Aglamesis Bros, Cincinnati

Every pint of ice cream and box of candy at Aglamesis Bro's is hand-packed with family tradition. The sweet legacy stretches back to Greek immigrants Thomas and Nicholas Aglamesis, who settled in Cincinnati at the beginning of the twentieth century. The brothers began making ice cream, and by 1908, they had saved enough money to open up their own parlor. More than a century later, visitors can still meet those original founders: their photographs hang inside Aglamesis Bro's two Cincinnati locations. And the decor doesn't look much different than when the Aglamesis family first opened up shop, with touches such as antique tin ceilings, tiffany lamps, and marble counters adding to the spaces' vintage charm.

The treats are just as classic as the surroundings, as a third generation of the Aglamesis family continues to make ice cream and candies with old-world recipes. Ice cream is made in the French style—incorporating egg yolks to produce rich flavor—and chocolate confections are crafted from scratch. Whether guests sample a dish of champagne sorbet, a classic banana split, or vanilla caramels, they can taste the sweet simplicity of a bygone era.