ICE CREAM in New York: Marvel Creamery

What do you think of when you hear about an ice cream shop called Marvel? At first, I assumed this was a shop where you “marvel” at the amazing soft serve ice cream. Or maybe it’s a cheap ploy to get comic book fans here. But then it dawned on me, when pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable, Marvel is suspiciously one letter off from another beloved east coast-based ice cream shop.

I can’t imagine this is a coincidence – is it?

Regardless, I found my way to Marvel’s most recent location in Astoria, along my path from the subway to my old apartment. However you pronounce it, Marvel has been an institution on Long Island since 1951. Their third location (in 50 years) is the closest they have gotten to the big city.

In Astoria, it’s just off the main drag of 30th Avenue and basically just a big window. Not sure how they operate out on the island, but this does feel much more like a beach-side stand than a city ice cream shop.

No matter. The soft serve flavors went a bit deeper than the usual chocolate and vanilla. And, of course, they attempt to upsell all their sundaes and toppings.

I decided to do a swirl of Coffee (my favorite flavor) and Dulce de Lethe (usually a bit too sweet for me).

I don’t think this is the most perfect combination, but they are certainly not offensive together. I did get a nice hit of coffee on my first lick, although it had a slight artificial flavor. Coffee seems to be the easiest natural flavor to use since you just brew up a pot, but I imagine this was not all natural.

After the first initial coffee note, it slowly devolved into a general sweet cream flavor perhaps it was the overpowered by the dulce de leche. And although it was sweet, I didn’t get any of that expected caramelization flavor.

It quickly turned into just a cold sweet sensation on a hot day. And while it left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth (perhaps from the coffee?), it was certainly not unpleasant.

We never really had anything quite like this in this part of Astoria when I lived here, so it’s a welcome addition, although I’m thinking I may open up a shop nearby. How does the name Maskin’ Sobbin sound?