Written by Isabella Aranda Garcia & Gia Miller
While there’s great debate among residents of Katonah and Somers over which town can claim King Kone, one thing is not up for debate: it’s delicious. Opened in 1953 as a drive-up ice cream shop, King Kone was sold several times before the current owners (and, ahem, Katonah residents) purchased the establishment in 2001, quickly expanding the menu from just ice cream and hot dogs. First, they added burgers, French fries, lobster rolls and grilled chicken sandwiches. Then came the varieties: six different burgers, seven types of fries, 10 “on a bun” options, 12 “favorites,” and more.
Now, let’s talk ice cream. King Kone’s soft serve is their top seller, but their mint chocolate chip, almond joy and cappuccino crunch are also beloved by many adults while kids prefer the cotton candy or birthday bash, and everyone loves sprinkles. King Kone goes through about 100 pounds of sprinkles a week.
What We Love
Food lovers throughout the county drive to King Kone, some weekly, for the fried clam strips, lobster rolls and grilled cheese. King Kone’s Ultimate Grilled Cheese comes with a choice of fried mozzarella, fried mac & cheese bites or fried ravioli inside, and it’s served with a side of marinara sauce. About half the adults who order grilled cheese order the Ultimate.
Runner-up: Muscoot Tavern, Katonah/Somers
This article was published in the January/February 2025 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
To view all 2025 Connect to the Best winners, click here.
Gia Miller is an award-winning journalist and the editor-in-chief/co-publisher of Connect to Northern Westchester. She has a magazine journalism degree (yes, that's a real thing) from the University of Georgia and has written for countless national publications, ranging from SELF to The Washington Post. Gia desperately wishes schools still taught grammar. Also, she wants everyone to know they can delete the word "that" from about 90% of their sentences, and there's no such thing as "first annual." When she's not running her media empire, Gia enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, laughing at her crazy dog and listening to a good podcast. She thanks multiple alarms, fermented grapes and her amazing husband for helping her get through each day. Her love languages are food and humor.
Isabella Aranda is a designer, writer and social media specialist with an M.A. in emerging media from the New Media Institute at the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication. Driven by curiosity and inspired by timeless modern design, she blends creativity and strategy to craft compelling narratives that engage diverse audiences.
Her expertise spans digital marketing, content creation and UX design, with notable achievements such as co-creating the Georgia On Your Mind podcast and leading digital campaigns that significantly boosted engagement. A Venezuelan immigrant, Isabella brings a multicultural perspective to her work, enhancing her ability to connect with and inspire others.
