I have dairy allergies although I can handle some dairy such as raw goat or sheep milk, fermented sheep feta and a small portion of these new frozen yogurts that are popping up everywhere. Even if you don’t have allergies these treats are pretty low in calories compared to the other colossal sundaes and "blasts". So here’s what I thought:
Starfruit
The nice people at Skirt PR sent me an invite for their opening night celebration. Let me go on record to say that Starfruit is the first of it’s kind to open a shop like this. I was treated to a free yogurt with any toppings that I wanted. Most of these yogurt places have a selection of various fresh or dried fruits, nuts, granola, candies or old-time favorite cereals. I tried some coconut flakes a
nd chocolate chips but I think I prefer topping-less—I like it smooth like the DQ whippee cone. Maybe it's some sort of sick form of penis envy but that whippee cone shape really gets me.
Starfruit
The nice people at Skirt PR sent me an invite for their opening night celebration. Let me go on record to say that Starfruit is the first of it’s kind to open a shop like this. I was treated to a free yogurt with any toppings that I wanted. Most of these yogurt places have a selection of various fresh or dried fruits, nuts, granola, candies or old-time favorite cereals. I tried some coconut flakes a
nd chocolate chips but I think I prefer topping-less—I like it smooth like the DQ whippee cone. Maybe it's some sort of sick form of penis envy but that whippee cone shape really gets me. Starfruit actually has real kefir not just frozen yogurt. Starfruit gets a big thumbs up. It’s a clean and beautiful store. They will let you try samples. The staff is friendly and helpful and yes, the product is delicious. I have been back a few times. The blueberry and peach are also really good. I have yet to try the smoothies, they were out of the cappuccino the last time I was there. I was a little bummed as the thought of coffee and frozen yogurt together is too good. Two vices in one! Starfruit is open till 11 pm which helps too.
Red Mango
Evanston has a small frozen yogurt shop from the Red Mango chain near the Davis sto
p. It’s a clean store but really small and gets packed fast. You are better off grabbing your yogurt and eating it outside across the street at the fountain on the corner. They have similar toppings like Starfruit (but not quite as many). One complaint is that I would love to see a shop with chocolate sauce or some sort of fruit sundae sauce. I’m not as into the dry ingredients. I have to say the green tea frozen yogurt is one of the best I have had. According to their Web site one serving is only 90 calories. You can you try samples. I’ve gone twice and the staff was helpful without being overly chatty, calm and helpful if you will.
Red Mango
Evanston has a small frozen yogurt shop from the Red Mango chain near the Davis sto
p. It’s a clean store but really small and gets packed fast. You are better off grabbing your yogurt and eating it outside across the street at the fountain on the corner. They have similar toppings like Starfruit (but not quite as many). One complaint is that I would love to see a shop with chocolate sauce or some sort of fruit sundae sauce. I’m not as into the dry ingredients. I have to say the green tea frozen yogurt is one of the best I have had. According to their Web site one serving is only 90 calories. You can you try samples. I’ve gone twice and the staff was helpful without being overly chatty, calm and helpful if you will. Stone Cold Creamery
They now have a probiotically enhanced low-calorie frozen yogurt to compete with the rest. I avoided this store in my neighborhood because I’m more down with the local ethnic Mom and Pops than I am the chains but it was hot and I had just worked out so I thought I’d give it a shot. I had it plain and simple, no toppings or sauces and it was good but not the best. Plus there is something odd and seemingly unsanitary about the whole Stone Cold experience of how they take the ice cream plop it on a counter and mix it up. It’s just weird to me. Out of all the frozen yogurt places they are the unfriendliest. They will let you try samples if you ask, but you get a side of attitude if you ask any questions. I probably could get the yogurt with the sundae toppings but they were so unfriendly I hate to ask yet another question . . . hence the name “Stone Cold”. Their yogurt is probably the most expensive too. The “love it” medium size was nearly $5.00.
Berry Chill
I had read about this locally owned shop and was curious to give it a try. It’s usually crowded so I went on a weeknight right after work. The space is clean and funky although smallish. The staff is super helpful and don’t mind questions or giving out samples. I had the pistachio/ori
ginal combo swirl and it was delish. Out of all the places I’ve reviewed they have the most toppings even including some local shops like Sarah’s Candies and pie crust parts from PIE. They have even more kooky cereal toppings than the rest of the competition—how about Lucky Charms with that tart yogurt? I sat outside before it got too crowded. This shop is open until 4 am on Friday and Saturday nights. I give it an enthusiastic thumbs up. Berry Chill has new flavors each month, I kinda wish I didn’t know this since I was hoping to give up frozen yogurt by September. Now I will want to try all these new flavors.
