The James Gallery & Soda Fountain

I’ve wanted to try this place for awhile and yesterday we had dinner in the area and stopped by for dessert. There was a long line and it was hot waiting inside. I don’t know how the 2 ladies working there did it! We both had 2 scoops, my partner had pistachio and he didn’t think there were enough nuts in the ice cream, he thought only 3. I had the salted caramel and birthday cake. The slated caramel was better than the birthday cake. Overall the ice cream was very creamy.

Awesome place! Nestled in the heart of a very quintessential quaint New England seaside town, Old Saybrook Connecticut. As you walk through the door, you’re transported back into time with jars and jars of candy on a shelf in one room with a couple table and chairs and a candy counter. As you step into the other room, the ice cream room, there’s an old time soda counter that you can sit at with stools. The flavors here are very out of the box, think Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, Rockin’ Morroccan {which is an orange based ice cream with cinnamon swirls} and Rose ice cream {yes, like the flower}. I would definitely recommend stopping in here for a fun experience and yummy treats!

Anything less then 5 stars would be a crime. I read reviews in the past and caught the sign out of the corner of my eye while driving down Main St. on a beautiful Saturday afternoon (5÷30÷15) with my wife.
We both decided it was time for some Ice cream. When walking in, it was like stepping back in time about 100 years… old fashion soda fountain, milk shakes, egg creams, old fashion penny candy, house made chocolates, and more. I had the Vanilla w/​Choc. chips and Fig ice cream topped w/​homemade Caramel sauce, shaved Almonds, and whipped cream… my wife had the Vanilla, Caramel sauce, shaved Almonds, and a crumbled Waffle cone sprinkled on top. It was so damn, I tried to eat it as slow as possible as so I could enjoy the flavors as long as I could.
I can’t wait to go back

The ice cream tastes like fresh made not mass produced. (don’t get me wrong I love b&j) the fudge is made there and is silky on the tongue. They recently changed ownership and were unaware the old menu was still online. I asked for the sundae cone from the online menu and found this information out. The woman was more than happy to make one though. I was so eager to try it I forgot to take a picture first. Whipped cream was fresh not to sweet, flavors in the ice cream were perfect and the fudge as I said was silky and great rich chocolate flavor. My companion got raspberry chocolate chip frozen yogurt and when asked his first response was heavenly.
The yogurt was a touch to sweet but was offset by the dark chocolate chips and combined into a heavenly spoonful of yum.

Don’t expect flavors like rocky road or something common. They do have some basics like chocolate and vanilla, but I had fig and «rockin Moroccan» with dates, orange blossom and nuts and it was a fantastic combination. There’s also a good selection of Italian sodas and cookies and candy. Next time, I’d like to try the Moroccan food.

Great ice cream and Moroccan food. Prices are a tad high, but the food and charm are worth paying for. Kathy, the chef and owner, is a delightful character who not only churns out delicious dishes but also welcomes guests into her restaurant like it was her own home. She is open to answering questions and making small talk. Overall it is one of our very favorite placed to hang out.

I did not grow up going here, and I’m sure it’s current use is quite different… In March 2010, a Moroccan grocery moved here, and the lovely people who run it also make DELICIOUS Mediterranean/​Moroccan wraps. Still good quality ice cream made by the Old Lyme Ice Cream Shoppe. Yummy treats and snacks ranging from baklava to brownies. Also good, fresh espresso/​capuccino. I wish I worked nearby, I’d get lunch here regularly!

Growing up spending summers in Old Saybrook, trips to James Pharmacy for ice cream sundaes are some of my best memories. As the name suggests, the ice cream parlor used to be the real deal — soda fountains, old fashioned whipped cream, and just good old friendly staff.
Over the years, I’m sad to say that I’ve seen the level of quality and service sharply decline at James’. Ill-​trained college students man the counter now, often unsupervised, and they put minimal effort into the shop’s frozen treats. The hot fudge sits in a tepid, Crock Pot-​like tub in the back and tastes like sludge. The ice cream itself is tasty enough, but the fun used to be more about the experience of sitting in a historic site, kicking it old school with your milkshake or sundae, not about simply ordering the newest flavor.

good ice cream (may be from old lyme ice cream shoppe?) — nice and rich and creamy, perfect on a hot summer day. stopped in on the way home from dock & dine. quaint, historic, old new-​england ice cream shop and candy store. parking lot isn’t too big and fills up on ice-​cream worthy days.
from their site:
«On the National Historic Register and Connecticut Freedom Trail… featuring the original 1896 soda fountain where you can enjoy some old fashioned soda fountain drinks and ice cream treats!»