Cows Rock Ice Cream

Stopped in near closing time and was the only customer. While the owner hand packed two quarts of ice cream we had a nice chat which included an honest conversation of how the business was doing. I think many of the complaints listed by other Unilocalers are trying to be addressed by the owners. I hope people give Cow’s Rock a chance. Good things take time… and local support. I’ve been to all the area ice cream shoppes and have had good and bad experiences with them all. It’s not easy starting your own business so maybe with customer patience and constructive criticism these folks will survive. I’m going back… you should too!

At first I was not impressed with this place, but as time went on and I tried it a few more times it got much better. Their main issue was an employee with very bad skills and attitude but they quickly took care of that. I’m glad to say I now have a good local place to go with quality ice cream and service!

Reviews mentioning small portions and odd layout are what I experienced too. Not sure why the inside was setup as it is but there is no inside seating (will they close in winter?) and the space to get ice cream requires the servers cross a huge space to top ice cream.
I really want this place to succeed as Old Center North Andover could use an ice cream stop considering the great youth center and beautiful green. But the prices verses portion and lack of inside seating will keep me from coming back once it gets cooler. They could add a few round tables instead of a drink cooler.
I hope they reconfigure the inside and adjust prices a bit. If so they will get kids streaming in for many years.

The service was fine, although I was the only one in the shop. I asked for a small sundea with no whipped cream. got barely one tiny scoop of ice cream and a tablespoon of hot fudge for $ 4. Literally took me about four spoonfuls and it was gone.
The ice cream and fudge was good, what there was of it. When I looked at the cup she asked me if there was too much hot fudge in it! Ha… better step up the portions or they’ll be OOB soon.

It takes effort to mess up Italian ice, but this place has done it! Odd chunks of unflavored/​uncolored ice does not add to the flavor.
Additionally, I saw the sign that they provide no public (or, apparently, customer) bathrooms, but when you’ve got a six year old about ready to pee on the floor on in front of you, it might be nice to show a little flexibility and compassion on that policy. (At least a boy can pee on the exterior wall of the store instead.)

This place needs some help. I tried it a few weeks ago after playing at the park with my kids. The first thing I noticed was that the area for the employees /​food prep was huge and there was no space for the customers. No tables. No where outside to sit. So I ordered two kids sized cups. The girl/​owner (?) told me they don’t have kids sizes. What? Next to a park and a youth center? She said they called it small. Ok, whatever. The small was smaller than a kids size and cost $ 3.25. We sat outside on the gravel next to the car. It was weird. Also I drive by all the time and notice the door is always closed. It seems unwelcoming. Some tables out front, an open door, and kids sizes would go a long way. I don’t think this place will survive. I like the name though.

Well when I went there at 7pm tonight on a beautifully bright Friday evening for the first time I was prepared for a long wait — as anyone that has been to Treadwell’s, Smolak Farms or Richardson’s Ice Cream can attest — this is prime ice cream time. When I was able to park right in front and go in with only one other lone customer inside, it was my first clue that something was definitely amiss. Especially considering it’s right next to a playground and youth center full of kids.
The service was slow with young high school kids working the counter with no supervision and we were informed the owner had already left for the day. They were all over the place in terms of service.
My order consisted of 3 «large» hot fudge sundaes. However their «large» is a joke. I’m not expecting a whole pint of ice cream or anything but I legitimately thought they had given me the wrong sizes before they explained otherwise. I guess I should have paid better attention. Their small size was about the size of a small Hoodsie cup I used to get in grade school. Certainly not worth what they were charging for them and especially when they don’t even fill the dish with ice cream and then load half of it with the most bitter tasting hot fudge I’ve ever had. The hot fudge was so bad that I was forced to eat around it because it completely ruined the taste. The whip cream was painted on so fine I could barely distinguish it and they forgot my cherry. My friends and I all agreed to cross this place off our lists.
They get two stars solely because they had the good sense to serve Richardson’s ice cream. That’s it. It’s definitely worth the ride straight to Richardson’s in Middleton the next time we have a craving rather than ever going here again.

Good ice cream, from Richardson’s. Nothing too fancy but a good go to place for the locals.

Went here for the first time with a large group this past Wednesday night, and was taken aback by the rude manner in which the customer before us was being treated. He was a coach, and he had brought his whole team. Apparently there was some dispute as to how many ice creams he had ordered.
To my mind «the customer is always right», and all the more so when the shop has just opened and is presumably trying to build a clientele. But the owner did not seem to have this philosophy, and for the sake of the few extra bucks that she ultimately squeezed out of this guy she will lose his future business and mine.
Furthermore the service was slow and the shop lacking in seating and any kind of charm in how it is decorated. With so many other great alternatives nearby (Smolak, Mad Maggie’s, Pazzo and Dolce Freddo Gelato) why would anyone waste their money here?