At the heart of vibrant downtown Palo Alto lies Scoop Microcreamery, a popular ice cream store known for its small-batch creations and bold flavors. Served in a cup or waffle cone—with a myriad of toppings—the shop is hard to miss. Though compact in size, its full of charm, featuring handwritten signs and seasonal decorations. Scoop creates a warm and inviting atmosphere for its customers, encouraging visitors to chat and linger. A small scoop is priced at $6.50, with medium and large sizes costing $8.50 and $10.50, respectively.
Hella Nutella: 7/10
Hella Nutella is a surprisingly bold flavor based on the classics—hazelnut and vanilla. Nutella and vanilla ice cream swirl together into a smooth base studded with subtle chocolate flakes. As the name suggests, the taste of hazelnut dominates, creating a charming, if slightly nutty profile.
Crazy Jen’s Brownie: 7/10
Crazy Jen’s Brownie is everything one could want from a brownie-inspired ice cream. The creamy vanilla ice cream complements the decadent, chocolatey brownie chunks well. However, while the flavor is rich, the brownie chunks may seem slightly dry to some, especially in contrast to the refreshing vanilla ice cream. The flavor lives up to its name as a rich, eccentric twist on the classic brownie.
Dulce De Leche: 5/10
The Dulce De Leche is startlingly similar to a créme brûlée, with a sweeter profile than the rest of the shop’s selection and a strong caramel taste. The caramel, however, overshadows the ice cream’s underlying nutty richness, leaving the flavor slightly unbalanced. Although it doesn’t accurately represent its name, this ice cream is still a sufficient choice for those who enjoy intense caramel flavors.
Thai Tea: 2/10
Thai Tea is an unfortunate exception from Scoops’ other offerings. Its unappealing bright orange color matches its overly-spiced flavor profile. The sharp taste of cardamom dominates the bite, making it unpleasant and adding unnecessary spiciness. While some may appreciate its tea inspiration, the spices are so strong it completely obliterates the attempted tea flavor.
Thin Mint: 4/10
Thin Mint is meant to mimic the nostalgic taste of the classic Girl Scout cookies many know and love, but this ice cream falls short. The flavor comes across as vanilla with chocolate chips rather than a true mint profile, resulting in a slightly basic and bland taste. While not terrible, it ultimately fails to deliver the classic mint flavor expected.
Grasshopper Pie: 7/10
Grasshopper Pie picks up the slack where Thin Mint fell short. With rich, cool, mint ice cream filled with bits of fudge, cookie, and chocolate chips, this flavor is an adventure for the senses. While all these ingredients work together well, some may find the combination a little overwhelming. Nevertheless, Grasshopper Pie is a delightful choice, despite its name suggesting otherwise.
