Bethlehem Dairy Store — Restaurant in Bethlehem

I had gone with a couple friends on a Friday night to celebrate one of my friend's concert performance. A friend of my ordered a traditional Banana Split, not knowing exactly what it contained as she is not a regular consumer of ice cream sundaes, so when she found that it had pineapple sauce on it, it was a disappointment as she is allergic to pineapple. While she was willing to suffer and eat around it, I assumed—knowing how simple Banana Splits are to make—they would be more than willing to figure something out with us.

I told one of the stuff and offered to throw away the sundae so they would know we wouldn't eat it, but she had a grimacing look on her face and went to ask, I assume, a manager. They were standing in front of us and the woman shook her head no and the staff returned and said they would have to charge her again.

I currently work for a local and popular ice cream shop in Allentown and this was such a frustrating experience as I know how our staff would have handled the situation, especially when the item is something similar like a Banana Split and not a shake. I would expect an immediate "Oh, sorry about that! You can throw it out and we'll make another." Because it's a very simple item to make and I offered to throw it out to show that we are not making an excuse for ourselves to get another.

Overall, the experience was disappointing and it felt that the reason why they would not make another without charging again was because they were close to closing. As I mentioned, I work at a local ice cream shop and we offer a 15 minute grace period for our customers to enjoy their treat and time in our shop, without feeling rushed out. We also would not allow a customer to be exposed to an ingredient from our shop that could cause them an allergic reaction, especially if they reached back to us to ask for a change.

Come to Allentown instead to support the small business ice cream shops that would never put our customer's at risk and provide a pleasant and safe experience with one-on-one...

I am an ice cream snob. Everywhere I go, I have to try the ice cream. And the place I always compare to is the Bethlehem Dairy Store.

I've been going here for a decade. Their ice cream is fantastic. Homemade ice cream in pretty much the largest flavor selection you'll find, hand-dipped waffle cones, real whipped cream, and honest-to-goodness hot fudge and hot caramel. You don't find these things anymore. And if the ice cream claims to have peanut butter, cheesecake, brownies, or another ingredient in it, you can SEE the ingredient in it and it is what it says. The peanut butter actually looks and tastes like the consistency of peanut butter.

No, it's not inexpensive, but the portions make up for it and the quality is well-worth it. It's also locally owned, and iconic to the local population. There is reason that, on a hot day, this is the ice cream place that people find it's worth waiting in a line for.

Every time I go somewhere new for ice cream, whomever I'm with will inevitably ask, "Is it as good as the Cup?" (Local name for Bethlehem Dairy Store), and the answer is always, just about without exception, "No."

The photos that I added were my actual ice creams BTW. They aren't stock photos. I ate them all myself :)

Another year gone by.... STILL my favorite ice cream place. I added new photos of my favorite ice cream trophies. And I can't believe that I didn't mention the staff here. They're so friendly and positive. I love seeing them each...

OMG This place AMAZES me every time I come here. As a Professional Reviewer, I am overwhelmed by the friendliness of the staff working here. When you first walk up from the parking lot you immediately see nostalgic milk bottles from days long gone. When Milk came in glass bottles by delivery and still does today by my friends at COWBELLE . they still deliver. But my focus is here this lovely business. When you walk thru the door every time you are greeted by a friendly hello and a smile . Fridges packed with dairy products and Ice cream to go. As a kid I grew up in Long Island and new jersey and did go to the 1964 New York Worlds Fair. There is a Big Sign behind the counter on the wall that reads " 1964 New York World's Fair Belgian Waffles" Now those of you that are still around and went to the Fair as I did when I was 14 at the time went to the Belgian Village and tried one. Nobody has ever replicated the Belgian waffle taste. All I got to say is Come here. The owner here must me a fan of the Fair. This place has a lot going for it. So much here but for one person you have to make a choice. Get off the couch and...