The Penny Ice Creamery | State Street Market — Restaurant in Los Altos

Penny Ice Creamery: A Sweet Disaster

My girlfriend and I were excited to try Penny Ice Creamery, but our experience was a complete letdown. We split a pint of mint ice cream and both ended up with severe food poisoning. The cream tasted off, and given that I drink raw milk daily, I'm convinced it was spoiled.

The pricing is outrageous at $9 per scoop, especially considering the mediocre quality. The ice cream itself lacks depth and complexity, tasting mostly of ice and sugar with a few scattered berries or mint leaves. It doesn't hold a candle to Tin Pot Creamery, which offers far superior flavors and textures.

The staff was unhelpful and couldn't provide any nutritional information beyond confirming their excessive sugar content – quite ironic for a place claiming to be "healthy" and "clean." Penny Ice Creamery's only saving grace is its prime location, devoid of any real competition. However, its exorbitant prices, unhelpful staff, and subpar ice cream make it a regrettable choice. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, especially after our experience of paying a hefty price to get sick from...

The Penny Ice Creamery in Los Altos is a lovely small business with a warm, welcoming vibe. You can really feel the care that goes into their shop and their commitment to using quality, locally sourced ingredients. The staff is friendly, and the space has that handcrafted, neighborhood feel that makes you want to keep coming back.

I tried a couple flavors and was impressed with the creativity and texture of the ice cream overall. However, I have to say the mint chip flavor didn’t quite hit the spot for me. The mint tasted a bit too herbal and lacked the creamy, refreshing balance I usually look for. The chocolate chips were good, but the overall flavor just didn’t come together the way I’d hoped.

That said, I really appreciate what this place stands for and will definitely return to try more flavors. It’s clear they put a lot of heart into what they do—and I’m all for supporting a thoughtful, local...

For those of you who haven't been to the Santa Cruz location, the chocolate and vanilla are crowd pleasers. On our latest visit, we enjoyed the pineapple, it was fresh enough that the flavor and aroma really came through. However it was very fibrous, (had to floss after eating!) wish they could puree smoother or strain. Over the years, we have experienced ice crystals at both the Santa Cruz and now the new Los Altos location, which takes away from the experience. Staff is a huge improvement over previous Tinpot staff. Communicative, and friendly, don't be afraid to ask for samples before making your choice. For those with food allergies, do know they use the same scoop for multiple flavors. Being the first customer of the day will not guarantee you get a new untouched tub, so check the flavors or call before...