I stumbled upon A La Mode completely by chance while walking around Midtown Manhattan on a hot summer day. The shop with its pink striped awnings is simply adorable, and the ice cream is really good.
A La Mode make all their ice cream from scratch in small batches. The focus is on high-quality ingredients, and you can taste the difference. One of the things that makes A La Mode a little different is that all of their ice cream is made without nuts, eggs, or sesame. They also have a good selection of dairy-free flavors, so there's something for just about everyone.
If you're not sure what to order, I highly recommend the Key Lime Pie and Rose flavors, which were the two scoops I had when I visited. The Key Lime Pie had the perfect balance of sweet and tart and tasted almost like a slice of key lime pie in ice cream form. I suspect it may have been a seasonal flavor, though, as I can't find it on their current online menu.
The Rose ice cream was my personal favorite. It had a light, airy texture and a delicate floral flavor that wasn't at all overpowering. And yes, you should definitely get marshmallows on top.
If you're looking for great ice cream in New York and feel like trying something a little different from the city's best-known spots, A La Mode is definitely worth a visit.
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