Mount Desert Island Ice Cream
51 Exchange St, Portland, ME, 04101
Mount Desert Island Ice Cream Menu
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Address :
51 Exchange St
Portland, ME, 04101 - Phone (207) 210-3432
- Website https://www.mdiic.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Bob P.
Good stuff. Creamy, with unusual variety, generous quantities. They have a flight option for tasting several flavors. There are he usual flavors plus more intriguing or challenging tastes. Half-star demerit for offering a "milkshake" when they mean frappé.
(5)Susan A.
Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream knows how to make ice cream. It's thick, creamy, and full of flavor. During my weekend stay, I came here twice and got the Bay of Figs and the Maine Maple Pecan. Both were delicious! However, I have to say that the Belgian Chocolate is the star of the shop. My friend ordered it and I was amazed at the bold flavor. This is not your ordinary chocolate ice cream... this is REAL chocolate turned into ice cream. What a difference! Although the ice cream is good, the cones are bland. + You can get a flight of four small scoops of four different flavors. I recommend trying Mt. Desert. Get the chocolate flavor!
(4)Sandy N.
I wasn't as impressed with this place so I hope they were just having an off day. I agree that they have a variety of unique flavors like Vietnamese coffee and Indian pudding. BUT the ingredients don't really translate into taste. The cinnamon cardamom tasted like cinnamon. The pralines tasted like pecan and cinnamon. The texture was also off. The ice cream was very soft to the point where they could barely make solid round scoops. I wouldn't go back.
(3)Katherine L.
Innovative sorbet flavors at an ice cream parlor? Nice. Nectarine prosecco and orange tarragon and lime cucumber and plum sorbets? Delicious. They have a good mix of ice creams, too, as other Yelpers have stated. Really though, I just wanted to comment on how impressed I am with unique sorbet profiles... Because those who eat sorbet, you know the choices are usually bland and blasé, boring and mono-berry. Blah! Not here! Hurrah! Prices are pretty sweet compared to similar quality in other cities. Nice. Spoil me sorbet-sweet.
(4)Yelena S.
We decided to give Mount Desert another try the other day and I'm happy we did! The two girls working behind the ice-cream counter were very sweet (no pun intended) and patient with us wanting to try every new flavor they had. I gotta give the little shop credit, they definitely have some *out there* flavors! I opted for something a little more tame, a scoop of their Maine Mint and Coriander & Blackberry Ripple & Streusel. The mint was my favorite! I love that it's not that psychedelic neon green color and incorporates actual mint leaves. I wish the ice cream was a little harder as it almost fell off my cone when I leaned slightly, but otherwise it's delicious!
(4)Jack R.
I don't often drink, but when I do it's NOT Dos Equis, it's a White Russian. That's Vodka and kalhua for those of you who don't know what a white Russian is. So if you see me in Las Vegas with a white Russian, the drink and not a woman, you'll know it's me. I'll be at the roulette table. As far as ice cream is concerned this has been one of my favorite ice creams. I would seriously come back to Maine just for this ice cream, and if I had a cooler, I would have bought several pints of this stuff. Tastes just like the drink. Strong kalhua flavor, with a hint of cream, and oh so good. But wait ladies and gentlemen, there's more! Say you're like me and can't decide. Well, they have ice cream flights for $5.50 where you can choose 4 flavors! Say what?!? So I chose the White Russian, Khulfi (based on the Indian dessert: pistachios, saffron, cream), Toasted Coconut, and a Wingnut (Coffee with Espresso Beans). Stellar ice cream. Just wish I had an extra stomach to eat more of that White Russian ice cream.
(5)Morgan M.
Had a great experience eating lots of ice cream here. I loved getting the flight so I could try out four different flavors. My favorite out of the whole bunch (my boyfriend got a flight too) was the maple pecan. I also loved Girl Scouts Gone Wild. My boyfriends favorite was the Thai Chili Peanut. The ice cream flavors were interesting but I was disappointed by the actual texture. I wished it had been thicker and creamier.
(4)Faith D.
During my weekend in Portland, USA Today posted a review of this little ice cream joint. What timing! I took it as a sign and stopped by on a hot afternoon. There are plenty of selections to choose from pleasing anyone in your party. I chose the Maine mint flavor. It was very refreshing...the mint was like herb mint, not the candy/cookie mint. The store was very clean and bright. The employees were very sweet. When you're roaming the streets and looking for a little reprieve from the heat, treat yourself to a cool scoop of ice cream!
(4)Christina L.
Upon arriving Portland, I had a dire craving for ice cream. I went to mount desert and got green tea and Vietnamese coffee ice cream on a waffle cone. It was spectacular and my craving was fulfilled. The ice creams we're very delicious- not too light but not too creamy. Great start our Maine adventure!
(5)Tiffany F.
This is a foodie's ice cream heaven! Rather than just serving up the good ol' vanilla, chocolate, and whatever other ordinary flavors you'd find at any other ice cream shop - this place offers some of the most unique and interesting flavors I've ever seen. We tried a handful before deciding our order and making a decision was too tough because they were all incredible! Vietnamese coffee. White Russian. Bay of Figs. Hot chili chocolate. Lemon poppyseed. Blueberry basil. The dude. Along with interesting flavor offerings, the quality of the ice cream was just heavenly too - creamy goodness that didn't knock you out with sweetness and really allowed the unique flavors to shine.
(5)Christa H.
Mount Desert Island Ice Cream is my place. The ice cream is delicious and they have an eclectic mix of flavors that you probably won't find anywhere else. My go-to flavor is the Maine Rocky Coast. It's their version of Rocky Road and it's wonderful. I'm a nut for chocolate and anything that says homemade chocolate 'pebbles' piques my interest. I will ALWAYS get the waffle cone, don't judge! It's the king of cones. I've never found the prices to be outrageous. I think they are about average for the area. The staff running the place were always patient with me and let me try different flavors but I'd always go back to the tried and true rocky coast. I like that they are open until midnight in the Old Port. What better to end a night of drinking at bars than with an ice cream cone? Okay maybe not, but if you're down in the Old Port walking around on one of the hot August nights, this is the perfect place to cool down. Plus you can hang out on the stools in front of the big window and people watch to your heart's content.
(5)Heather G.
Went here during the Old Port Fest. I have been here before but it wasn't super memorable. The workers were nice and let us try a few flavors. They had a great sense of humor and were delightful. I went with Girl Scouts Gone Wild (chocolate ice cream with dinner mints mixed in--possible thin mints but still good if not) & Callebaut Chocolate (equally as good but chocolate mousse-like). Cool stools are available to people watch! I'd get GSGW again in a hot minute.
(4)Terence M.
Swung in for some ice cream after dinner. Cool space, and a lot of art on the walls. The flavors were funky and unique, but also accessible. There was a line, but it moved pretty quickly. I liked the mint they had (added hot fudge which never hurts), and we also got a plain old vanilla cone. Everything was tasty. Good place.
(4)Adria K.
Really great ice cream. I'd debate between this place, Catbird and Rococo to pick the best ice cream in Maine. The sea salt caramel is the best I've had, with just pure flavor and no added swirls or "stuff" to interrupt the flavor. The buttermint is also amazing... Really tasting exactly like the old fashioned after dinner mints. My friend tried the hot chili chocolate and loved it, and another friend had the Girl Scout Gone Wild flavor (thin mint) and said it as great. Their toppings and sauces always look amazing and there seems to consistently be a couple new flavors each time we visit. I'd highly recommend!
(5)Jesse T.
Five star ice cream! Zero star service. Really creative flavors, really bitchy staff.
(3)Bea L.
So satisfying. Despite some of the flavors tasting a little artificial to me, they still tasted good because the flavors were unique. I had some lemon berry mix that was delicious.
(4)Juno J.
I first went to the Mount Desert in Bar Harbour, so when I stumbled upon this one in Portland I was ecstatic. It was a warmish sunny day which meant perfect ice-cream weather. When I walked up to the ice-cream counter I scanned the flavors and was having trouble deciding until I saw it, Cereal Milk ice-cream, with the description, the milky bowl after you are finished with Captain Crunch. This was obviously an ice cream flavor made especially for me and I was unable to consider any other option. It was delicious, as one would expect anything containing captain crunch to be. I wish I had a Mount Desert nearby so that I could pop in regularly and try all of their creative and delicious flavors... however I would then weigh about 400 lbs.... side note: I also sampled the Brigadeiro flavor, which was amazing and if the Captain Crunch option had not stolen my heart I would have been equally content with the other.
(5)Eleanor L.
I decided to pop by an ice cream place since it was extremely hot so I yelped ice cream locations and found this gem. (The only reason I decided to come here was because Obama came here.) It was hands down one of the best ice cream stores I've been to. I felt bad asking to taste all the flavors (although I was very tempted) so I only asked the taste "the dude" and it was absolutely delicious. It's exactly like a White Russian. The consistency is slightly runny, kind of like slightly melted ice cream. I decided to get 2 flights (it was a little less than $12 after tax). I forgot to take a picture of the flavors so I can write down which ones I got in the review (stupid me) but the ones to do remember are, in order, some hibiscus flavor, the dude, butter beer, cereal milk, I completely forgot what that top flavor on the right is, Girl Scouts gone wild, orange tarragon (I think that's what it was called), and cookies and cream.
(5)Kelsey S.
For around $6, you can get an ice cream flight. That's four small scoops and a cure for indecision. The flavors are original, ranging from sweet and salty peanut butter to blueberry basil sorbet. We sampled eight. Maple walnut won on taste, with a rich flavor that put butter pecan (maple walnut's inferior cousin) to shame. Thai chili was most interesting. It was spicy and nutty, but I don't know that I could've eaten more than the small flight-size scoop. Coconut was simple, but a strong flavor contender, too. And while butterbeer was just okay, I appreciate any establishment that pays tribute to Harry Potter. Mount Desert rotates flavors, which gives a good excuse to visit often.
(4)Sonya T.
AMAZING! In my opinion, the creamier the better and this place is just about as creamy as it gets. I got Buttermint and the flavor that has molasses and bananas forgot the name. I should have gotten two scoops instead if one. But they can give you a half a scoop of two flavors which they did for me since I couldn't make up my mind! If I ever go to Portland again, definitely getting ice cream here again!
(5)Adriana S.
This place was great. They had delicious ice cream and wonderful flavors. The best part? They had a flight of ice cream where you can try four different flavors. We tried basil, Thai coconut chili, orange tarragon and grapefruit hibiscus.
(5)Michelle T.
Was one of the few ice cream places opened after ten. Clean place with a huge selection of flavors. I had the cookies and cream to play it safe but they had unique flavors like vietnamese coffee, Thai chili, etc. It was four bucks and change for a single scoop in a cone. The ice cream was pretty good and perfect for a stroll back to the hotel.
(4)Wayne T.
They have a wide assortment of unique flavors. They also have a nice range of sorbet. They allow you to sample with no problems. There is a small place to sit and eat your ice cream while you people watch out the window toward Exchange Street.
(4)Rachel B.
Very unique flavors, such as "khulfi" (Indian dessert flavor) which my husband enjoyed. I had an especially rich chocolate flavor that tasted like brownies. Worth seeking out, though it would be nice if they had more toppings and sauces to choose from.
(5)S W.
more! more! more! is what I want. We visited the location in both Bar Harbor and Portland- perfect on all scoops. Don't settle for another shop.
(5)Kate O.
Salted Caramel is just plain addictive
(5)Wendi K.
Awesome ice cream! This place is great! Loved visiting downtown Portland on our recent trip to Maine. This was a great dessert!
(5)Bryan D.
This is the best ice cream I have ever had.
(5)Celeste M.
I was craving some delicious ice cream and wanted to try out some different flavors so I stopped in on a really nice afternoon and the place was empty. I scanned the flavors and they were pretty different. Some of the cool flavors I was interested in were Vietnamese coffee, The Dude (white russian) and a Maine spin on rocky road. I ultimately chose rocky road but you don't really have to choose as you can purchase a flight of ice cream! The prices are a little steep but you get really creamy and delicious ice cream! I will definitely be back to try out some of their more obscure flavors!
