Stopped by for a quick bite. The chicken barley soup was DELICIOUS!! I could have eaten more, chunks of chicken, savory soup, and my egg cream brought me back to my childhood in Brooklyn. A blast from the past ice cream parlor with all the nostalgia-phone booth included. A definite new place to visit often.

Great homemade ice cream! The service was fantastic.

What a great throwback to my youth. I grew up in Mineola and this was my first visit. I'm so sorry I didn't go sooner! Staff is very friendly and professional, and the food was great (grilled ham & cheese with fries & a hot fudge sundae). We will definitely be back!

Got there around closing time but The sundaes were delicious!!! I got the brownie fudge sundae & it was amazing.

I took my daughter to Hildebrandt's. The food and service was amazing. I asked for a patty melt which wasn't on the menu, the waitress immediately said absolutely!!! She was so accommodating and it was really a pleasure. The ambiance is a throwback, and it's very comfortable. Oh and the dessert??? You have to go for yourself to understand! I 1000% recommend Hildebrandt's. Trust me you wont regret it.👌

Love love love this place! Pies are all good and corn bread.. Yum~

In the mood for ice cream after a dinner with friends. My friend suggested Hildebrandt's. We sat there in this. Awesome nostalgic old school looking ice cream parlor with stools. Or ice cream. There is homemade and delicious. Although it was a little slow. We sat there had a ice cream and had great conversation with the servers. I recommend it. Great place to go after dinner to get some sweets.

Known for their huge selection of terrific homemade ice cream, Hildebrandt's offers not only deserts of all kinds (shakes, sundays etc.) but a nice array of hearty main course choices (Italian, chicken, pork chops etc.) as well as lighter fare such as sandwiches and all day breakfast options. While hardly gourmet in nature, their food is tasty and good value and of course is topped off by the great ice cream and other desserts, all offered in a comfy neighborhood settling complete with table and counter seating and a friendly and helpful staff. A great place for birthday celebrations, but be warned that your kids will be mesmerized by the large assortment of cute stuffed animals available for sale up front!

Awesome diner!! Not one of these Mega-Greek style diners, Long Island is famous for. Real homemade food, not the prepackage Restaurant Depot garbage that almost every restaurant and diner on Long Island uses. Found the place through a Google search for diners and what a great surprise. Real, real homemade food in human portion sizes. One of the best burgers ever!!! The food here is made with love and care, totally recommend it. Try a cheese burger and fries with a chocolate malted! Also the chicken soup is amazing. Great place very friendly staff. Next time to try some of the other dishes, Lasagna maybe?

Still family owned and operated. Wonderful ice cream wonderful seasonal handmade chocolates. And an incredible dinner menu that will never disappoint. Don't miss the French onion soup or in the summer their gazpacho . It's amazing.

Brings me back to my teenage days, great chocolate egg cream . Sadly, no chicken barley soup again, but that's ok. Their homemade chocolate candy made the trip worthwhile.

Treat yourself to a delicious and relaxing dining experience. The Alfredo Burger, homemade fries, and Chocolate Egg Cream were fantastic. The homemade ice cream is incredible. The atmosphere is retro and cozy. The staff is friendly and helpful. I will definitely be back.

I recently hosted a dinner for parents and staff from my school. Our buffet consisted of sandwiches, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, chicken fingers, burgers, etc. reserving the restaurant was seamless and the employees were very attentive. We would definitely host here again.

Love the burgers & ice cream. I hope there able to stay for many years to come. The most delicious butterscotch sauce for sundaes

Grilled cheese was excellent. So was banana foster flambe and banana split!

Great place and ownership is very nice! They even gave gifts to my kids today!

***Call ahead of time to make sure they're serving ice cream...they only serve it during certain hours!! *** We had ice cream the old fashioned way...Sit at an ice cream bar and order a 1 sundae and 1 banana split. Ice cream is home made and pretty good, Creamy whip cream, Thick hot fudge. This place must have been built in the 1950s as there is an old fashioned soda fountain machine...the bar itself looks from that era as well as the tiles on the floor and it feels like alil time capsule in there. They also have stuffed toys that you can buy and 2 cute window displays. I was told the place hasn't changed by a man sitting at the bar as well. He went there as a child. It's been around for decades, good reputation, very well maintained, clean & decent prices. When we went there were people who were regulars talking to the barkeeper other than that it wasnt "roudy" at all. Peaceful actually. They serve food as well although we just came to have an ice cream. There are little to no ice creams parlors around anymore... And I'm not OLD.. I'm 43yrs.. But I remember going to an ice parlor in my late teens! Miss having that around and these fast ice cream places don't count..does not feel like a parlor. All in All its a cute nostalgic restuarant/ice cream parlor...nothing flashy....but quaint. I was Happy to find Hildebrandt's and when I want some nostalgia/ice cream...We will def go back!

Tasty ice cream. We even had a lovely sit on the benches outside the store.

