The Cow
201 Main St, Reisterstown, MD, 21136
The Cow Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Reisterstown for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Reisterstown for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Reisterstown for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
201 Main St
Reisterstown, MD, 21136 - Phone (410) 526-1800
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : No
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
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Katlyn T.
So good - much better than Rita's and plenty of parking & space to sit & enjoy your Italian ice. They do accept credit cards now but they do pass on the credit card fee to the customer.
(5)Dana M.
First and LAST trip to the Cow. I ordered a hot fudge sundae - maybe if I had ordered an Italian ice, a cone or a milkshake, I would have had a more favorable experience. But I wanted a hot fudge sundae. A regular size hot fudge sundae with extra hot fudge, no whipped cream, no nuts or sprinkles. What was handed to me was a 6 oz flimsy plastic cup with about 2" of swirled vanilla custard on top of the rim of the cup, approximately another 1-1.5" vanilla custard below the rim, and then hot fudge in the bottom of the cup. The cup was so flimsy that gently holding it caused the custard to ooze up from the cup over the sides, onto my hands and clothes. Also, I have had sundaes all over the place, and I have never had a sundae that didn't have any toppings actually on top of the ice cream or custard. When my husband asked for a bigger cup so I could dump it upside down into it and actually get the hot fudge on top (and keep it from melting all over me) he was told that the owner does not allow them to give out cups. Well if (1) the owner had instructed his employees on the proper method to make a sundae, and (2) had not provided them with inferior products so that they could properly present the item ordered, the extra cup would not have been needed. I ended up scraping off onto the ground the 2 inches of custard above the rim and dealt with the mess below. Not sure where on earth she would have put the whipped cream that is supposed to come on a "sundae", if I had not told her to leave it off, it probably would have ended up on my lap! Much happier with DQ, Baskin Robins or Rita's - somehow they all have proper holders for their sundaes!
(1)Lauren P.
Almost every flavor of Italian ice here is so damn tasty! Leaps and bounds better than Rita's. I'm super sad I've moved out of the area. Definitely been missing their frozen goodness. A heads up: The last time I was there, they only took cash. Not sure if that's changed or not.
(5)Erica C.
Better than Rita's. Period.
(4)Matt L.
The reason I joined Yelp. The chocolate banana Italian ice has little banana pieces in it. It's bananas! Take it from an Italian.
(5)Sheila P.
those little plastic cups of goodness are quintessential reisterstown and you're obligated to love it
(5)Bruce H.
They have recently added the option to pay by credit card. The do however pass along the Square service charge on top if the normal cost.
(5)Kamni G.
I moved to main street about a month ago and everyone from co-workers, to yelpers and short of a stranger , have told me to try the cow. The cow? yes! I planned to go there and never did and finally one weekend on a girl date with my bff, we ventured there. The staff is friendly and help explain what is what. We got the small size and could not even finish it. It was good gooood stuff! The custard is amazing, the rest I could do without. i will be visiting them soon to enjoy some more custard and sharing as the portions are huge. There is always a line and too many cars...people love them,,,there is a reason folks!
(4)Miriam B.
If I could give this place 6 stars I would. This is a great one of a kind frozen custard Italian ice shop. Everything is unique. This is what the chain Rita's should taste like( that place is gross). I had a gelato which is chocolate chip choco sorbet with choco frozen custard. I ordered a small and could only eat half. The staff here are very warm and friendly.
(5)Courtney C.
Only I would need ice cream on a cold day after stuffing myself at Sonny Lee's down the street. I'll keep this short and sweet. The girl behind the counter took forever to come to the window to serve us. Standing out in the cold sucked. They have sugar free/fat free frozen yogurt. I opted for a kiddie size in a waffle cone with the choclate/vanilla mix. It was cheap, tart, and delicious! Worth the stop and the wait.
(4)Emily G.
Why is Rita's the standard by which we judge custard and Italian ice? I think we can all agree that Rita's sucks. It's funny that The Cow is on Yelp, since I've been coming here since I was a wee little high schooler looking for some place to hang out on a Friday night. Now they've opened new locations, etc. It's awesome. The custard is fantastic. Last time I went, the young girl working there was apparently stumped by the espresso machine and took about 20 minutes (not an exaggeration) to make a mocha. Pretty funny. All in all - good!
(4)Rebecca S.
Love this place! Get the gelato (soft serve and Italian ice mixed). Any fruit flavor with vanilla is like a creamsicle or get chocolate with peanut butter to make a reeces cup. So good. Sizes are huge, so I normally get a kids.
(5)Sheena F.
This was a great accidental find on the way to my friend's wedding, and I was so happy that was able to try a gelati!! (I got mine with the raspberry and vanilla custard) The list of Italian Ice flavors nothing short of impressive! I got a regular and it was much more than I expected. Also, make sure you bring cash!!
(4)Elsa M.
