Dave and Andy's Homemade Ice Cream Review

Dave and Andy's Homemade Ice Cream in Pittsburgh, PA
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

There is no better way to end a solid night than with some good ice cream, so that is what my group and I decided to search for after walking the Pittsburgh downtown all day. About a mile or so from our hotel, near the heart of the University of Pittsburgh campus, we found Dave and Andy's Homemade Ice Cream.

Dave and Andy's has been serving locals and visitors homemade ice cream creations and hand rolled waffle cones to since 1983. They are known for their fresh and unique selection of your favorite treat, only having five regular flavors (vanilla, chocolate, cookies and cream, chocolate chip cookie dough, and birthday cake), with the rest of the line up changing often. In addition to ice cream, they serve up various frozen yogurts and sorbet, which gives people a lighter option to enjoy. One can expect to spend $5 or less for a typical treat here, the fresh and house-made ingredients worth every penny.

The atmosphere of Dave and Andy's provided me with a blast from the past, as I felt like I was in one of those old school ice cream shops you only see in the movies. The black and white checkered floor, the bright colored, picture covered walls, and the chalkboard menu gave the space a warm, nostalgic feel. The fact that it is near a busy street in a college town makes it accessible to Pitt students and residents of the Oakland neighborhood.

Double Scoop in a Homemade Waffle Cone
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Ice cream has always been one of my guilty pleasures, so I had to make sure I got some while I was on my road trip. I'm a fan of the frozen treat in all its different forms, whether it be soft serve or hard packed, but its not often when I come across a place that does everything fresh and isn't a chain. Walking through the door at Dave and Andy's was an experience in itself, as I was blasted with the heavenly aroma of freshly made waffle cones. From that instance I knew I was getting a cone, the smell was too good to pass up, but then came the dilemma of which flavors to get. I decided on two flavors, double chocolate and mint chocolate chip, and I did not regret my decision. The ice cream itself was creamy and packed with tons of chocolate, which I was a huge fan of. The waffle cone was sweet and crunchy, and held the ice cream in quite well. There was even a red M&M at the bottom of the cone to ensure no ice cream leaked on my hands, a cool trick that not many places think to do. For two scoops of fresh ice cream in a homemade waffle cone, I paid $5, which may seem a little steep compared to many of the chains around. When you look at the hard work that goes into what you're eating, the little extra is worth it.

The old school ice cream parlor is something I don't see much of any more, so I jump on the chance to enjoy a fresh creation in a cool, old time set up whenever I get the chance. If you are ever in the Steel City or near the University of Pittsburgh campus, be sure to stop by Dave and Andy's Homemade Ice Cream at 207 Atwood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food Writer from the Chicagoland Area