Rita’s Water Ice

I’ve been to dozens of Rita’s locations around the city and burbs. They’re pretty much all the same and quality doesn’t waver. The great thing about this Rita’s location is that as of last year they became a joint venture with Nathan’s hot dogs etc. Now you can also order from the Nathan’s menu as well as Rita’s AND they have a drive thru ! There is indoor and outdoor seating as well as a parking lot. Great location !

Definitely something to try while you’re in Philly.
I grew up in Philly as a kid and we didn’t have Rita’s at the time. When I tried one for myself due to my cousin’s recommendation, I loved it.
It was so refreshing especially being in the heat. It’s has a silky texture and it’s different than italian ice.

Rita’s everywhere are amazing. This location often has half priced ices for special events and all their water ices are just delicious! Pretzels are always warm and go great! Employees are very nice!

I worked at an ice cream spot for 5 years, and this place took me back!
I LOVE their chocolate custard, and my boyfriend raved about the last shake he had here. These treats are delicious and cute and perfectly sized!

All water ice is great, but, to me, the beauty of Rita’s is the variety of flavors. There is something for everyone, whether you like your sweets chocolatey, fruity, citrusy, sour, minty, mellow, bold, spiced, smooth, chunky, creamy, icy, or sugar-​free.
This particular Rita’s does a poor job in offering a variety. One day they’ll have lemon, pink lemonade, lime, mango, mango-​orange, mango-​peach, florida orange, passionfruit, tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, island fusion, and tropical punch. If you don’t like citrusy island flavors, you’re out of luck. Another day it’ll be chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, smores, cookies and cream, fudge brownie, mint chip, and mint oreo. If you were hoping for something fruity, too bad. I sometimes wonder if there are two managers, each with their own preferred set of flavors.
I’m exaggerating a bit, but you get the idea. This is the only Rita’s that I’ve ever gone to where I sometimes leave with nothing because they don’t have a flavor I like, and I like plenty of flavors. I’ve tried them all!
Note to the Rita’s Company: Please bring back my beloved pistachio ice, and make pumpkin available year round!
Note to Rita’s Customers: There are 50 flavors. Don’t order cherry or lemon. Live a little!

We don’t have this back in California so it was definitely a treat to try water ice here in Philly. It’s something similar to shaved ice, but at the end of your shaved ice when all the flavor blends together. I really love the custard that comes with the ice because it adds a really silky texture to the ice. And best of all, the custard is delicious by itself! When I couldnt finish the cup, I put it in the freezer and ate it a couple of days later. The ice didn’t freeze complete into a solid block, which was good because it was just like I bought a new cup from the store! :)
I recommend!

Great water ice. Love the first day of spring — free ice! It’s a tradition! My favorite is strawberry with chocolate gelato. They don’t always have a flavor I like at the Rita’s in the Ivy Ridge Plaza. Sometimes I end up not purchasing anything and leaving because I don’t like the cream ices, anything passion fruit, candy etc. Strawberry, Raspberry, Black Cherry & Mixed Berry are my favs — especially with the chocolate gelato. FYI — You can always call before you go to see if they have the flavor you want, and you can take home large containers to enjoy all summer!

Is it March 20^th yet?
This stuff is so good that I’d figure out a way to make it from New York to the closest location to get MY free sample on the first day of Spring!
They lost a star for not having any locations in Manhattan or Queens :(

Mmm. I was about to be sad that my one day visit to Philly didn’t include a cheesesteak, but I was introduced to Rita’s which helped make up for it. Italian ice + soft serve ice cream. A good combo. And when it all melt’s together on a warm day in the sun. Mmmmmmmm.

I already reviewed another location, but wanted to add to this one. 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 specific location, it’s on a busy street with no seating area. It’s definitely a ‘to go’ Rita’s. However, I used to stop at this one on my way home from playing tennis and it tasted just as great sitting on a curb in the parking lot or on the hood of my car.

it’s pronounced «wudder ice» and it’s good. It’s like sorbet, but the coinsistency of a slurpee. I tried the piña colada. It had chunks of fresh pineapple in it and tasted like ripe pineapples and coconut. yeah for wudder ice!