New England Confectionery Company

Necco is more than 50 years older than the banana split. But these intensely fake-banana-flavored chews can't have more than 50 seconds of research and development. They're related to ice cream sundaes in name only and should have been called "Super Artificial Banana Bombs."
5 oz. for $1.49.

Kimball Farm II: Electric Boogaloo

Full review coming soon.


The rematch.


Revenge is mine!

Four Seas

When choosing a beach at Cape Cod, one should always consider its proximity to Four Seas. What are the 4 C's, you ask? Creative flavors, Creamy texture, Convivial atmosphere, and Charming decor.
Banana split: $6.25


Four Seas has seating for 30 and 100 parking spaces. The lunch counter serves as a protective barrier, keeping the mob of customers from successfully storming the kitchen.


Four Seas is the first place I've been with a Subway-type approach to banana-split creation. Instead of taking my order all at once, it was a series of questions at different building stages. Ice cream flavors? Toppings? Would you like marshmallow as well? Whipped cream? Nuts? Pecans, walnuts, or almonds?


Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla Chai with peanut butter, strawberries, and hot fudge, marshmallow, whipped cream, and nuts (pecans). The ice cream could have benefitted from a chilled dish in their fight against the warm toppings I'd chosen. The whipped cream was rich, hearty, and delicious. The Vanilla Chai is perhaps the best ice cream flavor I've ever had. It was instantly addicting. After finishing the sundae, I considered getting a cone, but my wife dissuaded me. (I should note that she wouldn't share her Vanilla Chai cone with me.) Bottom line: The only thing that would have made this better is a second serving.

Ice Cream Machine

Just a few miles from the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, this unassuming shop sits right across the street from Diamond Hill State Park. It's no more than a walk-up counter and picnic tables, but I didn't come for the architecture.
Banana split: $6.59


The praise I'd read about Ice Cream Machine had my spirits high. With a multitude of unique flavors, I had to work them into my banana split. I got Grape Nut, Raspberry Truffle, and Chocolate M&M topped with peanut butter, hot fudge, and marshmallow, whipped cream, nuts, and cherries. The conservative portion was a bit dwarfed by the whipped cream, but supplimented nicely by the ice cream's excellent flavor and texture.

Pirate's Cove

Pirate's Cove has a lot of character. This roadside stand in Northbridge, MA is painted in bright blue and yellow. The menu items are featured on the awning. It should be noted that there's very little distinctly "pirate" or "cove" about it.
Banana split: $4.95


Are those coffee beans or Sugar Smacks? While I suppose there are worse things to treasure, it's just not what I expected from this particular pirate.


This banana split is about as traditional as it gets: vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry with pineapple, chocolate sauce, and strawberry sauce, topped with whipped cream, cherries, and nuts. However, the construction was unique in that the banana was laid flat on the bottom of the container. Amazingly, this is the first time I've had pineapple on a banana split this summer. Though Pirate's Cove proudly boasted the use of Hershey's Ice Cream, I found it to be rather mediocre. It tasted mass produced. The vanilla was disappointingly French (you know, the yellow kind made with egg yolks) and the pineapple was candied and overly sweet. Everything else was good, but nothing great. Just good. Next time, I'm going to order a small cone.