People Are Going Crazy Over The Massive Banana Splits At This Unassuming Ohio Restaurant

A good banana split should feel a little ridiculous. This Ohio restaurant seems to understand that better than most.

Since 1926, this old-school spot has been serving house-made ice cream, classic diner favorites, and portions big enough to make your spoon question its career choices.

The banana splits are the main attraction, but the real charm comes from the whole experience: the vintage feel, the generous scoops, and the sense that nobody here is trying to reinvent dessert when they have already mastered it.

I went in expecting a nostalgic ice cream stop and found the kind of place that turns a simple treat into a full little event. When a restaurant can make a banana split feel exciting again, it is clearly doing something right.

A Canton Legend That Has Stood the Test of Time

Few restaurants anywhere in Ohio can honestly say they have been open since 1926, but Taggarts Ice Cream on Fulton Road NW in Canton can say exactly that.

Nearly a century of scooping, grilling, and serving a loyal community is not something that happens by accident.

This place has outlasted trends, economic shifts, and countless competitors, all while staying true to the old-school diner format that made it a neighborhood anchor in the first place.

The building itself has that worn-in character you only get from decades of real use. The booths, the counter, the general layout all feel like they belong to a different era, and honestly, that is a big part of the charm.

The address is 1401 Fulton Rd NW, Canton, OH 44703, and if you are visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame nearby, skipping this stop would be a genuine mistake.

Canton has a lot going for it, but Taggarts might be its most delicious open secret.

The Banana Split That Started All the Buzz

Let me be honest with you: I did not expect a banana split to genuinely impress me at this point in my life, but Taggarts changed my mind completely.

The version here is generous to a degree that almost feels theatrical. A whole banana split down the middle, multiple scoops of rich, house-made ice cream, classic toppings including hot fudge, strawberry, and pineapple, plus a mountain of real whipped cream and a cherry perched on top.

What makes it stand out is the quality of the ice cream itself. It is made on-site, and you can taste the difference the moment it hits your tongue.

There are no artificial shortcuts here.

The portions are the kind that make you stop mid-bite and reconsider your life choices in the best possible way. Two people can absolutely share one, and honestly, that might be the smarter move.

People in Ohio have been talking about this banana split for generations, and after one visit, I completely understand why the conversation never seems to stop.

House-Made Ice Cream That Earns Every Compliment

Not every ice cream shop makes its product from scratch on the premises, but Taggarts does, and that detail matters more than most people realize.

The vanilla alone has developed a devoted following. People who do not even consider themselves vanilla fans have admitted that the version here converted them.

There is a depth of flavor and a creaminess that store-bought ice cream simply cannot replicate, no matter how many fancy flavors it offers. The texture is smooth and rich without feeling heavy, which is a balance that is harder to achieve than it sounds.

The official menu notes that Taggarts makes its own ice cream, whipped cream, and sorbet, which explains why the desserts feel more personal than something pulled from a standard freezer case.

The rotating selection of flavors keeps things interesting for regulars, and house-made whipped cream is served alongside the sundaes, which is a small detail that adds up to a noticeably better experience overall.

The Kitchen Sink Is Exactly What It Sounds Like

If the banana split feels ambitious, the Kitchen Sink sundae is the full commitment version of that same philosophy.

Two scoops each of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream arrive in one bowl, topped with hot fudge, marshmallow, strawberry, and caramel toppings, then covered with pecans, whipped cream, ground nuts, and a cherry.

The name is a bit of a joke, but the execution is completely serious. What surprised me most was how balanced it tasted despite the sheer volume of ingredients.

Nothing felt overwhelming or clashing.

Two people can work through it comfortably, and sharing it turns the whole experience into a bit of an event. There is something fun about ordering something that size and watching it arrive at the table.

The hot fudge is a standout topping, especially when it starts working its way through all that ice cream like it has been assigned a very important mission.

For anyone who loves ice cream and wants a true showstopper of a dessert, the Kitchen Sink is the order to place without hesitation.

Classic Sundaes With Loyal Followings of Their Own

Beyond the headline-grabbing oversized creations, the classic sundae menu at Taggarts holds its own with genuine distinction.

The Buckeye Sundae is a Canton favorite, combining vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, peanut butter, mini buckeyes, and whipped cream in a way that feels like a nod to Ohio pride. The Chunky Monkey brings together banana ice cream, chocolate chips, peanut butter, hot fudge, and pecans in one bowl that is hard to argue with.

The pecan topping deserves a special mention. It appears across multiple desserts and adds a savory crunch that plays beautifully against the sweetness of the ice cream and fudge.

Brownie sundaes are also popular, and the generous portion sizes mean you are always getting real value for the price. Nothing here feels skimpy or afterthought-ish.

