Carl's Frozen Custard — Restaurant in Fredericksburg

Having grown up in Fredericksburg for 20 years, I've been to Carl's many times. In the past few years some negative observations have caused me to go elsewhere for that summer night ice cream experience.

They do not take credit or debit cards. It is 2014. The fact that I can pay a Girl Scout going door-to-door, but cannot pay a "famous" local ice-cream spot with my debit card is ridiculous. I understand the nostalgia behind Carl's success, but it really is inconvenient for those of us who do not use cash. It seems stodgy and stubborn to not offer this convenience to your customers. It costs 2.75% of each transaction if you use "Square," and even less if you sign up with some other merchant services companies.

The customer service stinks. You'd think that a successful business that was clearly very specific and OCD about having uniforms, using the same ice cream machines from over 50 years ago, only taking cash, and only being open during the summer would try to cultivate better staff manners. Nope. 50/50 chance of meeting some apathetic teenager at the window who cannot understand the difference between a vanilla shake with crushed pineapple, and a pineapple sundae.

I also wish the location was close to the heart of downtown. Yes, Carl's is within walking distance - but it is not close to the "hustle and bustle" of downtown.

Overall, I want to like Carl's because it's a famous local business, but it just really doesn't cut it for me. You can go to Lee's/Wally's and get much more of a selection, friendly service, and a more convenient location. Plus, they are open...

I've noticed some negative comments about Carl's, and I do not think that those people making the negative comments "get it." Carl's is a revered family-run, hometown landmark that serves the community and visitors it's original recipe frozen custard with a the curly-q flip on top. This is no ordinary ice cream, nor is it a fake, powder mix soft-serve something from Mc Donalds or DQ. You need to know that a frozen custard recipe has to follow certain standards to be able to be called "custard," and that custard at Carl's is delicious and wholesome! Yes they have just basic flavors and the basic old school malts and sundaes, but everything they make is fantastic and more healthy than your average chain shops. Most often the line runs around the building, but the workers serve you so quickly that you don't really have to wait long at all. You can't achieve that while taking charge cards, even if it is "2014"..... , so cash works best, and that's only what they take. If you want that fake "fast food," then go to those other places. But If you want the real deal and appreciate a wholesome, hometown feeling, then...

Listen I Know Carl's ice cream. You ask yourself how does this guy know anything about this place. Well I know a little maybe. I worked for this family for almost 4 years back in the 90's. Carl's is a national landmark how many ice cream joints are a national landmark. The ice cream machine are more then special. More like a work of early machinery Art. They function with huge spinng blades spinning the ice cream until it freezes and comes down the shoot. Headed to there stainless steel tubs. We're it's hand dipped to your cone or your ice cream sundae dish. The whole process of everything is just so cool. I was a GIB, that's stands for Guy In Back. So I made all the ice cream flavors the toppings and milkshake mix. There a liquid and in heavy duty milking bags. Then I made them into chocolate, strawberry,and vanilla. The strawberries came in 5 gallon buckets they were whole. I had to grind them and the sugar etc. it's all hands on wholesome ingredients. Very complex for a ice cream joint. It is a must for those locally and it must be on your list if your a visitor!! 🍨🍦🍨🍦🍨 They take both cash and...