Peterson's Ice Cream Depot — Restaurant in Clifton

This is a late response to the previous review I posted. In my original review I generally discussed the lack of depth in the flavors of the products offered at this facility. This was the response I received.

"Your review bothered me and then I began thinking about it. How does an ice cream shop stay in business for 17 years (with growing sales every year) by serving a "bland" product? Why are there long lines during on weekends and summer evenings? Pretty sure they're not going to wait to order "bland" ice cream? How have we been voted by customers as "Best Ice Cream" in the area 4 times? Who would vote for a business that doesn't offer a great product? Why would you return a few times if you were so dissapointed after your first visit? I noticed in your review history that nearly half of your reviews are either 1 or 2 star reviews and I find that interesting. Not sure what is going on with that.

Please don't return. Tom Peterson - Co - Owner "

This was the first time I received a response with such apparent thought and passion, along with a request not to return from the co-owner. I feel compelled to address some of the points raised in this defensive response. Firstly, it would be enlightening to understand the details behind the "Best Ice Cream" vote in such a small area like Clifton, VA. Let's face it, Clifton is a tiny place with only a quaint railroad street, a cafe, and an Italian restaurant—hardly a competitive landscape for desserts. It's safe to assume that the average consumer here isn't seeking a sophisticated experience but rather a quick indulgence, and likely judges products on very basic criteria. Personally, I've ended up here a few times by chance, and I always give things a fair shot before forming an opinion, so take that into account.

To add some sophistication, I'd suggest offering products with temperature contrasts, like warm fudge or brownies alongside your cold cream, or larger, layered dishes with crunchy textures that offer a more complex flavor profile. As a business owner in the DMV area, it seems a bit naive to boast about 17 years of business with supposedly increasing sales each year, especially considering the obvious population growth in the area. It's high time for business owners to take serious and detailed criticism to heart, particularly when it concerns the quality of their products rather than just customer service.

Returning to the main issue, if you claim to be the best, it's crucial that customers agree. But if your product fails to leave a lasting impression, perhaps it's time to seriously consider feedback from those who are essentially paying your salary.

Good luck with the business this year and hold yourself accountable when humility shows its face. I...

I visited on a Saturday evening to have ice gram as summer ended. The story of this small business and its family origins proved quite engaging as I read online, so I decided to see what leads people to be fans. The service from who I presume to be students at both counters struck me as kind-spirited and sincerely well-intentioned. The grounds have been maintained well and allow for seating of around 10-15 people comfortably around the building.

I ordered a lemon sorbet (not pictured) and a banana split with banana and blackberry ice cream (I am not a huge chocolate or nut fan so a number of other flavors were less appealing to me). The line grew shortly after my order, so I am glad I ordered when I did. The sorbet had an assertively tart lemon flavor which I liked. The texture could have been smoother, as at times I felt myself prying little balls the consistency of shaved ice. The banana ice cream had a deep banana flavor as I was hoping. I would have liked a similarly deep flavor from the blackberry ice cream which was more subtle for me. Both ice creams had the uniform proper smooth texture. The demeanor of the staff, of whom I could see four working a busy Saturday, was charming even with a few minor hiccups along the way (e.g., calling for Michelle instead of Michael for pickup, wait of ten minutes between getting the sorbet and split, missing a topping on my split).

The total cost came to about $15 which seemed a few dollars higher than what I would expect for three scoops in this area. A little more training of the students maybe would help keep the line and quality flowing well, but service overall was far from lacking on my visit especially on a Saturday. I can readily see why folks flock to this place for a frozen treat at any time...

I've been coming to Peterson's for over two years now and the last two visits have been pretty disappointing. Last visit (summer 2024), my partner ordered one of the sundaes, which was supposed to come with soft serve according to their menu. They ended up giving us hard ice cream and charged us an extra $1 without telling us. When we asked about it, the worker told us that we have to explicitly ask for soft serve when ordering. The menu literally said it comes with soft serve so we were confused, but whatever. Today, we went and ordered the same sundae from last year and this time, specifically asked for soft serve. It was extremely watery and disappointing. We were eating our ice cream in front of the pick up line when another couple received their own soft serve, have a bite, then exclaim "this is awful." The lady threw away her soft serve after one bite and told one of the workers that their soft serve is extremely watery and that it tastes like icy milk. Another worker comes along and says "it's usually really creamy but we're having a little trouble with the machine today. Sorry about that." If you knew your product isn't good quality, why are you still selling it? Or I would've appreciated a little heads up upon ordering. Their ice cream is still good but I do not recommend...