Big Dip Ice Cream — Restaurant in Town of Cicero

Best ice cream EVER!!!

My job as a latex salesman has me on the road as much as 45 weeks per year. It gets lonely out there, but I find solace in ice cream. Suffice it to say I’ve crushed A LOT of ice cream over the years, so I speak from experience (and have the waistline to prove it!)

The Big Dip, a quaint, family owned and run roadside ice cream stand, located at 216 North Main Street in North Syracuse, is my all-time favorite and checks every box.

Let’s cover the easy stuff first… Immaculately clean? Friendly staff? Fair prices? Generous portions? Ample parking? Family friendly picnic tables and a grassy area safely located away from the street? Great music at the appropriate volume and a fun environment? Check, check, check, check, check, check & check.

How about selection and specials? I eased into my first visit with a simple banana malted, the ice cream equivalent of a pitching wedge from 135 yards to the center of the green. And Christie, the manager and "face of the place", drained the 30 footer for birdie. The soft serve vanilla ice cream base was smooth and creamy, without any hint of ice crystals, gritty texture or coarseness. Inferior ice cream proprietors cut corners, boosting volume by pumping extra air into the mix, a process called “overrun.” The Big Dip’s vanilla base was dense and consistent. If you get that right, the rest is a tap in. The combination of Carnation Malted Milk Powder with fresh, ripe bananas was right on point, calling to mind a mid-afternoon refreshment break on a Chiquita safari in the rainforest of eastern Ecuador. It was delicious and I was smitten.

After three afternoon sales calls, a 20 minute in-car nap at a Wegman’s parking lot and dinner at the counter of Heid’s (two Hofmann Franks, two Coneys, an order of fried pickles & a Diet Dr. Pepper), I was ready for round two at The Big Dip.

It was just after dusk when I arrived and took my spot in the queue. A feeling of anticipatory delight was palpable among the growing line of patrons. By now a second window had opened, so the line moved quickly. Sisters Jacquie and Alli were stationed at windows #1 & #2, smiling and dispensing frozen treats faster than $6 White Claws at the New York State Fair, all under the watchful gaze of Peter “See You at The Clipper” P. But I digress.

I decided to go for it and ordered the Chocolate Peanut Butter Overload Sundae and a dairy free Dole Whip for afterwards, primarily to settle my stomach. The Overload, the ice cream equivalent of a 225 yard carry to a 20 yard wide landing area, into the wind and over water, was absolutely delightful, assembled upon a base of high butterfat content Hershey’s ice cream. Anyone who loves the combination of chocolate and peanut butter should make a bee line to The Big Dip to try this piece de resistance. It exhibited superior mouthfeel and the panoply of pure flavors lingered pleasantly on the palate.

I never got to try the Dole Whip; was absolutely stuffed. Rather, I shared it with a new friend I made later at the bar at Americas Best Value Inn on Collamer Road, and he/she/they raved about it, sucking it down in two deep gulps.

What more can I say? I've been to Plank Road Ice Cream, right down the street. I just don't remember when and what I had (which says everything). Effee's Frozen Treats is a great stop...if you happen to be in Warrenton, Virginia.

Sure, you could go to Dairy Queen and order a Brownie Batter Blizzard, if you take one mulligan per side and give yourself downhill four foot sliders. Or you can play from the back tees and visit The Big Dip, for an unbeatable combination of taste, quality,...

You, like me, young patron, have been searching for peanut butter soft-serve ice-cream at every stand in the area (conveniently located closest to you and only when you get the craving for it). But you just can't seem to find it anywhere. Then Wham! There it is! Soft serve peanut butter ice-cream! But oh-no!! You have forgotten cash once again. Ice-cream stands notoriously only take cash. Thats why they are excellent money laundering facilities. But wait a jif! Look here, fellow millennial, this business must be legit. You can use your card here! Saved by what ever God Big Dip believes in (perhaps the bell) and you and I believe in his right to do so without being bothered about it and conversely not bothering anyone about it. Now if they only had tide-pod flavored ice-cream.

... Maybe they will. There's always an awesome "weekly" flavor to try! And the sizes here are pretty big, banana split for scale. Bring the whole fam and buy a cone for everyone. Your Boomer parents can sit at the picnic tables out back and complain about something you never thought of, let alone, would ever care about. And children love it here. They're always running through the plenty of extra parking in the overflow lot. My son can...

I've brought my kid here twice in the same weekend after their recital.

My experiences were that staff was very friendly, polite, and professional. The soft serve in my opinion is the way to go here. It is one of the best soft serves in the area after having gone to over 6+ different ice cream places from Oswego to Syracuse.

Onto the taste: My kid got the berry twist with sprinkles, kiddie size and I got the chocolate vanilla twist with sprinkles, kiddie size. My kid turned me into a fan of the berry twist. Their soft serve texture is great. I think the chocolate could use some help with their recipe if it's homemade. Chocolate feels like it's missing a little more of a chocolate bite if that makes any sense. Vanilla is pretty on point.

Prices are comparable to other spots within 20 minutes and may be a little higher. IMO the flavor variety of their soft serve makes it worth it as well as their texture of creamy, smooth, soft-serve goodness

Prime spot near driver's village! Thanks...