Cruze Farm Ice Cream - Downtown Knoxville — Restaurant in Knoxville

Cruze Farm is known for their homemade, small-batch ice cream made with locally sourced ingredients, and my experience with their ice cream was nothing short of delicious. I had the pleasure of trying four flavors - mango, strawberry, hard crust chocolate, and ore dust - and I can confidently say that they were all excellent.

Starting with the mango flavor, I was immediately struck by the fresh, fruity taste. The ice cream was creamy and smooth, with chunks of real mango scattered throughout. It was the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, and I could easily see this becoming a favorite for anyone who loves tropical flavors.

The strawberry flavor was equally impressive. The ice cream had a beautiful pink hue, and the taste was reminiscent of biting into a ripe, juicy strawberry. It had a nice balance of sweetness and tartness, and I could tell that the strawberries used were of high quality.

Moving on to the hard crust chocolate, I was blown away by how rich and indulgent it was. The chocolate ice cream had a deep, dark flavor that was perfectly complemented by the crunchy bits of chocolate crust mixed in. It was a decadent treat that would satisfy any chocolate lover.

Last but not least, the ore dust flavor was a real standout. It had a base of vanilla ice cream that was studded with chunks of Oreo cookies and swirled with ribbons of fudge. The result was a flavor explosion that was both playful and delicious. Each bite had a satisfying crunch from the cookies, a smooth texture from the ice cream, and a sweet kick from the fudge swirls.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by Cruze Farm's ice cream. The flavors were creative and expertly executed, the textures were spot on, and the use of fresh, local ingredients really shone through. If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend stopping by and trying some...

Meh. Honestly, I’m disappointed. We went today (04/14/2025) around 8:00pm. This place was recommended by a friend. We were very excited to go. When we saw the long line, it made us feel even better, bc we felt like people were waiting for good reason.

When the young man with the iPad greeted us, he didn’t ask us if we had ever been there, he just said “what can I get you?”. I told him that we had no idea, because it was our first time, and asked him if they gave samples. We also didn’t know how it worked (base, toppings, sauces, etc). He said “yes”, and directed us to the front.

We were also pretty rushed at the counter. We wanted to try a few flavors but the girl only gave us one each. I ordered the one she gave me bc it was good.. but she kept trying to rush me to finish and started taking my friend’s order. I said, “wait, I want toppings”, so she came back to me.

None of that is any big deal.. they were busy, whatever. We got our ice cream, put on some hats, took some photos, and were super excited, despite being rushed.

We were both super disappointed. We were expecting a “small farm creamery” sort of vibe (that’s what they give off), but it tasted like a ton of chemicals. Very unnatural and “fake”.

My friend said hers did too. She had a mix of pistachio and coconut, and I had the vanilla icing. All 3 flavors were very chemical-tasting.

I’m super confused bc none of the reviews say this. It makes me feel like maybe a machine was dirty, or someone dropped some Simple Green into the machine? No idea. Either way.....

Cruze Farm Ice Cream in downtown Knoxville made for a fun stop after dinner with friends on a warm evening. The place has a nostalgic soda fountain feel to it—right down to the red-and-white branding, and the staff dressed like they time-traveled from a 1950s milk bar, which honestly added to the charm.

I went for the Cookies N Cream Churn, and it hit the spot—creamy, rich, and topped with a generous handful of crushed cookies (as you can see in my photo). Between the group, we tried a bit of everything: root beer floats, strawberry milkshake, sweet cream, vegan vanilla… not a single complaint in the bunch. Everyone seemed pretty happy with their choices, and it was the kind of place where the mood lifted as soon as we walked in.

The only knock—and it's a small one—is that the layout gets cramped fast. Once the line grows (and it did), the space fills up quickly, and it can be hard to figure out where to wait or stand without getting in someone's way. Still, it’s clearly a local favorite for a reason.

I’d definitely swing back by if I’m in Knoxville again, especially after a long day of walking. Worth a detour for anyone craving a sweet...