Great Escapes: Dolly's Ices

It's a Brooklyn summer staple.

Open for 19 years in the shadow of nearby King's Plaza in Mill Basin, Dolly's Ices has built up a reputation for being the borough's best-kept secret spot to pick up a pint, quart or even a gallon—it's O.K., we won't tell—of homemade ice cream.

And like many great Brooklyn eateries, it's all about family at Dolly's.

Owners Nick and Dolly Rago said they first established the tiny shop on Avenue U and East 58th Street in Mill Basin to give their children something to do afterschool. "It's only family that works here," Dolly Rago said. "That's what makes it so long lasting."

Dolly’s has been owned and run by Dolly, Nick, their two daughters and son since it opened. Over the years, they've added five grandchildren to the team.

Besides the family atmosphere, Dolly's is known for its multitude of flavors. Neither Dolly nor Nick could say exactly how many they've created, but Dolly claimed it was somewhere over 100.

And though this reporter couldn't taste all of them, for the sake of our readers we sample 20 flavors courtesy of Dolly's kitchen. 

The Cake Batter tastes exactly like frosting—which is to say, awesome. The PB&J will make you nostalgic for the sandwiches your mom used to make before she sent you off to school, and Graham Cracker Crunch literally just melts in your mouth with all its crackery goodness. Every single flavor tastes exactly how it should and how you’d imagine it to taste.

If classic ices are more your speed, Dolly’s has that covered too. It pretty much has every fruit flavor you could possibly think of—all made with fresh ingredients and with pieces of real fruit mixed in.

They even have yummy sugar free options in lemon, cherry, and chocolate. For our money, the PB&J is excellent.

A small is just two bucks, a medium is $2.75, and a large is $3.50.

Dolly’s is located at 5800 Ave. U., between East 58th and 59th streets. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, making it the perfect escape after a long day of shopping at nearby Kings Plaza. The shop closes in October, so make sure you get there before the end of summer!