JP Licks - H Sq - Opening Th

[fredid]

It's in the old Toscanini's place right in the square. I heard the soft opening is Wed 6-18, probably evening.

[sailormouth]

I'm happy at all of the above, though at JP Licks I'll go for (quel horreur!) that frozen yogurt. They do a great job with it and I'm looking forward to one in HS. I love the frappes at Herrel's and Christina's, and Lizzy's is fine for a good Grapenut ice cream cone.

[teaTomE]

The store is very nicely done-up with fake platic green grass for wallpaper and they have some patio seating. I would still prefer a Toscanini's at this spot, JP Lick's ice cream is solid but a little boring for my liking. But as many other people say - I don't wish to promote tax evasion/amnesia.

I don't think it's the best Boston/Cambridge ice cream (Toscaninis, Wheelers and Christinas are better) it still ranks high in my regard for Harvard Sq: I'd put them in order of best to worst... JP Licks, Ben and Jerry's, Izzy's, Baskin Robbin's and lastly Herrel's.

Although not technically ice cream I have to add that the wonderful Berryline just down the Mass Ave is lightyears more delicious than any of the ice cream offerings in Harvard Square.

[hargau]

baskin robbins?? Nasty! Is that stuff even icecream or just chemicals?

[teaTomE]

haha, I'm not sure... but somehow it's more enjoyable than that horrid Herrel's location.

[Prav]

Berryline is like crack to me. I cannot get myself to order anything but the plain, 'cause it's so yum.

[Prav]

Dang, how many JP Licks do we need in this town :(

And I live a block from the original JP location.

[Calico Jack]

HA. good question!

[Gabatta]

It is a welcome addition to Harvard Square.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

Hey, if Gus Rancatore knew how to run a business, Tosci's would still be there, so if you want to blame someone for the spread of JP Licks, blame him. (Too bad he didn't figure out the whole "Hey! Maybe I can get people to just GIVE me money to make up for my own fiscal ineptitude!" con in time to save the HSq location, innit?) As it stands, the only other options for ice cream in the square are a Ben and Jerry's and that just-okay place on Church Street, so yeah, this is an entirely welcome addition to the area.

[BobB]

Last I checked Herrell's was still there on Dunster St. I know you had a bad experience at their Allston location, BFP, but most of us have had no issues with them and their chocolate pudding is still my favorite ice cream on the planet.

By the way, have you noticed you have a name clone out here now, BanhmiFotheringayPhipps?

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

It's true, Herrell's is so off my radar, I hadn't even remembered they were there. My point stands: I would take JP Licks over any of those three options, any day.

Yeah, no idea what's up with that name clone thing.

[Prav]

Not blaming anybody, I just think Licks' product is mediocre compared to Herrell's.

[twentyoystahs]

Agreed. I also live In JP so am much more likely to frequent JP Licks vs Herrells but if I had my choice I'd pick Herrells anyday. Definitely a superior product; better ice cream, amazing hot fudge, and if they still have that hot penuche topping, that really pushes them over the edge....

[Prav]

Exactly my feelings. Our JP Licks is only good for fireside studying. :)

[twentyoystahs]

Or just sitting back and people-watching...:)

[autopi]

i've always had the opposite view on jp licks--i really like the ice cream (esp. the coconut almond chip), and they're very generous, but i really dislike hanging out there! too many kids and it seems a bit grungy to me. i do wish they offered a smaller portion, though, when i want a less-than-gigantic cone.

[yumyum]

I really don't know why people are soooo exercised about Rancatore and Toscanini's. What did he do, spit in your ice cream?

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

What can I say, I don't like to see bad behavior get rewarded.

[yumyum]

Me neither (here's looking at you, Halliburton!) but you didn't have to give any of your own money to bail out Gus did you?

[CityPork]

There is also an ice cream place on Church Street. Haven't tried it yet though...

http://www.lizzysicecream.com/

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

That's the place I referred to above as "that just-okay place on Church Street." It's so just-okay that I couldn't remember its name.

[hargau]

Really? I used to go to the Waltham location and always found it to be decent

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

Well, I mean, it's better than Baskin-Robbins or something, but it's not ice cream I would make a special trip into Harvard Square for.

I should point out that I primarily favor JP Licks because of their sorbets and more importantly their sherbets -- really good sherbet is a dying art, but they know what they're doing with them. They did a pineapple one last summer that was just amazing.

[hargau]

ahhh. I never get either so cant comment. Funny cause when i was a little kid I loved sherbet. I remember my dad taking me to friendlies and every time i would get a "sundae" that they had which was just a scoop of each of 3-4 types of sherbet they had.

[Joanie]

I wonder if sherbet is a kid thing. I remember after school, I'd get lemon and a friend would get lime at the local dairy store (Idlenot). And my brother and I would stir up our sherbet to "make frosting for grampy". Pineapple sherbet sounds good tho (I've got HD pineapple coconut in the fridge which I love).

As far as JP Licks vs. Herrell's, I like the choice of flavors at JPL and the owner is a good guy. And one more side note, had my first grapenut cone of the year at Louie's in E. Somerville and while the price is now $3 for a small, it's still one of the best deals around and really hit the spot.

[voodoocheese]

Blech on Lizzy's. I haven't had any good experiences there yet- it doesn't help them that the staff will barely stop texting to take your order. The ice cream was mediocre at best.

[newhound]

All the flavors I've tried at Lizzy's taste washed out, like they only added half the flavor ingredients.

[hargau]

In all fairness, the last time i went to Lizzy's "texting" had not been invented yet. So perhaps its not the same.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

Perfect, Allstonian and I can hit it either before or after the Sun City Girls show at the Brattle that night.