(4)Sara P.
Deliiiicious. I had the s'mores ice cream in a waffle cone (and Eddie had it in a cup, lame). Lots of graham and chocolate chunks. We paid around $9 together which wasn't that bad considering the quality of the ice cream. Since we were staying in the Inn at St. John (near Maine Medical Center), this was a great place to grab a cone, eat it while strolling west, and grab a cab for the last tiny bit of our trek back to the hotel.
(4)Kate S.
I don't eat ice cream a lot. Last weekend my BF and I took our vacation in old port，he wanted to try their ice cream so we ordered two flavors, the blueberry sour cream and white chocolate lavender. At the first, I just wanted to try a little, but after one bite, I decided to take them all, my BF had to ordered another for himself, the ice cream is not too sweet with the natural ingredients and very flavored.
(4)Adam S.
Great flavors. The man or woman, who invented breakfast cereal milk as a flavor should get a Nobel peace prize. Love it! Really nice service too. I would recommend this place to my mother. She loves ice cream.
(5)Olivia R.
Great variety of fun flavors! They can't be found most other places. I had the butterbeer which was kind of a rootbeer/butterscotch mix with some extra viscosity and was delicious. My parents had Maine salted caramel which was also great. The scooper gave us several tastes which was nice because the flavors were so unusual that we wanted to try them all. She was also very good at suggesting flavors that she liked and that were popular. The sugar cone was very good. They also have kiddie size which is nice. Definitely one of the best ice creams I've had.
(5)Lyndsay B.
This ice cream is amazing!!!! There were two couples in our party and each couple got a sampler and shared it. The sampler has 4 scoops of different flavors - which were ALL amazing!!! We had butter beer, banana bread, Madagascar vanilla, Carmel sea salt, and peanut butter! Definitely a spot you need to check out!!
(5)Anh N.
My friends made me take them here when we visited Maine, and I'm so glad they did! I sampled their green tea ice cream. Delicious! But since it would be my only time visiting ME, my friends decided to share flavors we don't really find in stores. We got strawberry (balsamic?) sorbet, blueberry something, and maine sea salt caramel. Sorbet was my favorite since it had a really nice tart to it! It tastes kinda like the strawberry fruit bars and jolly ranchers. Maine sea salt caramel was my second favorite since it was nice and creamy. I thoroughly enjoyed the flavors since it felt balanced between the two. The environment was pretty nice, too. It was bar-type seating against a wall and against a window, no short tables.
(5)Lulu T.
Tried three flavors and all were great. Sweet & salty peanut butter, salted caramel, dark chocolate. Local cows, no harmful hormones. Great ingredients tasted in every bite.
(4)Kelly O.
5 stars alone just for the option of having 4 good-sized tasters for under 6 bucks (genius!), but the flavors are also deserving of a big "woohoo!". Specifically the Maine sea salt caramel... literally the best salty caramel ice cream I have ever had (and I've tried a good amount), the flavor and texture were perfection. Other flavors I tried include sweet and salty peanut butter (delicious), lemon poppy seed with berry (really refreshing), and stout with chocolate (consistency was a bit too icy for me, almost like a sorbet, but had good flavor). Overall, I think Mount Desert is a solid, solid ice cream shop and it's hard to go wrong here. They may not be THE BEST EVER... as a loyal JP Licks fan, I'd personally rate their ice cream as a bit better in terms of creaminess and consistency- plus this local favorite also cooks up some interesting flavors of their own-, but it doesn't matter because Mount Desert is still pretty delicious and worth a trip or three.
(5)Nancy P.
It was hard to find parking in this area when we went so we ended up walking to get there. The staff was nice and let everyone in the shop try as many samples as they wanted. The butterbeer was one of my favorites. Some of the really unique flavors were cereal milk, Thai chili, and chocolate wasabi. Pretty good overall and a large variety to choose from.
(4)Richard Y.
Ice cream was ridiculous. I did a flight, yes, a flight. I tried several and they were all awesome. The diversity amongst ice creams is not to be overlooked. The prices are fair, the staff is nice, and they will let you try whatever you want. What is not to like? I just wish my stomach had been bigger to take in more...ha.
(5)Sarah E.
Just go. Now, stop what you're doing and go get the "Flight" ice cream dish. 4 small scoops of 4 flavors of your choice. Grab a friend and try 8 flavors. It's AMAZING! Changes out their flavors daily and again, little on the pricey side (the flight is nearly $6) but oh so worth it. You leave feeling satisfied but not full. Service: Eh - hit or miss, sometimes they just want you in and out cause they are busy and other times they will work with you to help you pick out ice cream. Word to the wise: have at least an idea in mind before you approach the counter. Atmosphere: Grab and Go, don't eat in - go for a walk and window shop with it Best flavors thus far that I have tried: NUTELLA - omg srsly Lemon Poppy Buttermint Cookies and Cream Sea Salt Caramel blueberry sour cream crumble Alright flavors: Prosecco sorbet Ginger White Chocolate stay away from the fall season one that has cornmeal in it - one of the worst things I have ever had. I don't even remember the name but it was awful.
(5)Bill T.
Almost like the German rail system. The place was clean and service was efficient and the product was high quality. The big difference between this and the German rail system? Service was super friendly. Even when my friends and I were all like "let me try that; now let me try that. Can I try that?"....you get the idea. I had the salty and sweet peanut butter and it was as advertised. But don't take my word for it...read Joe's review. He liked it so much he came back a year later!
(4)Faye B.
Another recommendation by my friend that recently visited and I'm glad we stopped at this one. This is some smooth and creamy ice cream! The most genius thing about this place is the ability to not only have sample tastes, but to opt for a flight of ice cream. Yes a flight, because lord knows you want to try more than one flavor. The flight is basically 4 scoops of any flavor in a container usually used for banana splits. Genius! We got the Maine sea salt carmel, Maine cream, maple walnut, and some flavor that was bananas and molasses. The best is the sea salt carmel; definitely do not pass up! You can actually taste the sea salt. My second fave was the maple walnut although my husband's was the Maine cream.
(5)Jeannette N.
OMG, WHITE RUSSIAN ICE CREAM. It's the best ice cream I've ever had, and it tastes exactly like a white russian. All of their flavors are interesting and unique - I highly recommend it!
(5)Tom A.
I scream you scream if I don't get my mount desert ice cream. Best ice cream around. All original flavors to satisfy anyone. The Dude, a White Russian ice cream. Get it The dude, from The Big Lebowski. Salted caramel is amazing. I've had the flavor as a shake and could not stop drinking this savory combination. If you are strolling the Old Port and feel like a cold snack make your way over to this place, you and your taste buds will not regret it.
(5)Elisa C.
Totally delicious, once again... So glad they have the option of a "flight" of 4 mini-scoops so you can try multiple delectable options! This time we had Bay of Figs (with chewy dried figs), ginger (with crystallized ginger), Girl Scouts Gone Wild (chocolate ice cream with thin mints), and lemon poppy blackberry swirl -- all delicious and flavorful.
(5)Damien S.
Can Mount Desert Island really cause my inner SWV to surface? Check it: I get so weak in the knees, I can hardly speak. I lose all control and something takes oOOoover me. BEGONE SISTERS WITH VOICES! Tell you this though, I'll go through R&B exorcism after R&B exorcism if it means delving in to the glorious scoops of UltraMegaPremium ice cream served here. Check this rundown of flavors I haven't tried but still give me a waffle cone-sized Woodrow: Blackstrap Banana, Cereal Milk, Ovaltine Malt Ball, Bay of Figs, Butter Beer, Salt Caramel, Jack Daniels... This may take a while. See for yourself: yelp.com/biz_photos/moun… Now for those fascinated by the sweet meets heat phenomenon, may I draw your attention to not one, not two, but three spicy cocoa concoctions on the flava list: Mexican Chocolate (with curry and cinnamon), Chocolate Wasabi (take a guess) and Hot Chili Chocolate, which got my toes a-curlin'. Very creamy, lush ingredients and perfectly balanced, my kiddie cone held a significant scoop and the whole shebang only ran $3+change. Not one to drop the L-bomb willskynillsky, I love this ice cream. There, I said it. Someone manufacture a white gold band with a princess cut diamond that won't melt subzero treats and I'll prove to Beyonce once and for all that... Oh no... BEGONE BEYONCE! I need an R&B exorcist on retainer.
(5)Jenny S.
flavors aren't bad, but don't be lured only by the fact that Obama has been here before!! they have a variety of UNIQUE flavored ice creams which aren't bad but nothing wowed me after the generous number of samples ---ginger ice cream was POTENT & i normally like ginger ice cream ---milkshake: the worker let us choose as many ice cream flavors as we wanted (as long as it'd fit in the cup) but we stuck w/ the wing nut mixed w/ banana blackstrap... the PROBLEM s they mix milkshakes in a blender so the drink is icy instead of smooth needless to say, stick to ice cream scoops
(3)Phil C.
I guess Mount Desert is so good that I randomly bumped into a college friend from NYC whom I had not seen in over 10 years. I arrived here on a rainy and raw evening, so I didn't mind having an ice cream that was robust in flavor. I went for a favorite flavor from here, which is ginger. I totally didn't regret it, as the flavor was strong and you can definitely taste the ginger. The shards of ginger wasn't overpowering though and the ice cream itself was creamy and balances well with the sharp overtones of ginger. For one scoop, I got a decent portion of ice cream. It's definitely more than places in the city. The young lady at the counter was polite and friendly. There's not a lot of space to sit, and whatever space there is, it's not the most comfortable. So hopefully the weather is not too bad the time you're going.
(4)Skye G.
Ovaltine Malt - Loved it! I have tried and true favorites but wanted something different and was glad I did.
(4)David C.
A flight of four small scoops of ice cream from Mount Desert Island will run you just under six dollars after tax. Trust me when I say they are six dollars well spent. Given the selection of unique and delicious flavors they offer at any given time, you will need the flight to sample as many as possible (I can't believe the Obamas came here and wasted their time on Chocolate and Coconut). My flight included Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter (the clear winner), Blue Berry Sour Cream Crumble (a little grainy, but enjoyable nonetheless), Butterbeer (I guess Oldport is a little like Hogsmeade in Harry Potter), and Ovaltine Malt Ball (how can you go wrong?). It wasn't the best ice cream I've ever had, but it was by far the most creative, and that counts for major points in my book.
(4)Kati R.
Great flavors, but small portions for the price.
(2)Amy D.
YUM!! Mount Desert is an awesome place to try inventive but still delicious ice cream flavors. They had so many yummy sounding flavors that we decided to go with a Flight (you can choose up to 4 different flavors), and we went with the Ovaltine Malt Ball, Blueberry Sour Cream Crumble, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter, Maine Sea Salt Caramel ( yelp.com/biz_photos/moun… ). My favorite standalone flavor was the Blueberry, but we discovered it tasted even better when eaten with the Peanut Butter, since it tasted like peanut butter and jelly! The malt ball was also good, but I felt like it needed a bit more malt mixed in the ice cream. The sea salt was my least favorite since the consistency of the ice cream was too melty. I also sampled the Coffee Oreo, which was pretty good, but I didn't want to eat too much late at night in case I couldn't sleep. I got a sample of the Cranberry Bliss Bar as well, which tasted to creamy for my preference. My friends got The Dude (Almost White Russian) and Fresh Mint Chip, so I got to try both, but I wasn't a fan of either. Overall, I would definitely recommend stopping by Mount Desert Island to try out their ice cream, and suggest getting the flight to maximize the number of flavors you can eat. The parking around here was pretty easy to find, and the staff was friendly.
(4)Chad T.
These guys have some seriously exotic ice cream flavors, like Thai Chili. I went with the salted caramel and the burnt coffee. Really wonderful, very rich and creamy ice creams. All I can say that would improve it would be to get some bigger waffle cones that are dipped/sprinkled at the top like they have at the bigger chains like Coldstone Creamery. I love those, and then they would be able to fit 3 scoops in the waffle cone!
(5)Nicole R.
