Here’s the scoop: Ice cream is a creamy, awesome, emotional Band-Aid. I’ve always loved eating mint ice cream after a bad day (or a good day, really; I just like ice cream), especially while I binge-watch a good show or hang with some friends. While mint ice cream and I were definitely mint for each other, I decided to branch out into other flavors to be the comprehensive final say on which CoMo ice cream shop is best.
####Sparky’s Homemade Ice Cream
Sparky’s has an atmosphere that can’t be beat. Their walls are purple and filled with weird, psuedo-realistic photos of creepy people smiling and cats that look like people. The windows are lined with stuffed animals and the green sign of the shop stands out in downtown, basically a beacon of awesome dessert.
Now, the inside of the store may sound weird, but don’t be freaked out by the interior. It just adds character and it’s a fun conversation starter, too. It’s the ice cream that turns Sparky’s into an experience, but the decorations definitely give the store some Stars Hollow vibes that I love.
As for their staple, ice cream, they are legen-dairy for their [cicada ice cream](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2011/7/6/sparkys-cicada-ice-cream-starts-ends-one-day/) and their off-the-wall flavors like red wine and maple syrup.
Definitely check out their [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/Sparkys-Homemade-Ice-Cream-6742727822/timeline/) beforehand because they post their unique flavors of the day there, so you can make sure they have something that interests you. But really, who wouldn’t want to pass up Lucky Charms ice cream?
Like I mentioned earlier, I love mint chocolate chip ice cream, and I had tried their fantastic mint chocolate chip when I first came to MU. It was great (of course), but I decided this time to go and have something a little more exotic. I tried their blueberry muffin and lemonade (together on one spoon), Nutella cheesecake, cake batter and sherbert. There was not one flavor that disappointed me, and I ended up buying a cup of the Nutella cheesecake. Nothing is better than sitting outside on a nice day eating ice cream, so that’s what I did.
The people at Sparky’s curate their ice cream so it’s an experience with every bite. The environment of the store along with the unique flavors should put Sparky’s on the top of your must-try list.
####Andy’s Frozen Custard
Andy’s is a chain restaurant, but it’s a dang good one. The mostly outside drive-thru has a retro setup where you can sit on the benches outside and enjoy their insanely good menu. Their ice cream is thick and delicious, and you definitely can’t pass up any of their classic ice cream combos.
The problem with them being outside, though, is that on long and hot summer days, the ice cream melts too fast. Plus, sitting outside in the heat can sometimes be tiring and, well, sweaty. In the same respect, sitting outside eating a concrete in the middle of winter is probably a bad idea — but sometimes the call of ice cream is irresistible.
My life is a love letter to their mint chip concrete, but their old-fashioned sodas and malts are always a good choice too. Their early February Thin Mint concrete is one of the best foods they have to offer all year, but the egg nog shake is near the top of the list too.
Now to address the elephant in the room: What is frozen custard? It is like ice cream, but thicker and creamier, somewhat similar to frozen yogurt. It has a lot more flavor than ice cream, and Andy’s add-ins and customization opportunities make it easy to create your new favorite dessert.
####The verdict
For their proximity to campus, the unique flavors and the distinct decor, Sparky’s takes this one. Andy’s, I’ll always love your mint chip concrete, but Sparky’s awesome flavors give it a leg up. They definitely make us want to scream for ice cream.
_Edited by Nat Kaemmerer | nkaemmerer@themaneater.com_