Arnie's Place — Restaurant in Concord

I remember when Arnie’s Place was the go-to spot for the best ice cream in town. Under the original owner, it was a beloved establishment, brimming with charm and offering top-notch treats. The service was impeccable, the atmosphere welcoming, and the ice cream simply divine. Sadly, those days are long gone.

Ever since the management changed hands, Arnie’s Place has spiraled into mediocrity. The new owner clearly has no idea how to run an ice cream shop. The quality of the ice cream has plummeted; flavors that were once rich and creamy now taste bland and artificial. The once spotless and cozy interior is now shabby and unkempt, with sticky tables and litter on the floor.

Service has become a nightmare. The staff, who used to be friendly and efficient, now seem uninterested and poorly trained. Long wait times, incorrect orders, and rude interactions have become the norm. But what’s truly shocking is the poor communication from the owner. Complaints and concerns are met with indifference or, worse, outright rudeness. It’s clear the new management does not prioritize customer experience or employee morale.

The owner’s lack of transparency and unwillingness to address the issues at hand have only made things worse. It’s as if they couldn’t care less about the customers who have been loyal to Arnie’s Place for years. Their dismissive attitude and poor communication are a huge part of why this once-beloved ice cream shop is now in shambles.

It’s heartbreaking to see such a cherished establishment deteriorate so quickly. Arnie’s Place under the new management is a shadow of its former self, and it’s not worth your time or money. If you’re looking for a great ice cream experience, you’ll have to look elsewhere because Arnie’s Place is no longer the gem...

Today was really disappointing. I decided to go to Arnie’s for my birthday as they have always been great in the past. I am not one to write reviews but today made me hesitant to return back here in the future. My partner and I ordered a BBQ platter for two, which had an option of choosing 3 meats, per the menu. Upon picking up the finished order from the window, it was clear the woman in charge of the trainees and kitchen was annoyed that we chose pulled chicken, pulled pork, and ribs and claimed that it normally comes with the spicy sausage instead of ribs and that it was likely the mistake of the trainee who took our order. Well, it wasn’t. It clearly said on the menu above the ordering counter that you could choose 3 meats, nothing said there were restrictions. But whatever, no biggie. That is until the ice cream, my personal favorite part. I was in the mood for a simple vanilla soft serve and rainbow sprinkles. We paid and tipped for our order. I received exactly what I ordered, however I guess they have cheaped out on sprinkles as they were hard as rocks. I have never had this happen here. It was disgusting and I threw it right in the trash. Now I’m waiting in line for good ice cream somewhere else, extremely disappointed that we just wasted money. This may seem like a small inconvenience, but some people rely on the stability of textures with certain flavors. Needless to say, if this is the new standard of sprinkles, I won’t return for ice cream. The BBQ was...

Pleasantly surprised with our visit here. Arnie's isn't overly impressive to look at; it reminds me of an rebooted Dairy Queen, with a menu of BBQ, burgers, and ice cream. The food we tried was surprisingly good, and we saw a number of customers who seemed very happy.

They have an indoor dining area, with clean bathrooms. But at this time of year, I particularly like the large number of outdoor tables available for use.

It doesn't look like a classic BBQ place, but the Pulled Pork and Pulled Chicken sandwiches were quite good. The meats were moist and flavorful, with a mild smokiness. Lots of sauces and condiments available.

Whoever prepared the sandwiches took care to grill the high quality rolls, and neatly stack the slaw, pickles and red onion, so that it was easy to eat. The slaw was noticeably crisp and fresh. Side dish of BBQ beans were, unlike many places, not over sweet nor straight from a can, but smoky and earthy. A year ago I was dining on BBQ in North Carolina, and Arnie's stuff was very competitive.

Service was prompt, friendly and efficient. We saw a lot of families pulling in. I can see why: with lots of reasonably-priced choices, ice cream and even a kids' menu, there's something here for everyone. Good...