Mount Desert Ice Cream = Perfection. Tried the coffee/oreo & chocolate hand-dipped ice cream on a pretzel cone. WOWSERS!!!!! They offer 12+ flavors daily, several cone options & they sell by the pint. Just go here. Knuff said.
(5)Stephanie B.
Fantastic! Staff is wonderfully pleasant, but you come here for the ice cream. The ice cream is incredible! INCREDIBLE!!! Coming from New York City, I did not think I would find something so innovative in Portland Maine, I was wrong, these ice cream flavors are new, fresh and exciting. I come here often, and every time I am surprised by the flavors and taste experience.
(5)Santi T.
Okay, my name isn't Ben or Jerry but I do enjoy a scoop of ice cream goodness on a rainy, cold day in downtown Portland. When you come here, you'll be shocked with the wild and exotic flavors which you'll want to sample. I was completely surprised when I sampled the thai chili because I didn't expect the "kick" until a few seconds afterwards. Since I was full from lunch, I ordered a small size of the sea salt caramel. Three words: sweet, salty and creeeeamy! The staff was very patient with us which they probably encounter on a daily basis. If you appreciate flavors with a little spark or down to the basics, Mount Desert Island is your shop!
(4)Eric F.
Yet another 4.5 star bump for wonderfully unique and delicious ice cream! The array of gourmet flavors was truly impressive with offerings like Ovaltine Malt Ball, Cinnamon Cardamom, Maine Sea Salt Caramel (YUM), Root Ginger, Hot Chili Chocolate (talk about kick!), Jack Daniel's(!) and Blackstrap Bananas. Such a selection can be found only at some of the best places out there and I thoroughly enjoyed each one. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd probably have to go with the caramel with its richer, more subtle flavors compared to all the other iterations I've had thus far. And the 4 scoop sampler for a mere $5.25? Sheer genius! Such a fantastic way to try different flavors without inducing an ice cream coma...unless you have two of them ;)
(5)carol R.
Yum! Great unique choices. Smells like fresh waffle cones. Coffee Oreo ice cream- Oh my
(4)Charlotte S.
Unusual homemade ice creams. I had buttermilk strawberry sorbet- tart, salty and sweet. Hubby had Mexican dipand a curry tai ice cream dip together. Sounds weird but it works.
(5)James H.
Based on other Yelp reviews, my wife insisted on coming here even after we'd already partaken of our frozen-treat-allotment for the night. While I could have gone for more exotic flavors, I opted for a simple mint chocolate chip in a sugar cone, which was wonderful--milky-white instead of artificial green and tasting of fresh mint, with large chocolate chips. It was only after I ordered that I realized that I should have purchased a flight--four scoops in a long dish for roughly 1.5 times the price I paid for my single scoop. But, alas, my frozen treat meter and stomach were full.
(5)Marie G.
This is NOT Baskin Robbins!! The closest thing I found to plain old chocolate was a strawberry-chocolate sorbet. I had the Cosmo sorbet, which was cranberry, orange and triple sec - incredibly refreshing on a warm day. Other flavors I saw included green tea, bitter and blood orange dreamsicle, white chocolate, banoffee, and hot chili chocolate. Sadly, I saw the place when visiting Portland so I won't be able to come soon, and they seemed unwilling to relocate to my home town.
(5)Lauren F.
I'm originally from Bar Harbor so it's nice having this locally. My all time favorite is the buttermint. It's so delicious.
(5)Lili K.
Come here for unique ice cream flavors! I tried: sweet corn blackberry chinese five spice maine sea salt caramel ovaltine malt ball I wish I could've tried more but didn't want to overdo it with the samples! Yummmy.
(4)Xiao Z.
My taste buds were in for a treat when i took my first spoonful of the smooth, rich, and complex flavors of the gorgonzola dolce. The swirls of the rich creamy vanilla blended so well with the sharp, yet well-balanced Gorgonzola chunks; all sorts of flavors tugged and danced on my taste buds, accompanied by the crunchiness of freshly crushed walnuts and bacon bits. I can't describe a more wonderful culinary experience than this place. If you are adventurous and love icecream, definitely give this place a try! ps: I'm not even an ice-cream fanatic, and I loved this place.
(5)Harry H.
Solid flavor selection offered up by a friendly young woman. Couples samples before we each opted for a flight of 4 and walked briskly down to the water to enjoy.
(4)Grace S.
my favorite thing by far about mgi ice cream is all of their unique and original flavors. from Thai chocolate to rum pomegranate, all of the flavors are something you'll never forget. Not to mention, that they change their flavors so every time you go you get to try new and extrodinary flavors. My Favorite flavor is probably candy shop, a combination of sweet candy- like chunks inside of bubblegum ice cream, or their most popular flavor, maine salt caramel. although their prices are higher than most ice cream shops, think about the fact that their ice cream is hand made and quite original! I highly reccomend mount desert island ice cream!
(5)Kim K.
Oh. My. God. Moving to Portland just for an ice cream place would be silly, right? My husband would never agree to this, would he? You must have the salted caramel ice cream. It is amazingly good. Sweet, robust, but not heavy or overly rich. It is perfectly balanced. The Ovaltine Malt Ball is similarly delicious. Just do yourself a favor and get a scoop of both. Also, sharing this info because I asked the staff, all of their ice creams are sweet cream based and not egg based. Good to know!
(5)John S.
Awesome variety and great flavor, but the prices relative to what you get are too expensive for me to give them 5 stars (probably a symptom of being located in downtown Portland). But if you are wondering around town and feel a sweet craving, go no further then this place because it does have it all!
(4)Karina L.
I am disappointed in the Obamas - They came to MDIIC in Bar Harbor and got Coconut and Chocolate, which by a landslide, are the most boring flavors ever if you catch a glimpse of what else the place offers. I got a small, and I was still able to get a whopping 3 scoopfuls of 3 different flavors. I got The Dude (Almost White Russian), Blackstrap Molasses Banana, and Ovaltine Malt Ball. YUM. Every flavor was so rich and unique. The one thing I regret not getting were any of their sorbets - I had a taste of my friend's blueberry basil sorbet and would have gotten another small if I hadn't been so full. If you're driving around Maine, pay each location a visit, as each one has different flavors!
(5)Andrew C.
I came here based on a recommendation from a friend and ended ordering Fresh Mint and Stout & Fudge Fresh Mint= A tad sweet but, the mint leaves really came out. It was fantastic! You could practically taste the mint leaves! Stout & Fudge= Perfectly balanced ice cream! Really enjoyed the combination of Stout & Fudge. Their ice cream texture was perfect! It was smooth, rich and had that "tooth paste" texture. Overall, I absolutely loved it. One of the best Ice creams I've tasted in the East Coast!
(4)Justine J.
Loooooooooove this place. Everyone who works there is always fantastically friendly and awesome. The ice cream is TO DIE FOR. They have so many incredible options for toppings, and the flavor combinations are just insane. GO. HERE. NOW.
(5)Brad S.
I've never had caramelized pear ice cream, and you would think it would take an extraordinarily talented creamery to not only suggest such a unique flavor, but pull it off with aplomb. Mount Desert Island is one of these places.
(5)Ms. Wright W.
We ended up visiting twice in Bar Harbor and once in Portland. Love their flavors and the quality of ice cream. Our family induldged in Cookie and Oreo, Belgian Chocolate, boiled coffee, and vanilla. All extremely yummy!
(4)Kendra E.
I la-la-la-love ice cream. You know how there's a saying, "I love you like a fat kid loves cake?" Well, I'm that fat kid that will love you forever if you give me some ice cream. This cute and tiny ice cream shop downtown of Portland, Maine serves the most unique flavors with a friendly smile. With giant scoops of ice cream and a small dent in a college student's wallet, I licked my way through two homemade flavors - salty caramel and "The Dude." Both pretty excellent and creamy. The only downside to these flavors is that I can't finish eating it all without forcing myself because the flavors were pretty strong. Overall, I can say, "Yay! I'm a fan." Can't wait to try other flavors.
(4)Jess L.
Looking for a way to explore Portland, I pulled out my trusty Yelp app and found the glorious, divine Mount Desert Island Ice Cream. My fiance and I were not necessarily craving ice cream at the time, but the exotic flavors really pulled us in. The Dude. The Wingnut.... While it might be annoying to have to ask about the flavors, do it, because some of their flavors are so incredible and unique that you'd never be able to guess what they are. I almost died over the caramelized pear. With every bite, I declared that this was the best ice cream ever. The Dude, which is essentially a white Russian, was also awesome. A very memorable part of our short Portland trip!
(5)Jay H.
I think that their salt butterscotch is better than their salt caramel, which is so salty it makes me thirsty. The coffee ice cream actually tastes like coffee! The coal porter actually tastes like beer, but I don't think it's possible to eat enough to get drunk. I might try though, because it's amazing. MDI's ice cream flavors rotate fairly regularly so this review may be irrelevant... sorry. Rise above Portland's gelato politics and get some MDI ice cream. Do it! DO EEEET!
(5)Angela S.
Such fun flavors! I had Cereal Milk and Butterbeer! It was hard to resist sampling every flavor, they were so fun and interesting, but the classics were still there if you're feeling less adventurous. It didn't have the best texture but it was definitely not high season for ice cream so I'm sure it is better in summer when it's fresher and in higher demand.
(4)John S.
Mount Desert gave me some of the best ice cream I've ever eaten. Made fresh with sweet cream by a proud Mainer, the various offerings are deliriously good. The texture is excellent, the flavors pop, the portions are generous. You'll never find better.
(5)Joseph L.
We tried several ice cream places while in Portland, but this place wins first prize. The servings were big, the flavors interesting and the staff nice. Chocolate wasabi was super good and went really well with cereal milk... mmmmm We wanted to come back every day and we should have.
(5)Robert B.
Amazing ice cream! So fresh, so delicious, never too sweet and oh so creamy. I got an ice cream flight with the Chocolate Chili, Salty Peanut Butter, Fresh Mint ( the best mint-anything ice cream I've ever tasted), and Madagascar Vanilla. All great, though the Fresh Mint was my favorite. Flavors are creative and include some wild combos you'd never think of like Cinnamon Cardamom... Any way, if you love ice cream, don't miss it. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Eliza M.
If you're going for hard ice cream in town, this is the place to go. I've gone a handful of times now and I love almost every flavor (except the chocolate wasabi - I was amazed by how much I didn't like it...) So far I've really enjoyed the fresh mint chip, the peanut butter, and the salt caramel. These boutique ice cream stores really seem to be sweeping the nation (we had one in Denver called Sweet Action that had a lot of the same flavors) and I'm lovin it. The real reason this gets a full five stars, though, is because the servers there are SAINTS. Last night, we went in and there was a couple ahead of us. It was a Monday, not too busy, but there is a limit on how many samples you can have - there's a sign that requests you only do two. The people in front of me literally tried EVERY SINGLE FLAVOR. The husband had approximately 15 spoons in his hand. I mean, they weren't busy and this server was smiling the whole time, but come on people!? That's abusing the system. She was very kind to this obviously-out-of-state couple and that kind of customer service goes a long way.... Unless you're the people behind the crazy-fifteen-sample people. All in all, loved it. And, unlike their ice cream competitors down the hill, they take credit cards. And the ice cream is better.
(5)Bailey Z.
Tired of the same old ice cream flavors? Mount Desert Island spices things up with some wild and delicious ice cream flavors. Ever wonder what butterbeer ice cream tastes like? They have that. How about your favorite Girl Scout cookies? They have that too with the cleverly named Girl Scouts Gone Wild. With a multitude of other witty flavor names, I went with two scoops of The Dude and the salt caramel. The Dude is the ice cream version of a White Russian. The flavor was spot on with alcohol and all, but it was too sweet for my liking. On the other hand, I loved the salted caramel - it was one of the best takes on sweet and salty ice cream.
(4)Eliza M.
Came with a group of friends while we were road tripping around Portland. It's a pretty plain place, with the exception of some cool art work and these very creative ice cream flavors. Cinnamon with cardamom? Delicious. The coconut was tasty without being heavy on the cream and rich. The other flavors ranged from combinations that included interesting mixes: Gouda, ginger, Belgian chocolate, green tea, etc. If stumped on what to top your cone or cup, they allow mixing scoopfuls of different options. A nice stop on a summer day.
