If you need the perfect place to cool off with a sweet treat this summer, we have the perfect line up for you!
This weekend, Ishita Gogireddy (‘27) and I made the dangerous trek out into the world to sample and review four frozen dessert places. The verdict is in, and now we have the perfect advice for you, where to go and where to stay away from.
There are so many options for delicious cold treats, how do you try them all? Luckily, if you happen to live in the Kansas City area, we went out and tried some of them for you. Whether you like soft serve with crazy toppings, some good old fashioned ice cream, shaved ice, or anything in between, we tried (and reviewed) it!
Everyone has their own ice cream opinions. My personal bias is towards anything with caramel. Gogireddy’s (‘27) favorite ice cream flavor is “cookies and cream” because “I am extremely basic.” “It’s good and it’s crunchy sometimes because of the oreo chunks, and plus I love oreos,” she explained.
Ice Cream Bae
This shop is most known for its outlandish —but delicious — flavors and the crazy toppings that come with. Gogireddy (‘27) and I stuck with the soft serve, her going the route of cookies and cream, and I played it safe going with chocolate. The portions are massive, so come with an empty stomach.
As for the ice cream itself, it’s some pretty standard run-of-the-mill ice cream, not bad, but nothing groundbreaking. What makes this shop unique is the appearance, with a plethora of fun things to cap off your dessert. Overall Gogireddy (‘27) gave hers a 7/10 and I’d rank mine 8.5/10. Gogireddy’s justification is this: “I liked Ice Cream Bae because it was very decadent and rich and flavorful, it had a very velvety texture and it was also very smooth. It’s also great value for your money.”
Bing Box
Bing Box serves milkshakes, soft serve, and what they call “snow cream.” Gogireddy (‘27) and I decided to be adventurous and order the mango snow cream box.
First off: the portions. The box itself is medium size; some may be able to finish it, but some won’t. The box itself is very cute and great for pictures.
In terms of taste however, we weren’t fans. The snow cream has the consistency of shaved ice that has been shaved down one too many times, resembling shredded cheese. The taste was more off putting, with little mango flavor and instead leaving a bitter aftertaste in the mouth. The toppings were fun. There was chopped up mochi, strawberries, and a waffle cone cookie.
Overall, we both agreed the toppings, specifically the strawberries were our favorite part. Gogireddy (‘27) ranks Bing Box a 4/10 while I give it a 5/10. After being asked about Bing Box Gogireddy (‘27) said, “It sucked. You’d think it’d be great but it had a bitter aftertaste and it was ridiculously crumbly. It was like shredded cheese…I would like to talk about some good things, they had great strawberries there if you ever want to go get some fruit hit up Bing Box.”
Sylas and Maddy’s
A little bit further out, Sylas and Maddy’s is located at 11925 S Strang Line Rd, Olathe, KS 66062. I ordered the “Kansas Twister” which has oreos, peanut butter, and snickers. Gogireddy (‘27) got the “Queen of Hearts” which has raspberry and chocolate chunks. The portions are much more eatable with a small, medium, and large option.
Sylas and Maddys is an indecisive person’s nightmare because they offer 40 different flavor options, some of which rotate seasonally. No matter what you get, the ice cream is delicious. The flavors are fun and there’s something for everyone. I rank mine a 9.7/10 while Gogireddy (‘27) gives hers 8.5/10.
Gogireddy explained, “First of all, they have the best flavor options. The names for the flavors are absolutely beautiful. The ice cream I got was really good. The raspberry was really good and fresh.”
I Am Frozen Dessert Cafe
I Am is located at 14357 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66223. I Am offers boba, special shaved ice bowls (for lack of a better term), and a myriad of dessert toast options.
Gogireddy (‘27) and I decided to split a “shaved ice bowl,” in the flavor of cinnamon toast and vanilla. This wasn’t exactly shaved ice per say, it was more shaved ice cream. It was creamy flaky layers of ice cream topped with whipped cream and pieces of the popular cereal Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The portions are massive as well, so be prepared to share.
The desserts and store are both very aesthetically pleasing and it’s the perfect place for pictures.
The dessert itself was delicious. It was original and something neither of us had ever eaten before. It was pretty sweet, but an overall joy to eat. Gogireddy (‘27) ranks it a 7.75/10 while I rank it a 9/10. Gogireddy (‘27) explains, “I Am had the biggest portion. There’s no way you could finish that by yourself. Their overall decor is honestly phenomenal. It was also shaved ice, but it was like, for lack of a better word, it was creamy. The whipped cream was so good.”
All these places were pretty solid and enjoyable places, so it was pretty tough to rank, but here are our final verdicts. For Gogireddy (‘27) the winner was Sylas and Maddys, followed by Ice Cream Bae, I Am Frozen Dessert Cafe, and finally Bing Box. My ranking was pretty similar with Sylas and Maddys reigning victorious, followed by I Am Frozen Dessert Cafe, Ice Cream Bae, and Bing Box. Most of these places were amazing and really any of them would work if you’re looking for a frozen delight!
