Van Leeuwen Ice Cream — Restaurant in Boston

I visited Van Leeuwen on Saturday, Sept 20 around 8pm with a very close group of family friends to celebrate a birthday. The lead of our party told the server he was paying for our group. Yet throughout the interaction, the server repeatedly acted as though I wasn’t part of that group.

When she called out to our group “who’s next” and I stepped forward, she cut me off with, “I’m helping someone else,” and served my friend standing right beside me, despite my telling her in that moment "I'm part of the group." It felt less like a mix-up and more like I was being lectured, as if I were some outsider rudely trying to insert myself into another party. Even after everyone else had been served, she finally turned to me with a patronizing explanation about being “too busy to serve everyone at once,” instead of acknowledging the obvious mistake.

To top it off, she tried to charge me separately—forcing my friend to repeat again that he had already paid for the entire group, including me. Her dismissive response—“Oh, I didn’t realize”—simply doesn’t hold up when she had been told multiple times, including directly face-to-face, by me.

This wasn’t about confusion; it was about assumptions. Because I looked different from the rest of my group, she couldn’t, even for a second, accept that I belonged. That insistent assumption turned a simple ice cream stop into a humiliating experience.

Van Leeuwen: train and hire staff with the awareness and people skills to treat all customers with basic respect. Listening...

I visited the new Back Bay Van Leeuwen after seeing their social media promoting several vegan flavors. Unfortunately, when I arrived, there was only one option available—a peanut butter flavor with an icy texture. This didn’t match the “over six vegan flavors” signage at the store and social media.

When I tried to call ahead, the number listed connected to a general corporate line, which made it hard to get accurate information. For a brand-new location, the lack of advertised options was frustrating.

I hope they’re able to improve communication and consistency soon. In the meantime, I’ve had better luck with local spots that offer more reliable...

I wasn’t expecting to love the mango sorbet at Van Leeuwen’s as much as I did, but it blew me away. The texture was silky and smooth, not icy or grainy like sorbet sometimes can be, which made every spoonful feel refreshing yet indulgent. The flavor tasted like pure, ripe mango—bright, tangy, and naturally sweet without being overpowering. It struck that perfect balance between tart and sweet that makes you want to keep going back for another bite. Honestly, it tasted like summer in a scoop, and it was so satisfying without being heavy. Easily one of the best fruit sorbets I’ve ever had, and I’d go back just for this...