Tipsy Scoop D.C. — Restaurant in Washington

We'd taken a trip to DC specifically to try this place and were super excited. We planned the trip two months out! We arrived and there was a line out the door and down the street, which was to be expected.

Upon entering we realized there were a few seats that bordered the window near the door and a table or two on the left hand side near the door. The way the store is set up it's not really designed to host dine-in guests or long lines.

The guest service was poor. The employees made us feel like we were bothering them. They were lackluster and sloppy in their work. We had to repeat our order to the server three times. We watched as one of the servers arm grazed the top of the ice cream and she still served it to the customer. We then watched our ice cream melt on the side of our flight while the worker replaced ice cream in the case.

The flights to go are served in small plastic shot glasses and then put in egg cartons. As we were waiting in line outside we saw a woman drop hers exiting the premises so we were on guard about ours knowing that the plastic cups inside the egg cartons didn't sufficiently hold those cups. We talked about this at length because we felt bad for the woman knowing that she wasted $4 - $5 as it wasn't likely they would've replaced it if she'd gone in and told them what happened. They really should just put the ice cream in the egg cartons itself for better stability. Despite our efforts, we also dropped one once we'd gotten in the car because the plastic cups were just so slick in the egg carton they didn't stand a chance.

We were asked if we wanted our flight to dine in or to go. We thought nothing of this question and said to-go as dining in wasn't an option because the seating is minimal so our only real option was to have it to go. Once getting to the register, we noticed the total was a little over $20 for the $16 flight and asked if the $4 was all taxes and fees. We were then told there was a $3 up charge for flights to go. That isn't posted anywhere in the displayed pricing and they do not tell you upon asking you whether you want to dine in or want it to go. Good business practice would be to ask the question and in that same breath share all of the relevant information needed to make that decision, which includes the price differential. Again, it wasn't the $3 so much as it was how they went about it all.

The ice cream is mediocre at best and you can barely taste any alcohol. We are quite the ice cream lovers and frequent ice cream shops, so, we have had our fair share of tastings and this fell flat. We struggled to tell the difference between the Vanilla Bean Bourbon and Cake Batter Vodka Martini, and were just generally underwhelmed and disappointed with the service but also...

Venue= super cute! Super clean! They even wipe down the sitting area after every customer from what I observed!

Food/desserts= satisfactory - I tried the sorbets but maybe I should have tried the ice cream! Not sure if I’m a huge sorbet girlie but it wasn’t bad. Excellent presentation (see picture attached)

Service= let’s talk about it! To start, the workers are great! Pleasant, helpful, attentive, truly awesome. Probably wondering why I gave 1 star. Truthfully - false advertisement kills the service for customers! Upon entering there is a clear as day happy hour sign that states “4-6 weekdays only” (I have attached said sign). I even inquired about the 2-for-1 scoop as far as mixing flavors (clearly referring to the happy hour sign) and was told yes flavors can be mixed. Not once did they tell me they no longer do happy hours on Friday (nor is this advertised anywhere). So of course after leaving a tip and paying, I’m reviewing my receipt and noticed I was charged regular prices. I didn’t make a fuss about it but I was pretty annoyed at the lack of communication and probably wouldn’t have left a tip had I’d been paying proper attention to what they charged me(please see attached receipt from today). So, I sat and enjoyed my items as customers bustled in and out. 2 people walked in and asked about happy hour today and were simply told “not today”. Another 2 people walked in and were given a little more background information: happy hour is now only mon-thurs (again not advertised, actually goes against what IS advertised) so the 2 pushed back a bit and said “I guess Friday isn’t a weekday” or something of that nature. The other employee responds by explaining they no longer offer it on Friday because they offer a different special which is a discount for college students on Friday (also not advertised). Imagine everyone’s frustration from pretty much being mislead- everyone loves a good happy hour! Especially when they show up to a place they didn’t even know had happy hour until they see the posted signage!

So yeah, that earned a solid 1 star as I believe this can and more than likely did takeaway from the customer experience for many. Truthfully, they should have honored the happy hour price for everyone. Feels a bit like a ripoff and does tarnish the quality of your customer service.

Overall, try the place if you haven’t. Just be weary of the incorrect advertisement and hidden specials regarding Friday; be prepared to spend more $$ than you should during...

✨ I’ve been wanting to check out Tipsy Scoop DC Ice Cream Barlour ever since it opened, and I finally made it! I first discovered Tipsy Scoop over 10 years ago at EmporiYUM, the beloved DC food festival at Union Market, so I was excited to revisit this boozy ice cream brand in their own space.

Located within walking distance of Chinatown and the Convention Center, this petite parlor has a few outdoor seats and a big personality. The concept? Ice cream infused with popular cocktails like margaritas, sangrias, and mimosas—yes, please!

🍦 If you’re indecisive like me, I recommend ordering the ice cream flight, which is a fun way to try four mini flavors. The presentation is adorable: a custom wooden tray with branded mini glasses, a tiny flag, and a Tipsy Scoop spoon. My flight included: Mango Margarita Sorbet Mom-Mosa (a Mother’s Day special: raspberries & cream ice cream with Lunetta Prosecco Rosé) Strawberry White Sangria Sorbet Cherry Blossom Martini Ice Cream

Each scoop came topped with sweet little treats or sprinkles. Boozy, fun, and delicious!

🍸 Tipsy Scoop also serves ice cream cocktails that I can’t wait to try next time, like the Party Like It’s Your Birthday, DC Royale, Palm Reader (which looks like it comes with smoke!), and Inside the Toybox. I do wish they included brief descriptions for these cocktails like they do with the signature sundaes, it would make choosing a lot easier.

🍨 Not into cocktails? They have decadent signature sundaes like:

Tequila Sunrise Old Fashioned Mojito Creamsicle Whiskey Dreams (dark chocolate whiskey & salted caramel ice cream, brownie bites, fudge!) Boozy Breakfast (hazelnut coffee + tequila hot chocolate ice cream, topped with a Froot Loops donut and cookie crisps, plus you keep the souvenir glass!)

✔️ IDs are checked for all cocktail-infused options, but they also offer mocktail flavors, like a Salty Margarita Mocktail, for those who prefer to skip the booze.

💫 The vibe is vibrant, colorful, and fun with lots of eye candy (that won’t impact your waistline 😄). The staff was friendly, welcoming, and happy to answer questions.

If you’re in the area and craving something sweet with a twist, I definitely recommend stopping by Tipsy Scoop DC. It’s a unique and memorable ice...