Mason's Creamery — Restaurant in Cleveland

Let me start by saying the owners have a long history and I remember them well with our times at Asian Festival. There was one year where we had a stall near theirs (our stall was called "Authentic Laotian Cuisine" and this was years ago!) and I remember going "oh wow, ice cream at the festival instead of bubble tea, excited!!". That was the legit first time I ever tried their ice cream and I have loved them ever since. I think I might've gone back there 4 times during that first year we were there just to trade food too, haha! Fast forward to when I heard they were getting a brick and mortar store, I counted down the days. And let me tell you, since they have been at Asian Festival AND since they have opened that store, they have YET to disappoint. My favorite ice cream is the hibiscus they do I think every summer, but the one that really got me was the honey cornbread one. I love weird flavors, they just are such a fun twist to the traditional vanilla and chocolate. But this one was amazing; it was like have a delicious piece of golden corn bread ala mode! And don't even get me started on the ramen, I purposely go there once a week when they start that up. I think it was last year that I tried their vegetarian ramen, and man it was very filling and satisfying!! Jesse and Helen really have something super special going on, and they have become such a Cleveland staple that I always always ALWAYS recommend them to anyone visiting or have never been. Also, did I mention they have deliciously light bubble waffles? AND that you can get them with a scoop of whatever ice cream?! Ugh, let me just buy a house near them and walk to the store everyday, that would count as burning...

Mason’s Creamery in Cleveland’s Ohio City is the kind of place that makes you smile the moment you step inside. Bright, welcoming, and full of energy, it is more than an ice cream shop, it is an experience that invites you to come back again and again simply because it is never the same twice.

The magic of Mason’s lies in its ever changing menu. Instead of sticking to the classics, they are constantly experimenting with new, unexpected flavors that keep things exciting. One day you might find a silky sweet and savory flavor, the next a rich ube, a seasonal fall ice cream , or even a refreshing vegan sorbet. The creativity is endless and no two visits are alike. This makes it the perfect spot to bring friends or family because you are guaranteed to find something surprising, and it is fun to compare notes over cones or waffles.

The environment is just as playful as the flavors. The shop has a vintage and cozy neighborhood feel, with friendly staff who clearly enjoy what they do. In summer, the outdoor seating buzzes with energy, while in winter Mason’s transforms into a ramen haven, drawing just as many fans.

Mason’s Creamery is not just about dessert, it is about joy, community, and curiosity, all served one...

I appreciate Mason's, I think it's wonderful for the neighborhood, I'm happy it exists, it's just not my favorite ice cream shop for ice cream!

Texturally, it's creamy (good!) but also dense to the point of being hard. Some people may like that! Some people may think of soft or fluffy ice cream as cheap; I just prefer the mouth feel of it compared to what you get at Mason's.

More importantly, I think their flavors lack. They're the only ice cream shop in the area that regularly crafts atypical flavors like pandan, ube, rose, lemongrass, popcorn, etc - and they're always changing them. Conceptually, I love thag. But when you get a flavor, even when it's a fairly strong flavor, at Mason's it tends to be subtle; you want popcorn, you expect it to be this buttery, nutty, corny thing, and it is but only at the very end. For most of the ice cream you're wondering if you didn't just get a slightly salted sweet cream. It's not just true for the atypical flavors, but the typical ones as well, I've noticed.

Maybe I've just has bad luck! I want to give Mason's the benefit of the doubt because they try and they care and they host cool events, but I also can't deny that I just haven't had a really gold ice cream...