Fentons Creamery

"Fentons, the charming, old-timey soda stand and restaurant, has survived 130 years on the power of nostalgia and sugar. The family-run operation churns its own cream and lays claim to inventing original flavors like Rocky Road, toasted almond and Swiss milk chocolate. On any given day you’ll find crowds of families and tourists at the longtime Oakland location ordering sundaes and banana splits and buying Fentons merch — or celebrating birthdays while a staffer rings a bell and the whole restaurant joins in singing. It’s quite the scene (and one that Pixar paid tribute to at the end of “Up”). The strawberry milkshake with whipped cream at Fentons Creamery in Oakland in July, 2024. (John Metcalfe/Bay Area News Group) The strawberry milkshake with whipped cream at Fentons Creamery in Oakland in July, 2024. (John Metcalfe/Bay Area News Group) The shake: A simple shake of strawberry ice cream with a topping of whipped cream is a summer delight ($11 for a “small,” which looks mighty large to us). The homemade ice cream is so thick, a straw sticks into it like Excalibur in the stone. You might have to let your hands warm it a bit before getting a slurp of this sweet, tremendously creamy dessert. Pair it with: Fentons has a menu of diner classics like a Durham Ranch cheeseburger with fries or fresh greens ($18), loaded potato skins, mozzarella sticks, fried green beans and – an unexpected crowd favorite – an Alaskan snow-crab sandwich with lemon juice, mayo and celery ($19). Details: Opens at 11 a.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday-Sunday at 4226 Piedmont Ave., Oakland; and 11 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and 9 a.m. Friday-Saturday at 1669 E. Monte Vista Ave., Vacaville; fentonscreamery.com."