Toscanini's Ice Cream

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hardinghouseinncambrdge

Joined 4 years ago

Toscanini?s attracts frozen treat aficionados from around the globe.. Lauded as having ?the world?s best ice cream,? by the New York Times, Toscanini?s attracts frozen treat aficionados from around the globe. With everything made fresh on the premises, Toscanini?s offers luscious flavors you won?t find anywhere else. Try the Burnt Caramel Creme Brulee; Pepper Bourbon; Cake Batter; or Black Bottom (a heavenly mixture of ginger, molasses, & chocolate pudding). They also have specialty ice creams that cater to Cambridge?s large Caribbean and Indian populations such as Guinness, Grape Nut Raisin, Cardamom-Pistachio and Saffron. But ice cream isn?t the only story here. They also serve thirst-quenching ices like Kiwi Banana, Pineapple Rum, and spicy Mango with habanero peppers. Since 1981, owner Gus Rancatore?s irresistible homemade flavors have attracted luminaries such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the Dalai Lama. With free wireless, hip music and a friendly staff happy to give free samples, this cool shop with exposed brick and light wood paneling is the perfect place to lounge. If you want to experience one of the best ice cream parlors in America, a visit to Toscanini?s is a must.

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SteveKing

Joined 5 years ago

Awesome Place. Love this place! It's actually hooked into Facebook via their digital interactive signage. Gus and the folks there no their stuff and can hook you up with the best latte in Cambridge.

Check it out!

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Eric Grossman

Joined 10 years ago

Ice cream made the way Cezanne painted: bold, simple and with exquisite composition.. In Short
The pierced counter help doles out hearty scoops to a diverse clientele. Exotic and subtle ice cream permutations like green tea, burnt caramel and khulfee (an Indian flavor with cardamom and pistachio) are the standouts. But there's also a variety of chocolate--white, mocha and Belgian. No matter what one's flavor preference, expect creamy, airy textures and an admirable balance of sweetness and fresh ingredients.

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mageel

Joined 6 years ago

My favorite Ice Cream Place. I don't usually like sweets, and I'm not a big fan of Coldstone's, JP Licks, etc. etc. But we were walking around in the heat for awhile and we went into Toscanini's for something to cool us down, and I really really liked the ice cream. I think my friend had some kind of mocha flavored ice cream. I took a bite and I was hooked. I would be coming here all the time and gaining weight like crazy, it's a good thing I don't go to school around there.

Doesn't Recommend

amishef

Joined 6 years ago

Horrible experience as a student. Just came back from Toscanini after they kicked me out without even letting me finish my drink!

they claimed they do not allow students to study there on Sunday mornings, while there were many other people studying there!

they were rude and said that if we want to be the study police we should go out side.

We were just 2 people and each of us bought breakfast and drinks!

We are not going there ever again!

Students

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themarlonman

Joined 8 years ago

Not for everyone, but something special.. Toscanini's flavors are bold and strong: the chocolate is like eating a chocolate bar, the lemon sorbet is downright sour...There are few subtleties or "layers" of flavor. If Toscanini's flavors were dress shirts, they'd all be solids. Some of the flavors are quite unusual, but none pull their punches.

If what you want from ice cream is *cream*, something mild and milky, then Boston has better choices. But if what you're after is a specific flavor, experienced as unambiguously as possible, then Toscanini's is the best there is. I fall into the latter camp, which is why I'm sure to drop in whenever I'm in Boston.

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jeffl24

Joined 9 years ago

Ice cream art. It's obvious that a lot of reviewers just don't get Toscanini's. This place is not about getting a huge cone for cheap. It's not about taking the kids for ice cream. It's not about lattes. It IS about the best ice cream anywhere with the perfect creamy flavor balance. Not too sweet, not too dense, just right. The flavors are always creative and the hot fudge is like what grandma made, not what comes from a can at the other places. They don't always have your favorite flavor, they can be rude, the shop can be messy. That's because we're dealing with art here, and sometimes you've got to put up with the "artistic attitude" to enjoy the results.

Doesn't Recommend

lamacafee

Joined 11 years ago

nah. There's too much fuzz about this place and it's nothing great, the service is ok, the cones are very small and wicked expensive!! -- if you want good ice cream right at the farm -- go to Crecent Ridge in Sharon -- now THAT'S good Ice Cream

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meanjellybean

Joined 10 years ago

Bottom line: great ice cream. Fabulous ice cream, no question: softer, creamier, and more dense than most other places. If you grew up on mainstream, mass-produced, full-of-air ice creams, then yes, Tosci's may be too much for you. So many great flavors started here, though other places have since made copycat versions. Coffee is EXCELLENT, espresso drinks vary in quality.

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groenendael

Joined 10 years ago

Iffy. Sticky. Overrated.. When Toscanini's gets it right, they *really* get it right, and it truly *is* the best ice cream in the world. *However* Tosci's is extremely inconsistent. Certainly, there is going to be a certain amount of fluctuation from batch to batch, but sometimes things go horribly wrong and they ought not to serve certain tubs. The owner is smarmily overbearing and, sadly, seems more concerned with the hipness of the shop's fixtures than cleanliness or quality control. Worth it if you're already almost there, but don't bother schlepping in from the 'burbs--or even from Brookline.