My daughter and her girl scout troop had a wonderful experience at Hilderbrandt's! The staff , food and treats were amazing . Definitely coming back for more ! Edit : Came back for more. The Alfredo burger was amazing . The cappuccino chip milk shake was on point ! Kids loved their Mac and cheese , grilled cheese from the kids meal and enjoyed their ice cream as well. Great food and Great service at great prices. Can't be beat. Keep up the great work .

Last week was the first time I’ve been in Hildebrandt’s since the new owners and I have to say that I was delighted with my experience. It’s still the restaurant I loved as a kid with subtle updates like decent wine to keep up with the times. The place was clean while maintaining its old fashioned charm and the food was delicious. Our family ordered the tuna melt, the cheeseburger, a caesar salad and scoops of their homemade ice cream for dessert and we were quite pleased with all of it. We’re really happy this landmark restaurant has been saved and is keeping up with tradition! Thank you! We’ll be back.

This is historic gem of a restaurant. If I could give this restaurant ten stars I would. I went here for dinner and dessert. I had the steak & mozzarella on grilled garlic bread it was melt in your mouth good. They make their own french fries For dessert I had cookie dough & chocolate with house made chocolate sauce and homemade whipped cream. The portions are generous and the staff goes above and beyond to make your experience memorable. Give this place a visit. Sit at the counter to get the full experience.

I visited Hildebrandt's for the first time yesterday. We arrived around 12:30pm and were able to be seated. By 1:10pm there was the line at the door waiting for seats and it stayed very busy and there is very good reason for that. The place is so clean and the wait staff are friendly. The food was delicious. I had a gorgonzola salad and they really loaded the cheese on it. I couldn't eat it all. My friend had the eggplant parmigiana hero and a side of fries. The fries looked to be a whole potato cut into thick chips and fried. She loved them! After lunch we each got a small bowl of ice cream, I got some hot fudge on the side. The other patrons were also very friendly and there was a very nice neighborhood atmosphere. I can't recommend it highly enough. One thing to note is that there are changes to the menu and prices but it was a good value still. Parking is only available on the residential street and most residents park in the middle of two available spots so be prepared to walk.

I love this place! It has an old-timey ice cream shop feel. Probably because it's an old-timey ice cream shop. I've been there more than a few times, and usually order the cheese burger, the BLT, or the turkey club. None of them disappoint! Also, if you visit, check out their ice cream selection which they make in-house. I like the banana. The servers are always polite, and in the maybe 10 visits I've had there, I've never had an issue. Parking can be a challenge as they have no lot, so street parking only. I really love this place, so I highly recommend them.

AMAZING PLACE!!!! Such good ice cream, ESPECIALLY their cookie dough sundae. I have taken so many people i know here. Good food, i had the spaghetti and meatballs and the meatballs are LARGE. The staff is all friendly and amazing. My favourite ice cream and dining place. I love the 20s theme and all of the candy and stuff they sell on the side. 100000/10!!!! Love this place

Wow .. I’ve lived in the area for 20 years and have never actually eaten in here. I’ve had ice cream maybe once or twice which is absolutely delicious…. But the FOOD WOW , absolutely delicious and so fresh!!! What a hidden gem , I’m so happy I came here for dinner. This will be a nee favorite for sure, everything that was coming out looked great. Can’t wait to go back! Service was great and everyone was very welcoming !

Love this gem on LI with fresh homemade ice cream! The staff is always super friendly and the food is delicious. I love that they offer prepacked pints of their ice creams to grab on the go. Definitely check them out!

I love the whole retro feel inside. It reminds me of the 50's/60's with the girls in there poodle skirts. Our food came out hot. Our sweet potato and fries were fresh. Service was great! Our waiter was really nice and on point. The vanilla milkshake was great. The banana royale was amazing, the fresh in the ice cream.

This is one of the best places to eat in all of New York. They've been in business for like maybe 100 years by now. The most unique and delicious french fries I've ever had. The burgers are so fresh and come in 4 oz & 8 oz. Everything here is homemade from the Tomato Sauce to the Pies and Ice Cream. If you get a milk shake or malted, they also give you the tin of extra ... which is another whole glass full! This luncheonette is the original 'Diner'. There's a full menu and something for everyone. I always leave satisfied and wondering why I don't go more often.

This is the best old fashion ice cream parlor in long island. They make the best wraps and salads. Of course the ice cream is great. It is home made. I love the decor. For an old fashion ice cream parlor they have a great selection of food and not just burgers.

What’s not to like about this place? Okay, maybe it’s a bit crowded but that’s because it’s popular, makes you feel all nostalgic, and the food is great. I’m actually excited to go back and try one of their desserts! This joint is the joint, with its old style diner feel and authentic soda fountain counter. I even got an egg cream with my dinner. Good food, good service, with a side of vintage vibes.

