Rita’s Italian Ice
239 South St, Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Rita’s Italian Ice Menu
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Address :
239 South St
Philadelphia, PA, 19147 - Phone (215) 629-3910
- Website https://www.ritasfranchises.com/SouthStreet
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :12:00 pm - 10
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Yeon L.
Softer water ice than other places, but goes well with the custard. Strawberry Banana has real chunks of fruit for a surprise every few bites. A perfect snack while browsing through the thrift stores on South. They get docked 1 star for having rude employees that physically pushed my friend out of their way when entering the stand. When we told the manager, she did not apologize on behalf of her employee.
(3)Jenny F.
I dig the cherry water ice. It tastes much better eating it in Philly then it does in CT. My husband had some sort of weird gelato and custard combo that he loved and none of the CT Rita's carry it. Also... I know this is not Italian Ice but I still like it. My family would strongly disagree with me enjoying such a treat.
(4)Rachel W.
nom nom nom nom nom all summer. I wish they were year round. I would be freezing my ass off and still eat this.
(5)Ani P.
Why hasn't Rita's become a national thing? My most favorite frozen treat. Frozen custard!!!!!!!!!! Frozen custard is creamier than ice cream and smoother than gelato. Water-ice is not a slushy, it's a creature of it's own (hybrid of Italian ice, slushy, sorbet, slurpee). Frozen custard and water ice, where you can mix up the flavors, is a heavenly treat. I am a fan of the chocolate water ice and vanilla frozen custard. Yes, I know it sounds strange, but check this shizz out! Off the hook.
(5)Jordan M.
There are three things I miss from Philly: cheesesteaks, sicilian-style pizza and Rita's water ice. Ok, maybe I miss wawa because I like saying wawa... wawa. Anyway, the first day that Rita's opens everything is free. Seriously, how can anyone compete with that? My favorite flavor was root beer. It was so good I tear up just thinking about it. It is really a fantastic treat on one of those hot summer days.
(5)James H.
A favorite yankee desert. Who would have thought this would be so popular in only one part of the country. I'd rather have real ice cream. It's not bad, but a bit pricey and no so clean. Not sure if the health inspectors frequent this place.
(2)Angela Q.
it's just honestly F-ed up that we don't have a ritas in california. it's so freaking good and SOOOO cheap. the best combination is their gelati (custard over ice). i like mine mango-flavored. on days when custard is too much for me, i stick to the classic cherry-lemon. im glad that i have family in philly so an excuse to go a few times a year but im sure theyre sick of me dragging them to ritas as soon as the plane lands. RITA, PLEASE MOVE TO CALIFORNIA.
(5)Jackie D.
oh, how i wished i lived in philly. i came here last year with some friends to visit other friends who live here. since it was the hot, hot, hot summer, they took us to rita's. oh. my. gawd. water ice is the best thing i've ever come across. i swear we had water ice every night we were there. the lemon was nice and tart and sweet. the cherry had real cherries. oh and the gelati. such a nice creamy goodness. the two textures of the water ice and custard seem off but go together so nicely. i miss water ice. stupid california and not having rita's out here. i'm thinking about moving out there just to have water ice...you east coasters are lucky.
(5)Tim S.
Maybe it is because I did not grow up in Philly, but I don't get Rita's. I've lived here for over 10 years. I don't get Rita's. Overpriced glorified snow cones are not for me. That frozen dessert thing (what do they call it? Gellatti?) tastes like something they serve in elementary school cafeterias. However, it's a "Philly Thang" so I am suppose to like it and give my money to this company of chain snowcone operators?
(2)Stacey S.
The gelati is truly to die for Fruity cool icy goodness + smooth sweet creamy custard = PERFECTION! YUM!
(5)Asuka N.
Walked over to South Street after a dinner in Bella Vista with some friends, and I have to say I was a huge fan of the water ice. It's hard to keep track of all these different ices (Italian Ice, water ice, shaved ice, etc.), but this was very simple and straight-up. I'm definitely more a fan of the ice here than in some other places because you get a very strong flavor in the ice. I ended up getting the island paradise, which tasted like a mix of mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and various other tropical fruits (unfortunately, when I asked the server at the window, she said she had no idea what was in it and that she only worked there. Thumbs down for that response...you have to know the product you're selling!). The only other slightly negative was that the ice melts pretty quickly, so you can't take your time with it or else you'll end up with a large cup of syrupy water. Definitely a nice treat to cool down with, and not a heavy dessert that will put you down for the night!
(4)John B.
I may be committing a blasphemy, but I must tell the truth: Rita's suck. It's too sugary and their custard tastes like wax. I would have given 1 star except the location is decent and on a hot summer days, like the ones we've been having in 2010, it's good to have something cold in your mouth.
(2)Stevonne R.
The first time I ate a gelati from Rita's I was floored. What is this thick buttery ice cream called custard? Whatever it is, once mixed in tuti fruity water ice, summer in Philadelphia has begun! Please don't sleep on the sweedish fish flavor. It'll turn your mouth red but its all good :) Other good combos=mango+cherry and cherry + anything...Rita, please bring your delish "whud-der" ice out to California. Its sunny YEAR ROUND woman!
(5)Tk G.
YUM!!!! There's really nothing else to say about Rita's! It's the best cool, frozen, custard-y, refreshing, snack you can have on a hot summer day...or any time! I just wish they were open year round!!
(5)Chris C.
Good Italian ice, but doesn't quite compare to what you can get in New York. I've only tried their lemon ice, but since I've also tried the lemon ice at just about every other Italian ice place i've been to, I feel like it's a good standard for comparison. The weather was so warm that day though I probably would have given it five stars then just for cooling me down haha.
(3)Evan K.
I don't like water ice. Then again, I don't like cheese steaks. PS. It's pronounced waw-ter, not whud-der.
(1)Evann G.
The water ice is great, but it's the frozen custard that really sold me on this place. You can't get frozen custard in California -- we haven't even HEARD of frozen custard in California. And, while you can get it in Chicago, it's certainly not as commonplace as it is on the East Coast. It's hard to describe what makes frozen custard so good, but just trust me on this. It is infinitely creamier and tastier than ice cream or frozen yogurt. It's just a whole experience, in a class by itself. At Rita's, you can get a combination of water ice and frozen custard, which is also quite good if you like both. Yummmmmmy.
(5)Devon M.
If you on South St and its blazin hot you belong here! Grab a Icey they have a good selection though im didnt see pineapple :-/ the mango was the best. Mmmm Im thinking about it now..
(4)Nicole R.
