Belt’s is fine, and is THE ice cream place on the near South Side. Personally, I prefer Carl D’s because it’s more personal. But Belt’s has a huge menu and their products are certainly acceptable.
Mary L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Stevens Point, WI
A Stevens Point classic, we live to take our first time friends to Belts. A great value and take your dog, get a pup cup!
Klay S.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Plover, WI
The product is actually ice milk. It is OK but never sure what size to order bc depending upon who is working a small can look like a kiddy cone or like a medium. I never like to order a cone bigger than small bc it is usually crooked and ends up in my lap. Very long lines, cool options, but probably last on my list for good ice cream.
Nicole K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Boynton Beach, FL
Really good ice-cream, I can’t say its the best I have ever had but it is definitely the best ice cream in Portage county. A lot of their toppings are homemade and they have so many options. The only two downsides are the super long lines and the cash only policy. If you are looking for great ice-cream, then you should head to Belt’s.
Brad F.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Ixonia, WI
Awe… some Best soft serve anywhere. Most of their toppings are homemade, and delicious. The line of customers is a testament to how great this place is. The wait is worth it. They have a soft serve flavor of the day, I recommend getting it in a twist with vanilla.
Joel M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Bellevue, WA
When looking for a classic, small-town central Wisconsin ice cream stand, Belt’s hits the spot. My personal favorite is the Raw Dawg, and my wife’s is the Blue Moon soft serve in a dish, which is a rotating flavor. Having never personally attempted the Large Cone, I do not doubt that the difficulty level equates to at least a mini-Vermonster, but being someone who desires to enjoy their frozen treats, not conquer them, I will avoid that item for the time being. Serving up Point Brewery’s famous root beer in their root beer floats is always a temptation in this town, and Belt’s doesn’t skimp on portion size. In keeping with ice cream parlours and stands everywhere, the counters are almost always tended to by high school and college aged kids, and their service is excellent. Sure, there are lines, it’s cash only, and it’s not open year-round. But that’s what you get with this type of venue, and if you wanted short lines and an air conditioned eatery, McDonald’s is down the street. Belt’s is a must-visit for anyone passing through on a hot summer day!
Krista M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Saint Paul, MN
Awesome! I got a flurry with their homemade peanut butter cups and it was amazing. The lines are long but they move quickly. It was great and I’ll definitely be back!
Ashley V.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Madison, WI
I LOVE this place! They home make their peanut butter cups, brownies, and cookie dough. Put those all in one flurry and prepare to be amazed! Prepare to wait in line as there is usually a long line since it’s so good.
Randy Z.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Laguna Niguel, CA
First off to the guy that said Culver’s is better… Wow Great place, great ice cream, great everything… Only problem is CASHONLY… Seriously 21st century people!!! As for the long lines… It’s to be expected it’s so close to college and its soooooo good… Second off over priced? Ever eat at coldstone? That’s expensive.
Ursula A.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Houston, TX
It really is just soft serve ice cream, but there is a lot of it, it’s a unique, local business, and they have specials related to the season. Right now, in August, it is about Door County Cherries, which don’t appeal to me, but are in season. Earlier in the summer, you can get fresh, *local* strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and probably other berries on your ice cream, or heaped on a flurry — their word for what DQ calls a ‘Blizzard’. Belts’ is a Central Wisconsin staple, and it is an important destination when I visit my parents’ place in Rudolph. Belts’ makes several of their flurry components in house, like brownies and cookie dough. I had a puppy chow flurry with chocolate ice cream today. Puppy Chow, for those outside the Midwest, is chex cereal with chocolate and peanut butter, covered in powdered sugar, made at Belts’. My mother got a small cone, which consisted of 4 «bumps» of ice cream. Medium is 6 bumps and I assume large is 8 bumps. Junior, however, is just 2 bumps for those wanting a little less ice cream.