(4)Jim M.
Amazing flavors. Try bay of figs and salted caramel is a must. Wow I love this place. I make it a point to go every hot summer day that I am in Portland. It is 1000 times better than Beals.
(5)Patrick R.
Wild selection of flavors. All of them (that I tried, at least) were fantastic.
(5)M L.
I don't like deserts other than ice cream. Almost gave them only 4 stars because they didn't have any of the dog ice cream flavor sugar cream, but they got that star back when they insisted the dogs come inside the store. The dogs had vanilla instead and I had a vanilla frappe. Ice cream was so good, when I go back in May they better have sugar cream.
(5)Nikki M.
Awesome cookies and cream icecream as well as the caramel salt flavour in a waffle cone.... huge scoops and great value for money!
(5)Christi S.
Pricing: Single $3.75 Sampler (4 scoops) $5.25 Flavors: Wild variety. Green tea, Nutella, to Thai Chili, Vanilla Bean, to Chocolate Wasabi. Green Tea: Tasted like white rabbit candies. It didn't have the green color nor the taste that I'm used to from Polly Ann's back in San Francisco. I would not get this flavor. Nutella: Not overpowering, just right. Tastes like Nutella. Would definitely get this again. Chocolate Wasabi: Interesting. If you don't get a chunk of wasabi on your spoon, it's not bad. Once the wasabi kicks in, it's got a light spice. Did not open my nasal airway, but not sure if I'd get this again unless I'm craving Chocolate and want a different taste to Chocolate. Atomosphere: I wish there were some seating inside so I could sit & enjoy my ice cream. Ended up having to walk around Old Port at night til I was done.
(3)Ben L.
Overall the texture of the ice cream was too icy where it should have been creamier. I tasted 3 or 4 flavors. The Mascorpone and Fig was not at all what I expected. The fig seemed blended and totally took away from the flavor and texture that the mascorpone could have brought to the ice cream. The figs should have been incorporated as chunks of dried fig. The Maine Salt caramel I was expecting a deeper, darker caramel flavor instead all I got was basic sugar sweet, and the salt seemed to fight the flavor instead of balance it. The other couple of flavors were not memorable. I have pretty high ice cream standards having experienced Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in Columbus, OH.
(2)Cynthia G.
I LOVE ice cream (see last meal on profile) and I've been looking forward to trying this place since before my trip. Having tried it, the 5 star reviews have me scratching my head. I had a scoop of salted caramel and blueberry sour cream. The first was just too salty. I had a few bites and it became unpalatable so didn't finish it. The latter was much better. It tasted like fresh picked blueberries and wasn't overly sweet. The ice crystals interfered with the creamy texture too. The fact that we've walked by this place a bunch more times and went back in zero more times says it all.
(3)Vivian L.
So a year later and I'm back again spending another summer vacation in Maine. Coconut is STILL my fave (although the new Salt Butterscotch was quite tempting)...apparently Obama chose the same coconut flavour as well. If it's good enough for the President, it's good enough for me!
(5)Chris M.
My friends and I have biked from Boston to Portland twice so far. This recent time, our FIRST stop in the city was Mt. Desert. Absolutely best ice cream ever. Their flavors make it overwhelmingly hard to choose, but they know that; That's why they offer you the "flight": You get FIVE scoops (or four? I can't remember) for a pretty good price, and it allows you to satisfy at least a few of your cravings at once. We actually went there twice during this past trip. The Thai Curry ice cream was intriguing, and really surprised me with how much of a kick it has. It's basically spicy peanut butter. The Wingnut (something like that?) is another one that stuck. And the Dude, basically a white russian, was fantastic.
(5)Jiahui L.
Ice cream here was soft, fluffy, and interesting. Salt caramel was a little too salty for my taste, but the blueberry and ginger stayed true to their origins and were very refreshing. Waffle cone only 50 cents extra.
(4)Joshua L.
The only real reason I ever found out about this place was when Glenn Beck decided to freak out about the logo and Obama going here. This may be the one time I will say something good has come out of a Glenn Beck freak out. Since I was directed to a great Ice cream place. I was very impressed with the shake I got here. A tourist spot for sure. It is definitely one of the best places in town for ice cream. A little pricey but always nice to get some good locally made ice cream.
(4)Robert F.
Interesting choices flavor wise! Tried the caramel sea salt, fresh mint and rasberry coriander they were delicious! Unique offerings that just work.
(4)Jenny Z.
Fantastic flavors! We sample several different flavors and loved them all, so we got a flight of ice cream with 4 different scoops. Cereal milk was my favorite!
(5)Janel Q.
Had the Mexican Chocolate ice cream and it reminds me of when my mom would make me hot cocoa. Perfection!
(5)Ben G.
Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream! Its sweet, its salty, its perfection. I want it now.
(5)Leland M.
The people at MDI ice cream hand make small batches of the ridiculously good stuff they call ice cream. In addition, they have a great variety of unique flavors that put Ben & Jerry's to shame. MDI ice cream is hands down the best ice cream I have ever had.
(5)Judy C.
Yum. I had the blueberry basil sorbet and bf had the white russian ice cream. Definitely a place to go to if you like unusual flavor combinations.
(4)John R.
My wife and I were so pleased to find this place on Exchange Street on a hot August day. We split a small blackstrap banana, which was one of the most godly things I've ever tasted. I realize five stars might be a little premature for only having been to a place once, but I look forward to trying it again and again and thereby reinforcing this rating.
(5)Steff D.
I'm a bona fide ice cream connoisseur (no, seriously: I even wrote an award-winning book about ice cream). When Mt. Desert first came to Portland, I was thrilled. But every single time I've walked in here: I've walked out again empty-handed. The young female staff running this place consistently comes off apathetic and irritated - so much so that I feel like I'm doing something wrong just by standing there. The prices are ridiculously high. And the ice cream itself isn't all that exceptional - sometime it seems over-churned, sometimes it's got freezer burn, and the limit to two samples per customer is ridiculous. I don't want to feel forced into a flavor; I also don't want to take a chance on a flavor that most likely won't be as good as it sounds. Unless you're a tourist (because they all think this place is great - what do they know? Trust a local.), walk a few blocks around town and you're sure to find better options.
(2)Brett R.
As good as advertised. It melts fast though, so only get a cone if it's a cold day.
(5)V G.
Only 4 stars because I think it's a little on the expensive side. It won't stop me from going again on my next trip to Portland, though! I had the Bay of Figs mixed with the chocolate and it was delicious.
(4)Larissa S.
FENNEL IN MY ICE CREAM!!!!!! Ahhhhhhh I am craving some of their spiced ice cream right now. I was intrigued when I first tried it (big fennel taste with a hint of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves) but I am in love. I'm also a fan of the banana with molasses in it and the elvis (pb & banana). The ice cream isn't too creamy and has that small batch homemade taste to it- just like the kind we make at our own house. great find!
(5)Jasper P.
I really am an ice cream addict. I end up trying the cream in just about every town I go to. I must admit that I didn't have this place on my radar when I rolled into Portland, but was walking den the street and saw it, so of course I had to pop in and give it a try. I tried the following: * pumpkin caramel - so tasty. The spice was just right, the caramel was not too sweet, and overall the flavor combination was great. * cranberry prosecco - a perfect combo. The sorbet was (again) not too sweet, which is perfect for me. The flavors of both cranberry and prosecco came through nicely. You can just tell when a place puts passion and love into their product and this place is on it. They get 5 stars for their flavor and effort. They rate right up there with my other two favorite ice cream spots back home, Bi-rite in SF and Mission Hill in Santa Cruz.
(5)Jeff W.
Not your everyday average ice cream joint, by far. Crazy-unique flavors (be ready to be adventurous) but delicious. The plain ol' vanilla is powerful, the salt caramel is a best-seller for good reason, and the cereal milk really does taste like cereal milk (at least according to my 13-year-old son). Expensive, but very good!
(4)James B.
Had a very nice late night ice cream run with my wife. This is a very cute shop with unique flavors. Very tasty with great toppings.
(4)Art H.
Got a flight with coconut, beer & pretzels, thai chili, and banana curry. Coconut was good, not the best I've had but good. The quality of the ice cream is very solid but their creative flavors is where they shine. The thai chili was one of my favorite ice creams ever. It pretty much taste like a spicy peanut butter ice cream, which may sound gross to you but coming from a spicy food lover, it was awesome. The beer & pretzels was made with a local stout and had a very heavy stout flavor which was done like I have never tasted before. Excellent. For two flights (8 small scoops) it came out to a little over $11. Totally reasonable.
(5)Emily B.
First trip to this place was late on a Friday night. It was buzzing with people and the ladies behind the counter were serving up samples cheerfully. I tried both the pumpkin (delicious pumpkin flavor that I love with cinnamon, nutmeg and hints of other spices) and the lavender (sweet and creamy with subtle hints of lavender on the back of your tongue). Unable to choose my mother and I shared a "single" size of both pumpkin and lavender, which were creamy yet light, just as others have noted. Other flavors included sweet chili, avocado, lime cucumber sorbet just to name a few. Simple, delicious, perfect.
(5)Chrystina Z.
These are ice cream artisans. Independent owners using organic ingredients to create truly spectacular (rotating) flavors like Thai chili (creamy PB with a kick of chili at the end) and nectarine prosecco (personal fav). This beats Baskin Robbins anyday.
(5)Jen S.
My husband and I found this place after reading some blog posts and it was truly amazing. The line was a little long but well worth the wait. There is a two sample rule which kind of stinks especially since there are so many interesting flavors. Service was a little slow because people don't know exactly what they want. I had two scoops: s'mores and cookies and cream. Lots of cookies in the scoop I had. My husband had the mint chip and the peanut butter and he said it might have been the best ice cream he ever had. I think there was one table there, so you will have to go out on the street and eat it. There is a small park at the top of the block if you want to sit down and eat.
(5)Sam G.
I stopped into this place on a recent visit to Portland, and I loved it. I'm a big fan of mint chocolate chip, but I've found that many gourmet ice cream places simply up the mint flavoring, leaving it tasting strong but still one-dimensional -- kinda like mouthwash. Not at Mt. Desert. The mint chocolate chip here has a uniquely real mint flavor -- as if someone actually crushed fresh mint leaves to produce the flavor. It's like nothing I'd ever tasted. A minor downside, it is quite expensive (I think a small dish cost me $4.50).
(5)Luke H.
This is a seriously gourmet ice cream joint! Some of these flavors blew my socks off and there's new ones coming through all the time. It's also really expensive, and although it would be hard to claim you aren't getting your money's worth, the price greatly slows down the frequency of my visits.
(4)Cynthia R.
ehh not bad but not the best ice cream in town.
(1)Amy R.
butterbeer ice cream! my life has been changed by this mysterious combo of butterscotch and rootbeer.
(5)Lee G.
Best Ice Cream in downtown Portland. Very inventive flavors, like ginger, white russian, and Thai Chili. Some are quite good, others I don't care for. However, none of this matters to me as there is only one flavor in my mind: SALTED CARAMEL. This is hands down their best flavor, and clearly I am not alone in this opinion because 4 out of 5 times I've been there they have been sold out of it! I hope they correct this, as when I go to get ice cream at Mount Desert it is the only flavor that will scratch that itch for me now. If they have the Salted Caramel in stock, get it! You will not be disappointed.
(5)Fred S.
Top notch ice cream and friendly service. Some very interesting flavors as well as your old favorites. Extra creamy and wonderful on a warm summer evening! Highly recommended!
(5)Alana B.
Full disclosure: I worked at this store last year when it first opened. I was never a big ice cream fan before, but working/taste testing there converted me. Linda is a genius with flavors, and her ice cream is creamy, textured, and delicious. Every box is made with care and love, and the unique flavors are addicting and tasty. I find myself bringing every out of town guest I have here. When I crave ice cream, I crave MDI ice cream. Blueberry basil, salt caramel, maple walnut, and The Dude are highly recommended!
(5)Lindsay L.