There used to be this water-ice place down in the bowels of South Philly that had actual chunks of fruit in its icy product. That spoiled me against any other water ice. Rita's is not awful but it lacks the fresh-fruitiness that I have grown to love. I just know it's chock full of high fructose corn syrup, artificial color and flavor. I know now that water ice doesn't have to be like that and it tastes much better when it's not. It's a Philly institution like cheesesteaks and pretzels but that doesn't mean that it's good.
(3)Lene P.
Every time I'm on South Street on a nice day, I love to stop by and get a kids size chocolate water ice. I wish they had little chocolate chips in them, but they're still yummo.
(5)Jake P.
The commercialized Coney Island thing is co'ny. Rita's doesn't, has never, and will never blow my hair back. I tip my cap to the fact that they have Baskin & Robbins/Sonic flavor-possibilities. At the same time, for me to crave sugar-flavored ice, so much depends on the idea that it's reinventing the idea... not just opening up a box of popsicles, letting them melt, and selling them for ten times the price. I know I sound unfun (and contradictory, since I love DQ), but Rita's... mehhhhh. P.S. How do you people mix water ice and ice cream? That's like cheese on apple pie, mindboggling to my conservative tastes.
(2)Paul L.
Yet another thing I miss about the east coast!! I can only live vicariously through my memories of having Mango Water Ice on those days where I was sweating my balls off in South Philly.
(5)Andrew K.
Love it love it love it. I love frozen custard and don't understand why it's not a gargantuan thing. I also love chocolate Italian Ices. I just realized in writing this that San Francisco has a tremendous dearth of "water ice" oriented things. Go though. Seriously! And, get a vanilla custard swirled with a chocolate water Ice.
(5)Mabel C.
Rita's water ice is so good. I especially like the mango flavored one with the gelati on the bottom--especially the gelati, so yummy.
(5)Liza M.
sooo good! my body is thankful there isn't one of these near my house. well there is one in Salem, MA but we went there and it just wasn't the same. The gelati is ingenious. tasty water ice and creamy thick custard, what a pair. I love the custard on it's own too. a must stop every time we are in Philly.
(5)Colleen B.
This is hands down,t he best way to cool off on a hot summer day. I like the root beer or any berry flavored concoction. Why isn't water ice a national pasttime?!
(4)mike l.
what the hell? why ruin perfectly good water with all that food coloring? I'd rather eat a box of crayons.
(1)Russ C.
This is one fad that past me by. I always feel like an outsider when friends get excited about the opening day of Rita's and it's free water ice give away. And actually, I feel kind of weird thinking about how I actually have friends who get excited for free water ice period. When I do go with said friends I get the kids size, which ultimately gets me made fun of. People flock to this place like its the Pope, to me it is just something to do on a boring weekday night.
(2)Jaime V.
Rita's water ice sucks! It tastes like a slurpee from the 7-11. This is the last place in South Philly that I would go for a water ice.
(1)sarah i.
yum! the gelati (mixed custard plus water ice) hit the spot on a hot philly day. next time though, im skipping out on the custard and just getting a straight up water ice. that stuff is GOOD! this california girl was thoroughly impressed.
(4)Allison K.
Best wooderice (water ice) in Philly...maybe the world. Now what is wooderice you ask? Well it's a mix between italian ice/sorbet/gelato/slurpee/ice cream/lemon chill...all delicious, all the time. I like the multitude of flavors...anything from lemon, cotton candy, very berry, mint-choc-chip, tangerine etc. A requirement if you're in Philly on South Street during a hot, sticky afternoon...I like ellipses...
(5)Kathleen T.
nothing says swell summer day like a cherry water ice.
(4)Alex M.
if i ever leave philly i will miss rita's. there seriously isnt anything better to cool off from the stank philly heat than rita's water ice. my favorite? mint chocolate chip - its like the ice cream but better. great soft pretzels too.
(4)Kap N.
there is nothing better than skipping a study day with a group of friends to go to south street get some water ice, and walk around.
(5)Lindsey D.
Im giving this Rita's location 3 stars due to the following reasons: 1 star for the location. I'm glad there is now a Rita's within walking distance 1 star for the ice cream. It's delicious. 1 star because they know how to pile on the sprinkles -1 star because 2 out of the 3 times I have been there they have either been out of custard or they turned off the machine before closing. In my opinion, if you're open until 11, machines stay on until 11 -1 star: we were in line last night at about 10:50 (10 minutes before closing) and the worker came out and cut the line in half and said they would only serve those in the front of the line. They turned customers away that were already in line. I get you have to draw the line somewhere, but she should have stayed outside and said no more customers after the last person in line. Poor customer service.
(3)Gabby M.
I realize that Rita's is super popular and though it is good, it's definitely not the best water ice in Philadelphia, in my opinion. The place on South and 2nd is good for takeout but you cannot really eat it there so you have to walk around with it and the issue with the heat outside is that the water ice melts very quickly, turning into juice. I like it but I definitely recommend getting the custard, which is super creamy and delicious.
(3)Abhishek Y.
Rita's has pretty much the same menu all over the NJ/PA area (maybe beyond as well, I just don't know), but the folks at this location seem to have a bit of difficulty with some of the more complicated items on the menu, which is rather surprising. In any case, I've decided after a few visits that I'm just best off with the standard fare with minimal modifications (if any). The standard water ice flavors are all there, which is reassuring, and thankfully they have the custard too, which is my personal favorite along with some Oreo crumbs. After waiting for 15-20 minutes in line, it took a few minutes to get the stuff for myself and 3 of my friends, which is totally fine, but what wasn't so fine was the triple charge that appeared on my credit card statement. I asked him why he had to swipe so many times but he just kept mumbling to himself. Regardless, the credit card company sorted it out without a hitch (yay AMEX)! All in all, rather mediocre at best. You're better off at another one of the locations in the area, such as at Suburban Station.
(3)Kristina C.
Rita's - easy location to get in and out of you are on foot, but if you are driving I wouldn't probably suggest it. They had all the standard Rita's flavors and they did have the Mango Peach sugar free which was delicious! Service was fast and friendly...overall a good Rita's location from our visit.
(4)Janet E.
They don't just have Italian Ice here, but they also have frozen custard. I'm a HUGE fan of frozen custard, so I ordered myself a cup. It was whipped really well and was dispensed from what appeared to be an ice cream machine. The thickness and density of it was lighter and more airy than what I'm used to, but it was still delicious.
(4)Kim B.
water ice! all my jersey friend has been telling me about. It was good. The sorbet was yummy! I'm not a yogurt kinda person so I just ate the ice part. I just found out they opened one in Pasadena which is local so I will have to try that out.
(4)Jodi C.
