Ralph's Italian Ices Franklin Square — Restaurant in Town of Hempstead

8/14/2025....I stopped by in the evening with my family, the usual line around the corner. To my surprise, the counter top at the serving window, and ALL the To-Go bags resting on the ledge to the right of the serving window were INFESTED with INSECTS crawling all around!!!! The insects were little ant looking bugs with wings and flys. 🤮 I observed an employee wipe some of the insects away with a rag, NO Lysol or any disinfectant was used. She then walked away, but the counter top was still infested with the insects and contaminated! I spoke to the manager via phone to bring the situation to her attention. I expressed how disgusting it is to see insects crawling all over the counter and the To-Go bags at an establishment serving food. She said she wasnt the owner, but she can take my name and number and will have the owner call me and I could talk to the owner about the problem. She also told me that she has been working there for 10 years and it happens every year because of the lights in the overhang. What?! I said, that is absolutely disgusting and they should get an exterminator if that is happening every year. She then became very defensive and dismissive towards me. However, she did offer me a refund, but really did not express any remorse for the situation, it was more like "it is what it is pal".

*Thank you very much for your reply. Your detailed explanation of how you are doing your best to try to remediate the problem is appreciated. I also appreciate your offer for a refund, that is very kind. I felt the need to go to Google because my friendly neighbors in Franklin Square deserve to know what to expect to see when they arrive. Ps Fire the...

It's probably one of the best ices i've ever had in my life!.However the SERVICE SUCKS!!!!!!!!! I believe the system on how they take orders for customers is designed to create a line so other potential customers will see & think what's going on over there. I believe it's a strategic advertising moving that comes at the expense of good people who just want to get the ices or ice cream & go home back to their respective lives. I truly hope that they read this post & think we have an excellent product that sells itself. we do not need to take this approach to get other potential customers to come to our establishment. Once you finally make it to front & and purchase, the servers are nice & pleasant & more importantly respectful. I asked one of them why the line like this & she simply replied this is the way...

I go to this place multiple times a week all season long, me and my son. Today? I got two large ices. $13. When we got them home. It was like four small scoops one on top of the other. They don’t pack it into the cup anymore. It was about half the size of what it normally is. Maybe it’s just a possibility the girl wasn’t paying attention? Maybe she was new? I’ll give it another try in a day or two. But if they’re going to cut the Ices in half on top of raising the prices? We’re done. I’ll come right back on here and change the stores I left. I understand prices are going up, but you can’t cut things in half and raise the prices on...