Descriptive phrase: classic ice cream joint.
When you're driving back down the Door Peninnsula after a day on Washington Island, there's no better stop on the road than Wilson's Ice Cream Parlor.
Go in, order some ice cream (one of their many flavors), tip the young whipper-snappers behind the bar in one of the tip jars decorated with their school names, sit out on the porch and dig in while looking over the calm bay. It doesn't get much better than that.
The ice cream is great (even though it's not custard), the portions are ginormous (one scoop bigger than my face). Oh, and don't miss the surprise at the bottom of the cone!
Black cherry ice cream. Â DO IT. Â I love this ice cream place, but be prepared for LINES. Â LOTS AND LOTS OF LINES. Â Not to mention they tend to run out of some ice cream flavors just because of how crowded it is. Â There's not a large sitting area and the wait is pretty crazy. Â Make sure to grab a number when you get in because thats how the ordering process goes. The food was pretty good, but most come for the ice cream. Â A must-go in Door County.
Review Source:I'm totally obsessed with this place.
The ice cream is fantastic and the servers do their jobs good.
Every time we go it is always busy but the turn over rate is good and we usually dont have to wait that long for a table. I have been coming here every summer for my whole life and I just absolutely love this place.
What a cute little spot! Even though they don't make their ice cream, they get a thumbs up for serving local ice cream. I totally agree with the gals below that the portions are super huge and it's too bad they don't offer a smaller size because it's wasteful. At the same time, considering the portion you really get a great deal and the price isn't bad at all.
I usually get a scoop in a cup with a cake cone on top. They don't have cake cones here... that blows. So, I got... a different cone and found a little jelly bean underneath it. They say a hundred years ago they would put a jelly bean in the cone to keep the ice cream from melting through. They now know that's a load of shit, but have kept the tradition.
A present for me: <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/wilsons-ice-cream-parlor-ephraim?select=0fkTobhV3JPQrtqIZZQWag#0fkTobhV3JPQrtqIZZQWag">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
We sat outside to enjoy the view, but between the birds and the bees it was hard to do so.
Hey Wilson's! You might wanna scope the area, there's a hive nearby.
Yes there are long lines in the summer, yes it can get  crazy, but there is a reason for it....its GREAT! This place screams nostalgia, its like going back in time in a good way. These non corporate chain places are few and far between and should be cherished. The food is dinner fare, fresh and homemade  but the ice cream steals the show. The portions are huge but that what vacations are all about excess...isnt it!. There is not a better lunch spot in Door County that Wilson's sitting in the porch area enjoying the view and the fresh air, it makes everything taste better.
Review Source:I'm with A.A.Y. - Wilson's goes way overboard with the ice cream portions. There needs to be a mini junior scoop or something for those of us who don't want to leave feeling like we're in danger of slipping into a diabetic coma.
A single scoop comes as a barely manageable mountain of ice cream confection piled on a teeny tiny sugar cone. I spent the first few minutes barely enjoying the flavor as I did that frantic...lick-it-into-a-manageable-shape-before-Âit-melts-all-over-you routine.
Wilson's was the first stop for us when we got into Door County, and even though no one in my family finished their cones, all of our flavors were so overwhelmingly sweet and super-sized that we didn't get dessert for the rest of the trip. Any time it was brought up, someone went, "No thank you! I'm still recovering from that ice cream!"
Wilson's may be a Door County legend, but if you want to enjoy it, order a small scoop and split it amongst...I don't know...ten people?
Yes it's busy...yes there are long lines, but Wilson's is a must stop in Door County. Â My review is only for the ice cream -- in all the years that I have been coming to Wilson's, I have never had anything else but ice cream. Â Portions are huge -- the single scoop seems like a double at least and the flavors are good. Â Fast service and a pretty spot right across from the water. Â My favorite flavors? Â The Zanzibar Chocolate -- an incredibly rich dark chocolate and Chocolate Peanut Butter -- chocolate ice cream with mini peanut butter cups in it. Â
Wilson's is a Door County staple. Â Expect long lines but they move fast. Â It's worth it...even if the lines didn't move fast.
