Five Decades Later, Dari Serve Continues To Draw Crowds

Not much has changed over the 52 years the Durham Dari Serve has been scooping ice cream, and local folks have been frequenting the stand. Prices, reminiscent of those of yesteryear, make it hard to pass up the temptation of stopping in for a favorite summer treat.

“I stop in for an ice cream most afternoons, on my way home from work,” one patron told Patch.  

Another volunteered “Getting a scoop or two on a sugar cone is a weekly habit.”

Curious, and knowing it would be hard for me to limit myself to just one, I asked “Just once a week”? 

“Yes, I only allow myself one a week!” she exclaimed. “ I reward myself, after being ‘good’ for most of the week!”  

The picnic tables scattered around the exterior of the parking lot allow for larger crowds to gather. Summer nights and fall weekends often yield dozens of teens who gather to socialize as they munch the ice-cold treats. Some drive a fair distance to get a cone. While there interviewing, a bus from the Guilford Senior Center pulled in and unloaded with eager anticipation.

One traveler from Baltimore wrote this on Yelp earlier this summer: “So happy this place is still here! Grew up on this joint since early 70's and the ice cream, sundaes and Italian ice are still great quality as I had to make three visits over weekend back in town.”

The interior of the small ice cream stand is immaculate. Large tubs of rainbow sprinkles, chocolate jimmies (sprinkles) and other popular add-ons sit on the counter ready to be used as toppings for the dozen-and-a-half hard-serve flavors, including the current special, "Thin Mint Cookie". Traditional soft-serve flavors of vanilla, chocolate and twist are served on sugar and cake cones. Frozen yogurt is available, as well. The Dari Serve claims to offer the best ice cream cakes around, with 8", 10" and 12” sizes available to order.

Equally as impressive is what is not on the menu. Customers won’t find the typical drive-in fare of hotdogs, hamburgers, onion rings, fries, and cheese sticks. There are no clam-basket dinners, or other seafood options on the menu. Dari Serve is strictly an ice cream bar. Water and soda are available to quench one’s thirst. In keeping with the adherence to simple, old-fashioned values, Dari Serve accepts only cash.

For 52 years, local youth have spent their summers mixing shakes, creating banana splits and boats, and adding toppings to sundaes. As I sat eating a cone, I observed the young lady who waited on the long line of customers for more than a half-hour.  She never stopped smiling, and extended the same courteous favor to the last customer in the ‘rush’ as she did the first.

“We believe in treating everyone as if getting an ice cream is the best decision they could make today,” explained the teen, who declined to be named.  

Current summer hours are in effect at the Dari Serve, which is open noon to 9:30 p.m. daily. The favorite ice cream stand stays open through the end of September.

“There is always a steady stream of Durham Fair-goers, so we stay open at least until then. If the weather is good, we stay open for weekends into October”, the server said.  

Durham Dari Serve can be found on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Durham-Dari-Serve/455669790505 .

Current hours are posted on Facebook or can be confirmed by calling  860-349-3367. The unassuming stand is located at 13 Main Street in Durham. Anyone interested in working at Dari Serve in the future  can contact manager Becky Pavlick.