It was 3 a.m. and I had just gotten off work. Cruising down the empty highway, my tired brain repeated one thought over and over. Milkshake. Milkshake. Milkshake.
That is not a thought unique to my early morning cravings, especially during the hot summer months. A cool mix of milk, ice-cream and my chosen flavoring is a heaven send.
And I’m not the only one who feels that way. So why not treat yourself during National Ice Cream Month with some of the best milkshakes around?
Dixie's Diner
Dixie’s Diner calls their milkshakes legendary and the reviews seem to agree. With their 50’s style atmosphere, the diner is one of the best places to enjoy ice-cream while feeding quarters into the jukebox. The 50’s style applies to how their milkshakes are made too, according to Tom Hersh, owner and manager of Dixie’s Diner. The old-fashioned Dreyer’s ice-cream is mixed in a machine similar to those found in original 50’s and 60’s diners.
“We sell a lot of milkshakes,” Hersh said. “I think they’re very throwback. Old school.”
Of the 50 or so potential combinations, Hersh’s favorite milkshake is their creamsicle flavor. Made with vanilla ice-cream and orange juice mixed with whipped cream to replace the milk, Hersh said the milkshake is, “light and refreshing, especially on a warm day.”
Scotty's Drive-in
Scotty’s Drive In’s world-famous milkshakes come in a variety of flavors from fresh fruits—like pineapple, banana, and blackberries—to candies—like Reese’s, Andes Mint and animal cookies,
Black Bear Diner
Black Bear Diner boasts their hand-dipped ice-cream served with classic flavors or malt, or really, any flavor you could want.
“Just about any flavor you could think of—so long as we have the ingredients—we will make it for you,” said Megan Immel, Black Bear Diner’s general manager. “I think everybody like it so much because of the smooth flavor and then, you know, you get your extra in the tin on the side.”
Shari's Cafe and Pies
Besides the classic milkshakes, Shari’s Café and Pies also offers their Signature Pie Shakes.
“You can put a whole slice of pie — any one of our pies — inside your milkshake,” said Jarica Webster, a shift supervisor at Shari’s Café and Pies. “It’s quite a hearty shake.”
The pie shake fills up two whole glasses, and sometimes parties will come in just to get them.
“It’s hard to pick a favorite,” Webster said. “I definitely like the cherry pie shake or the coconut cream pie shake.”
Baskin Robbins
Customers visiting Baskin Robbins can choose from more than just the 31 flavors listed. According to the one of the owners, Janet Westerberg, customers can also mix and match their flavors for a new combination.
Baskin Robbins also has options for those with dietary restrictions.
“We do have yogurt, and we do have non-fat and sugar free,” Westerberg said. “Somebody lactose intolerant? Doesn’t want fat? Can’t have sugar? They can have a milkshake.”
Bee's Knees Pub and Catering
Bee’s Knees boasts their creamy milkshakes made from local ice-cream with lots of different flavors from fresh berries to fudge chocolate.
“We use mason jars to serve them,” said Kara Brown, a server at Bee’s Knees. “They come out looking really cute with whipped cream and cherries on top. It makes it a really good experience with the presentation and the flavor combinations.”
Brown said her daughter, Sariah, particularly loves the peanut butter shake.
Victor’s Emporium
Victor’s Emporium uses wild, handpicked huckleberries mixed with vanilla ice-cream and milk to create their shakes. To Kathryn Ferris, these shakes are a “labor of love.”
“Its just a unique flavor,” Ferris said. “I love it. And you can't get it everywhere. It's special because you can only get it a few places.”
These famous huckleberry milkshakes were even mentioned by the Food Network and several other sites list this milkshake as one unique to Idaho.
“You come to the 1950s soda fountain, have a milkshake and walk down memory lane,” Ferris said.