UFoodGrill
Although not really a “yogurt” place they do have really yummy frozen yogurt. You can get the tart original. “Tart” is their word not mine for the "plain" flavor or raspberry, you can get a mix of both. I had the original, which was very good although I had bit of tummy bloat from it. UFoodGrill is a new healthy lunch spot and all I can say is “finally”. The other food is really good there and it is very crowded. The staff does not have time to chat about frozen yogurt but I wouldn’t call them all out “rude”.
A few honorable mentions:
Annette’s Italian Ice
Annette’s doesn’t have frozen kefir but the Italian Ice is non-dairy and they do have some really creamy flavors like chocolate hazelnut. Speaking of flavors I have never seen an Italian Ice shop with so many different flavors. I like anything with coconut too. Their staff is near the Armitage brown line and on hot days they have lines outside their window. Again, friendly peeps and they will let you try a few flavors.
Dunkin Donuts
I have to give DD an honorable mention here. While I doubt it has a lot of probiotic gusto their non-sugar frozen yogurt is really good and you can get it in sundae format if you chose. Surprisingly, it didn’t bother my tummy.
So overall I would say:
Best Tasting goes to Red Mango and Starfruit a very very close second
Best Atmosphere goes to Starfruit
Most Helpful Staff ties Berry Chill and Starfruit
Best Toppings goes to Berry Chill
Easiest to Digest goes to Starfruit, I think their product is the real deal and probably the most fermented out of all the others. Now enjoy the food porn, ohh ahh.
They now have a probiotically enhanced low-calorie frozen yogurt to compete with the rest. I avoided this store in my neighborhood because I’m more down with the local ethnic Mom and Pops than I am the chains but it was hot and I had just worked out so I thought I’d give it a shot. I had it plain and simple, no toppings or sauces and it was good but not the best. Plus there is something odd and seemingly unsanitary about the whole Stone Cold experience of how they take the ice cream plop it on a counter and mix it up. It’s just weird to me. Out of all the frozen yogurt places they are the unfriendliest. They will let you try samples if you ask, but you get a side of attitude if you ask any questions. I probably could get the yogurt with the sundae toppings but they were so unfriendly I hate to ask yet another question . . . hence the name “Stone Cold”. Their yogurt is probably the most expensive too. The “love it” medium size was nearly $5.00.
Berry Chill
I had read about this locally owned shop and was curious to give it a try. It’s usually crowded so I went on a weeknight right after work. The space is clean and funky although smallish. The staff is super helpful and don’t mind questions or giving out samples. I had the pistachio/ori
ginal combo swirl and it was delish. Out of all the places I’ve reviewed they have the most toppings even including some local shops like Sarah’s Candies and pie crust parts from PIE. They have even more kooky cereal toppings than the rest of the competition—how about Lucky Charms with that tart yogurt? I sat outside before it got too crowded. This shop is open until 4 am on Friday and Saturday nights. I give it an enthusiastic thumbs up. Berry Chill has new flavors each month, I kinda wish I didn’t know this since I was hoping to give up frozen yogurt by September. Now I will want to try all these new flavors.UFoodGrill
Although not really a “yogurt” place they do have really yummy frozen yogurt. You can get the tart original. “Tart” is their word not mine for the "plain" flavor or raspberry, you can get a mix of both. I had the original, which was very good although I had bit of tummy bloat from it. UFoodGrill is a new healthy lunch spot and all I can say is “finally”. The other food is really good there and it is very crowded. The staff does not have time to chat about frozen yogurt but I wouldn’t call them all out “rude”.
A few honorable mentions:
Annette’s Italian Ice
Annette’s doesn’t have frozen kefir but the Italian Ice is non-dairy and they do have some really creamy flavors like chocolate hazelnut. Speaking of flavors I have never seen an Italian Ice shop with so many different flavors. I like anything with coconut too. Their staff is near the Armitage brown line and on hot days they have lines outside their window. Again, friendly peeps and they will let you try a few flavors.
Dunkin Donuts
I have to give DD an honorable mention here. While I doubt it has a lot of probiotic gusto their non-sugar frozen yogurt is really good and you can get it in sundae format if you chose. Surprisingly, it didn’t bother my tummy.
So overall I would say:
Best Tasting goes to Red Mango and Starfruit a very very close second
Best Atmosphere goes to Starfruit
Most Helpful Staff ties Berry Chill and Starfruit
Best Toppings goes to Berry Chill
Easiest to Digest goes to Starfruit, I think their product is the real deal and probably the most fermented out of all the others. Now enjoy the food porn, ohh ahh.
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