I recently visited the new Van Leeuwen ice cream store in Linden Square, which opened on April 3. The store, located at 180 Linden St., is open from 11 AM to 11 PM, with an extended closing time of 12 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. While the ice cream was tasty and satisfying, the portion size was underwhelming given the price. I would recommend Van Leeuwen for vegans who are looking for more vegan ice cream options, keeping in mind that all of their vegan ice cream flavors include nuts, but if you’re not vegan or are on a budget, it might not be worth it for you.
According to their website, Van Leeuwen seeks to “satisfy omnivores and vegans alike” with its simple, high-quality, and “harmonious” ingredients. Wicked Local notes that the chain is known for its “made-from-scratch dairy and vegan ice cream”, featuring 23 different flavors of dairy ice cream and 10 vegan flavors. Van Leeuwen flavors include classic favorites such as Vanilla Bean, Cookies & Cream, and Mint Chip, but also unique concoctions like Marionberry Cheesecake, Hazelnut Fudge Cookie, and Dulce de Leche Brownie. Their prices are steep: each pint costs $12, and the ice cream sandwiches are $8 apiece. Their vegan ice cream is made from coconuts, cashews, and oats, so it is not suitable for anyone with nut allergies.
The store doesn’t list the prices for individual scoops and toppings on their website, but they are displayed clearly in the store: one flavor/scoop is $6.60, two for $8.10, and three for $9.60. Toppings range from $1.25 to $1.50, and house-made waffle cones and bowls are $1.75 each. I immediately thought the pricing was a little steep, but the flavors all sounded really delicious, so I decided to give it a try. I got two scoops of their Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie, and with tax it cost me about $9.
The ice cream wasn’t overly sweet, and it had a thick consistency that made it satisfying to eat. The brownie chunks were really rich and blended well with the chocolate ice cream. While I really enjoyed the flavor and consistency of this ice cream, the portion size was rather small for the amount I had paid. I would recommend Van Leeuwen if you’re a vegan seeking more ice cream options or someone who is looking for interesting new flavors to try, but given the high prices, I would not recommend it for people who are trying to save money.