As good as humphrey slocombe's. You will die, I promise. Thai chili, chocolate orange, sherry catalina, and coconut are my faves but you cannot go wrong.
(5)Bob P.
Good stuff. Creamy, with unusual variety, generous quantities. They have a flight option for tasting several flavors. There are he usual flavors plus more intriguing or challenging tastes. Half-star demerit for offering a "milkshake" when they mean frappé.
(5)Susan A.
Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream knows how to make ice cream. It's thick, creamy, and full of flavor. During my weekend stay, I came here twice and got the Bay of Figs and the Maine Maple Pecan. Both were delicious! However, I have to say that the Belgian Chocolate is the star of the shop. My friend ordered it and I was amazed at the bold flavor. This is not your ordinary chocolate ice cream... this is REAL chocolate turned into ice cream. What a difference! Although the ice cream is good, the cones are bland. + You can get a flight of four small scoops of four different flavors. I recommend trying Mt. Desert. Get the chocolate flavor!
(4)Sandy N.
I wasn't as impressed with this place so I hope they were just having an off day. I agree that they have a variety of unique flavors like Vietnamese coffee and Indian pudding. BUT the ingredients don't really translate into taste. The cinnamon cardamom tasted like cinnamon. The pralines tasted like pecan and cinnamon. The texture was also off. The ice cream was very soft to the point where they could barely make solid round scoops. I wouldn't go back.
(3)Katherine L.
Innovative sorbet flavors at an ice cream parlor? Nice. Nectarine prosecco and orange tarragon and lime cucumber and plum sorbets? Delicious. They have a good mix of ice creams, too, as other Yelpers have stated. Really though, I just wanted to comment on how impressed I am with unique sorbet profiles... Because those who eat sorbet, you know the choices are usually bland and blasé, boring and mono-berry. Blah! Not here! Hurrah! Prices are pretty sweet compared to similar quality in other cities. Nice. Spoil me sorbet-sweet.
(4)Yelena S.
We decided to give Mount Desert another try the other day and I'm happy we did! The two girls working behind the ice-cream counter were very sweet (no pun intended) and patient with us wanting to try every new flavor they had. I gotta give the little shop credit, they definitely have some *out there* flavors! I opted for something a little more tame, a scoop of their Maine Mint and Coriander & Blackberry Ripple & Streusel. The mint was my favorite! I love that it's not that psychedelic neon green color and incorporates actual mint leaves. I wish the ice cream was a little harder as it almost fell off my cone when I leaned slightly, but otherwise it's delicious!
(4)Jack R.
I don't often drink, but when I do it's NOT Dos Equis, it's a White Russian. That's Vodka and kalhua for those of you who don't know what a white Russian is. So if you see me in Las Vegas with a white Russian, the drink and not a woman, you'll know it's me. I'll be at the roulette table. As far as ice cream is concerned this has been one of my favorite ice creams. I would seriously come back to Maine just for this ice cream, and if I had a cooler, I would have bought several pints of this stuff. Tastes just like the drink. Strong kalhua flavor, with a hint of cream, and oh so good. But wait ladies and gentlemen, there's more! Say you're like me and can't decide. Well, they have ice cream flights for $5.50 where you can choose 4 flavors! Say what?!? So I chose the White Russian, Khulfi (based on the Indian dessert: pistachios, saffron, cream), Toasted Coconut, and a Wingnut (Coffee with Espresso Beans). Stellar ice cream. Just wish I had an extra stomach to eat more of that White Russian ice cream.
(5)Morgan M.
Had a great experience eating lots of ice cream here. I loved getting the flight so I could try out four different flavors. My favorite out of the whole bunch (my boyfriend got a flight too) was the maple pecan. I also loved Girl Scouts Gone Wild. My boyfriends favorite was the Thai Chili Peanut. The ice cream flavors were interesting but I was disappointed by the actual texture. I wished it had been thicker and creamier.
(4)Faith D.
During my weekend in Portland, USA Today posted a review of this little ice cream joint. What timing! I took it as a sign and stopped by on a hot afternoon. There are plenty of selections to choose from pleasing anyone in your party. I chose the Maine mint flavor. It was very refreshing...the mint was like herb mint, not the candy/cookie mint. The store was very clean and bright. The employees were very sweet. When you're roaming the streets and looking for a little reprieve from the heat, treat yourself to a cool scoop of ice cream!
(4)Christina L.
Upon arriving Portland, I had a dire craving for ice cream. I went to mount desert and got green tea and Vietnamese coffee ice cream on a waffle cone. It was spectacular and my craving was fulfilled. The ice creams we're very delicious- not too light but not too creamy. Great start our Maine adventure!
(5)Tiffany F.
This is a foodie's ice cream heaven! Rather than just serving up the good ol' vanilla, chocolate, and whatever other ordinary flavors you'd find at any other ice cream shop - this place offers some of the most unique and interesting flavors I've ever seen. We tried a handful before deciding our order and making a decision was too tough because they were all incredible! Vietnamese coffee. White Russian. Bay of Figs. Hot chili chocolate. Lemon poppyseed. Blueberry basil. The dude. Along with interesting flavor offerings, the quality of the ice cream was just heavenly too - creamy goodness that didn't knock you out with sweetness and really allowed the unique flavors to shine.
(5)Christa H.
Mount Desert Island Ice Cream is my place. The ice cream is delicious and they have an eclectic mix of flavors that you probably won't find anywhere else. My go-to flavor is the Maine Rocky Coast. It's their version of Rocky Road and it's wonderful. I'm a nut for chocolate and anything that says homemade chocolate 'pebbles' piques my interest. I will ALWAYS get the waffle cone, don't judge! It's the king of cones. I've never found the prices to be outrageous. I think they are about average for the area. The staff running the place were always patient with me and let me try different flavors but I'd always go back to the tried and true rocky coast. I like that they are open until midnight in the Old Port. What better to end a night of drinking at bars than with an ice cream cone? Okay maybe not, but if you're down in the Old Port walking around on one of the hot August nights, this is the perfect place to cool down. Plus you can hang out on the stools in front of the big window and people watch to your heart's content.
(5)Heather G.
Went here during the Old Port Fest. I have been here before but it wasn't super memorable. The workers were nice and let us try a few flavors. They had a great sense of humor and were delightful. I went with Girl Scouts Gone Wild (chocolate ice cream with dinner mints mixed in--possible thin mints but still good if not) & Callebaut Chocolate (equally as good but chocolate mousse-like). Cool stools are available to people watch! I'd get GSGW again in a hot minute.
(4)Terence M.
Swung in for some ice cream after dinner. Cool space, and a lot of art on the walls. The flavors were funky and unique, but also accessible. There was a line, but it moved pretty quickly. I liked the mint they had (added hot fudge which never hurts), and we also got a plain old vanilla cone. Everything was tasty. Good place.
(4)Adria K.
Really great ice cream. I'd debate between this place, Catbird and Rococo to pick the best ice cream in Maine. The sea salt caramel is the best I've had, with just pure flavor and no added swirls or "stuff" to interrupt the flavor. The buttermint is also amazing... Really tasting exactly like the old fashioned after dinner mints. My friend tried the hot chili chocolate and loved it, and another friend had the Girl Scout Gone Wild flavor (thin mint) and said it as great. Their toppings and sauces always look amazing and there seems to consistently be a couple new flavors each time we visit. I'd highly recommend!
(5)Jesse T.
Five star ice cream! Zero star service. Really creative flavors, really bitchy staff.
(3)Bea L.
So satisfying. Despite some of the flavors tasting a little artificial to me, they still tasted good because the flavors were unique. I had some lemon berry mix that was delicious.
(4)Juno J.
I first went to the Mount Desert in Bar Harbour, so when I stumbled upon this one in Portland I was ecstatic. It was a warmish sunny day which meant perfect ice-cream weather. When I walked up to the ice-cream counter I scanned the flavors and was having trouble deciding until I saw it, Cereal Milk ice-cream, with the description, the milky bowl after you are finished with Captain Crunch. This was obviously an ice cream flavor made especially for me and I was unable to consider any other option. It was delicious, as one would expect anything containing captain crunch to be. I wish I had a Mount Desert nearby so that I could pop in regularly and try all of their creative and delicious flavors... however I would then weigh about 400 lbs.... side note: I also sampled the Brigadeiro flavor, which was amazing and if the Captain Crunch option had not stolen my heart I would have been equally content with the other.
(5)Eleanor L.
I decided to pop by an ice cream place since it was extremely hot so I yelped ice cream locations and found this gem. (The only reason I decided to come here was because Obama came here.) It was hands down one of the best ice cream stores I've been to. I felt bad asking to taste all the flavors (although I was very tempted) so I only asked the taste "the dude" and it was absolutely delicious. It's exactly like a White Russian. The consistency is slightly runny, kind of like slightly melted ice cream. I decided to get 2 flights (it was a little less than $12 after tax). I forgot to take a picture of the flavors so I can write down which ones I got in the review (stupid me) but the ones to do remember are, in order, some hibiscus flavor, the dude, butter beer, cereal milk, I completely forgot what that top flavor on the right is, Girl Scouts gone wild, orange tarragon (I think that's what it was called), and cookies and cream.
(5)Kelsey S.
For around $6, you can get an ice cream flight. That's four small scoops and a cure for indecision. The flavors are original, ranging from sweet and salty peanut butter to blueberry basil sorbet. We sampled eight. Maple walnut won on taste, with a rich flavor that put butter pecan (maple walnut's inferior cousin) to shame. Thai chili was most interesting. It was spicy and nutty, but I don't know that I could've eaten more than the small flight-size scoop. Coconut was simple, but a strong flavor contender, too. And while butterbeer was just okay, I appreciate any establishment that pays tribute to Harry Potter. Mount Desert rotates flavors, which gives a good excuse to visit often.
(4)Sonya T.
AMAZING! In my opinion, the creamier the better and this place is just about as creamy as it gets. I got Buttermint and the flavor that has molasses and bananas forgot the name. I should have gotten two scoops instead if one. But they can give you a half a scoop of two flavors which they did for me since I couldn't make up my mind! If I ever go to Portland again, definitely getting ice cream here again!
(5)Adriana S.
This place was great. They had delicious ice cream and wonderful flavors. The best part? They had a flight of ice cream where you can try four different flavors. We tried basil, Thai coconut chili, orange tarragon and grapefruit hibiscus.
(5)Michelle T.
Was one of the few ice cream places opened after ten. Clean place with a huge selection of flavors. I had the cookies and cream to play it safe but they had unique flavors like vietnamese coffee, Thai chili, etc. It was four bucks and change for a single scoop in a cone. The ice cream was pretty good and perfect for a stroll back to the hotel.
(4)Wayne T.
They have a wide assortment of unique flavors. They also have a nice range of sorbet. They allow you to sample with no problems. There is a small place to sit and eat your ice cream while you people watch out the window toward Exchange Street.
(4)Rachel B.
Very unique flavors, such as "khulfi" (Indian dessert flavor) which my husband enjoyed. I had an especially rich chocolate flavor that tasted like brownies. Worth seeking out, though it would be nice if they had more toppings and sauces to choose from.
(5)S W.
more! more! more! is what I want. We visited the location in both Bar Harbor and Portland- perfect on all scoops. Don't settle for another shop.
(5)Kate O.
Salted Caramel is just plain addictive
(5)Wendi K.
Awesome ice cream! This place is great! Loved visiting downtown Portland on our recent trip to Maine. This was a great dessert!
(5)Celeste M.
I was craving some delicious ice cream and wanted to try out some different flavors so I stopped in on a really nice afternoon and the place was empty. I scanned the flavors and they were pretty different. Some of the cool flavors I was interested in were Vietnamese coffee, The Dude (white russian) and a Maine spin on rocky road. I ultimately chose rocky road but you don't really have to choose as you can purchase a flight of ice cream! The prices are a little steep but you get really creamy and delicious ice cream! I will definitely be back to try out some of their more obscure flavors!
(4)Sara P.