My first trip to Philly, my first stop at Rita's! I bet the line here during the summer is outrageous! I had the sugar free water ice! Yum! Cold, yummy, and refreshing! My friend had the root beer water ice and chocolate gelato, she said hers was pretty good too, but that she should have gone with vanilla! The ladies behind the counter were pleasant. Overall, I was a fan. Looking forward to getting back to Rita's!
(4)Alex X.
Water ice love it but only I crave it in the summers. What's your favorite? Mine is lemon or rainbow... Even blueberry. I won't eat from any water ice place but I will eat from here because it is pretty good. So if you are in the area stop by. Only opened in season.
(4)Chanel C.
Gelati is the best shit ever. Custard plus water ice is a genius combination. I'm in LOVE with this place. Can someone please open a Rita's on the west coast?!
(5)Jen F.
We are missing out here on the west coast! Perfect treat to cool and satisfy on a hot summer day!!! Fruit Punch and Lemonade was a great combo. Can't wait to try more flavors next time I'm back east.
(5)Bobby L.
This was my first time having Rita's. I know... What the hell have I been doing for the past 2 decades?! Italian ice, water ice, whatever you want to call it, is amazing! I love the gelati! It's a perfect combination of creamy yogurt with the flavorful sweet freshness of the ice. Woohoo! A quick yelp search for Rita's in Dallas returned a few! Score!!!
(4)Dana B.
What's not to love about Rita's? You can find all your favorite classic water ice flavors here, as well as new flavors that rotate daily! If you're not in the mood for plain old water ice, why not try a Misto shake--your favorite ice flavor blended with vanilla or chocolate custard, a gelati (water ice and custard artfully layered on top of each other), a custard sundae with a wide array of toppings, or a Blendini (custard blended with your favorite mix-ins)? The South Street Rita's provides the sweetest follow-up to one of those monstrous slices of pizza from Lorenzo's down the street!
(5)Robert B.
Great iconic location for the best water ice. I had the mango-strawberry gelati. (They did not have my go to piña colada today.) Great sweet taste on a summer day. The staff were helpful and South Street is a perfect place for water ice. I don't recommend parking in front of the restaurant. It's costly if you go past 30 minutes with a sure ticket. Park up the block. The short walk will save your wallet. Unfortunately, there's limited seating -- like a 2 person bench so be prepared to walk and enjoy.
(5)Tony H.
Despite the big hype from my friend about the place, I just found the product average. I got the vanilla mango Ice Custard, which is basically just a big ice slurpee with the vanilla custard in it. You have to eat both parts together to get a taste of something good, otherwise the individual parts are just very average.
(3)Bin H.
gelatti, ftw! go get yourself one during this hot & humid summer. enough said.
(5)Nicole S.
1) Rita's is great with their water ice flavors and their rich, thick custards. Oh combining them is out of this world 2) Getting Rita's in Philly, where it all began, brings my love to another level. 3) They give out free water ice and custard on the first day of spring!! The first day of spring brings out the masses to enjoy in the warmer weather and some great Rita's. the lines are crazy but the staff remained cool, calm, and collected while serving up the cups of ice and custard and their pretzels. I typically mix water ice with a custard but I tired the seasonal Peeps flavor and really enjoyed it. Rita's never fails to deliver.
(4)Karen F.
The frozen custard is quite good. I am not a water ice eater - but I love the custard at Rita's. News flash! Their "Gelatti" is NOT Gelatto. It is a bastardization combo of water ice and custard. Whatever. It tastes good. Bring on the coffee flavored frozen custard, please.
(4)TheFoodDiva M.
I LOVE RITAS i go here every time i visit Philly!! Awwww man... Custard with the Mango! Always a winner when im on South St!!!!
(5)Casey W.
- I really only seek Rita's once or twice a year but when I do, it's a mission - recommend: cherry gelati aka vanilla frozen custard w/ cherry water ice on top and a swirl of vanilla frozen custard on top of that!! - almost always a line but it's well wor
(4)Greg G.
I'm from California, and we don't have anything like this out here... everytime i come out to the east coast i ALWAYS make sure to get some italian/water ice, i love the stuff... Last time i was in Philadelphia i caught this place on South St and i had to try it... the first time i'd had it with custard on top! I love it! You guys on the east coast dont know how lucky you got it!
(4)Miriam W.
Scanning the menu for Slenderita (fat-free soft-serve), I don't see it. I inquire, "Do you have Slenderita?" Counterperson with a WTF?! look in her eyes responds, "Slenda-WHAT?" I choose a Gelati (frozen custard layered with Italian ice) instead. I vastly prefer my NW Washington, D.C. Rita's with its ample tables, chairs, benches outside and of course, Slenderita (even if I never have any intention of actually ordering it - the name's too fun not to say!) This Philly location's perfect for an en route frozen treat but not a place to hang out as it's simply a walk-up window.
(3)Dan F.
I love the woman behind the counter. She's totally nice and she's got some thrilling processed curls going on. (Think Beyonce in the 2005 Loreal Hot Curls commercials.) Beyond that I've gotten the chocolate custard (can't I just say soft-serve? Please?) and it tastes exactly like every other plastic-y soft serve I've had from the 70s onward. So, meh. I've experienced better. Perhaps it's not valid to judge Rita's on the soft-serve. Should I be shimmying my way through the ice menu instead?? Help a fat girl out. Send comments!
(2)sarah e.
Summertime must on south street! Not the best water ice in philly but good enough to keep you cool long enough before you realize the difference:-)
(3)Rebecca C.
Maybe I just had it on the wrong weather. The Italian ice is very similar to an icee but just a lot smoother in texture. There's a wide variety of flavors to choose from, mostly fruity flavors. I think it was too cold to have it of such a cold weather. It melts pretty quick so make sure you eat it pretty quick.
(3)Hana C.
"Water Ice? What's that?! " ...was what I asked my bf when he brought me here. I got the mango flavor with vanilla custard. My bf warned me that the custard tasted like marshmallow crap (apparently he doesn't like it), but I LOVED it!! I like how you can mix the fruity snowcone like stuff at the bottom with the custard on top and it tasted like a tropical creamsicle! The thing I found most odd was that I was expecting the custard to be really cold, but oddly it was kind of room temperature. It works because the slushy/snow cone stuff at the bottom is freezing. I don't even know how to describe it...it's totally different from a snow cone and froyo. I think you just have to try it out yourself. =)
(4)Bill M.
