Last night, I had a large chocolate malt at Old School Frozen Custard on Capitol Hill.

While everyone worships Molly Moon's, I've always been let down by the place. The outlandishness of the choices only highlights the fact that the flavors are actually more Ramones (one note) than Talking Heads (multi-layered). And the service is too standoffish and sullen. It's an ice cream shop!

So, yesterday when I met a friend at the new Elliott Bay (he hadn't been yet), I was pleasantly surprised when he suggested Old School Frozen Custard (1316 E. Pike St.) as an alternative to Molly Moon's for our post-shopping treat. (We also hit Everyday Music in what is now the perfect teenage shopping circuit).



I'd never been (don't like custard), but he assured me it was basically soft ice cream.

Yay for this place. I gave them the audition (a milkshake, cold and long... which Molly Moon's failed at—no malt, and took forever to make). In addition to knowing how to do a chocolate malt right, Old School's menu focuses on the basics; vanillas, Kahluas, Reeses cups; hot fudge, and brownies.

And the service, even though they looked like hipsters (one girl looked exactly like Mia Farrow circa 1967), was ice-cream-shop appropriate: friendly and excited about their menu. I'm excited about it too. I'm going back next weekend for the Muddy Buddy.