I think the sweet older lady working the cash register is just shy, and English isn't her native language, so be kind, people.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carleen T.
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.
Russell J.
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.
Sam Chacko
Liked the ice cream, but I'm not sure if the neighborhood is accepting of dark skinned people, even the old lady at the shop wasn't respectful either. I wouldn't go back, not safe for dark skinned people.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
LaShawn Miller
This is a cute little neighborhood ice cream shop. I love it here. They have outside seating and their ice cream is good.
David Loofbourrow
Excellent ice cream with a slice of Oak Park history. People, as nice as a funky monkey at home might be, let's keep these traditional ice cream parlors in business!! Probably 1/2 of the current population has never experienced the delight of a properly creamery-crafted ice cream soda, which is two full steps of awesome above a mere root beer float. Do it for the children - treat yourself - you can thank me later...
BobbieJean Sweitzer
My favorite sundae ever. The turtle sundae. The salty pecans make it so unique. Been having this sundae since 1982. Eeven after moving away from Chicago I make special trips from afar just to have a turtle sundae. Never found a better one!
Maya Gutierrez
The fudge is the better best in the area!! While the flavors are a bit bit limited compared to the Brown Cow for example, nothing compares to the fudge and rich flavor Petersen's has. The service is wonderful as well.
Jimmy Haynes
The older lady @ the counter customer service skills, let's just say she is still living in the 50s me and my wife did not feel welcome, so with that being said, we will "NOT" be returning to this establishment.
Misha Neal
Services was terrible, women had an attitude. Ice cream wasn’t that great either.
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.
Shariba Knox (Riba)
The have the best Ice Cream. The employees are nice
Lucy F.
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.
Judith K.
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.
Alex P
Arguably the best ice cream shop in Chicagoland. Amazing ice cream, great service, lovely outdoor tables, and the kids they hire are really hardworking and professional.
I think the sweet older lady working the cash register is just shy, and English isn't her native language, so be kind, people.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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.
Liked the ice cream, but I'm not sure if the neighborhood is accepting of dark skinned people, even the old lady at the shop wasn't respectful either. I wouldn't go back, not safe for dark skinned people.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
This is a cute little neighborhood ice cream shop. I love it here. They have outside seating and their ice cream is good.
Excellent ice cream with a slice of Oak Park history. People, as nice as a funky monkey at home might be, let's keep these traditional ice cream parlors in business!! Probably 1/2 of the current population has never experienced the delight of a properly creamery-crafted ice cream soda, which is two full steps of awesome above a mere root beer float. Do it for the children - treat yourself - you can thank me later...
My favorite sundae ever. The turtle sundae. The salty pecans make it so unique. Been having this sundae since 1982. Eeven after moving away from Chicago I make special trips from afar just to have a turtle sundae. Never found a better one!
The fudge is the better best in the area!! While the flavors are a bit bit limited compared to the Brown Cow for example, nothing compares to the fudge and rich flavor Petersen's has. The service is wonderful as well.
The older lady @ the counter customer service skills, let's just say she is still living in the 50s me and my wife did not feel welcome, so with that being said, we will "NOT" be returning to this establishment.
Services was terrible, women had an attitude. Ice cream wasn’t that great either.
Restaurantji Recommends
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.
The have the best Ice Cream. The employees are nice
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.
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.
Arguably the best ice cream shop in Chicagoland. Amazing ice cream, great service, lovely outdoor tables, and the kids they hire are really hardworking and professional.