Ice cream. It can probably save lives. Can most likely end wars. And can most definitely save any bad day. So unless you have the worst luck in the universe, if you open an ice cream joint, it will most likely become a success. All you need is the right location. Ice cream makes the world go round. That being said, there aren’t that many remaining old-school ice cream joints around. They have been mostly replaced by franchises and much larger restaurants that just happen to serve ice cream. Once in a while though, you’ll find your success stories. Dairy Kurl in Clearwater happens to be one of these stories.
This spot has been around since the 1950s, and has survived hurricanes, tough economic moments, the shift of activity into the beach area, and ninjas. One of those was a lie. Anywho, this spot has survived all this not because of presentation, because it has looked relatively the same since the 50s, but because of its quality ice cream and its very family-friendly persona. The building isn’t big, there are a couple benches, and the menu is mostly hand-drawn, giving it a nice personal touch. The menu has the same items as your usual ice cream parlor, but there’s something magical about their ice cream that makes it stand out in the frozen treat crowd.
Let’s start with their peanut butter malt, which was recommended online by another reader. It was a heavy punch of peanut butter and ice cream that satisfies the soul because of its richness and thickness. Trust me; you can smell it from half a mile away. Their milkshakes contain similar thick textures and definitely have the same amount of quality flavor.
Now, the most popular item in Dairy Kurl remains their best dessert within the past two decades at least: the vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate. Now, most times the chocolate coating is light, crunchy in texture, and is a mere topping on the ice cream. With Dairy Kurl, it becomes an adventure getting to the vanilla ice cream with the chocolate coating engulfing it. Now, ordering it in a cone becomes a delicious hassle, as the chocolate melts the vanilla much quicker, leading to messy delicious hands. So what I do is order my ice cream in a cup, which results in more chocolate, and more mayhem.
The mayhem includes sometimes folding the cup in order to crack the chocolate in the base of the cup. While this sounds like a negative, it’s definitely a positive because the chocolate coating is extremely thick, extremely rich, and just oh so magnificent. It compliments the creamy vanilla ice cream so well; you reach a temporary nirvana. Not sure what they do differently, but their ice cream just tastes better than most ice cream out there. And I am including the better chains like Ben and Jerrys and Dairy Queen.
Bottom Line: Yes, an entire review to a small ice cream place that serves nothing but desserts in the middle of Clearwater. But guess what, this place is special, and has been a staple in the Tampa Bay area for quite some time. If you are going to the beach around here, you must make a pit stop here. Nothing can complete a good day in Clearwater Beach without a good cup of spectacular ice cream coming from a small little institution that has been through it all. Dairy Kurl isn’t just an ice cream parlor; it’s a delicious piece of Tampa Bay history that ages like fine wine.
Verdict: Strongly Recommend
Dairy Kurl
1555 Gulf to Bay Boulevard
Clearwater, FL 33755-6316
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