$3.17 will get you the biggest custard cone of your life. And when I say custard, I mean real, authentic, delicious custard. I am only giving it a 4 because I have had the best custard in the world at Gilles in Milwaukee ( yelp.com/biz/gilles-froz… ) and again at Dickey's in DC ( yelp.com/biz/dickeys-fro… ) and I still measure everything up against those two. Still - it was the best custard I have had in the Baltimore area since moving out this way and that's saying a lot. And let me be clear: this is custard! Not ice cream... not gelato... custard. Fatty, and creamy, and oooooh so delicious. I love the price point, the quantity, and the service. Truly mom and pop since you just drive up, order, and cop a seat or move along. The Cow is what summer is all about!
(4)Kit H.
Remember a time? If Historic Reisterstown along Main St can be considered a leap back to a gentler age of Norman Rockwell-like shops & eateries peppered with idyllic all-American accents of Ozzie & Harriet bliss, bluster, and bravado then The Cow is both it's magnetic north & anchor. Spot the black & white cow patterned shack, come to the order window, and marvel at the multiple myriad of dizzying cold & creamy flavors & feels. Not sure what to get? They'll let you sample those dairy dreams, generous gelati, scrumptious waffle cone scoops, and yummy yogurts before you commit. But I already know the large Banana Split's sweetness is my weakness. It's my symphony of cold dairy delight. The harmony is built on fresh, firm split banana, a heavenly hustle of whipped cream waltzing stem to stern, delightfully sinful hot fudge two-stepping with salacious slices of strawberry complimented by chunks of pirouetting pineapple all topped with four plump minueting maraschino cherries. And what's my banana split ensemble without unabashed amounts of rainbow sprinkles creating a sweet lil accompaniment of contrasting texture with a burst of kaleidoscope color? It's a wonderfully nostalgic piece that'd move even David Evans Strickler to sob tears of joy. Me being fickle, I've recently rationed my passion to include the sweetly seductive Pumpkin Italian Ice. Yes, it's back with all it's smooth velvety goodness to freeze, tease, and massage the tongue with tastes mimicking Momma's own down home fresh baked Thanksgiving Day pie. But on saccharine steroids. Understandably along with the Cow's reminiscent all-American charm there's the Cow's modern all-American pricing. My 2 large splits, (yes, two), and 1 large Italian Ice ran a lil over $14.60. Sure, it's not Ozzie & Harriett prices, but hardly horrible given the varied selections & "goodiness" of the products. And cash only. They close December 24 for the season to reopen March 1. Remember a time? Probably not. But you can still live it at the Cow.
(5)Melissa Y.
Really delicious frozen custard that's very rich but not overly sweet. I couldn't finish the small size but that may be because we were eating ice cream in November and I was freezing! In any case, if you're out this way and need a treat, look for the cow out front!
(5)Jamie M.
Totally obsessed. Everything is amazing - especially custard cones dipped in peanut butter shell - and the milkshakes!!!
(5)Minna W.
Their custard is thick, creamy, sweet, and cold- just like it should be. There are so many flavors of Italian ice, I have to try a new one each time I go... Delicious way to cool off during a hot summer day.... or hey, just any day!
(5)Samantha G.
I am craving The Cow so badly right now. I decided to read the Yelp reviews about The Cow out of curiosity- Is anyone else as crazy about their peanut butter ice as I am? I typed "Dairy Fresh" into the Yelp search bar...because to my knowledge, that's what it's really called- but it seems they've actually changed their name to "The Cow" ?! If this is true- then it's a.) hilarious and b.) about time! If you're from Reisterstown, you've given directions using The Cow as a reference point because of the enormous cow out front (If you've passed the cow you've gone too far!) Anyway, onto the ice: If you're someone who doesn't get along so well with dairy, like me- The Cow is your savior. Their ices are not like other ices I've had before (not like Ritas and not like a snowcone and not like Italian Ice). The peanut butter ice is so creamy and delicious that its hard to believe its dairy free. Don't be afraid to try the other 'weird' flavors either! For me, the kid-sized ice is the perfect amount. My mom swears by their vanilla custard. On a hot day the lines will be long, but it's worth it!
(5)Britt G.
The Cow is AMAZING. I'm from Philly so I grew up on water/Italian ice. This place is the best I've been to. I've tried a bunch of flavors. The most notable ones were Nutella, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, Peppermint Patty and Fudgy Brownie. Yes, these sound like ice cream flavors but they aren't! Unlike a lot of place who try to pull off water ice that actually tastes like ice cream, The Cow is TRUE water ice. Rita's does NOT compare to the Cow, so don't even think about pitting them against one another. If it's your first time, I'd recommend going for the gelati. The custard is think and delicious and the watery ice is the perfect opposite. One more thing- the price is right! Today it cost me less than 2 bucks for a small ice with two flavors. For a small, the size was definitely generous and perfect for a blistering hot day. I can't wait to go back! Bonus- I drove to the Cow after getting out of work in Sparks. It's a BEAUTIFUL drive from that area to the cow. Just a thought, if you have extra time! P.S. Cash Only
(5)Erin T.
Let me preface this by saying that the ice cream here is really good. We got a soft-serve cone and a shake and both were excellent. That said, the service was on the curt side--the cashier shut the door on us mid-order. I'll still be back, but I'll watch which line I get in!