Popped in for a quick shake to cool off from the heat, had a Bostonian in tow who enjoyed her coffee egg creme!

The ice cream at Hildebrandt’s is absolutely FANTASTIC!! Highest recommendation!! Edit: I recently went back to Hildebrandt’s for a second time and the ice cream was just as delicious! I’ll be back again……soon!

Amazing breakfast, lunch and ice cream spot. The banana royale is next level!!!

Very nostalgic and old fashioned. Wonderful staff gave us some candy for the road. Also check out the old telephone booth !

While I have never eaten the food here the ice cream alone deserves a 10/5 star review. The ice cream and whipped cream are house made, while the hot fudge is thick and fresh. Quite simply, it is delicious and stacks up against any competitor I have been too.

Liza Rizza

Great delivery! Was very happy with how easy ordering and delivery to Queens was. Wintertime its too cold to come out for ice cream but my sister loves Hildebrandts Maple Walnut ice cream. Nothing like sitting in the comfort of your home with your favorite ice cream. Thanks Hildebrandts and to your delivery person. My sister was so excited and enjoying every spoonful!

penny asbell

Must visit if in Long Island - fantastic ice cream and milk shakes and malts ; also terrific food- tuna melt, hamburgers and great fries -- lots of fun, terrific food and bring the family too. Eat in or take our - grab some homemade ice cream pints for later.

Juliana Lucha

I couldn’t stress enough how amazing this place is!! Food, ice cream, drinks and service are a 10/10 always. We are there every weekend, best place to hang out with friends or family!

M K

I've been going to this famous ice cream shop for 40 years. It never disappoints. Homemade ice cream that can't be beat. The service was great and the employees are friendly. Don't miss this place when in Williston Park.

Tony Badalamenti

Wonderful food in a great old time atmosphere. The burger was one of the best I have had in a while and the fries, which were cut like thick chips, but not made too crisp as too many places do with these types of potatoes, were wonderful. I finished my meal barely having room for dessert but enjoyed a wonderful mallomar ice cream. This place is a gem, and a fun step back in time. Well worth a visit.

Andrew Russeth

An epic spot! An absolute destination! Hildebrandt’s has been going strong since 1927, and it’s easy to understand why: expert ice cream, lovingly crafted. The flavors sing, and the cream is intense. The chips in the mint chip are big and fresh. The staff is friendly. And the store’s design is pleasingly old school. A special note: they have a Milano flavor with that delectable cookie. Genius. Long may it reign.

R C

How freaking cute is this old fashioned ice cream parlor!🍦Circa-1920s classic soda shop making homemade ice cream since 1927, featuring fountain treats, as well as basic diner fare. A time machine that takes you back to the 1920s. Featured in the movies, “The Irishman” and “Book of Henry”. Breakfast is served all day. The Alfredo fries = 😋. The BEST ice cream! I hope this place stays open forever. #foodie

+3

Steven Lepore

DELICIOUS! First of all, the place is adorable. If nothing else, come just to see the neon. Our waitress informed us that one of the cooks was out and they were limited to pretty much only making burgers. I’m not going to lie that was a little strange and I was disappointed because there were options on the menu that sounded incredible. I ended up getting a cheeseburger, fries and a butter pecan hot fudge sundae. Everything was delicious. The burger was perfectly cooked, properly seasoned and one of the juiciest ones I’ve had in long time. The homemade ice cream may have stolen the show. Our waitress was so sweet and honestly the only thing that wasn’t perfect was the surprise about the menu. Overall I really can’t wait to come back! I was so happy to support a local 100 year old business.

William Duff

I visited this place back in 2022 with my wife and its like stepping back into 50s / 60s. My parents grew up near this place and used to hang out there all the time and so I thought some branded merch might be a fun Christmas gift for them. Their website wasn't set up yet to take online order so I called and they were nice enough to take my order over the phone. One items arrived damaged and when I called them back, they were gracious and apologetic, offering to send another one immediately. Great staff, Great manager and Great restaurant

Katherine

My dad used to go to the shop when he was 16 and he heard that his class mates had petitioned to keep it open when it was going to close. When he visited from GA, we drove an hr just to visit his old neighborhood and split a sundae. He loved that they still have the old candy counter and the phone booth. The owner walked around and checked on everyone and asked for feedback on his food from people. It was a nice nostalgic moment for my dad. The sundae was amazing.

+1

Denise Tura

The new owners did a great job keeping all of the nostalgia that we always loved when going to Hildebrandt’s. It was so nice to see them crowded, even off peak on a Saturday afternoon. Hubby had a B&W malted, meatloaf sandwich and nice crispy onion rings. I had an ice cream soda, burger which was super huge (had to take half home) and hand cut chips. Everything was yummy!

+1

Food is good but ice cream is better! The place looks very vintage and cute. They could benefit with more service.

Place takes you back in time and all, but I didn't feel like it was what I was expecting,I saw on Instagram the soda float but honestly felt like it was regular coke, the brownie Milano ice cream was good, might come again and try out your burgers!