A few days back I was having a dreary day at work, and even though it was technically the first day of Spring it was feeling nothing like it. I was in need of a serious pick me up, so when Stephanie M. posted word that it was free water ice day at Rita's I was counting down to six and felt like my prayers were answered. and in a way they were. due to learning that there was a birthday cake flavor on the same thread I was more than curious to try it out. depending on your view you might find this incredibly intriguing or absolutely disgusting, but it tasted exactly like a birthday cake. I was actually at a birthday 4 days prior and the cake tasted exactly the same. Guess that's science for you. If you're a purist like me than your going to dub John's the best thing thing since sliced bread. But if you crave more impossible sounding flavors and more locations than your going to jump on the Rita's wagon. But no matter what one you prefer you're probably going to like something that the other offers. and Free Water Ice Day should be a national holiday by my book!
(4)S P.
Long lines especially on Weekend Nights.
(3)BQ T.
We are opening a Rita's in San Diego. Carlsbad then Encinitas!!!!
(5)Jennifer D.
Eh, this could be so much better. The taste is bland and watered down (no pun intended) and I just expected more. If it was always calorie free and just plain amazing...I'd be a lot happier about this place. I do not get the fascination at all...I cannot believe it is a chain.
(1)Craig M.
Rita... you sexy minx! I wish these guys randomly branched out to London... I know it ain't gonna happen but there is nothing so damn quenching or cooling or delicious or heavenly than a big ol' cup of black cherry water ice. The taste instantly takes me back to hot sticky summers with great friends. Ritas and Wawa could be the two things I miss the most about Philly. Oh, and those friends of course. An ex-GF of mine used to go nuts at me for not pronouncing my T's in the British fashion - you can blame Rida's Wader Ice for that.
(5)Faye S.
I'm probably gonna hanged for saying this, but......I wasn't a fan of the water ice. :X I know, I know...but it was a little too sweet for my liking. The weird thing is that I really liked the vanilla custard. It was like a hearty version of soft serve and it didn't melt right away. I got a mango and vanilla custard gelati and ended up trading with my husband, who got a small vanilla custard. I gotta say, the sizes are very deceiving, as the water ice and custard are packed in there and very dense.
(4)Tasha S.
Best Italian Ice Water I've ever tasted. Not your $1 coco cherry from the corner. Not your mango from the local pizza shop. This is crack on ice. I wish there were some in NYC. Their flavor selection go from classic to inventive. Get a gelato or just some in a cup with nothing else. its the perfect cool down when its hot and your walking down South Street. Always look forward to a Cheesesteak and Ritas when visiting Philly. Perfect dessert!
(5)Ming-Jou C.
okay, my friend put this on her list of "to do" items for me, so while strolling south street on the most perfect day ever in philadelphia, we came across one. i had to get a water ice and the girl said, "it's kind of like shaved ice, kind of hard to explain, but you can try a sample." who am i to pass up free samples. i took a spoonful and decided it was smooth and flavored like fine shaved ice. i don't know why they call it water ice though. seems a little redundant to me, because ice is made from water. what was weird though was that unlike shaved ice, where you have all the syrup at the bottom, you weren't just left with white ice and a bottoming-out of syrup. so the syrup or whatever red cherry concoction they used stuck to the "water ice." weird.
(3)Annie M.
After hearing all the east coast people rave about this place, I felt like it was time I gave it a try. And you know what? I like it! They offer frozen custard (soft-serve ice cream) and italian ice (flavored shaved ice). Being my first time, I thought I'd try both so i got the Gelati (frozen custard and italian iced layered). The vanilla custard was too sweet and tasted too much like whipped cream when eating alone. Paired with the mango italian iced however, it was pretty freaking good! :) While this dessert was quite yummy and unique, I definitely cannot finish even a small by myself because it is a very sweet dessert. I'll be coming back if I have someone to share with and am in a need of a sweet fix.
(4)Bravo J.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO craving this .... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE open on the west coast ... specifically ... SAN FRAN or LA...!!!!! PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~~
(4)Esther A.
the girl working there was SO nice!!! she gave us all the samples we wanted :) we got a mango/pina colada... mango on bottom and pina colada on top... it was like tropical deliciousness. i love it!!! i miss it!! :(
(5)Caroline C.
Oh, Rita's, how good you are. Your ever-changing and always ambitious number of flavors makes me happy. Some of my favorites include: Georgia Peach Sweet tea Raspberry Lemonade Cherry Blueberry ! And custard? I can't believe you're anything other than a heart attack in a cone. And do I care? No. No I do not. Rita's is the perfect hotter than hell day remedy...at least temporarily. Authentic? I don't know about that...nor do I care.
(5)Mr. E.
I am aghast that people outside Philly don't know what the fuck water-ice is. Its only the best thing ever invented. Its a scoopable frozen fruit slush (not like a sno-cone. Don't EVEN go there). Its like a frozen drink or a slurpee with real fruit in it that it scooped like ice cream. Some people have with layered with frozen custard (called a "Gelati") but I prefer it in its pure fruity frozen state. I hate that it doesn't even exist here in California. Almost reason enough to move back to Philly.
(5)Rho L.
We've heard before that East Coast water is THAT much better than what we have on the West Side. I suppose that's why Philly has a ton of these water ice spots -- much more than what's avail in CA. We were driving around, after having dined at Reading Terminal and were looking for water ice when we so happened to drive right by Rita's. With a quick maneuver, we curb parked and made our way to the stand. Sadly, they didn't have too many flavor options, least not my husband's must have Watermelon, but at least they had cherry. I usually get cherry with the frozen custard just cause it's such a painfully delicious combo. He got lemonade which had actual lemon rinds in it. He reported it as not too tart, but definitely refreshing. I enjoyed my gelati though I wish ice to custard ratio was a bit more equal. I sure got a lot of that custard, which took away from that cherry ice. Overall, we enjoyed our water ice. I still, however, really enjoy the FrostBites (same concept) that I get back home.
(4)Sandi S.
Finally tried this place after seeing people constantly posting pics on Instagram! I know there are locations everywhere now, but I wanted to try it where it started. My first Italian ice/water ice! It was the perfect warm day in Philly for Rita's. It wasn't crowded at all, but I had a hard time deciding what I wanted. They have a lot of options and flavors! The girl working there was really nice and let us try a million things. She would even over hear me and my friends discussing flavors and without us asking, would bring us a sample. Really good service! I finally decided on the pina colada gelatti (custard-pina colada water ice-custard). I was savoring the custard on top, not knowing there was more custard on the bottom! The water ice had small chunks of pineapples in it (yay texture!), which I really enjoyed with the richness of the custard. The water ice helps cut through the heaviness that is just the custard alone. I couldn't finish the entire thing, as much as I wanted to...I had a lot of other eats to do in Philly. I recommend this place, especially if it is hot out and you are visiting Philly!
