Food is absolutely amazing. 1st time there with my daughter. Got a hamburger and she got a Philly cheese steak sandwich. Hands down best ever. The one server Frankie was awesome. Shes good at her job and good with people. Unfortunately won't be back because of another server Chloe. So we had to get our food to go. This is definitely a nice little restaurant, mom and pops kind of place. Maybe call ahead of time to make sure that Chloe isn't there and might be able to sit and enjoy our meal.
Overview
Discover Scoops And Smiles, a friendly family-style restaurant and ice cream stop at 5820 S 600 E, Knox, IN 46534, United States, near the Bass Lake area. From a food bloggerβs perspective, Scoops And Smiles captures everything appealing about a small-town eatery: hearty comfort food, generous portions, affordable prices, welcoming service, and ice cream waiting at the end of the meal. Recent customer feedback remains especially strong, with Restaurantji showing a rating around 4.8 stars.
The menu goes well beyond frozen treats. Burgers, Philly cheesesteaks, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, fajitas, Mexican street corn, jalapeΓ±o poppers, fried mushrooms, chopped steak dinners, and rotating specials give both lunch and dinner plenty of variety. Typical spending is around $10β$20 per person, making it a practical choice for families. Takeaway, outdoor seating, a kidsβ menu, credit-card payments, wheelchair accessibility, and free parking are among the available conveniences. Current hours are generally Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with Sunday and Monday closed.
A strong first order at Scoops And Smiles in Knox is the Cheeseburger. Recent diners repeatedly praise the burgers for their fresh, satisfying flavor, with one customer describing the cheeseburger as one of the best they had eaten in years. The appeal is straightforward: a juicy beef patty, melted cheese, familiar toppings, and the kind of substantial portion expected from an independent mom-and-pop restaurant.
The Philly Cheesesteak is another customer favorite. Thinly sliced beef, melted cheese, and sautΓ©ed vegetables create a rich, savory sandwich with plenty of texture. One first-time diner ordered a hamburger while their daughter chose the Philly cheesesteak and described both as βhands down best ever.β For bigger appetites, it is an easy alternative to the burger menu.
For something different, try the Mexican Street Corn or one of the rotating taco specials. The corn brings together sweetness, creaminess, seasoning, and gentle heat, while Taco Tuesday has earned enthusiastic recommendations from regular customers. These changing specials help Scoops And Smiles feel more interesting than a standard roadside diner.
The atmosphere is casual, homey, and strongly connected to the Bass Lake community. Guests describe a classic mom-and-pop feeling, friendly staff, and an old-fashioned building that adds nostalgic character. One May 2026 review summed it up as βsmall town atmosphere, big flavor.β Outdoor seating adds flexibility during warmer weather.
Of course, the meal should end with ice cream, one of the businessβs defining specialties. Customers repeatedly call it among the best around, making a cone or sundae an especially fitting finish after burgers and fries.
The main limitation is the restricted weekly schedule, so checking hours before making a special trip is worthwhile. For anyone exploring the best restaurants in Knox for relaxed local dining experiences, Scoops And Smiles deserves attention for its burgers, cheesesteaks, daily specials, ice cream, reasonable prices, and genuine small-town hospitality. Call +1 574-249-5440 and stop by hungry for a comforting meal followed by something sweet.
Good to know
Service options
β Outdoor seating β No-contact delivery β Takeaway β Dine-inHighlights
β Great dessert β Serves local specialtyPopular for
β Breakfast β Lunch β Dinner β Solo diningAccessibility
β Wheelchair-accessible car park β Wheelchair-accessible entrance β Wheelchair-accessible seating β Wheelchair-accessible toiletOfferings
β Coffee β Comfort food β Quick bite β Small platesDining options
β Breakfast β Brunch β Lunch β Dinner β Dessert β Seating β Table serviceAmenities
β ToiletAtmosphere
β Casual β Cosy β QuietCrowd
β Groups β TouristsPlanning
β Accepts reservationsPayments
β Credit cards β Debit cards β NFC mobile paymentsChildren
β Good for kids β High chairs β Kids' menuParking
β Free of charge street parking β Free parking lot β ParkingPhotos
Location
Reviews
Wonderful food. And I love the building of how it shows old times at Bass lake indiana. See those loaded fries those are good. And there's enough to feed three to four people there. And I've had their hot dogs, gyros and so on and I'll tell you I love their food. Very nice people.
This place is no joke! My wife and I went here before they remodeled and the food was phenomenal for us. Now my brother and I went yesterday after they remodeled and the inside looks great. I changed up my order and the Philly cheese steak was just as delicious as my burger before. Well worth the stop both times! Always have left full as can be and for the price I paid and conversations had with the employees, it was well worth the experience!!
Great food that is priced more then reasonably and the service/owners were extremely friendly!
My great-great grand parents originally built this place, food was good back then. The food now is still amazing. The owner Jessie is one of the nicest people; and the ice cream is the best around.
This was our 1st time to eat at Scoops & Smiles. We had a great experience! The service was quick and friendly. We had a hamburger, fries, and a chocolate shake. Two thumbs up for the food and shakes!! We will be back again very soon to try more food. I love the outside seating with views of the lake. We returned for Taco Tuesday. Delicious meal of 3 beef tacos, rice & beans!! You get your choice of beef, brisket or steak tacos. They also were serving a new dish tonight, fried gorditas. They must have been delicious, because they sold out before we got there at about 5:25pm. The service is the friendliest that you will find. Clean little diner that takes you back in time. We enjoyed our supper and time spent there. We will return again soon.
Amazing ice cream in really good portion sizes. Cozy comfortable family feeling environment. Name says it all come for a scoop of ice cream and you're leaving with a smile... between the good food and the Hands-On owners who not only greet the customers, serve the customers they also cook for the customer's!! All in all wonderful experience! I personally have never ate the actual food only had ice cream with my children (it's our "treat" place to go) but have had many friends brag on about how great the food is. Definitely recommend checking out this little family ran ice cream shop/restaurant!