Crema Cafe co-owners Carrie Gustafson and Ron Siron always have their fingers on the season's pulse (organic rhubarb sorbet, anyone?) and are constantly innovating (olive oil-pine nut, chocolate-bacon). Still, regulars can't seem to get enough of the title flavor, a wonderfully mellow formula that's nothing more than infusing cream with roasted arabica beans.
- 3403 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls., 612-822-8189, www.cremacafeminneapolis.com
What was once a video rental store (remember those?) is now Jackson's Coffee & Gelato, which is cranking out a dozen varieties of its own gelato (the black chocolate is ridiculously good) and sorbet on the premises and scooping it into highly affordable cake cones, waffle cones and kid-friendly portions.
- 822 W. Lake St., Mpls., 612-824-4164, www.jacksonscoffeeandgelato.com
The No. 1 seller at Sebastian Joe's Ice Cream Cafe? It depends. Sometimes it's raspberry chocolate chip, other times it's Oreo, with the caramel-banana-chocolate chip combo known as "Pavarotti" nipping close at the frontrunners' heels. The small minority of those not interested in ice cream should know that the shop's bakers also put out a first-rate chocolate-chip cookie.
- 1007 W. Franklin Av., Mpls., 612-870-0065, and 4321 Upton Av. S., Mpls., 612-926-7916, www.sebastianjoesicecream.com
