Custard Shack in Virginia

"It was 100 degrees in the shade today -- you know that outdoorsy sauna feeling even your dri-weave shirt has trouble with moisture wicking? Yeah, it was that day. I cut my walkable errands short and searched for ice cream to cool off. I see there's a Custard Shake nearby with rave reviews so I checked it out. THE APPROACH: It is definitely the size of a shack meaning you are standing outside at a walk- up window to place your order. Once you pay, you pick up your order at the second window. The staff are super friendly and they all smile at you. THE MENU: The beauty of this creamery is they may not offer tons of flavors, however, they offer many ways to enjoy them. They have ice cream, sorbet, floats, shakes, etc. I ordered a milkshake with chocolate drizzle and no whip cream -- great treat while walking in the heat! The shake was a nice size, reasonably priced, and soooo delish!! The milkshake was the right consistency and was made with quality ingredients. Another perk to this type of facility is you get to see some cool cars parked curbside. Notice how my milkshake appeared next to a sexy ride -- this screams Summer. ONLY KNOCK: Depending on the weather, the wait will feel longer than it really is. On a day when it is 100+ degrees outdoors, you are roasting while waiting. Even their tables with umbrellas are in direct sun so forget about sitting in shade. On days when there is nicer weather, their outdoor tables are a terrific place to hang with family, friends, or pets. Since many folks drive here, you can always sit in your car until your order is ready."

"I enjoy this spot every year when they open for the summer The flavors are always on point, and the service is excellent, these young ladies who helped me were absolutely delightful! Can't wait to try more flavors this year."

"We’ve come here a number of times and recommend this place to all our friends. They typically have chocolate, cookies and cream, and a third rotating flavor. The cookies and cream is by far our favorite. The wait is often less than 5 minutes and food comes out right away. Our most recent order of a regular waffle cone and a regular Sunday was just over $13 with tip."

"Custard Shack never disappoints!!! It’s always a great sweet treat….especially during the summer! When I saw that they had a custard & chocolate chip sandwich for a limited time….I knew I needed to move quick. The sandwich was a 10/10!! My friend also got a blueberry/chocolate chip milkshake with whipped cream, waffle cone pieces and a cherry on top! I also posted the other custard flavors that they for right now. I would suggest that you add The Custard Shack to your to-do list several times!"

"Lovely place for ice cream! They have a variety of options for custard. We had hot fudge sundaes and they did not disappoint. The service was awesome. There’s plenty of outside seating. Parking is limited in front but there is additional parking behind the building. Highly recommend."

"The custard is delicious and this place does it really well. It's a hidden spot that is totally worth the trip. High school students work the place and they always do a great job so make sure to thank them. I love the banana splits and the homemade ice cream cookies. It's a great treat after taking a nice walk along the Mt vernon trail."

"Not to be overlooked by The Dairy Godmother up the road, Custard Shack is a frozen custard shop worth the pitstop. Located in Alexandria's charming Belle Haven neighborhood along the Potomac River, Custard Shack is just off the GW Memorial Parkway. After visiting with my five-year-old daughter, here's why you should go: 1) Frozen custard: Using many ingredients from Wisconsin, it's creamy and with the right texture. They post their flavor of the day on their Instagram page and maintain a few regulars. When we went, they had vanilla, chocolate, cookies & cream and fudge brownie as the flavor of the day. They also have sorbet for dairy-free options. They also have a few gluten-free options. The kids size is more than enough and you have the option of a cup, waffle cone, sugar cone or cake cone. My daughter got vanilla with rainbow sprinkles and gummy bears. (She loved the topping options depicted through the window.) My kid scoop of fudge brownie was flavorful and divine. The fudge and brownie bits were throughout the custard. 2) Space: True to its name, it's out of a little shack that was once a neighborhood grocery store. It's takeout only, but they have a single picnic table with a large red umbrella cover by a unique mural of custard and a burger on D.C. landmarks. Next door is a pizzeria from the same owners. There's a medium-sized parking lot in front of both businesses. 3) Story: They opened in 2015 and are family-owned. Invested in the community, they expand their hours in the summer and employ local high school students who all seem to love their jobs. 4) Hours: It's open year-round, but they open at noon every day in the summer (June-August) and close between 9-10pm given the night."

"Cute little local ice cream place. Reasonably priced, decent selection, and while it gets crowded, they seem to be really efficient in getting through the lines. Went with a small chocolate custard with hot fudge and crumbed Reese's cups. Thought it might be a soft serve, though it was a hard scoop. Looking forward to going back and trying more of the menu."