Im conflicted here. The reason Tubby Robot gets 4 stars is because their salted caramel flavor is absolutely insane, and their waffle cones are similarly unreal. Truly some of the best Ive ever had, like 6/5 stars. Unfortunately, their service is rough. Exhibit A: we had been hyping up Tubby Robot to a friend of ours who was visiting from the west coast, and after dinner we got in line. We were in line 10 minutes before closing time and the line was pretty short. When it was about 5 minutes from closing time, the cashier was serving the party in front of us (3 people), and she asked them if they were with us (also a party of 3 people). They said no, and the cashier made those customers tell us that she was now shutting down and refused to serve us. Im...Im not joking. She made the other customers tell us we were not going to be served. Like, WHAT? At the very least, you could have the decency to tell us yourself, and, I dont know, give a fake apology or something? We were the only people left in line and if she hadnt decided to close early, we would have been served by closing time. It was crazy rude. I dont want them to close down but the smallest bit of customer service training would do wonders for this place.
I am fully vaccinated AND walked in with a bandana covering my entire face to be told I didnt have a mask and wouldnt be helped. Excuse me? The bandana I had double wrapping my face was far more safe than the tiny mask the girl at the front had on. I witnessed another couple make a comment on how rude the cashier was as well .... Great ice cream but poor service
We got some ice cream here after dinner. We got a scoop of the following- salted caramel, butter pecan, peanut butter swirl (?) and Mexican chocolate. It was all very tasty and the lady working was very friendly as we walked in at 9:59 (they close at 10). She had none of that “we are these people coming in at closing time” attitude that you feel at some places. Plus we are told by a worker at the restaurant next door that the place serves Philly style ice cream (no eggs). Apparently the owner cannot we eggs. We could not verify this fact.We would definitely return.
Ice cream is good if you can get a scoop! On more than one occasion friends and I stopped past tubby to get a scoop after dining, however there is always one girl working the register and floor alone who will shut the door no matter how many people are still in line. You can be in line for 10min but when the clock strikes 9:59p she will not serve anyone else. Shop is small so you must wait outside until your turn. They need a better system!
Great ice cream - personally a big fan of the green tea because it doesnt taste artificial like many youll find in other shops. Neat little spot on main st that has us going back for more
We went here for the first time this afternoon and it was absolutely FANTASTIC. Possibly the best ice cream Ive ever had and easily the best waffle cone. I had the dark chocolate and my child had the peanut butter fudge swirl. The dark chocolate was perfect, and the peanut butter fudge swirl was lovely. My kiddo and I agree this is our new ice cream destination!
Love their ice cream and arcade! The arcade never grows old, albeit this is only my second time there. I past by Main street every weekend as I bike up and down the schuykill river trail all year long. Tubby Robot is a cool joint, but they need to make their presence known even more. I almost forgot that this place exists, among hundred others food joint along Main street. Maybe they need a bigger sign or something to make their presence known to drivers and pedestrian. Make no mistake though, once you go inside, their super creamy ice cream and cool arcade machine projected to a screen outside is definitely worth staying for.Today a friend of mine ordered “Strawberry” ice cream, and I heard him loud and clear that he ordered strawberry. Instead, he was served Strawberry Sorbet. Much to his annoyance, he let the employee know that he never ordered sorbet. Funny enough, the register guy insisted that he order sorbet instead of strawberry. With no sign of giving up, the ice cream make apologized to us and gave him strawberry instead.Cool place, but employee definitely need more training! Arguing over an order and insisted that customer was in the wrong? I’ve been working in the food industry food quite some time. Just take the order of customer, we didn’t want to cause any trouble, I would’ve taken the sorbet anyway if he kept on insisting.
Delicious ice cream in cute little shop. Flavors are great, ice cream hoagie is really unique. Ice cream in puff pastry! Ice cream with brownie is also amazing. Classic video games can be played on the neighboring wall. Great spot to stop by after dinner on Main Street. Space is tight and be aware of limited hours. (Open Wednesday until Saturday)
Stopped in tonight 8/29/21 and came across the most unwelcoming cashier Ive seen in years.... Ice cream was good but not worth the service
SEP 2021: I love the ice cream and the funky decor with the video games. But I have to say the the policy around no test tastes can discourage a first purchase or a return visit. Some of the flavors are uncommon and I understand if a customer wants to try it and make sure she or he likes it before buying a full portion.FEB. 2019: Had the dark chocolate. It’s quite delicious and has chocolate pieces in it which gives it a nice texture. The shop has a broader flavor selection than when it first opened.NEW: Just opened in March 2017. I liked the chocolate better than the vanilla cookie dough. The chocolate had a good choc flavor. The cookie dough wasnt flavorful enough for me. Love the decor and the side opening window along with the video games on the wall outside the window.Id also recommend that they let people taste flavors. Well at least for kids they should allow them to try a flavor.
