Restaurant Review: Jeni's Ice Cream in Columbus, Ohio

Jeni's Ice Cream in Columbus, Ohio is not like any other ice cream you'll find elsewhere and certainly has little, if anything, in common with Graeter's and other Columbus, Ohio ice cream makers. For one thing, all of Jeni's ice cream uses unique, fresh, and oftentimes, local ingredients and never resorts to the ordinary. There are two Jeni's ice cream locations to choose from, both of which offer a different experience. For the busier and more hurried day, there is Jeni's at the North Market, which is the original location. In Grandview Heights there is another Jeni's ice cream, this one more reminiscent of an old soda shop with chairs outside for great people watching.

While Jeni's ice cream is quite a bit more expensive than others (can be up to $3.50 for one generous scoop) you will not feel as though it's overpriced just for the sake of being exclusive. You can tell, with every bite of Jeni's ice cream, that a great deal of thought and effort went into. Besides, all flavors, even some of those that are less complex such as the Honey Vanilla, are way too rich for more than one or two scoops. This is ice cream you eat slowly and take your time with. Among some of their long-standing flavors that are institutions of themselves, there are the every-rich salty caramel (one scoop of this is more than enough; it actually makes you full), the Queen City Cayenne (yes, that means cayenne pepper ice cream-don't be afraid! It's like spicy chocolate) and the cocoa zin, which is zinfandel with bits of cocoa in gelato. Some of their returning summer flavors are (my personal favorite) the Backyard Mint (which is a simple mix of actual local peppermint and cream) and the Strawberry Sorbet (great for kids with a strong basic flavor).

One of the delights about Jeni's Ice Cream in Columbus, Ohio, is that you can mix and match flavors. If you get two scoops, you can stand in line for several minutes trying to figure out what sounds best together. One of my personal favorites for summer is one scoop of the Backyard Mint next to a scoop of the Dark Chocolate gelato or, for a lighter snack, the Crème de Violet next to the Lavender and Wild Berries. The combinations are endless and luckily, the owner and inventor of these treats, Jeni, is always changing her flavors and putting up new offerings. Other interesting and fun ingredients to her ice creams include beets, wines, coriander, coconut milk, and black coffee, to name just a few.

Aside from the unique flavors to choose from at Jeni's, I am in love with the homemade waffle cones. These are baked at the North Market and are far beyond any waffle cones you've ever had, I can guarantee it. They taste almost like cookies and have an almost almond overtone. This makes them especially good with the more nutty flavors of ice cream, including the honey vanilla and salty caramel, although, of course, the fruity flavors work well too. These waffle cones are generally quite a bit larger than most younger children can handle though and for them, I do suggest their smaller regular cones or a dish. I've heard many kids in line, especially at the Jeni's ice cream location in Grandview complain that they don't think any of the flavors sound good, but that was some time ago and since then, Jeni's has added new ice cream flavors that are more palatable to younger tastes such as the milk chocolate, for instance. The gelatos are usually also a big hit for the younger crowd but are pricier than regular ice creams.

Jeni's in Grandview is open in the evenings with a large patio area with a lot of seating. It's often rather crowded. Her location at the North Market in downtown Columbus, Ohio is open during the same hours as the Market itself.