Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab

I really liked this ice cream lab. Lots of unique flavors like banana fosters or mint Oreo fudge. Friendly service and delicious tasting ice cream. A local guy says he comes in for the shakes.

I asked him about his favorite and he said anything that has more than one flavor in it.

I would love to go back and try more flavors.

So while in Arroyo Grande we came across this quaint little ice cream shop. Super nostalgic with really good ice cream . I had a waffle cone dipped in chocolate with a cookies and cream ice cream. And my hubby had a scoop in a cup.
Staff was super nice and helpful and restaurant was really clean.

Ice cream shop that is a favorite down here also get the mint chip with sprinkles

Ice cream shop that is a favorite down here also get the mint chip with sprinkles

We intentionally went out of our way to find this place. We wanted to try the local, best ice cream for our visit to this region, and Doc Burnstein came up repeatedly. We also saw it being sold in the ice cream section of the neighbor marts close to where we were staying. The flavors available mentioned online were really inviting. Initially, we were routed to their manufacturing plant where they make the ice cream....it would have been great if the tours were open, but they are still closed right now (it is clearly marked on their website...so our fault for only depending on Google maps).

Therefore, we drove a short distance to the nearest retail shop, which was in Arroyo Grande. There is free parking in a city lot close by (off of Nevada Street). Free samples were offered, and the server was very gracious. We shared a two scooper, which came up to about $8.00. For that price, the ice cream was disappointing. It was thick, but not extremely so, and the flavors were not as overwhelming as expected (e.g. the Motor Oil Flavor tasted like chocolate, but we expected it to be almost like Ganache). Plus we tasted ice crystals on some of the edges, which usually isn't a good sign.

So Verdict: we would rank this in the lower half of gourmet, regional ice creams.

This place never changes and still looks like Burnardoz. Like everything post-Covid prices are up, bit hey it's not an everyday expense. Did notice that at least on this day there were no sherbets or non-dairy available. AG location open late, but the SLO location seems to close before the website hours (at least on Sunday Sept 4 they were closed before 8:30,website says 9).
Still delighted that the place is still here and apparently thriving. There's also some kind of a social angle here, not that they're SJWs but it is structured as a mutual benefit corporation.

Ok sorry but this is the worse ice cream I have ever had. It tasted so artificially fake and just plain gross. I just don't understand the rave reviews. One star for the entertaining locomotive train that Runs along the ceiling. We waited a good 30 in line to get:
Salted caramel: no bueno, so sweet and didn't taste like salted caramel
Chocolate: I am not a chocolate person and this solidified my aversion
Strawberry: tasted so artificial and weirdly gross

No thank you...waste of stomach space.

The ice cream wasn't frozen enough, giving it the consistency of mousse. The quality was good and I think it would've tasted better if it was cold and firmer. The cookies and cream was better than the basic chocolate.
I'm giving an extra star because the service was friendly.

Doc Bernstein's is one of the Rarities in our community, a true Superstar in the Hosting of Traditional Ice Cream Parlor of America. The Flavors are incredibly delicious and worth the wait on a hot summer day, or a Sunday afternoon after church. Birthdays are over the Top when you serve Doc's Ice Cream Favorites.
Please have fun and remember ice cream is the BEST TREAT

Yum yum yum! Made a trip over to Arroyo Grande at the recommendation of a friend, and I'm glad we did. Creamy ice cream on a hot day was just what the doctor ordered.

Really loved the unique flavors - I got merlot chocolate raspberry and bf got honey almond vanilla. What I loved most were the huge portions and it wasn't too sweet! I only got a kids cup yet it was two scoops worth of ice cream which personally is enough for me.