Deliiiicious. I had the s'mores ice cream in a waffle cone (and Eddie had it in a cup, lame). Lots of graham and chocolate chunks. We paid around $9 together which wasn't that bad considering the quality of the ice cream. Since we were staying in the Inn at St. John (near Maine Medical Center), this was a great place to grab a cone, eat it while strolling west, and grab a cab for the last tiny bit of our trek back to the hotel.
(4)Kate S.
I don't eat ice cream a lot. Last weekend my BF and I took our vacation in old port，he wanted to try their ice cream so we ordered two flavors, the blueberry sour cream and white chocolate lavender. At the first, I just wanted to try a little, but after one bite, I decided to take them all, my BF had to ordered another for himself, the ice cream is not too sweet with the natural ingredients and very flavored.
(4)Adam S.
Great flavors. The man or woman, who invented breakfast cereal milk as a flavor should get a Nobel peace prize. Love it! Really nice service too. I would recommend this place to my mother. She loves ice cream.
(5)Olivia R.
Great variety of fun flavors! They can't be found most other places. I had the butterbeer which was kind of a rootbeer/butterscotch mix with some extra viscosity and was delicious. My parents had Maine salted caramel which was also great. The scooper gave us several tastes which was nice because the flavors were so unusual that we wanted to try them all. She was also very good at suggesting flavors that she liked and that were popular. The sugar cone was very good. They also have kiddie size which is nice. Definitely one of the best ice creams I've had.
(5)Lyndsay B.
This ice cream is amazing!!!! There were two couples in our party and each couple got a sampler and shared it. The sampler has 4 scoops of different flavors - which were ALL amazing!!! We had butter beer, banana bread, Madagascar vanilla, Carmel sea salt, and peanut butter! Definitely a spot you need to check out!!
(5)Anh N.
My friends made me take them here when we visited Maine, and I'm so glad they did! I sampled their green tea ice cream. Delicious! But since it would be my only time visiting ME, my friends decided to share flavors we don't really find in stores. We got strawberry (balsamic?) sorbet, blueberry something, and maine sea salt caramel. Sorbet was my favorite since it had a really nice tart to it! It tastes kinda like the strawberry fruit bars and jolly ranchers. Maine sea salt caramel was my second favorite since it was nice and creamy. I thoroughly enjoyed the flavors since it felt balanced between the two. The environment was pretty nice, too. It was bar-type seating against a wall and against a window, no short tables.
(5)Lulu T.
Tried three flavors and all were great. Sweet & salty peanut butter, salted caramel, dark chocolate. Local cows, no harmful hormones. Great ingredients tasted in every bite.
(4)Kelly O.
5 stars alone just for the option of having 4 good-sized tasters for under 6 bucks (genius!), but the flavors are also deserving of a big "woohoo!". Specifically the Maine sea salt caramel... literally the best salty caramel ice cream I have ever had (and I've tried a good amount), the flavor and texture were perfection. Other flavors I tried include sweet and salty peanut butter (delicious), lemon poppy seed with berry (really refreshing), and stout with chocolate (consistency was a bit too icy for me, almost like a sorbet, but had good flavor). Overall, I think Mount Desert is a solid, solid ice cream shop and it's hard to go wrong here. They may not be THE BEST EVER... as a loyal JP Licks fan, I'd personally rate their ice cream as a bit better in terms of creaminess and consistency- plus this local favorite also cooks up some interesting flavors of their own-, but it doesn't matter because Mount Desert is still pretty delicious and worth a trip or three.
(5)Nancy P.
It was hard to find parking in this area when we went so we ended up walking to get there. The staff was nice and let everyone in the shop try as many samples as they wanted. The butterbeer was one of my favorites. Some of the really unique flavors were cereal milk, Thai chili, and chocolate wasabi. Pretty good overall and a large variety to choose from.
(4)Richard Y.
Ice cream was ridiculous. I did a flight, yes, a flight. I tried several and they were all awesome. The diversity amongst ice creams is not to be overlooked. The prices are fair, the staff is nice, and they will let you try whatever you want. What is not to like? I just wish my stomach had been bigger to take in more...ha.
(5)Sarah E.
Just go. Now, stop what you're doing and go get the "Flight" ice cream dish. 4 small scoops of 4 flavors of your choice. Grab a friend and try 8 flavors. It's AMAZING! Changes out their flavors daily and again, little on the pricey side (the flight is nearly $6) but oh so worth it. You leave feeling satisfied but not full. Service: Eh - hit or miss, sometimes they just want you in and out cause they are busy and other times they will work with you to help you pick out ice cream. Word to the wise: have at least an idea in mind before you approach the counter. Atmosphere: Grab and Go, don't eat in - go for a walk and window shop with it Best flavors thus far that I have tried: NUTELLA - omg srsly Lemon Poppy Buttermint Cookies and Cream Sea Salt Caramel blueberry sour cream crumble Alright flavors: Prosecco sorbet Ginger White Chocolate stay away from the fall season one that has cornmeal in it - one of the worst things I have ever had. I don't even remember the name but it was awful.
(5)Bill T.
Almost like the German rail system. The place was clean and service was efficient and the product was high quality. The big difference between this and the German rail system? Service was super friendly. Even when my friends and I were all like "let me try that; now let me try that. Can I try that?"....you get the idea. I had the salty and sweet peanut butter and it was as advertised. But don't take my word for it...read Joe's review. He liked it so much he came back a year later!
(4)Faye B.
Another recommendation by my friend that recently visited and I'm glad we stopped at this one. This is some smooth and creamy ice cream! The most genius thing about this place is the ability to not only have sample tastes, but to opt for a flight of ice cream. Yes a flight, because lord knows you want to try more than one flavor. The flight is basically 4 scoops of any flavor in a container usually used for banana splits. Genius! We got the Maine sea salt carmel, Maine cream, maple walnut, and some flavor that was bananas and molasses. The best is the sea salt carmel; definitely do not pass up! You can actually taste the sea salt. My second fave was the maple walnut although my husband's was the Maine cream.
(5)Jeannette N.
OMG, WHITE RUSSIAN ICE CREAM. It's the best ice cream I've ever had, and it tastes exactly like a white russian. All of their flavors are interesting and unique - I highly recommend it!
(5)Tom A.
I scream you scream if I don't get my mount desert ice cream. Best ice cream around. All original flavors to satisfy anyone. The Dude, a White Russian ice cream. Get it The dude, from The Big Lebowski. Salted caramel is amazing. I've had the flavor as a shake and could not stop drinking this savory combination. If you are strolling the Old Port and feel like a cold snack make your way over to this place, you and your taste buds will not regret it.
(5)Elisa C.
Totally delicious, once again... So glad they have the option of a "flight" of 4 mini-scoops so you can try multiple delectable options! This time we had Bay of Figs (with chewy dried figs), ginger (with crystallized ginger), Girl Scouts Gone Wild (chocolate ice cream with thin mints), and lemon poppy blackberry swirl -- all delicious and flavorful.
(5)Damien S.
Can Mount Desert Island really cause my inner SWV to surface? Check it: I get so weak in the knees, I can hardly speak. I lose all control and something takes oOOoover me. BEGONE SISTERS WITH VOICES! Tell you this though, I'll go through R&B exorcism after R&B exorcism if it means delving in to the glorious scoops of UltraMegaPremium ice cream served here. Check this rundown of flavors I haven't tried but still give me a waffle cone-sized Woodrow: Blackstrap Banana, Cereal Milk, Ovaltine Malt Ball, Bay of Figs, Butter Beer, Salt Caramel, Jack Daniels... This may take a while. See for yourself: yelp.com/biz_photos/moun… Now for those fascinated by the sweet meets heat phenomenon, may I draw your attention to not one, not two, but three spicy cocoa concoctions on the flava list: Mexican Chocolate (with curry and cinnamon), Chocolate Wasabi (take a guess) and Hot Chili Chocolate, which got my toes a-curlin'. Very creamy, lush ingredients and perfectly balanced, my kiddie cone held a significant scoop and the whole shebang only ran $3+change. Not one to drop the L-bomb willskynillsky, I love this ice cream. There, I said it. Someone manufacture a white gold band with a princess cut diamond that won't melt subzero treats and I'll prove to Beyonce once and for all that... Oh no... BEGONE BEYONCE! I need an R&B exorcist on retainer.
(5)Jenny S.
flavors aren't bad, but don't be lured only by the fact that Obama has been here before!! they have a variety of UNIQUE flavored ice creams which aren't bad but nothing wowed me after the generous number of samples ---ginger ice cream was POTENT & i normally like ginger ice cream ---milkshake: the worker let us choose as many ice cream flavors as we wanted (as long as it'd fit in the cup) but we stuck w/ the wing nut mixed w/ banana blackstrap... the PROBLEM s they mix milkshakes in a blender so the drink is icy instead of smooth needless to say, stick to ice cream scoops
(3)Phil C.
I guess Mount Desert is so good that I randomly bumped into a college friend from NYC whom I had not seen in over 10 years. I arrived here on a rainy and raw evening, so I didn't mind having an ice cream that was robust in flavor. I went for a favorite flavor from here, which is ginger. I totally didn't regret it, as the flavor was strong and you can definitely taste the ginger. The shards of ginger wasn't overpowering though and the ice cream itself was creamy and balances well with the sharp overtones of ginger. For one scoop, I got a decent portion of ice cream. It's definitely more than places in the city. The young lady at the counter was polite and friendly. There's not a lot of space to sit, and whatever space there is, it's not the most comfortable. So hopefully the weather is not too bad the time you're going.
(4)Skye G.
Ovaltine Malt - Loved it! I have tried and true favorites but wanted something different and was glad I did.
(4)David C.
A flight of four small scoops of ice cream from Mount Desert Island will run you just under six dollars after tax. Trust me when I say they are six dollars well spent. Given the selection of unique and delicious flavors they offer at any given time, you will need the flight to sample as many as possible (I can't believe the Obamas came here and wasted their time on Chocolate and Coconut). My flight included Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter (the clear winner), Blue Berry Sour Cream Crumble (a little grainy, but enjoyable nonetheless), Butterbeer (I guess Oldport is a little like Hogsmeade in Harry Potter), and Ovaltine Malt Ball (how can you go wrong?). It wasn't the best ice cream I've ever had, but it was by far the most creative, and that counts for major points in my book.
(4)Kati R.
Great flavors, but small portions for the price.
(2)Amy D.
YUM!! Mount Desert is an awesome place to try inventive but still delicious ice cream flavors. They had so many yummy sounding flavors that we decided to go with a Flight (you can choose up to 4 different flavors), and we went with the Ovaltine Malt Ball, Blueberry Sour Cream Crumble, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter, Maine Sea Salt Caramel ( yelp.com/biz_photos/moun… ). My favorite standalone flavor was the Blueberry, but we discovered it tasted even better when eaten with the Peanut Butter, since it tasted like peanut butter and jelly! The malt ball was also good, but I felt like it needed a bit more malt mixed in the ice cream. The sea salt was my least favorite since the consistency of the ice cream was too melty. I also sampled the Coffee Oreo, which was pretty good, but I didn't want to eat too much late at night in case I couldn't sleep. I got a sample of the Cranberry Bliss Bar as well, which tasted to creamy for my preference. My friends got The Dude (Almost White Russian) and Fresh Mint Chip, so I got to try both, but I wasn't a fan of either. Overall, I would definitely recommend stopping by Mount Desert Island to try out their ice cream, and suggest getting the flight to maximize the number of flavors you can eat. The parking around here was pretty easy to find, and the staff was friendly.
(4)Chad T.
These guys have some seriously exotic ice cream flavors, like Thai Chili. I went with the salted caramel and the burnt coffee. Really wonderful, very rich and creamy ice creams. All I can say that would improve it would be to get some bigger waffle cones that are dipped/sprinkled at the top like they have at the bigger chains like Coldstone Creamery. I love those, and then they would be able to fit 3 scoops in the waffle cone!
(5)Nicole R.
Mount Desert Ice Cream = Perfection. Tried the coffee/oreo & chocolate hand-dipped ice cream on a pretzel cone. WOWSERS!!!!! They offer 12+ flavors daily, several cone options & they sell by the pint. Just go here. Knuff said.
(5)Stephanie B.
