Ample Hills Creamery at The Social Brooklyn — Restaurant in New York

I found out about The Social from Yelp NYC’s IG page. What really sold me and got me wanting to be social, was the fact that the founders are the originators of Ample Hills! I love Ample Hills! Though they’re no longer the owners, they’ve built an amazing reputation for their ice cream and the quality of it. I KNEW that I’d enjoy their flavors, and that I could expect whimsical, exciting, experimental flavors of it! I arrive, and the decor itself was enough to get me excited. It’s really just comforting, familiar, nostalgic vibes and energy. It’s a huge space, with lots of seating. Lots of colors, lots of thought that went into the decor. They truly did #InvestInAtmosphere, which is always greatly appreciated. The displays of their merch, ice cream, donuts, etc. was just well executed.

The guy who took my order was extremely helpful, kind and informative. He knew about all of the flavors, the company itself, what I should order, what he enjoys himself, and so much more! I told him that I definitely wanted to go BIG with a sundae. He recommended their donut sundae, as well as some flavors of ice cream that compliments each donut, I mean he was on it! Thanks to his help, I ended up choosing the “Oh Captain, My Captain” flavor as my first choice. Talk about nostalgia, this ice cream is loaded with Fruity Pebbles, Cap’n Crunch and white chocolate! It is done so well and just tasted like comfort. The second flavor I chose for my sundae was the “Monkeys Drinking Coffee” flavor. It’s infused with toffee, coffee, and…..monkey bread! Yes! I said the same thing! Crazy, right?!? Ugh! You reeeaally got the rich flavor from the coffee. The monkey bread chunks were everything I need in life and more! Such a well thought out and executed flavor of ice cream! For my donut, I chose the cinnamon sugar flavor. It paired well with both flavors of ice cream. I got my sundae topped with butterscotch, whipped cream, and a cherry! This was thee most perfect, most decadent sundae. I honestly could’ve eaten another one. Just so.good. I went back to the cashier afterwards to rave about how much I enjoyed it, and that this style/creativeness of ice cream is so reminiscent of Ample Hills. I’m really happy that the former owners stayed in the ice cream business. Their love and expertise is needed and appreciated! They will only continue to grow and get bigger, and it’s much deserved! Be sure to pay...

I've been here probably two dozen times over the past 3-4 years. Only recently have I noticed lackluster standards in service and quality. The flavors are great, but get ready to wait in line for 10 minutes with only 2 people in front of you. There seemed to be 3 staff on duty, one consolidating ice cream, the other setting up a party, and the third, taking a really long time to get orders through. Finally, after waiting for longer than I have ever had to wait at the social, it was time to order. The flavors were all mismatched from what was labeled in the dipping cabinet, so good luck knowing which flavor it is that you're ordering. Then, after ordering a cone, the server requested that it be served in a cup because the ice cream was "too soft" likely because many of the doors to dipping cabinets were left open the entire time I was there. I then went to sit down without any tables available, because they were not clean or had items on it. I only noticed while walking out that one of the four or five tables was occupied by a laptop and water bottle with "the social" logos on them. Waste of valuable inside space. Finally, I noticed that the pinball machine, signage, and other nice features of the shop were missing. Seems like they are preparing to close now that it is under new management. There is clearly something going on. I will try it again and see if it's the same thing, and if so, will likely not come back. The servers are always very nice. Get your s* together, this is a good business that seems to also be going through an identity crisis with Ample Hills and a lack of proper management. Good luck!

EDIT AFTER REVISIT Went in today. Overall, much better than last time. Quick service, clean tables, they even moved things around to create a better pathway through the store. Staff was excellent and quick to serve.

Flavors were a bit limited but overall...

Hey friends! This review is about sustainability only.

By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. And over 95% of the plastic we tried to recycle does not actually get recycled, but rather ends up in landfills, incinerators, and our waterways.

I was sad to see you selling plastic bottled water when by now there are many better options that are at least less harmful. For example, you could sell glass bottles of water like a topo Chico, or you could sell aluminum canned water. Both are in infinitely and actually recyclable.

But to sell plastic bottled water in a city surrounded by water feels shortsighted. I understand the need to make money off of concessions like this at your ice cream shop, so I wonder how you might be able to do so a bit more ethically. As a customer, it feels good to support businesses who are aligned with the well-being of the greater community, and perhaps a little bit less plastic trash would be a great way to start.

I appreciate your consideration, and as always, appreciate your...