I can only review the dinner food (I did not have any ice cream or shakes). My boyfriend and I decided to go to Wilson's for dinner our last night in Door County. We both ordered burgers/fries, an order of cheese curds, and a cup of their homemade chicken dumpling soup.
The burgers were incredibly disappointing. The meat was flat and honestly seemed to be the quality of frozen burger patties. The cheese they slapped on tasted like a Kraft single (we're in Wisconsin, we can do better than that...). Even the sesame seed bun was on the thin side.
The cheese curds were decent, but how hard is it to screw-up a fried ball of cheese?
I was also disappointed with the homemade chicken dumpling soup that the hostess said we just "had to try." It had some black specks that looked like burned residue off the bottom of the pot and honestly was nothing special. I expected the chicken dumpling soup to be creamy but it wasn't. The consistency was that of thin, watery broth.
I wouldn't recommend eating here for dinner. Maybe just stick with the ice cream?
I feel a bit bad/weird writing this, because I've been going to Wilson's since I was a kid and I feel like I'm slamming the family friend down the road...
But...
I ordered a single scoop ice cream cone (as in the kind you lick). Not a pint of ice cream on top of a skinny cone that's flipped over into a dish. After trying to stop the server mid-flip with no luck we sat at the counter and spooned the ice cream out of the dish and back into the cone. The server told us they have to put the cones in dishes now because people were losing the scoops all over the floor. Well, maybe that's because you're putting too much ice cream on top.
I know. First world problem. But no one needs a pint of ice cream on top of a cone. Less is more, people. Find another place in door county to plunk down your $3 for a simple cone and save your mid-section the aftermath.
This place is a Door County staple. Â I would forgo the ridiculously long line and get a table where you will get much faster service. Â Just as an FYI, you can't get a cone at a table...weird rule I know. Â I would highly recommend the Turtle Sunday or a Chocoalte Soda...so delicious! Â If you're feeling really abmitious you could take on the Banquet which comes out on a serving tray. Â The only downfall is that it is so much ice cream and toppings that it gets soupy and warm way too quickly.
Review Source:I'm perplexed by some people's inability to understand something for what it is. Ignore the one and two star ratings for Wilson's, because the writers of those clearly don't get it. Yes, it's likely that Wilson's will be crowded when you go there. Why is it crowded? Because it's GOOD. Duh.
Even with the large number of people they serve every day, they get you your food very quickly, and it's always good. I don't even like root beer, but I love theirs.
This place is a staple of Door County for a reason.
This place was overpriced, had small portion sizes and it was NOT clean. In addition, some of the employees (the hostesses) were not welcoming (they had Attitudes!) and were actually down right rude. Â I think back now and am amazed that we didn't just turn right around and walk back out the front door. Â But, we've been to Door County many times and thought we'd finally try this place out. Â I, personally, cannot believe this place stays in business. Â We had a terrible experience and would never recommend it to anyone. Â It was a total waste of money!
Review Source:Best ice-cream in Door County!!! I had to go twice! The service was great and I couldn't believe how big the portions were! The chocolate fudge was the best. You can walk across the street and sit on a bench on the water and enjoy a spectacular view. They even put a jelly bean on the bottom to prevent the ice cream from leaking through the cone, how thoughtful. This place isn't to be missed when visiting Door County!!
Review Source:Ice cream was good. Definitely not the best ever. however, the people behind the counter were not friendly at all. I said hello to them before any of the six employees said anything. It seemed like they did not want us to be there even though it was 30 min before closing. My dad put it best: if you want to go somewhere to be treated like an annoyance by a bunch of 16 year old girls to get average ice cream, this would be great. I hope that my experience was a rarity.
Review Source:Seriously, I couldn't have had a better Root Beer Float than at Wilson's. Â I felt as though I stepped back 50 years with the classic rock and roll with the sock hop feel. Â Smiling ear to ear. Â The ice cream was great and the view on the deck of Eagle Harbor was amazing. Â Loved it! Â The Root Beer Float is homeade (literally the Root Beer is made there). Â Yum!!! Â The line was huge to get ice cream in the store, but if you just grab a seat on the deck, there are servers and its out in 5 minutes!!! Â
LOVED IT!!!
