The Big Dipper

This is a good ice cream place to stop at, but the best thing you can get here are the snow cones. They have quite a few different flavors to choose from, making a delicious snow cone. Their best ice cream is probably birthday cake flavor. One of the best ice cream shops in St. Helena.

The Big Dipper isn’t what it used to be. The new owner took away the old fashion and very creative place it was. I’m glad she still kept the pictures on the frames. The prices are extremely ridiculous one scoop is a four dollars, plus the services in that great. The color of the walls is a bright yellow not so flattering. I only go because it’s it used to be my favorite ice cream in Saint Helena.
The milkshakes aren’t that great anymore either, and those used to be my favorite. Big bummer.

I Unilocaled for the best ice cream near me and got this place. So with high expectations, my friends and I hit it up.
First of all, the parking was confusing and we parked in a parking spot for a different business due to the lack of spaces. Then, when we got inside and tried to order, the lady couldn’t understand English and the other worker had to get my order. I got a root beer float and had to wait a bit because the lady got it wrong the first time she tried to make it. As I was paying, I noticed a sign that said you would be charged if you stayed in the shop to eat your purchase and that was just terrible so my friends and I took our stuff to go.
Now the root beer float itself wasn’t bad but it wasn’t anything amazing either. I wouldn’t go back to this place though nor would I recommend it to anyone.

I’m not a huge ice cream lover, so take this with a grain of salt, but I just didn’t enjoy this ice cream. Got a single scoop with 2 flavors, chocolate chip cookie dough and strawberry cheesecake. The chocolate chip cookie dough had a flavorless base and there was hardly any dough, but a ton of mini chips, which made it too crunchy for me. The strawberry cheesecake swirl of fruit was all icy and awful. Ended up tossing most of the ice cream. Just not worth the calories!

What a cute little ice cream shop! We were greeted outside and then they let us take our time deciding what flavor we wanted. Don’t be afraid to ask for a sample! We went with the chocolate orange confetti, which was delicious. Think creamy and rich chocolate ice cream filled with shavings of those chocolate oranges– you know, the kind you hit against the table and then breaks into little slices? It’s as delicious as it sounds! If you take it to go, there’s no sales tax. They also sell a variety of candy. Very happy! The ice cream is Three Twins ice cream and it is organic.

Nice little old school ice cream parlor.
They feature three twins ice cream which are organic as well as regular non organic ice cream.
The cones here are actually better than three twins.
I had a root beer float which had a weird equilibrium disruption issue when you insert the straw. Needless to say it was quite messy.

Always will love this shop! I used to beg my grandparents to take me here on weekends for ice cream or slushies! And after school I’d come get candy. I love the retro atmosphere and style of it. The Big Dipper hasn’t changed a bit. It’s awesome!

I’ve always loved the Big Dipper and I was afraid when it switched hands, but it stayed the same old awesome Big Dipper with a new paint job slapped on it, which in this case is not a bad thing. Rock on Big Dipper, keep it cooool

old timey (bordering on run down) ice cream place off the St Helena main drag. tons of ice cream flavors– all the standards, as well as some unique ones. my friend enjoyed the lemon cookie
just one sorbet flavor– it was raspberry today– so it’s limited for vegans. can we at least get 2 sorbets– maybe a flavor in place of the many sherbets you offer?
they have a price differential for regular vs organic which seems tacky & also no signs to tell you which ones are organic. they use styrofoam even for eat in, which is also a bummer.

A classic. Brings back the memories of Happy Days. Love their big helpings and waffle cones.

Excellent organic local ice cream! The caramel one was fantastic!

Great out of the way ice cream shop with all natural ice cream.
Yummy!

I was expecting it to be quaint, but it was just kind of outdated. Ice cream was pretty good.

The thing I like best about this place is the new owner, Martin, and the way he takes pleasure in serving ice cream to the children of St. Helena. Like he said to me, «where else are the kids gonna go around this town?» I think it means, when mom and dad are out tasting fine wines, the kids should be able to taste ice cream. I had the milkshake with extra malt and for five bucks it was a good taste and good deal. The small cup for under 3bucks was also a good deal. Now I have no idea what the Big Dipper looked like long ago, but the new owner has made some changes and it is still a work in progress so I can’t make much more comment than that.

Our favorite ice cream shop. Ever ever ever! I was a bit worried when I saw that the Big Dipper was for sale, but was assured that it would be business as usual… (I hope, I haven’t been up for a month or so). The ice cream flavors are fun, and reasonable! Great 50’s ice cream parlor feel, and the staff has been nothing but accomodating!
I want to try some of the food that’s offered, hot dog’s and the like. I try not to look at the candy shelves…
Taking my son here for a cone is my ploy to get him up to St. Helena, so I can do other shopping. (bad Mommy)

Walking into this place is like a visit to the past — the décor is very 1950s, and the teenage help behind the counter seem like they stepped out of a John Hughes movie. You can tell this is a neighborhood place — the families inside when we got there gave off a «we’re from here» vibe, and the walls are lined with photos of local kids in Halloween costumes, dotted with plaques from various kiddie sports teams expressing their thanks.
Ice cream is well above average — nothing crazy in terms of the selection, but it’s all well-​made. I particularly liked my cotton candy flavor, which is usually one I avoid like the plague. Dad raved about the coffee flavor, too!

The Big Dipper is like an old fashioned soda fountain. You’ll often find the friendly owner serving up cones to the little leagers and day camp set here. It’s our SH spot for ice cream treats on melty summer days or when the kidlets need a little motivation. Lots of flavors to choose from and they carry a large supply of old fashioned candies too. I like that it’s off main street… so generally easy street parking.

It’s hotter than sin out this 4^th of July weekend in the Napa Valley. So hot that we couldn’t wait a second longer to sit with a big bowl of ice cream in the comfort of an air conditioned establishment. The Big Dipper ice cream parlor is only a few blocks from where we’re staying and even though that seemed like a monumental walk in the 100 degree heat, we braved it at the thought of ice cold sugar and cream.
I ordered a fudge sundae and unfortunately, I hated the fudge. There was something about it that didn’t taste like what I normally get; it was too rich and the chocolate was too dark and bitter. I took it back which I hate doing and got a couple of scoops of Moose Tracks (vanilla ice cream with chocolate and peanut butter cups). I wish I could say that it made everything all better but it really didn’t.
Maybe I’m just spoiled with the ice cream I get in SF from places like Bi Rite but it didn’t blow me away. Instead of leaving full and happy I was just the slightest bit unsatisfied and wished I had gotten something different. Perhaps like the ice cream sandwich Spencer got; two chocolate cookies smashed over cookies and cream. Now THAT was good.

Cute little old school ice cream parlor. We stopped here during our day in the Napa Valley. They have all different kinds of ice cream flavors, shaved ice, and lots of candies. We ended up getting shaved ice and a scoop of the pink lemonade ice cream that was SO GOOD!

Yum! Went here when my bf had an ice cream craving (as he is wont to have). We made it just in time for closing. I got a Hawaiian shaved ice (passionfruit and strawberry) which was delicious!
It’s off of the main road, which might be a little hard to find, but thank goodness for GPS!
The folks there were incredibly nice, patient and provided great service WITH a smile (and perhaps a few jokes)!