The local scoop
Sure, sure… we’ve all heard the swooning coming from the assembled masses lining up outside Bi-Rite Creamery. (And yes, we’re in awe of their salt-caramel ice cream, just like everyone else.) But waaayyyy down at the other end of The Mission, there’s another ice-cream shop that’s packing them in every night, just like they have since the kids in line sported white bobby socks and greased hair.
Although the days when Mitchell’s used milk from its own dairy farm are long gone, each flavor is still made on the premises in small-batch freezers. More than 50 state-fair ribbons and medals on the wall tell the story of the family’s commitment to quality.
You won’t find any honey-lavender or soy-chai scoops here, but that doesn’t mean that Mitchell’s doesn’t get its gourmet groove on. The shop’s biggest claim to fame may be its roster of tropical flavors, sporting tongue-twister names like langka, macapuno, and lucuma, alongside a longer list of ‘standard’ (but still interesting) tastes. Reading the menu’s like a trip around the globe: Thai tea, Mexican chocolate, and New York Cherry are just three options. Feeling cocktailian? Rum raisin, Kahlua, and mojito might do the trick. A set of flavors rotates seasonally; peach holds court today, but pumpkin can’t be far off.
Go ahead, take a number. You’ve got plenty of time to decide…
Mitchell’s Ice Cream
688 San Jose Avenue (at 29th)
San Francisco, CA 94110
415 648-2300
Comment by Dagny
It’s always been about Mitchell’s, in my opinion.
Posted on 09.06.07 at 7:13PM
Comment by Lisa
Langka and macapuno… Sounds very Filipino. Visited their website out of curiosity and found this: “We import avocado, buko (baby coconut), guava, langka (jackfruit), macapuno (sweet coconut), mango, pineapple and ube (purple yam) fruit from the Philippines for our ice cream…”
I haven’t tried Mitchell’s yet, but I do love a healthy helping of ube ice cream.
Posted on 09.07.07 at 6:01AM
Comment by Doug
ice cream is my kryptonite – although its all about the Gelato these days here.
Posted on 09.07.07 at 3:53PM
Comment by bri
Hi Anita, Those flavors sound great! I’ve never had an ube. I don’t get into the city often enough, but I will keep Mitchell’s in mind when I do. I was just thinking about experimenting with a Thai tea ice cream flavor. What fun!
Posted on 09.07.07 at 9:37PM
Comment by Anita
Dagny: Shh, don’t tell the others. They might not let us play with their molecular gastronomy supplies if we let on we’re old skool.
Lisa: Yeah, there’s a definite filipino bent to the tropical flavors; they even make halo-halo in the summer.
Doug: I hadn’t though of that, but yeah — NYC is a gelato town, SF is all about the ice cream, and LA is into Pinkberry and its clones. Amusing, no?
Bri: It’s a bit off the beaten path, but it makes a great pilgrimage stop. I have known people to hit Bi-Rite, walk to BART, ride one stop from 16th to 24th, then walk down Mitchell’s. I’ve never done it myself, but I bet it would take just long enough that you might be hungry again. 😀
Posted on 09.07.07 at 9:45PM
Comment by Jan
Oooh, an ice cream crawl!!
Posted on 09.08.07 at 2:17PM
Comment by KathyR
I’m glad I live just a few steps from Mitchell’s and I am grateful for its existence, but I think a lot of their flavors taste like cream and butter. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but most of their flavors miss the mark for me. As far as making ice cream on the premises is concerned, just which premises are they talking about? It certainly isn’t the tiny retail store, though that’s what they want you to think. No, they’ve got some big factory operation going on–I’m convinced of it.
Posted on 09.13.07 at 3:12PM
Comment by nicole
Yum … I will have to check this place out, as I’m often in the Mission and love ice cream!
Posted on 10.03.07 at 2:42PM
Comment by Brian
I have a friend that works at Mitchell’s and they do make the ice cream there in the back room . They crank out a lot of product in a small space. I think the ice cream hits the mark and those that don’t like it , well I guess it’s true when they say”You can’t please everyone!.”
Posted on 10.05.07 at 2:26PM