I have been traveling to Door County since I can remember, and Wilson's is always on my list to stop at. This is definitely a restaurant that you should take your kids to. The food is pretty much average, but their ice cream is excellent. The portions are very, very large, so be aware of that.
Your best bet is to stop by for some ice cream and then walk around Ephraim and watch the sun go down. Nothing else can really beat that!
Just before stopping here we were having a discussion about how we'd never come across ice cream we didn't like.
Wilson's proved us wrong.
The ice cream is hidden (i.e., you can't see it) and they don't give samples. Â So after a glowing recommendation by the scooper I had the key lime pie ice cream. Â It was horrid. Tasted totally artificial and I threw out the entire cone (no refunds).
Neither of the other flavors (cookie dough or peanut butter chocolate) ordered were any better.
They don't make their own ice cream and won't tell you where it's from
The place is crowded and tight. Â I understand the nostalgia factor but that only carries you so far.
Wilson's looks like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. It's the epitome of how a small town ice cream parlor should look. It's a vintage white wooden building with a red and white striped awning, with diner-style booths inside and seating in a covered outside patio area as well. It is right on Route 42, in the very heart of Ephraim, right across from the water. I think Wilson's is one of the main reasons traffic slows to a crawl on this stretch of 42.
Picturesque as it may be, Wilson's is not perfect. First of all, it's always crowded. You have to deal with a lot of aggravation, irritation, being pushed and shoved, etc., just to place your name on a wait list for a table or to order an ice cream cone at the counter. Also, you can't sit at a table if you're just ordering an ice cream cone. You have to be having a fountain creation/sundae or entree in order to be waited on at a table. Finally, the place is loaded, and I do mean loaded, with tourists, so if that annoys you, consider yourself forewarned.
When you are finally seated at a table, it is pleasant. The food menu is nothing special -- hamburgers, hot dogs, club sandwiches and other diner-style offerings, and the quality is average -- but the ice cream is good, and it's a lot fun to eat a banana split or turtle sundae under the striped awning while watching sailboats in the bay across the street and the crowds of people passing by. Servers are very young, but enthusiastic and friendly.
It's worth a stop if you aren't put off by crowds, and if you want to feel like you've gone back in time 100 years to an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. Wilson's is on par with Al Johnson's as one of the touristy places in Door County that everyone should probably visit at least once, just for the experience.
Visit for the nostalgia but the ice cream was disappointing. Â Too many ice crystals for me but maybe this isn't an issue when they are busier during the summer. Â If the ice cream sells faster it doesn't get a chance to form ice crystals. Â And even though it was about 50 degrees, our car was covered in flies. Â Still a fun experience given the history.
Review Source:An old school ice cream parlor? YES PLEASE!!!
When you walk inside its like going back to the 50s... tons of old odds and ends. I love places like this. Between my friends and I we got a couple Root beer floats and chocolate malts... you cant even get malts anymore it seems like. These were SO DAMN GOOD. They are made right, the old school way!
only downside is I believe they had a minimum on credit cards or something a bit odd... I recommend just bringing cash.
It was our last full day in Door County and I told my husband (a first timer to DC) that we HAD to stop at Wilson's. He didn't understand why we had to stop here and I don't think you really "get it" if you haven't been to Door County before.
Not stopping here is almost illegal if you come within 20 miles of this place.
Their ice cream is amazing. They have something for everyone. Treat yourself to some and go across the street to sit and watch the beautiful water.
I make a point to come here every time I go to Door County. Â It would be criminal not to, really. Â We're talking about a classic ice-cream parlour right on the water in adorable ephraim that has decent ice cream, delish fried cheese curds, and homemade rootbeer. Â I came here once on a birthday trip with a friend and those are the exact elements that made up her birthday dinner! Â And it was perfect. Â The inside is very country-cute, and most/all(?) of the tables have their own little juke boxes... though the outside patio is a first choice for a summer day, if you're here on a dreary fall day you'll appreciate the fun ambiance inside.
Review Source:"Best Ice Cream EVER"?? I don't think so.