(4)Joshua P.
Excellent Italian ice and custard! The placement on Main Street really is ideal for the consumer. When compared to Rita's, The Cow takes the gold medal. For under 4 bucks you can get a delicious customizable Italian ice and/or custard.
(5)William M.
It is March 7th and The Cow is open again. Happy Days!! It has been a long cold winter without them and the chance to go back is amazing. My wife and I have a standing Friday night date with a kids size vanilla cone each. Often that is more than enough and we love it. Welcome back - it you aren't going to The Cow, you have missed an exquisite treat.
(5)eileen h.
The custard was good, but the cheap plastic cups they put it in makes for a messy, melted, disgusting waste of money- you know, the kind they have at water coolers! The cheapest of the cheap cups. NEVER again will I bring my kids here, my car, our clothes and bodies were a stickey mess. And we had to throw out 75% of our ice cream because it was melted. Come-on, invest in some Styrofoam- you sell ICE CREAM for goodness sakes!
(2)Hansel T.
Got a black cherry ice the other day. The large is really quite big, I think I froze my tongue and wasn't really able to enjoy the 2nd half of it. Went back today and got a Pineapple Gelati (Half Ice and Half Vanilla Custard) and it was quite good, they really pile on the custard, I would suggest almost anyone stick with a regular size or smaller.
(5)Jean L.
I came back again recently and I have to say that I REALLY enjoyed their peanut butter ice. I got their pumpkin ice too, which was also good but I imagine you'd have to be into pumpkin pie to enjoy it like I did. I tried a bite of my bf's honeydew and I'm sad to say that neither of us were fans. Sometimes the artificial quality really gets to you. To be fair, the bf got it hoping for a Proustian glimpse of the honeydew snowballs with marshmallow topping from his ice-cream truck chasing days. And what ever really lives up to such hopes? I'm guessing their flavors are hit-or-miss but if you're ever in doubt, you can ask to try them.
(4)Evan M.
Here's a fact: the cow is the best place ever. Sometimes the line is a bit slow BUT IT IS WORTH IT. VERY MUCH WORTH IT. OMNOMNOMNOMNOM
(5)Allison L.
Came back last night and tried the cheesecake gelati (cheesecake italian ice with vanilla frozen custard) and was not as much of a fan of that. The vanilla frozen custard was still completely delicious (I have nooo idea why or how it's so good, but it is!) but the cheesecake italian ice was sorta bleh. I didn't really care for the stale pieces of graham crackers in it, and the cheesecake flavor was not very cheesecake-y. The texture was really good though, very soft and creamy.
(4)Jessica F.
A good alternative to Rita's, the Cow has a TON of interesting italian ice/frozen yogurt choices. The portions are generous and the service is great. I've tried the s'mores and a chocolate covered peanut butter pretzel italian ice and I wasn't able to finish either. They offer standard cones, dipped cones, and waffle bowls in addition to specials of the day. Definitely a good place to try if you want something different.
(4)Colleen B.
Do we really need a review of the Cow? It's THE COW! It's the best italian ice! The flavors are awesome. They even give you samples on cute litte spoons. The chocolate and peanut butter ones are so creamy. It's worth standing in line - but then again you're bound to see your neighbors there so it's a good time to catch up.
(5)Tyler S.
Can't even explain how perfect their italian ice is. You get more, better quality ice than rita's! Well, I think at least. Plus, it's cheaper. If only it wasn't so far away from me.
(5)Mike E.
Amazing ice cream place. It's actually custard but I hate that word for some reason. Definitely one of the best I've had in Baltimore.
(5)Mauricio E.
I love coming to this place. The product always feels fresh, and the memory that some of the employees have is truly phenomenal. I've tried most flavors, but my favorite one is mango. The line gets pretty long sometimes, but it is worth the wait. Bring your friends with you to this place! It is great!
(5)Jim B.
The first thing you notice about this place as you drive up is the black and white speckled roof. The second thing you notice is the large fiberglass cow sitting out front. And finally, you see the veritable mob of people outside waiting for their custard, yogurt, or italian ice. Yes, it does take a bit of line-waiting before you get your dessert, but it is worth it. I grabbed a gelati - lime italian ice and vanilla custard in this case. The lime was LIME and a great complement to the smooth and tasty custard. Of course, rewind 10 minutes prior and you'd see me ripping my hair out trying to figure out which of the 72 flavors of italian ice I wanted. That's right - 72. From mango to margarita, root beer AND birch beer, even a lucky charms flavor! Again, it's no surprise this place is packed. Friendly service, amazing selection, even more amazing product. It's cash only, so make sure you have enough for your choice. If you find yourself driving down Main Street in Reisterstown, this place is impossible to miss and impossible to pass.
(5)Rosemary P.
This was the summer that I was to find frozen custard like I had as a child. Eureka!! The Cow has smooth, sweet, wonderful frozen custard exactly like I remember from 55 years ago back in Virginia.
(5)Allen M.
