Bassetts Ice Cream

I don’t discriminate against ice cream!
I will be honest — I have never found an ice cream I don’t like. I think all of it is amazing but this place does take it a little further. Its your back to the basics traditionally creamy ice cream. You can tell its made fresh and is excellent. They have a wide selection of flavors to choose from and probably something for everyone. If you are in Reading Terminal and in the mood you really can not go wrong with this place.

Nothing out of the norm. I shared a two scoop ice cream of coffee and blueberry pomegranate with my sister. The blueberry pomegranate had dark chocolate chunks in it, and it was delicious. The coffee was in between… in the sense that it wasn’t weak nor strong. $ 4 for huge scoops.
Didn’t really appreciate the girl’s stank ass attitude that took our order though. She kept smacking her lip.

So, WHYY was my experience at Bassetts Ice Cream good?!? Well one of the main reasons for that is due to their specialty flavors, the WHYY Experience!
Before I get into this «Experience», let me mention how Bassetts is located in front area of Reading Terminal when you went. They have decently sized signage so you should not miss it. You definitely feel the theme of the place, as it looks really old school (established 1861!) Some of my personal favorite ice cream flavors are here, Mint Cholcate Chip and Pistachio. These flavors taste pretty well here and they have a
They also have some specialty flavors to choose for the adventurous types out there. One of the specialty flavors I enjoy is the Moose Tracks, vanilla ice cream with peanut butter cups and fudge. However, my favorite specialty flavor here is… wait for it… the WHYY Experience! This WHYY Experience is vanilla ice cream swirled with butterscotch and chocolate covered pretzels. Those pretzels add the overall saltiness and sweetness of having this special flavor! I really love the combination of flavors here and this is my typical go-​to flavor since I am not here all the time.
If I gave you a reason to come here, WHYY are you waiting to EXPERIENCE this place?!? GO!

Once of the best reasons to go to Reading Terminal Market, Bassetts delivers with classically made ice cream that is sure to please.
It’s really difficult to not go to Bassetts when I’m at RTM. In fact it’s difficult not to go to Bassetts when I’m in the general area. The ice cream is that good, and you have to love the flavors — Cookies & Cream, Egg Nog, Orange Soda, Moose Tracks, Vanilla if you’re boring — which are numerous and each one better than the last. And be sure to look for the pictures of President Obama, who is apparently a fan as well (Bassetts transcends politics). Be prepared to wait in line — it’s a major tourist attraction with a good bit of locals mixed in. Overall, it’s a must visit at any time of the year.

Tasty ice cream, but not super amazing like I’ve heard from some hype/​media. They’ve got an incredibly vast selection of flavors though.
I also bought a pint of their basic chocolate ice cream from Di Brunos, and I was surprised to discover that what appears to be a traditional/​family, local establishment used cheap ice cream fillers and additives you’ll find in mass produced brands, such as carrageenan and xanthan gum.
I’m not sure if this is the same ingredients you’ll find at their Reading Terminal location, but I don’t see why not. The chocolate flavor was pretty basic, and the scoop I had at their Reading shop was also fine and good, but nothing to rave about.

My boyfriend and I love coming here, no matter what time of year, when we are in the area.
The ice cream is relatively inexpensive, and you get huge scoops, so lots of ice cream for your money!
The ice cream here is super flavorful, creamy and delicious! The sorbet type items are also great!
We usually share a cone and we always choose a new flavor to try! Tons of flavor options, staff is friendly, and if there is a long line, it goes really fast, so don’t let a line stop you from a delicious treat!

This little dessert shop is inside Reading Terminal and because Reading Terminal is always busy and full of people, this ice cream shop is going to be busy all of the time as well.
The ice cream here is pretty average. Decent flavors, milky, and texture isn’t bad.
They do give a healthy amount for the price so that’s cool. If I were in the area or getting food at Reading Terminal, I’d come back here for an after-​meal snack but I wouldn’t go out of my way to get ice cream here since there’re so many other options that I feel is better quality.
Service is very fast and hectic, which is good and bad I feel. There’re limited seats so it’s best that you walk around Reading Terminal and check out the place if you haven’t yet while eating your ice cream.
Price: $ 4 for 2 scoops in a cup
Wait: 5 – 10 mins in line

Charming little piece of history. The Irish coffee ice cream was the best and most true I have ever had. Service was quick and all staff were very friendly and attentive.