Fantastic! Staff is wonderfully pleasant, but you come here for the ice cream. The ice cream is incredible! INCREDIBLE!!! Coming from New York City, I did not think I would find something so innovative in Portland Maine, I was wrong, these ice cream flavors are new, fresh and exciting. I come here often, and every time I am surprised by the flavors and taste experience.
(5)Bryan D.
This is the best ice cream I have ever had.
(5)Santi T.
Okay, my name isn't Ben or Jerry but I do enjoy a scoop of ice cream goodness on a rainy, cold day in downtown Portland. When you come here, you'll be shocked with the wild and exotic flavors which you'll want to sample. I was completely surprised when I sampled the thai chili because I didn't expect the "kick" until a few seconds afterwards. Since I was full from lunch, I ordered a small size of the sea salt caramel. Three words: sweet, salty and creeeeamy! The staff was very patient with us which they probably encounter on a daily basis. If you appreciate flavors with a little spark or down to the basics, Mount Desert Island is your shop!
(4)Eric F.
Yet another 4.5 star bump for wonderfully unique and delicious ice cream! The array of gourmet flavors was truly impressive with offerings like Ovaltine Malt Ball, Cinnamon Cardamom, Maine Sea Salt Caramel (YUM), Root Ginger, Hot Chili Chocolate (talk about kick!), Jack Daniel's(!) and Blackstrap Bananas. Such a selection can be found only at some of the best places out there and I thoroughly enjoyed each one. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd probably have to go with the caramel with its richer, more subtle flavors compared to all the other iterations I've had thus far. And the 4 scoop sampler for a mere $5.25? Sheer genius! Such a fantastic way to try different flavors without inducing an ice cream coma...unless you have two of them ;)
(5)carol R.
Yum! Great unique choices. Smells like fresh waffle cones. Coffee Oreo ice cream- Oh my
(4)Charlotte S.
Unusual homemade ice creams. I had buttermilk strawberry sorbet- tart, salty and sweet. Hubby had Mexican dipand a curry tai ice cream dip together. Sounds weird but it works.
(5)James H.
Based on other Yelp reviews, my wife insisted on coming here even after we'd already partaken of our frozen-treat-allotment for the night. While I could have gone for more exotic flavors, I opted for a simple mint chocolate chip in a sugar cone, which was wonderful--milky-white instead of artificial green and tasting of fresh mint, with large chocolate chips. It was only after I ordered that I realized that I should have purchased a flight--four scoops in a long dish for roughly 1.5 times the price I paid for my single scoop. But, alas, my frozen treat meter and stomach were full.
(5)Marie G.
This is NOT Baskin Robbins!! The closest thing I found to plain old chocolate was a strawberry-chocolate sorbet. I had the Cosmo sorbet, which was cranberry, orange and triple sec - incredibly refreshing on a warm day. Other flavors I saw included green tea, bitter and blood orange dreamsicle, white chocolate, banoffee, and hot chili chocolate. Sadly, I saw the place when visiting Portland so I won't be able to come soon, and they seemed unwilling to relocate to my home town.
(5)Lauren F.
I'm originally from Bar Harbor so it's nice having this locally. My all time favorite is the buttermint. It's so delicious.
(5)Lili K.
Come here for unique ice cream flavors! I tried: sweet corn blackberry chinese five spice maine sea salt caramel ovaltine malt ball I wish I could've tried more but didn't want to overdo it with the samples! Yummmy.
(4)Xiao Z.
My taste buds were in for a treat when i took my first spoonful of the smooth, rich, and complex flavors of the gorgonzola dolce. The swirls of the rich creamy vanilla blended so well with the sharp, yet well-balanced Gorgonzola chunks; all sorts of flavors tugged and danced on my taste buds, accompanied by the crunchiness of freshly crushed walnuts and bacon bits. I can't describe a more wonderful culinary experience than this place. If you are adventurous and love icecream, definitely give this place a try! ps: I'm not even an ice-cream fanatic, and I loved this place.
(5)Harry H.
Solid flavor selection offered up by a friendly young woman. Couples samples before we each opted for a flight of 4 and walked briskly down to the water to enjoy.
(4)Grace S.
my favorite thing by far about mgi ice cream is all of their unique and original flavors. from Thai chocolate to rum pomegranate, all of the flavors are something you'll never forget. Not to mention, that they change their flavors so every time you go you get to try new and extrodinary flavors. My Favorite flavor is probably candy shop, a combination of sweet candy- like chunks inside of bubblegum ice cream, or their most popular flavor, maine salt caramel. although their prices are higher than most ice cream shops, think about the fact that their ice cream is hand made and quite original! I highly reccomend mount desert island ice cream!
(5)Kim K.
Oh. My. God. Moving to Portland just for an ice cream place would be silly, right? My husband would never agree to this, would he? You must have the salted caramel ice cream. It is amazingly good. Sweet, robust, but not heavy or overly rich. It is perfectly balanced. The Ovaltine Malt Ball is similarly delicious. Just do yourself a favor and get a scoop of both. Also, sharing this info because I asked the staff, all of their ice creams are sweet cream based and not egg based. Good to know!
(5)John S.
Awesome variety and great flavor, but the prices relative to what you get are too expensive for me to give them 5 stars (probably a symptom of being located in downtown Portland). But if you are wondering around town and feel a sweet craving, go no further then this place because it does have it all!
(4)Karina L.
I am disappointed in the Obamas - They came to MDIIC in Bar Harbor and got Coconut and Chocolate, which by a landslide, are the most boring flavors ever if you catch a glimpse of what else the place offers. I got a small, and I was still able to get a whopping 3 scoopfuls of 3 different flavors. I got The Dude (Almost White Russian), Blackstrap Molasses Banana, and Ovaltine Malt Ball. YUM. Every flavor was so rich and unique. The one thing I regret not getting were any of their sorbets - I had a taste of my friend's blueberry basil sorbet and would have gotten another small if I hadn't been so full. If you're driving around Maine, pay each location a visit, as each one has different flavors!
(5)Andrew C.
I came here based on a recommendation from a friend and ended ordering Fresh Mint and Stout & Fudge Fresh Mint= A tad sweet but, the mint leaves really came out. It was fantastic! You could practically taste the mint leaves! Stout & Fudge= Perfectly balanced ice cream! Really enjoyed the combination of Stout & Fudge. Their ice cream texture was perfect! It was smooth, rich and had that "tooth paste" texture. Overall, I absolutely loved it. One of the best Ice creams I've tasted in the East Coast!
(4)Justine J.
Loooooooooove this place. Everyone who works there is always fantastically friendly and awesome. The ice cream is TO DIE FOR. They have so many incredible options for toppings, and the flavor combinations are just insane. GO. HERE. NOW.
(5)Brad S.
I've never had caramelized pear ice cream, and you would think it would take an extraordinarily talented creamery to not only suggest such a unique flavor, but pull it off with aplomb. Mount Desert Island is one of these places.
(5)Ms. Wright W.
We ended up visiting twice in Bar Harbor and once in Portland. Love their flavors and the quality of ice cream. Our family induldged in Cookie and Oreo, Belgian Chocolate, boiled coffee, and vanilla. All extremely yummy!
(4)Kendra E.
I la-la-la-love ice cream. You know how there's a saying, "I love you like a fat kid loves cake?" Well, I'm that fat kid that will love you forever if you give me some ice cream. This cute and tiny ice cream shop downtown of Portland, Maine serves the most unique flavors with a friendly smile. With giant scoops of ice cream and a small dent in a college student's wallet, I licked my way through two homemade flavors - salty caramel and "The Dude." Both pretty excellent and creamy. The only downside to these flavors is that I can't finish eating it all without forcing myself because the flavors were pretty strong. Overall, I can say, "Yay! I'm a fan." Can't wait to try other flavors.
(4)Jess L.
Looking for a way to explore Portland, I pulled out my trusty Yelp app and found the glorious, divine Mount Desert Island Ice Cream. My fiance and I were not necessarily craving ice cream at the time, but the exotic flavors really pulled us in. The Dude. The Wingnut.... While it might be annoying to have to ask about the flavors, do it, because some of their flavors are so incredible and unique that you'd never be able to guess what they are. I almost died over the caramelized pear. With every bite, I declared that this was the best ice cream ever. The Dude, which is essentially a white Russian, was also awesome. A very memorable part of our short Portland trip!
(5)Jay H.
I think that their salt butterscotch is better than their salt caramel, which is so salty it makes me thirsty. The coffee ice cream actually tastes like coffee! The coal porter actually tastes like beer, but I don't think it's possible to eat enough to get drunk. I might try though, because it's amazing. MDI's ice cream flavors rotate fairly regularly so this review may be irrelevant... sorry. Rise above Portland's gelato politics and get some MDI ice cream. Do it! DO EEEET!
(5)Angela S.
Such fun flavors! I had Cereal Milk and Butterbeer! It was hard to resist sampling every flavor, they were so fun and interesting, but the classics were still there if you're feeling less adventurous. It didn't have the best texture but it was definitely not high season for ice cream so I'm sure it is better in summer when it's fresher and in higher demand.
(4)John S.
Mount Desert gave me some of the best ice cream I've ever eaten. Made fresh with sweet cream by a proud Mainer, the various offerings are deliriously good. The texture is excellent, the flavors pop, the portions are generous. You'll never find better.
(5)Joseph L.
We tried several ice cream places while in Portland, but this place wins first prize. The servings were big, the flavors interesting and the staff nice. Chocolate wasabi was super good and went really well with cereal milk... mmmmm We wanted to come back every day and we should have.
(5)Robert B.
Amazing ice cream! So fresh, so delicious, never too sweet and oh so creamy. I got an ice cream flight with the Chocolate Chili, Salty Peanut Butter, Fresh Mint ( the best mint-anything ice cream I've ever tasted), and Madagascar Vanilla. All great, though the Fresh Mint was my favorite. Flavors are creative and include some wild combos you'd never think of like Cinnamon Cardamom... Any way, if you love ice cream, don't miss it. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Eliza M.
If you're going for hard ice cream in town, this is the place to go. I've gone a handful of times now and I love almost every flavor (except the chocolate wasabi - I was amazed by how much I didn't like it...) So far I've really enjoyed the fresh mint chip, the peanut butter, and the salt caramel. These boutique ice cream stores really seem to be sweeping the nation (we had one in Denver called Sweet Action that had a lot of the same flavors) and I'm lovin it. The real reason this gets a full five stars, though, is because the servers there are SAINTS. Last night, we went in and there was a couple ahead of us. It was a Monday, not too busy, but there is a limit on how many samples you can have - there's a sign that requests you only do two. The people in front of me literally tried EVERY SINGLE FLAVOR. The husband had approximately 15 spoons in his hand. I mean, they weren't busy and this server was smiling the whole time, but come on people!? That's abusing the system. She was very kind to this obviously-out-of-state couple and that kind of customer service goes a long way.... Unless you're the people behind the crazy-fifteen-sample people. All in all, loved it. And, unlike their ice cream competitors down the hill, they take credit cards. And the ice cream is better.
(5)Bailey Z.
Tired of the same old ice cream flavors? Mount Desert Island spices things up with some wild and delicious ice cream flavors. Ever wonder what butterbeer ice cream tastes like? They have that. How about your favorite Girl Scout cookies? They have that too with the cleverly named Girl Scouts Gone Wild. With a multitude of other witty flavor names, I went with two scoops of The Dude and the salt caramel. The Dude is the ice cream version of a White Russian. The flavor was spot on with alcohol and all, but it was too sweet for my liking. On the other hand, I loved the salted caramel - it was one of the best takes on sweet and salty ice cream.
(4)Eliza M.
Came with a group of friends while we were road tripping around Portland. It's a pretty plain place, with the exception of some cool art work and these very creative ice cream flavors. Cinnamon with cardamom? Delicious. The coconut was tasty without being heavy on the cream and rich. The other flavors ranged from combinations that included interesting mixes: Gouda, ginger, Belgian chocolate, green tea, etc. If stumped on what to top your cone or cup, they allow mixing scoopfuls of different options. A nice stop on a summer day.
