Spotted Duck — Attraction in Town of Torrey

We saw Spotted Duck Creamery online as a unique place to stop while we were visiting the area and decided to stop by and try a flight of gourmet, small-batch frozen custard. After all, who doesn’t want deliciousness made from a quacker’s butt nuggets?

To sum it up, don’t bother. Perhaps we have just been spoiled to live where we have with ready access to delicious creameries, but the Spotted Duck was, to be polite, a remorse-filled expenditure of money.

The prices were rather, in my articulate summation, “Meh,” but the website promised us an opulent frozen experience and the opportunity to even meet the geese (er, ducks) who lay these mythical golden eggs. Maybe New York ducks are different than we have back home, and I wanted to find out, not to mention thank them for their sacrifice. YOLO, right?

The flavors seemed promising, and I was greatly anticipating the bougie experience of eating frozen balls of heaven from little jelly jars in a wooden board while staring into the eyes of the feathered parents whose offspring I was consuming. Our hopes were high, because we were led to believe that our hopes should be high. This was creamy frozen custard made from freaking duck eggs with only natural ingredients and flavors! This is allegedly the pinnacle of frozen deserts!…at least if you believe the website.

To reiterate an earlier point, don’t bother. If our level of disappointment were an image on the evening news, it would be censored for fear of disturbing the public. I’m assuming it warrants the label of custard only on some obscure technicality as there was little to nothing actually creamy or custardy about it. The alleged custard was thin and watery with little body or substance to it. Apart from the dull-lustered evidence of fat content left behind on the cold spoon, there would have been nothing to convince me this wasn’t simply iced milk.

And flavorful? Perhaps if your only exposure to food since birth was boiled tofu. The flavors weren’t unpleasant, but they definitely weren’t vibrant or full-bodied. The Fleur Blue was fairly decent, though mild, but when it’s infused in a Temu-equivalent desert, it’s still a disappointment.

Eating it all in front of the ducks was still mildly satisfactory.

Perhaps I’ve just been spoiled by past experiences elsewhere. Perhaps I simply don’t know good custard or truly healthy ingredients. But if the selling point is the “crunchy-ness” of it all, they’re not going to gain a pachouli-wearing convert here. And if the aim was to create an exemplary palate-pleasing desert, they hit the mark about as squarely as a blind man playing golf in a subway tunnel.

I know, I know, the place is loved by reviewers and allegedly voted “Best desert in New York State.” But, I’m sorry, I simply cannot abide pretending that the emperor is wearing clothes on this one.

Save your time. Save your money. Go look at ducks in your local park.

I gave one star because, surprisingly, we were actually able to meet the ducks who gave of themselves for this charade. Another star is for their effective...

I’ve never been so happy to write a review for anything in my life. Ever since I heard about how this is the best ice cream shop in America, ( courtesy of Cohen and the boys) and the fact that it’s my home state. I knew I had to make almost 4 hour drive to experience it for myself. Let me also just say I had the highest expectations going in. And if I’ve learned anything in life one of them is don’t expect anything. Be happy with what you get. BOY WAS I HAPPY. This blew every single expectation I had out of the water. We got the flight with 8 flavors. Which was plenty for 2 to share btw. Also the flavors change so what we got might not be what you got but I can confidentially say I’ll be back to try every flavor, more than worth the drive. It probably also isn’t fair for me to say the is the best when I haven’t tried ice cream in every state…but holy lord this is going to be hard to beat in my lifetime. The texture, the flavor…you can actually taste each individual ingredient in each flavor…truly remarkable. And that’s just my praise for the ice cream. The building is adorable, the atmosphere, seating, the farm itself is ADORABLE and located in such a cute little spot. The staff is friendly and polite. Almost positive we met the owner as well and he was such a kind hearted man. You can see how much effort goes in, how much he cares. I meant to tell him he needs more ducks. Time for everyone else to retire and move over. We need spotted duck on the shelves in stores. Also fed ducks which who doesn’t love to feed animals? Alejandro was breathtaking. I think I said everything I wanted. Anyone who takes the time to read this thank you. And anyone who works for spotted duck who might read this. Know you guys make people’s days with your passion and talent. Keep up the good work, you earned two...

On a winding drive between vineyard views and lakeside breezes, The Spotted Duck Creamery pops up like a sweet little secret on Route 54, just outside Penn Yan on Seneca Lake. It’s not flashy—just a tidy farmstand, a yard full of picnic tables, and a lot of love—but it scoops up some of the richest, creamiest frozen custard in the Finger Lakes.

What makes it special? Duck eggs—from the farm itself. You can even see the ducks waddling around near the picnic tables while you eat. The custard is made on-site using eggs from the creamery’s own birds, resulting in a texture so smooth it’s almost unfair to regular ice cream. The whole setup radiates homespun magic—local ingredients, a laid-back farm vibe, and the kind of care you can taste in every bite.

We went big (because how could we not?) with the Seneca Flight—eight flavors, plus one extra scoop to get every flavor—and promptly gave up on picking a favorite. Fleur Bleu (a dreamy blueberry-lavender), Wicked Chocolate, Toasted Vanilla, and Lemon Meringue Pie all fought hard for the top spot, but honestly, every single flavor brought something special to the scoop.

As if that wasn’t enough, we also dove into the Cookie Monster Sundae: Real Cookies and Cream, Vanilla Crème, a chocolate chip cookie, hot fudge, and whipped cream stacked high like a dairy-based dream come true. It was as over-the-top as it was unforgettable—and not one bite was left behind.

With its relaxed picnic seating and farm animals ambling about, The Spotted Duck is the kind of place where you can settle in, slow down, and just enjoy a seriously good treat under the open sky. It’s local, it’s loveable, and it’s one stop you absolutely shouldn’t skip on your next Finger...