Knudsen’s Ice Creamery. Just a Lick Away from the Tri-Valley Area.

March 3, 2009

$Knudsen\'s Ice Creamery$ I scream for ice cream. I have several top contenders for favorite flavors. If you, like me, are an ice cream aficionado, then you’re in luck. There’s a family-friendly creamery with tons of charm just west of the Tri-Valley in nearby Castro Valley that will satisfy your creamy cravings.

According to the Knudsen’s Ice Creamery website, Dave and Kathy Knudsen have been in the candy and ice cream business for a long while. First in San Francisco, the Knudsen’s owned an ice cream store, and then in Hayward the couple bought and expanded The Candy Factory. In 2004, the Knudsen’s opened Knudsen’s Ice Creamery in a Castro Valley location that was formerly a different ice cream store. The Knudsen’s remodeled the store and also added a working candy factory. In 2005, the Knudsen’s also began to make their own ice cream (Fenton’s had served well as their ice cream supplier when they originally opened.

Located conveniently on Castro Valley Blvd. (take the Strobridge exit from the 580, head east on Castro Valley Blvd, creamery will be on the south side of the street), this family-owned and operated restaurant is a real eating experience. When I was trying to think about why I liked my meal at Knudsen’s so much, I realized that a trip to Knudsen’s feels like you are transported to a small-town diner, where everyone knows each other and shouts a “Hi there!” when you enter the door. It has a local vibe where everyone seems happy and content.

Another reason to love Knudsen’s is that even though the creamery feels small-town, it has modern bonuses. Knudsen’s take their ingredients seriously. The Knudsen’s proudly serve Niman Ranch Black Angus All Natural Beef for their burgers and Miller’s All Beef Hot Dogs, produced in Oakland since 1910. They also use Zero Trans Fat (ZTF) canola oil in their deep fryers, and their menu states that they are working to change over as many items as possible to ZTF.

Almost everyone in my party had burgers, and they were juicy and nicely-sized. The kids’ meals are a good value with soda or apple juice and a side of fruit cocktail, applesauce, chips, or fries accompanying the main meal. Next time, I would like to try their house specialty, a crab salad sandwich (made with real crab).

And then there came the ice cream! The ice cream is homemade and so very creamy. Large mounds of ice cream arrive to a table full of smiles. The menu states that their hot fudge is homemade, a real treat! Don’t forget to stop by the candy counter on the way out. You may be able to see candy in the process of being made and you can definitely purchase their unique and tasty treats.

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