My favorite thing to order at Rancatore’s – the ice cream sandwich with French vanilla ice cream! YUM. The chocolate wafer is crispy (not soggy like those grocery store kinds), and the premium homemade ice cream is dense, creamy, and pairs perfectly with the crunchy chocolate wafer.
I have tried ordering sandwiches with other flavors, such as Hydrox cookie or coffee. I find that the other flavors are either too sweet or too strong and do not complement the chocolate wafer as well. The simplicity and subtleness of vanilla works so much better.
Some background
Rancatore’s (“Ranc’s”) and Toscanini’s (“Tosci’s”) are owned by brothers Gus and Joe Rancatore. Gus got into the business first and opened Toscanini’s. Joe then learned the art of ice cream making from Gus and opened Rancatore’s. Toscanini’s, which is in Cambridge, tends to carry more exotic flavors, such as jasmine tea, grape nut, and cucumber sorbet. Ranc’s, on the other hand, has more traditional suburban flavors, such as Hydrox cookie, chocolate, vanilla, etc. Nevertheless, even though Ranc’s carries less interesting ice cream flavors, it trumps Tosci’s in one major way because it has these amazing ice cream sandwiches!
Also, Rancatore’s is right in Lexington Center right on the Minuteman Bike Trail. One of my favorite activities is to bike from Cambridge all the way to Lexington on the trail, treat myself to a nice ice cream sandwich, and then bike back!
You could even stop by Toscanini’s for a second round of ice cream in Cambridge!
1752 Massachusetts AvenueLexington, MA 02421
(781) 862-5090
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Hydrox > all, and sounds classier than saying “Cookies and Cream” for some reason haha.
hi, i just read your posts about rancatore’s and toscanini’s. i didn’t think anyone loved ice cream as much as i do….but i think you match up. i used to live in the boston area but i moved away; whenever i’m visiting now, i try to schedule as many toscanini’s visits as possible. it drives my family crazy.