Petersen's Ice Cream

Petersen’s Ice Cream is a true classic that feels like a nostalgic step back in time. From the moment you walk in, the old-school charm greets you, with its vintage decor and welcoming atmosphere. The ice cream itself is rich, creamy, and packed with flavor—exactly what you’d expect from a place with over 100 years of history. Their classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and butter pecan are timeless, but their seasonal specials are always a delightful surprise. Whether you're enjoying a cone, a sundae, or a malt, Petersen's delivers an authentic, no-frills ice cream experience that takes you back to simpler times. A must-visit for any ice cream lover!

Great ice cream, creamy, flavorful and mouth watering! Service was slow as they only had one person the night we stopped in to get a scoop. Line was out the door. Was worth the wait. Some bench seating outside, few tables inside. Reasonable prices. Lady was friendly despite being overwhelmed.

I live in Oak Park and have visited this location multiple times. Each time, the same woman has treated my son and I very rudely, disrespectful, and borderline racist. She’s an older woman with dark hair who who makes us feel unwelcome. There are times when I’m the only customer in the store and she won’t acknowledge my presence or requests. She goes to the back of the store and makes me wait by the register only to come back much later and give me an attitude for wanting to order something or have any questions. Every single time I’ve visited, she avoids answering me, and pretends to be busy while I’m standing at the register waiting the whole time, again, I’m the only customer there almost every time I’ve gone! She avoids speaking to me and when she does speak she’s rude and aggressive. I feel very uncomfortable visiting this establishment. Good luck to you if you decide to visit. Not a good experience.

Great place! I loved the ice cream, it was creamy and tasty. The servers were kind and nice. I tried the mint choc chip ice cream and was delicious, I would come back here soon.

Insanely delicious ice cream - I loved the pieces of strawberry in the strawberry ice cream. The cashier was friendly and efficient. I only knocked it down a star because the interior is looking a little tired. It just needs a little TLC to restore it to its glory days :)

When I went in there today, an older woman with dark hair waited on me. While she was cordial to the women ahead of me, she could to me, even though I was very polite, saying please and thank you. She behaved as if she were doing me a favor waiting on me. I will not try to guess the reason for her behavior towards me, but there are all types of people who live in Oak Park. If someone comes in that she doesn't like, she should act as if she did --especially polite, paying customers.

The ice cream is always delicious! The older lady working is efficient, but just not ever very friendly.

Simple place. Outdoor seating (shade in the afternoon). $6.55 for single turtle sundae. The ingredients were actually all delicious. I'm not even a huge fan of pecans, but these were probably the best pecans I've had in my life. They were roasted maybe, had a good texture, they were sweet. The hot fudge was on point as well.

Petersen’s Ice Cream is a true classic that feels like a nostalgic step back in time. From the moment you walk in, the old-school charm greets you, with its vintage decor and welcoming atmosphere. The ice cream itself is rich, creamy, and packed with flavor—exactly what you’d expect from a place with over 100 years of history. Their classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and butter pecan are timeless, but their seasonal specials are always a delightful surprise. Whether you're enjoying a cone, a sundae, or a malt, Petersen's delivers an authentic, no-frills ice cream experience that takes you back to simpler times. A must-visit for any ice cream lover!

Great ice cream, creamy, flavorful and mouth watering! Service was slow as they only had one person the night we stopped in to get a scoop. Line was out the door. Was worth the wait. Some bench seating outside, few tables inside. Reasonable prices. Lady was friendly despite being overwhelmed.

I live in Oak Park and have visited this location multiple times. Each time, the same woman has treated my son and I very rudely, disrespectful, and borderline racist. She’s an older woman with dark hair who who makes us feel unwelcome. There are times when I’m the only customer in the store and she won’t acknowledge my presence or requests. She goes to the back of the store and makes me wait by the register only to come back much later and give me an attitude for wanting to order something or have any questions. Every single time I’ve visited, she avoids answering me, and pretends to be busy while I’m standing at the register waiting the whole time, again, I’m the only customer there almost every time I’ve gone! She avoids speaking to me and when she does speak she’s rude and aggressive. I feel very uncomfortable visiting this establishment. Good luck to you if you decide to visit. Not a good experience.

