Templeton Ice Cream Barn

Templeton Ice Cream Barn & RESTAURANT. Yes, indeedy!
I stopped in super early last week for ice cream since they have been closed super early the past few times I’ve driven by. They now have a restaurant, and their prices are super cheap. I had the chili cheese dog, which was a very large hot dog on a New England style bun (the BEST), topped with chili and a what Texans call «pump cheese,» or Cheez-​Whiz. I have to admit, I was leery because I’m from Texas where chili is almost as awesome as BBQ, but the chili was very good. Even the Cheez-​Whiz-​like topping went well with the hot dog and chili. The meal even came with potato chips. My cousin had a grilled cheese with potato chips. For both meals and two bottled drinks, the total was under $ 11. It would have been under $ 7 without the drinks. Awesome prices, very good lunchy food. I also liked that they had a variety of menu items, and a large family could eat there without going broke.
BUT. I couldn’t leave without ice cream. For $ 2, you can get a big ‘ol scoop of ice cream. This time, I tried their oatmeal cookie ice cream with chunks of oatmeal cookie and caramel swirls. Delicious!
But beware! It’s cash only!

Can’t get more happenstancical than this. After camping at Tully Lake in Royalston, we were heading home and wanted a brunch to help us adjust to food not cooked over an open flame and being surrounded by mosquitoes. We drove for quite some time on the byways of north-​central Mass. until we stumbled across the Templeton Ice Cream Barn. The banner out front said they serve breakfast and lunch in addition to ice cream. Yay.
I had such a ridiculously good and unusual breakfast — they call it the Pot of Gold, and it’s potato-​skin potatoes (hollowed out bowls, twice baked, skinless) filled with scrambled eggs and melted velveeta, covered with crumbled bacon (or the meat of your choice). It was so good, and so decadent without being greasy or heavy. (Hard to believe, I know).
My wife loved her simple spinach omelet, and the toddler loved her scrambled eggs with melted American cheese. As you can see, simple traditional diner breakfast food, served with very good humor in a homey old barn.
What was funny, too, was being there at noonish on a Sunday and having people there for breakfast (us), another family getting subs for lunch, and another family stopping in for some midday ice cream.
As a bonus, there’s an elementary school playground next door, which has some cooling shade even at noon. It’s old-​school (lots of metal and wood), and lots of fun.

This has always been a favorite place for ice cream. The ice cream flavors range from bubble gum to cherry– they are farm fresh and the interior of this place is so cozy. Hard wood everything, rustic country décor and there are always white christmas lights that make you feel cheerful. Another option is taking your cones outside and eating them on the common.