I’m a sucker for good ice cream, so to me, the price was very reasonable. I get the kids cone, which I don’t believe is listed, but it is plenty for me. My favorite flavor (so far) has been the green tea ice cream. The servers are always helpful in giving suggestions and helping people decide on the size they want.
Pro Tip: Go during the week to avoid that massive line that occurs on summer weekends.

I’ve stopped by Bassett’s for ice cream twice now – once on my first visit to RTM, and once on my third. Had I reviewed Bassett’s after my first visit, I would have awarded 5 stars. However, I held off on reviewing them until I’d tried one of their signature flavors, which I did on my second visit (third visit to RTM). While the ice cream itself is excellent, there were a few snafus that I can’t overlook, and it’s pricey at $ 4.50 for a double scoop, the smallest size.
On my first visit last Nov., I was hoping to try the gadzooks flavor, but they didn’t have it, so I settled for a sugar cone of the peanut butter swirl. This may just be my bias, but I was surprised when the base ice cream was vanilla, rather than chocolate. Despite my initial disappointment, the ice cream ended up being absolutely delicious. It had a very smooth and creamy mouthfeel and wide ribbons of peanut butter creating the sweet-​savory and textural harmony that characterizes well-​made peanut butter ice cream. I was quite happy when eating this ice cream, as well as immediately afterward, which no doubt affected my response to a mood survey that I completed for a Penn student for research purposes.
On my second visit two weeks ago, I decided to try the WHYY experience, one of their specialty flavors, since they again didn’t have the gadzooks flavor. This flavor consists of vanilla ice cream with butterscotch swirls and chocolate covered pretzels, and was definitely one of the more unique ice cream flavors I’ve tried. However, the texture of the ice cream was too soft as of my visit. In fact, a scoop of it fell back into the carton when being scooped. The scooper asked if I wanted the ice cream and cone in a bowl, and I assented, fearing that it might fall off when I was trying to eat it, otherwise. I certainly think I made a wise decision, given how gooey the texture turned out to be when eating it!
While I definitely recommend Bassett’s for ice cream, they need to work on their consistency – both figuratively and literally. Perhaps they only have certain flavors on certain days, but I was disappointed that gadzooks wasn’t available during either of my visits. The gooey texture of the ice cream on my second visit was an even bigger issue – they need to ensure that their ice cream is kept at the proper temperature, and that employees aren’t serving ice cream that’s too soft. Despite these shortcomings, I’ll definitely be back for another visit – hopefully, the third time will be the charm for encountering the elusive gadzooks flavor! 4.5 stars.

After walking around downtown Philadelphia to the liberty bell, we went to the Reading Terminal and got some ice cream from Bassets. It’s the best thing you can have on a hot, humid, summer day.
They don’t joke around with the scoops here. They give you huge scoops. Seriously, like huge ass patriotic American GO USA super-​sized scoops. The Bassets should open a ice cream scooping course in the San Francisco area because I feel like I get ripped off now every time I buy ice cream in the Bay Area.
The ice cream is creamy, dense, and packed with flavor. I had banana and green tea. They were delicious. My other friends had toffee crunch and it was amazing as well.
This is a great ice cream place… I’ve decided that I would come to every time I visit Philly. Also, I don’t recommend their sugar cones. It was stale and flavorless.

I wouldn’t say the ice cream from Bassetts was «the best ice cream I’ve ever had» [coughMorgensternscough] but it surely is above average. What I can say is that it was the largest ice cream I’ve ever had considering it was «only» two scoops.
I had the English Toffee and Butter Pecan in a cone [$ 4.75]. Both were flavorful and tasted like their names, but I wasn’t blown away. The quality was on par with the price.
There are a few stools around the counter but I really wouldn’t count on grabbing one, especially when it’s hot outside or during the lunch hour.

