Sweet Ride Ice Cream — Restaurant in West Reading

Each year, I try to do something different to celebrate my mother’s birthday….and knowing she’s 96 it’s difficult to come up with new ideas. To celebrate my mom’s birthday this year, I decided to throw her an old-fashioned ice cream social for 100 of her neighbors and friends. I knew the success of this party depended on finding an ice cream truck that could provide the quality and service I required. Fortunately, I found Sweet Ride Ice Cream out of West Reading, PA.

I’m 60 years old and my background is in the food service industry – I have two degrees from Johnson & Wales University and at one point in my career I was the Food Service Director for the United Nations in Nairobi, Kenya. When it comes to booking anything food service related, I have very high standards and expectations. And when it comes to writing these kind of reviews, I’ll be the first one to give a very poor review if expectations were not met but the first one to give a glowing review when they are. In this case, it’s glowing!

Start to finish, working with Sweet Ride Ice Cream to book, plan and execute this event was flawless. I wanted my own menu – no problem; I wanted servers to take guests’ orders – no problem; and I wanted an early set-up and late finish – no problem.

Sweet Ride Ice Cream was the highlight of the party! The staff - each staff member truly made each guest feel so welcomed…a great example of old school hospitality that has become a lost art. The ice cream – everyone loved it…especially the custom banana splits (every combination imaginable was served). The cleanliness – these people didn’t fool around…all glass and stainless steel was polished prior to service - not a single spot or speck anywhere. The promptness – on time and ready to go when the first guests arrived.

Kudos to the entire staff of Sweet Ride Ice Cream for making this event truly special! Knowing the success of this event, I have already booked Sweet Ride Ice Cream for my mom’s 97th birthday next July 2020.

It’s without hesitation that I would recommend them for any ice cream-related event you may be considering. Anyone who questions the authenticity of this review is welcomed to contact me directly – I’ll be more than happy to provide any additional details...

Located along Penn Avenue, this themed establishment holds the charm, romance, and innocence of a 1950s ice cream parlor. Though it could be located anywhere, sitting inside, I felt like it would fit right in at a small beach town. I felt transported to a different era where poodle skirts or old-fashioned bikinis were in vogue. I could even imagine sitting at one of the small, cozy round tables with a sweet gentleman sharing a sundae while his 1957 aqua Chevy Bel Air waited, parked outside. The shop has a neon sign, for a nice little touch, and sliding windows for sidewalk customers. Inside, it is clean and long, shotgun style. Soft 50s music is playing in the background. The front of the shop holds T-shirts, small gifts, candy, fundraisers, and a counter with ice cream display freezers and a section off to the side with toppings and such. Small, 2-seater tables line the ice blue walls and are perfect for a cozy date or a Sunday (or sundae?), treat. The walls and shop are tastefully adorned with ice cream and 50s style art, décor, and photos. The staff is youthful and well-mannered and wears male and female 50s style uniforms. For the cherry on the sundae, the main attraction is, of course, the vast selection of hard ice cream flavors, specialty drinks, toppings, and cone and dish variations. There's even a feature sundae flavor in tribute to the local, Reading Royals ice hockey team. Team spirit is evident with purple-dyed vanilla ice cream and purple sprinkles in a lake of mouthwatering peanut-buttery goodness in a boat-shaped dish. This tasty delight is also available as a drink. This deliciously, adorable shop went for a theme and nailed it! I will definitely be returning. Pros: Options in sugar free, vegan, and allergen conscious which are in a separate display freezer and labeled Cons: No...

I usually do not leave negative Reviews, but i really did not have a good experience today at this establishment, i love to support local businesses. Unfortunately my experience today was not what i expected, I went into sweet ride today July 19, 2025 @approximately 6:25pm. I was absolutely appalled at the lack of service and compassion this place runs, when I come and the owner Angie is there i have an amazing experience, but today there were 7 employees total working all teenagers and one adult, I had asked if i could please place my order via the window as the establishment does not have a ramp for a stroller, and i was struggling to get in, they said absolutely not, that i had to come in, I was struggling with my stroller toddler and no one helped me just stared, which makes me question if someone really could not get in or had a hard time would they just be turned away? Aside from that the tables were all dirty with trash left over used napkins and trashcans were bursting at the seams with trash. And they were all just standing around talking, the establishment did not look like it was running like it usually does when the owner is there. Its sad that I have to leave a review like this to an establishment in which I’ve had great experiences in the past prior to becoming a mom, the lack of compassion and servie from the staff, when the owner is not present, is absolutely disheartening as I know it usually is not running like that and thats this establishment has standards and are...