If you really think this is the greatest ice cream in the world, you need to try the freezer section in the grocery store - it's better than what Wilson's has to offer. Â
This place has average ice cream - fun flavors (a lot of PB and caramel and fudge mixes) but nothing spectacular. In fact, it was ICY. Not creamy nor smooth, but had ice crystals in every bite we took - bleh. That is not my idea of good or even decent ice cream.
Don't waste $5 on the Cappuccino Cooler too - the "crappuccino" is from a can and they add 2 scoops of icy vanilla ice cream to it. We took about 4 sips and wanted to throw it away. Starbucks bottled frappuccinos are better than what we got. They gotta get a different brand of cappuccino to make that thing worthwhile.
I added 1 star b/c (1) it's an institution that's well-maintained and keeps the homeyness of the past and (2) our ice cream boy was patient and friendly.
I'd still recommend for people to go visit and try it out - not for the ice cream, but the experience of being in a 100+ yr old ice cream parlor.
Hopefully I just had a bad batch...but what a disappointment. Next time I'll bring my Ben & Jerry's with me to Door County.
I'm not a big fan of long lines or waiting in cramped spaces for food both of which Wilson's seems to have. The long waits are justified though for tasty ice cream treats and a bit of Door County history.
Peppermint ice cream is delicious with big chunks of candies mixed in. Chocolate peanut ice cream melted in my mouth.
They put a jelly bean at the bottom of your cone to stop the leaking which is ingenious.
Go across the street and sit by the lake to enjoy your sugary treat.
Such a fun, classic place. Â
I'd recommend the chocolate ice cream soda with chocolate ice cream. Â If you happen to get a neo-scooper who doesn't know how to make it, opt for a cone though. Â Sprite on chocolate ice cream = not the best.
If you do get the cone, get a kids' size. Â The "single" is more like a triple...
Wilson's Ice Cream Parlor is one of the must stop places in Door County. It is tradition. You do not have to stop every trip to Door County, but make it a stop at least on your first trip. Everyone should stop at least once in their Door County travels. Stop for ice cream or lunch, but ice cream in the evening is the best. Get a cone or dish, then walk across the street and watch the water activity or a great sunset.
Review Source:Ice cream for dinner? Â Yes, please! Â I satisfied this childhood fantasy last Saturday night at Wilson's. Â I ordered the "Three Kings" sundae--one scoop of vanilla, one scoop of chocolate, and one scoop of mint chocolate chip all covered with hot fudge, topped with a mountain of whipped cream, and garnished with a cherry. Â More than enough for two to three grown adults. Â Even though this was the only thing I ordered for my fantasy dinner, there were still leftovers. Â That's just how giant the scoops are at Wilson's! Â
I've never had the food there so I can't comment on that, but the ice cream was what dreams are made of. Â The mini jukeboxes at each table are a nice touch too. Â Although it did eat one of my quarters without playing my song. Â :-(
So here's the story: Â after spending hours hiking nature trails and visiting light houses in Door County, Justin and I decided to find some lunch. Â Wilson's, right on the water in Ephraim, was too hard to pass up with its cute, old-tyme charm--besides, it was an ice cream parlor. Â Who passes up ice cream on vacation?? Â So we joined the throngs of folks eager for lunch or a cone and were finally seated. Â Strangely enough, an older couple was seated near us--the same couple we saw on the nature trail. Â And at the light house. Â And at the NEXT light house. Â Anyway, a chili dog, a cheeseburger and a shared order of fries and caramel sundae later, we tried to get our check. Â "Oh, actually," our cutesy high school server told us, "that older couple over there would like to pay for your meal. Â They said they've seen you all over the place today!"
Moral of the story--enjoy the company of your traveling companions. Â You might come off as super cute and inspire some lovely, generous couple to spring for your tasty lunch and super sundae.
Ahhhh Wilson's. Keep a place open long enough and you somehow earn the right to charge a ridiculous amount of money for your ice cream based on the fact that it's tradition. Â
Catch a glimpse of the sun setting over Green Bay while you sit on their front porch licking away at the some of best homemade Mackinac Island Fudge ice cream in Door County.
I can't wait for summer.
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