Rori's Artisanal Creamery

Given all the superb ice cream options in L.A., it's easy to overlook this Santa Barbara-based scoop shop on Montana Avenue. But you shouldn't, because Rori's serves impossible-to-put-down artisanal ice cream that will have you hooked once you've tried it. Made with milk and cream from dairy cows raised along the Central Coast, the shop offers a blend of classic, occasionally seasonal flavors perfect for mixing into a hot fudge sundae or add-on toppings. The dye-free honey lavender offers the right blend of floral and sweet, and the chocolate options here (“serious” dark, coconut base, milk chocolate with chocolate shavings) are second to none. At a time when other artisanal L.A. shops are capitalizing on novelty in the form of limited releases and rotating monthly flavors, Rori's makes a great case for not fixing what isn't broken; sometimes, a classic scoop is all you need. Actually, when it comes to ice cream in Santa Monica, I actually prefer Rori’s over McConnell’s, but the latter has the advantage of convenience due to later weekday hours and additional L.A. locations.