Avondale Dairy Bar image

Avondale Dairy Bar

Ice cream shop Dessert shop

One of the Best Places To Visits in Niagara-on-the-Lake


Address

461 Stewart Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0, Canada

Website

www.avondaledairybar.com

Contact

+1 905-687-7403

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (2.7K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 12 to 8 pm
  • Monday: 12 to 8 pm
  • Tuesday: 12 to 8 pm
  • Wednesday: 12 to 8 pm
  • Thursday: 12 to 8 pm
  • Friday: 12 to 8 pm
  • Saturday: 12 to 8 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: cream (63) flavours (19) great (12) time (11) service (11) Niagara (10) friendly (10) staff (9) Great (9) line (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Anna P. 2 years ago on Google
    Avondale is one of the well known dairy bars in Niagara. When I paid a visit two weeks ago, there was a huge line up (due to capacity limits/COVID restrictions) but the line moved fast. I probably waited around 10 minutes to get into the store. Once you place an order, wait time is around 1-2 minutes for your icecream, not a long wait at all. The store is really clean and the staff is also very friendly! There are seating areas near the parking lot so you can sit and eat before getting back to your car. In terms of flavours, I highly recommend the maple walnut. The only reason I didn’t give a five-star is because I think the icecream here is a little on the sweeter side for me.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Ryan F. 9 months ago on Google
    Overall the ice cream was good, service was friendly however they have an odd system for only letting a few people in at a time, while the rest have to wait outside. There are many different options and flavours for ice cream, including many different style of cones (including waffle cones). We got one milkshake and a regular ice cream cone, the cost was over 18 dollars, the ice cream was good but I don’t think I will be returning every weekend. Worth a try if you are in the area, there was a steady flow of customers.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tina YK C. 2 years ago on Google
    It does not get any better than this! So glad we found this spot the first time we visited the area, now whenever we are in the area this is our must!! Fresh ice cream and friendly service!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ayesha M. 9 months ago on Google
    A perfect ice-cream experience. Came on a Saturday around 7pm. Quick-moving line but helped us get hyped for our dessert. The factory is right by the storefront so everything feels very fresh. I got a deluxe sundae (hot fudge, strawberries, whipped cream and nuts) and it’s the best I’ve ever had. We ate by the benches nearby, watched the sunset and went on the swings. Such a nostalgic evening - i felt like a little kid again.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Isuru V. 1 year ago on Google
    Tried different milkshakes ( chocolate mocha, Kaluha, chocolate peanut butter, rum and butter) Tried double chocolate Banana split Tried Coconut almond ice cream scoop Milk shakes were little bit disappointing. It was just ok. Regular store bought milk and regular ice cream tatse ( Kawartha milk and milkshakes are much better) Banana split was good. Chocolate flavor goes well with banana. There were some vanilla ice cream in the middle. It messed up the tatse. Ice cream scoop was interesting. Overall it was just ok. Not worth the hype I wouldn't recommend it Friendly staff Plenty of free parking around the facility.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jonathan L. 8 months ago on Google
    Incredible, mouth watering ice cream, rich and thick old fashioned ice cream, farm to table (literally on the property ) great treat to have! I always make sure to visit each summer now at least a handful of times, I got the Turtle sundae, amazing :D the caramel/ fudge sauce was so good and rich, the whip cream was light and not too sweet. The pecans fresh and crunchy. Amazing flavours and textures and a patient friendly staff!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Akash P. 10 months ago on Google
    Avondale Ice Cream is a must-visit. Their ice cream is delicious, with a wide variety of flavors. Great service and a pleasant atmosphere. Must try!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Isa 9 months ago on Google
    Avondale has this bizarre policy where they make you stand outside even though there's plenty of space to queue indoors. There are numbers on the ground in front of each employee and they allow one group per number; if all employees are occupied, they ask you to stand at the doors. This would be normal if it was a tiny shop, but there's tons of room for people to form lines, and given the air quality due to the fires, it just struck us as an odd choice to make people linger outside for extended periods of time. Another counterintuitive element is that it increases ordering time: if they had customers queue inside, customers could have time to read the menu before ordering; to this end, because they assign you to a specific station, only certain ice creams flavors and parts of the signage are visible and you have to take time meandering around or craning your neck to figure out the menu. It took way longer to order than it would've if they'd had us, idk, line up behind another group like every other shop? In sum, the layout and logistical decisions are confusing. Tbh we were a little put off at first because a family was let in before us and we were stopped at the door; we're a young mixed race couple. But then we realized they were doing it to everyone. 😂 (See pic for people lining up; unpictured--the large amount of space along the very long counter.) The ice cream is delicious though! I would definitely recommend it! My partner and I just felt we had to write a review because of how unusual it was. The employees were so kind and the customer service was on point; we felt bad that they have to institute this weird policy.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Jay B. 11 months ago on Google
    The ice cream is great, and the staff is super friendly and professional. There’s 2 downsides here, one no cash on the premises. I have an issue supporting a business that doesn’t accept cash. The other main issue for my lower review is how much your cost of ice cream has gone up. I was there yesterday and was shocked that 3 scoops of ice cream cost almost $20 what the heck??!😳😳😳 Last year I purchased the exact same 3 scoops of ice cream, and it was about $13 for 3 scoops. I could get 2 burgers and fries meals for about $20. I can also get a 1.5L of ice cream at the store for about $8.00. I’m very sorry for having to leave this review, but I can’t hold this in. I know you’ll say you have a business to run, however this price is just ridiculous. So many other businesses are now passing costs onto the customer which is not right at all when the general cost of living is so high. I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to come here very often, and I’m sorry I had to leave this review. I hope you will make some adjustments in your prices this year so that you can retain your customers as the ice cream is very good. I had to say something as suppression is depression. Yes it is a great experience coming here, but paying almost $20 for 3 scoops of ice cream is just too much. I still have my receipt.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Krn J. 1 year ago on Google
    Great variety of flavours, orange pineapple was the highlight. Peach ice cream of the day was great. Don’t bother with the watermelon taste too artificial. Beware they sell the ice cream by the ounce, so one scoop costs around 6$.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dave V. 2 years ago on Google
    I stopped in for an amazing chocolate peanut butter milkshake with a friend. This ice cream bar is right from the manufacturer. The service is friendly and fast, and the menu is full of every ice cream treat you could imagine.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Steven K. 1 year ago on Google
    I've been here twice now and am already looking forward to my next visit here. The freshness and the flavour of the ice cream here are top notch. It may seem expensive at first, but the serving size here is very generous; for the banana split in particular, I would recommend sharing it between two people. The cream used in their ice cream has this freshness to it that makes their products memorable and unique. Also, I appreciate that they don't go overboard with the sweetness of their ice cream; the flavors are well balanced and none of the ice cream I've had from there so far had been overly sweet. I've had the coffee and toffee flavour and skor flavour ice cream from there and both had generous amount of toppings and just really great flavours overall. It's a bit outside St. Catharines and it can get pretty busy here, but it's definitely worth the visit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Suki L. 8 months ago on Google
    Great ice cream spot in Niagara! It's a bit out of the way but my best friend who is a Niagara resident is the one who recommended. Overall good ice cream spot, everyone had their own favourites, I got the pecan and creams on a waffle cone, Niagara bestie got the award winning kahula espresso fudge on a sugar cone, bestie got strawberry in a cup and partner got mint chocolate milkshake. Everyone loved it :) I loved the multiple counters kind of style ordering that way we weren't overly crowded, the staff member was patient with us especially with all the flavours to choose from and options. Next time I definitely want to try their banana splits!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Topaz G. 2 years ago on Google
    You're welcome for the hopefully better pictures of the flavours. Even with a very long line (length of the building x2, very quickly served). Friendly and clear about prices, flavours etc. Banana split is $10 and comes with THREE flavours of ice cream! And the standard toppings (whipping cream, peanuts, maraschino cherries). Absolutely scrumptious! ❤️
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 JC L. 4 months ago on Google
    The ice cream here is amazing. Great portions for price. Great service. Friendly and quick staff. Waffles cones tastes great. Do try a cookie cone. Plenty of seating inside and outside. Clean tables and washrooms. Outdoor picnic tables can be a little bit messy. Parking can be busy in summer weekends.