Great place! I loved the ice cream, it was creamy and tasty. The servers were kind and nice. I tried the mint choc chip ice cream and was delicious, I would come back here soon.

Insanely delicious ice cream - I loved the pieces of strawberry in the strawberry ice cream. The cashier was friendly and efficient. I only knocked it down a star because the interior is looking a little tired. It just needs a little TLC to restore it to its glory days :)

When I went in there today, an older woman with dark hair waited on me. While she was cordial to the women ahead of me, she could to me, even though I was very polite, saying please and thank you. She behaved as if she were doing me a favor waiting on me. I will not try to guess the reason for her behavior towards me, but there are all types of people who live in Oak Park. If someone comes in that she doesn't like, she should act as if she did --especially polite, paying customers.

The ice cream is always delicious! The older lady working is efficient, but just not ever very friendly.

Simple place. Outdoor seating (shade in the afternoon). $6.55 for single turtle sundae. The ingredients were actually all delicious. I'm not even a huge fan of pecans, but these were probably the best pecans I've had in my life. They were roasted maybe, had a good texture, they were sweet. The hot fudge was on point as well.

Pretty cute location definitely an old school vibe! I got the ice cream soda and was pretty good! Maybe a little overpriced in my opinion. Wish they had root beer floats here!

Nice neighborhood ice cream shop with quality hard scoop style ice cream. The staff is friendly but usually only has one person working.

We got two cones of the Rainbow Sherbet and Peach and they were delicious. We were recommended to check out this spot by the lovely guide who gave us a tour of the Frank Lloyd Home and absolutely loved having this icecream and checking out the beautiful sights of the neighborhood. The interior is like a stepping into a historic American ice cream parlor!

Well I passed by this area several times despite knowing certain ice cream parlors in oak Park Illinois. There were two good ones and I had a craving for banana split. Unfortunately I did not know they close over rice in oak Park and I was going to get their banana Royale. The brown cow which is a competitor so this and oberweis the major team was a little too far for me to travel for ice cream on a motorcycle. So far the banana split was actually decently delicious. Service was really fast and courteousness despite being a busy Friday with kids and the weather being nice. Ambiance felt similar to the brown cow ice cream parlor an oak Park with another ice cream parlor. The only thing about this ice cream parlors are very traditional and they don't have other unusual flavors compared up oberweise and the brown cow ice parlor. otherwise this is now going to be one of my choices when I go to oak Park and want ice cream. Probably if they had much more unusual flavors into traditional ones I would give them four stars.

Local ice cream shop in Oak Park, located right in the corner. Overall visit was just ok, the staff here are not friendly at all. Ice cream is not a name brand and melts very fast. We had the ice cream inside the business, so the heat would not affect the ice cream. We tried the banana split (Ice Cream flavors were vanilla, chocolate, strawberry), and 2 one scoop Sundae (Ice Cream flavor Blue Moon) . It was nothing special, and you choose your own toppings.

Limited flavors and the owner is a dour, grumpy woman who you can find outside chain smoking on her breaks. When it's staffed by young people, it's a much better ambiance.

This place has a lot of local lore that it really doesn't live up to. For some reason, the owner is extremely mean and perpetually unhappy, and it's become ironically funny to watch her sit outside and smoke cigarettes with a huge frown on her face and a furled brow, while children walk in to get their ice cream. It's also a place that employees a lot of young teenagers, so be ready to wait as they figure out what they're doing. The ice cream is totally fine. I don't think it's anything to write home about. Everything about this is fine, but the place gets a lot more love locally because it's been here since the beginning of time. Sometimes, that's all it takes for people to really gravitate to some thing.

Please don't waste your time or $$ here. In the past this was the place to go to for delicious ice cream & more. The only thing authentic is the inside of the building which is very charming. The ice cream is terrible. You may as well buy ice cream from a grocery store & make your own creations. The ice cream tastes like a very cheap lousy generic brand you can buy at a store. Not good at all. The lady was nice. You might just want to go to McDonalds & get a ice cream cone which is much better than what you get at Petersen's. Is is sad to see a place like this which was top of the line ice cream drop in quality & taste.

