Serving Up Soft Serve: This Ice Cream Shop in Nebraska Won Me Over

Summer in Nebraska is like a well-made mixtape. It's playful, a little nostalgic, and full of unexpected hits. You can zip around go-karts at Papio Fun Park or soak up sun-drenched serenity at Lake Maloney, where the water is just chilly enough to keep you honest. There’s something for every flavor of fun. But when the humidity turns the air into soup and your shirt starts clinging in places it has no business clinging, there’s only one sensible solution: soft serve. Cold, creamy, and blissfully mess-free until you drop it on your flip-flop.

And the best place in the state to cool down with the creamiest swirl this side of the Missouri? Zesto Ice Cream in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Located just off Capital Parkway and a short drive from the Sunken Gardens, Zesto looks like it was dropped from a Midwestern time machine in the best possible way. It’s charming and unpretentious: white exterior, red trim, and an old school menu board. Picnic tables dot the outside seating area, and in the summer, it feels like the center of the universe. Or at least the center of Lincoln, Nebraska. The staff is fast, friendly, and clearly passionate about serving the good stuff. They hustle like people who understand that someone in line might be teetering on the edge of a soft serve meltdown, both figurative and literal.

Let’s talk about that soft serve. It is the reason you go to Zesto. It comes in cones or cups, and you can get it dipped in that magical, hard-shell coating that cracks just right when you bite in. Choose from a classic chocolate or vanilla base—or mix them together if you’re feeling bold and bipartisan. But the real flex here? The flavors. Zesto’s shakes and malts read like the playlist of your dreams: black raspberry, butterscotch, cappuccino, mocha, pineapple, wild cherry—and of course, chocolate and vanilla. Add mix-ins like cookie dough, brownie bites, Oreos, or candy for an over-the-top creation that feels part dessert, part architectural wonder.

Feeling more drink than scoop? Try a float or a freeze. I know it sounds wild, but hear me out: the pink lemonade float is basically summer in a cup. It’s tart, sweet, fizzy, and surprisingly refreshing. Like a creamsicle grew up and started listening to indie pop.

If you’re craving something with a bit more substance, Zesto doesn’t disappoint. Their menu of proper food includes burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, and the nostalgic powerhouse known as Frito pie. It’s the kind of stuff that tastes like your childhood summers—greasy fingers, ketchup smiles, the works.

Can’t get enough? You can take it home. They sell pints, quarts, and even half gallons of their soft serve to-go. It's a power move. Pro tip: If you're anything like me and enjoy pretending you're a classy lady of leisure while eating frozen dairy products in your pajamas, invest in a dedicated ice cream spoon. These long-handled spoons make me feel like I'm hosting a silent film–era garden party.

So here’s the plan: Visit Nebraska this summer. Spend a day in Lincoln. Walk the Sunken Gardens, visit the Sheldon Museum of Art, and absolutely, unequivocally treat yourself to Zesto Ice Cream. Whether you’re all about the soft serve swirl, craving a perfectly made float, or just in it for the Frito pie, this little shop delivers big on flavor, fun, and that unbeatable feeling of cold comfort on a hot day.

Get the float. Get the spoon. You’re worth it.