The food was fine. I think the price was standard. I wouldn't say this is a single $ place though. Anyways it was very unorganized. I'm guessing the locals are just used to it. The wait to get the food was ridiculous and we had to eat at our car bc there was no where to sit. The place looked to be run by teenagers. We asked for lids for our water cups and we had to ask four times before someone went in the back and found out they were out of stock. We pass through on I69 a lot throughout the year and decided to eat somewhere other than fast food so we look here on yelp and drove about 8 miles off route. Never again will visit this place again.
Review Source:Have ever wished an ice cream place would use the best quality stuff and do it right no matter the time or cost? This is that place. Example: Not generic peanut butter, they use Reese Peanut butter by the makers of the Peanut butter cups.
People stand in lines out the door for it. If your close you must come.
Definitely a great recommendation from my friend, Eliane Ellis. Burger isn't too bad and fries are fine--as far as a diner can go.
Fudge mint is definitely the ice cream to recommend.
Tables were full on my visit  on August 8, 2012 after losing a friendly wager on who won American Idol season 11.
Words can't even begin to express my love for this place. It's probably a good idea I live in Indianapolis and nowhere close to Ivanhoes, or I might be in trouble.
For those of you not familiar, let me paint you a picture. Imagine a small town where kids run and play outdoors, where families sit on the front porch watching the cars go by, waving to one another as their neighbors walk the dog in the evening. A place where life seems simpler, where everybody knows your name, and "small town values" are a part of everyday life.
Now, throw a ice cream shop and restaurant in the middle of it, name it Ivanhoes, and watch the crowds come in from all over!
Ivanhoes isn't anything fancy.. The food is what you would typically expect from an ice cream shop: mainly fried. I relate the food to what you would get in a bowling alley. I don't come here for the food, although I'm sure many do, and I'm sure its perfectly fine if that's your kind of thing.
I come for the ice cream and milkshakes, and boy do they have a selection! Â You can always spot the first-timers; their eyes glazed over starting at the menu of 100 different sundaes and 100 different milkshakes. No sir, no plain vanilla ice cream here unless you're so overwhelmed at the choices that basic decision making skills are lost.
On a recent trip, the line was out the door for ice cream while people spilled out of the restaurant and into the grass yard across the parking lot for a place to sit.
If someone put a gun to my head and asked to pick my favorite, I don't know if I could. Honestly, I've not had anything bad, and with 100 different sundaes to choose from, quite frankly I usually can't remember what I ordered.
If you find yourself driving to or from the Ft Wayne area on I-69, take a slight detour to Upland, Indiana and treat yourself to some great ice cream! You'll be glad you did.
They need a knight in shining armor to come in and install another cash register. Â And the knight might want to bring a cleaning crew with him to wipe down the tables and sweep the floor when it's busy.
Ivanhoe's is *almost* not worth the wait if you try to go during prime time. Â Which is dinner time on the weekends or any time on the weekend in the summer. Â And they do a really lousy job of managing the lines that form, it's more like a semi-organized mob of people waiting and hoping that they get to order soon. Â And the service is s-l-o-o-o-w when it's busy. Â
But the ice cream is pretty amazing and I'll go back even though I had to wait something crazy like 25 minutes to get my food last night.
I grew up in Grant County and this was a hang out for everybody. Â They have great food and wonderful ice cream (about any flavor you want). Â You can't go wrong with any of the food or ice cream here. Â It has been open for years and will continue to stay open for years because this is a great family restaurant. Â Be warned thought it is always busy so be prepared to relax and enjoy some time with your family LOL!!
Review Source:This place was my life-saver when I was out at Taylor University for a conference. Â This is the perfect neighborhood ice cream shop and restaurant and I could not be more grateful for its location. Â
They have 100 types of sundaes and 100 flavors of milkshakes. Â My mint chip milkshake was DELICIOUS!!! Â PERFECT texture and consistency, not at all lumpy but with enough ice cream to make it really thick. Â I gulped down the entire thing within a few minutes before I even ate my food. Â I got their fried chicken breast club sandwich which was just OK, and their cheesy tater tots were unique and good (they tasted like little round hash browns).
I ordered their fruit place to go, and it was a perfect breakfast for me. Â A generous portion of freshly cut fruit, and a nice variety (not just your typical cantaloupe and watermelon)- they had a good amount of strawberries, kiwi and grapes. Â The strawberry yogurt dipping sauce and the mini muffin they give you with the dish make it the nicest little platter. Â Good job, Ivanhoe's!
