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Soft Swerve - Kips Bay
Master Critic Review
Soft Swerve - Kips Bay
7.7
Soft Swerve’s Kips Bay outpost brings the brand’s ube and matcha soft serve to a narrow Third Avenue storefront with just enough space to grab a cone and go. It’s a go-to for Asian-inspired soft serve when you want something more interesting than vanilla-chocolate swirl.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ube Purple Yam soft serve cone, Matcha and Vanilla swirl sundae, Black Sesame soft serve in a chocolate cone
Scores:
Value: 7.9
Service: 7.4
Consistency: 7.8
Food Quality: 8.4
Atmosphere: 6.2
Cultural Relevance: 8
What makes it special: Ube-forward soft serve shop that helped popularize Asian dessert flavors in NYC.
Who should go: Soft serve fans hunting ube, matcha, and black sesame.
When to visit: Late afternoon or early evening before prime weekend lines.
What to order: Ube cone, Matcha-vanilla swirl sundae, Black Sesame cone.
Insider tip: Check the rotating sundae board—limited-time combos can be better value than building your own.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking is scarce on Third Avenue and nearby side streets; expect to circle or use garages several blocks away.
Dress code: Casual — anything from workout clothes to jeans and a tee fits right in.
Noise level: Low to moderate — mostly quick in-and-out foot traffic with minimal lingering noise.
Weekend wait: 10–20 minutes during peak evenings, longer on warm summer nights.
Weekday lunch: Usually no wait or under 5 minutes.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — all core soft serve flavors and many toppings are vegetarian.
Vegan options: Limited — sorbets and select non-dairy seasonal flavors when available.
Gluten-free options: Yes — soft serve itself is gluten-free; just skip cones and certain cookie-based toppings.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes for a quick, low-pressure dessert stop — it’s fun and playful, but not suited for long sit-down conversations.
Can I get a table without a reservation? There’s no real table service — expect to stand, take your dessert to-go, or grab a quick sidewalk pause.
Is it kid-friendly? Very kid-friendly for short visits — sweet flavors, colorful swirls, and quick service work well for children, though there’s limited space for strollers.
Best For
Better for: Ube, matcha, and black sesame soft serve that feels trend-forward without being overly expensive.
Skip if: You want classic American ice cream scoops, deep seating, or a long dessert hangout.