Washtenaw Dairy a finalist in the search for Michigan's best ice cream parlor
Hundreds turned out for Washtenaw Dairy's 75th anniversary celebration in 2009.
Leisa Thompson | Ann Arbor News file photo
If you glanced at the poll to determine Washtenaw County's entrant any time during the past week, you probably already know the outcome: Washtenaw Dairy. And "landslide" isn't a strong enough word for the voting.
With nearly 2,500 votes cast in the poll and 10 possible choices suggested by readers, the Old West Side landmark racked up an amazing 64 percent of the vote. Second place was split by two classic downtown parlors, Stucchi's and Kilwin's, with 7 percent each.
Now comes the tasting. The project is being conducted by John Gonzalez, the statewide entertainment reporter for our sister website, MLive. "Gonzo" has announced all the finalists from around the state, and in the coming days he will visit them all to sample the ice cream and soak up the atmosphere. Gonzo plans to announce a specific itinerary on Friday.
Keep watching AnnArbor.com for more news from the search. A top 10 will be announced on Aug. 21.
Washtenaw Dairy is located at 602 S. Ashley St., at the corner of Madison St. Summer hours are 5 a.m.-10 p.m. every day.
Bob Needham is director of entertainment content for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at bobneedham@annarbor.com or 734-623-2541, and follow him on Twitter @bobneedham.
Comments
A2K
Sat, Aug 11, 2012 : 12:17 p.m.
Since WD has atmosphere and awesome donuts down pat, they could have a rotating 2 flavors of the week that are made in-shop...along with the regular old Stroh's icecream. I'd pay more, especially if it was Rum Golden Raisin, Chocolate Guiness, maple-with-sugared pecans, choco-cherry-kirch...mmm, Hehe :O)
Madeleine Borthwick
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
how can anyone diss the Dairy?! what in perdition is the matter with you people?!
Mick52
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 7:19 p.m.
Strohs is good ice cream and I do not think any other tastes much better anyway. But the thing I always loved about Washtenaw Dairy was the huge serving size. Their two scoop cone is larger than any I have ever seen heaped on a cone. Hope they still do that.
Madeleine Borthwick
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 8:43 p.m.
Mick52, their serving size is still formidable. a single-scoop from the Dairy looks like 2 scoops from B&j's, Stucchis and Baskin-Robbins. I recommend the Bear Claw, choc. w/nuts, fudge chunks. Yum!
1201SouthMain
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.
I realize this is a meaningless poll but I have to chime in with a comment. Washtenaw Dairy is a fine place. Great on game day or really anytime when downtown. But it's Stroh's ice cream. How can the landslide best ice cream parlor serve up Stroh's ice cream. I'm not saying Mickey's in Saline is the best but it's homemade ice cream! And it's 10x better than the Stroh's at Washtenaw Dairy. It just seems to me that only true ice cream parlors should have been considered. You might as well throw Meijer or Walmart on the list. I can get Stroh's, Ben & Jerry's, and much more at those locations.
Mick52
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
I do not believe home made can trump commercial, but you have made me think I need to check this out next time I am near Saline. Strohs make a good ice cream and to 10x better? I doubt it.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 7:57 a.m.
and another thing, how does a story polling for washtenaw county's best ice cream parlor.... http://annarbor.com/entertainment/food-drink/vote-for-washtenaw-countys-best-ice-cream-parlor/?plckFindCommentKey=CommentKey:b64d7ac9-6875-40cf-a6f6-e381b1084205#.UCS-DKEtH2o turn it into a state finalist?
Bob Needham
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.
Here's the initial post about the project: http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/food-drink/who-should-contend-for-michigans-best-ice-cream-parlor/
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 7:32 a.m.
washtenaw dairy was the only true dairy on your list. the others were simply ice cream joints. unfortunately, i give wd a "meh" rating. doughnuts are great, ice cream ok. you have to leave washtenaw county and go west or north... jackson dairy or guernsey dairy (northville) now you have my attention....
thefoodandwinehedonist
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 4:07 a.m.
Really? This place is soooo overrated. As others have pointed out, it's the same stuff you can get at Meijer. Give me Iorio's any day... And don't get me started on the donuts.
hmsp
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 2:14 a.m.
I agree, it ain't no Lovin' Spoonful, and the ice cream ain't what it was when I was a kid, but that's the place we go when we hop on our bikes and go out for ice cream. I go back to when victorious Little Leaguers would arrive at The Dairy sitting on the back deck of a convertible, four abreast, their feet planted on the back seat. Back before seat belt laws, needless to say. Back when cave men were babies. Strip mall chains are a dime a dozen, and all we have to hold on to are local, one-off businesses. The Dairy is what it is, with its current, morning, "God's Waiting Room," crowd, and all that, but who knows? In a perfect world, a home-brewed-recipe type of place might be the next incarnation. In the meantime, I'll show up for the neighborhood atmosphere that I grew up with, and live with the mediocre ice cream.
jen777
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 12:58 a.m.
i find nothing special about the ice cream - you can buy basic ice cram anywhere - but they do give you a serious portion and the community atmosphere adds to it.. do uts are okay but i prefer the raised kind
the major
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 11:07 p.m.
Its good because it doesn't feel like a chain. You can get shakes for 2 bucks. There are lots of flavors to choose from. Donuts give its business model a steady morning income and clientele. It has good street parking and you can avoid the downtown parking fiasco(which i must admit has improved with the new structure).
DublinKing
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 10:35 p.m.
their doughnuts are ridiculous, but their ice cream is just run of the mill industrial ice cream.
slug
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 7:22 p.m.
I really think that people don't know it's Stroh's ice cream.
Mick52
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.
I do not know why people keep putting down Strohs ice cream. It is a good brand. Maybe the best thing to come out of prohibition when the company had to do something. For example, I used to go to Stucci's but only for one flavor, my all time favorite, Chocolate Cheesecake. But none of their other flavors did a thing for me. If they didn't have CC, I would stare at what was there and usually walk out.
brian
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 3:21 a.m.
They are not talking about best ice cream but best ice cream parlor. Please read the article.
PLGreen
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 10:17 p.m.
Who cares....
Itchy
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 6:55 p.m.
This is great news. I am glad Ben & Jerry's did not show high. I stopped going there when the guys who started B&J entered the arena of giving free political advice. Good product, but I stopped donating to their company as a result.
Mick52
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 7:28 p.m.
They also supported the Philly cop killer.
Billy
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 4:35 p.m.
Too bad we still don't have Lovin' Spoonful. Or what about Farrell's that used to be in Briarwood? I had a birthday there when I was a wee one. Good memories. I think that's the first time I smelled waffle cone.
widmer
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.
This is an interesting example of how people work: Acceptable product (ie Stroh's ice cream) + Excellent atmosphere (ie Washtenaw Dairy) = huge success. The other options on the poll that I'm familiar with had similar if not better ice cream, but nowhere near as authentic of an atmosphere. What matters most is the experience/presentation. I think this has a lot to do with why Dairy Queen is so successful... PS if they had a poll for the best donut place in Michigan, Washtenaw dairy would probably be closer to 95%. Best donuts I've ever had...
Kellie Carbone
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 10:27 p.m.
I agree. I kept hearing everyone rave about Washtenaw Dairy and when I went and saw that they sold Stroh's, I thought I must be missing something. Stucci's French Silk is the best flavor ever--and they make it themselves.