Who wants to go to THE COW?!! I can't even count how many times I've hear this statement made over the years. This summertime watering hole serves just about everyone in the Reisterstown and Owings Mills area. Their incredible custard and ice will keep you coming back year after year and keep you waiting in the longest line you've ever seen, just to grab a taste. It's worth it! Go with the concrete--that's my favorite!!
(5)Emily T.
Um. Yaaaaaas. This is Rita's on crack, and I'm k with it. I have no idea why I had never been here before. Growing up in Westminster, it wouldn't have been a far drive. Now that I live in Bmore county, it's still not a far drive, and is definitely worth it for an afternoon treat on a nice day. The style is like Rita's - italian ices with custard. You can get either/or, or both. But unlike Rita's, if you opt for the gelati (which is both), the custard oozes down into the ice and creates a wonderful mess. Good god. The flavors seem limitless (and I wish they were a little bigger on their ordering board, maybe put the flavors up where the sundae advertisements are?) and I want to go back to work my way through. My first try was birthday cake with swirl custard on top. It came out and my regular was in the same size cup as a kids size I had just seen someone get. But once I started eating, I realized they gave regular waayy more custard. yas #1. the birthday cake ice had a blue icing swirl in it! yas #2. it's like - is this italian ice? polish water ice? ice cream? snowball? it's the perfect combo of everything, and it's truly a unique getaway from just regular ice cream, froyo, and rita's. go here! prices are decent, also. the line moved pretty slow for a not-that-busy sunday afternoon but as soon as an extra window opened the service got a lot quicker. I need to go back to take a picture, but like yesterday, I'll probably be too busy having a mmmmmgahmmmmmmyes moment to bother.
(5)Michelle A.
Amazing custard. Truck is at the Frederick fair this week. $3 one size any item. Brilliant. The best ice cream by far at the fair.
(5)Jessica B.
I've been here Soooooo many times and The Cow never disappoints. I like it much better than Rita's. My go to items are the twist custard on a waffle cone and the watermelon Italian ice with marshmallow. They also have specialty sundaes, lemonade and shakes. They stay packed in the summer and they are opened late. After years of coming here they also now accept credit cards which they didn't before. Highly recommended!
(5)Charles C.
OH LAWDDDDD... a nice gem in a small town. The custard is extremely rich... with lots of fat, which makes it so delicious. The Italian ices taste fresh - you can tell that it's not made with artificial flavoring. My friends and I got the mango, pear, pumpkin pie, and strawberry lemonade. The fruity ones taste exactly like the fruits, and the pumpkin pie tastes like they took a pie, blended it, and froze it (okay literally not like that, but it has that flavor). If you're ever passing by this small town, then you definitely have to come here for dessert. P.S. Milk the udders of the cow =]
(5)Lynie H.
Love the custard ice cream!! So rich n creamy n thick. They have many flavors n different ways to have ur ice cream...gelati (has flavored ice n custard) or regular cones or in cups. A slew of flavors to choose from, the cow is always a good experience..unless u get too much n end up with a tummy ache :-P
(4)Courtney G.
I will never go to the cow again. First of all, the employees are rude and so is the OWNER. I don't care how good the ice cream is. I was babysitting for two year old twins and I thought I would take them for ice cream. Big mistake. I ordered them each a small vanilla in a cup. They began eating it so beautifully, but then, between the cup being extremely flimsy (they use the clear flimsy cups( and the ice cream was filled so much over the lip of the cup and it was melting everywhere. I proceeded to go up to the window to ask for another cup. She said no we are not allowed to give out additional cups. I pleaded with her and even offered to pay $5 for two empty cups. She said no and closed the window on me. Meanwhile over to the benches, the twins are a mess, beyond imaginable. I still stood by the window, where there was a line and the employee would not open the window. The people in line were even begging her to give me a cup. She didn't open the window til I walked away. The girls were an absolute mess, so I had to throw their ice creams away which of course made them hysterically cry. I should have dumped off the top of the ice cream on the deck and let them eat it, but I didn't want to make a mess. Imagine, I was worried about that. So. I called the owner and discussed the awful experience with him. He just kept repeating we do not give out extra cups. He did not care that I had an awful experience. He was beyond rude to me on the phone. I have told many of my friends of my negative experience there, several of them have had bad experiences there too and won't go back. There are too many ice cream places around town to put up with people being rude, or not appreciating your business. Sometimes you have to access the situation in front of you. I will never go back to a place that slammed its window on me and treated me so despicably.
(1)Jennifer F.
I LOVE THE COW!!!!!! Warm temps means nothing until I've made it to The Cow and officially welcomed spring. I've only ever gotten the custard. I hear amazing things about the gelati, but I just can't deviate from what I love - a simple vanilla cone with jimmies or their caramel coating. It's a great local tradition that is absolutely worth the trip (and the wait, since the line gets very long on summer nights).
(5)Rick S.
I know I am going to be the minority on here and even most of my friends, however I don't think the cow custard and ice cream is actually that good. It is okay but it not great as people are saying on here. I have for sure tasted way better. The ice cream comes for the standard ice cream maker. It is about the same as the other ice cream makers out there. The line can be incredibly long because the employees are not the quickest people in the world. This makes my experience here usually negative.
