Best Ice Cream in Wilkes

Find Your New Favorite Ice Cream in Wilkes

Nothing says summertime like staring into a cooler full of tubs of ice cream, trying to pick which one to put in your cone.

Going out for ice cream is more than just a way to cool off on a hot, humid summer day in the South. It’s a fun way to spend time with the family on long summer evenings, it’s a special treat after a day out on the lake, or it’s a great little pick-me-up in the middle of a hot work day.

While there are plenty of places to grab a milkshake or a soft-serve cone in a drive-thru around Wilkes, a couple of local restaurants stand out when you ask Wilkesboro residents where to go for a good, old-fashioned, hand-dipped ice cream cone.

Glenn’s Restaurant

The iconic restaurant on River Street in Wilkesboro has been a mainstay of the city for more than five decades. Still called the Tastee-Freeze by some locals even though it hasn’t been affiliated with that franchise for some time, the curved awning and walk-up window immediately transport you back to the days of car-hops and cruising.

Sidle up to the counter and make a choice from a menu with wide range of options reminiscent of soda shops of old. From a full-on banana split to malted milkshakes and hot fudge sundaes dripping with nuts, the great people at Glenn’s can whip up a concoction to make any summer day feel like a party.

And of course, for those traditionalists, you can always get an ice cream cone. Choose the soft-serve ice cream on top of a cone is ready to walk out with you to whatever adventure is next on your summer bucket list.

Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and Creamery

Just over the river in North Wilkesboro is another Wilkes County favorite. For almost 20 years, the Smokehouse has been serving up tender, juicy, pulled-pork barbecue. But there’s a reason Creamery shares billing in the name. Locals know the homemade, hand-dipped ice cream is well-deserving of its top billing.

The ice cream coolers are kept at just the right temperatures so the rich, creamy ice cream is the perfect consistency when served, allowing you to get the most taste from the wonderful flavors the Creamery has to offer. And there is always a wide variety of flavors to choose from in those coolers. Of course there is vanilla and chocolate for the “keep it simple” ice cream folks. But there are many other flavors to tickle your fancy, from blueberry cheesecake to heavenly hash. Red velvet, orange-pineapple, and banana split are go-to favorites for locals. And of course, there’s Brushy Mountain Mud Pie, an original recipe for the Creamery that contains coffee, Oreos and chocolate chips in a base of chocolate ice cream.

Have them serve up your ice cream in a homemade waffle cone or ask for it beside some warm apple pie for a tempting dessert.

Make time to take a few visits to Glenn’s and the Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and Creamery to find your favorite ice cream treat. You’re sure to find more than just one!