(5)Buntha C.
at the window waiting to order but no one served me. two employees was having a whole conversation while I waited and left with no water ice in my hand...unprofessional
(1)Stevonne R.
The first time I ate a gelati from Rita's I was floored. What is this thick buttery ice cream called custard? Whatever it is, once mixed in tuti fruity water ice, summer in Philadelphia has begun! Please don't sleep on the sweedish fish flavor. It'll turn your mouth red but its all good :) Other good combos=mango+cherry and cherry + anything...Rita, please bring your delish "whud-der" ice out to California. Its sunny YEAR ROUND woman!
(5)Evan K.
I don't like water ice. Then again, I don't like cheese steaks. PS. It's pronounced waw-ter, not whud-der.
(1)Evann G.
The water ice is great, but it's the frozen custard that really sold me on this place. You can't get frozen custard in California -- we haven't even HEARD of frozen custard in California. And, while you can get it in Chicago, it's certainly not as commonplace as it is on the East Coast. It's hard to describe what makes frozen custard so good, but just trust me on this. It is infinitely creamier and tastier than ice cream or frozen yogurt. It's just a whole experience, in a class by itself. At Rita's, you can get a combination of water ice and frozen custard, which is also quite good if you like both. Yummmmmmy.
(5)Devon M.
If you on South St and its blazin hot you belong here! Grab a Icey they have a good selection though im didnt see pineapple :-/ the mango was the best. Mmmm Im thinking about it now..
(4)Bravo J.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO craving this .... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE open on the west coast ... specifically ... SAN FRAN or LA...!!!!! PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~~
(4)Annie M.
After hearing all the east coast people rave about this place, I felt like it was time I gave it a try. And you know what? I like it! They offer frozen custard (soft-serve ice cream) and italian ice (flavored shaved ice). Being my first time, I thought I'd try both so i got the Gelati (frozen custard and italian iced layered). The vanilla custard was too sweet and tasted too much like whipped cream when eating alone. Paired with the mango italian iced however, it was pretty freaking good! :) While this dessert was quite yummy and unique, I definitely cannot finish even a small by myself because it is a very sweet dessert. I'll be coming back if I have someone to share with and am in a need of a sweet fix.
(4)Esther A.
the girl working there was SO nice!!! she gave us all the samples we wanted :) we got a mango/pina colada... mango on bottom and pina colada on top... it was like tropical deliciousness. i love it!!! i miss it!! :(
(5)Caroline C.
Oh, Rita's, how good you are. Your ever-changing and always ambitious number of flavors makes me happy. Some of my favorites include: Georgia Peach Sweet tea Raspberry Lemonade Cherry Blueberry ! And custard? I can't believe you're anything other than a heart attack in a cone. And do I care? No. No I do not. Rita's is the perfect hotter than hell day remedy...at least temporarily. Authentic? I don't know about that...nor do I care.
(5)Stacey S.
The gelati is truly to die for Fruity cool icy goodness + smooth sweet creamy custard = PERFECTION! YUM!
(5)Jenny F.
I dig the cherry water ice. It tastes much better eating it in Philly then it does in CT. My husband had some sort of weird gelato and custard combo that he loved and none of the CT Rita's carry it. Also... I know this is not Italian Ice but I still like it. My family would strongly disagree with me enjoying such a treat.
(4)Tk G.
YUM!!!! There's really nothing else to say about Rita's! It's the best cool, frozen, custard-y, refreshing, snack you can have on a hot summer day...or any time! I just wish they were open year round!!
(5)Yeon L.
Softer water ice than other places, but goes well with the custard. Strawberry Banana has real chunks of fruit for a surprise every few bites. A perfect snack while browsing through the thrift stores on South. They get docked 1 star for having rude employees that physically pushed my friend out of their way when entering the stand. When we told the manager, she did not apologize on behalf of her employee.
(3)Chris C.
Good Italian ice, but doesn't quite compare to what you can get in New York. I've only tried their lemon ice, but since I've also tried the lemon ice at just about every other Italian ice place i've been to, I feel like it's a good standard for comparison. The weather was so warm that day though I probably would have given it five stars then just for cooling me down haha.
(3)Rachel W.
nom nom nom nom nom all summer. I wish they were year round. I would be freezing my ass off and still eat this.
(5)Asuka N.
Walked over to South Street after a dinner in Bella Vista with some friends, and I have to say I was a huge fan of the water ice. It's hard to keep track of all these different ices (Italian Ice, water ice, shaved ice, etc.), but this was very simple and straight-up. I'm definitely more a fan of the ice here than in some other places because you get a very strong flavor in the ice. I ended up getting the island paradise, which tasted like a mix of mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and various other tropical fruits (unfortunately, when I asked the server at the window, she said she had no idea what was in it and that she only worked there. Thumbs down for that response...you have to know the product you're selling!). The only other slightly negative was that the ice melts pretty quickly, so you can't take your time with it or else you'll end up with a large cup of syrupy water. Definitely a nice treat to cool down with, and not a heavy dessert that will put you down for the night!
(4)John B.
I may be committing a blasphemy, but I must tell the truth: Rita's suck. It's too sugary and their custard tastes like wax. I would have given 1 star except the location is decent and on a hot summer days, like the ones we've been having in 2010, it's good to have something cold in your mouth.
(2)Nicole R.
There used to be this water-ice place down in the bowels of South Philly that had actual chunks of fruit in its icy product. That spoiled me against any other water ice. Rita's is not awful but it lacks the fresh-fruitiness that I have grown to love. I just know it's chock full of high fructose corn syrup, artificial color and flavor. I know now that water ice doesn't have to be like that and it tastes much better when it's not. It's a Philly institution like cheesesteaks and pretzels but that doesn't mean that it's good.
(3)Lene P.
Every time I'm on South Street on a nice day, I love to stop by and get a kids size chocolate water ice. I wish they had little chocolate chips in them, but they're still yummo.
(5)Jordan M.
There are three things I miss from Philly: cheesesteaks, sicilian-style pizza and Rita's water ice. Ok, maybe I miss wawa because I like saying wawa... wawa. Anyway, the first day that Rita's opens everything is free. Seriously, how can anyone compete with that? My favorite flavor was root beer. It was so good I tear up just thinking about it. It is really a fantastic treat on one of those hot summer days.
(5)James H.
A favorite yankee desert. Who would have thought this would be so popular in only one part of the country. I'd rather have real ice cream. It's not bad, but a bit pricey and no so clean. Not sure if the health inspectors frequent this place.