Rudest employee Ive ever come across .... The African American girl at the front was extremely RUDE and we decided not to give this business our money. Seems like unemployment ran out and someone had to get a job they didnt want.
Best in Manayunk! Definitely make sure you treat yourself to a scoop whenever on Main!
Great customers service. The ice cream was great
AMAZING. Tubby robot is the best ice cream place ever. I have been going there for years and it has never let me down. 10/10 would recommend.
Clean, attractive business, friendly staff.
Walked here to get my daughter some of the dairy free ice cream. It was empty - we were the only 4 people in the place. Asked if my daughter could try the choc coconut before we bought it for her - it was her only option being allergic to milk. They denied. All they said was we don’t do free samples. They went from 4 people inside back to zero really fast. Don’t waste your time. They turned a potential of 4 sales into zero sales.
A must when visiting Manayunk! The ice cream is the freshest I have ever eaten and I am an ice cream connoisseur! Great staff and a truly special place!
Salted Carmel ice cream like no other, I couldnt ask for more!
I just had the best Butter Pecan ice cream Ive ever had. Packed with roasted pecans and delicious buttery ice cream. Every time I go there, I come out with a new favorite ! ❤
Ambiance 5 starsflavors 5 starsproduct 5 starsprices 5 starsservice 2 stars (bc our cashier/server was grumpy/snarky on my recent visit)I got Mexican chocolate with matcha/green tea together. Their flavors are fantastical and the ice cream is at the perfect melt point/ temp for Fall (but I also came once in late Summer and it was also at the perfect temp.) The young person that scooped our ice cream was unpleasant and seemed miserable but other staff I have met there were very pleasant. The prices are awesome for the quality especially if served in a cup and beat the shop near me in Narberth. So get on your bike & hit the Cynwyd trail and burn some extra cals. riding to Manayunk and back (so you can allow yourself 2 scoops haha.)***wish they had biodegradable spoons and containers.***
I was excited by the variety of ice cream flavors but when I got mine, it oddly melted really quickly even though it was cool outside. The ice cream flavor I tried didnt taste good. I think they tried to emphasize one flavor but then I couldnt taste anything else. They had what looked like old video games with joysticks but they were just decorations (disappointing).
Would you like to try a sample? WELL, it better be your birthday, and here’s why: My wife and I went to Tubby Robot after dinner tonight, and since she’s an avid green tea lover, and first time customer, she asked to try the ice cream flavor. The owner, who was working the register, then told us that they did not offer samples. Between our two orders, we spent over $15 (on mediocre ice cream). After 15 minutes, while eating our ice cream there, another couple entered. They asked to try the green tea flavor- the owner gave them a sample! Ironically, they did not order any green tea ice cream. After the couple left, I asked why he gave it to them if he said they didn’t offer any samples. His response: ‘It’s her birthday.’Very poor management, especially from the owner. The space is tight, the ice cream is expensive (and nothing special), the spoons are cheap (both mine, and another customer’s broke while we were there), and the video games are extra.Save your money, and get better selection, quality, and respect at Chloe’s Corner, reopening (a bigger location) this spring on Main Street.
Worth having to walk back up the hill if you can get your hands on some of that dairy free chocolate coconut ice cream!! We love that you can tell real-time what flavors they are serving on the website. Such a handy perk!
Really nothing but great experiences here, so I will be back. Bring your hunger - portions are generous.
