It’s very much summer here in Norton, and one of my favorite things to do on a hot July day is stop and have a cone of chocolate ice cream.  When I was a kid (and dinosaurs roamed the earth) the main options in town were Creamy Freeze on Mansfield Avenue where Alberto’s Restaurant is today, Frates Dairy located where Tsang’s restaurant now sits, and Bristol Farms on Old Colony Avenue.

There were other places you could get ice cream in those days.  Haskins Pharmacy had a soda fountain, Fernandes Super Market (now Aubuchon Hardware) had a snack bar, and I’m probably forgetting a few other spots.  But Frates and Bristol Farms were the two spots that were “the” places to go for instant refreshment.

Alas, both are now gone.  That leaves me still in search of the best place in town for ice cream.  And yes – I only eat chocolate.  I never waver.  Variety may be the spice of life, but my loyalty lies with a sugar cone of deep, rich chocolate. 

Lately I have been splitting my diary affections between two Old Colony Road establishments:  Uncle Ed’s Ice Cream (the site of the old O’Brien’s Restaurant for you townies) and McMahon’s Country Grille, located in the former Bristol Farms building.  And I have to tell you – it’s been a very tough choice.

McMahon’s serves Bliss Ice Cream, and I love Bliss.  My ice cream there is a model of consistent flavor, and I can order at the window and sit outside at the picnic table or walk down by the edge of Chartley Pond.  Uncle Ed’s makes its own ice cream, and the taste shows they know exactly what they are doing.  The booths remind me of the establishments of my youth, and although it doesn’t affect me they offer a wide variety of flavors.

There is also a great little ice cream stand on Mansfield Avenue right next to Tsang’s.  I haven’t hit it yet this summer, only because I pass the other two everyday on my way home from work and am very weak-willed.  But I will be sampling it soon, probably this weekend - all in the name of fairness and science, of course.

So fellow Nortonites – where is your favorite place in town for ice cream?  Have I missed a good spot?  Do you have a favorite you might recommend?  It wouldn’t be fair to keep it to yourself, you should share with all of us.  Just please – make sure they have chocolate.

Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and has eaten way too much ice cream over the years.  He can be reached at aninsidelook@aol.com.