Getting hot outside? Here’s five Eastern Connecticut spots for your ice cream fix

As Memorial Day gets closer, summer gets on people’s minds. The season means many things for many people, from the end of school and getting ready for barbeques, to picnicking, swimming, or even sailing. On those hot days you’ll need something to cool down with.

Water’s the healthy way of course, but what if you’re looking to indulge? Well, there’s plenty of ice cream stands through eastern Connecticut ready to satisfy your sweet tooth with cold, creamy goodness. Whether you’re up in the quiet corner or close to the shore, here are five of the locally owned ones for you to consider.

Millie’s Ice Cream, 650 New London Turnpike, Norwich

While Malerba’s Farm and Malerba’s Golf Driving Range have been long time staples of Norwich, Millie’s Ice Cream, opened more recently in 2015. The stand is near the farm, golf course, and ice rink, drawing young and old alike, Owner Julie Malerba said.

The stand has around 30 flavors. While Butter Pecan, Coconut Almond, Peanut Butter Fudge, Cotton Candy and fruit flavors are some of the most popular, Malerba said all of them are somebody’s favorite.

“I can’t do without any of them,” she said.

From the friendly service to the quality ice cream, the whole atmosphere keeps customers coming back, Malerba said.

“It’s a pleasure to be here, because a lot of people come by, looking forward to us opening every year,” she said.

Prices range from $4 for a kiddie cone, to $7 for a pint. The stand also has sundaes, shakes and soft serve, Millie’s is open from April to October, noon to 8 p.m. daily.

Hank’s Dairy Bar, 1006 Norwich Road, Plainfield

This longtime Plainfield favorite started in 1957, opened by Hank and Alice Zurowski, which was then sold in the 1980s to their sons, and sold again 2021, said Colleen Champagne, one of the current owners of Hank’s.

While the dinners range from burgers to fried fish, the ice cream menu is focused on six soft-serve flavors; Vanilla, Chocolate, Chocolate-Vanilla Twist , Coffee, Strawberry, and Coffee-Strawberry Twist, the latter three being the more popular flavors. When the stand started, the owners had bought one of the first Taylor Soft Serve machines, Champagne said.

“As the business grew menu-wise, the building stayed the same,” she said.

Pizza time: When, where, how will Brick and Basil expand into their new brick and mortar restaurant?

Having worked at Hank’s for almost 20 years before becoming an owner, Champagne said people come back for the consistency, and the good customer service. The customers are also loyal to Hank’s, some coming daily for the same order, she said.

The smallest cone is the baby cone, at 75 cents. The small is $2.50, and the most expensive ice cream option is the banana split, with three big servings of ice cream topped with hot fudge, whipped cream, strawberry, pineapple and nuts at $9.00. Hank’s is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., closed Mondays.

More: Norwich Free Academy's Thomas Brunelli a 'role model' during his three-sport career

Ra Ra’s Ice Cream Shop, 580 Hartford Pike, Killingly

Ra Ra’s started in Plainfield 19 years ago, but the founders had to sell the business to Joshua Sandage and Lauryn Hart in 2021, as the landlord wanted to sell the property, Sandage said.

There are 20 flavors of hard serve and 24 flavors of soft serve. Some of the most popular flavors is the Nightmare on Prospect, with chocolate, cake crunchies, and brownie pieces, and Graham Central Station, which is graham cracker with a graham cracker swirl and chocolate-covered honeycomb. For soft serve, the favorites include cotton candy, banana, and maple.

For a hard serve cone, the kiddie is $3.25 up to $6.25 for the large. The soft serve is $2.50 for a kiddie, and up to $5.50 for a large, plus $1 for flavors. Ra Ra’s is open 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., closed Tuesdays.

Buttonwood Farm Ice Cream, 473 Shetucket Turnpike, Griswold

A landmark of Griswold for decades, the ice cream stand is owned by Kim Button and her husband. This will be the stand’s 25th year.

The amount of flavors varies over the summer, even more than 60 at times. The ice cream is made at the farm. The most popular ones are the different peanut butter flavors, Coconut Almond Joy and Cherry Vanilla.

Homemade Ice Cream and homemade waffle cones, and scenic views are what keeps people coming back. The yearly Sunflowers for Wishes event will also be back this summer, Button said.

Buttonwood Farm always gives large scoops, so prices range from one scoop for $6, to banana splits and sundaes around $12. Spring hours are 1 p.m.- 9 p.m. weekdays and noon to 9 p.m. weekends, opening earlier in the summer.

From hobby to passion to brewery: The Boroughs Brewing Company is celebrating its first anniversary. What to know.

Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream, 2 W. Main St., Mystic

The building Mystic Drawbridge is in, right next to the actual drawbridge, has been an ice cream stand at various times through its over 100 year history. This current business was started by the dad of co-owner Colin Desmarais in 1991.

The store has between 32 to 40 flavors, limited by the fact the ice cream is made right in the shop. While standard flavors like chocolate, vanilla and coffee are popular, unique flavors like Mystic Mud, full of candy, cookie dough and brownie dough, and Kahlua. The ice cream shop also has three or four vegan flavors, and non-dairy sorbets, using coconut milk.

It’s currently under $6 for a single scoop, a triple scoop is $8, pints are $10 and quarts are $19. It’s open Sunday –Thursday noon to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday noon to 11 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Ice cream spots in Eastern CT: Millies, Hanks, Ra Ras, Buttonwood Farm