western for a visit to ORC is probably a bit much.
Since the Forbes piece opened it up to include gelato, I'm going to cast my vote for Bellezza Gelato Caffe at Harlem & Addison. It's a perfect dessert/espresso stop if you're grabbing a meal at Riviera Foods down the street. In addition to an excellent assortment of decadent gelatos and ices, they have a delightful selection of homemade pastries. The proprietors are really nice and eager to please.
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I heard the Beatles said, "Duude, that ice cream sucked my balls!" after visiting Margies.
Soon after they entered their drug phase, and John Lennon said it was because they were willing to try anything to get that terrible ice cream taste out of their mouths.
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"I'm gonna cast my vote for Homer's up in Wilmette..."
stated by some on in a Bears Jersey.
Hey let me go put a yellow sweater around my neck put the madra shorts and shinny penny loafers or my bears jersey and head on over to Homer's! Its only a block away, but lets drive the SUV!
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Spook what ice cream place did you visit while riding your vespa around englewood. Lets put on our white t shirts and get something cold passed through bulletproof glass its only a block away but the gunfire keeps us from going.
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Had they bothered to hose the joint down once or twice since the Beatles last visited, I might not mind it so much.
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Frozen custard was excluded? (It's been a while since I've said "I heart Scooter's!") Also, nothing from St. Louis, Wisconsin, or the Jersey Shore? I'm sure there are no good places in any of those locations to get ice cream either.
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Didn't Bobtail close down for trying to sell expensive icecream in the winter?