Scoop Society — Restaurant in Barrington Township

PRO: VERY LARGE SELECTION, GOOD ICE CREAM, CLEAN, COURTEOUS STAFF, COMPLIMENTARY TOPPINGS AND (STARBUCKS) COFFEE

CONS: NONTRANSPARENT PRICING, HIGH PRICE POINT, PAY BY WEIGHT

Everything was fine except for the pricing. They charge by the weight here, which is unusual. One should expect to pay about $7~$8 per scoop. There is a sign advising customers they charge by weight, but the cost is not posted. We had 2 adults and 2 kids (3 regular scoops and 1 kid scoop), and the total was $30.93 after taxes. I do not know how the other offerings are priced (such as sundaes and splits). I recommend you ask about the pricing up front, to avoid sticker shock at checkout.

The pricing is higher than your typical mom & pop ice cream shop. The high price point is somewhat understandable given its premium location (Arboretum of South Barrington), so there's the mall factor. That being said, think concession stand prices at the movies or ballpark.

No complaints on the product side. The ice cream is good, stored well, and there are plenty of choices (they boast having 80 flavors). They sell the Howling Cow brand, which is an excellent ice cream brand. FYI, Howling Cow is also served at many local ice cream shops. I heard they used to serve other brands as well, but was the only brand that I noticed at the time of our visit.

Ice cream toppings and Starbucks brewed coffee are complimentary. The toppings section is a basic DIY set up (various sprinkles, candies, nuts, syrups, etc). Coffee is provided in a self-serve airpot.

Service was good. Young man helping us was courteous and we were served quickly.

The shop was clean and well lit. The seating area is not big, but not tiny either. There were 2 kid sized tables for the kiddos, and they had several regular tables and chairs for us big kids. Ambience was quiet when we were there (Sunday night). The shop has a warehouse-ish feel. The shop is separated but not walled up, so you can see the storage area and all the coolers lined up in back. It wasn't a mess, everything seemed to be well organized.

Despite the pricing, we still enjoyed our visit. Good service and good ice cream, though I'm not sure if I'd go out of my way to visit again. But if you are already out and about at the Arboretum, it is certainly a good option...

If Treat Yourself Thursday can be a thing, so can Treat Yourself Wednesday, or any day. And what better way to do it than to go all in on a Brownie Sunday with a trio scoop of: Banana Macadamia Nut, Pistachio, Superman (for the kids) with fudge syrup and a cherry on top.

Life is short, eat that ice cream!

Ours was a good size for sharing, but I’ll be honest and wished the scoops were a bit larger for $10. I think it was because Pistachio was running out so there wasn’t much of a choice. So pro tip: pick flavors that still have a lot of servings left.

The brownie is as good but it was my husband’s pick. Next time, I’d like to try the banana Sunday and perhaps the bubble waffle. Expect to spend between $7-12 here per person with tax depending on what you get and additional toppings can quickly add up.

There are some tables to sit and eat inside and a small play area for kids. I like that it’s kids-friendly of a place. No bathroom inside though so be...

Let me start by saying that I usually do not indulge in ice cream. To celebrate our son’s high school graduation, our party of 16 went to Scoop Society. They were extremely busy and I was wondering how they were going to accommodate such a large group.

They hit a grand slam! Everyone was kind and friendly, offering a sample to anyone that wanted to try an unfamiliar flavor. They also have a pot of coffee that is free with a purchase of ice cream. If you are a parent, you can relate how a cup of Joe hits the spot after such a huge event.

This is were they went above and beyond. I asked for a cup and the young man informed me it was brewing and he would come out and let me know when it’s ready. Not only did he follow through, he also updated me on the progress of the brew!

All the adults and kids were extremely satisfied. Thank you Scoop Society! I may indulge a little bit more in ice cream...