Handel's Homemade Ice Cream — Restaurant in Gastonia

Tonight was our first night trying Handel’s. We saw it had excellent reviews and wanted to support what we thought was a local business. I asked to sample the eggnog ice cream and LOVED it, and so did one of my kids. We ordered 4 milkshakes: one monkey business, one Oreo dough, one Oreo/eggnog, and mine, which was eggnog/rocky road. I paid, left a tip, and sat down. No sooner did I sit down than the girl behind the counter called me over to tell me they didn’t have enough eggnog for our milkshakes. I asked if she had enough for a half a milkshake. She said not really but she could try to scrape the rest out of the carton. I was confused as to why she gave me a sample of it, let me order and pay for it, THEN tell me she didn’t have enough. She had to look in the carton to get the sample, didn’t she? Anyways, I didn’t want to make a fuss, so I suggested that we just get our milkshakes without the eggnog ice cream, no big deal. THEN she comes back to tell me she also has no rocky road. I was really trying not to be a difficult customer so I asked if she had something comparable. She offered buckeye, and I asked if that was peanut butter heavy and she said no. I tried it, and it was peanut butter heavy l, which I didn’t want. I’m trying to be easygoing, I just picked a flavor I felt sure I’d like and went with chocoholic chunk. Once the milkshakes were made, we left with them. I was wrong about the chocoholic chunk. It tastes like somebody put entirely too much nesquik powder into some water, chilled it, and called it ice cream. It was disgusting and I ended up pouring it out. The consistency of all of the other milkshakes was the same as mine, it tasted like nothing more than melted ice cream, not 5 minutes after we left with it. There was a strange, viscous consistency, like a carton of ice cream that had been left in somebody’s trunk for hours. I had really high hopes for this place, but the customer service was unhelpful to say the least, and it was strange that she’d have me try a flavor only to suddenly be out of it. The chocoholic chunk ice cream and the monkey business ice cream were both disgusting and not as advertised. It’s clear the folks they have working there don’t know anything about what they’re selling, and idk who taught them how to make milkshakes, but that was not it. I’m baffled at how many good reviews they had, surely others didn’t have the same experience as myself but maybe I just...

HANDS DOWN BEST ICE CREAM in the state IMO! I'm an ice cream connoisseur and have never found better ice cream anywhere, even across the USA.

But most importantly, the customer service and kindness Handlels instill to each and every customer is commendable and reminds me of the previous generation.... and brings such a joy. I started working at age 13 and I was always taught that "the customer is always right, and for them to leave better than how they came". I am now 32 and customer service isn't ANYWHERE like it used to be..... the standard is no longer the best but at Handels- YOU GET THAT. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Me and my 5 and 6 year old girls come atleast 4 times a week, they use their chore money, for the past month and a half. We all rant and rave to everyone we know about Handels because we always leave happier and not bc of the slight sugar rush but because every single employee we have ever come in contact with (over 15 of them I'd say, on separate occasions) have made sure to go above and beyond for not only my girls but myself, as well. I'll forever support Handels and be loyal to their business, because what they offer CANT BE FOUND much anymore now a days (unfortunately 🥲)- their service, and ice cream is indescribably delicious.

My go to flavor is always the pineapple upside down cake and my girls love the cookie dough ice cream and there is a blue cookie ice cream that I think has chocolate chip cookies and Oreos in it which a lot of people love. Tonight I got the blueberry cheesecake or cobbler I'm not sure and it was just as good and will be my...

LOVE Handel's. The staff is very pleasant and accommodating. They'll go get samples of every flavor you want to try. They have a selection of flavors (some standard and some new ones every so often) and shakes and cone options and more! They'll do custom toppings as well and the amount of ice cream you get is an excellent value for your money. They are open late to 10pm which is awesome for late night sweet tooth rendezvous. The location is always clean and bright! There is no inside seating but there are a couple of tables outside. They do get busy at times, but that's to be expected because of how good the ice cream is. The product is hand churned and super smooth and creamy. One interesting fact, their ice cream does NOT upset the stomach of my husband nor son who is lactose intolerant... go figure! They even have sugar free options for those who choose to go that route. If you have a kid with you and a regular serving is too much, they do have a kiddie cone that's free with a paying adult. I also met the owner of that location and he was super nice and down to earth. I appreciated our interaction and will go to Handel's for ice cream before I go...