Rita’s Water Ice

Oh Rita’s… Where did you go? I came to get some water ice and walked away with none. Not only were you closed but you up and left with the whole building. :-(

Go here.
Get the gelati and the black cherry water ice.
You will never be the same!

We stopped by to grab dessert last night, and were stuck behind a couple comprised of a woman who wanted a sugar-​free, fat-​free, probably calorie-​free water ice, which they did have, and proceeded to order and reject each iteration («I want the custard… Oh wait, is that it… I don’t want it anymore… Can I get (insert another order) instead?» Her date got stuck paying for all 5 orders and we were all stuck waiting in line behind them. The frustrating part was that there was a second order window, but not one of the 3 teens working there thought to open it up so that the more decisive and reasonable customers could order in a timely fashion. My gelati with chocolate water ice and vanilla custard was delicious but I waited way too long for it. We were literally next in line and waited over 15 min to order! That’s just absurd. The kids were apologetic, though, so I couldn’t stay irate but they do need to establish a process for dealing with such situations.

this place pretty much only sold water ice. I was in the mood for a tuna casserole and was disappointed to find they didn’t sell it there. I did buy a prezel and the mustard I used was yellow. I would eat there again.

Great Rita’s outlet, only problem is the placement of the booth, that is not too convenient after rain and is a bit away from parking.
Also the usual line of 20 kids does not move too fast, but that is in every Rita’s.

I love Rita’s! I only get the water ice because custard and water ice together seems wrong to me but one day I may be brave.
What I don’t like about Rita’s is that they give you samples with gigantic spoons and then most nimrods throw them away and get a new spoon for whatever they decide on! I am far from being super eco friendly but either get little taster spoons or something. And people — use the same spoon!!!

I had missed Rita’s a lot in the midwest and when I went for a scoop on one of my first night’s back it was still at good as I remembered. I realize that Rita’s has become very commercialized over the past 10 years, and it’s not even that similar to what you can find in some of the smaller Mom and Pop stores in other parts of the area, but I still enjoy it. New flavors are always appreciated, and it’s great for a little bit of coolness when you aren’t really in the mood for ice cream.

Rita’s is awesome… in the normal sense. You can certainly have better water ice (ok, wooder ice), but you can’t get it so close to home, and so easily, and so cheaply, so you must obey.
If you live in the area (meaning, anywhere vaguely near Philly), chances are pretty good that there is a Rita’s nearby. Go there, and be satisfied. Is it the last word in wooder ice? No. I suppose you could hit up Geno’s for a cheesesteak and follow that with Rita’s for an ice and think you did something special, but that would be a failure. Still, it is what is. The gelati’s are good and hit the spot, and I’m too darn lazy these days to care, so they get my money. Sometimes the girls at the stand are cute and I feel special when they smile at me. Sad, yet true.

I looooove Rita’s Water Ice!
I now live in New England (and have for the past 8 years). For a long time, Rita’s did not exist, nor did the term «water ice» in New England. I would speak of this divine dessert snack and people would look at me and say, «you mean ice water, right?» NO, water ice! Italian ice to some, but this is the best of the best.
Their custards are top notch too, and as another reviewer mentioned… when you mix the two together you get what Rita’s calls a «Gelati.» My favorite combinations are Chocolate or Rootbeer ice with Vanilla custard, OR the chocolate custard with cherry ice. I’ve tried so many combinations, and all were good, but everyone’s got their favorites.
I am so glad Rita’s has come to New England though. Slowly, but surely, the whole country will know of it’s greatness! So far, 5 (almost 6) in Connecticut. Now if only they’d go to the Northwest, where I’ll be moving in the fall…

This has got to be one of my favorite treats from childhood! Having grown up in New Jersey, these were a summer staple among my friends and me. Basically, in terms of consistency, water ice is a cross between a slushy and a sorbet. It’s not as sweet as sorbet either. It’s different from say a hawaiian ice in that its not shaved ice with syrup on top — its made together then frozen and has a much smoother consistency. You have to try it!
Their custard is also fantastic — it’s ultra creamy and rich, and in a gelati, it perfectly balances out the water ice. A gelati is a cup with custard on the bottom, water ice in the middle and more custard on top. My favorite is the vanilla custard with the root beer water ice. It’s like a root beer float but better! I’ve also had the chocolate custard with banana water ice and that is great too. I really look forward to visiting the east coast in the summer and getting one of their gelatis. It’s a very nice, cool treat!
As far as this location, it is near a busy intersection but next to a secluded parking lot with some grass to sit on. They used to have a picnic table or two — not sure if that is still the case.