(3)Lynie H.
Love the custard ice cream!! So rich n creamy n thick. They have many flavors n different ways to have ur ice cream...gelati (has flavored ice n custard) or regular cones or in cups. A slew of flavors to choose from, the cow is always a good experience..unless u get too much n end up with a tummy ache :-P
(4)Courtney G.
I will never go to the cow again. First of all, the employees are rude and so is the OWNER. I don't care how good the ice cream is. I was babysitting for two year old twins and I thought I would take them for ice cream. Big mistake. I ordered them each a small vanilla in a cup. They began eating it so beautifully, but then, between the cup being extremely flimsy (they use the clear flimsy cups( and the ice cream was filled so much over the lip of the cup and it was melting everywhere. I proceeded to go up to the window to ask for another cup. She said no we are not allowed to give out additional cups. I pleaded with her and even offered to pay $5 for two empty cups. She said no and closed the window on me. Meanwhile over to the benches, the twins are a mess, beyond imaginable. I still stood by the window, where there was a line and the employee would not open the window. The people in line were even begging her to give me a cup. She didn't open the window til I walked away. The girls were an absolute mess, so I had to throw their ice creams away which of course made them hysterically cry. I should have dumped off the top of the ice cream on the deck and let them eat it, but I didn't want to make a mess. Imagine, I was worried about that. So. I called the owner and discussed the awful experience with him. He just kept repeating we do not give out extra cups. He did not care that I had an awful experience. He was beyond rude to me on the phone. I have told many of my friends of my negative experience there, several of them have had bad experiences there too and won't go back. There are too many ice cream places around town to put up with people being rude, or not appreciating your business. Sometimes you have to access the situation in front of you. I will never go back to a place that slammed its window on me and treated me so despicably.
(1)Jennifer F.
I LOVE THE COW!!!!!! Warm temps means nothing until I've made it to The Cow and officially welcomed spring. I've only ever gotten the custard. I hear amazing things about the gelati, but I just can't deviate from what I love - a simple vanilla cone with jimmies or their caramel coating. It's a great local tradition that is absolutely worth the trip (and the wait, since the line gets very long on summer nights).
(5)Rick S.
I know I am going to be the minority on here and even most of my friends, however I don't think the cow custard and ice cream is actually that good. It is okay but it not great as people are saying on here. I have for sure tasted way better. The ice cream comes for the standard ice cream maker. It is about the same as the other ice cream makers out there. The line can be incredibly long because the employees are not the quickest people in the world. This makes my experience here usually negative.
(3)Dana M.
First and LAST trip to the Cow. I ordered a hot fudge sundae - maybe if I had ordered an Italian ice, a cone or a milkshake, I would have had a more favorable experience. But I wanted a hot fudge sundae. A regular size hot fudge sundae with extra hot fudge, no whipped cream, no nuts or sprinkles. What was handed to me was a 6 oz flimsy plastic cup with about 2" of swirled vanilla custard on top of the rim of the cup, approximately another 1-1.5" vanilla custard below the rim, and then hot fudge in the bottom of the cup. The cup was so flimsy that gently holding it caused the custard to ooze up from the cup over the sides, onto my hands and clothes. Also, I have had sundaes all over the place, and I have never had a sundae that didn't have any toppings actually on top of the ice cream or custard. When my husband asked for a bigger cup so I could dump it upside down into it and actually get the hot fudge on top (and keep it from melting all over me) he was told that the owner does not allow them to give out cups. Well if (1) the owner had instructed his employees on the proper method to make a sundae, and (2) had not provided them with inferior products so that they could properly present the item ordered, the extra cup would not have been needed. I ended up scraping off onto the ground the 2 inches of custard above the rim and dealt with the mess below. Not sure where on earth she would have put the whipped cream that is supposed to come on a "sundae", if I had not told her to leave it off, it probably would have ended up on my lap! Much happier with DQ, Baskin Robins or Rita's - somehow they all have proper holders for their sundaes!
(1)Lauren P.
Almost every flavor of Italian ice here is so damn tasty! Leaps and bounds better than Rita's. I'm super sad I've moved out of the area. Definitely been missing their frozen goodness. A heads up: The last time I was there, they only took cash. Not sure if that's changed or not.
(5)Erica C.
Better than Rita's. Period.
(4)Matt L.
The reason I joined Yelp. The chocolate banana Italian ice has little banana pieces in it. It's bananas! Take it from an Italian.
(5)Sheila P.
those little plastic cups of goodness are quintessential reisterstown and you're obligated to love it
(5)Bruce H.
They have recently added the option to pay by credit card. The do however pass along the Square service charge on top if the normal cost.
(5)Kamni G.
I moved to main street about a month ago and everyone from co-workers, to yelpers and short of a stranger , have told me to try the cow. The cow? yes! I planned to go there and never did and finally one weekend on a girl date with my bff, we ventured there. The staff is friendly and help explain what is what. We got the small size and could not even finish it. It was good gooood stuff! The custard is amazing, the rest I could do without. i will be visiting them soon to enjoy some more custard and sharing as the portions are huge. There is always a line and too many cars...people love them,,,there is a reason folks!
