Based on the results of our annual Reader’s Survey:
1 — COLDSTONE
Cathy and Chip Byrne have owned the Cold Stone Creamery since it opened on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in 2004, employed hundreds of local kids and delivering thousands and thousands of delicious treats to area residents.
Welcome to Cold Stone, indeed.
New Tampa’s favorite desert joint has a fun and friendly staff that delivers a very rich ice cream, which has so much butter fat that Cathy won’t even tell us exactly how much.
The ice cream, which is actually made in the back, is scooped onto a cold stone (get it?), and whatever flavors (a heaping spoonful of peanut butter?) and treats (Kit Kats? M&Ms?) your heart desires are folded into it for a frozen delight. Dessert and a show!
Ice cream cakes are particularly hot sellers at the New Tampa store, especially the chocolatey ganache-topped Midnight Delight.
While being located in front of a movie theater ain’t bad for an ice cream shop, what makes Cold Stone your favorite is that it is a high-quality product and a fun place. Just be ready to wait in a line if you plan on stopping by any weekend night!
2. Twistee Treat
Twistee Treat is best-known for operating out of a giant ice cream cone, but its variety of soft serve ice cream flavors (including peanut butter and banana!), candy-infused Twirls, sundaes and great pricing make it a favorite.
3. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
Bruster’s is what it says — real ice cream. When it comes to variety, Bruster’s takes the (ice cream) cake, and what kid in New Tampa didn’t grow up on the Dino sundaes? For a real treat, try a custom-made ice cream pie!
4. Dunkin’ Donuts
Dunkin’ may not typically classify as dessert, but as a morning sweet it’s not a bad place to pick up a donut, muffin or coffee, and the addition of Baskin Robbins ice cream to some of our locations helps add to its dessert appeal.
5. The Cake Shop was purchased by Jean Paul Petit about a year ago. Petit, who had previously been the cake and pastry chef at Don Pan International Bakery in South Tampa, has brought a new flair to this local favorite. Â
6. Smallcakes Cupcakery
7. Mr. Penguin
8. Snow Rolls
9. Baskin Robbins
10. Sprinkles
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