This Classic Florida Ice Cream Parlor Has Been Serving Award-Winning Scoops For Decades
I almost drove past it. One glance through the windshield changed everything.
A line stretched out the door in the Florida heat, and nobody looked annoyed about waiting. That told me everything I needed to know.
Some ice cream parlors are just places to grab a scoop. Others are institutions, the kind that entire childhoods are built around.
This one falls firmly in the second category. The state of Florida has no shortage of sweet spots, but every so often you find one that rises above the rest.
Locals know it. Tourists stumble upon it and immediately tell their friends.
I did exactly that. After one visit, I understood why this place has been collecting awards and loyal fans for decades.
The state does sunshine better than anywhere, and apparently, it does ice cream pretty well too.
A Legacy That Started In 1956
Seventy years is a long time to keep anyone happy, but this parlor has managed it with style. Monroe Udell opened Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant in 1956 with one clear goal.
He wanted to make the finest food and ice cream humanly possible.
That mission never wavered, not even a little. After Monroe passed in 2014, his daughter Linda Udell Zakheim stepped up and kept the flame burning.
She did not just maintain the standard, she honored it completely.
Dania Beach honored the parlor with a Key to the City in 2006, marking its 50th anniversary. The city later declared Monroe Udell Street in 2012.
That is not just recognition, that is a community saying thank you for showing up every single day for generations.
This place has always been about more than ice cream, and its community roots still show at 128 S. Federal Highway, Dania Beach, Florida, today.
Homemade Ice Cream Made Fresh Every Single Day
Not all ice cream is created equal, and one taste here makes that crystal clear. Every single flavor at Jaxson’s is made in-house, daily, using an old-fashioned batch-by-batch method.
There is no rushing, no cutting corners, and no mystery ingredients.
The result is a richness that store-bought simply cannot replicate. You can taste the difference in the first spoonful.
It is dense, creamy, and packed with real flavor that lingers long after the bowl is empty.
Over 50 flavors are available at any given time, along with sherbets and yogurts. Seasonal flavors rotate in to keep things exciting.
Fat-free, dairy-free, vegan, and sugar-free options are also on the menu, so nobody feels left out.
The black raspberry flavor has earned a devoted following all on its own. Cookies and cream reportedly contains nearly half cookie per scoop.
That kind of generosity is baked right into the philosophy of this place, and it shows up in every single serving that comes out of that kitchen.
The Original Kitchen Sink Sundae
Few desserts in America arrive with a siren and sparklers, but this one does. The Original Kitchen Sink is served in a literal kitchen sink and is designed for at least four people to share.
It is an event as much as it is a dessert.
Inside that sink you will find four one-pound scoops of ice cream, fresh bananas, house-made whipped cream, nuts, cherries, and a generous pour of homemade syrups. The presentation is completely over the top in the best possible way.
Food Network featured it on the show Outrageous Food, and it absolutely earned that title. The Kitchen Sink has also appeared on segments about the best ice cream sundaes in the country.
Once you see it arrive at your table, you understand every bit of the hype.
Ordering it is a commitment, and finishing it is a genuine achievement. Groups who tackle it together tend to leave with huge smiles and a shared story.
That is the kind of menu item that turns a meal into a memory worth talking about for years.
A Nostalgic Atmosphere Unlike Anything Else
Somebody once told me the best restaurants have souls. This one has an entire personality.
Every wall, ceiling, and corner is covered in carefully collected memorabilia spanning decades. Antique license plates, vintage advertisement posters, old-school signs, and household trinkets from eras long past fill every inch of the space.
It is an impressively packed collection of American memorabilia, with something to notice in nearly every direction. Kids who have never seen a rotary phone stand wide-eyed asking questions.
Adults who grew up with this stuff feel an unexpected wave of warmth wash over them.
Tiffany-style lamps hang overhead, casting a warm glow across the bustling dining room. The noise level is lively and full of energy, but it suits the atmosphere perfectly.
Quiet and calm would feel wrong here.
Complimentary popcorn arrives at your table the moment you sit down, and it is genuinely good popcorn. The whole experience feels like a carnival and a diner and a museum rolled into one unforgettable package.
No two visits feel exactly the same because there is always something new to notice on those incredible walls.
