Although I am a believer that it's never too cold for ice cream (at least not in the Bay Area), I can see how the thought of a thick, ice-cold mikshake on a rainy afternoon doesn't sound very appealing. BUT, now that the weather's starting to turn around in our favor -- yay sunshine and temperatures in the 70s! -- you must admit that sipping a milkshake while strolling down the street in your flip-flops sounds downright awesome. Which brings us to the Peninsula Creamery.
The Creamery has been serving up milkshakes for about 75 years, and you know what they say about practice making things perfect. Their shakes are just right: thick (but not so much that you can't use a straw), creamy (but not too heavy), sweet (but not to the point where you can't get through half a glass). My favorite is the mint chip, but the cookies and cream is also a popular choice.
A lot of folks refer to the Palo Alto Creamery Fountain & Grill -- which has a location downtown and at the Stanford Shopping Center -- as "The Creamery." But it isn't; they are two separate operations. The owner of the original Creamery leases the downtown space to the Fountain.
So if you want the best milkshake in town, be sure to head to the corner of High Street and Channing Avenue. If you need a bit more fuel, the Creamery also serves typical diner fare. But I don't know anything about the food -- I come here strictly for the shakes.
(Note: The last time I checked, the Creamery's hours were 7am-5pm, Monday through Friday.)
Peninsula Creamery Dairy Store & Grill
900 High Street
Palo Alto, CA
(650) 323-3176