(4)Jim M.
Amazing flavors. Try bay of figs and salted caramel is a must. Wow I love this place. I make it a point to go every hot summer day that I am in Portland. It is 1000 times better than Beals.
(5)Patrick R.
Wild selection of flavors. All of them (that I tried, at least) were fantastic.
(5)M L.
I don't like deserts other than ice cream. Almost gave them only 4 stars because they didn't have any of the dog ice cream flavor sugar cream, but they got that star back when they insisted the dogs come inside the store. The dogs had vanilla instead and I had a vanilla frappe. Ice cream was so good, when I go back in May they better have sugar cream.
(5)Nikki M.
Awesome cookies and cream icecream as well as the caramel salt flavour in a waffle cone.... huge scoops and great value for money!
(5)Christi S.
Pricing: Single $3.75 Sampler (4 scoops) $5.25 Flavors: Wild variety. Green tea, Nutella, to Thai Chili, Vanilla Bean, to Chocolate Wasabi. Green Tea: Tasted like white rabbit candies. It didn't have the green color nor the taste that I'm used to from Polly Ann's back in San Francisco. I would not get this flavor. Nutella: Not overpowering, just right. Tastes like Nutella. Would definitely get this again. Chocolate Wasabi: Interesting. If you don't get a chunk of wasabi on your spoon, it's not bad. Once the wasabi kicks in, it's got a light spice. Did not open my nasal airway, but not sure if I'd get this again unless I'm craving Chocolate and want a different taste to Chocolate. Atomosphere: I wish there were some seating inside so I could sit & enjoy my ice cream. Ended up having to walk around Old Port at night til I was done.
(3)Ben L.
Overall the texture of the ice cream was too icy where it should have been creamier. I tasted 3 or 4 flavors. The Mascorpone and Fig was not at all what I expected. The fig seemed blended and totally took away from the flavor and texture that the mascorpone could have brought to the ice cream. The figs should have been incorporated as chunks of dried fig. The Maine Salt caramel I was expecting a deeper, darker caramel flavor instead all I got was basic sugar sweet, and the salt seemed to fight the flavor instead of balance it. The other couple of flavors were not memorable. I have pretty high ice cream standards having experienced Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in Columbus, OH.
(2)Cynthia G.
I LOVE ice cream (see last meal on profile) and I've been looking forward to trying this place since before my trip. Having tried it, the 5 star reviews have me scratching my head. I had a scoop of salted caramel and blueberry sour cream. The first was just too salty. I had a few bites and it became unpalatable so didn't finish it. The latter was much better. It tasted like fresh picked blueberries and wasn't overly sweet. The ice crystals interfered with the creamy texture too. The fact that we've walked by this place a bunch more times and went back in zero more times says it all.
(3)Vivian L.
So a year later and I'm back again spending another summer vacation in Maine. Coconut is STILL my fave (although the new Salt Butterscotch was quite tempting)...apparently Obama chose the same coconut flavour as well. If it's good enough for the President, it's good enough for me!
(5)Chris M.
My friends and I have biked from Boston to Portland twice so far. This recent time, our FIRST stop in the city was Mt. Desert. Absolutely best ice cream ever. Their flavors make it overwhelmingly hard to choose, but they know that; That's why they offer you the "flight": You get FIVE scoops (or four? I can't remember) for a pretty good price, and it allows you to satisfy at least a few of your cravings at once. We actually went there twice during this past trip. The Thai Curry ice cream was intriguing, and really surprised me with how much of a kick it has. It's basically spicy peanut butter. The Wingnut (something like that?) is another one that stuck. And the Dude, basically a white russian, was fantastic.
(5)Jiahui L.
Ice cream here was soft, fluffy, and interesting. Salt caramel was a little too salty for my taste, but the blueberry and ginger stayed true to their origins and were very refreshing. Waffle cone only 50 cents extra.
(4)Joshua L.
The only real reason I ever found out about this place was when Glenn Beck decided to freak out about the logo and Obama going here. This may be the one time I will say something good has come out of a Glenn Beck freak out. Since I was directed to a great Ice cream place. I was very impressed with the shake I got here. A tourist spot for sure. It is definitely one of the best places in town for ice cream. A little pricey but always nice to get some good locally made ice cream.
(4)Robert F.
Interesting choices flavor wise! Tried the caramel sea salt, fresh mint and rasberry coriander they were delicious! Unique offerings that just work.
(4)Jenny Z.
Fantastic flavors! We sample several different flavors and loved them all, so we got a flight of ice cream with 4 different scoops. Cereal milk was my favorite!
(5)Janel Q.
Had the Mexican Chocolate ice cream and it reminds me of when my mom would make me hot cocoa. Perfection!
(5)Ben G.
Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream! Its sweet, its salty, its perfection. I want it now.
(5)Leland M.
The people at MDI ice cream hand make small batches of the ridiculously good stuff they call ice cream. In addition, they have a great variety of unique flavors that put Ben & Jerry's to shame. MDI ice cream is hands down the best ice cream I have ever had.
(5)Judy C.
Yum. I had the blueberry basil sorbet and bf had the white russian ice cream. Definitely a place to go to if you like unusual flavor combinations.
(4)John R.
My wife and I were so pleased to find this place on Exchange Street on a hot August day. We split a small blackstrap banana, which was one of the most godly things I've ever tasted. I realize five stars might be a little premature for only having been to a place once, but I look forward to trying it again and again and thereby reinforcing this rating.
(5)Steff D.
I'm a bona fide ice cream connoisseur (no, seriously: I even wrote an award-winning book about ice cream). When Mt. Desert first came to Portland, I was thrilled. But every single time I've walked in here: I've walked out again empty-handed. The young female staff running this place consistently comes off apathetic and irritated - so much so that I feel like I'm doing something wrong just by standing there. The prices are ridiculously high. And the ice cream itself isn't all that exceptional - sometime it seems over-churned, sometimes it's got freezer burn, and the limit to two samples per customer is ridiculous. I don't want to feel forced into a flavor; I also don't want to take a chance on a flavor that most likely won't be as good as it sounds. Unless you're a tourist (because they all think this place is great - what do they know? Trust a local.), walk a few blocks around town and you're sure to find better options.
(2)Brett R.
As good as advertised. It melts fast though, so only get a cone if it's a cold day.
(5)V G.
Only 4 stars because I think it's a little on the expensive side. It won't stop me from going again on my next trip to Portland, though! I had the Bay of Figs mixed with the chocolate and it was delicious.
(4)Larissa S.
FENNEL IN MY ICE CREAM!!!!!! Ahhhhhhh I am craving some of their spiced ice cream right now. I was intrigued when I first tried it (big fennel taste with a hint of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves) but I am in love. I'm also a fan of the banana with molasses in it and the elvis (pb & banana). The ice cream isn't too creamy and has that small batch homemade taste to it- just like the kind we make at our own house. great find!
(5)Jasper P.
I really am an ice cream addict. I end up trying the cream in just about every town I go to. I must admit that I didn't have this place on my radar when I rolled into Portland, but was walking den the street and saw it, so of course I had to pop in and give it a try. I tried the following: * pumpkin caramel - so tasty. The spice was just right, the caramel was not too sweet, and overall the flavor combination was great. * cranberry prosecco - a perfect combo. The sorbet was (again) not too sweet, which is perfect for me. The flavors of both cranberry and prosecco came through nicely. You can just tell when a place puts passion and love into their product and this place is on it. They get 5 stars for their flavor and effort. They rate right up there with my other two favorite ice cream spots back home, Bi-rite in SF and Mission Hill in Santa Cruz.
(5)Jeff W.
Not your everyday average ice cream joint, by far. Crazy-unique flavors (be ready to be adventurous) but delicious. The plain ol' vanilla is powerful, the salt caramel is a best-seller for good reason, and the cereal milk really does taste like cereal milk (at least according to my 13-year-old son). Expensive, but very good!
(4)James B.
Had a very nice late night ice cream run with my wife. This is a very cute shop with unique flavors. Very tasty with great toppings.
(4)Art H.
Got a flight with coconut, beer & pretzels, thai chili, and banana curry. Coconut was good, not the best I've had but good. The quality of the ice cream is very solid but their creative flavors is where they shine. The thai chili was one of my favorite ice creams ever. It pretty much taste like a spicy peanut butter ice cream, which may sound gross to you but coming from a spicy food lover, it was awesome. The beer & pretzels was made with a local stout and had a very heavy stout flavor which was done like I have never tasted before. Excellent. For two flights (8 small scoops) it came out to a little over $11. Totally reasonable.
(5)Emily B.
First trip to this place was late on a Friday night. It was buzzing with people and the ladies behind the counter were serving up samples cheerfully. I tried both the pumpkin (delicious pumpkin flavor that I love with cinnamon, nutmeg and hints of other spices) and the lavender (sweet and creamy with subtle hints of lavender on the back of your tongue). Unable to choose my mother and I shared a "single" size of both pumpkin and lavender, which were creamy yet light, just as others have noted. Other flavors included sweet chili, avocado, lime cucumber sorbet just to name a few. Simple, delicious, perfect.
(5)Chrystina Z.
These are ice cream artisans. Independent owners using organic ingredients to create truly spectacular (rotating) flavors like Thai chili (creamy PB with a kick of chili at the end) and nectarine prosecco (personal fav). This beats Baskin Robbins anyday.
(5)Jen S.
My husband and I found this place after reading some blog posts and it was truly amazing. The line was a little long but well worth the wait. There is a two sample rule which kind of stinks especially since there are so many interesting flavors. Service was a little slow because people don't know exactly what they want. I had two scoops: s'mores and cookies and cream. Lots of cookies in the scoop I had. My husband had the mint chip and the peanut butter and he said it might have been the best ice cream he ever had. I think there was one table there, so you will have to go out on the street and eat it. There is a small park at the top of the block if you want to sit down and eat.
(5)Sam G.
I stopped into this place on a recent visit to Portland, and I loved it. I'm a big fan of mint chocolate chip, but I've found that many gourmet ice cream places simply up the mint flavoring, leaving it tasting strong but still one-dimensional -- kinda like mouthwash. Not at Mt. Desert. The mint chocolate chip here has a uniquely real mint flavor -- as if someone actually crushed fresh mint leaves to produce the flavor. It's like nothing I'd ever tasted. A minor downside, it is quite expensive (I think a small dish cost me $4.50).
(5)Luke H.
This is a seriously gourmet ice cream joint! Some of these flavors blew my socks off and there's new ones coming through all the time. It's also really expensive, and although it would be hard to claim you aren't getting your money's worth, the price greatly slows down the frequency of my visits.
(4)Cynthia R.
ehh not bad but not the best ice cream in town.
(1)Amy R.
butterbeer ice cream! my life has been changed by this mysterious combo of butterscotch and rootbeer.
(5)Lee G.
Best Ice Cream in downtown Portland. Very inventive flavors, like ginger, white russian, and Thai Chili. Some are quite good, others I don't care for. However, none of this matters to me as there is only one flavor in my mind: SALTED CARAMEL. This is hands down their best flavor, and clearly I am not alone in this opinion because 4 out of 5 times I've been there they have been sold out of it! I hope they correct this, as when I go to get ice cream at Mount Desert it is the only flavor that will scratch that itch for me now. If they have the Salted Caramel in stock, get it! You will not be disappointed.
(5)Fred S.
Top notch ice cream and friendly service. Some very interesting flavors as well as your old favorites. Extra creamy and wonderful on a warm summer evening! Highly recommended!
(5)Alana B.
Full disclosure: I worked at this store last year when it first opened. I was never a big ice cream fan before, but working/taste testing there converted me. Linda is a genius with flavors, and her ice cream is creamy, textured, and delicious. Every box is made with care and love, and the unique flavors are addicting and tasty. I find myself bringing every out of town guest I have here. When I crave ice cream, I crave MDI ice cream. Blueberry basil, salt caramel, maple walnut, and The Dude are highly recommended!
(5)Lindsay L.
As good as humphrey slocombe's. You will die, I promise. Thai chili, chocolate orange, sherry catalina, and coconut are my faves but you cannot go wrong.
(5)