Jun 13 2006

Best Italian Ice on the Planet

Published by Erin at 12:00 pm under Carroll Gardens, Food and Drink, Neighborhood

Courtpastry

You see that little sign in the upper right-hand corner of the photo? "Italian ices," it reads. So small, so unassuming. And yet, this little store at 298 Court Street scoops the best Italian ice I’ve ever tasted. I would rather eat the chocolate Italian ice here than have gelato or ice cream anywhere else–that is how good this Italian ice is. Also, it’s $1.25 for a small, and the smalls are huge. WHY DID I WAIT UNTIL THIS SUMMER TO DISCOVER THIS GEM? I am angry at myself for all of the past two summer’s missed opportunities. Highly recommended flavors are chocolate and lemon. You will thank me for it. And you will dream of these ices in your sleep, I promise.

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17 responses so far

17 Responses to “Best Italian Ice on the Planet”

  1. # ryanon 13 Jun 2006 at 4:13 pm

    I think I bought an unmemorable cookie there. I’ll take your advice next time I’m in the hood and order right.

  2. # wdegrawon 13 Jun 2006 at 6:20 pm

    Maybe you waited so long to try it out because the server wasn’t wearing a Von Dutch t-shirt?
    Sorry, I just couldn’t resist.

  3. # abrooklynlifeon 13 Jun 2006 at 9:42 pm

    ha, no, thankfully the von dutch phenomenon has passed and it appears to have left carroll gardens relatively unscathed (even at the ubercoolish thai places). in seriousness, though, it’s just one i’ve missed along the way…

  4. # jpon 13 Jun 2006 at 10:50 pm

    This place is the bomb for St. Joseph’s cakes in March. I prefer the sfingi to the zeppoli, though (sfingi’s a puffed pastry filled with cannoli cream, zeppoli with custard). Nice to have a little old-world, Italian-American flavor still left in the hood. Gonna stop by and try the ices on your rec.

  5. # Dennison 13 Jun 2006 at 11:19 pm

    In the summer months I usually take the 4/5 to Borough Hall and walk down to Luquer St. With this longer walk home in the evening, I have the perfect opportunity to stop by Court Pastry Shop. This afternoon I made a stop and found myself waiting in line for about 8 minutes. It was well worth the wait! JP, I’ll try your recommendations.

  6. # la penguinaon 14 Jun 2006 at 9:38 am

    it’s true! i’ve tried ices at some of the other local places, but Court Pastry is a completely different experience. with a lemon ice in hand, i finally “got” it.

  7. # maryon 14 Jun 2006 at 2:06 pm

    their ices are so good that my husband gets brain freeze everytime he eats them! i don’t recommend the pastries since they’re quite dry. try the patisserie 2 blocks up instead.

  8. # maryon 14 Jun 2006 at 2:13 pm

    does anyone know what happened to henry street creamery? they used to sell the best ice cream in town (a lot better than the one in dumbo/waterfront). i was eagerly awaiting for their season opening until i saw the for rent sign on the storefront. i wonder if the baskin-robbins opening has made the owner decide to close shop.

  9. # danielleon 18 Aug 2006 at 2:54 pm

    BEST, BEST, BEST italian ices in the world. i drive from the South Shore of LI just to have their ices–CHOCOLATE IS MY FAVORITE and I don’t buy italian ices anywhere else but at Court. Once you’ve had the best!!!

  10. # donovanon 21 Aug 2007 at 3:47 pm

    OK, so I was walking down Court st. and asked a woman eating a cup of italian ice where it was from. She RAVED about this very place, pointing it out. So I took her at her word and got myself a medium cup of chocolate. TERRIBLE! my wife ordered pistachio, EVEN WORSE! The flavors are so over the top synthetic tasting that we couldn’t finish. Tasted like a cold cup of artificial flavoring.

  11. # abrooklynlifeon 22 Aug 2007 at 9:20 am

    You sure you went to Court Pastry? One of the reasons I like their Italian ice is that it tastes like they contain very little in the way of sugar and artificial flavoring, especially the chocolate, but to each his/her own.

  12. # Moishon 22 Aug 2007 at 2:51 pm

    I LOVE their pistachio… the color is a bit scary, but the flavor is soooo good. we’ve started buying pints from them and eating directly from the container in front of the TV.
    yum.

  13. # susanaon 14 Sep 2007 at 3:24 pm

    i work in court pastry, and they have the best everything.. pastries, cookies, ices, and of course counter girls.

  14. # Dennison 14 Sep 2007 at 5:12 pm

    You can’t beat the Court St. Pastry counter girls ;)

  15. # blaiseon 05 Sep 2008 at 12:34 pm

    You really need to try Napoli Boys Itlian Ice, their chocolate, mango and lemon are to die for. You can buy it in a pint in a bunch of stores in the city. I get mine from wholefoods in NJ. http://www.napoliboys.com

  16. # BrooklynNiteson 18 Jan 2009 at 2:12 pm

    They pushed out the Italians and they want their ice. I love Court Pastry.

  17. # wingedpiperon 09 Dec 2009 at 9:54 am

    I was born a few blocks from court Pastry and grew up eating all the delicious pastries, cookies and Italian ices made at this little shop. My grandfather, Anthony Sellitti, used to work there part-time after he retired many years ago. I cannot begin to tell you how much my family loves this place. I am so happy to know that Court Pastry is still where it always has been and thriving. It’s a timeless place and the stuff all great memories are made of. My family was one of those families that bought pounds of cookies and pastries every week to enjoy on Sundays, at holiday time and to make any day extra-special.
    The Italian ices are NOTORIOUSLY delicious. I was addicted to them as a kid. I’m not surprised that Court Pastry is still around and that people continue to love it. It’s a one-of-a-kind place and those of us who grew up in the neighborhood know that better than anyone. On behalf of the Sellitti family, I’d like to say THANK YOU, Court Pastry, for making so many lives a little sweeter… :-) ))