  • 4/5 Christina E. 8 months ago on Google
    What a nice place! There is room to sit outside or enjoy inside. You can even watch the cows out in the field. The ice cream was delicious and gave me a much needed pick me up. I got the pistachio chocolate and it was loaded with pistachios, nice! I had a taste and them gobbled it down, unfortunately forgot to take a picture.

  • 5/5 David T. 9 months ago on Google
    A great selection of home made ice cream and a plethora of other desserts. I chose the banana split with chunky peanut butter. A real treat. Great service and situated in a really cool old fashioned farm ice cream shop.

  • 5/5 Sara S. 9 months ago on Google
    Great Location in the country in NOTL. So many flavors and choices to choose from. Great homemade ice cream is also available by the tub or pint. Milkshakes. Floats, Monster Banana split with over 6 different types of ice cream. The best part is the swings after you get your ice cream. Going to Avondale Dairy Bar has been a long standing tradition for over 30 years for myself and my family.

  • 4/5 Rogue T. 5 months ago on Google
    Date of Visit – Saturday Oct 21, 2023 After years of living in Niagara, and then visiting Niagara many times a year, We finally made it to the Avondale Dairy Bar – a place that has been in operation for decades. This dairy bar is in an out of the way location that you more than likely will not drive by when you are in Niagara, but it is still the kind of place that people are willing to seek out, and locals are very familiar with. This dairy bar is a throwback to the old days of dairy bars and soda jerks. Melamine counters, and vinyl stools, with retro (original) signage. They offer a wide variety of ice cream flavours made on site, as well as sundaes, banana splits and many other delightful treats. We ordered some seasonal options: Hot apple cobbler Sunday & Pumkin Pie Sunday. They make the sundaes in the back and when they are presented 0 they are huge and lovely. The Pumpkin Pie Sunday was delightful – tasted just like a pumpkin pie. Unfortunately the hot apple cobbler – the apples had a bitter taste that just didn’t taste right. The ice cream was delicious, though and it all tasted great otherwise. The prices are very reasonable at approx. $10 for a deluxe sundae. and the service is fantastic. This is a great spot to go for ice cream when you are in the area.

