By Mike Anderson
A friend once said that she hardly saw the point in traveling anymore. Everywhere you go, she observed, you see the same corporate stores and restaurants, and local flavor is hard to find. Fortunately, the Seacoast region is a fine exception to this rule.
We still love our local flavor, and nowhere is this better displayed than in our shops, cafes and restaurants. Among these, The Ice House in Rye is a paramount example.
The Ice House has been satisfying seafood lovers and serving generous scoops of ice cream since 1980. Keith and Kathy Malinowski opened the restaurant in a 1950s building that incorporated an old tugboat pilot house.
The Malinowskis are still there, going strong with several generations of the family working beside them.
The family renovated the building in 2002.
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The tugboat cabin is gone, but the restaurant retains its simple charm. A family friend, Linda Ladd Fife, painted lighthearted murals in various places on the property.
The Ice House also retains its quality ice cream and generous servings. A “small” ice cream from The Ice House is like a large serving from your average ice cream shop.
As you peruse the menu for lunch or dinner, be sure to save plenty of room for dessert.
The menu has a lot to offer, especially for seafood lovers, who can choose from fried shrimp, calamari, scallops, clams and lobster rolls. The well-rounded menu also includes several appetizers, salads, chowders, chili, burgers, hot dogs, and more.
All fried dishes are cooked in vegetable oil, which has no cholesterol and is low in saturated fat, as the restaurant’s website explains. Kids can enjoy fried haddock, chicken tenders or mac ‘n cheese.
After your meal (or any time you want) you can check out the ice cream menu. The Ice House offers over 40 ice cream flavors, as well as frozen yogurt and sorbet.
Servings are more than generous. If you want more than a big scoop or two of ice cream, try something else from the “scoop girls,” as they call their ice cream servers. Options include sundaes, frappes, sherbet freezes, ice cream sodas, banana splits, floats and malts.
If you can still move after all that food and ice cream, there’s plenty to see in the area.
Drive down the road and explore the island village of Newcastle. Great Island Common has a small beach and offers views of the lighthouses.
You could also visit Odiorne Point State Park and check out the Seacoast Science Center. You can easily turn your ice cream indulgence into a sweet day of exploration and leisure.
The Ice House is located at 112 Wentworth Road in Rye, NH. They will remain open until mid-October. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. For more information on the store or business hours, call (603) 431-3086 or visit https://theicehouserestaurant.com/food-drink/ice-cream/
Image credits: Mike Anderson