The cashiers and servers are all SO nice. Â I really love this place. Â Please stop by and visit, you will not be disappointed.
Thank you, Ivanhoe's, for your amazing ice cream, food, and service!
I'm originally from the neighboring town of Gas City, and Ivanhoe's is an institution in Grant County! Â They are best known for their ice cream, but have delicious food too. Â
The food: Â I personally love their fried chicken club with some fries. Â My hubby likes their grilled pork tenderloin. Â You can't beat the food being made fresh upon order. Â But understand it's not "fast-food"; you won't get your meal within 3 minutes of your order. Â It's more like anywhere from 5-15 minutes, depending on how busy they are.
The ice cream: As stated previously, 100 different shakes and 100 different sundaes, is there any more to say? Â These also don't include any concoction you choose to make up yourself, which they do encourage. Â Your only limitation is your own imagination. Â And I warn those of you who think you can handle their banana split on your own; Â unless your a competitve eater, their banana splits and large sundaes are 2 person sundaes. Â
This place is highly recommended. Â I loved it growing up and love it today.
Oh, I also want to add that their peanut butter topping for their ice cream is made by Reese's, how much better can it get???
I had a bad experience here, but I was still very satisfied with the finished product. I wanted to just stop by and get a shake because that's what everyone raves about. So I get here around 4, you would expect it to be pretty slow right? not the case at all. There was a line wrapped around. So I stood in the only line that was there. Finally I get to the cash register after two old men in front of me pay with change.. and I say could I get a shake and the girl quickly snaps back that Ice cream only on the middle register. I look over and see an empty register with no one and no one standing in line. I reply that I was sorry I didn't realize this was my first time could I just order it here this time since I already waited in line? she says no this is for food only. So I make my way to the other register and of course a family walks in and sneaks in front of me. so I wait in line some more. finally I order a IWU wildcat shake number 1 (there are two versions) which is a chocolate shake with kit kat pretzels mixed in and topped with peanutbutter. sounds amazing I know. so I stand where some other people are standing and wait. Each girl that was working seemed like they didn't want to be there. and were moving as slow as possible. an older lady next to me says that she thinks they forgot about her since she had been waiting so long. I agreed and said I'd been waiting now for 30 minutes. Finally I get it and it's spilling all over the top. the milkshake is runny but still good. I still give it four stars because I was a newbie at this and I know small town places have a way and you just have to adjust to them. But dang they could have been a little bit more friendly than that. I'll probably come back and try the food, and this time I'll know which line to stand in!
Review Source:Don't get it? Â It doesn't matter what else is in town or wherever you're from...this place is awesome. Â I guess people driving from Marion, Muncie and Ft Wayne for ice cream doesn't matter. Â Yes the lines are long, yes Upland is tiny and yes there's nothing to do here and yes, Ivanhoe's has the best ice cream. Â Buy a sundae/shake and grab nachos or something w/salt so your pancreas doesn't call in sick the next day. Â They make their own ice cream and its awesome. Â You will get your moneys worth. Â Don't listen to all the negative reviews...this is worth the drive and a visit.
Review Source:You cannot survive at Taylor U without this becoming an important part of your life. Like everyone else said, 100 shakes and sundaes... If you manage the feet of eating all 100 of either you get your name on the wall (or some sort of equivalent).
As a veggie, my options are limited, but the fruit salad is great and comes with muffin and dipping yogurt. Yum!!
All-in-all: amazing.
I went to Taylor University so Ivanhoe's was 1 of 2 options for dinner out locally. Lame. BUT, here is my review:
Pros:
1. 100 sundaes and 100 shakes
2. CHEESY TATER TOTS.
3. Lots of seating
4. Affordable
Cons:
1. It's not the BEST icecream ever. They just have a lot of options
2. Sometimes (most times) there are long lines and wait for your food
3. You may want to download a menu off their website before you go because standing at the counter trying to decide will make other people angry :)
I don't get it. Â I don't see what the big rave is about. Â From the Taylor Trojans to the residents of Upland, Ivanhoe's apparently is the spot. Â Then again, when your two choices for dinner are TOPIT (The Only Pizza In Town) and ice cream Ivanhoe's, you can't be picky. Â By the way, I'm not a Trojan but my brother is.
