Fro-Yo in NoVa/DC?
Sooo when are we going to get a Pinkberry or /eks/ (pronounced "X") Frozen Yogurt shop in this area? For those of you who don't know...the above mentioned places are frozen yogurt shops VERY unlike TCBY! I call these "true" frozen yogurt shops...meaning the yogurt actually tastes like yogurt...sweet, tart and sour (accent on the tart & sour)! It is much better for you than TCBY and still contains the active yogurt cultures (acidophilus...etc.) that fresh yogurt contains. Plus there are fresh fruit toppings...as well as the crushed oreo and cereal toppings! Yum!
Does anyone know what I'm talking about...and does anyone have any information about a possible "true" Fro-Yo place opening around the DC area? I have experienced Pinkberry and /eks/ in NYC...but I know that Pinkberry first got it's start in L.A. Why can't we convince them to open one around here? Since Jamba Juice is no longer in Whole Foods Clarendon (sad)...I would love to see a Pinkberry open in that area (selfish wishes)! : )
AlliantK
Jul 16, 2007 03:31PM
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I too loved pinkberry the second I tried it. Their green tea yogurt is an interesting twist on the "plain."
I do have some sad news to report though...I did email the people at pinkberry (using the contact us link on their site) suggesting that they open a location here (I was selfishly petitioning for one in City Vista as I will be moving in there soon). They responded that while they appreciated my feedback, they have no plans to expand into the DC market anytime soon.
Nonetheless, I suggest that you send them an email as well. Perhaps if they get inundated with requests to open a location in the DC area, they will give in.
In the meantime, you'll have to stick to the Plain yogurt at Bloomingdales...I believe both the Tyson's and White Flint both have it, and I hope the Friendship Heights location (currently under construction) will serve it at Forty Carrots as well.
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Yogurt at Bloomingdales? What's with that? Is it anything like Pinkberry?
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Hmm...well this article says that Pinkberry is coming to DC in '08. So...who knows! I'm totally with you on the fro-yo, I can't find any good fro-yo in NoVa and it drives me nuts.
Anyway, here's the article: http://www.readexpress.com/read_freer...
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Oooo yay! I hope so! That's funny that they mentioned Jamba Juice (another L.A. company)...I was really bummed when it left Whole Foods...there was always a line for the smoothies when I was there. Also interesting about the "frozen yogurt" designation...it's all so silly and political to me...I mean what else would it be! Maybe Pinkberry is to frozen yogurt what Tasti-D-Lite is to ice cream!? But much, MUCH better tasting! Ha!
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I live by the Bloomingdale's at White Flint, thought I would check it out- could not find a cafe or any food stand anywhere in there- did I just totally miss it or can someone verify that there IS froyo available at the White Flint location?? Thanks!
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I'm not sure if they have the cafe at the White Flint one. The cafe in Bloomies is typically called "Forty Carrots". Ask someone in the store the next time you're there. I believe there's one in the Tyson's location but not 100% sure...
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there hasa not been a Forty Carrots in either Bloomies for years- maybe 15
the yogurt can be found at the Lord & Taylor Cafe in Lord and Taylors in Chevy Chase- I have been getting it there for years and years- it is plain and tart and smooth
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Well, there's a Robek's in the West End of Falls Church. From a distance, that's similar to Jamba Juice, but I'm sure that each one has its staunch supporters who consider the other's juice to be derived from mule pee.
This has never really been much of a frozen yogurt town. I believe I got my first taste of it at the lunch counter at the Tyson's Corner Bloomingdale's shortly after they first opened - a mighty long time ago. I haven't been there for years.
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I really like Robeks- it has the tart and sour thing that was mentioned going on. It is nonfat yogurt and you can pick mix-ins from several fruits. I have one right by me in Courthouse and I think that there are some other locations in the area.
