Clintons Soda Fountain

Really good ice cream choices. Very old school atmosphere. I would go back there for another great milk shake. Only negative is its a little pricey for what you get. But it was good.

They call their sodas «phosphates.»
THEY CALL THEIR SODAS PHOSPHATES! HOW COOL IS THAT?
Stupid GPS didn’t know where it was taking us again. Tried four different BBQ joints and they were either closed or didn’t exist anymore. Really need to update our GPSes because I was super haaaangry by the time we ran into Clinton’s. We were only five miles from the hotel, but it felt like 50 with as much running about we did.
PHOSPHATE
I was really in the mood for a steak, but hangriness didn’t care anymore. I think there was a Mexican restaurant right beside it, but there as just something about this semi-​old timey place that caught my attention.
pHoSpHaTe
I walked in and my mood completely changes. It’s just the kind of place I’m into! It looks old and like it has a lot of history. My coworkers and I go up to the counter to place our orders (tuna salad on white bread with chips and a MANGO PHOSPHATE for me — under $ 10). The servers were really nice. Kinda unfortunate that some other Unilocalers didn’t have the same experience as we did.
P.H.O.S.P.H.A.T.E.
The sandwich was pretty simple, but it hit the spot. Not too much mayonnaise, just enough relish for some tang, and it actually had some tuna in it. Snacked on a few chips and guzzled down my MAAAAANGO PHOSPHATE.
I really can’t get over that. I think it’s so awesome.
Coworker surprised me with an apple pie sundae. I really wanted the turtle sundae, but this was good. If the apple were just a liiiiittle warm, it would have been perfect! Ended our meal with cinnamon pecans and cashews, no longer hangry, but happy. Bye!
PHOSPHATE!

It makes for the perfect addition to time spent on the Independence square. I prefer the yogurtini down the street but it is called the historic independence square. Clinton’s fits in great. Grab a stool at the counter marvel at the countertop and the woodwork and think about how this used to be how a standard soda shop looked like.

Finally a place that can make a proper soda but that is over shadowed by the staff the two ladies behind the counter never greeted us nor mentioned that you cant simply order from the bar until I noticed the sign at the opposite end one lady spent what must have been 10 min making a sundae never looking up or speaking to anyone even while there was a line of people waiting to order while she was what presented like extremely fixated on making a single sundae though large it was it shouldnt keep you from being present and pleasant to the people around you the other woman. made my soda also never said a word to me even though I was sitting directly in front of her at the bar she didn’t greet us either and only took a short moment to quietly share a few words with the woman making the sundae who as we left only managed to thank us for stopping in as we were half way through the door and that was the only two word we got from either of the the whole time we were there

Love the look of this place! Clinton’s is where Mr. Truman got his first job before becoming the president and where any adult can feel like a child. The prices are up there but you pay for experience as well as the food I guess. Order the Hot Fudge Peanut Sundae. You won’t regret it if you’re into that sort of stuff. Oh! And it’s a gift shop as well, nothing fancy but still cool.

I love old-​fashioned soda shops like this! Two of us shared a «Mudslide» and it was delicious. If you stop in, check out the gender-​specific packaging on the old toys for sale-​pretty interesting that they did that back in the day! Casual — perfect for families — but yet also romantic — perfect for a date. Pricing seemed reasonable.

I love the fact that this place makes soda the old fashion way. The Root Beer and Sarsaparilla tastes like it should not out of a can!

I didn’t realize how lucky I was to grow up in such an awesome city. I visted Clinton’s for field trips when I was younger all the time without knowing all of its awesome history, like the fact that the man who ended World War Two could have served me here if only I’d been born a century earlier. Isn’t that amazing? My sister and I stopped in not long ago, desperate for something cold to drink on a hot day, and we ordered a couple of phosphates, green apple for me and raspberry for her. I love apple soda (I used to drink it all the time while living in San Diego, but I can’t find it here) and I was so excited to taste it again. The girls working the counter were upbeat and patient with us, answering all of our questions and explaining the process of making a soda. Mine came out bright green and was the perfect drink to cool me down. I don’t usually like raspberry flavored things, but the flavor of my sister’s phosphate was really light and I actually enjoyed it. As much as I love my cell phone and my internet, I’m really glad places like Clinton’s are still around to remind us that some things don’t need changing.

