Soda Jerks Ice Cream Shop — Restaurant in Santa Monica

Classic Ice Cream Counter! Egg creams, phosphates, rickeys, ice cream by the scoop, sundaes, and banana splits are all here. Tucked in the corner of the Santa Monica Pier Carousel, it's a veritable time machine that took me back to my first childhood visit to a real drugstore ice cream counter in 1956, complete with the rotating bar seats for a kid to swing on to annoy his parents! I had my favorite: a classic hot fudge sundae complete with two healthy scoops of scrumptious vanilla ice cream surrounded by rich, flavorful genuine hot fudge, topped with crunchy chopped nuts and buried under mounds of real whipped cream. The ice cream is the real deal - Fosselman's Ice Cream - which is a local legend and treasure. It started in Iowa in 1919, and moved to LA in 1937, and is now operated by the 3rd generation of the Fosselman family. The ice cream is still made from real California fresh milk and is rBST-free. After a long, hot (90 degree) day of rides and games on the Pier, and a last few rides on the Carousel, the Soda Jerks counter really hit the spot for my wife and I and our grandkids! As the sign over the counter says: Life is Uncertain, so ... EAT...

I chose this ice cream place as it was the only one on the pier that had hot fudge.

I ordered a two scoop Sunday, with strawberry ice cream and chocolate mint ice cream. Hot fudge was to go over the strawberry and caramel over the chocolate mint.

I noticed there was hardly any fudge on my strawberry ice cream, so I asked if I could have a side of hot fudge.

The young man brought me a small cup and when I went to pour it I noticed it was extremely thin and not the consistency of hot fudge, but rather chocolate syrup. Upon tasting it, I confirmed my suspicions.

I then told the young man I believe this is chocolate syrup, not hot fudge.

He looked me square in the eye, and told me no that's hot fudge ma'am.

I'm almost 60 years old and I'm quite familiar with the difference between chocolate syrup and hot fudge. But Sunday was very disappointing the taste was bland at best. And then being served chocolate syrup and being told that it was hot fudge was a little insulting.

The service was not great and I was severely disappointed and left my Sunday...

Ohhh my goodness, that was good. Taking a self care day at the Pier, and what a find! Ice cream sundaes, banana splits, milkshakes, Italian sodas -- this place has everything, and for a damned good price, especially for such prime real estate on the Pier. I got the La Monica Ballroom, a two scoop sundae: creamy pistachio ice cream with caramel drizzle (OOH, this was magick!) and cool mint and chocolate fudge, a generous sprinkle of nuts, whipped cream, and yes, a cherry on top. I was so excited to try it I kind of cracked into it before remembering to get a pic, heh. Wonderful quality ice cream, nice and creamy, not icey, and the pistachio was nice and chewy without being too much to be a nuisance, just well crafted ice cream. Look for them behind...