The Country Store That Pulls You Back In Time
Most restaurants do not have a candy store attached, but most restaurants are not Jaxson’s. Tucked inside is a full country store section that feels like a time machine set to your childhood.
The shelves are stacked with old-school candies, novelty toys, and treats you forgot even existed.
You will find yourself reaching for things you have not thought about in twenty years. Wax bottles, candy buttons, and fizzy powders sit alongside quirky little novelty gifts.
It is the kind of place where you go in for one thing and come out with a paper bag full of nostalgia.
Kids absolutely love this section, though adults tend to spend just as long browsing the shelves. There is something genuinely delightful about rediscovering a candy from your past.
It adds another full layer of fun to an already packed experience.
The store also sells Jaxson’s branded items and unique souvenirs. Nothing in there feels mass-produced or generic.
Every item has been selected with the same care that goes into the ice cream, and that thoughtfulness is something you notice the moment you start browsing the colorful, crowded shelves.
A Full Restaurant Menu Worth Exploring
Ice cream might be the headliner, but the food menu at Jaxson’s absolutely holds its own. Classic American comfort food fills the menu from top to bottom.
Burgers, hot dogs, deli sandwiches, and hearty diner plates all make an appearance.
Portions here are famously generous, and that reputation is well earned. A mushroom burger arrives stacked and satisfying.
A banana split is large enough to share between two people without either person feeling shortchanged.
The giant pretzel is a crowd favorite that pairs surprisingly well with the house-made cola. Yes, they make their own Jaxson Cola and a lemon-lime soda instead of serving major brands.
Both have a clean, refreshing flavor that complements the rich food perfectly.
The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 AM to 11 PM, and stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
National Recognition And Award-Winning Status
Some places earn a loyal crowd. Jaxson’s earned a national spotlight and kept it for decades.
The Food Network featured the parlor on multiple shows, including Outrageous Food and 50 States of Kid-Friendly Restaurants. Good Morning America named it a finalist for the Nation’s Best Ice Cream Shop.
Bon Appetit, Southern Living, Cosmopolitan, and Reader’s Digest have all given it serious praise. USA Today listed it among the best restaurants near the cruise port in Fort Lauderdale.
The Sun Sentinel awarded it Gold for Dessert and Silver for Frozen Treats across multiple years.
Fort Lauderdale Magazine has handed it multiple Best Ice Cream wins over the years. Trips to Discover placed it among the 15 Best Ice Cream Shops in the entire state.
Zagat rated it, and Univision has featured it as well.
All of that recognition did not change the way the place operates. The ice cream is still made the same way it was in 1956.
The food is still generous, the atmosphere is still joyful, and the commitment to quality remains exactly what Monroe Udell set out to build all those decades ago.
Banana Splits And Sundaes Built For Sharing
There is a reason the banana split at Jaxson’s keeps showing up in conversation long after the visit ends. You choose your own flavors, and the combinations are nearly endless given the 50-plus options available.
The result lands on your table looking almost too beautiful to eat.
Almost. The ice cream is smooth, the sauces are made in-house, and the whole thing is assembled with obvious care.
A cookie trio banana split loaded with Cookie Monster, cookie dough, and Oreo ice cream is one popular build that disappears fast.
The jumbo sampler is another crowd-pleaser, reportedly enough for two or three people with healthy appetites. Every sundae comes with a small American flag tucked into the top.
That tiny detail somehow makes every bite feel a little more festive and fun.
These are not small, delicate desserts designed to look good on a plate. They are towering, generous creations built for real enjoyment and real sharing.
Coming here with a group and ordering multiple sundaes to pass around the table is honestly one of the best ways to experience everything this legendary menu has to offer.
Why Jaxson’s Keeps Bringing Everyone Back
Loyalty like this does not happen by accident. People drive over an hour just to sit down at a table here, and they plan the trip weeks in advance.
That kind of dedication says everything about what this place gets right, consistently, visit after visit.
The complimentary popcorn, the festive flags on every dish, the siren that accompanies the Kitchen Sink, these are the small touches that add up to something much larger. Every detail feels intentional.
Nothing here feels like an afterthought.
The cycle keeps repeating because the experience keeps delivering. Few places manage to be beloved by multiple generations without losing their soul along the way.
Jaxson’s has figured out exactly how to do it, and they make it look completely effortless every single time the doors open at 11:30 AM.
