Homemade Ice Cream and Italian Ice in Westchester: Walter's and Four Local Favorites

Walter's Hot Dogs has been serving the same hot dog from the same pagoda-shaped building in Mamaroneck since 1919. What surprises a lot of first-timers is what comes after the hot dog. Walter's makes its own ice cream and Italian ice, and for plenty of regulars, it's as much a part of the visit as the hot dog itself.

Here's what to order, how to make it a full afternoon, and four more local ice cream spots worth the trip.

Does Walter's make its own ice cream?

Yes. Walter's makes homemade ice cream and homemade Italian ice in house. It's made right at Walter's, the same way the stand has always done things: one recipe, done well, every time.

The ice cream is rich and creamy. The Italian ice is lighter, a cold, refreshing finish after a couple of hot dogs on a warm afternoon. You can order either one by the scoop (one, two, or three), and the ice cream also comes by the pint to take home.

What can you order with Walter's ice cream?

The homemade scoops show up all over the menu at the Mamaroneck stand:

• Ice cream floats: Coke, Diet Coke, Root Beer, Creamsicle, or Sprite, with two scoops of homemade ice cream

• Italian ice floats: Sprite, lemonade, or seltzer with two scoops of homemade Italian ice

• Ice cream soda: a classic New York egg cream with two scoops of homemade ice cream

• Hot chocolate float: two scoops of homemade ice cream in hot chocolate, made for the colder months

• Funnel cake sticks deluxe: funnel cake sticks with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream and chocolate or caramel syrup

• Cinnamon sticks deluxe: the same treatment, with cinnamon sticks

The float menu is a throwback to the soda fountain era, and it fits right in at a stand that's been doing things the same way for over 100 years. Menus vary by location and truck, so check what's available before you go.

What goes best with a Walter's hot dog?

There's no wrong answer, but here's an easy way to build the visit. Start with a couple of hot dogs with Walter's mustard. Cool down with an Italian ice float. If you still have room, finish with funnel cake sticks and a scoop of vanilla.

That's a full afternoon at the pagoda in three orders.

Does Walter's have ice cream for dogs?

Yes. Walter's serves doggie ice cream, so the four-legged members of the family don't have to sit out dessert. It's a small thing, but it's part of why Walter's feels like a neighborhood spot and not just a place to grab a bite.

Can I get Walter's ice cream at my event?

Yes. Ice cream is available as a catering add-on for private events. Walter's runs a fleet of five food trucks across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, including a dedicated truck based in Connecticut, so you can pair the hot dogs with something cold for the whole crowd.

To add ice cream to your booking, call (914) 400-3164 or email truck@waltershotdogs.com. For peak summer Saturdays, book three or more months ahead. You can see more on the food truck page.

Where else can you get great ice cream near Westchester?

Walter's is one stop on a great local ice cream map. Here are four more favorites worth the trip.

Bona Bona Ice Cream, Port Chester. Bona Bona is the creation of Nick Di Bona, a Food Network "Chopped" winner. His story started close to home at his Larchmont restaurant, Madison Kitchen, before he took his ice cream on the road with a truck and opened the shop at 10 Westchester Avenue. Order your cone "Bona style," topped with torched Italian meringue, and try flavors like Holy Cannoli, Rainbow Cookie, or Nutella S'mores. There's even a Sprinkle Room for parties.

Mimi's Gelato, Scarsdale. Mimi's is a neighborhood gelato and crepe shop at 51 East Parkway. Get a cup of gelato on its own, or go all in with a dessert crepe like the Dubai, with kataifi crunch, pistachio cream, and chocolate ganache.

Anita Gelato, Manhattan. Anita Gelato started in a family kitchen, with Mama Anita and her son Nir making frozen treats for friends and neighbors, then selling them from a cart at a local market. Today it has shops around the world, including Times Square, and a rotation of more than 150 flavors churned in house.

Caffè Panna, Manhattan. Caffè Panna is an Italian-style ice cream shop named for panna, the fresh whipped cream Italians spoon over dessert. It's a worthy stop for anyone who loves the classic Italian approach to a scoop.

Why do local ice cream shops matter?

The best ice cream shops have a lot in common with the best hot dog stands. They do one thing well, they become part of the neighborhood, and people keep coming back year after year. That's true at the pagoda on Palmer Avenue, and it's true at every shop on this list.

Supporting them is how those traditions make it to the next generation.