If I’m not mistaken, the new management saved the restaurant from closing down. I think it’s a cute restaurant! It’s a bit loud and pretty cramped, though. The food is pretty good, and prices are decent. The ice cream is good! Parking can be difficult on Hillside, but the side streets usually have some room.

This place is an old favorite. It's like walking back in time, the ambiance is charming, the staff is always friendly, and the food is incredible. Lost the star 'cause the parking sucks and it's just a little pricey for a diner. Even if you don't go for a meal, you must, must, must go for dessert. The ice cream is made on the premises and it is absolutely worth every penny!

Ate lunch with a coworker today. The sliced steak and mozzarella sandwich was great! It was well seasoned and not chewy at all, just melted in your mouth. The mozzarella sticks, wings and onion rings were fried to perfection. We were overcharged for fries and onion rings though and didn't realize it until after we paid. Also had three waiters at one point.

Here’s the deal , great ice cream, good could be bigger portions (slightly) and be more chefly (is that a word?)

A piece of Long Island history and a must visit. The ice cream is very good, the food is fairly priced and very good, too. If you want to revisit the past this is one of those places.

Old school ice cream parlor & diner/ soda & candy shop vibes. I love the decor and atmosphere of the place. All their ice creams are made in house and tastes like it which I appreciate. Menu is similar to a diner but not as expansive but on the expensive side for the type of fare you’re getting. We had lunch and did order 4 pints of ice cream to go ($11 a pint) it came out to around $120 plus tax & tip. I always say quality over quantity and they definitely delivered so just keep that in mind!

Good food, good service. It’s what you’d expect for a DDD location. As good as it is fattening. The only downside is the retro facility. It’s noisy with just a few kids. But if you’re going for a family vibe, it would make a good eats.

Daniel Pino

Hildebrandt’s Est. 1927 Layout/atmosphere *Old fashioned ice cream parlor; counter in front with two TVs; tables in back; phone booth; pictures of winning horses on wall; candy/ice cream sold by front door Service *Good Food/drink *Top of the Hill Burger (two four ounce patties, bacon & American cheese on pretzel bun) with fries, cole slaw & pickle - patty was juicy, bacon was crispy, cheese melted and the bun held it all together; fries were more like potato skins, they were fine *Butter Pecan Milkshake - thoroughly enjoyed this; creamy; they left the extra in the silver cup to pour in the glass in the milkshake was served in *Chicken wings (plain) - OK; breading was a bit salty

This was a place I used to go to as a child, so glad it's still here. It's changed but still has it's old charm. People are nice. Food good.

Went here for the first time. I really wanted to like it, especially as the current owners had saved it from closing, but $12 for a “hot fudge” sundae on a slice of pound cake that seemed to be warm chocolate syrup rather than actual hot fudge and mediocre service (maybe our young waitress was brand new) added up to a less-than-stellar experience.

Food was good. Only issue was the fettuccine in the Alfredo was spaghetti and not fettuccine….

The quality of the food and service were good. The original 50's decor is right out of a Rockwell painting. Perhaps I'm out of touch but $5.00 for a can of Coke amd $20.00 for a sandwich seemed a bit excessive.

really wish I could give this place a better rating. I’ve lived in the neighborhood for seven years, and unfortunately we never leave feeling fully satisfied. The food is decent, though it has room to improve. This review is mainly about the service and what seems to be a lack of proper management. On a very busy Valentine’s Day, there were only two young servers handling everything. They were friendly and kept a smile on their faces, but they clearly weren’t set up for success. There were long waits for everything. Guests were seated wherever they wanted, then asked to move once it got busy, which created confusion and frustration. Earlier in the day we tried calling to ask about Valentine’s specials, but the phone rang unanswered. After being seated, it became obvious why—the servers were overwhelmed trying to juggle too many responsibilities at once. They truly did their best, but there should have been a manager or someone overseeing operations to keep things running smoothly. This place has so much potential, but it just never seems to operate at its best.

Not sure if was an off day, but the only enjoyable part of the experience was the kids ice cream. I guess they do that well. The rest was not good. Poor coffee, worse hot chocolate and the server wasn't rude, wasn't nice, wasn't anything. She was as robotic as one could be, and I felt bad because if she was having a bad day, I wouldn't gotten her an ice cream to cheer her up. I don't want to be entertained, but the boss and the kids felt like they bothered her. Not a good way to express yourself. Good luck to Hildebrandts, I hope it does well in the future, we will not be back.

