• Date of Visit: July 11, 2021
• Weather: Sunny with temps in the mid-80’s and low 90’s
• Music: Britney Spears, Rihanna, Orville Peck

Accessible through two-lane roads that take you on a scenic route past farms, old churches and beautiful homes before you get to the small town itself, Hampstead is a small community in Carroll County. Main Street is the main thoroughfare (not just a clever name) that cuts through town, with most of the commerce and a fair number of residences on each side of the road. It’s very quiet, and quaint, and my husband and I even contemplated buying a house on Main Street back in March 2020 right before the pandemic began.

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We arrived in Hampstead for lunch a little after 2 PM, now quite hungry after our visit to Ladew Gardens. Our initial choice for lunch is closed on Sundays, and we did not get a chance to hit up any of the breweries I had found in my research, but we still found a great place, nonetheless: Illiano’s J&P Pizzeria on Main Street. Like many restaurants during these times, they have outdoor seating, and we took advantage of the shade and the breeze that cut through the heat of the day, enjoying our cold drinks and delicious food outside. For a Sunday, Hampstead was somewhat busy, and Main Street/Route 30 in front of us was bustling with other people going to their various destinations, but it was not excessively loud.

Our food took a little longer to get to us than I was used to, but that was not a problem overall, and it was more than worth the wait. We split my friend’s order of French fries (covered with mozzarella cheese and bacon), and each ordered our own burger. Mine, the Deluxe Burger (with provolone and feta cheese, tomatoes, mayo, lettuce, mushrooms, and bacon) was delicious and came with its own order of fries. We both got to-go boxes because we both got a little full on the split order of fries, and wanted to save room for ice cream at our next stop a little further down the road- JJ Hoffman’s Creamery.

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The Creamery, which makes its own ice cream on the premises, has a lot of character to it, not the least because of the wall of pet photos that you see when you first come in. They have a large selection of both daily flavors old stand-bys. Some of the daily flavors include Mango, Pistachio, Raspberry, and Dutch Chocolate. My friend ordered a cup with a scoop of Black Cherry, and Butterscotch Ripple, and I treated myself to a Strawberry Cheesecake waffle cone. It was one of the most delicious ice creams I’ve ever had, and I am anxious to go back. It’s no wonder that they have been in business since 1947. They’re a true small town staple, and I’m sure they’ll be around for an even longer time to come.

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Stayed tuned for my next excursion into Hampstead to explore more places in the town, as well as an excursion up to Cecil County and the town of Rising Sun. As always, enjoy the journey!

Illiano’s J&P Pizzeria- 903 S Main Street, Hampstead, MD 21074
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11 AM-10 PM, Sunday: 11 AM-9 PM
Website: https://www.illianojandp.com/

JJ Hoffman’s Creamery- 841 S Main Street, Hampstead, MD 21074
Hours: Daily: 12 PM-9PM
Website: https://www.jjhoffmanscreamery.com/