An old time ice cream parlor. Huge sundaes and great malts. There is a variety of candy sold also, including Hammond’s Candies — first time we’ve seen that outside of Denver. Great place to grab a treat.

Good enough for Harry Truman it is even better for me! We all scream for ice cream!

Neat soda fountain in a beautiful building. The price seemed a bit steep for a small chocolate malt ($ 5+ with tax) but it was a nice stop.

I love this place its cozy and very nostalgic.

Clinton’s is a prime example of how an establishment with fine food can turn into a horrid experience because of the customer service.
Please let me introduce you to the most snobby barista I’ve come across in quite some time. I would provide her name, but she wasn’t wearing a name tag nor did she give us a receipt.
Upon entering, there was no one in line. The lady was making a sandwich, and we were not greeted. No «hello», no «I’ll be with you in a minute,» not even a head nod. Fine, you’re really into your sandwich making, I can look past that.
When she was finally done, she was all «What do you want?» with a blank stare. I politely said «I’m a bit overwhelmed by the menu. I have no idea what to get… Could you help me out, please?»
She responded with «Uhhh…the menu is right behind you.»
Yes, thank you lady, that’s the same menu I’ve been staring at for the past ten minutes as you made someone else’s sandwich!!!
My mom ordered a BLT and iced tea and I ordered a Tarimisu Latte. She kept looking at me like I was evil or something for only ordering coffee and kept insisting/​demanding that I order something else.
This is the first time that a restaurant employee has made me feel like a horrible person for being un decisive.
I sat down and waited for my latte. When I came up to get it, I said a cheerful «thank you!» and she ignored me. I asked her if I should pay now or wait till we were done and she said «You can pay as you leave in case you decide to actually order ice cream.»
My latte was delicious. I’ll give her that. My mom enjoyed her BLT but said it was too greasy. Apparently the bread was coated in butter or something.
Loved the idea/​atmosphere of Clinton’s but the barista lady made me feel like I fail at life for not knowing what I wanted to eat.

The manual on how to be a 5 year old again for a couple hours:
Walk into Clinton’s Soda Fountain. Plop yourself down by the counter. Order up a sundae. Any sundae will do. Grab a spoon and start digging in.
This place is great. Their big claim to fame is that Harry Truman used to work here before he got his start as a politician. There’s a plaque at eye level on the outside of the building.
Seriously, though, it really is a flashback to all the good things that came with being 5 years old and a step back in history, in particular the Harry Truman era. What once used to be a drugstore and ice cream parlor is now fully an ice cream shop. The old-​time counter is still there and in place of the drug store are now retro chairs and tables at which anyone can sit, though I do highly suggest the counter).
There are historical pictures all around if you care to wander and look. They also sell some retro candies on the walls and some other items that were popular back in the middle of the last century. It doesn’t look like much has changed in the interior since Truman’s worked here.
Service was pretty rock solid too. I waited while the ice-​creamtenders scooped up some cold, yummy goodness for others in the shop. When it came to me, I asked what they recommended. A sundae. Being indecisive, the girl serving me happily through in several things for me. Hooray! She also offered up a cup of water since I was working while munching on my sundae. I wish more places had as great a staff as Clinton’s (you hear me, Ophelia’s across the street?).

Here’s Your Scoop, you kind of bombed out on me today. I was looking forward to a scoop of Red Velvet Ice Cream, drove all the way out there, and you were closed, with a sign on the door. Probably my fault, I should’ve waited, and called, but hours are hours. Which bought me back to Independence.
I’d driven by Clinton’s thousands of times. This time, I decided to stop in. It is a nice little old time-​y ice cream shop, that also sells trinkets, and candy. There is a full espresso menu, with hot chocolate, and coffee. It offers a choice of sandwiches, as well.
For ice cream, it serves flavors of Well’s Blue Bunny. It has a number of sundaes, and banana splits, waffle cones and regular cones. The bakery items were yummy. I found the brownie to be a bit dry. I also bought a 7 layer cookie bar. it was good, and much easier than making one myself.
The ice cream sundae is served in a tall ice cream dish. I had a marshmallow sundae. It was really good. I want to try an ice cream soda, so I will, eventually. My mouth was watering, and I didn’t frankly know which to try.
On the walls are memorabilia from Independence, and President Truman. It’s nice that Independence has this little piece of history to step into.