Frugal Cyclist

Brought my nephews here looking for a treat. Walked in at 6:35 pm. Lights were already dimmed & ready for closing. Although 7 pm is official closing time. Informed ice cream was for take out only. The staff did not appear motivated. Seemed more bothered by our patronage instead. A few customers in front of us left after feeling shunned. I would’ve done the same except the kids were looking forward to Hildebrant’s. $16.25 for a brownie sundae is good enough to share but brown bagging it just takes away any joy. Carvel’s is only down the block…

+5

C P

Wasn't too busy and got a seat right away. Got our food pretty quickly although something was missing from my order. Got it sorted right away. Food was delicious and the made from scratch coke was fantastic. The only downside is that kids were yelling and being loud. Something you expect in a family friendly restaurant but it's such a small space it's just too much.

Food was ridiculously overpriced for the quality you got. Ice cream was decent but honestly nothing special. I understand they’ve been a part of the community for awhile, but times have changed and there’s nothing much here to care for.

Don't believe what you see on their Instagram. The place was chaos, loud and over priced My mom had what she described as the worst omelette ever. It was a giant fried egg with cheese on top Not kidding My tuna melt was decent, the fries were good The place is run by teenage server's, who were so overwhelmed I felt bad . No one seemed happy to working there. No one said hello or good bye when we left Or asked how our meal was. I grew up around here, Hildsbrants deserves better .

My family and I decided to try a new lunch spot nearby after seeing it featured in an Instagram reel as a must-visit place. Sadly, the experience fell short of expectations. We had to wait around 10 minutes just to get a menu, and the service was slow throughout our visit. My partner's order was incorrect—they missed the second meat piece mentioned on the menu, and the advertised fries were just potato skins. We were never offered more water or coffee, and our drinks took forever to arrive. With only one waitress managing 6 to 10 tables in a small space, the service was chaotic. The food was mediocre, and though my daughter's brownie sundae was good, my milkshake lacked creaminess and my partner's root beer float was warm and flat. Overall, it was a very disappointing experience.

I was excited to go to Hildebrandt’s for the first time last weekend—or the first time since I was a kid, but I don’t remember that time. Anyway, it was a big disappointment, primarily because of the poor quality of the service. I went with my mom and her friend. Her friend was served her burger and my mom and I were told that our salads would be right out. I assumed that meant within, at most, a couple minutes. It was at minimum 15 minutes and possibly more than 20 minutes before we were served our salads and we had to ask our waitress to check on them. It was obvious she had simply forgotten to pick them up. Mistakes happen, but the absolute lack of acknowledgment of the egregiously long wait was actually shocking. No apology. It was also bizarre that she simply forgot about our salads because it was not particularly crowded. If she had so much as glanced in our direction she would’ve remembered to get them, but she wasn’t paying attention at all. My mom’s friend finished her burger by the time we were served our salads which were entirely mediocre. The appeal of this restaurant is in the retro decor, but unfortunately the appeal stops there. We won’t be returning unless you hire some competent servers who are at least willing to do the bare minimum.

New review 5-22-25: Ate here alot the last few years and was a huge fan, recommended it to all my friends who came to visit. No more. No more fresh syrupy soda. Only cans now. No more nice old school interior with old phone box and such. No more ice cream counter. Weird hours. The food this time around was subpar. Not to mention they messed up my order... Sucks to see my favourite restaurant become one I'll never be in a hurry to return to now. Original Review from 3 years ago (or 3 years before the update) when this place was great: One of the absolute best restaurants I've ever eaten at. The food is always fresh and tastes like quality you can no longer find in these modern times. The food here tastes like nothing else on the island in all the best ways.

Wait till you get a bill for 4 dollars worth of sprinkles and then stuff that’s included in the Sunday that’s listed on the menu next to the price. Plus god for bid then turn the AC. I guess that explains the sprinkle/whip cream up charge. Place blows, stick with the guy in Massapequa.

Paola M.C.

I liked the concept but was a bit disappointed. The waiters were friendly and cool but not that great at their job, they forgot our food, waters, and to give us menus. When i finally got my food i was a bit let down, the food was okay mid not worth the price in my opinion, the chicken on my cesar salad was kinda cold, the dressing was not as good, they forgot my fries and when i finally told them they were bland. Free ice cream was cool at the end, i just dont think i would come back. Hopefully they improve their food and service in the future

O stars but wouldn't post. My husband and I have been wanting to try this place for a few years and now as a family we finally decided to stop in and dine with our son & daughter. The service was Horrible, waited 15 minutes to try to order something even drinks and no one ever came. There were plenty of workers on staff and not too busy for the type service that was nonexistent. We decided to leave and no one said anything or tried to seem interested in to why we were leaving. We never got to try the food nor the ice cream but oh well. They lost business. We decided to go to the diner nearby was seated and served drinks and food immediately with no wait.