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Having lived essentially across the street from both a Jamba Juice (in San Diego) and a Robek's (here), I have to say I prefer Robek's. And I was a big Jamba Juice fan. Robek's has really nailed it with a few of their flavor combinations. Of course, with the calorie bomb you get in your cup, I wouldn't really describe either as "health food" especially compared to places that focus on more fitness-driven smoothies, but better for me than a milkshake I guess and better tasting.
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Has anyone tried the Sweetflow yogurt at SweetGreen in G-town? I think they just opened a couple days ago but I am looking forward to trying their salads and the fro-yo there. From their description it sounds very similar to Pinkberry fro-yo...minus the Green Tea flavor option.
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tried it - it's similar to pinkberry and quite good. a little creamier/less "icy" but it doesa have that signature tang.
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rejoice! while visiting la in april, i got seriously hooked. i'v been scouring the greater dc area to no avail until... yesterday i found dolce in annandale! it tastes just like pinkberry! they also have pinkberry ripoffs at shilla bakery and matin de paris, but the former is only okay and the latter is actually somewhat gross. but dolce has totally nailed the icy tartness. but that's not all... lollicup is opening in october and they have the same frozen yogurt but even better toppings than pinkberry (i know!), including the famous mochi bits, fresher-than-fresh fruit, and retro cereals.
there may be more in annandale that i missed. if anyone goes looking, in korea i think frozen yogurt is frequently served in "cafe"-type places rather than ice cream parlors so checking out more korean bakeries might be fruitful. or just go to dolce.
woo hoo!
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awesome! so, uh, where IS dolce?
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I don't have the exact address, but it's on Little River Tpk.. basically between Shilla and Le Matin De Paris (and on the same side of the road with the former).
Thanks ellegets for sharing! I will have to drop by for a taste soon ;)
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Dolce seems to be unknown to Google (unusual) but according to the Yellow Pages, it's at 7203 Little River Turnpike. That would put it on the same side of Little River Turnpike as Shilla but the opposide side of John Marr Drive, at the other end of that service road. If it's the place I think it is, it's back off the road quite a bit, but still pretty obvious when you get close. I actually thought that's where Le Matin De Paris was, but I see that it's on the opposite side of Little River Turnpike and further West, between Annandale/Ravensworth Rd. and Markham St.
I've actually noticed the place before but never went in. I'll have to give it a try. I'm hoping that they sell just frozen yogurt without toppings, dips, or in a big trough. I just get the craving for a small portion now and then. TCBY and Robek's smallest servings are two or three craving's worth for me and it just isn't the same after a couple of days in the freezer at home.
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Bummed!
I was heading in that direction this afternoon so I stopped into Dolcé Bakery and Cafe for some great FroYo. It's not exactly where I thought it was, but very close. Brand new place, it seems, very stylish inside. I was a bit surprised, when I walked in the door, that someone came over and asked "Can I help you?" perhaps expecting to seat me at a table. I told him that I wanted to look around a bit to see what they had. He hovered for half a minute and then I guess went off to help someone else.
Cakes, pastries, and breads looked typically bakery yummy, but not nearly the variety as Shilla's a block away. There were desserts listed on a menu board, including several flavors of ice cream, for $7.50. I asked about frozen yogurt, but the nice gentleman who offered to help me didn't seem very sure of what I was asking. I didn't want to risk getting a huge (or worse, a small) dish of some unusual flavored ice cream for $7.50, so I left unyogurted. Anyone know how to say "frozen yogurt" in Korean?
Or does anyone know where I can get A SCOOP (not enough to feed a family) of frozen yogurt for a buck or two, within five miles or so of 7 Corners? Tough assignment, I know, but this is Chowhounds. ;)
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It's listed on the menu as "yogurt ice cream". Delicious, but they're stingy with their toppings.
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I really don't want a topping but if I did, I'd want plenty, particularly for $7.50.
