Gill’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream

Amadeo was fantastic and made us THE best malts. Whenever I am at the Farmer’s Market, I go to Gill’s for my ice cream fix :)

Eh. It’s okay. Again, just like Bennett’s ice cream it’s just like… aaaaaiiitteee.
I’d rather spend $ 5 at haagen dazs yahnaw?

Amadeo rocks this counter. Order the secret «fizzy lime-​aid» and watch some goofy card tricks.

The Farmer’s Market is so packed all the time and yet this place is pretty empty. I really wanted soft serve and saw their sign. It’s a expensive for soft serve, almost $ 4 with a cone and a chocolate dip. The cone was a bit stale and the dip was standard generic. It is very overpriced for what it is so I can’t say I want to go back. But since it seems like the only place there with soft serve, I would go again if I cannot help myself. Otherwise, I still need to try the ice cream place next to Bob’s Donuts. Always curious if that place is good.

Ice cream is good… But what ice cream isn’t? Definitely overpriced. It’s $ 4 for a single scoop of ice cream, when you can buy the same amount from Rite Aid for half that price. However, the man who served us, was doing magic tricks for my kids and was really entertaining, so I guess for entertainment value, it was worth it.

This place is average, at best! However, I will add a star for the guy who helped us… I’ll tell you about him in a minute. (3 stars for the place + 1 star for Amadeo = 4 stars)
So, my husband & I were out with my Unilocal friend, Stephanie P. We spent the afternoon together. This was the last stop before heading back to our vehicles and parting ways.
We were thirsty and wanting ice cream or something sweet. Even though the exterior of this shop looks like it needs an update, it really doesn’t matter considering the fact that it sits outside and the elements probably will bring it to looking the same way again.
Hubby got a soft-​served dipped cone & lemonade and I got pumpkin & pistachio ice creams. The Pistachio ice cream was really good! Stephanie got a lemonade & pumpkin ice cream (I think). People say it is expensive, but really, look where you are! The Grove is next door, and this is The Original Farmers Market. I can’t recall the pricing since I was distracted and I didn’t pay.
I was distracted (in a funny way) by the guy who helped us. His name is Amadeo. He sang a birthday song to me, not an ordinary one, but one I think he made up himself. That was so thoughtful! Next, when Stephanie ordered her stuff, he decided to do a card trick for her. He was sure attracting people to at least watch, and some even made purchases. He certainly brought life to this stand!
Would I drive all the way out here just for ice cream? No. But, I did enjoy it. Out of curiosity, I might be inclined to come back just to see what new tricks Amadeo might have to perform! LOL

I think that this place needs some TLC to get it’s charm back. Maybe some more interaction with the customers or maybe someone offering samples might work. It seems like the only allure to this place is the long history at the Farmer’s Market. Wasn’t too impressed with their famous lemonade. They could use a tuneup here.

We wanted something sweet and we were in the Farmer’s Market area and decided to grab some chocolate dipped cones. Three cones were $ 13 which seemed pretty pricey (even for LA). The cone/​chocolate/​ice cream were delicious so the price was ok because we are on vacation, but I would never buy from here again.

I had a single scoop with waffle cone, ice-​cream was oreo cookie. The waffle itself was tasty, the ice-​cream itself was as stated, single scoop and instead of cookies-​n-​cream, it was a big oreo cookie in vanilla ice-​cream. The taste was good. I think the price is probably a little above par, while the taste didn’t stand out over an over the counter dunkin donuts. Service was getting a little agitated at people while i was waiting in line.

Initially I was scared off by stories of surly staff and by my love of Bennett’s across the market. However I had a dipped cone craving and the non/​lowfat soft serve at Bennett’s just wasn’t going to cut it. Why is it so hard to track down a brick and mortar with a great dipped cone around here? It is not the cheapest dipped cone but it is good quality vanilla or chocolate soft serve. The chocolate dip was good quality but could’ve covered a little more of the ice cream. Beats the barely cheaper Dairy Queen I got earlier in the month that left me with the taste of bad chocolate and cheap soft serve in my mouth and this craving now. The guy behind the counter was friendly and fast.

I love this place. I don’t care if it’s pricey (most ice cream places are); it’s old school and they have ice cream sodas. I prefer their ice cream to Bennett’s.

I agree the prices are too high. And it’s mediocre. But when the kid behind the counter says «no blended drinks after 8:30,» and they actually close at 9:00, I get really grumpy. If you’re open until 9:00, then serve your products until 9:00. There’s really no excuse for this kind of behavior — rushing to close your business only says you’re uninterested in working and earning money.
No blended items at an open slush and smoothie shop! Are you kidding me? I hope this is just the fault of the kid behind the counter and that the owner might read this and decide to hire a more earning-​friendly employee.

The ice cream here was good. I got a strawberry shake, and my boyfriend got a lime slushie. Both were great! :) Nice people too!