(2)Angela Q.
it's just honestly F-ed up that we don't have a ritas in california. it's so freaking good and SOOOO cheap. the best combination is their gelati (custard over ice). i like mine mango-flavored. on days when custard is too much for me, i stick to the classic cherry-lemon. im glad that i have family in philly so an excuse to go a few times a year but im sure theyre sick of me dragging them to ritas as soon as the plane lands. RITA, PLEASE MOVE TO CALIFORNIA.
(5)Ani P.
Why hasn't Rita's become a national thing? My most favorite frozen treat. Frozen custard!!!!!!!!!! Frozen custard is creamier than ice cream and smoother than gelato. Water-ice is not a slushy, it's a creature of it's own (hybrid of Italian ice, slushy, sorbet, slurpee). Frozen custard and water ice, where you can mix up the flavors, is a heavenly treat. I am a fan of the chocolate water ice and vanilla frozen custard. Yes, I know it sounds strange, but check this shizz out! Off the hook.
(5)Jackie D.
oh, how i wished i lived in philly. i came here last year with some friends to visit other friends who live here. since it was the hot, hot, hot summer, they took us to rita's. oh. my. gawd. water ice is the best thing i've ever come across. i swear we had water ice every night we were there. the lemon was nice and tart and sweet. the cherry had real cherries. oh and the gelati. such a nice creamy goodness. the two textures of the water ice and custard seem off but go together so nicely. i miss water ice. stupid california and not having rita's out here. i'm thinking about moving out there just to have water ice...you east coasters are lucky.
(5)Tim S.
Maybe it is because I did not grow up in Philly, but I don't get Rita's. I've lived here for over 10 years. I don't get Rita's. Overpriced glorified snow cones are not for me. That frozen dessert thing (what do they call it? Gellatti?) tastes like something they serve in elementary school cafeterias. However, it's a "Philly Thang" so I am suppose to like it and give my money to this company of chain snowcone operators?
(2)mike l.
what the hell? why ruin perfectly good water with all that food coloring? I'd rather eat a box of crayons.
(1)Russ C.
This is one fad that past me by. I always feel like an outsider when friends get excited about the opening day of Rita's and it's free water ice give away. And actually, I feel kind of weird thinking about how I actually have friends who get excited for free water ice period. When I do go with said friends I get the kids size, which ultimately gets me made fun of. People flock to this place like its the Pope, to me it is just something to do on a boring weekday night.
(2)Jaime V.
Rita's water ice sucks! It tastes like a slurpee from the 7-11. This is the last place in South Philly that I would go for a water ice.
(1)Allison K.
Best wooderice (water ice) in Philly...maybe the world. Now what is wooderice you ask? Well it's a mix between italian ice/sorbet/gelato/slurpee/ice cream/lemon chill...all delicious, all the time. I like the multitude of flavors...anything from lemon, cotton candy, very berry, mint-choc-chip, tangerine etc. A requirement if you're in Philly on South Street during a hot, sticky afternoon...I like ellipses...
(5)Kathleen T.
nothing says swell summer day like a cherry water ice.
(4)Alex M.
if i ever leave philly i will miss rita's. there seriously isnt anything better to cool off from the stank philly heat than rita's water ice. my favorite? mint chocolate chip - its like the ice cream but better. great soft pretzels too.
(4)Kap N.
there is nothing better than skipping a study day with a group of friends to go to south street get some water ice, and walk around.
(5)Jodi C.
My first trip to Philly, my first stop at Rita's! I bet the line here during the summer is outrageous! I had the sugar free water ice! Yum! Cold, yummy, and refreshing! My friend had the root beer water ice and chocolate gelato, she said hers was pretty good too, but that she should have gone with vanilla! The ladies behind the counter were pleasant. Overall, I was a fan. Looking forward to getting back to Rita's!
(4)Alex X.
Water ice love it but only I crave it in the summers. What's your favorite? Mine is lemon or rainbow... Even blueberry. I won't eat from any water ice place but I will eat from here because it is pretty good. So if you are in the area stop by. Only opened in season.
(4)Chanel C.
Gelati is the best shit ever. Custard plus water ice is a genius combination. I'm in LOVE with this place. Can someone please open a Rita's on the west coast?!
(5)Jen F.
We are missing out here on the west coast! Perfect treat to cool and satisfy on a hot summer day!!! Fruit Punch and Lemonade was a great combo. Can't wait to try more flavors next time I'm back east.
(5)Bin H.
gelatti, ftw! go get yourself one during this hot & humid summer. enough said.
(5)Mr. E.
I am aghast that people outside Philly don't know what the fuck water-ice is. Its only the best thing ever invented. Its a scoopable frozen fruit slush (not like a sno-cone. Don't EVEN go there). Its like a frozen drink or a slurpee with real fruit in it that it scooped like ice cream. Some people have with layered with frozen custard (called a "Gelati") but I prefer it in its pure fruity frozen state. I hate that it doesn't even exist here in California. Almost reason enough to move back to Philly.
(5)Jake P.
The commercialized Coney Island thing is co'ny. Rita's doesn't, has never, and will never blow my hair back. I tip my cap to the fact that they have Baskin & Robbins/Sonic flavor-possibilities. At the same time, for me to crave sugar-flavored ice, so much depends on the idea that it's reinventing the idea... not just opening up a box of popsicles, letting them melt, and selling them for ten times the price. I know I sound unfun (and contradictory, since I love DQ), but Rita's... mehhhhh. P.S. How do you people mix water ice and ice cream? That's like cheese on apple pie, mindboggling to my conservative tastes.
(2)Paul L.
Yet another thing I miss about the east coast!! I can only live vicariously through my memories of having Mango Water Ice on those days where I was sweating my balls off in South Philly.
(5)Andrew K.
Love it love it love it. I love frozen custard and don't understand why it's not a gargantuan thing. I also love chocolate Italian Ices. I just realized in writing this that San Francisco has a tremendous dearth of "water ice" oriented things. Go though. Seriously! And, get a vanilla custard swirled with a chocolate water Ice.
(5)Mabel C.
Rita's water ice is so good. I especially like the mango flavored one with the gelati on the bottom--especially the gelati, so yummy.
(5)Liza M.
sooo good! my body is thankful there isn't one of these near my house. well there is one in Salem, MA but we went there and it just wasn't the same. The gelati is ingenious. tasty water ice and creamy thick custard, what a pair. I love the custard on it's own too. a must stop every time we are in Philly.
(5)Colleen B.
This is hands down,t he best way to cool off on a hot summer day. I like the root beer or any berry flavored concoction. Why isn't water ice a national pasttime?!
(4)sarah i.
yum! the gelati (mixed custard plus water ice) hit the spot on a hot philly day. next time though, im skipping out on the custard and just getting a straight up water ice. that stuff is GOOD! this california girl was thoroughly impressed.
