INSIDE SCOOP

5 Water Street, Port Jervis NY

845-856-8560 • riversidecreamery.com

Seasonal: Open March-October daily: Sun-Thurs 12-9pm • Fri + Sat 12-10pm

Living on the riverside taking it all in my stride

Living on the riverside, I'm taking life like a big long ride

You stay on your side and I'll stay on mine

You take what you want and I'll take the sunshine

Riverside - America

In our youth, we think that everything that was had always been and would always be. As we grow, we realize that such is not the case and that our memories may be the only things that stay. In my case, even that is not a foregone conclusion.

I go through many ‘Best Of’ ice cream lists for lots of states, ticking off those we’ve visited and those on the ‘To Do’ list. In a recent New York listing that came across my inbox, the Riverside Creamery was featured. I noted the location and there was a slight niggling in the back of my brain. Long before there was an ‘Inside Scoop’ I seem to remember visiting this location with folks we were riding with that day. Was it for a lunch stop or just a summertime treat of ice cream? Hmmm, let me do a little digging and see if my irresponsible memory can come up with something.

Nestled along the banks of the Delaware River, adjacent to the Mid-Delaware suspension bridge connecting Port Jervis, NY to Matamoras, PA there once was a flourishing restaurant/tea shop named Flo-Jean’s. From an idea born in the late 1920s by General Motors executive Harold Dalrymple and novelist Zane Grey, while fishing on the Delaware, Flo-Jean’s El patio Tea Shop, run by Dalrymple’s wife Florence and her sister Jean, was the place to go for Sunday dinners, special occasions and an always delicious and moderately priced meal. Once a Toll House, until tolls were eliminated in 1922, Flo-Jean’s enjoyed a long life and saw many families celebrate, creating lasting memories.

Unfortunately, the Delaware was both a blessing and a curse, as more times than can be remembered its waters and aquatic life came through the doors. In 1955, Hurricane Diane caused major damage to the tri-state area and forced Flo-Jean’s to shut its doors. After a change in ownership, the building eventually fell into such disrepair that it had to be demolished in 2015.

The Riverside Creamery was originally used as a breakfast spot for the overnight travelers in the boarding house across the street. Florence spared no expense when designing the shop, and everything was top of the line, with the Bastin Blessing soda fountain and Batch freezer producing 6 flavors of ice cream for the shop and restaurant next door. 

Riverside Creamery was renovated and restored and opened in 1999, taking special care to keep the décor as close to the original as possible. The antique soda fountain was in a state of disrepair and custom-made parts were needed to restore it to its former glory. The counter, paneling and floors are all original and the oil on canvas painting on the wall has survived 75 years and three floods. Their red leather covered seating harkens back to the days of the old-fashioned ice cream parlor, complete with black and white checkered tablecloths, vintage posters, and the sweet smell of homemade waffle cones.

What I believed was a visit to Flo-Jean’s was actually a stop to the Riverside Creamery, now celebrating 25 years of ice cream scooping. Perhaps the decrepit building that once housed Flo-Jean’s was still standing and that’s what stuck in my mind. Whatever the reason, I was glad that we took a spin to the nostalgic parlor serving homemade ice cream one Sunday afternoon.

I’ll start with flavors, which are made in-house in small batches and ever-changing, so here are a few that were available during our visit: Almond Joy, Black Raspberry, Death by Chocolate, French Roast Coffee and Pistachio Nut; just a smattering to tempt your tastebuds.

My normal reviews of ice cream shops include how you can get your ice cream; cup, cone, sundae, etc. Riverside Creamery gave me much more to offer you, as their signature desserts run the gamut from a warm apple dumpling a la mode to their infamous Deep Fried Ice Cream and Dorkos. You can imagine what deep fried ice cream would be, but a Dorkos? Well, that is Oreo cookies batter-dipped and fried, topped with hot fudge and marshmallow and dusted with powdered sugar – add your favorite flavor ice cream to keep it extra decadent. And since Riverside is famous for their deep fried ice cream, I’ll tell you it’s vanilla ice cream frozen and dipped in funnel cake batter, then deep-fried and topped with hot fudge and powdered sugar. Yes, we tried that.

Some of their other creative and delicious offerings include Pecan Crunch Bread Pudding (bread pudding served warm with brown sugar pecan topping, cinnamon and nutmeg, topped with vanilla soft serve), any number of sundaes which include fresh-baked brownies, waffles or other goodies with your choice of ice cream and a plethora of toppings – don’t forget the whipped cream and cherry.

Riverside Creamery is not just about cream, they serve meals as well, including hot dogs, burgers, paninis, quesadillas and flat bread pizzas.

There are some terrific roads around Port Jervis, most paved and some not, which will certainly work up your appetite. Take a spin to the Riverside Creamery and indulge your sweet tooth.