I’m not giving a one-​star because it’s horrible tasting; it’s quite good, but it’s no different than Dairy Queen or McDonalds soft serve. And although it was tasty and fixed my sweet tooth for the night, I was left feeling bitter for paying $ 6.00 for a very small sundae.
What I really just wanted was some soft serve but dipped with chocolate that’ll harden, but didn’t want the cone for the fear of extra calories and also wanted to throw some roasted almonds on top, and after kind of having a «moment» with one of the workers there, she finally just said she’ll make it a «sundae» with a dollop of canned whipped cream…
After being kind of flustered over having to explain to a worker that works and serves probably a million ice creams a day, (soft serve with chocolate coating with some almonds… whip cream? umm… sure, why not), she tells me it’s $ 6.00 and they don’t accept credit card. WTF. That’s the moment I thought to myself, «never coming here again… if you’re going to be a mom&pop shop, you’re going to seriously have to lower your prices, regardless if it’s in a touristy location.»
I live extremely close to The Grove and the Farmer’s Market, but that’s one place I won’t be getting my sugar fix.

***Incredibly overpriced for soft serve ice cream; my chocolate dipped vanilla soft serve cone was very small and expensive at $ 4; the cake cone was fine as was the chocolate though it was not an even coating; the ice cream was mostly okay though it was not that smooth; it was a little like packed snow***
Parking is available in The Grove’s parking structure, which is free for the first 30 or 60 minutes.

What’s with all the bad reviews?
I think LA people have become so spoiled by all the gourmet-​fusion cuisine in this town they don’t know what regular «vanilla» is anymore.
Anyways I like this place because it’s got this 50 – 60’s vibe about it. Kinda run down but retains this sense of nostalgia, like Johnny Rockets, but more legit.
I come here for their soda fountain. A small coke runs like $ 1 – 2 bucks. Simple, easy, guy is posted on the counter ready to deliver a tall frosty beverage.
Whenever I eat at farmers market I always order my food then come here for my refreshment. A.) because it’s cheaper and B.) because most eating places around FM only serve bottled drinks of no name sodas.
I just want my coke. This is the place for just that. Coke.
Just go up to the counter, not the side counter where everyone lines up for (that’s for noobs.) Stand directly in front where the soda fountain is and someone will eventually emerge to take your order. Like less than 1 minute. Service with a smile!

They advertise Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, and well, the man at the counter didn’t look like he gave a shit, and went behind a tall counter to bring me my fresh squeezed lemonade… now, tell me why it tasted like country time?
If Kitchen Nightmare came to this spot, that man would be on FIRE.
The chocolate dipped cones are so small as well, I couldn’t believe it as I watched patrons leave with such small cones. That makes me appreciate Frosty Freeze so much.

**TOURIST TRAP ALERT!**
Five bucks for a terrible root-​beer float… They barely put any ice cream in it!
If you’re stuck in the Farmer’s Market or The Grove and are craving a milkshake or float, DON’T COME HERE! Go to JOHNNY ROCKETS nearby instead. Johnny Rockets will also completely overcharge you, but at least their stuff tastes good.

I went to this place after having some lunch nearby. I figured I had some space in my gut for some good old ice cream. I took a peek over the counter and noticed the soft serve machines. How bad can this joint be? I thought to myself. Nothing could have prepared me for the next thing.
I ordered a chocolate single serve ice cream on a cone. I watched as the guy turned the knob to the machine and the ice cream dispensed something that appeared like chocolate Hershey’s syrup. That was the first warning. While waiting I noticed a sign advertising chocolate covered frozen bananas. I thought,” I’ll order that next time.” When I finally received my ice cream, it was dripping as if I was in the Sahara desert. The insult was the price the guy requested,” That will be $ 3.50 buddy.” The money wasn’t the issue. I should have just ordered a shake. This ice cream did not pass the test. I will never go back and just stick to Rite Aid ice cream.

VINCENT: Did you just order a five-​dollar shake?
MIA: Sure did.
VINCENT: A shake? Milk and ice cream?
MIA: Uh-​huh.
VINCENT: It costs five dollars?
MIA: Yep.
VINCENT: You don’t put bourbon in it or anything?
WAITOR: Nope.
VINCENT: Just checking.
My thoughts exactly when ordering my banana split from this place.
Except the banana split was Nine Dollars.
So…I walked by this place and immediately wanted a Split that was being advertised out front. I ordered without paying attention to prices, because really… how expensive could a banana split be?
The lady that made my split handed it over saying, «Oh, my… is this just for you?» I looked around, I’m standing there totally alone and say…“yes?” To which she replied, «Wow…I thought you’d be sharing. This is the biggest banana split I’ve ever made!»
When the lady told me it was nine dollars, I kind of just stood there, stunned. NINE DOLLARS??! For a banana split? I handed over my cash thinking this better taste like angels from heaven, because that is one expensive pile o’ice cream.
What I received was a massive almost 10 inch long concoction of bananas, three scoops of ice cream (strawberry, vanilla, chocolate), three different toppings (strawberry, pinneapple, fudge), topped with strawberries, topped with whipped cream, topped with crushed nuts, topped with cherries. I don’t know what the hell was in the chocolate ice cream (possibly a crack-​derivative) but it was amazin!
I would have given this place another star had it not been so terribly expensive, but overall one hell of a banana split!