You’re walking off the sand at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park. The salt is still crusting on your skin, and the sun has basically cooked your brain for the last four hours. You need sugar. You need cold. But you don't want that chalky, mass-produced stuff from a boardwalk stand that tastes like frozen cardboard.
Enter Nicholas Creamery Long Branch.
It is tucked into a sleek little corner at 444 Ocean Blvd N, and honestly, it’s a bit of a local legend for a reason. This isn't just another ice cream shop. It’s the brainchild of Nicholas Harary, the guy who ran the high-end Restaurant Nicholas in Middletown for two decades. When a fine-dining chef decides to make sprinkles and scoops his primary mission, things get weird in the best way possible.
What is the Nicholas Creamery Long Branch Experience Really Like?
Most people expect a standard Jersey Shore ice cream parlor. You know the vibe: neon signs, sticky tables, and thirty variations of "blue." Nicholas Creamery is the opposite. It’s got that modern farmhouse aesthetic—clean, black-and-white, and somehow feels more like a boutique than a snack shop.
The line is often out the door. Don't let that scare you. It moves fast, and the reward is a texture that some regulars describe as "melty" or "gooey."
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That’s intentional.
Because they make everything in small batches at their "Yum Yum Factory" in Tinton Falls, the ice cream doesn't have those stabilizing gums and chemicals that keep supermarket tubs frozen solid for three years. It’s soft. It’s rich. It’s high-fat in the way that makes your heart skip a beat but your soul feel seen.
The Flavors That Mess With Your Head
If you go to Nicholas Creamery Long Branch and order plain chocolate, you’re kind of missing the point. Though, to be fair, their "Good Ole Fashioned Chocolate" uses Valrhona cocoa, so even the "boring" choice is elite.
But the real magic happens in the weird collaborations. They’ve done a Bone Marrow and Sour Cherry flavor with The Butcher's Block down the street. They do a Jersey Sweet Corn in the summer that sounds like a mistake until you try it.
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- Hudson Coffee Crunch: This is the heavyweight champion. They use cold brew from Hudson Café, mix in hazelnuts and ground beans, and it’ll basically vibrate your teeth.
- Tahitian Vanilla: They scrape the pulp from the beans themselves and soak them in vodka to make their own extract. It’s extra, but that’s why it works.
- PeanutButterPalooza: If you like Oreos and handmade peanut butter cups, this is your North Star.
- The Seasonal Wildcards: Depending on when you show up, you might see Goat Cheese with Fig Jam or even a Jersey Tomato flavor.
Beyond the Scoop: The "Nickwich" and Other Essentials
Sometimes a cup isn't enough. If you’re heading back to a beach house or a rental, you’ve gotta look at the "Nickwiches." These are house-made chocolate chip cookies stuffed with their vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
They also do these things called Cow Patties. Imagine chocolate wafer cookies, vanilla soft serve, rainbow sprinkles, and chocolate cake crunch. It’s a mess. It’s beautiful.
For the people who really can’t decide, they offer an Ice Cream Flight. You get four small-batch scoops for about $11.50. It’s the only way to try the "Kentucky Dreaming" (bourbon and brown sugar) without committing your entire afternoon to it.
Why the Location Matters
The Long Branch shop is literally steps from the Atlantic. This is a specific kind of "small town livin'" vibe that Nicholas and his business partner Jodie Edwards really leaned into.
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Long Branch has seen a massive glow-up recently. It’s more than just Pier Village now. Being situated on Ocean Blvd North means you’re away from some of the most frantic tourist traps but still close enough to hear the waves.
The Logistics: What You Need to Know Before You Go
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make is showing up unprepared for the crowds. On a Saturday night in July? You’re going to wait.
- Hours: They generally open at noon and stay open until about 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM, depending on the day.
- Dietary Stuff: They always have vegan options. Usually, it's a coconut-milk-based situation like Vegan Candy Cane or Coconut Cherry Vanilla. They also do sorbets for the dairy-averse.
- Pricing: It’s not cheap. Pints go for around $9.50. A flight is roughly $11.50. You’re paying for the fact that a pastry chef hand-made the jam that’s swirled into your cup.
- Parking: It can be a nightmare on Ocean Blvd. If you find a spot, keep it.
Is it actually better than Jersey Freeze?
This is the Great Monmouth County Debate.
If you want nostalgia and a classic soft-serve cone that reminds you of 1994, go to Jersey Freeze. If you want a culinary experience disguised as a dessert—something that uses local ingredients and actually tastes like the food it’s named after—Nicholas Creamery Long Branch wins every time.
The ingredients are "pure." That's their big pitch. No corn syrup where it doesn't belong. No artificial dyes (the mint ice cream gets its green color from leafy vegetables). It’s the kind of place where you feel slightly less guilty about eating a thousand calories of sugar because at least the strawberries were real.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
- Ask for a sample of the weirdest flavor. They encourage it. Even if you don't buy the Tomato or the Bone Marrow, you need to know what it tastes like.
- Check the "Limited Edition" list. They rotate six new flavors every single month. If you see something like "Grave Digger" (dark chocolate, pretzels, potato chips, and salted caramel), get it. It won't be there in four weeks.
- Grab a Sundae Funday Kit if you have a group. It comes with three pints and all the toppings. It’s way easier than trying to carry five melting cones back to the car.
- Walk to the beach. Don't eat it in the shop. Take your scoop to the promenade. There is something about the salt air that makes the "Hudson Jitterbug" milkshake taste significantly better.
Nicholas Creamery is a testament to what happens when you stop treating ice cream like a commodity and start treating it like craft. It’s loud, it’s proud, and it’s unapologetically Jersey. If you’re in Long Branch, you basically have to go. It's a rite of passage.