I had came here twice before today. It’s nice to have some ice cream after a braces wire change and a long day from work. I had had a good experience the first two times, those times I had been served by Steve I believe. Today, my husband’s friend and I were being served by whom I believe to be Chris around 5:30pm or so. I had asked a few questions for customizing the order that I have NEVER experienced at any ice cream store before: he was unable to allow me to have 1 scoop instead of 2 for the brownie bowl (why am I forced to have more ice cream than I want...just take it off, I don’t care about the cost at that point) and when we asked for a sample of some of the newer exotic flavors they have up, they don’t allow samples. That’s the strangest thing I’ve ever heard. You’d probably bring in more revenue if you allow people to figure out what they want and continue to buy that flavor or other flavors or bring more friends and family. On top of that, Chris was speaking so quickly, the store is crowded and tiny, and there was music, I couldn’t hear what he was saying so I had asked him to repeat back what he was saying. Homeboy raised his voice in a way that made myself and my friend pause and just look at him and each other like “did he just raise his voice?” It was in a rude and exasperated manner (not in a way that you’re just speaking up). I should have honestly left, but we were having a really good day and I know my husband was really excited to get some ice cream. But his nasty and impaitent attitude ON TOP of the idiosyncrasies of this business is not justifiable for the price one pays. That’s like selling sneakers and people can’t try them on. Sorry won’t be coming back :/
I was strolling down Main Street when I found this little sliver of an ice cream shop. The wrap around corner counter that opens completely to the outside was what caught my eye.They have many traditional flavors and a couple more unique options. I tried the Lavender Honey and Mexican Chocolate. Both were delicious, but Im definitely going back for the Lavender. You can also try an ice cream flight to sample more flavors.Also for fun, while sitting at the counter, you can play old school video games.
I love this ice cream. It is some of the best Ive ever had. So far Ive tried the Mexican chocolate (perfect amount of pepper without a lasting burn), both the vanilla and chocolate PB, and the chocolate coconut. Most people on these reviews say they dont like that they dont give samples, but I asked the owners and they said their reasoning is two-fold: one is that serving samples delays serving customers and crowds the shop and two is that sampling creates a lot of wasted spoons. I think those are fair reasons, even if others are suspect. I love supporting local businesses and these guys do a great job.
The ice cream here has amazing texture and great flavor. I havent had a flavor I didnt like. The fillings in their ice creams are generous, with big flakes of fudge, chocolate, peanut butter etc. Their hot fudge is unlike any other Ive had, as well as their dark chocolate. On top of all this you can play pre-2000 video games for free on a projected screen. It is one of my favorite places in Manayunk.
Good flavors and good service. The Mexican chocolate ice cream (chocolate with cinnamon, spices, and cayenne) was very good as was the coffee ice cream. The cookies and cream had actual chunks of soft cookies in it and plenty of them. The green tea ice cream had a bit of a muddy flavor and when my husband ordered a different one because he didnt like it they gave him his money back.
Bland flavorless ice cream. What a disappointment. Loads of better options in the area.
Ice cream was delicious. Young woman at the counter was so rude I will never go back.
Fantastic non-dairy ice cream! Service is always wonderful, prompt and friendly. The space is quaint and its nice to sit, relax and enjoy people driving by on Main Street while enjoying your frozen treats. Love this spot!
Excellent flavors that were made fresh, and a comfortable and cute atmosphere. The Tubby Robot is great, their mascot is ADORABLE, and the fact that they have ice cream flights as an option is AWESOME when you want to try a bunch of flavors but dont know what to get. :)
I was anxious to try this place out as I really enjoy finding locally owned ice cream shops. I was pretty disappointed. The staff was polite and the space was clean and fun. However, the ice cream was a disappointment. I had chocolate coconut (non-dair) as well as Cinnamon Boast Bunch in a sugar cone. Neither were stand-outs, at least in positive ways. The chocolate coconut was extremely soft and I had to eat it very quickly so that it wouldnt become a sloppy mess. I am not sure if the texture was a function of this flavor being non-dairy, but it was disappointing to have to rush through and not really enjoy this scoop. If you make and serve an ice cream that requires a different temperature to remain frozen, you should probably figure out a solution to that other than serve half-melted ice cream. The Cinnamon Boast Bunch sounded like a great idea, but the cereal pieces were leathery and ruined any bite they were in. The cinnamon base was nice and my suggestion would be to crush the cereal and make it into more of a ribbon that weaves throughout the ice cream (look to Nelsons Graham Slam for inspiration). I would not return to this ice cream shop because in addition to the sub-par ice cream, the scoops were small for the cost.
