After re-opening last week, Annie’s Parlour is welcoming customers for the first time in nearly four years from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a stripped-down menu.

The menu has just burgers, fries and malted milkshakes. Annie’s Parlour is easing its way back into serving food for Dinkytown residents and University of Minnesota students.

After walking up the tall black staircase you will reach Annie’s main dining room, a table service-based business unlike the fast-food/fast-casual dining that dominates much of Dinkytown. The vibe of the interior is slightly rustic but also hip, as light bulbs dangling from the ceiling give it the feeling of an art museum.

The malts are what Annie’s Parlour is most famous for and of the three main selections from their current menu, they are definitely the highlight. 

The chocolate malt has a strong malty taste that compliments the flavor of the chocolate and the ice cream very well. Additionally, the malt is not so thick that you can’t drink it through a straw — you can’t go wrong with using either a straw or a spoon to devour a malt from Annie’s.

With a lack of quality options for ice cream products on campus, Annie’s Parlour is fulfilling a demand that has existed since the pandemic. The only real downside to the malts is their price: one malt costs $9.95. It is worth noting, however, that if you sit down and order a malt, there is more than enough for two people, as they give you enough malted milkshake to fill at least two of their glasses.

In addition to their well-known flagship dessert, Annie’s has some good burgers as well. It is not an outstanding burger by any means, but their cheeseburger is notably well-seasoned and juicy. It is an overall satisfactory entree.

The last option on Annie’s current limited menu is their fries, available in a half or full order. Like the burger, the fries are nothing outstanding but are well-seasoned. They work on their own or dipped into a malt, if you’re into that.

The return of Annie’s Parlour is sure to satisfy longtime customers and University students alike. With a remarkably good selection of malted milkshakes, it might just be the best place to grab dessert in Dinkytown.