If you know me at all, you know ice cream is my very favorite treat. The DMV (Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia) has a fantastic ice cream scene, with numerous DMV ice cream shops offering unique flavors and experiences. From classic frozen custard to gourmet small-batch ice cream, the options are endless for those with a sweet tooth, like me!
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A Brief History of Ice Cream
Ice cream has been a beloved treat for centuries, delighting taste buds from ancient China to modern-day America. Legend has it that even Roman emperors sent their fastest runners to the mountains to fetch snow, just to mix it with honey and fruit—talk about dedication to dessert! Marco Polo supposedly brought an early version of ice cream to Europe from his travels in China, and by the 18th century, the frozen delight had made its way to America. Today, ice cream is a staple dessert, and DMV ice cream shops carry on this delicious tradition with both classic and creative flavors.
Gruto’s Soft Serve
Website: https://grutos.com/
About this DMV Ice Cream Shop
I may be biased because we can walk to the Leesburg location, which we love to do with our kids and treat our dog to one of two “doggy delight” options with ice cream and milkbones. Gruto’s has long been a favorite of mine. With locations in Leesburg and Purcellville, Virginia, Gruto’s Soft Serve is a family-owned DMV ice cream shop that has been serving the community since 2007.
Their daily menu features four core soft serve flavors: vanilla, chocolate, black raspberry, and banana, all of which can be twisted together. They also offer surprise flavor specials regularly like strawberry, made with fresh local strawberries from Wegmeyer Farm. Customers can choose from over 25 toppings and opt for their treats in a cup, cake cone, or waffle cone. Gruto’s also offers milkshakes, malts, floats, and a variety of delicious sundaes; as well as fun challenges such as the Godzilla, with “really really obnoxious amounts of your choice of soft serve.”
The best part is they always say “See you tomorrow!” when you leave.
Q&A
- Can you tell us about your business and what makes it unique? Gruto’s is unique as one of the only soft serve ice cream shops in the area (others that serve “soft serve” cannot legally call it ice cream). Being part of the Loudoun County community is important to us as we strive to use fresh local ingredients, supporting other small local businesses, and also we host spirit nights for many local schools, and have offered reward certificates to some local schools that the principal or teachers use for good grades or good behavior.
- What inspired you to start your business, and is there a fun backstory behind the name? The name Gruto’s comes from the original owners, Steve and Julie Pologruto who opened the shop in Purcellville in 2007. In 2014, my husband and I were there with our kids (all teenagers now) and saw a small sign saying the Pologrutos were retiring and the store was for sale. Although my husband and I had relatively normal 9-5 jobs, he thought it was a good idea to purchase it, and through some back and forth with each other, and discussions with Steve and Julie, we worked out a deal, and took over in July 2015.
- What’s your favorite thing about being part of the Northern Virginia community? My husband and I moved to Western Loudoun in 2002 and we love it. We decided on Loudoun for the schools, and have grown to love the people, the area, being close to DC but still having that small town feel.
- If your business had a theme song, what would it be and why? Milkshake by Kelis LOL we try to have lots of fun!
- What’s one thing most people don’t know about your business? That we have a secret menu
- Do you have a “most memorable moment” story from running your business? It’s hard to pinpoint one moment. We just love and appreciate our customers so much, we love their patience on busy days when they wait in a long line to get their ice cream! We work hard to get everyone served quickly, but it means so much to us that customers are willing to wait!
- What’s your most popular product or service, and why do you think people love it so much? Our most popular sundae is our Reese’s Sundae. It has Reese’s peanut butter cups, Reese’s peanut butter sauce, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and a cherry and your choice of soft serve flavor and it’s big enough to share but so good you won’t want to!
- What are some ways your business makes life easier or more enjoyable for parents? Since we serve ice cream, our spot is great for a celebration, or when times are hard. Sometimes you need a “pick me up,” so you come to Gruto’s, sometimes you did well on your test, or won the big game, so you come to Gruto’s! We are here for the highs and lows and make everything a little sweeter.
- What do you think sets your business apart as a go-to option for families in Northern Virginia? Since we are also raising a family here, we are aware of the challenges of parenting and finding that balance that we all need. You may not be able to take a day off or a vacation, but you can always come to Gruto’s to get away from it all for a little while.
- What’s a fun fact or little-known detail about your business or team? Our staff generally start off with us when they are in high school, and they come back summer after summer, through college and beyond. We try to create a family atmosphere and we really appreciate and care for our team members. It is so amazing to see our young people go off to college, and grow into successful men and women. We are always sad when it is time for an employee to move on, but we feel like proud parents watching them leave the nest and go onto professional careers.
Author’s note: as of the time of publishing I still do not know what the secret menu is 😂 Someone tell me!