Yes the space is small and they don’t offer free samples, but the ice cream is delicious! Always worth a stop after dinner on Main St.
Love the ice cream! Especially the dark chocolate and the banana. We also really love the vintage games and the awesome mosaic.I just wish you guys were open after 9! So many times we are leaving dinner and cant enjoy delicious ice cream :)
Still don’t understand your hours! You’re closed 3 days out of the week and close at 9p. Where do I go for my dessert after dinner? Awesome ice cream. Very rich and creamy and the flavors are real/natural. In other words, does not taste artificial. The banana is the best!! Especially when you we chunks of the banana.
Took my family here on a whim one night after dinner. The ice cream is so smooth and creamy and tastes wonderful. The video games are pretty cool too. Plan to visit again soon.
This place is great. Its my go to ice cream place and they have a huge variety. Their ice cream and toppings are great. The decor is nice and they have two ardcade adventure videogames that are pretty fun. The service is also fast and friendly.
Had the Belgian waffle with cinnamon boast bunch. Pretty good. Small shop, good for getting and going.
Smallest scoops Ive ever gotten in my life. Ordered them on a cone and got maybe $3 worth of my $6 order.Funny enough, my friend ordered two scoops in a cup and got about a half-gallon of ice cream. Just because he got $9 worth doesnt mean things average out.Wont be coming back. They seemed overwhelmed and Ill be looking forward to alternative choices that dont leave me feeling cheated.
The ice cream here is extremely hit or miss. Some flavors are great, others are bland and at times inedible. Unfortunately they don’t offer samples so you don’t know if the flavor you’re about to pay top dollar for will be a stud or a dud.It’s too bad because the brownies are delicious and the place has potential. If they put half as much energy into the ice cream as they do the menu descriptions (they’re often hilarious) this place would be great. They need someone more skilled in charge of the recipes, and should seriously rethink their “no sample” policy.
Excellent ice cream. Unique flavors. I really enjoyed Mexican Chocolate ice cream. Refreshing rich chocolate flavor with a nice spicy bite to it.
I had to try it five times before I finally decided it was not a one off situation. Ice cream had frostbite each time. The interior is cool and the arcade projector is a fantastic idea, but the ice cream is core to the business and its simply not good.
I had the vanilla and my fiance had a new of the fancier ice creams. Mine was obviously old and had crystalized a bit, but my fiances was creamy and delicious. The place was cute enough and good enough to pull it to a 5 star. We will be going again!
My boyfriend and I stopped in after having lunch. The owner was extremely friendly, asking us about our day and giving us good information on the different restaurants in Manayunk. The video game was such a treat! I has the cookies and cream and it was a big serving and it was yummy- you know its good when the cookie is soft but not soggy. I will definitely be back.
What kind of ice cream place does not let you sample the ice cream? After shelling out almost 18 bucks for 4 SINGLE scoop ice creams my mom wanted to try the Mexican chocolate for next time since it had pepper in it she wanted to see if it was spicy. We were told it wasnt their policy to give you samples. Well, guess what.. It is not our policy to go somewhere where the people were rude. I mean a taste? it wasnt like she asked for a free scoop. We will not be back!
Went today ordered 2 scoops with hot fudge and whipped cream. The dude served the ice cream to me and I said “where is my whipped cream and hot fudge?” He said it wasn’t on the ticket (the cashier forgot to add it). I asked him if he could add them really quick and he refused. I had to go back in line and wait to pay $.80 for hit fudge and whipped cream. Then I went back and saw the hot fudge but didn’t see whipped cream. (Thought the .80 was for whipped and fudge) He refused again to do a quick fix and I had to go back in line to wait to pay $.50. This was a joke, I had to go into line 3 times because of their mistake. They were rude as well. Lol to the scooper who went above and beyond to make sure that $1.30 was adde due to the cashiers error. What a joke
So I’m regretfully making this review but truthfully it’s in due time. I’ve been a customer of this business for a while and i thought it was a cool novelty place but after my last experience here I’m bowing out. My ice cream tipped over onto me and the owner and other workers just kinda stood around, he asked me if i caught the ice cream and didn’t offer to replace it or refund me. Apparently i shouldn’t have gotten the choices i did on a cone says the owner. Ha! Thanks for mentioning it after the fact. It’s over priced and the sense of urgency in anything is lacking beyond.
