Dr. Mike's

158 Greenwood Ave., Bethel, CT - (203) 792-4388

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Posted By Michael Stern on 8/26/2006 3:57:00 AM

For more than a quarter century now, Dr. Mike’s of Bethel, Connecticut, has been making what we consider to be the richest ice cream on earth. There aren’t a lot of flavors, maybe eight available at any one time in the small freezer of the pint-size store; but each flavor is devilishly rich, sensually creamy, and so intense that after two scoops, tastebuds are exhausted. If it is possible for an ice cream to be too rich, this stuff is at that line of demarcation.

Several of Dr. Mike’s flavors set standards only approached by other brands. “Rich chocolate” is more deliriously chocolaty than a melted Hershey bar, but with the added luxury of all that high-butterfat cream. “Chocolate lace and cream” is a Dr. Mike's exclusive flavor, using a chocolate-covered hard candy that is made in big, webbed sheets by a local confectionery. The candy is broken into bite-size pieces and suspended in a pure white emulsion of sweetened cream: another dreamy experience, but we definitely suggest getting it in a cup rather than a cone. The crunch of the candy conflicts with the crunch of a cone.

A sundae at Dr. Mike’s is an ice-cream-a-holic’s dream. One pint container is filled approximately half full with globes of the ice cream flavor(s) of your choice. The ice cream is then heaped with dark, grainy, very-hot hot fudge or a syrup of sweet/tart cherries, then piled with freshly whipped cream and topped, if you wish, with chopped walnuts or mixed nuts. By this point, the pint container is full to the top; and eating it is ecstasy.

Scorecard

Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace

sundae	cone
Rich Chocolate Ice Cream	milk shake
Chocolate Lace Ice Cream	Vanilla Ice Cream
Hot Fudge Sauce

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"If, like me, you always are a little disappointed with the dearth of cookies in cookies 'n' cream ice cream, you must get some of Dr. Mike's chocolate Oreo if it's on the menu. Cookies galore! Not to mention superb milk-chocolate ice cream."
Michael Stern

"A 'small' hot fudge sundae is available with or without whipped cream. It's a dilemma: the whipped cream is rich and freshly made, but it does reduce instant access to ice cream and hot fudge down below."
Michael Stern

"Several spoonfuls into the whipped cream, I hit cherry swirl ice cream and a few veins of hot fudge. The large lode of hot fudge was yet to come."
Michael Stern

"Even the color of Rich Chocolate warns that its melting drips will permanently stain clothing if given the chance."
Chris Ayers & Amy Briesch

"Dr. Mike's is well marked by signs, but it's still a little hard to find because it is located down an alley way behind Bethel's main street."
Michael Stern

"This is Dr. Mike's logo, located above the vat of hot fudge."
Michael Stern

"On a nice summer afternoon, waiting in line is part of the Dr. Mike's experience."
Michael Stern