The best ice cream ever! Very rich and creamy. I ordered a scoop on a cone of macadamia nut ice cream and it was the best! They serve you a really large scoop and their cones are fresh. I hate cones that are stale and soggy. We also ordered a French vanilla shake. Nice and thick, not too milky, perfect shake. Next time, I’m going to try their Oreo shake. The lady who made them looks like a real pro. Bassetts Ice cream is located at one of the entrances inside of Reading Terminal. You can’t miss it. If you’re looking for a sweet spot after roaming around Reading Terminal for small bites, end your day at Bassetts and you won’t regret it!

Best part of Reading Terminal Market! Apparently this is one of America’s oldest ice creameries and there’s a reason why they’ve stuck around for so long. The ice cream here is super creamy, very rich, and the flavors are incredible.
I got the green tea ice cream and mocha chip and both were fantastic. Really don’t think you can go wrong with either. My only tip is to get your own and don’t make the mistake of sharing… it is that yummy.
They aren’t terribly friendly though which is too bad, but I guess they have to keep the line moving and the scoopers scooping.

Ice cream sounds really good right now… but then again when doesn’t it sound good…
Try getting in line and get a pint of ice cream instead of a cone … a pint of ice cream was ten bucks… and a cone was four… so you you do the math. i got pint and share it with five people… they serve cream and filter water on the side… might be one of the best food stands in the market…
They also have over twenty five ice cream flavors to choose from… i got the french vanilla… didn’t feel to adventures that day to try new flavors… the wait is pretty long but well worth it… the flavors and texture is pretty good! enjoyyyyyy

The ice cream is so creamy and dense! If you’re planning to stop here for dessert after you have lunch, save some room!
I had the moose tracks and banana on a cone, which was the perfect mix. The scoops are huge!
A must if you’re in Reading Terminal!

The only ice cream shop I saw in the terminal was this shop, so I decided to give them a try! The ice cream shop is very much traditional in the sense that they serve hand dipped ice cream on a cone or in a cup. However, this ice cream shop has a twist. The shop forces traditional to meet modern. The traditional setup of the store has a twist when it comes to the ice cream flavors. They serve flavors like green tea and cinnamon.
Don’t let me get started on the green tea flavor. It is just so delicious and creamy in texture. The green tea flavor is my ultimate favorite. I typically love green tea ice cream, but from Bassett the green tea ice cream is to die for.
The one thing I would like to see is friendly service. I know the lines are packed and they need to serve many people, but have they ever heard of smiling?

Such yummy ice cream! They have a lot of unique flavors that you can choose from. I got the cookies and cream ice cream and green tea ice cream. Both of them were delicious. The ice cream is rich and creamy and very thick. The flavor of the ice cream is rich, but the ice cream is perfectly sweet. It is not too sweet that you get sick of it.
I really like how the ice cream store is inside of Reading Terminal because the market is bustling with people and you can really feel the energy around that, which makes the ice cream even better! It’s a great experience and you have to stop by this place after eating everything thing else in Reading Terminal!

When there is ice cream involved, I am ALWAYS a happy camper. However, I am also quite particular. Having been established in 1861, they are one of the oldest ice cream companies in the nation. (I believe they deliver nationwide too!)
I ordered one scoop of the vanilla fudge and one scoop of the Irish coffee, they were quite generous with their portions! The ice cream was super creamy and the 2 flavors worked well together. I could really taste the «Irish» in the Irish coffee if you know what I mean, but it was overall delicious.
If you’re ever in RTM, definitely give this place a shot. I would like to sample their other flavors such as eggnog, green tea, and the WHYY Experience (their unique flavor creation), there are just so many flavors it’s hard to choose!

Oldest ice cream in America! Yup I wanted to eat a piece of history while visiting this historic town so had to grab a couple scoops while I’m here.
I ordered the mint chocolate chip and coffee chip. You can only select a 2-​scoop, which is the smallest.
The ice cream was not sweet and lacked a little flavor, but it did curb my dessert craving after having a philly cheesesteak from across the way. The first time I passed through the line was super long. The second time I stopped by, the line was shorter and it was near close of business.
Friendly staff and you are able to request samples. Just don’t take a long time, please, esp if there’s a long line!!!
Try a couple flavors and take a photo. Historic foodie place!