Some time ago, a milkshake stopped being just a milkshake and the extreme, dessert-within-a-dessert milkshake arrived, spilling out of glasses everywhere. Not just a cool, creamy treat, but crowned with more sugar-fueled goodness than just whipped cream and a cherry, grab a spoon and prepare for a sugar coma with these seven spots to find extreme milkshakes in Columbus. (Central Ohio really likes its peanut butter and its Oreos!)
The Yard Milkshake Bar
1055 N. High St. – Short North
theyardmilkshakebar.com
Hours: 2 – 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 2 – 10 p.m. Friday; 12 – 10 p.m. Saturday; 12 – 9 p.m. Sunday
The name says it all. The Yard is all about the extreme, over-the-top, dessert plus dessert plus dessert milkshake, offering 20 specialty shakes, in addition to monthly, rotating specials – AND a build-your-own option.
Most popular milkshake: Peanut Butter Brownie Bliss – Brownie batter ice cream in a peanut butter dipped jar rolled in chocolate shavings, crowned with whipped cream, chocolate and peanut butter drizzle, plus an entire brownie
Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce
3959 Brighton Rose Sq – Easton
fortydeuce.com/cafe
Hours: 12 – 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; 12 – 11 p.m. Friday & Saturday; 12 – 8 p.m. Sunday
Rising high from tables at Easton, Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce has a special name for its towering creations – Skyscraper Shakes. Paying homage to the joint’s NYC theme, the decked out delicacies come in six mainstay flavors, plus a rotating monthly Skyscraper.
Most popular milkshake: It’s a tie! The Bridge & Tunnel – white icing rim rolled in rainbow sprinkles with a strawberry marmalade drip and hand-made birthday cake ice cream, topped with a Sugar Rush confetti cake slice, whipped cream, cherry and a sparkler! (Fire!) Or The Bodega – milk chocolate icing rim rolled in multi-colored mini M&M’s with a chocolate drizzle and hand-made triple chocolate ice cream, topped with Kit Kat bars, a house-made ice cream sandwich rolled in Oreo crumbles, plus whipped cream and a cherry.
Chocolate Cafe
1855 Northwest Blvd. – Fifth by Northwest / Grandview Area
chocolatecafecolumbus.com
Hours: 9 a.m – 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday & Saturday
Serving up sweets for a decade and a half, Chocolate Cafe is keeping things fresh with the recent addition of its Monster Milkshakes (which signage indicates bring all the boys to the yard). Find four fabulous flavors – S’mores, Strawberry Shortcake, Cookie Monster and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.
Most popular milkshake: S’mores – a chocolate milkshake with a marshmallow rim, chocolate marshmallows, graham crackers, whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle
Sugar Rush
8130 E. Broad St. – Reynoldsburg
sugarrushcolumbus.com
Hours: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday
A Sugar Rush is exactly what you will get after sipping on one of the bakery’s colossal creations. Sugar Rush’s confections are legendary enough to make another appearance on this list (see above), but they turn out their own handful of shakes in flavors like Vanilla Cake Batter, Strawberry, Cookies & Cream, Peanut Butter and Chocolate. But stay tuned for more. The sweets shop will move a few doors down in November (to 8114 E. Broad St.) and expand its offerings with a dozen flavors and build-your-own options.
Most popular milkshake: Peanut Butter Extreme Shake – A massive milkshake topped with Sugar Rush’s peanut butter overload mash up cookie, a buckeye cupcake and skewer of house-made buckeyes
Libby Lou’s Fun Factory
3039 Indianola Ave. – Clintonville
libbylousfunfactory.com
Hours: 12 – 6 p.m. daily
Fun factory indeed, with Libby Lou’s lineup that not only includes sweet waffles, mini donuts, apple waffles and more sweet treats, but mammoth milkshakes (or sundaes!). Good luck choosing from two dozen extreme shake options, plus the occasional special.
Most popular milkshake: One day its Ultimate Reese’s, next its Banana Bliss Baby, but the Butter Beer is an especially popular choice for the Harry Potter fans, featuring burnt butterscotch ice cream in a jar rolled in salted caramel and caramel corn, topped with a Doby donut, whipped cream, butterscotch chips, a chocolate frog, Gringotts bank coins, Berty’s every flavored beans, sparkly sprinkles, a chocolate pocky wand and Harry Potter Glasses. Phew!
Shake No. Ei8ht
1537 N. High St. – University District
shakeno8.com
Hours: 12 – 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday; 12 – 5 p.m. Sunday
Fueling the towering milkshake needs of the campus area, Shake No. Ei8ht blends up eight extremes, plus a special Birthday Shake. To caffeinate the journey, the ice cream slash coffee shop also offers a menu of hot chocolates, coffee and espresso drinks.
Most popular milkshake: It’s a three-way tie between the Oreo Supreme, Cotton Candy and S’mores!
Hadley’s
260 S. Fourth St. – Downtown
hadleysbar.com
Hours: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday & Thursday; 11 a.m – midnight Friday; 10 a.m. – midnight Saturday; 10 a.m. 10 p.m. Sunday
Not only are Hadley’s milkshakes over the top. They’ve got a little somethin’ extra going for them – booze. These saucy desserts come in four towering varieties – Strawberry Shortcake, O’Hadley’s Irish Coffee, Oreo Bonanza and Boozy Root Beer Float.
Most popular milkshake: Oreo Bonanza
Too extreme? If you’re looking for a more traditional milkshake, there’s plenty to be had across Columbus. Check out spots like Hangover Easy (also with some boozy options), Shake Shack, Weenie Wonder, Flip Side, Krema Nut and more. Where’s your favorite spot to score a shake?