Mount Desert Island ice Cream
Website: https://www.fearlessflavor.com/
About this DMV Ice Cream Shop
Situated on Mt. Pleasant Street NW in Washington, D.C., Mount Desert Island Ice Cream (MDI) is a DMV ice cream shop renowned for its premium, homemade ice cream made in small batches of no more than five gallons at a time. They emphasize using real ingredients, such as scraping vanilla beans for their vanilla ice cream and squeezing lemons individually for their lemon sorbet. MDI offers forward-thinking flavors while respecting the classics, ensuring a high butterfat content and minimal air churned into their products. This commitment to quality and innovation makes MDI a must-visit destination for ice cream enthusiasts in the DMV area. They also have 2 locations in Maine and 2 in Japan!
Q&A
- Can you tell us about your business and what makes it unique? Mount Desert Island Ice Cream is a small-batch, craft ice cream shop located in the heart of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood in Washington, DC. What sets us apart is our dedication to creativity, quality, and community. Every scoop we serve is made in-house with care, using thoughtfully and locally sourced ingredients to create bold, unexpected flavors alongside our takes on the classics.
We love to experiment, which means you’ll find an ever-changing lineup of unique flavors. We also love music and often collaborate with bands and artists we admire to craft special, limited-edition flavors inspired by their work.
At the end of the day, ice cream should be fun, and we take a lot of pride in making sure every visit to our shop is just that. - What inspired you to start your business, and is there a fun backstory behind the name? Mount Desert Island is a very real and truly special place—an island off the coast of Maine . It’s home to Acadia National Park.
- What’s your favorite thing about being part of the Northern Virginia community? I grew up in NOVA and its home. I have always loved the diversity of the area and all the amazing ethnic culture and food. I love how close it is also to DC but also so many other great cities and places to visit.
- Do you have a “most memorable moment” story from running your business? I am a huge Washington Capitals fan and have been my whole life. The year the store opened, the Capitals won the Stanley Cup and we had the honor of having the cup come into the store and then also catering a party for some of the members of the Washington Capitals organization where I got to drink out of the cup. Truly an amazing experience!
The Dairy Godmother
Website: https://www.thedairygodmother.com/
About this DMV Ice Cream Shop
First things first: you can sit in the chair that President Barak Obama sat in when he visited!! Located in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia, The Dairy Godmother specializes in frozen custard and nostalgic treats. This DMV ice cream shop serves classic vanilla and chocolate custards, along with a rotating “Flavor of the Day” featuring inventive combinations. Recent offerings have included “Sprinkle Crunch,” a vanilla custard mixed with rainbow sprinkles and waffle cone pieces, and “Snow Angel,” a coconut custard with coconut flakes, white chocolate chips, and bits of angel food cake. The Dairy Godmother also offers a variety of sorbets and baked goods, catering to diverse tastes.
For my fellow dog lovers, they have “puppy pops” made from yogurt and are wheat-free so they won’t upset any tummies, and a baked dog treat they call “squirrels”. The shop exudes a nostalgic charm, making it a beloved destination for both locals and visitors seeking a classic ice cream parlor experience.
Q&A
- Can you tell us about your business and what makes it unique? We’re a variety sweet treat shop with frozen goods like frozen custard, sorbets, vegan ice cream and our other goods like our vegan donuts, variety of cookies, and dog treats! The Dairy Godmother opened in 2001 as the original owner is from Wisconsin and brought Wisconsin treats to Del Ray! Just Fine Donuts opened in 2021, offering vegan donuts as an option for those with certain dietary restrictions.
- Do you have a “most memorable moment” story from running your business? Back in 2009, we had President Obama drop by with his two daughters Malia and Sasha! We still have the chair he sat in and a picture of them on our wall!
- What’s your most popular product or service, and why do you think people love it so much? Our Vanilla Frozen Custard and our Vegan Glazed donuts are both simple but delicious! You can’t really go wrong with the classics.
- What do you think sets your business apart as a go-to option for families in Northern Virginia? We make everything in store! Our sorbets, frozen custard, donuts and more are all made in our kitchen! We also regularly take flavor suggestions and requests from customers!
- What’s a fun fact or little-known detail about your business or team? Fun Fact: Some of our staff members are related! The baker’s two daughters, son and niece all work here! The head donut makers are father and son, and the owner and one of his daughters also work here!
The charm of DMV ice cream shops lies in their diversity and dedication to quality. Whether you’re looking for a nostalgic frozen custard experience, a soft-serve delight, or an artisanal small-batch scoop, there’s a perfect shop for you. Many of these establishments use locally sourced ingredients, experiment with flavors, and create an inviting atmosphere for families, couples, and solo dessert lovers alike. The next time you crave a sweet treat, be sure to check out a DMV ice cream shop and indulge in a scoop (or two) of something delicious!
Have a favorite I need to check out? Please share in the comments!
Must-Try DMV Ice Cream Shops
Blaire Ring (Second Ave Photography) is an award-winning photographer in Northern Virginia, bringing her signature emotive yet laid-back & natural vibe to newborn, family, maternity and school photography. Her work has been featured in magazines and online blogs around the world. In 2023 Blaire was named one of Loudoun’s 40 Under 40, and she is a dedicated volunteer for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep.