For families with kids, the Unicorn Without the Horn Parfait brings together confetti cake, Blue Moon ice cream, marshmallow topping, Unicorn Bark, and sprinkles in a way that turns a simple ice cream outing into something genuinely memorable.

The variety on this menu is honestly impressive for a neighborhood shop.

The Bittner: A Dessert With a Story Worth Knowing

Ask any longtime Taggarts regular about the Bittner, and you will likely get a story attached to the recommendation.

This dessert dates back to the 1930s, which makes it one of the oldest items on a menu that is already rooted in deep history. The name itself carries a kind of nostalgic weight that you do not find at newer establishments.

The Bittner is creamy and rich, with that old-fashioned flavor profile that feels genuinely different from modern ice cream creations. It is the kind of dessert that reminds you why classic recipes earned their reputation in the first place.

Visitors who stop at the Pro Football Hall of Fame and then wander over to Taggarts consistently mention the Bittner as a highlight of their Canton experience. That is a strong endorsement from people who had no particular loyalty to the place before arriving.

If you are visiting for the first time and want to understand what makes this Ohio institution special, ordering the Bittner is probably the most direct way to get that answer in a single bite.

The Food Menu Goes Well Beyond Ice Cream

A lot of people arrive at Taggarts purely for the ice cream and leave surprised that the food menu is worth serious attention on its own terms.

The French onion soup has earned real praise, with more than one person calling it the best they have had anywhere. That is a bold claim, but the consistency of the compliments suggests it is not an exaggeration.

Mozzarella sticks, burgers, coneys, olive nut sandwiches, tuna melts, and grilled cheese all appear on a menu that reads like the best version of a classic American diner lineup. The half-pound burger is a substantial option for anyone arriving hungry before they even think about dessert.

Fried pickles have been called enormous and delicious by people who clearly did not expect much. Pretzel bites, hot dogs, and a solid antipasto salad round out the savory side of things.

The prices throughout the food menu are genuinely reasonable, which feels almost quaint in the current dining landscape. Eating a full meal here before ordering a sundae is both possible and highly advisable.

The Atmosphere That Takes You Back Several Decades

There is a specific kind of atmosphere that only comes from a place that has genuinely been around for a long time, and Taggarts has it in abundance.

The booths have character. The counter has that classic diner energy.

The whole setup feels like it belongs to a time when things moved a little slower and a meal out was a real event worth savoring.

One visitor described it as feeling like Marty McFly might walk in at any moment, which is a funny way to put it but also pretty accurate. The retro feel is not manufactured or designed by a consultant.

It is just what the place actually looks like after nearly a hundred years of operation.

The atmosphere does get lively and a bit noisy during busy periods, which is worth knowing before you arrive expecting a quiet evening. But the energy of a full room of happy diners is its own kind of pleasant.

For anyone who loves the texture and personality of old-school Ohio diners, this place delivers that experience without any pretense or performance.

Practical Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Visit

Taggarts is open every day of the week from 11 AM to 10 PM, which gives you a solid window to plan around whether you want a lunch stop or a late evening dessert run.

The later evening hours are a genuine advantage for anyone who wants to avoid the longest lines. Afternoons and early evenings on weekends tend to bring the biggest crowds, so arriving closer to opening or later in the evening can make the experience smoother.

If you are planning to call in an order, it is worth knowing that some customers have reported occasional hiccups with phone orders. Ordering in person when possible tends to produce the most accurate results and lets you see exactly what you are getting before you leave.

Parking is available at the location on Fulton Road NW, and the area is easy enough to navigate. The restaurant is also conveniently close to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, making it a natural addition to any Canton itinerary.

Checking your order before leaving is a small habit that regular customers have found worthwhile, just to make sure everything is exactly right.

Why Taggarts Keeps Drawing People Back After All These Years

A 4.6-star rating across nearly 1,900 reviews is not something a restaurant earns by accident, especially when it has been around since Calvin Coolidge was in office.

What keeps people returning to Taggarts is a combination of things that are genuinely hard to find in one place: house-made ice cream, honest food, reasonable prices, and a setting that feels like it belongs to the community rather than a corporate brand.

The regulars here are fiercely loyal, and the visitors who stumble in on a recommendation almost always leave planning a return trip. That pattern of conversion from first-timer to repeat customer is one of the clearest signs that a place is doing something right.

Ohio has no shortage of good food, but places that carry this much history while still delivering quality at every visit are genuinely rare. Taggarts manages that balance in a way that feels effortless from the outside, even though nearly a century of consistency is anything but effortless.

If you find yourself anywhere near Canton, this is the kind of stop that turns a regular day into a story worth telling.