Is the $7.50 portion the only option on the menu? I'm dreaming of the Frozen Dairy Bar of frozen yogurt. FDB had yogurt in their old location (though I never tried it) , but I haven't noticed it in the new place,and I've never remembered to ask. When I go there, I'm in the mood for custard.
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Frozen Dairy Bar does have yogurt, but it is the "flavor of the week" so you take your chances as to what it is since there is only one. Same deal if you want sorbet.
I was there last Friday and it was raspberry sorbet and mocha yogurt
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Thanks. I'll check it out. I never bother to check the Flavor of the Week custard because chocolate and vanilla are fine with me.
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Bah, humbug!
I had a frozen yogurt at FDB this afternoon. Mocha latte flavor. I would never have recognized it as yogurt, it was more like ice milk. No tang, no noticeable mocha or coffee flavor, and it had a grainy texture with ice crystals like ice cream that had partially melted and put back in the freezer.
I told the manager that I love their custard, but that I wouldn't order the yogurt again. He explained that he gets 1 yogurt order to about 250 custard orders, so rather than keep another machine going, they make a batch in the regular custard machine when they need it, and store it in the freezer. They offer yogurt only as an alternative to people who have dietary needs, he said, and didn't seem nearly as proud of it as he is about the custard.
For smoothies with yogurt, they use the mix, the don't start with the frozen yogurt. That sounds kind of suspicious to me. Anyway, he offered me a free scoop of custard.
To hell with the arteries, bring on the good stuff. But I do like good frozen yogurt. Too bad it just seemed to have run its course around here. Heck, it isn't even that easy to find in California any more.
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Shilla Bakery offers 3 portions (small, medium, large). I think the small that I got is almost half the size of the one offered at Dolce & You also with more topping choices (though not by much). Shilla's fro-yo's texture was also smoother... but maybe the day I had it at Dolce & You they're just having an off day that their fro-yo wasn't as smooth... it felt more like frozen yogurt slushie!
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Thanks for the info on Shilla's. I'll look at the other end of the counter next time I'm over that way. I'm not really interested in toppings, though. They just take up room. ;)
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Tried the frozen yogurt at Shilla's today. It had a nice tang to it, but the consistency was wrong, maybe too cold, and it tasted a bit watery. Also, the small wasn't small enough and cost more than I wanted to pay. But at least I tried.
So far, Larry's Cookies at Court House Plaze near the Metro station is my favorite, but that's after only one try everywhere (including Larry's). I'll have to go back there some time soon and see if I still like it.
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What kind of fro yo do they have at Larry's? I used to live near there and would walk by it all the time. I made have to journey back and check it out.
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There was a Dannon sign over the soft-serve machine, so I guess that's what's inside. The day I was there, they only had vanilla.
Frozen Yogurt apparently isn't standard equipment at all Larry's shops. I was at the Pentagon City Fashion Center last week and noticed a Larry's there, but they didn't have FroYo.
I never realized that it was so scarce until I got a yen for it.
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Sorry to hear that, MikeR. That didn't sound like what I had though.. must be an off day or something because one thing I remember distinctly about its texture was that it was quite dense compared to DaY's. But I agree that the small isn't small at all!
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Seems like the cool sweet of the day there, that I saw on several tables, was a huge bowl heaped with shaved ice with juicy toppings in fluorescent colors (though I think I saw a chocolate-looking one).
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I think that's call bing soo. I was tempted to order it and try it many times in the past, but the size (BIG for one person) kinda scared me off :P
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Maybe it's time for a Chow Summer dessert group meeting before Summer is over. All of those big shaved ice things were being shared by at least two people at a table. It was pretty busy on Saturday when I was there, and all of the three people who were involved in serving me seemed to have enough trouble with English even to the extent of recognizing "Frozen yogurt" when I pointed to the sign (which says "Frozen Yogurt Ice Cream" and which they apparently recognize only the "ice cream" part). Perhaps during the week it would be easier to find someone who can explain the frozen goodies.