We got the Chocolate Covered Strawberry ice cream, and it was great! My girlfriend tried to master Donkey Kong, to no avail. Its a great place to go in the summer, since theres basically an entire open wall on the side. Ill definitely go again!
Love this place! They are helpful and nice. Just wish the hours were later on Sundays! Every Sunday I want to go there, but they are closed after 5 so instead I sit at home alone with my three cats and eat vegetables.
Service treated us so kindly. The place has a great atmosphere. Food is similar to a place in San Francisco I loved.
The ice cream is great! Try the waffle sundae, and the Mexican chocolate if you like spicy food. Its classic chocolate ice cream with cayenne pepper - so delicious.
We sat there in line and the dude at the counter chats it up with the people in front of us for like 10 minutes then completely misses the fact that we were waiting in line even though he looked directly at us like 3-4 times. Customer service is not a top priority here.
Kids liked the ice cream but it was expensive, and a very small space. We asked for a sample and were told in not a very friendly way that they dont offer samples. The people behind us asked the same thing. I get that they must get tired of people asking, but I dont think theyre doing themselves any favors by not giving samples (when every other ice cream store does), and being snarky about it.On the plus side they did have a cool feature of one of the side walls opening up half way and 3 video game stations that projected onto the wall next door. A nice little unique thing (although to be honest my kids could just play video games at home and eat much cheaper ice cream, but I was trying to get them out for some fresh air!).I want this place to suceed (was sad that Whirled Peace closed, and now Starbucks too), but I think they need to work on more variety (they only had about 4 flavors), and more friendliness!
OMG .. I cant wait to come back to Tubbys... I be back in the Philly soon. I had the lavender honey ice cream and the peanut butter one. Was worried how they would taste in the same cup. So delightful. I hope they still have the lavender when I go back.
Great place! Icecrean was the bomb!! Definitely going back
I adore this place. The decor is awesome the ice cream combos are fantastic
The ice cream was delicious. I will never go back. The staff is rude. Very small space. Barely enough room for customers to pass by where people are seated.
Had a sundae there after dinner - the Mexican Chocolate is pretty good. Staff were friendly and the decor is neat. Wish they had more seating though and Id add another waste bin closer to the door.
Fantastic artisanal ice cream! Have some unusual flavors as well as the expected ones - which is nice, not overly fussy. As good as Franklin Fountain in CC Philly! Wish they had more flavors, were open more days and hours, and hoping they will try a vegan ice cream.
They were not polite. I asked to try some flavors, as I did not want to pay over $10 bucks for a sundae without trying the flavors I would eat. The guy serving ice cream was super rude and said if you want to try a bunch of flavors you should order a tasting flight and not have tastes as your main meal... ended up sharing 3 flavor tastes between two of us, equaling 1.5 tastes per person. This is not a way to acquire customers.
I love this place. But I wonder if it’s open year round?
Been here a few times I’ve cream is good but overpriced they had a new flavor I wanted to try and was told they don’t give out samples I thought it was just me but a ice cream parlor that doesn’t give out samples??? Needless to say haven’t been back
This place is small if you want to enjoy your ice cream there. Ice cream is okay.
Great icecream, sweet arcade games..... Just get the dark chocolate ❤️
A very cute place in Manayunk. Have a very nice selection of ice creams, and some unique selections. A fun and yummy place to go for any ice cream lover.
Butter Pecan - really great
The person is in the book and the phone that barely she pay attention what you are saying, she gave me the incorrect order the ice cream was good
An absolute gem. Incredible ice cream with unique flavors. The owners often man the register and seem like some really cool dudes.
Yummy coffee and pecan taste. Very interesting Mexican chocolate. Definitely am experience
We always love going to tubby robot! Great selection and theyre the only place I know who does am icecream flight when youre feeling indecisive!
Workers were EXTREMELY rude. We went here for the good reviews online but the workers completely ruined the experience. I have never seen such terrible customer service, not to mention the ice cream sucks.
Bro, just get the dark chocolate icecream, you wont regret it.
Unique ice cream spot in the center of Manayunk! Housemade flavors, unique treat options! And while youre there, enjoy some vintage video gaming on their two projector screens!
Great ice cream. Great people. Try the ice cream hoagie!