(4)Elsa M.
$3.17 will get you the biggest custard cone of your life. And when I say custard, I mean real, authentic, delicious custard. I am only giving it a 4 because I have had the best custard in the world at Gilles in Milwaukee ( yelp.com/biz/gilles-froz… ) and again at Dickey's in DC ( yelp.com/biz/dickeys-fro… ) and I still measure everything up against those two. Still - it was the best custard I have had in the Baltimore area since moving out this way and that's saying a lot. And let me be clear: this is custard! Not ice cream... not gelato... custard. Fatty, and creamy, and oooooh so delicious. I love the price point, the quantity, and the service. Truly mom and pop since you just drive up, order, and cop a seat or move along. The Cow is what summer is all about!
(4)Samantha G.
I am craving The Cow so badly right now. I decided to read the Yelp reviews about The Cow out of curiosity- Is anyone else as crazy about their peanut butter ice as I am? I typed "Dairy Fresh" into the Yelp search bar...because to my knowledge, that's what it's really called- but it seems they've actually changed their name to "The Cow" ?! If this is true- then it's a.) hilarious and b.) about time! If you're from Reisterstown, you've given directions using The Cow as a reference point because of the enormous cow out front (If you've passed the cow you've gone too far!) Anyway, onto the ice: If you're someone who doesn't get along so well with dairy, like me- The Cow is your savior. Their ices are not like other ices I've had before (not like Ritas and not like a snowcone and not like Italian Ice). The peanut butter ice is so creamy and delicious that its hard to believe its dairy free. Don't be afraid to try the other 'weird' flavors either! For me, the kid-sized ice is the perfect amount. My mom swears by their vanilla custard. On a hot day the lines will be long, but it's worth it!
(5)Kit H.
Remember a time? If Historic Reisterstown along Main St can be considered a leap back to a gentler age of Norman Rockwell-like shops & eateries peppered with idyllic all-American accents of Ozzie & Harriet bliss, bluster, and bravado then The Cow is both it's magnetic north & anchor. Spot the black & white cow patterned shack, come to the order window, and marvel at the multiple myriad of dizzying cold & creamy flavors & feels. Not sure what to get? They'll let you sample those dairy dreams, generous gelati, scrumptious waffle cone scoops, and yummy yogurts before you commit. But I already know the large Banana Split's sweetness is my weakness. It's my symphony of cold dairy delight. The harmony is built on fresh, firm split banana, a heavenly hustle of whipped cream waltzing stem to stern, delightfully sinful hot fudge two-stepping with salacious slices of strawberry complimented by chunks of pirouetting pineapple all topped with four plump minueting maraschino cherries. And what's my banana split ensemble without unabashed amounts of rainbow sprinkles creating a sweet lil accompaniment of contrasting texture with a burst of kaleidoscope color? It's a wonderfully nostalgic piece that'd move even David Evans Strickler to sob tears of joy. Me being fickle, I've recently rationed my passion to include the sweetly seductive Pumpkin Italian Ice. Yes, it's back with all it's smooth velvety goodness to freeze, tease, and massage the tongue with tastes mimicking Momma's own down home fresh baked Thanksgiving Day pie. But on saccharine steroids. Understandably along with the Cow's reminiscent all-American charm there's the Cow's modern all-American pricing. My 2 large splits, (yes, two), and 1 large Italian Ice ran a lil over $14.60. Sure, it's not Ozzie & Harriett prices, but hardly horrible given the varied selections & "goodiness" of the products. And cash only. They close December 24 for the season to reopen March 1. Remember a time? Probably not. But you can still live it at the Cow.
(5)Melissa Y.
Really delicious frozen custard that's very rich but not overly sweet. I couldn't finish the small size but that may be because we were eating ice cream in November and I was freezing! In any case, if you're out this way and need a treat, look for the cow out front!
(5)Jamie M.
Totally obsessed. Everything is amazing - especially custard cones dipped in peanut butter shell - and the milkshakes!!!
(5)Minna W.
Their custard is thick, creamy, sweet, and cold- just like it should be. There are so many flavors of Italian ice, I have to try a new one each time I go... Delicious way to cool off during a hot summer day.... or hey, just any day!
(5)Joshua P.
Excellent Italian ice and custard! The placement on Main Street really is ideal for the consumer. When compared to Rita's, The Cow takes the gold medal. For under 4 bucks you can get a delicious customizable Italian ice and/or custard.
(5)William M.
It is March 7th and The Cow is open again. Happy Days!! It has been a long cold winter without them and the chance to go back is amazing. My wife and I have a standing Friday night date with a kids size vanilla cone each. Often that is more than enough and we love it. Welcome back - it you aren't going to The Cow, you have missed an exquisite treat.
(5)Katlyn T.
So good - much better than Rita's and plenty of parking & space to sit & enjoy your Italian ice. They do accept credit cards now but they do pass on the credit card fee to the customer.
