Cup and Cone — Restaurant in White Bear Lake

Oh, Cup and Cone, you delightful enigma! Tucked away in charming White Bear Lake, this little ice cream haven is an absolute must-visit, even if it does play a little hard to get at first.

Stepping up to the counter, you'll likely be greeted by a line that snakes down the side walk. "Gah! So many people!" you might think. But fear not, my sweet-toothed friend, this line moves with the efficiency of a well-oiled, ice-cream-dispensing machine. Before you know it, you're at the front, feeling a slight pressure to make your crucial dessert decisions. (Pro tip: maybe peek at the menu online before you go to avoid the "deer in headlights" moment!)

The real magic happens once you've ordered. No names taken, no numbers called. They just... yell things out. Like, "Twist with cookie dough!" or "Waffle cone, sprinkles!" And somehow, through the sheer power of ice cream telepathy, you just know it's yours. It's confusing the first time, but trust me, by your second visit, you'll be a seasoned Cup and Cone pro, effortlessly claiming your sugary prize.

The best part? The toppings! You get to choose your own adventure, which is always a win in my book. I went for the classic chocolate and vanilla twist cone (don't judge, it's a timeless masterpiece!) and added a glorious cookie dough "dip" (is it a dip? a coating? a magical cookie dough shell? Who cares, it's delicious!). The whole experience was super fun and utterly delightful.

So, why not a perfect five stars, you ask? Well, here's my tiny, chocolate-loving confession: the chocolate ice cream, while good, wasn't quite as rich and deep as my cocoa-crazed heart desired. It was chocolate, don't get me wrong, but not the most amazing chocolate I've ever had.

But honestly, that's a minor quibble in the grand scheme of things. The overall experience, the fun of the line, the mystery of the pickup, and the joy of customizing your cone, made it absolutely worth the drive. If you find yourself anywhere near White Bear Lake, do yourself a favor and hit up Cup and Cone. It's a quirky, delicious, and...

I don't really like ice cream, and I very much don't like soft serve. I went here because my daughter thought it was awesome. We waited 40+ minutes in line at around 7:15pm on a Friday. I can't believe I waited that long for soft serve. I looked at it as an "experience" on a beautiful summer evening with hundreds or so of other people. I ordered a small cherry chip malt with hot fudge on top and sprinkles because if I'm going to eat ice cream, it's going to be worth it, and I like "crunchy" ice cream not baby food. I LOVED it. The combo of flavor with cherry chip and fudge was right up my alley. The sprinkles and "chips" of frozen cherry coating (that's how they make the chips), was just the childhood crunchiness I needed to enjoy soft serve. My daughter's butterscotch heath sundae was not as great as last time, but still good. Prices, I thought, are not bad. 5% discount for cash which makes it easy to leave the young, hard workers a tip. I was impressed they got our orders correct as I requested mine a certain way and they are just so busy! They were polite and prompt as well. I see they have some regular food offerings as well with sandwiches and a few other things. Sure, I'd do this again if in the area, and select it over something like DQ. Fun to either hang out there to eat it or walk through town or...

The first time I visited Cup and Cone I was impressed! I ordered a pastrami and capicola hoagie and for dessert a Carmel Apple Sundae.

The Hoagie was topped with red onions, jalapenos, some other assorted pepper, and Italian dressing. This sandwich with a bag of Ruffle's Cheddar and Sour Cream chips and a cup of water costed me $4.75. Top off the sandwich with the chips for an extraordinary experience.

The Sundae was amazing! It came in a clear plastic sandwich box with four slices of apples laying 90 degrees from one another topped with a gigantic dollop of vanilla ice cream and an ocean of carmel sauce. I am a little bit allergic to apples, meaning my lips swell a bit, and my tongue and inner ear get a little itchy. However, perhaps it is due to the cooling effect of the ice cream or perhaps some residual effect of the Allegra D 24-hours that I took a few days ago, but the apples did not really affect me too much. When I got back to the office I felt a little "itchiness" growing, but a mug of warm water quelled the itchy sensation.

Cup and Cone is all in all a decent place for food, but really earns the fourth star strictly from a...