This place used to be great but no longer. The ice cream taste freezer burnt- granular with pieces of ice in it. Not fresh tasting. The signs are messy and the freezer looks messy. The lady who runs it looks miserable and unfriendly. She used to be friendly, so hope she's ok, but the place needs some big changes with staff and ice cream.

Our local ice cream place after dinner on summer nights! They are closed for the winter. We enjoy coming here to get ice cream. We also buy them in quarts and pints to take home! They have indoor and outdoor seatings. It is a nice and convenient place to get ice cream over the summer.

It is historic and a neat ice cream place with mediocre ice cream. I read reviews of the staff being unfriendly, that is true. I'm not even sure they even asked us what we wanted, just looked at each of us. Do not even remember hearing a total being given. If in the area I'd go there again, but not make a special trip.

Came in for a chocolate shake recently, and I have to say that it was only OK. Now I need to consider what Petersen's does well, so I'll stick to plain ol' ice cream the next time I stop by. Still, the place has its charms and I liked the person working the counter quite a bit.

THE 7-10 (BANANA) SPLIT This old timey ice cream parlor still serves plenty of hand scooped treats as it nears the century mark. I love family owned business, especially those in Oak Park. Though recent trends have brought in more corporate stores to the area (the Target on Lake St), a smattering of places like Petersen's have withstood the test of time. They've been around since 1919 which means they'll be celebrating their 100th anniversary next year, an incredible feat. The parking lot off of Chicago Ave is small, but there's plenty of tables to sit at outside plus a few inside. Selection is fantastic: everything from plain chocolate to praline pecan, mint chip to moose tracks, bubblegum to birthday cake. A single scoop is $3.25 and a double is $4.75. You can get it in a waffle cone or take a pint home, plus they offer malts and floats. Always a sucker for a banana split -- about $7.10, coincidentally -- we picked out a trio of flavors and toppings (not that you'd care, but it was strawberry + french vanilla + cookie dough topped with fresh strawberries, peanuts and whipped cream). Heavenly. Perhaps it's because Petersen's is crazy old, but the commitment to health & cleanliness isn't super. I saw a partially-eaten milkshake just chillin' (literally chillin') inside one of the freezers for no particular reason! Puddles of melted ice cream here and there, flies buzzing around.....ehh. Another reviewer mentioned a woman working here who didn't smile at all, and that's who we got. I'm sure between all of the finicky parents and little kids screaming for free samples, it wears on your patience. She seemed annoyed by having to make our complicated banana split :( :( * TL;DR * Petersen's makes an excellent companion to the Giordanos' directly across the street. Deep dish pizza & ice cream go together like.....I dunno, Peaches 'N Herb. Or Salt 'N Peppa. Or Sniff 'N the Tears because why not? A perfect pairing on a hot summer's eve. Support your local business owners and stop by Petersen's today! (also feel free to flip off Coldstone Creamery and their $18 "love it" concoctions while you're at it)

I am not an ice cream fan by any means so take my review with a grain of salt but I must say, my experience left quite a bit to be desired. I see reviews saying it's old fashion but the inside looked a bit depressing. It could be due to the whole COVID pandemic (2020) but even the person behind the counter seemed grumpy. She didn't greet us when we walked in, even though we locked eyes. She was also suuuper short and unhelpful which is off for an ice cream shop. Their ice cream display needs some organization. What they have in unacceptable. After the 3 time asking, "what is that?" I stopped and just guessed. I chose my flavor based on looks. I got the pecan praline or something. I DID NOT like the consistency of it. It was gooey..... why is that ice cream... gooey (squints eyes). Now the waffle cone they have. Mmmm. Extremely good. It's thick, holds it's own and it's crispy but soft at the same time. I hate to knock a business but this experience wasn't for me.

I loved this place! Ice cream was creamy and the hot fudge was kind of ridiculous! I could have eaten the hot fudge by itself as a desert.

I've always really liked Petersen's Ice Cream. Some peppermint with hot fudge in the winter...always an amazing taste delight! I visited recently - and was happy to see lots of safety precautions, and all of the same delicious flavors (maybe even more than I remember). I of course enjoyed the peppermint, but there are plenty of options for everyone's tastes of ice cream...and any type of cone. The spot was not busy when we stopped in, but the outside tables had quite a few people enjoying some deliciousness. For a quick stop, take out or anything in between, Petersen's is a great spot in the area. Crowd pleaser for years! Reasonable prices, friendly staff and plenty of safety precautions for our current environment!

