The Mysterious NYC Ice Cream Shop That Gives You A Random Order

Whether you have just discovered the joy of dipping fries in maple syrup or the thing that makes Brooklyn-style pizza unique, one thing remains true: the New York City food scene is iconic, unique, and unforgettable. The mysterious NYC ice cream shop that gives you a random order is no different. Nestled in the heart of the East Village, an eye-catching yet oddly bare storefront waits patiently for a pedestrian to do a double take. The vibrant purple space above the door sports only the name of the business written in small, swirly font and tucked away in the corner: Surprise Scoop. 

A peek through the glass windows only adds to the intrigue. Unless other curious souls have already been pulled in by the allure of Surprise Scoop, the storefront seems to be empty apart from a couple of ordering kiosks. Walk up to those kiosks, and you'll see the only menu item for sale: Surprise Ice Cream. After guests list allergies, favorite flavors, and serving size, they wait patiently for their treat to be served through a question mark-bedecked pick-up window. Practically no interaction with staff members takes place.

With only toppings and taste buds to guide them, guests are left to the task of enjoying their scoops while trying to pin down what, exactly, their ice cream tastes like. Those tastes can get pretty wild, too. With previous flavors ranging from Flamin' Hot Cheetos to Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese, you really never know what flavor will surprise you in your next scoop.

So, is the ice cream at Surprise Scoop any good? Some people feel that all of the allure is in the surprise factor of the shop and perhaps not in the ice cream itself. On a Reddit forum debating whether Surprise Scoop is worth visiting, some users argued that ice cream fanatics would be better off enjoying a scoop from shops with higher quality ice cream. As one user commented, "Based on flavor alone it doesn't seem worth it. If you really like surprises, go for it. Otherwise, there's better ice cream out there." Still, others have reported that they liked what they got, and certainly Surprise Scoop is a worthy stop in the spirit of adventure. 

To be fair, Surprise Scoop clearly advertises itself as a "flavor roulette" ice cream shop. While the ice cream itself may or may not exceed your expectations, a large part of Surprise Scoop's charm is in the experience it provides. While not every guest enjoys the flavor, quality, or cost of the ice cream itself, a vast majority appreciate the concept and experience (and also the ice cream). 

Many guests consider Surprise Scoop to be a great option for a day out with friends or loved ones, creating opportunities to swap flavors in the process. Should your adventurous spirit pull you through Surprise Scoop's door, be sure you embrace your mystery flavor with an open mind ... which might be easier once you learn that grape ice cream probably isn't on the menu.