Ava's Italian Ice — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

Joe and Marisa are two of the nicest people you will meet. If you didn't know better, you'd think you were being served as guests in their home, not as customers outside their small shop. The couple make great efforts to meet and know anyone who comes by for fresh Italian ice made from nothing but fresh, seasonal fruits and crushed ice. Even if I'm not buying anything at the moment they will wave, chat, or ask about my wife when I'm walking by after work.

The prices are extremely reasonable if not an absolute steal. The Neighborhood reusable cup is probably the best price point with its $1 discount for bringing back your cup, but even the flights provide four double scoops of delicious Italian ice with chunks of real fruit infused into it. I try to taste a different flavor from their rotating selection whenever I go, but it's hard not to return to the creamy banana, tart plum, or tangy pineapple.

I doubt it will be long before Ava's is as synonymous with Chicago summers as volleyball at North Avenue beach or bleacher games at...

Natural, smooth, and not too sweet. I love this type of Italian ice. The texture is not normally found in other popular Italian ice spots in chicago, but I'm definitely loving it. It's not too much ice to flavor so it's more of a smooth almost creamy texture. I tried the mango, watermelon, peach, and lemon flavors and wow. The watermelon is a bit watered down so if you don't like sweet it's definitely for u. The mango was great but also again, slightly less sweet than expected but personally my favorite. The peach was spiced and was definitely the boldest flavor I tried. Customer service was amazing and it really gives chicago vibes when ordering through the walk up window. Service was quick and because of that there was practically no wait after...

I love this place! It's by far the best Italian ice I've had. I've tried 5+ flavors so far, and they are all fantastic. What puts Ava's on top, is none of the flavors are ever too sweet or syrupy, Ava's lets the natural flavor of the ingredients shine for an always refreshing, never clawing summer treat for adults and children alike. I've been informed their not so secret to success is achieved by making the ice daily, with only fresh organic ingredients, and using only a touch of cain sugar to serve as a binding agent. Because they always use fresh ingredients in small batches, this does mean the flavors are always rotating. So go in with and open mind and be prepared to find...