We are new to Oak Park and are working on trying all of the great restaurants and establishments in the neighborhood. It's a beautiful Saturday night, perfect for some ice cream. So we made our way to this landmark ice cream parlor. I ordered the Praline 'n Pecan ice cream - the description made it sound delicious. Unfortunately, the ice cream didn't come close to matching the description. There were literally chunks of ice in the ice cream. Gross. And the texture was granular, just like you find when the ice cream has freezer burn. For $4 for one scoop, I would expect them to take better care of their customers and their ice cream. What a disappointment.

Great ice cream, if you're looking for something sweet and creamy in the area. In particular, I ordered a waffle cone with a scoop of butter pecan. The lady at the counter was sweet enough to let us sample lots of the flavors they offered, but the butter pecan spoke volumes to me LOL! My sister ordered a banana split with pistachio and butter pecan, which she absolutely loved. I've got to say, the butter pecan ice cream was probably the best I've ever had. Previously, I thought Margie's or Jeni's made an amazing butter pecan.. but after tasting a scoop at Peterson's I was blown away. It tasted exactly as a butter pecan scoop should taste- buttery, creamy, salty and ohh so sweet. I absolutely loved it, as it was the best butter pecan I've ever tasted and I'm not usually a butter pecan fan. I gave the place a 4 though because they need to work more on presentation. The waffle was dry and did not taste good- simple things like amping the flavor and working on storage for the cones could really change the way people enjoy the waffle cones. Additionally, it would help to change the presentation of the menu. Besides that, you could really taste the authentic flavor of their ice cream and all the history behind the ice cream. I will definitely be back and I look forward to showing all my friends the best butter pecan ice cream they could ever try!!

Old School Ice Cream parlor. I guess Petersen's has been here a very long time. It's a very nice and clean ice cream parlor. My daughter loves coming here. I think they are open from noon to 10 pm. The young kids that work there are pleasant. I love that they have an extra tiny scoop for the toddlers. Nice to visit if you are dining in Oak Park.

I have not been to Peterson's ice cream since I was little so when we came back to town for a visit from Phoenix, AZ we thought we'd give it a try and see if our childhood memories matched up to our now 47 year old reality. My husband and I each ordered two scoops of the chocolate peanut butter in the waffle cone. I have to admit I was a bit surprised when the bill came out to almost $15. But because we were on vacation I just counted it as a vacation expense and sucked it up. However, after sitting outside and feasting on our ice cream cones I told my husband that it was worth every single penny. It was soooooooooo GOOD!! And I was thrilled that my money could go to support this wonderful ice cream shop that has been around for as long as I can remember. In fact, I think it tasted better than my childhood memories. Well done Peterson's!!

Sadly, whenever I'm in this area it's always for pizza across the street at Giordano's where I stuff myself and can't even think about ice cream. Sunday though, was National Ice Cream Day and after a meh dinner at another pizza establishment that will not be named, me and my sidekick had to get something to make up that void. Petersen's to the rescue! It's a small shop. It's a basic ice cream shop. But the ice cream creations are what ice cream is all about. Hand scooped, ribbons of fresh whipped cream. And nuts. I know I should think about all the allergy kids, but man, so glad I can get some nuttiness here! These scoops are generous. My one scoop hot fudge sundae was enough for me. Oh and speaking of hot fudge--they layer some of that rich chocolate goodness on the bottom of your sundae as well as on the top. Thank you for knowing how to make an epic sundae! The flavors are so rich too--my son got scoops of some of his favorites--birthday cake and peppermint. Big scoops for his smiley face. Outdoor seating, friendly service. Great place.

