(dairyqueen.com) – Everett Mall
How I heard of this place: The first time I went to a DQ was on a trip to Vancouver, British Columbia when I was maybe seven or eight years old. My family visited the establishment on a road trip. When the Blizzard – celebrating its 25 year anniversary – came to the market, I remember loving the new, creamy concoctions and frequenting Dairy Queen when the temptation for a large portion of creamy ice cream with Oreo cookies called, back in High School. This visit was warranted because of our soon-to-expire coupons in the Entertainment Book for a free 5-ounce cone, no purchase required.
Type of cuisine: From my earliest visits, I recall Dairy Queen being a simple ice cream shop, but with franchises around the country. Now, it seems to have joined the ranks of all fast food joints, offering burgers, chicken strips and other greasy, salty fare.
Ambiance: Again, a typical fast food restaurant, hosting plastic tables and chairs, some resembling booth seating. Fluorescent lighting throughout and windows on three of the four sides of the boxed space. Colorful advertisements and specials, new items and meal deals can be found on posters, wall-, window- and ceiling-hangings.
What I ordered: The free item was all we could muster on this visit, having just three hours earlier enjoyed the pancakes and bacon at IHOP. My dining companion and I both gave the server our coupons and she returned with two vanilla wafer cones filled to a towering height with whipped, vanilla, soft-serve ice cream.
What I loved: Noting how we have come to enjoy different flavors in our old age, my dining companion and I greatly enjoyed the wafer cone. The light, vanilla flavor on the even lighter, foamy wafer cone made for a simply delicious experience of enjoying our DQ soft-serves. From now on, no sugar cone needed!
Why I loved it: It is an easy, quick way to settle an ice cream craving and with a plethora of options for blended treats as well.
Cost: Low to average ($3-$7 for meal deals, similar to other fast food establishments)