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Pinkberry has definitely lost a few mph off its fastball lately, if my last trip to LA a couple weeks ago is any indication. Hopefully it was just the case of a couple "off nights," but I hope their product isn't being compromised in their exponential growth phase.
I too had emailed PB, maybe around the beginning of the year, to lobby for them to expand to the DC area. I received the same response as the other poster. Maybe somebody should try to beat them to market...places are popping up all over LA. Ce Fiore is the Italian yogurt place with a similar approach and a similar tang. Red Mango, apparently the real deal Korean yogurt place, has recently opened in Westwood.
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two more coming to town - and sooner than pinkberry's expected 2008 opening!
LOLLICUP
)www.lollicup.com (had it in la and it's fabulous
SNOWBERRY
www.snowberryusa.net (never had it but sounds promising)
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ANy ideas on locations??
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That Snowberry place looks exactly like what I've been craving in DC. Ohhhh please open in Dupont...please open in Dupone...please open in Dupont! :)
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I know - I wish! It looks like Lollicup and Snowberry will be in Annandale from their websites. Wonder where Pinkberry will end up - hopefully they'll see VA as already saturated with their competitors and choose DC!
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Annandale doesn't need both!! :( Let us city-goers have at least ONE! lol
My diet would be going A LOT better if there was some low-fat fro-yo spot in town. Damn you Ben & Jerry's and Larry's...those men are cruuuuel! lol
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Snowberry looks like they have frozen yogurt. I'll have to take your word for the Annandale location. I couldn't find anything on their website with any more detail than "Virginia."
Lollicup's web site didn't show me any evidence of frozen yogurt, just bubble teas. There's already plenty of that in the area.
Why is this so doggone hard? Don't these people know that there's a health craze going on? I can remember when every mall had at least one frozen yogurt shop. Now you have to go to the one shop across town and/or get a bucketful rather than a small cone or dish. Maybe it's a matter of economics. As the FDB manager explained to me, it takes a lot of energy to support a soft-serve machine and maybe they just can't make the nut on $2 sales.
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Lollicup mentioned Annandale. I thought Snowberry has Washington, DC and Virginia listed in their "Coming Soon" list. So there's hope yet!
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I agree with you about the health-craze. Even if its not necassarily healthy...it FEELS healthy! lol
Growing up outside of Boston, there is practically a TCBY in every town. And I know when that place opened at first, there were lines out the door. And a number of years later it still does excellent business.
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I went to the TCBY in Ballston (in the Blimpie's on Randolph St) a couple of weeks ago and the only serving they offered was a large cup for nearly $4. I asked if they had a smaller size, even a kiddie size and they said no, that was it. I ate some, took the rest home and ate it the next day, and it just tasted like weak ice cream. Very disappointing. I was never a big fan of TCBY, but I'm sure it used to be better. (but then didn't everything that used to be used to be better?)
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There is a place on Rt 50 near South Riding called Iceberry. In doing a quick Google search, this is a Korean chain that might be older than Pinkberry.
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Why didn't anyone tell me about Larry's Cookies? I was wandering through Court House Plaza (Arlington) last week and saw someone carrying a cone. I asked where she got it and she pointed to the Larry's shop there. I went in, and sure enough, they had soft serve Frozen Yogurt straight out of the machine. Noting terribly exotic (it was Dannon brand, if I remember correctly) but it was smooth, creamy, cold, a little tangy, and I had just the right sized portion for $2.
Success at last. I'm assuming that the other Larry's shops have the same. But at least now I know where I can get my fix without having to go across town, buy a bucketful, or pay too much.
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Cali Yogurt has come to Adams Morgan. I've passed by their store with a "Coming soon" sign up and have been waiting for this one to open, hopefully soon. I have been to their Cali location and they taste better than Pink Berry IMO.
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Are they a tart, Korean-style frozen yogurt? I've been wondering when it would open, too.
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