Is This the Most Inventive Ice Cream Shop in the Country?

We all know the summer scoop routine: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry. Maybe a cookies and cream if you’re feeling fancy. But just when you thought you knew what ice cream could be, OddFellows Ice Cream Co. throws your assumptions in the blender—along with cheddar apple pie, black sesame cookies, and miso peanut butter brownies.

Tucked into the ever-evolving flavor-scape of New York City, OddFellows isn’t just a dessert stop—it’s an edible experiment in what happens when nostalgia, culinary ambition, and a whole lot of cream collide. What began in 2011 as a one-off craving solution (pretzel ice cream for a pregnant friend) has grown into a multi-city, multi-sensory experience. And somehow, you still might not have heard of it.

Blame it on how quietly cool they are. Or maybe it's because their flavors don’t shout—they surprise. At first glance, "pink marshmallow dream" sounds sweet and safe… until you realize it’s hiding strawberry jam, dark chocolate chunks, and a cheeky handful of pink sprinkles. Their "miso peanut butter brownie"? A salty-sweet stunner with an umami twist that probably shouldn't work—but absolutely does. And the "cheddar apple pie"? A nod to Midwestern grandmas who always knew sharp cheese belonged on a warm slice of tart apple goodness.

Even the classics aren’t really classic. “Chocolate chunk” here means deep, dark shards woven through luscious house-made cream. “Sprinkles” is an explosion of rainbow joy that feels more grown-up than you’d expect. And “peanut butter s’mores” brings the campfire home, minus the smoke and plus some serious richness.

What makes OddFellows stand out isn’t just what’s in the cone—it’s how it got there. Sam Mason, the James Beard Award-nominated pastry chef behind the madness, starts every batch by pasteurizing milk and cream in-house. It’s a control-freak move, and the result is ice cream that’s incredibly silky, clean-tasting, and unexpectedly complex. With over 500 flavors released since its Williamsburg roots, this isn’t just dessert. It’s storytelling by the scoop.

And while Instagram might drool over their aesthetic (and yes, the colors are that wild in person), OddFellows doesn’t lean on trends. Their flavors feel like inside jokes between chefs, love letters to weird childhood favorites, or memories served cold—think Rice Krispie ice cream that tastes like Saturday mornings in front of the TV, or passionberry sugar cookie that hits like the first bite of a bakery treat straight from the box.

Word is definitely getting out. Locations have popped up in Tampa, Pittsburgh, Texas, and even Seoul. And the reviews? Let’s just say the fans are devoted. One summed it up best: “There’s no way to go wrong.” Sure, the lines can be long in peak season, but according to nearly everyone who’s waited in them—it’s worth it.

If you’re bored of basic scoops and ready to be dazed and delighted by ice cream that actually makes you think, OddFellows might just be your summer awakening.