What a disappointment. This is where deans of old fashioned ice cream parlor experiences and hot fudge sundaes go to die. Came in on a Friday afternoon to surprise my little and boy were we surprised. The older woman with the Eastern European accent was about as friendly as a half drunk Russian that just ran out of Vodka. The bathrooms were not clean. The place was empty. I ordered a banana split with mint chocolate chip ice cream, strawberry, and chocolate. I got chocolate chip. I suspect this is because the woman would not get off the phone to listen to my order. Anyhoo, due to her demeanor, I felt it useless to request her to remake the banana split. The ice cream tasted cheap. It is not the high fat creamy texture that I remembered. It was served in a plastic container instead of the traditional glass boat. The bathrooms were not clean and the soap dispenser in the women's restroom was broken. There were boxes piled around the restaurant and the cases were empty. Either this place is a summer only operation or they are on their way out of business. In any event, I won't return.

I picked up 3 pints today on my way to a birthday party and we all enjoyed the vanilla bean and mint chip ice creams and the raspberry sorbet. I appreciate there are a few vegan options. The lady behind the counter was making fresh waffle cones so the place smelled really nice. The freezer was adequately stocked and the prepackaged ice creams tasted as good as the handpacked flavor. Free street parking. No line. A pleasant visit today. Fair price at $5.50 per pint.

I was coming from an event in Oak Park and spotted this Ice Cream Parlor at the corner. I pulled over and parked my car. Of Course I Love me some Ice Cream. I went inside to a sweet aroma that filled up my nostrils. It has like an old fashion style to it but in a cute way. They have ribbons on the walls in a frame for customers to view. Petersen's has been around for a decade of years. They make their own waffle cones and ice cream. That's way it smelled so sweet and yummy inside this place. It has like an old school family environment which makes you feel welcoming. The young girl behind the counter was super attentive and friendly. The prices are a bit pricey for a cone. The quality of the ice cream is not all that great. It had like an old taste to it. I was able to get a few samples before I made my selection. There were 2 flavors that looked very interesting to sample The Blue Moon and Superman. The ice cream was bursting with a lot of nice colors and I was sure that I had found my pick of flavors. To my disappoint the ice cream had like a unique taste to it and the excitement that I had went straight out of my mouth. I'm not going to be harsh and give it a poor rating. The customer service was nice and the ice cream parlor is old fashioned but has a family inviting atmosphere. There is even an outside patio where you can sit outside and enjoy your ice cream with the family.

A neighborhood tradition.... nobody else makes a perfect cinnamon ice cream . There are many unique creations there ... the Arabian Soda.... etc. I do miss the days when it was a double store. As a child , nobody rivaled the egg salad sandwich. Highly recommend! While you are on Chicago Ave. take a stroll into some of the one of the kind shops .

Went here after looking at the Frank Lloyd Wright guided house tour and walking around the neighborhood (Oak Park). Ice cream just sounded so good on this warm summery afternoon. Their ice cream flavor offerings are more on the traditional side and there were so many to choose from that it took us slow decision-makers a bit of time to make-up our minds. My bf and I got a double scoop of mint chip and cookies & cream ($4.75). I preferred the cookies'n cream one because I quickly got tired of the mint (expected) while my bf happily finished the mint flavor since he hasn't had it in so long. There is indoor and outdoor seating available to enjoy your ice cream.

If you are in Oak Park and you love ice cream - you have to go to Petersen's. Petersen's is an old fashioned ice cream shoppe that has been an institution in Oak Park since before I was born. My parents went on a date there once. There is a parking lot that isn't private parking but usually has spaces near by and street parking. It is perfect for a date night or to bring the family. It's also great if you're having a rough day and absolutely need a waffle cone filled with chocolate peanut butter ice cream. The waffle cones are made in the shop. They also dip cake cones in chocolate in house. The ice cream is phenomenal. The trip is worth it just for the moment you walk in and smell the aroma of freshly made waffle cones and hot fudge. It even has the old fashioned seating. Definitely a must go place!

This is a very unique ice cream place. The ice cream tasted very good. They have some interesting flavors. For example, my son loves the superman flavor ice cream which it has l a raimbow color to it. I had a strawberrie shake and it was super good. The only thing that It could be better would be the attitude of the person that took our order. I'm not sure if it was the owner but she never smiled while we where there. As soon as we got there every one walked in, so there was a line behind us. She was very efficient and I didn't see any one waiting too long. They should have had another person helping. I will be coming here again. I loved the quality of the ice cream and the place is very nice and interesting. Definitely recommend it!

