The votes are in: Here is who you chose for the best ice cream in the Charlotte area.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published Aug. 1, 2022, and has been updated. Since then, Artisen Gelato hanged its name to Artisen Vegelatos, then changed it back again to Artisen Gelato..
Few things beat the heat or soothe the soul like the sweet taste of comforting ice cream — and it’s even better when it’s from a local shop. Whether you prefer a classic strawberry cone, a banana split with all the toppings or a handcrafted dairy-free creation, it hits the spot.
So we asked you to tell us your favorite places to grab a cone or a sundae in and around Charlotte for our latest Readers’ Choice contest, and, wow, you delivered.
We started with a list of the 48 places you call best: You were liberal with your definitions for ice cream, including gelato, custard and popsicles in the mix. Hey, all’s fair in love and summer treats. After six rounds of voting and more than 600,000 votes, CharlotteFive readers have declared the winner: Artisen Gelato.
The final round of votes were the closest yet, and we’d love to extend a big congratulations to Whit’s Custard for the close second. Here’s more about both places:
Artisen Gelato
Location: 301 W. John St. Matthews, North Carolina 28105
Neighborhood: Matthews
Since it started out in 2017, Artisen Gelato in Matthews has been offering allergy-free gelato, meaning the shop caters to multiple allergens: including nut free, soy free and dairy free desserts. Artisen’s latest creations include classic flavors like Rum and Raisin, Brownie and Cookie Dough. Seasonal flavors include Peppermint Bark, Passion Cheesecake and S’mores.
If owner Manolo Betancur looks familiar, it may be from your last visit to Manolo’s Bakery on Central Avenue. Betancur, who owns both places, was named the Tiptree World Bread Awards winner of the US Bread Hero competition back in November. He was also recently featured in CharlotteFive for his love of baking quinceañera cakes for Charlotte’s Latin American community.
“We believe that this is the future, that this is the closest to perfection,” Betancur told CharlotteFive, referring to the shop’s allergy-friendly selection of gelato. He said his wife and her team run the shop, creating “the best gelato that you can have in the nation.”
Watch the video at top and check out the gallery below to learn more about Artisen Gelato.
Whit’s Frozen Custard
Location: 428 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
Neighborhood: Davidson
Location: 10410 Arahova Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078
Neighborhood: Huntersville
Location: 1642 Highway 160 West, Fort Mill, SC 29708
Neighborhood: Fort Mill
Whit’s Frozen Custard makes its custard fresh each day, using three key ingredients: cream, eggs and sugar. This makes the frozen treat thicker, smoother and creamier than ice cream. When visiting, make sure to try the Whitser of the Month, a frozen treat with toppings blended in that’s made special for each month, and the Whittie of the Month, an ice cream sandwich made with cookies baked in-house.
“We are frozen custard, not really ice cream — but it’s like ice cream,” said David Berlin of Whit’s Fort Mill location. “When you come in and order a scoop or a sundae or a shake or a Whitser, then you’re getting that custard that’s made that day,” he said — sometimes, the custard has been made within the past couple of hours or even right as you walk in the door.
Check out the video and the gallery below to learn more about Whit’s Frozen Custard:
Read more on CharlotteFive Readers’ Choice winners:
This story was originally published August 1, 2022 at 6:05 AM.