Cones: The Best Ice Cream Parlor in New York City

The day I somewhat randomly stumbled into Cones was the day I decided to stop searching for the best ice cream parlor in New York City.

Even though the prices are steep and the West Village location is out of my way, it's worth the occasional summertime trek for a superb, icy scoop.

The mix of flavors offered at Cones is superb: familiar favorites mingle with more adventurous ice creams and sorbets. I mean "adventurous" in the best sense of the word. None of flavors is overly trendy or gimmicky to the point of inedibility.

It's not just the ice cream that is sweet at Cones. The people who work behind the bright blue counter have always managed to make my day a little happier. They come off as genuinely kind and friendly. This fact alone would make the place a special one in New York City.

Picture un-fake smiles. Picture patience with customers mulling over their flavor selections for much longer than a New York minute. Picture the best kind of low-key guidance to customers. For instance, when I ordered one of the more unusual flavors, the man behind the counter paused before scooping and found a subtle and amazingly unsnobby way to make sure it was a taste I would enjoy. (It was.)

More excellent things:

• The scoop sizes are fairly generous — a definite plus given the prices (see below.)
  
• The shop is open late. Cones doesn't close until after midnight on weekends.
  
  

The cost of a cup of ice cream at Cones nears $5. That is steep by any standard. (My estimate is that it's like paying $15 per pound.)  Also, in this era of plastic payments, note the store's cash-only policy (in effect as of my last visit this summer.)

The store is not teeny-tiny, but it can get crammed. I've had good luck snagging a seat, but don't count on it.

• Blueberry (sorbet)
  
• Maté (ice cream flavored with South American tea)