Joe P.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Walla Walla, WA
Ice cream itself is average soft serve fare, but the mix ins for flurries are to die for! Cookie dough, peanut butter cups, brownies, and more are homemade, not the«pellet» type seen at DQ and most ice cream places. Skip the large cone, get a flurry instead! Sizes are VERY large.
Josh. M.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Stevens Point, WI
nothing special really. I understand it to be just your plain old soy-based soft serve ice cream you can get at mcdonalds or at dairy treat/queen. Turns to soup in about a second. sure you can get a big cone, but thats because the ice cream is so cheap that they just pile it on. they have«fresh fruit» but its just sort of sprinkled on top and I dont see why that makes this place as amazing as everyone says it is. Much better is the ice cream at the Rock and Roll café.
Helen J.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Middleton, WI
Just like with Li’l Sebastian of «Parks and Rec», to appreciate Belts ypu must be a true local. The ice cream itself is not good. It’s not bad but it’s not good. What it is is huge, as in mammoth portion sizes. What it also is — and this is very key — is a place to see and be seen. Hubs and I have lived in Point for decades but we aren’t true locals because we did not go grow up here. We don’t bother going to Belts because we don’t appreciate it. Our kids, on the other hand, are true locals. They love Belts. Belts is home and good memories to them.
James R.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Madison, WI
My first visit at Belt’s earns them three stars, and that’s a generous three. I had a zeebra cone(their spelling) dipped in crunchies and it was pretty good. However, I’d forego the sugary crunch topping as the soft serve was more flavorful and richer than DQ’s product — I think they’re using whole milk here, which is nice. My gripe is that the line was longish but manageable. However, the wait was excessive for a walk-up place like this. I feel that if the staff worked a little more aggressively they could power through things quicker. I suppose it’s just leftover Chicago impatience. Three stars and I’ll drop by again when I pass through Steven Point again for a second review, this time of a homemade flurry.
Margaret R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Madison, WI
This place really has to be seen to be appreciated. The ice cream is basic – two flavors plus a daily special – but what’s really going on is a vast array of flurries and shakes, some with homemade treats mixed in. Because almost everyone is ordering something made to order, the line is long and moves slowly, but everyone’s in a good mood, and when you get to the front they’re very friendly and efficient. Be forewarned, everything is huge. A great local stop.
Irina F.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Stevens Point, WI
Couldn’t stay away from this place today. Especially when they have fresh strawberries. This is a fine soft serve ice cream place. Especially when they use FRESH fruits and berries in season.
Troy J.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Saint Paul, MN
If you like SOFTSERVE, this could be the best destination for frozen treats. People who are ‘in the know’ order their flurries — and focus on flavors that feature homemade ingredients. Servings are generous and inexpensive. A ‘medium’ is MORE than large enough for most people. Waiting in line at Belts is a social experience. Plan to chat with other locals. Bring your friendly dog. They’ll get a free mini-cone too.
Chee Z.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Bronx, NY
Yes, nothing beats a nice, cold soft-serve cone in the summer. But having no similar businesses competing in the area is no excuse for salty, watery ice cream.
Kao V.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Plover, WI
Yay for the history and variety. Nay for the products. I prefer fatty, creamier ice cream… I’ve found a few ice chunks in mine that was off-putting.
Luthien N.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Berkeley, CA
I almost went with 3 stars because I’m bitter about how much prices have increased since I started going as a little 4th grader(over 15 years ago) and I don’t like the reminder of getting older so quickly and paying more for my ice cream. But then I remember what a staple Belt’s is to Stevens Point, summer, and Trivia weekend that I want to give it 5 stars. So I compromise. Yes– hard ice cream with all those fancy flavors sure is great. But on a hot summer day nothing beats a soft serve twist cone that drips onto the outdoor tables and no one could care less about the mess. Also, they started having a flavor of the day a bunch of years ago(bubble gum, pistachio, a whole host of other gross-sounding flavors) but the best days are when they have fresh strawberries or raspberries for sundaes. Otherwise try their homemade brownies, cookie dough, or peanut butter cups for flurries. Always worth braving the long lines, that’s for sure.