I was really hoping that I didn’t have to write a terrible review about this place. And i’m one to never ever write a review about place whether it be good experience or bad. I give all places the benefit of the doubt running a business isn’t easy and sometimes there are bad days just like there are for people. Been here once before and it wasn’t bad. But today was like no other experience and a phone call of complaints to the so called “owner” hoping to ease and be understood would have totally avoided this. Instead we got a cook/ice cream employee who didn’t take our complaints serious along with us as customer. Now i’ll have to share everything from taste to experience and treatment. We called the day off to ask when the establishment closes. We were told 7pm, we get there by 6pm and told that they are short staffed and have sat the last table. I made a comment about driving and calling before hand and if this was mentioned we would have made the travel regarding being seated and the man was courteous to give me a seat since i said i was also having food. (Not before telling us to grab ice cream for free and that they were closing but this is besides the point) We sat down and wanted to have a fun experience for the kids. Instead we waited about 15 mins for glasses to pour our waters. They had one waitress who was busy and trying her best to do her job. Still no complaints made we understood being short staffed would cause issues. We ordered 2 bacon cheese burgers there version of fries (among other things) with lettuce tomatoes and we were supposed to get cold slaw and pickles with the order. The food comes missing tomato’s lettuce and my plate had 2 small pickles the pieces that are usually what is thrown in the garbage when you cut the picketed and get to the end. The bacon weren’t even full pieces almost what ever small pieces they had left to split with the 2 orders that came in (pictures below)…The so called fries had no crisp and were soft to touch, not to mention the cook literally was using his hand with no gloves. (the moment i saw that i knew it was going to only get worst) The burger went from grill to his bare hand to our plates. After touching papers and ice cream scoops moving dirty plates and so on. The Soda float had not even a full ice cream scoop in it but all of that still wasn’t a problem we gave them the benefit of the doubt because they are “short staffed”. The problem was realized when my wife asked for some pickles and the waitress asked the cook/ice cream man and his response was “for them? no we are all out” but another man was sat at closing time “because they felt bad” and got all the special treatment that wasn’t given to us. Burger with lettuce tomato pickles. Even asked for more pickles and the man cut some up after we were told they didn’t have any. We should of equally been treated the same. The same attention to the guy that came in after should of been to us. No excuse to serving the butt part of the pickle or a bacon cheese burger with a piece of bacon. This does more harm then good i rather they had not sat us and let us leave upset about the change of times and inconsistency. At least i probably would of gave the place another chance. Instead we called in after this experience to explain because it caused a huge fight in our drive back home and the “owner” said your mad over pickles and tomatoes totally missing the whole point and insisted he did us a favor and would refund us the total money back. And it’s like hey man we aren’t caring about the money we even left the poor young waitress a tip (it isn’t her fault no supervision) he did us a favor by sitting us down no your doing us a favor to never come back and instead of being understanding over the phone so i wouldn’t feel the need to make a review you made light of the situation saying how much of a nice person you are to give a discount and let us sit when it was at a time that was before you closed. not sure how this works in the business world but ok, and what’s the excuse for any food to leave the kitchen like this?

Have been going since I was a little girl. Wanted to share experience with my grandchildren. It quickly became their favorite place. Unfortunately, new owner doesn't understand or care about customer satisfaction. He can be found sitting alone stuffing his face without any interest in the people putting the money in his pocket. Waitresses are sweet and try hard but his complete disregard is the reason Hildebrandts will now just be a memory.

I rarely leave reviews on things whether good or bad, but I was so befuddled by my new experience I needed to share. If this review could have a title, I would title it "The Magic is Gone." TLDR: USED TO be a great diner. Now serves subpar food at a much higher price with slower and less experienced staff. Save yourself the trouble and either stay home or go to a classic NY diner. I moved to the area 8 years ago and Hildebrandt's was my absolute favorite place to eat. It had the best burger, fries, and ice cream I ever had. However, today that reality was unfortunately crushed. What was once a great little dive straight out of the 1950s is now a stranger wearing the skin of what used to be Hildebrandt's. Upon entering, I noticed that the place had gotten a bit of a face lift since the last time I had been there a few months prior. Not inherently a bad thing. I also noticed that everyone except for one person working in there was very young, most likely high schoolers. That's not an issue in and of itself, however it was obvious that the new staff was much less experienced and was not efficient with handling a busy restaurant. It took about 80 minutes for myself and my plus one to have a burger and fries and a milkshake and sundae for dessert. It took about 25-30 minutes for the burgers and fries to come out. Albeit, the restaurant was busy, however I have been to this restaurant countless times in years past while it was packed to the brim while never waiting more than 10-15 minutes for food. We were starkly disappointed at the quality of the burgers once they arrived. They tasted like nothing and I'm convinced they have since switched over to frozen burgers. The most tasteful thing on the burger was the ketchup. The slab fries are still pretty much the same concept-wise, however I noticed that only about 3 of french fries were cooked correctly. The rest were either undercooked to the point of being inedible or overcooked so it was like eating potato chips. When we asked for cokes, they brought us old-fashioned diner cokes. Awesome. However, when we finished them and asked for refills, they brought us canned coke. Canned coke in a "classic soda shop." We waited another 10-15 minutes for a waitress to come back while we had obviously finished eating, with our plates on the edge of the table. Even when they came back to take our order for ice cream (which took way longer than it should have), they *still* left the dirty plates on the table until they brought us the ice cream another 10-15 minutes after that. The restaurant claims that its ice cream is still homemade, which I'm not denying, but the ice cream in the sundae tasted old and freezer burnt. "Today, [the current owner] proudly carries the torch, infusing the restaurant with his passion for preserving its nostalgic charm," a quote from the 'Story' tab of the Hildebrandt's website reads. I question the reality of this statement. They filmed The Irishman here just a few years ago because it was truly a nostalgic gem, but now it is covered in TVs and pictures of horse racing and Taylor Swift.