(5)Britt G.
The Cow is AMAZING. I'm from Philly so I grew up on water/Italian ice. This place is the best I've been to. I've tried a bunch of flavors. The most notable ones were Nutella, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, Peppermint Patty and Fudgy Brownie. Yes, these sound like ice cream flavors but they aren't! Unlike a lot of place who try to pull off water ice that actually tastes like ice cream, The Cow is TRUE water ice. Rita's does NOT compare to the Cow, so don't even think about pitting them against one another. If it's your first time, I'd recommend going for the gelati. The custard is think and delicious and the watery ice is the perfect opposite. One more thing- the price is right! Today it cost me less than 2 bucks for a small ice with two flavors. For a small, the size was definitely generous and perfect for a blistering hot day. I can't wait to go back! Bonus- I drove to the Cow after getting out of work in Sparks. It's a BEAUTIFUL drive from that area to the cow. Just a thought, if you have extra time! P.S. Cash Only
(5)Erin T.
Let me preface this by saying that the ice cream here is really good. We got a soft-serve cone and a shake and both were excellent. That said, the service was on the curt side--the cashier shut the door on us mid-order. I'll still be back, but I'll watch which line I get in!
(4)Mauricio E.
I love coming to this place. The product always feels fresh, and the memory that some of the employees have is truly phenomenal. I've tried most flavors, but my favorite one is mango. The line gets pretty long sometimes, but it is worth the wait. Bring your friends with you to this place! It is great!
(5)Miriam B.
If I could give this place 6 stars I would. This is a great one of a kind frozen custard Italian ice shop. Everything is unique. This is what the chain Rita's should taste like( that place is gross). I had a gelato which is chocolate chip choco sorbet with choco frozen custard. I ordered a small and could only eat half. The staff here are very warm and friendly.
(5)Rosemary P.
This was the summer that I was to find frozen custard like I had as a child. Eureka!! The Cow has smooth, sweet, wonderful frozen custard exactly like I remember from 55 years ago back in Virginia.
(5)Allen M.
Who wants to go to THE COW?!! I can't even count how many times I've hear this statement made over the years. This summertime watering hole serves just about everyone in the Reisterstown and Owings Mills area. Their incredible custard and ice will keep you coming back year after year and keep you waiting in the longest line you've ever seen, just to grab a taste. It's worth it! Go with the concrete--that's my favorite!!
(5)Emily T.
Um. Yaaaaaas. This is Rita's on crack, and I'm k with it. I have no idea why I had never been here before. Growing up in Westminster, it wouldn't have been a far drive. Now that I live in Bmore county, it's still not a far drive, and is definitely worth it for an afternoon treat on a nice day. The style is like Rita's - italian ices with custard. You can get either/or, or both. But unlike Rita's, if you opt for the gelati (which is both), the custard oozes down into the ice and creates a wonderful mess. Good god. The flavors seem limitless (and I wish they were a little bigger on their ordering board, maybe put the flavors up where the sundae advertisements are?) and I want to go back to work my way through. My first try was birthday cake with swirl custard on top. It came out and my regular was in the same size cup as a kids size I had just seen someone get. But once I started eating, I realized they gave regular waayy more custard. yas #1. the birthday cake ice had a blue icing swirl in it! yas #2. it's like - is this italian ice? polish water ice? ice cream? snowball? it's the perfect combo of everything, and it's truly a unique getaway from just regular ice cream, froyo, and rita's. go here! prices are decent, also. the line moved pretty slow for a not-that-busy sunday afternoon but as soon as an extra window opened the service got a lot quicker. I need to go back to take a picture, but like yesterday, I'll probably be too busy having a mmmmmgahmmmmmmyes moment to bother.
(5)Michelle A.
Amazing custard. Truck is at the Frederick fair this week. $3 one size any item. Brilliant. The best ice cream by far at the fair.
(5)Jessica B.
I've been here Soooooo many times and The Cow never disappoints. I like it much better than Rita's. My go to items are the twist custard on a waffle cone and the watermelon Italian ice with marshmallow. They also have specialty sundaes, lemonade and shakes. They stay packed in the summer and they are opened late. After years of coming here they also now accept credit cards which they didn't before. Highly recommended!
(5)Charles C.
OH LAWDDDDD... a nice gem in a small town. The custard is extremely rich... with lots of fat, which makes it so delicious. The Italian ices taste fresh - you can tell that it's not made with artificial flavoring. My friends and I got the mango, pear, pumpkin pie, and strawberry lemonade. The fruity ones taste exactly like the fruits, and the pumpkin pie tastes like they took a pie, blended it, and froze it (okay literally not like that, but it has that flavor). If you're ever passing by this small town, then you definitely have to come here for dessert. P.S. Milk the udders of the cow =]
(5)Emily G.
Why is Rita's the standard by which we judge custard and Italian ice? I think we can all agree that Rita's sucks. It's funny that The Cow is on Yelp, since I've been coming here since I was a wee little high schooler looking for some place to hang out on a Friday night. Now they've opened new locations, etc. It's awesome. The custard is fantastic. Last time I went, the young girl working there was apparently stumped by the espresso machine and took about 20 minutes (not an exaggeration) to make a mocha. Pretty funny. All in all - good!
