Limited to four stores in Maine and Massachusetts, Ben and Bill's Chocolate Emporium could perhaps be one of the smallest multi-state ice cream "chains." The Falmouth store brings with it an air of nostalgia, its narrow interior lined by shelves of hand-made chocolates on one side and a store-long ice cream counter on the other. Although Ben and Bill's offers many inventive flavors (including Moose Droppings and Graham Slam), their signature flavor is surely Lobster, a butter-flavored ice cream accented by chunks of real lobster meat. This is their most frequently tasted flavor; however, the question that remains is how many people follow up a taste with a full scoop order.
| Overall Experience |  |
| Chocolate Ice Cream -
Not of the darker variety, but a smooth texture and enough cocoa emulsion to stand tall on its own. |
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| Vanilla Ice Cream -
Enough body to aptly handle the suspension of the hot fudge--and any other mix-ins, for that matter. |
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| Hot Fudge Sauce -
Since this was a chocolate emporium, the expectations were high, and the fudge sauce delivered appropriately with no bitter aftertaste. |
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| Dulce de Leche Ice Cream -
Its wan hue foreshadowed its very light flavor, as if the makers were spotlighting the leche with minimal dulce. |
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| Lobster Ice Cream -
Smooth, buttery and mild until you get to a bite of actual lobster meat; then the fishy frozen flavor was pungent and left us asking for quick relief with a taste of another to refresh the palate. Be sure to taste before committing to a scoop. |
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Quick Links:
More of The Best New England Ice Cream:
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Annabelle's Ice Cream - Portsmouth, NH
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Ashley's Ice Cream - New Haven, CT
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Beals Ice Cream - Portland, ME
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Bedford Farms - Bedford, MA
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Ben & Bill's Chocolate Emporium - Falmouth, MA
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Benson's Ice Cream - West Boxford, MA
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Big Dipper Ice Cream Factory - Prospect, CT
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Bishop's Ice Cream - Littleton, NH
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Brickley's Ice Cream & Cakes - Narragansett, RI
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Brown's Ice Cream - York, ME
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Bubbling Brook Restaurant - Westwood, MA
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Buttonwood Farms - Griswold, CT
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Chelsea Royal Diner - West Brattleboro, VT
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Christina's Homemade Ice Cream - Cambridge, MA
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Cows and Cones - Gales Ferry, CT
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Crescent Ridge Dairy Bar - Sharon, MA
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Daily Scoop - Kennebunk, ME
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Dorman's Dairy Dream - Thomaston, ME
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Dr. Mike's - Bethel, CT
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Emack & Bolio's - Orleans, MA
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Four Seas Ice Cream - Centerville, MA
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Gray's Ice Cream - Tiverton, RI
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Herrell's Ice Cream - Allston, MA
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Hodgie's Ice Cream - Amesbury, MA
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Ice Cream Machine - Cumberland, RI
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J.P. Licks - Brookline, MA
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Kimball Farm Ice Cream - Carlisle, MA
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Lago's Lone Oak - Rochester, NH
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Lizzy's Ice Cream - Waltham, MA
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Michael's Dairy - New London, CT
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Old Lyme Ice Cream Shop - Old Lyme, CT
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Peaceful Meadows Farm - Whitman, MA
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Rancatore's Ice Cream - Belmont, MA
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Rich Farm - Oxford, CT
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Richardson's Ice Cream - Middleton, MA
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Round Top Ice Cream - Damariscotta, ME
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Shady Glen - Manchester, CT
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Shain's of Maine - Sanford, ME
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Shaw Farm - Dracut, MA
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Shaw's Ridge Farm - Sanford, ME
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Smiling Hill Farm - Westbrook, ME
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Soco Creamery - Great Barrington, MA
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Sullivan Farms - Tyngsboro, MA
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Sundae School - Dennisport, MA
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The Collins Creamery - Enfield, CT
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The Daily Scoop - Bristol, RI
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The James Gallery & Soda Fountain - Old Saybrook, CT
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The Juice Bar - Nantucket, MA
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Timothy's - Bridgeport, CT
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Toots Ice Cream - North Yarmouth, ME
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Toscanani's - Cambridge, MA
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Tubby's Ice Cream - Wayne, ME
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UConn Dairy Bar - Storrs, CT
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White Farms Ice Cream - Ipswich, MA