My two year old wanted to try a flavor and when we asked to try a particular flavor, we were told they didnt allow tastings. We ended up wasting an entire order of ice cream. This place has poor customer service. The owners response to a tasting was that they are not allowed because he doesnt want to waste spoons. The ice cream was nothing special. It had the same taste to ice cream from the frozen section of a grocery store and triple the price. This guy is an immature video gamer with no business or customer sense.
Love the vibe in this place! The video games are a nice touch. Also, the ice cream was delicious. :)
Cool atmosphere and theme for sure, however they are wrongfully assuming they can charge premium prices on what is average ice cream imo due to their location and absence of direct competition. I dare not even ask to try a flavor before buying (apparent vibe) and each topping is $0.75. If interested check this place out before you cant, I give them one summer if they dont wise up :/
SO GOOD. delicious, egg-free ice cream. really wonderful, friendly owners. highly recommend.
I am usually too lazy to leave reviews but this place left a bad taste in my mouth (and I almost never use puns). I’m writing this as I’m still in the shop after eating my just ok sea salted caramel.I asked to try a sample of one flavor and was told they don’t do samples unless you order a flight. That would have been fine if I had wanted to try other flavors. Instead I settled for one scoop in a cup. The scoop cost $4 and was a very small size. I asked jokingly if they could put a tiny amount of the other flavor I wanted try and the clerk responded “umm I’m gonna say noooo.” The glass where the ice cream is stored is even frosted to deter people from lingering.I can understand not doing samples to keep things moving smoothly in the small store, but the policy is ridiculous for an ice cream shop and the attitude of the clerk was poor. The sundaes are probably the one only good choice because it’s overpriced for just a small scoop or two. The ice cream itself was just ok. Tasted comparable to Edy’s (maybe they frost to glass to hide that it is just low cost brands).I was excited to try this shop since I first drove past it a few months ago and never had the chance to go because they’re closed on my days off and now i’m super disappointed after finally going and having a mediocre experience. I see that the owners don’t even reply to the reviews posted so I’m gonna make a bold assumption that they suck overall. 1/5 stars, would rather spend $4 on two tubs of Turkey Hill at Shoprite.
They have a great dairy free ice cream option here!
Great ice cream and staff. Get the brownie with any flavor ice cream on it!
I entered The Ice Cream factory and encountered a very nasty individual that clearly didn’t want to work. Not only was he rude to myself. He was rude to another older individual.I will never spend another penny in this establishment.
The attention is bad the person is in the phone and book and is so serious
More hype then good ice cream
You can see and taste that this spot was built on passion for ice cream. All of their ice cream flavors are made on premise. And if thats not enough to impress you, I suggest trying their homemade hot fudge and made-from-scratch Belgian waffles. Every flavor that I have had has become my new favorite. My current loves are Banana, Mexican Chocolate, Butter Pecan and Peanut Butter Fudge Swirl. I even have a few pints sitting in my freezer for a fix at home.The shop itself is quant and clean, complimented by a custom projection system for patrons to play videogames with wireless joysticks that, yes, are also custom built. All of which is complimentary.The service is fantastic. Ive found myself a number of times shooting the breeze with the staff, no matter who is behind the counter, while indulging in this unqiue Philly gem.
Unassuming storefront on the cramped Main St of Manayunk, but once inside, you are in an ice cream factory that looks like a toy store! The flavors are both staples (chocolate) and creative (sea salt caramel, heavy on the salt!). The scoops are HUGE! Bring your appetite because the store clerk told us Its better to be served too much icecream than too little. There are also unique video games mounted in the store for you to play vintage arcade games! What a treat and a gem of Manayunk and Philly.
Great hot fudge sundae for my birthday! You can tell the ice cream is fresh
Great ice cream but kind of pricy and it took very long.
Great ice cream - barely ever open when we go to get some though. Always runs out of ice cream
Holy cow. Try the honey lavender. Its the best ice cream Ive ever had.
Cute place with delicious ice cream. It is disappointing that they dont allow you to sample the ice cream before purchasing. Try the Lavendar Honey and the Mexican Chocolate.
No free samples. How else do I find out what flavor I want to purchase?
Staff is very friendly and ice cream is very tasty. My favorite is the Mexican Chocolate which has a bit of spice to it.
Good ice cream and enjoyed playing the old school games on the wall.