  • 5/5 Sam R. 6 months ago on Google
    It has been over 50 years since I've been here. Loved it! Great ice Cream! My family came here in the 60's & 70's as my grandfather loved the ice cream treats.

  • 5/5 Michael L. 1 year ago on Google
    I always stop here after touring the Niagara region. Super surprised I beat a rush last night and there was no lineup. But just prepare for a wait if you go. I got a S'Mores deluxe sundae this time and it was great. Whipped cream, nuts and a cherry on top. Can't get any more classic than that. The staff is very friendly, especially the young man who served us. He was a great salesman and walked us through a bunch of items on the menu.

  • 1/5 Layla T. 9 months ago on Google
    Server was super rude and condescending. We clearly misheard her question and instead of repeating it for us to reply correctly, she just stared at us and scoffed. Not entirely sure why she didn't just repeat it and correct us.. strange. Overall she was quite dismissive to our whole party and it just put a weird energy over the whole experience. I don't think customer service is a strong suit of this dairy bar. Ice cream was OK. Didn't really stand out to me but had a wide range of flavours. Cool to try but I won't be back.

  • 3/5 Thomas f. 9 months ago on Google
    Love the ice cream but the fact that you can't pay cash is a bit ridiculous, I could understand if they were selling cars but you should be able to pay cash for the $10 ice cream. I have a 3 year old who likes to "pay" for her treats (we always slip a $10 into her little purse) but she is a bit too small for me to slip my visa card into her purse for something as small as an ice cream cone.

  • 5/5 Holz H. 1 year ago on Google
    Worth the slight detour from the wineries and the outlet mall to get your ice cream fix fulfilled. Lots of ice cream flavours to choose from (can be quite overwhelming for a first time visitor!!!) Loved the sundaes! Single scoop is just as satisfying. Just be cautious for those with nut allergies as it is not the most allergen friendly place. However, lots of flavours to choose from if allergies aren't severe (ie if you can tolerate "may contain...." labels generally speaking, then you should be fine.)

  • 5/5 Leah C. 2 years ago on Google
    It is a must see place when you pay a visit to Niagara-On-the-Lake! They have too many selections and yummy flavors! You can't even decide which one to buy as everything looks delicious! The price is very affordable and staffs are so welcoming. They also follow covid-19 protocols to keep everyone safe! They have a lot of picnic tables outside the store if you decided to enjoy your ice cream, milkshake or banana split while enjoying the weather witj your friends and family! Kids will also enjoy the swings across the store. ❤😋

  • 5/5 Emily H. 1 year ago on Google
    We had a fantastic experience here! Very fresh tasting ice cream, many flavours are not too sweet - the exception being a pineapple upside-down shortcake flavour, which was a little overwhelming. Their thanksgiving speciality pumpkin ice cream pie was delicious as well, and survived a drive to Toronto with air conditioning. Overall, great service to guests and speedy service and checkout. Can’t wait to come back to try more flavours (the coffee ones were out when we visited, so hoping to catch them next time).

  • 5/5 Pirashan R. 1 year ago on Google
    Ice cream was amazing! Also had the root beer float with a vanilla scoop and it was really good. Wide variety of flavours to pick from and the location is very cute.

  • 5/5 Ashley D. 1 year ago on Google
    Another classic! This place is the absolute best place to get ice-cream! We waited in line for maybe 20 minutes but totally worth the wait!!!! They have so many different flavors of ice cream, they even have a vegan gluten free option. Staff is very friendly and helpful!

  • 4/5 Mohammad S. 1 year ago on Google
    Delicious and mouth melting ice cream 🍨 Although it’s expensive but its worth to try once but comparatively better and fresh. Brokee was nice in serving. My suggestion would to include dark chocolate and some bitter flavours and particularly sugar free ice cream 🍨 for their unique style.

  • 5/5 Realtor Prasath S. 2 years ago on Google
    Delicious icecream. Very friendly staff. Gets busy on weekends but they do have a lot of staff working there and line moves fast. 5 stars.

  • 5/5 Alex R. 2 years ago on Google
    Delicious icecream, and really unique flavours. Bananas Foster, pumpkin cheesecake were both tasty, as are all other flavours I've ever tried.

  • 5/5 Stewie J. P. 2 years ago on Google
    Mmmmm, this ice cream is the best! Always have to stop here when we go to Niagara falls/Niagara on the lake ❤️😍

  • 5/5 Paul B. 2 years ago on Google
    An awesome place for a night cap. Their ice cream is made right there and it’s delicious. A must try and a go to.


Call +1 905-687-7403 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ In-store shopping

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