(4)Rebecca S.
Love this place! Get the gelato (soft serve and Italian ice mixed). Any fruit flavor with vanilla is like a creamsicle or get chocolate with peanut butter to make a reeces cup. So good. Sizes are huge, so I normally get a kids.
(5)Courtney C.
Only I would need ice cream on a cold day after stuffing myself at Sonny Lee's down the street. I'll keep this short and sweet. The girl behind the counter took forever to come to the window to serve us. Standing out in the cold sucked. They have sugar free/fat free frozen yogurt. I opted for a kiddie size in a waffle cone with the choclate/vanilla mix. It was cheap, tart, and delicious! Worth the stop and the wait.
(4)Sheena F.
This was a great accidental find on the way to my friend's wedding, and I was so happy that was able to try a gelati!! (I got mine with the raspberry and vanilla custard) The list of Italian Ice flavors nothing short of impressive! I got a regular and it was much more than I expected. Also, make sure you bring cash!!
(4)eileen h.
The custard was good, but the cheap plastic cups they put it in makes for a messy, melted, disgusting waste of money- you know, the kind they have at water coolers! The cheapest of the cheap cups. NEVER again will I bring my kids here, my car, our clothes and bodies were a stickey mess. And we had to throw out 75% of our ice cream because it was melted. Come-on, invest in some Styrofoam- you sell ICE CREAM for goodness sakes!
(2)Hansel T.
Got a black cherry ice the other day. The large is really quite big, I think I froze my tongue and wasn't really able to enjoy the 2nd half of it. Went back today and got a Pineapple Gelati (Half Ice and Half Vanilla Custard) and it was quite good, they really pile on the custard, I would suggest almost anyone stick with a regular size or smaller.
(5)Jean L.
I came back again recently and I have to say that I REALLY enjoyed their peanut butter ice. I got their pumpkin ice too, which was also good but I imagine you'd have to be into pumpkin pie to enjoy it like I did. I tried a bite of my bf's honeydew and I'm sad to say that neither of us were fans. Sometimes the artificial quality really gets to you. To be fair, the bf got it hoping for a Proustian glimpse of the honeydew snowballs with marshmallow topping from his ice-cream truck chasing days. And what ever really lives up to such hopes? I'm guessing their flavors are hit-or-miss but if you're ever in doubt, you can ask to try them.
(4)Evan M.
Here's a fact: the cow is the best place ever. Sometimes the line is a bit slow BUT IT IS WORTH IT. VERY MUCH WORTH IT. OMNOMNOMNOMNOM
(5)Allison L.
Came back last night and tried the cheesecake gelati (cheesecake italian ice with vanilla frozen custard) and was not as much of a fan of that. The vanilla frozen custard was still completely delicious (I have nooo idea why or how it's so good, but it is!) but the cheesecake italian ice was sorta bleh. I didn't really care for the stale pieces of graham crackers in it, and the cheesecake flavor was not very cheesecake-y. The texture was really good though, very soft and creamy.
(4)Jessica F.
A good alternative to Rita's, the Cow has a TON of interesting italian ice/frozen yogurt choices. The portions are generous and the service is great. I've tried the s'mores and a chocolate covered peanut butter pretzel italian ice and I wasn't able to finish either. They offer standard cones, dipped cones, and waffle bowls in addition to specials of the day. Definitely a good place to try if you want something different.
(4)Colleen B.
Do we really need a review of the Cow? It's THE COW! It's the best italian ice! The flavors are awesome. They even give you samples on cute litte spoons. The chocolate and peanut butter ones are so creamy. It's worth standing in line - but then again you're bound to see your neighbors there so it's a good time to catch up.
(5)Tyler S.
Can't even explain how perfect their italian ice is. You get more, better quality ice than rita's! Well, I think at least. Plus, it's cheaper. If only it wasn't so far away from me.
(5)Mike E.
Amazing ice cream place. It's actually custard but I hate that word for some reason. Definitely one of the best I've had in Baltimore.
(5)Jim B.
The first thing you notice about this place as you drive up is the black and white speckled roof. The second thing you notice is the large fiberglass cow sitting out front. And finally, you see the veritable mob of people outside waiting for their custard, yogurt, or italian ice. Yes, it does take a bit of line-waiting before you get your dessert, but it is worth it. I grabbed a gelati - lime italian ice and vanilla custard in this case. The lime was LIME and a great complement to the smooth and tasty custard. Of course, rewind 10 minutes prior and you'd see me ripping my hair out trying to figure out which of the 72 flavors of italian ice I wanted. That's right - 72. From mango to margarita, root beer AND birch beer, even a lucky charms flavor! Again, it's no surprise this place is packed. Friendly service, amazing selection, even more amazing product. It's cash only, so make sure you have enough for your choice. If you find yourself driving down Main Street in Reisterstown, this place is impossible to miss and impossible to pass.
(5)