Annette's Italian Ice

annettes italian ice

For residents and visitors across Illinois seeking a truly refreshing and authentic frozen treat experience, Annette's Italian Ice stands as a beloved institution in Chicago. Located at 2009 N Bissell St, Chicago, IL 60614, USA, this charming shop specializes in homemade Italian ice, a delightful alternative to traditional ice cream, alongside a selection of ice cream and soft-serve frozen yogurt. Annette's prides itself on crafting its Italian ice in-house daily, using only the freshest ingredients including real fruit, water, and pure cane sugar, ensuring a dairy-free, gluten-free, and egg-free option for many. It's a place where the flavors are vibrant, the atmosphere is lively, and the queue, though sometimes present, moves quickly, promising a satisfying reward for your patience. This article will guide you through what makes Annette's Italian Ice a cherished spot for locals in Illinois, highlighting its unique offerings, convenient location, and key features.

Annette's Italian Ice has cultivated a reputation for its commitment to quality and genuine flavor. Unlike mass-produced alternatives, the dedication to "homemade" and "in-house daily" production ensures a freshness that truly sets their Italian ice apart. This attention to detail results in intensely fruity and flavorful options that are perfect for cooling down on a warm Chicago day, or simply indulging in a sweet moment. Customers frequently praise the "fruity and flavorful" nature of their Italian ice, even preferring it over ice cream for its refreshing qualities. Beyond the Italian ice, Annette's also offers traditional ice cream, including Ashby's Sterling Premium Ice Creams, which have won numerous awards for quality, and low-fat/fat-free soft-serve yogurt, ensuring a wide array of choices for every preference.

What also makes Annette's a local favorite is the bustling, authentic experience it provides. Even on a chilly evening, customers are willing to brave the elements for their favorite treats, a testament to the shop's enduring appeal. While it operates as a walk-up window with outside seating, this format contributes to its charm, creating a vibrant outdoor dessert destination. The efficiency of the service, even with a line, means that you won't be waiting too long to get your hands on their delicious creations. For those in Illinois looking for a quintessential summer treat experience, or a unique dessert destination year-round, Annette's Italian Ice offers a blend of tradition, quality, and a lively atmosphere that's hard to beat.

Annette's Italian Ice is situated at 2009 N Bissell St, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. This location places it squarely within the vibrant and popular Lincoln Park neighborhood. Lincoln Park is known for its beautiful namesake park, numerous boutiques, dining options, and a lively residential community, making Annette's a convenient and appealing stop for both local residents and visitors exploring this charming part of Chicago.

Accessibility to Annette's Italian Ice for locals across Illinois is quite straightforward, especially for those in the Chicago metropolitan area. For patrons using public transportation, the shop is within reasonable walking distance of several CTA 'L' train stations, including the Brown and Purple Lines at Armitage, and the Red Line at North/Clybourn. Numerous CTA bus routes also serve the Lincoln Park area, providing connections from various parts of the city. For those arriving by car, street parking might be available in the surrounding residential streets, though, as with any bustling urban neighborhood, it's advisable to factor in potential search time, especially during peak hours.

It is important for potential visitors from Illinois to note a key aspect of Annette's accessibility: it is a "window store" with "only outside" seating, as mentioned in customer reviews. This means there is no indoor ordering area or seating. While this can contribute to a charming, al fresco experience, especially during warmer weather, it's a factor to consider during cooler months, as one reviewer noted stopping by on a "bit chilly" evening. Despite the outdoor-only setup, the shop's popularity means there's often "a line when we got there (7pm)," but customers also report that the line is "fast moving," indicating efficient service. There are "few seats available upfront," providing some designated spots for enjoyment. This combination of a well-connected location and efficient service, despite the outdoor nature and occasional queues, ensures Annette's Italian Ice remains a highly accessible and popular choice for locals.

Annette's Italian Ice offers a comprehensive menu featuring a variety of frozen desserts, handcrafted with care to provide diverse options for its customers.

• Homemade Italian Ice: This is their signature offering. All Italian Ices are made in-house daily using fresh fruit, water, and pure cane sugar, ensuring they are dairy-free, gluten-free, and egg-free. Flavors include popular options like Lychee (a unique find), Mango, Lemon, Red Raspberry, Blood Orange, Passion Fruit-Red Raspberry, Pear-Apple, Watermelon, and many more, with a long list of over 20+ fruit flavors.

• Traditional Ice Cream: They proudly serve Ashby's Sterling Premium Ice Creams, known for their quality. A wide range of flavors is available, such as Amaretto Cherry, Anniversary Cake, Banana Pudding, Bear Claw, Butter Pecan, Carrot Cake, Chocolate, Coffee Caramel Chip, Cookie Dough, Mint Chip, Oreo, Pistachio Almond, Puppy Chow, Strawberry, Superman (a kids' favorite), Ultimate Peanut Butter Brownie, and Vanilla. Vegan Cookie Dough and Vegan Mint Chip are also available, offering dairy-free ice cream options.

• Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt: They offer low-fat and fat-free soft serve options, including vanilla and chocolate (both fat-free), and Vegan Raspberry (dairy-free) and Peanut Butter (low-fat).

• Italian Fro-Yo: A unique combination of Italian ice and frozen yogurt, allowing customers to blend the creamy and fruity textures.

• Sundaes: Regular, Brownie, and Specialty Sundaes are available, featuring combinations of ice cream, toppings, whipped cream, and cherries. Their Famous Brownie Sundae was even featured on "Chicago's Best eats."

• Shakes, Smoothies, and Floats: Customers can turn any ice cream flavor into a thick milkshake. They also offer specialty shakes like Nutella Shake and Root Beer Floats, as well as a variety of fruit smoothies (Mango, Strawberry, Tropical Paradise, etc.) and frozen lemonades.

• Ice Cream Cones: Both traditional ice cream and soft serve yogurt can be served in cones.

• Toppings: A selection of toppings is available to customize any treat.

• Frosty Paws: A special treat for "four-legged friends," catering to pet owners.

Annette's Italian Ice is celebrated for several distinctive features and highlights that contribute to its strong appeal among locals in Illinois.

• Homemade Italian Ice: A cornerstone highlight is their commitment to making all Italian Ices in-house daily, using fresh ingredients. This dedication results in incredibly "fruity and flavorful" products that are dairy-free, gluten-free, and egg-free, catering to various dietary needs while maintaining exceptional taste.

• Unique Flavor Selection: Customers specifically call out unique finds like "Lychee Italian ice," noting that "you don’t come across that flavor too often, it was delicious." This adventurous approach to flavors, alongside a wide range of traditional and innovative options (e.g., Blood Orange, Dragonfruit-Pear), sets them apart.

• Diverse Menu Beyond Italian Ice: While famous for Italian ice, Annette's also offers a robust selection of premium traditional ice cream (Ashby's Sterling), soft-serve frozen yogurt, "Italian Fro-Yo" combinations, sundaes (including a famous Brownie Sundae), shakes, and smoothies. This ensures "a massive menu which has something for everyone."

• Efficient Service Despite Lines: Even during busy times, with "10 people in line" or a line "around the block," customers note that the line is "fast moving," indicating a well-managed and efficient ordering process.

• Outdoor-Only Seating: While potentially a drawback in colder weather, the "outside seating" contributes to a classic, casual, walk-up ice cream shop experience, especially appealing during Chicago's warmer months.

• Cash-Only Policy: A notable feature is their "cash only" policy. While some customers find this "a bit bugs me," it is clearly communicated, with an "ATM available next to the store." This policy adds to the old-school charm for some, while requiring preparation for others.

• High Customer Satisfaction with Taste: Reviewers consistently "loved everything that we ordered!" emphasizing the deliciousness of their treats, whether Italian ice or ice cream.

• Vegan Options Available: Beyond the inherently dairy-free Italian ices, they also offer specific "Vegan Raspberry (Dairy Free)" frozen yogurt and "Vegan Cookie Dough" and "Vegan Mint Chip" ice cream, broadening their appeal to the vegan community.

For those in Illinois looking to visit Annette's Italian Ice and experience their range of frozen treats, here is the essential contact information:

Address: 2009 N Bissell St, Chicago, IL 60614, USA

Phone: (773) 868-9000

Annette's Italian Ice is an exceptionally suitable destination for locals across Illinois, particularly those in the Chicago area, offering a unique and consistently satisfying frozen treat experience. Firstly, its core offering of homemade Italian ice, crafted daily from fresh fruit, water, and pure cane sugar, provides a refreshing and flavorful alternative to traditional ice cream. This dedication to quality and natural ingredients, coupled with a dairy-free, gluten-free, and egg-free composition, makes it an inclusive option for a wide array of dietary preferences and needs within the local community. The presence of unique flavors like Lychee, alongside classic favorites, ensures that there's always something new and exciting for regulars to try.

Secondly, beyond Italian ice, Annette's offers a comprehensive menu that caters to diverse tastes, including premium traditional ice cream, soft-serve frozen yogurt, and innovative "Italian Fro-Yo" combinations. This broad selection ensures that every member of a family or group will find a treat to enjoy, making it a perfect spot for local outings. The efficiency of their service, even when lines form, means that busy Illinois residents can quickly grab their desired treat without excessive waiting, a valuable convenience in an urban setting. While the "cash only" policy and outdoor-only seating are particular features, they contribute to the shop's unique, old-school charm, which many locals appreciate as part of its authentic character.

Finally, Annette's Italian Ice is deeply embedded in the vibrant Lincoln Park neighborhood, making it easily accessible via public transportation and a natural stop during an exploration of the area. It's more than just a dessert shop; it's a part of the local fabric, where residents can enjoy high-quality, flavorful treats in a lively, community-focused environment. The consistent positive feedback on taste and the sheer variety of options available solidify its status as a highly recommended and suitable choice for anyone in Illinois seeking a delightful and memorable frozen dessert experience.

Annette's Italian Ice

2009 N Bissell St, Chicago, IL 60614, USA