- Attraction: The Bent Spoon
- Location: 35 Palmer Square W, Princeton, NJ 08542
- Industry: Ice Cream Shop
- Website: https://www.thebentspoon.com/
Picture this: over 625 handcrafted ice cream flavors rotating through a shop so small you might miss it if you’re not paying attention.
Since 2004, this Palmer Square gem has been turning New Jersey produce into frozen masterpieces that have earned recognition from everyone from the New York Times to the Today Show.
Founded by Gab Carbone and Matt Errico—two Jersey natives who transformed a shoestring budget and ice cream obsession into what New Jersey Monthly has called the state’s best ice cream for 15 consecutive years—this artisan shop proves that local, organic, and seasonal ingredients create something truly extraordinary.
What sets this spot apart isn’t just the accolades piling up from Travel & Leisure, Bon Appétit, and CBS Sunday Morning.
It’s the philosophy behind every scoop: connecting you directly to Garden State farms, celebrating fleeting seasonal ingredients, and creating flavor memories that stick with you long after your cup is empty.
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Keep Exploring →When autumn arrives, you’ll find the menu shifting from summer’s basil and sweet corn to fall’s pumpkin and shiitake mushroom flavors, each one telling the story of what’s happening right now on local farms.
Flavors That Challenge Everything You Thought You Knew About Ice Cream
The Seasonal Rotation: With 24 flavors available at any given time from a rotating collection of over 625 recipes, you’ll encounter combinations that might sound bizarre but taste absolutely brilliant.
Imagine cardamom meeting chocolate orange, or discovering that New Jersey sweet corn transforms into something revelatory when swirled into cream.
Flavors like Sun Gold Saffron sorbet made from local tomatoes or Rye Whiskey Caramel crafted with Pennsylvania whiskey showcase just how far this shop pushes creative boundaries.
Local Hero Flavors: The basil ice cream has developed such a devoted following that customers start asking about it the moment spring arrives. The Beach Plum sorbet appears only when locals show up with 40 pounds of the fleeting fruit.
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Discover MoreYou’ll taste the difference when ingredients come from farms you could drive to in under an hour—whether it’s ricotta from New Jersey dairies, lavender from Pennsylvania fields, or nectarines picked at peak ripeness from Garden State orchards.
Beyond The Expected: This isn’t your typical ice cream parlor with just chocolate and vanilla (though those classics are always available and masterfully executed). You’ll discover blood orange sorbet, mascarpone combinations, chocolate rosemary, and even oyster ice cream made with Cape May oysters and Meyer lemon.
The vegan options aren’t afterthoughts either—they’re as inventive and carefully crafted as the dairy versions, with flavors like vegan cookies and cream and vegan coffee dark chocolate earning their own passionate fans.
The Tasting Experience: Don’t be shy about sampling—you can taste as many flavors as you need to find your perfect match. When you order a small, you’re actually getting two generous scoops, which means you can combine flavors in unexpected ways. Try pairing the honey ice cream with sweet corn, or mix their rich dark chocolate with plum sorbet for a sophisticated contrast.
Flavor Evolution: What makes these creations special is how they’re developed. Co-owner Gab Carbone distills her own extracts from raw ingredients, ensuring a direct connection between the farm and your spoon.
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Keep Exploring →Some flavors, like the chocolate hazelnut, reveal themselves in layers—starting with rich chocolate notes that gradually give way to subtle hazelnut undertones that remind you of fancy European confections.
Winter Specialties & Baked Treasures
The Legendary Hot Chocolate: When temperatures drop, this shop transforms into a hot chocolate destination that draws visitors from across the state.
The European-style hot chocolate is so thick and rich it’s like drinking melted chocolate bars—seriously, many people can’t finish a full cup because it’s that decadent.
You can get it classic style or kick it up with cayenne spice for a warming twist. The drink evolves as you sip it, especially when topped with their handcut marshmallows.
House-Made Marshmallows: These aren’t store-bought fluff. The shop makes their own marshmallows by hand and even toasts them campfire-style before placing them atop your hot chocolate.
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Discover MoreAs they melt into the bitter-sweet chocolate, they add creaminess and just the right amount of sweetness. You can purchase bags to take home, and yes, they even make mushroom-flavored versions using earthy maitake mushrooms.
Cupcake Perfection: The mini cupcakes have earned cult status among regulars. Made with real butter, free-range eggs, Madagascar vanilla, and fair-trade chocolate, these come in just two varieties—chocolate or yellow cake—topped with natural-colored buttercream or rich chocolate frosting.
At just over two dollars each, they’re the perfect addition to your ice cream order or a sweet treat on their own.
Cookie Selection: The bakery case features an array of house-made cookies including classic chocolate chunk, thin and crispy chocolate chunk, chocolate-oat walnut, oat-cranberry-pecan, fork-pressed peanut butter, and lemony sugar varieties.
You can build your own ice cream sandwich by choosing two cookies and your favorite ice cream flavor, or keep it simple with a single cookie served a la mode.
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Keep Exploring →The Palmer Square Experience
Cozy & Compact: This is a tiny shop—and we mean tiny. With just a couple seats inside, most visitors grab their treats and stroll through charming Palmer Square. The space feels intimate and almost magical, with handwritten signs and framed magazine articles decorating the walls.
The dim lighting and bustling energy behind the counter create an artisan workshop vibe rather than a standard ice cream parlor feel.
The Line Management: Yes, you’ll encounter lines, especially during summer evenings and weekends. But here’s the thing—the queue moves remarkably fast thanks to an organized system and efficient service.
The wait becomes part of the experience as you watch others sample flavors and debate their choices. Most people find the 10-15 minute wait absolutely worth it for what’s waiting at the counter.
Sustainable Choices: The shop serves everything in eco-friendly brown paper cups with wooden spoons, reflecting their commitment to environmental responsibility.
While some visitors need time adjusting to the non-plastic materials, most appreciate the shop’s dedication to sustainability and reducing waste. It’s all part of the shop’s larger mission to connect food, community, and environmental consciousness.
Planning Your Visit
Pricing Reality: This is premium artisan ice cream with pricing to match—expect to pay around nine dollars for a small cup with two scoops, and pints run about ten dollars.
Given the quality of ingredients, the creative flavors, and the generous portions, most visitors find the price justified for an occasional treat. Think of it as investing in a unique culinary experience rather than just buying ice cream.
Sampling Strategy: Take advantage of the generous sampling policy to explore adventurous flavors before committing. If you’re unsure about something like shiitake mushroom or Old Bay sweet corn ice cream, a taste will help you decide. Don’t feel rushed—the shop encourages exploration and discovery.
Timing Tips: Weekday afternoons tend to be less crowded than weekend evenings. The shop also offers a “Provisions” online ordering system where you can order pints and other items for next-day pickup, perfect if you want to skip the line entirely. Hours vary by day, with longer hours Friday through Sunday.
Parking Considerations: You’ll find metered street parking around Palmer Square, or there’s a parking garage nearby. The location is very walkable from Princeton University campus, making it a popular destination for students (they even accept Princeton dining points).
Special Offerings: Beyond scoops, you can order shakes, floats, and spoon sodas. The shop also sells their hot chocolate mix in tins so you can recreate the experience at home.
They partner with the Whole Earth Center on special pint projects that support Princeton school garden programs—so your purchase can give back to the community.
The Bent Spoon
📍 35 Palmer Square W, Princeton, NJ 08542