Reluctantly I'll admit the ice cream was pretty good, but the customer service was pretty horrendous. If I'm being completely honest I think the old lady behind counter might be a little racist, a group of African American gentlemen walked in and she had a very annoyed look on her face. A REALLY weird vibe from this old lady. When she served me, she proceeded to grab a cone and scratch her head with the same hand. Keep in mind I also happen to have dark skin. This experience overall left me kinda shocked to see people like her running a business like this in 2022. I can see why people call this an Old fashion ice cream parlor and perhaps should be left in the past. Can't say that I'd recommend this place.

Absolutely superb ice cream. This place is over 100 years old! Best raspberry sorbet I've ever tasted. VERY highly recommended.

This ice cream is sooo yummy! I had Petersen's a couple of weeks ago after a long 2-hours of studying. Lol. I ordered the strawberry milkshake. The shake was delicious. It was thick and flavorful. It took a bit of time to order but that was due to the fact that there was only one person working there. Petersen has a lot of seating and it has a very rich history. Definitely worth going for a ice cream run, to take the family, or to hang with friends.

I didn't even get a scoop. We walked in and we were not greeted. There were 3 young women working behind the counter chatting amongst themselves. None of the 3 employees wore a mask. Only half of the ice cream was labeled and it just looked messy and unkept.

We walked up to the door at 8:45. The hours listed state they are open until 9. We peered inside the locked store to see the girls packing up the store actively avoiding eye contact. I will be taking my business elsewhere from now on.

All I need to say is Hot Fudge Turtle Ice Cream!!! Cheers!

the only reason i'm giving this a star is it's required for a review. Today was the second time I brought my niece into this establishment. Our first visit was down right unpleasant and I took it maybe it was a hard day for the older lady behind the counter. Didn't think to much of it. The second time around, we went in, the lady cut off me off several times and I could not even finish my sentence. Second, I asked if we could pay for another ice cream but come back in to get it (as it was 90 degrees outside ) when we finished eating ours so it wouldn't melt while outside. The lady ignored me and started making it, then asked me 3 times what I wanted after charging me already? At that point I was so confused on what was even happening. Then she proceeded to question me stating that she thought we were eating in there with a smirk on her face when I asked for lids because at that point I caught on to her pettiness. Not only was I bluntly ignored when I was speaking, but I was belittled for asking for a product I paid for. The atmosphere and customer service are a complete joke.

The last time I was here was with my parents in 1967. I made a special trip to revisit while I was in Oak Park but alas they don't open until 2pm.

Not hygienic place. They handle money and without using gloves touch your waffle cones and bananas of your banana split. If you ask them to use gloves, they'll just rudely refuse... Never going there again.

Not like it once was. Miss the old place. Ordered an Icecream sundae and it was a sad scoop with hotfudge that cost more than it should. The people behind the counter seemed to hate life and had no smiles no joy. The atmosphere is depressing and the whole experience angered me being there. Felt like a waste of a drive out and my money. Sorry but there are better icecream shops that still value where they came from.

I found a dollar on the street in Oak Park, so I promptly made a beeline to spend it on an ice cream cone. Petersen's looks like an old-school ice cream parlor, with vintage stuff on the walls to add to the ambiance. My scoop of vanilla fudge had small cubes of fudge, and it was good but not delicious. The plus was that the one-scoop serving looked almost like two scoops. The odd moment came when I was about to pay for my cone, but the register lady mistakenly rung up my purchase along with that of the attractive young lady behind me with two quarts of hand-packed ice cream. I guess this could have been a "meet cute" moment if I had offered to indeed pay for her purchase too, but my mind does not think straight when I have an ice cream cone in my hand.

Bad experience here tonight. No one behind the counter when we walked in, no one anywhere. Waited approximately five minutes to get some attention then ordered ice cream sandwiches and cookies were stale! The displays were also very empty - almost seemed like they were preparing to close. Strange and we won't be back.