The long lines didn't bother me. Â Actually, it wasn't bad compared to what I have heard lunch can get like. Â And yes, they have a whole page dedicated to shakes and a separate whole page dedicated to sundaes. Â Did I mention that this place makes ice cream?
Overall, the food is not bad, but I got sick after the chicken salad. Â I wanted to like this place after all the hype, but something really is missing. Â It just looks like a Midwest version of In-N-Out, conveniently located in Nowheresville, Indiana. Â My California blood must be to blame for being unimpressed. Â But then again, the Midwesterners wouldn't be expected to understand our fixation with In-N-Out.
We should take note of a fact: when making babies... our behavior alters the DNA ever-so-slightly we pass down to the procreated child; thus, make sure leading up to said baby-making... Ivanhoe's is being frequented -- often.
Ivanhoe's skewed my perception of reality (as did growing up in Indiana) when I went here every summer for 9 years after basketball camp at Taylor University.
10 days away from home and at camp always had a wrap party at Ivanhoe's with the family, and other campers. A mighty glorious day: we all would have our camp shirts on, and roll up with our 7-deep posse of grandparents & siblings. We -- the campers -- were the shepherds to the 100 flavors of Ivanhoe's. Yeah. 100 flavors.
I visited Ivanhoe's 10 years later, and now a grown adult, in late-July... and the same exact thing is still happening: campers and families slurping down God's sauce.
Taylor University is a dry campus, and it seemed Upland in general was pretty dry... so... ice cream is their indulgence and they indulge well.
Packed house, long lines, sticky tile, rambunctious kids, large families... I wouldn't want it any other way.
By the way... they'll turn anything you want into a shake, and I really recommend it -- seriously. Ask for a banana split, then flip the script on them: "I'd like a banana split please... as a shake. Yeah. Uh huh. A banana split shake."
I've been listening to my family talk about Ivanhoes for years and I finally got to visit and enjoy their delicious ice cream and fries!
Yes there was a line
Yes it was affordable
Yes the fries were AMAZING
Yes my mini sundae was a Rocky Road Sundae with marshmallows and hot fudge and...
Yes it was Yummy!
Yes it is hard to find a table when there are 15 people in your party
It was all worth it!
I don't know when I'll be in Upland next so I 'm glad we went to Ivanhoes and stuffed our faces with ice cream and fries!
I have found heaven and it is about 5 miles from the middle of nowhere. That's right i'm talking about ivanhoes baby. I was in the mood for a little hoosier filet mignon aka a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich so mom suggested this place. Awesome. Tender on the inside, crispy outside and great flavor. The onion rings are also some of the best i've ever had. Against all survival instincts i've ever learned I said "nay, regurgitation be damned" and decided to order desert. What better to fill a stomach already beaten into submission than a vanilla shake? They have 100 different shakes and 100 different sundaes, if you have a death wish you can try them all and get a spot on the wall. Truly their milkshake does bring all the boys to yard, and they could teach you but they'd have to charge....although i'm sure it would be quite reasonable.
Review Source:Ivanhoe's is a fat kids dream. Plain and simple. I used to come here when I was going to Ball State. We would drive up and feel like we were in the town in the movie "Footloose" (no dancing allowed at Taylor University). They didn't have Kevin Bacon, but Ivanhoe's is better than Kevin Bacon. Even that scene where he's doing gymnastics in that old factory. Ivanhoe's is just that good.
Might I recommend the Mint Chocolate chip sundae with Oreos and hot fudge. Decadent and delicious. The food is tasty too, but let's be honest, we all come here for the ice cream.
This is the kind of place that makes people romanticize small town life. Â Local, wholesome, great fast food, delicious ice cream, and a family atmosphere, there's really nothing bad to be said about Ivanhoe's since it pretty much hits the target it aims for smack in the bullseye center.
The food has that midwestern clean, fresh taste that the best farm-country places have, and the ice cream is, well, ice cream. Â They have the high turnover needed at small places to guarantee freshness, and have been the epitome of dining in Upland for at least a couple generations.
Ivanhoe's may very well be the only reason people still apply to Taylor University. I too might be willing to endure a nearly worthless religious education in the middle of buttfuck Egypt to be next to Ivanhoe's...
I'm pretty sure Ivanhoe's was the only reason I endured that Paramilitary children's organization called "Girl Scouts" as a kid as well - something about field trips to the land of a million different sundae and shake options made it seem ok...