11/18/07

Sunday afternoons

by davesch

I grew up in the 60's and 70's in nearby Palos Heights. My Dad used to pile us all into the car on Sunday afternoons in the summer to go to the Plush Horse. Both of my older brothers worked there in high school and the lines were so long that they would wake up with a start in the middle of the night and say "Can I help you, sir?" and then go back to sleep. The lines didn't matter because you knew half the people and made new friends out of the rest. Usually the men waited in line while the women chatted on the back patio waiting for us to bring them their ice cream. Palos men were a chivalrous lot.

Back then we used to call it Sophie's amongst ourselves because Sophie (the original owner's wife, I think) was still with us. She was very elderly but had jet black hair and still worked in the day to day operations right up until she passed. She always seemed to find the extra scoops for the kids if Dad was digging for change to pay. She had special treats for the regulars. There used to be a merry-go-round horse in the window that had a plush velvet-like surface. Sophie would have my Dad put us up on it. The plush surface became worn, but she didn't care. She loved us kiddies.

The hand packed ice cream was the order of the day. It cost more but was a better value and made a better tasting cone. Folks in the know ordered it in advance. Since my brothers worked there, we always had hand packed in the freezer. Butter Pecan was my Dad's favorite.

I'm pleased that the things the made the Plush Horse great from the beginning hasn't been lost on her subsequent owners. The Plush Horse is a generational thing, with parents (and now grandparents) from this period making the pilgramage whenever they come back to where they grew up. I hope that my kids (now teenagers) can take their kids to have the same experience that we had.

Open year-round, this nostalgic ice-cream parlor is a favorite for families and groups

by Contributor

In Short
Set in a 1893 home, the Plush Horse has just a few tables and serves everything with plasticware. Cones, sundaes, shakes and floats are concocted with your choice of more than 30 flavors. Banana splits get three scoops and three toppings; top flavor picks include rum raisin, Italian lemonade, amaretto almond and apple pie. Seasonal selections are also offered, like pumpkin pie ice cream in fall. A bakery offers coffee drinks, fresh-baked muffins and scones.

• Pros: Tons o' ice cream
• Cons: Long drive from downtown

04/19/06

South Side favorite!

by southside67

What can I say? My family and I have been going to the Plush Horse since my older brothers were small. This place is awesome! The homemade ice cream is extra delicious, the portions are huge, the prices are cheap and the look of the place and the atmosphere are reminicent of an olde ice cream parlor. What a great place to sit outside and chomp some on a summer night!

• Pros: Great value, Great atmosphere, Great taste
• Cons: long lines, long lines, long lines

09/02/05

Best Ice Cream In Chicagoland

by bluelightning42

The Plush Horse has been my favorite ice cream parlor since I was a child. I have been to many of the other ice cream parlors in and around Chicago, but plush horse is by far the best. It is a great value and two scoops will fill up anyone I have ever brang there. Oh, and if you like Cookies-&-Cream, it is the best ever!

• Pros: Great Value, Great Enviorment, Tons of flavors

06/10/05

The REAL thing!

by taj1972

The Plush Horse is the definition of summer for me. Growing up not too far from the ice cream parlor, this was the biggest treat on a hot evening. They have the best mint chocolate chip ice cream I've ever had, and my Mom favors the Hawaiian Delight. Truthfully, you just can't go wrong with any selection here. Now that I live in the city, I have to make excuses to go back to the south side for this incredible treat. Keep it up Plush Horse - I can't imagine summer without you!

• Pros: Great value, No small scoops here!
• Cons: Long lines on weekend

06/10/05

very delicious

by candibabi1188

If u want ice cream the best place to go is The Plush horse.. many kinda of ice cream and awesome cones.. also many things from a lil bakery are there liek scones and muffins !!!!

05/20/04

The Best

by badkitty8277

Oh how I miss the Plush Horse. This is the best homemade icecream and its cheap too. Everyone is friendly, and its a great date spot

Do they deliver to Arizona?

• Pros: Yummy, cheap, good varity
• Cons: , Long Lines, Long Lines

03/27/03

Number one

by cartman_83

If you like homemade ice cream, make your way to the Plush Horse. Great Ice Cream and prices are very reasonable. Also, one scoop is plenty as they do not skimp. Great place to go on a weekend in the summer.

• Pros: Tasty, Cheap, Friendly

12/25/02

BEST HOME MADE ICECREAM AROUND

by deigo

The finest home made icecream many flavors to die for.A place you must try if you have never had home made icecream.

• Pros: Inexpensive, Friendly service

12/15/02

Best Place ever

by btlgurl17

I've been going to the Plush Horse my entire life. My family and I would drive there on warm summer days after dinner. Definitely expect a line during this time, but its worth it. My absolute favorite is a scoop of banana and a scoop of chocolate chocolate chip. Great value because you get HUGE scoops. Its also a fun place because it reminds you of an old fashioned ice cream parlor. Definitely worth the trip.

• Pros: great Value
• Cons: Crowded