Arrived almost an hour and a half before closing and got told we needed to order quick if we wanted more than ice cream as they would be closing in 50 min. So I can't say anything about the food but service was uninviting at best.

Went in on a Saturday night around 6;30. Waited until 7:30pm and nobody acknoledged us. Went to ask hostess for a menu to sit at the ice cream bar. I realize it was busy, but we were ignored the entire time we were there. Left without eating or getting any dessert. The place that night was run by a bunch of teenagers who couldn't be bothered and/or were so lost they did not have the situational awareness to take care of customers near the ice cream bar. We left and went to Carvel where I knew I would be serviced. I would not go back.

Heard how good the ice cream was. Had a strawberry cone. Worst I ever had. Nasty attitude. Dude was waiting for me to say thank you. Not with his attitude. And no ty from person at register. And 8 bucks for a small cone. The bathroom was clean. I’ll come back to just use that

DO NOT COME HERE! Staff is rude and unprofessional! Chef did not wear gloves while preparing food after handling money. The waitress never came to our table to ask us if we would like to order. She just ignored us. She looked miserable and was very unfriendly. The waitress never cleared our dishes. The food was FROZEN and heated up in the microwave! Chicken parm came from frozen Rao’s box. Nothing about the food was fresh or made in a hygienic setting. Their ice cream is fine, but their food and the experience is dismal.

I have been a long time fan of this place but last night I got there at 10pm and was not allowed in and locked out without a word said. Hours say open until 12 midnight. I drove an hour to go, very disappointed and ruined the night.

It’s a lovely old fashioned atmosphere. Even the folks looked like they stepped out of time. Unfortunately, the lemon we were told was fresh tasted like the lemonade that is used for cooking that comes from the bottle and the egg cream was just sugar water. If seltzer was added it was flat. So dissatisfied and disappointed since we went specifically for those two things. We did not get to eat. The menu looked nice.

TLDR: This previously well respected historically accurate establishment has begun to gut the historic features and homemade food/ice cream that justified its higher prices, while hiking prices and replacing experienced staff. As a long time customer of Hildebrandt’s I am extremely disappointed by the recent changes to the interior. My family and I like to go every few months, and while it is slightly pricey the atmosphere makes it well worth the meal. Tonight we intended to have dinner and dessert as usual, but were shocked to see the glass display cases were gutted and the classic telephone booth were removed and replaced by a modern freezer and a miniature desk. Once sat we were greeted by an entirely new modern menu missing whole sections of the old one (like all their pasta dishes!!) and some pretty extreme price increases. The new staff were extremely inattentive, and from the time we were greeted it took almost a half hour for us to order (although half the restaurant was empty), and we were not provided any waters until we asked. In the ample time we had to look around, we observed a majority of the decorations were removed, and the classic cups, napkin dispensers, and other accoutrements were replaced with cheap modern Coke branded items. The TV’s were all set to foreign political stations, and the usual counter staff was not there. While some changes in previous months were productive and appreciated, such as new more comfortable seating that still maintained the old American atmosphere, this more modern and cheap look is concerning for an establishment that begged locals to sign petitions to preserve its historic heritage just two years ago. Will it still be eligible as a historic landmark if key aspects of the interior are modified? Our ice cream did not taste fresh, the cheque was provided to us with a QR code, and the atmosphere was dismal. I truly hope that the owner brings back the key elements that made Hildebrandt’s special, and that the staff we have been served by for years has not been terminated.

I visited this establishment. Doesn’t seem like Black people are welcome there. Our waitress took forever to acknowledge us. Service was slow. We ordered an apple pie a la mode—the pie was ice cold. Overall, very poor customer service. Be warned!

Was a little sad to see the changes inside. All of that historic character is gone. Should have been alarmed when a can of Coke not a fountain soda arrived at the table. We knew this place was dead when the freezer burned and not cooked all the way mozzarella sticks arrived. Gone are the amazing home made dishes made with care and high quality ingredients. The burger we had was so dry and hard it crumbled like flavorless dust when you bit into in. Not even the bacon could save that. I’ve had better cafeteria burgers. The milk shake was fine but we didn’t stick around to try the Sundaes. Not The Hildebrandts you remember or the one featured on countless TV specials and news spots. While the staff was lovely it was sad to not see any of the old friendly faces behind the counter. And to complete the terrible experience, the tip suggestions START at 22% and go to over 30%. We always tip well, and know it’s not wait the staffs fault when a meal is subpar. But that’s just insulting. Pay your workers and let us tip for friendly service at the perfectly acceptable 20% standard. If you walk up to a place that used to have a line out the door on a Saturday night, and now there’s only one table with guests, take the hint. Will remember old Hildebrant’s fondly.