(4)Nicole S.
1) Rita's is great with their water ice flavors and their rich, thick custards. Oh combining them is out of this world 2) Getting Rita's in Philly, where it all began, brings my love to another level. 3) They give out free water ice and custard on the first day of spring!! The first day of spring brings out the masses to enjoy in the warmer weather and some great Rita's. the lines are crazy but the staff remained cool, calm, and collected while serving up the cups of ice and custard and their pretzels. I typically mix water ice with a custard but I tired the seasonal Peeps flavor and really enjoyed it. Rita's never fails to deliver.
(4)Karen F.
The frozen custard is quite good. I am not a water ice eater - but I love the custard at Rita's. News flash! Their "Gelatti" is NOT Gelatto. It is a bastardization combo of water ice and custard. Whatever. It tastes good. Bring on the coffee flavored frozen custard, please.
(4)TheFoodDiva M.
I LOVE RITAS i go here every time i visit Philly!! Awwww man... Custard with the Mango! Always a winner when im on South St!!!!
(5)Casey W.
- I really only seek Rita's once or twice a year but when I do, it's a mission - recommend: cherry gelati aka vanilla frozen custard w/ cherry water ice on top and a swirl of vanilla frozen custard on top of that!! - almost always a line but it's well wor
(4)Greg G.
I'm from California, and we don't have anything like this out here... everytime i come out to the east coast i ALWAYS make sure to get some italian/water ice, i love the stuff... Last time i was in Philadelphia i caught this place on South St and i had to try it... the first time i'd had it with custard on top! I love it! You guys on the east coast dont know how lucky you got it!
(4)Rho L.
We've heard before that East Coast water is THAT much better than what we have on the West Side. I suppose that's why Philly has a ton of these water ice spots -- much more than what's avail in CA. We were driving around, after having dined at Reading Terminal and were looking for water ice when we so happened to drive right by Rita's. With a quick maneuver, we curb parked and made our way to the stand. Sadly, they didn't have too many flavor options, least not my husband's must have Watermelon, but at least they had cherry. I usually get cherry with the frozen custard just cause it's such a painfully delicious combo. He got lemonade which had actual lemon rinds in it. He reported it as not too tart, but definitely refreshing. I enjoyed my gelati though I wish ice to custard ratio was a bit more equal. I sure got a lot of that custard, which took away from that cherry ice. Overall, we enjoyed our water ice. I still, however, really enjoy the FrostBites (same concept) that I get back home.
(4)Sandi S.
Finally tried this place after seeing people constantly posting pics on Instagram! I know there are locations everywhere now, but I wanted to try it where it started. My first Italian ice/water ice! It was the perfect warm day in Philly for Rita's. It wasn't crowded at all, but I had a hard time deciding what I wanted. They have a lot of options and flavors! The girl working there was really nice and let us try a million things. She would even over hear me and my friends discussing flavors and without us asking, would bring us a sample. Really good service! I finally decided on the pina colada gelatti (custard-pina colada water ice-custard). I was savoring the custard on top, not knowing there was more custard on the bottom! The water ice had small chunks of pineapples in it (yay texture!), which I really enjoyed with the richness of the custard. The water ice helps cut through the heaviness that is just the custard alone. I couldn't finish the entire thing, as much as I wanted to...I had a lot of other eats to do in Philly. I recommend this place, especially if it is hot out and you are visiting Philly!
(5)Bobby L.
This was my first time having Rita's. I know... What the hell have I been doing for the past 2 decades?! Italian ice, water ice, whatever you want to call it, is amazing! I love the gelati! It's a perfect combination of creamy yogurt with the flavorful sweet freshness of the ice. Woohoo! A quick yelp search for Rita's in Dallas returned a few! Score!!!
(4)Miriam W.
Scanning the menu for Slenderita (fat-free soft-serve), I don't see it. I inquire, "Do you have Slenderita?" Counterperson with a WTF?! look in her eyes responds, "Slenda-WHAT?" I choose a Gelati (frozen custard layered with Italian ice) instead. I vastly prefer my NW Washington, D.C. Rita's with its ample tables, chairs, benches outside and of course, Slenderita (even if I never have any intention of actually ordering it - the name's too fun not to say!) This Philly location's perfect for an en route frozen treat but not a place to hang out as it's simply a walk-up window.
(3)Buntha C.
at the window waiting to order but no one served me. two employees was having a whole conversation while I waited and left with no water ice in my hand...unprofessional
(1)Dana B.
What's not to love about Rita's? You can find all your favorite classic water ice flavors here, as well as new flavors that rotate daily! If you're not in the mood for plain old water ice, why not try a Misto shake--your favorite ice flavor blended with vanilla or chocolate custard, a gelati (water ice and custard artfully layered on top of each other), a custard sundae with a wide array of toppings, or a Blendini (custard blended with your favorite mix-ins)? The South Street Rita's provides the sweetest follow-up to one of those monstrous slices of pizza from Lorenzo's down the street!
(5)Robert B.
Great iconic location for the best water ice. I had the mango-strawberry gelati. (They did not have my go to piña colada today.) Great sweet taste on a summer day. The staff were helpful and South Street is a perfect place for water ice. I don't recommend parking in front of the restaurant. It's costly if you go past 30 minutes with a sure ticket. Park up the block. The short walk will save your wallet. Unfortunately, there's limited seating -- like a 2 person bench so be prepared to walk and enjoy.
(5)Tony H.
Despite the big hype from my friend about the place, I just found the product average. I got the vanilla mango Ice Custard, which is basically just a big ice slurpee with the vanilla custard in it. You have to eat both parts together to get a taste of something good, otherwise the individual parts are just very average.
(3)Lindsey D.
Im giving this Rita's location 3 stars due to the following reasons: 1 star for the location. I'm glad there is now a Rita's within walking distance 1 star for the ice cream. It's delicious. 1 star because they know how to pile on the sprinkles -1 star because 2 out of the 3 times I have been there they have either been out of custard or they turned off the machine before closing. In my opinion, if you're open until 11, machines stay on until 11 -1 star: we were in line last night at about 10:50 (10 minutes before closing) and the worker came out and cut the line in half and said they would only serve those in the front of the line. They turned customers away that were already in line. I get you have to draw the line somewhere, but she should have stayed outside and said no more customers after the last person in line. Poor customer service.
(3)Gabby M.
I realize that Rita's is super popular and though it is good, it's definitely not the best water ice in Philadelphia, in my opinion. The place on South and 2nd is good for takeout but you cannot really eat it there so you have to walk around with it and the issue with the heat outside is that the water ice melts very quickly, turning into juice. I like it but I definitely recommend getting the custard, which is super creamy and delicious.
