Bites Nearby: Lizzy's Homemade Ice Cream

Lizzy's, which first opened in Waltham in 1995, now has locations in Harvard Square and Needham too. They're open year-round and are already preparing for the fall, when they'll be offering two seasonal ice creams as well — peach and pumpkin pie. All the ice cream is made on the premises in Waltham.

What to eat: Besides their many choices of homemade ice cream, there's also tofutti (made with tofu) and two kinds of sugarless ice cream, coffee and vanilla (made with Splenda). Or, for a change, try their frozen yogurt (7 types) or sherbet (3 kinds). For the devil-may-care, though, there's hot fudge, marshmallow, Reese's Pieces, and more than a dozen other  "dry" and "wet" toppings. If you're feeling guilty, you can always order a salad with egg salad, tuna, or hummus.

Cool factor no. 1: Lizzy's carries a good selection of gourmet teas in individual bags, which can be a nice complement to a sweet treat.

Cool factor no. 2: What's cooler than homemade ice cream?

Vibe: The establishment is focused on satisfying the needs of the ice-cream deprived. Otherwise it's a pleasant and low-key hangout.