This has been the third time I attempted to come here from OCEANSIDE so it’s about a 30 minute trip only to find out that they are closed today’s hours said they were open till eight. It’s 649 and yet here we are all dark. The last time I was here that was fun. The doors were open and nobody was in there. I actually thought they were being held up. I ran through the whole store and some guy comes running back in because he forgot the keys to lock up so he left the business unattended and open. It’s really sad because if you’re able to find them when they’re open, their ice cream is really good although it’s overpriced but the fact that they’re never open, makes it very hard to get so I go to get my business elsewhere so disappointed

Brian Costello

I didn't actually have an experience with the food since when I went to try the place out it was closed. The website says it was supposed to be open but no sign was out and boxes were sitting out in front of the door. I saw someone inside but they never came out to offer any explanation.

Pat W

We decided to stop at Hildebrandt’s after dinner the other night instead of getting dessert where we ate. Huge mistake. What should’ve been a simple treat turned into a comedy of errors — except nobody was laughing except us out of disbelief. The kids behind the counter looked completely untrained. You’d think putting a brownie on a plate, adding ice cream, whipped cream, and a couple toppings would be pretty straightforward. Not that night. Everyone else in my group finished their ice cream while I sat there waiting and watching the chaos unfold. By the time someone who might have been a manager came over to ask if we needed anything, I was already checked out mentally. We explained what happened and immediately got the excuse of them being “very busy.” The place wasn’t even half full. Then, when my friend went to pay (and obviously we weren’t leaving a tip), the kid at the register claimed they didn’t have coin change. The difference was a little over $2 — it felt like he expected us to just say “don’t worry about it.” My friend was furious, and honestly, rightfully so. He told the kid, “It’s not my fault you don’t have change,” and asked for $3 back. I really hope they get some proper training in place. Hildebrandt’s has been around forever, and it’s sad to see it run like this. It’ll be a long time before I recommend this place to anyone.

Maria Ambreen

Terrible! Had to wait 1.5hr for a burger! 7 other customers who came after us were served..nobody acknowledged us waiting for so long. I had to tell the cook that we order a burger, he said, "yeah the employee forgot to put in the order", wow! Like if it was forgotten then why were the other customers were served first who came wayyyyyy after us ?! Average food, service below average. Sadly was expecting more from this place as was trying to support the local business. To the owner who replied to my review: Sir, we PAID for our own lunch. You didn't buy us our lunch. May be you are confusing my review with others. That's the sad part, a place that has been open for almost a 100yrs seeing it loose it value for customer service was sad.

Michael Daloia

Long time customer, been going there for decades but after going there this past Sunday that will be the last time I ever go. Sad how far it has fallen since previous owners. Milk was sour on the 2 egg cream sodas we had, plus they weren’t even cold. Iced coffee we ordered was warm and was weak coffee, tastes like water. And prices are out of control. $5 ice cream shots for a tablespoon of ice cream? At least fill up the shot glass. $4 for a side of hot fudge? Ice cream sundae with only a single scoop for $18? And service was horrible. No manager was there to speak to, only 16 year kids running the show. Tables were all dirty. Nobody greeting you. Waiter didn’t even know how to properly clean the table when we asked if he could clean it for us. And seems like kitchen is only what’s made on the griddle, old menu is gone. If I could give 1/2 a star I would.

Dayan Lopez

I frequent this place, but I think new ownership changed the ice cream because it's completely different. New menu items are great, but I miss the ice cream, home made whip cream is still amazing, though. Edit: Came back here for my favorite dish at this joint. The Pesto Pasta. Well looks like its no longer the same pesto. Bottled pesto is what it looks like. A real shame that this place has changed its food so much. Edit 2: After looking at other peoples reviews, I'm glad I'm not the only one who has noticed all the negative changes. From the atmosphere difference to the change in food and to the total difference of the popular ice cream. What a shame that all this happened. Heres hoping they bring back the original homemade ice cream. Edit 3: Came back here one more time. Oh boy do I regret. Things have changed. The home made candy section is completely gone and the decor is completely different. My milkshake was not good at all. Too much malt and the whip cream had an eggy taste which was weird. My partners brownie sundae was mediocre. The hot fudge and eggy whip cream ruined it. The hot fudge tasted very salty and not like how it used to be. To make matters worse the tip start at 22% to 31%, which is diabolical. I feel bad writing this review because this place really used to be special and unique. For shame, for shame. This is my last time coming to Hildis!