Sugar Bowl

Such a Sweet Ice Cream Parlor

Pink-upholstered booths welcome customers in search of comfort. A swift young staff carries raspberry glaciers (Sprite and sherbet), golden nuggets (Sprite, sherbet, and ice cream), and Turkish coffee sodas. Yes, the Sugar Bowl is a classic American ice cream parlor. In particular, we recommend a Camelback soda, made with either vanilla or coffee ice cream. And malt lovers, rejoice! Sugar Bowl’s “extra luscious malts” come in a tall glass lined with your choice of marshmallow, hot fudge, or caramel sauce.

Lunch, Too

Ice cream treats take center stage. But the Sugar Bowl offers a full menu of well-crafted sandwiches. They bake a wonderful meat loaf that goes so well in a sourdough bread sandwich. Of course, a portion of the menu highlights toasted double decker sandwiches. All feature turkey. The next level can contain ham, bacon, or corned beef. Or choose a hamburger, a patty melt, or a chili dog.

A Classic

In an age when nutritional nannies wag their fingers at sugar itself, we would like this place only for its name. But that is just a manifestation of the unrepentant classicism that makes the Sugar Bowl such a treasure. Where else do you have the opportunity to order such bygone faves as a Dusty Road, a Banana Royale Split, and a classic Tin Roof sundae? These soda fountain masterworks are all the better for the jolly pink setting.

Cultural Landmark

Several years ago, Roadfooder Charlene Kingston wrote to tell us, “The Sugar Bowl is the name of the ice cream counter that [comic-book character] Dennis the Menace visits, named after this restaurant. Hank Ketcham [Dennis’s creator] used to come and visit Bil Keane (creator of Family Circus) who lived in Scottsdale near this famous local landmark, and he used the name in his strip as an inside joke with Keane.” So not only is it a classic American ice cream parlor. It earns cultural landmark status, too!