(3)Abhishek Y.
Rita's has pretty much the same menu all over the NJ/PA area (maybe beyond as well, I just don't know), but the folks at this location seem to have a bit of difficulty with some of the more complicated items on the menu, which is rather surprising. In any case, I've decided after a few visits that I'm just best off with the standard fare with minimal modifications (if any). The standard water ice flavors are all there, which is reassuring, and thankfully they have the custard too, which is my personal favorite along with some Oreo crumbs. After waiting for 15-20 minutes in line, it took a few minutes to get the stuff for myself and 3 of my friends, which is totally fine, but what wasn't so fine was the triple charge that appeared on my credit card statement. I asked him why he had to swipe so many times but he just kept mumbling to himself. Regardless, the credit card company sorted it out without a hitch (yay AMEX)! All in all, rather mediocre at best. You're better off at another one of the locations in the area, such as at Suburban Station.
(3)Kristina C.
Rita's - easy location to get in and out of you are on foot, but if you are driving I wouldn't probably suggest it. They had all the standard Rita's flavors and they did have the Mango Peach sugar free which was delicious! Service was fast and friendly...overall a good Rita's location from our visit.
(4)Janet E.
They don't just have Italian Ice here, but they also have frozen custard. I'm a HUGE fan of frozen custard, so I ordered myself a cup. It was whipped really well and was dispensed from what appeared to be an ice cream machine. The thickness and density of it was lighter and more airy than what I'm used to, but it was still delicious.
(4)Kim B.
water ice! all my jersey friend has been telling me about. It was good. The sorbet was yummy! I'm not a yogurt kinda person so I just ate the ice part. I just found out they opened one in Pasadena which is local so I will have to try that out.
(4)Dan F.
I love the woman behind the counter. She's totally nice and she's got some thrilling processed curls going on. (Think Beyonce in the 2005 Loreal Hot Curls commercials.) Beyond that I've gotten the chocolate custard (can't I just say soft-serve? Please?) and it tastes exactly like every other plastic-y soft serve I've had from the 70s onward. So, meh. I've experienced better. Perhaps it's not valid to judge Rita's on the soft-serve. Should I be shimmying my way through the ice menu instead?? Help a fat girl out. Send comments!
(2)sarah e.
Summertime must on south street! Not the best water ice in philly but good enough to keep you cool long enough before you realize the difference:-)
(3)Rebecca C.
Maybe I just had it on the wrong weather. The Italian ice is very similar to an icee but just a lot smoother in texture. There's a wide variety of flavors to choose from, mostly fruity flavors. I think it was too cold to have it of such a cold weather. It melts pretty quick so make sure you eat it pretty quick.
(3)Hana C.
"Water Ice? What's that?! " ...was what I asked my bf when he brought me here. I got the mango flavor with vanilla custard. My bf warned me that the custard tasted like marshmallow crap (apparently he doesn't like it), but I LOVED it!! I like how you can mix the fruity snowcone like stuff at the bottom with the custard on top and it tasted like a tropical creamsicle! The thing I found most odd was that I was expecting the custard to be really cold, but oddly it was kind of room temperature. It works because the slushy/snow cone stuff at the bottom is freezing. I don't even know how to describe it...it's totally different from a snow cone and froyo. I think you just have to try it out yourself. =)
(4)Bill M.
A few days back I was having a dreary day at work, and even though it was technically the first day of Spring it was feeling nothing like it. I was in need of a serious pick me up, so when Stephanie M. posted word that it was free water ice day at Rita's I was counting down to six and felt like my prayers were answered. and in a way they were. due to learning that there was a birthday cake flavor on the same thread I was more than curious to try it out. depending on your view you might find this incredibly intriguing or absolutely disgusting, but it tasted exactly like a birthday cake. I was actually at a birthday 4 days prior and the cake tasted exactly the same. Guess that's science for you. If you're a purist like me than your going to dub John's the best thing thing since sliced bread. But if you crave more impossible sounding flavors and more locations than your going to jump on the Rita's wagon. But no matter what one you prefer you're probably going to like something that the other offers. and Free Water Ice Day should be a national holiday by my book!
(4)S P.
Long lines especially on Weekend Nights.
(3)BQ T.
We are opening a Rita's in San Diego. Carlsbad then Encinitas!!!!
(5)Jennifer D.
Eh, this could be so much better. The taste is bland and watered down (no pun intended) and I just expected more. If it was always calorie free and just plain amazing...I'd be a lot happier about this place. I do not get the fascination at all...I cannot believe it is a chain.
(1)Craig M.
Rita... you sexy minx! I wish these guys randomly branched out to London... I know it ain't gonna happen but there is nothing so damn quenching or cooling or delicious or heavenly than a big ol' cup of black cherry water ice. The taste instantly takes me back to hot sticky summers with great friends. Ritas and Wawa could be the two things I miss the most about Philly. Oh, and those friends of course. An ex-GF of mine used to go nuts at me for not pronouncing my T's in the British fashion - you can blame Rida's Wader Ice for that.
(5)Faye S.
I'm probably gonna hanged for saying this, but......I wasn't a fan of the water ice. :X I know, I know...but it was a little too sweet for my liking. The weird thing is that I really liked the vanilla custard. It was like a hearty version of soft serve and it didn't melt right away. I got a mango and vanilla custard gelati and ended up trading with my husband, who got a small vanilla custard. I gotta say, the sizes are very deceiving, as the water ice and custard are packed in there and very dense.
(4)Tasha S.
Best Italian Ice Water I've ever tasted. Not your $1 coco cherry from the corner. Not your mango from the local pizza shop. This is crack on ice. I wish there were some in NYC. Their flavor selection go from classic to inventive. Get a gelato or just some in a cup with nothing else. its the perfect cool down when its hot and your walking down South Street. Always look forward to a Cheesesteak and Ritas when visiting Philly. Perfect dessert!
(5)Ming-Jou C.
okay, my friend put this on her list of "to do" items for me, so while strolling south street on the most perfect day ever in philadelphia, we came across one. i had to get a water ice and the girl said, "it's kind of like shaved ice, kind of hard to explain, but you can try a sample." who am i to pass up free samples. i took a spoonful and decided it was smooth and flavored like fine shaved ice. i don't know why they call it water ice though. seems a little redundant to me, because ice is made from water. what was weird though was that unlike shaved ice, where you have all the syrup at the bottom, you weren't just left with white ice and a bottoming-out of syrup. so the syrup or whatever red cherry concoction they used stuck to the "water ice." weird.
(3)