Heibeck's Stand — Restaurant in Wilton

The crisp chill upon an October breeze. The smell of seasoned woodsmoke burning in backyard firepits. The crinkle of fallen foliage beneath your footsteps. Pumpkins and gourds, ghosts and ghouls. The thought of spending much needed snuggle time with loved ones around a cornucopia of traditional holiday dishes that delight and dazzle even the pickiest of palates. Fall is a magical time of year. The wife and I found ourselves taking an afternoon juant on such a day through the one of the many old Colonial townships of Connecticut. We were upon Route 7, which runs quite a ways through Wilton, Ridgefield and up past Danbury, when we happened by chance upon this quaint little eatery. It would be easy to pass by and not give a second glance, save for the twenty-foot tall pink Ice Cream Cone that serves as a beacon for all passers-by. 'Stop here! Good Grub! Eat me!' Established in 1931 as a local ice creamery and grub-stop dive, Heibeck's has been scooping cones and flipping burgers for nearly 100 years. If that isn't testament to the quality of food their pushing out the back door, then I don't know what is! Yes. I said back door, because that's how they do it here. Guests order up front, but pick up in the rear. It's a smart system that helps to keep things moving along, and I soon understood why. On a rainy Saturday, this place was MOBBED. But why, I had to wonder - they serve fries and burgers and 'glizzy's (that would be Hot Dogs for those who don't know). What could be so special? ...the Hot Dogs are outrageous. All beef, crisp, juicy, succulent. I could eat two or three without a problem. The Doe-Doe Dog is outstanding with its whole pickle rounds, mayonnaise and diced tomato. This is feel good food - what a 'happy' meal should feel like. The burgers ans fries looked top knotch, they even do some righteous looking tacos. It's the Hot Dogs though that appear to be the stars - having won 'Best Hot Dog in Connecticut' back in 2018, and I can see why. Then there's the ice cream, which is double churned and thick. Silky and velvety smooth. You MUST try the Apple Pie Ice Cream - there is no doubt in my mind that someone did a deal with the Devil to learn that recipe because this is what pure sin tastes like! Outrageous! Service was excellent - the staff are very friendly and genuinely seem happy to work at the stand, and the place is very, very clean. Apparently they are now open all season, meaning unlike other stands which only stay open from April/May until October/November, they are now open year-round. Very cool. If the wife and I find ourselves back in the area, we know exactly where to pop in for a pretty fantastic...

I honestly don’t understand the glowing reviews for this place. Maybe people are being generous (or paid?), because our experience was disappointing. We ordered food for four adults and two kids, and nearly everything was underwhelming. The clam strips, burgers, fries, and onion rings tasted like they had been sitting under a heat lamp—barely edible. The burger was anemic, the tacos just okay, and the rest was a total waste of money.

The one bright spot: the soft-serve ice cream was fine, and sitting outside at the end of summer is always a plus. The staff was nice, too. But at over $120 for lunch that no one really enjoyed, it’s just not worth it.

Connecticut is expensive, sure, but at these prices you expect either good food or good value (ideally both). Heibeck's offered neither. Unless I caught them on an unusually bad day, there’s no way this is a 4.7-star spot. Realistically? 2.5...

For a roadside restaurant, Heibeck's is a staple in Wilton. It has great ice cream and the food is also a very pleasant surprise. Hot dogs and hamburgers are top notch and they even offer higher end items like lobster rolls.

Keep in mind that it's a seasonal restaurant, so you won't be able to get anything in the winter as they do close for the season, so make sure to swing by in the spring, summer or early fall.

There's actually ample parking on the northern parking lot. they have a number of tables behind the building as well as some additional tables way off to the side of the parking lot on the north side that were added since Covid.

If you're looking for good ice cream or an easy summer dinner to eat outside, definitely head over to Heibeck's.

Look for the ice...