Saturday night @ 8pm ... there are 16 people in line and one person behind the counter. Decades in business and you can't anticipate and staff for peak times? You'll be gone in 18mo, tops

Delicious ice cream, lots of flavors, friendly service. This is such a cute neighborhood feel ice cream shop! Plenty of seating outside and street parking nearby. They were also very nice about letting us taste a few options before deciding - very helpful since ice cream choice is a huge decision!! will definitely be back

I dunno. Want to be nice because my first real job was as an ice cream scooper in high school. Love that there are still ice cream shops you can take your kids to. The people behind the counter were pleasant enough but after walking away, I doublechecked my receipt and realized I paid $13.80 for one kiddie scoop on a small cone and one regular scoop in a waffle cone. Is this normal? I'm not a cheap person but this seems a bit exorbitant for two cones of ice cream with one scoop each in them. The ice cream is good but not great, and certainly not worth nearly $7 per cone.

I LOVE this ice cream shop! I swear it needs to receive a Michelin 5 star rating. I would rate it 6/5 if that was an option. The girl with the long brown hair whose name I think is Hannah was a fantastic server ! She was so gracious and full of life. I got the cotton candy ice cream with sprinkles, Oreos, and whipped cream at the bottom of the cup. I swear I had never tasted better ice cream. I tipped Hannah over $50 bc she was so gracious. Pro tip: don't order the caramel, but other than that this place slaps and a great late night place to crash. Take your friends, family, co workers, boyfriends, girlfriends, exes and pets here for a creamy, delicious, mouthwatering, scoop of homemade hand churned ice cream !!

I've been going to Petersen's for years. I live a couple blocks away and love the convenience of it. The last two times I've been, however, have been really frustrating and disappointing. First of all, they lock the doors and stop taking new customers 7 minutes before they close. The first time this happened, they crammed the 10-15 of us that were in line outside into the tiny shop. And this is during COVID-19 where you're not supposed to be within 6 ft of other people. We were crammed in like sardines just waiting. It felt really unsafe. And, to top it all off, one of the three clerks was going back and forth between handling the money / cash register and scooping ice cream WITHOUT gloves on. It was really reckless to pack us in to the shop just so the staff could leave earlier, but not wearing gloves was blatantly bad. Then, the last time I went, I got there 5 minutes before close and they had locked the doors and wouldn't let us in to be served. I would have understood if they locked the doors right at closing time, but to lock them early and just leave their patrons outside (there were 4 of us locked out) was just plain poor service. There was one customer finishing up, and he was out of the shop before it closed, but they still wouldn't let us in and told us to go away because they weren't open. Even though it wasn't time to close. I'll be taking my business to Hole in the Wall (south Oak Park) or Brown Cow Ice Cream (Forest Park). Don't bother with Petersen's. Their customer service is downright pathetic. And they'd rather leave 5 minutes earlier than allow people to socially distance during a global pandemic.

Shame on me for thinking it would be as it was when my kids were young. It was such a magical place and the ice cream and atmosphere was great. It was the entire package. Now it is not bad but it is just another place serving just ok ice cream. They did a bad job trying to keep any of the past magic that had made so many memories.......

A staple of Oak Park - a place that my Dad went to when he was a kid, and took me to when I was a kid. The place never disappoints - ice cream is excellent (albeit a bit pricey at 3.50 for a single small scoop) and the atmosphere is old school.

After having wandered around Oak Park gazing at Frank Lloyd Wright homes and with some time to kill before our scheduled tour of the FLW Studio & Home, an ice cream cone break sounded perfect . I was hoping they would have some more adventurous flavors but they certainly had a large variety of standards to choose from. I'd say they had about 20 - 24 flavors when we visited. The ice cream was incredibly creamy and smooth and hit the spot.

Petersen's Ice Cream was once a fabulous place. An old fashioned ice cream parlor with a kitchen. It was large and had booths. It was special. The ice cream was good and the service sweet and the place a throwback to another era. Then the closed down and opened a small walk in place a few doors down. It was blah. No personality. Back to the corner they came. Smaller yet the cute came back. Wonder if they still use the same recipes from back in the day? Something has changed as the flavors don't seem as luscious. Also gone are using the vintage serving dishes. Even so I was close to 3 or 4 stars. However there were two women in the shop with only one taking care of customers and the other one sitting down. The entire time. Yet that wasn't the deal breaker. The deal breaker was the woman who took care of me was later eating and putting up ice cream cones into the display that would be used for customers with the same hands she was eating with without washing them or wearing a different glove. So adios Peterson's.