Rita's

For most people the start of Spring conjures up images of barbeques, parks, blooming flowers, and baseball season. But for native Philadelphians it means Rita’s water ice is back! 

Rita’s is not only one of the more delicious cold treats ever invented it’s also one of the foods I most closely associate with my childhood and the city of Philadelphia. There’s nothing quite like a refreshing Rita’s water ice, much lighter than ice cream but with way more flavor than tart yogurt. It’s simple, cheap, and downright addicting. 

Fortunately for everyone here, Rita’s have started popping up in DC with three open locations and three more under construction. Just a few years ago I had to drive nearly an hour to middle-of-nowhere Maryland to find a Rita’s so this is a SERIOUSLY welcome change. In fact, I was so excited when the Adams Morgan Rita’s opened last March that I practically tackled the Rita’s furry mascot (in a life-size water ice costume) standing outside. The saddest part is that my elation isn’t being exaggerated. My friend Ross can attest. 

What’s important, however, is that one of the great Philly-area concoctions is here and Washingtonians can have and obsess over “wooder ice.” 

So what is it? Water ice, aka italian ice, is basically ice, fruit, corn syrup and a few holding ingredients. They are mixed together on site, frozen, and served within a day or two of being made. If you’re looking for an all-natural dessert - look elsewhere. But if you want to try a painfully delicious cold dessert that’s light, flavorful, and sure to hit the spot, then Rita’s is for you.

Water ice really isn’t like any other dessert you’ve had. It’s base is water rather than cream so it’s much softer and lighter than ice cream or yogurts. And while some have compared it to a slushee or snow-cone or polar cup, this sort of blasphemy is simply incorrect and not appreciated. Water ice isn’t shaved ice or simply water and dye and it isn’t served out of a machine. The flavors are much stronger, the composition firmer, and it’s created, in part, like ice cream.

The basic product at Rita’s is italian ice, pictured above. There are a multitude of flavors but I am 100% committed to mango, which is supposedly their best-seller. Some flavors like strawberry have bits of fruit while others like mango don’t. Rita’s has all the basic flavors and in recent years have added unique ones like sweet tea, georgia peach, and lemonade.

Now if for some bizarre reason sweet and syrupy tastes aren’t for you, Rita’s also has custards - always vanilla and chocolate and sometimes others too. 

Sound too good to pick just one? Rita’s has something for you, the gelati (above). The gelati is water ice sandwiched between custard on the bottom and on top. The creaminess of the custard and refreshing and flavorful taste of the water ice together create another completely unique taste. It's simply fantastic. Pick any type of water ice but order the vanilla custard since the chocolate custard overwhelms the water ice (unless you want chocolate with chocolate water ice).

Recently, Rita’s added a number of new dessert-like beverages that are a blend or some variation of their other products. As a Rita's purist, I don't fall for the new ones but try them and decide for yourself. Either way, after just one bite you’ll be hard-pressed to put down anything from Rita’s.