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Ankara Cafe - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Food Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Restaurants, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
472 Commonwealth AveBoston, MA 02215
(617) 437-0404
- Nearest Transit:
-
Kenmore Station Busway (19, 193, 57, 57A, 60, 65, 8, 9)
Kenmore Station - Outbound (Green Line)
Kenmore Station - Inbound (Green Line)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dessert, Late Night
- Alcohol:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
72 reviews for Ankara Cafe
Review Highlights
72 reviews in English
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Review from Davin B.
Lomita, CA
This review is based only off their frozen yogurt so forgive me if this review is skewed because of that. My friend who went to MIT for 4 years brought me and some others here late one night claiming it was one of the things she really missed about Boston...
And damn, I can see why. The frozen yogurt is a slab combined with fresh ingredients that you can see them add into the mashing machine. I got blueberry and granola and it was awesome.
Final thoughts: While I don't know and cannot judge how the rest of their menu is, their frozen yogurt is a total win in my book and if I ever make it back to Boston I will definitely return here. -
Review from karen c.
Boston, MA
The salads from Ankara are better than the ones from Angora (I know, two different beasts with very similar names). The chicken at Ankara is tender and juicy vs the dried out raisinesque chicken from Angora. I used to eat lunch from here everyday and sampled a little bit of everything (thank you, lunch stipend!). The panini are good in the mouth, but rough on the waistline. The pizza is bleck. The yogurt is delish. But can you really mess up yogurt?
Ankara could seriously use a remodel and some fancier equipment. It looks like they went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to get all their fixtures and cooking tools.
Relatively inexpensive, large portions (but not as big as Angora), and friendly staff. -
Review from Sudesna R.
Boston, MA
Their frozen yogurt is the best in Boston. I prefer the blueberry. The original place closed down but the new owner the same good old fro yo. Perfect for the hot weather!
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Review from James D.
Saugus, MA
After patronizing Ankara Cafe three times, I have gotten a well rounded experience, and well, I can't say a good thing about it. Rather than ranting, I will just do a bullet list of reasons why I will never come back.
-Incredibly rude over the phone
-The place is about 170 degrees Fahrenheit at all times.
- One hour, forty five minutes for a three-block delivery (Sandwich was inedibly soggy, frozen yogurt was reduced to liquid.)
-Over charged by both restaurant AND delivery driver. (total came to $11 and change, delivery guy told me it was $14, receipt said $13)
I'm not much of a ranter, but when a cafe tries to over charge me, and then the delivery guy lies to me thinking I wont look at the receipt, they lose my respect.
If you're walking by and slip into a diabetic coma, get a fro-yo, if you have to, but unless its absolute necessity, I urge you not to patronize this place. -
Review from Liz G.
Cambridge, MA
The service at Ankaras is really slow.
How slow is it?
True story: I used to live 2 doors down. I once ordered a sandwich, went back home, got laid, returned to Ankaras, and still had to wait a minute or two for my sandwich.
Food's not particularly exciting either.Listed in: Vitriol
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Review from Hana T.
Boston, MA
An-ka-ra!
Ban-ka-ra!
Hic-ka-ma!
*Poof!* Here is your customized frozen yogurt.
I know there are tons of options here, but OTOH, tell me a place in the city where there's only a few limited options. The frozen yogurt wasn't that good either. It was very melty, even though I ate it right away.
I know this might not be accurate, but I somehow feel the owner has a little chauvinistic attitude towards his wife (I think) who was busy working in the back. I don't know if that's how they show love to each other or not. Because they love each other, they bite each other? -
Review from Kirsten N.
Dorchester, MA
So frustrating!!! My co-worker and I ordered from here last night, we ordered salads and frozen yogurt at 10p. At 11p no food, 11:15p still no food had showed up, at 11:30 finally the food showed up. I handed the delivery guy the money, and he started to walk away. Excuse me sir were is my change.. no I did not plan on giving you an eight dollar tip after waiting an hour and a half. Instead of handing me my change and allowing me to give him a tip after calling him on trying to walk off with my change he says rudely " how much do you want back?" RUDE!!
I get back upstairs and find I'm missing part of my order I call the place back and instead of sending it out to me the woman says oh we'll have to give you a credit. Guess what You Guys Suck!!!
The food was good, but I will not be ordering from you again. Get a new delivery guy. -
Review from Meghan A.
I have to be honest. I've never actually had food from Ankara. I do think, however, this is the number one spot to check out if you want some awesome frozen yogurt.
When I first moved to Boston I used to get the frozen yogurt pretty frequently, until it got cold and then I went somewhere closer (and not nearly as tasty). I kind of lost my taste for frozen yogurt until the family I babysit for brought me back a chocolate double Oreo frozen yogurt. I'm hooked.
I like to save the frozen yogurt for a couple days and work on it through the week. It's always good, and by the time I finish it, I babysit and they bring more home for me without even asking me if I want some. Talk about service.
Go. Eat. Love. -
Review from Jamie S.
Arlington, VA
When ordering frozen yogurt concoctions, it's best to keep it simple or model after already existing flavor combinations-- there's a reason why Ben and Jerry's has a whole product development division because certain flavors combined, just don't taste good.
With that said, I like the fact Ankara's is like buying a carton of Yoplait yogurt, all the stuff is blended in, as opposed to Dannon yogurt which I equate to sundaes, the stuff's on top.
Kudos to Ankara for also having 'real' ingredients. For example, if you order key lime pie, they actually have a real key lime pie they take a wedge out of to mix into your frozen yogurt.
However my most recent experience left me a little disturbed-- not only were people handling cash and food without washing their hands or wearing gloves-- the woman mixing the frozen yogurt was eating the add ins as well and I could have sworn she bit off a piece of kit-kat and threw the remainder into the cup which she then mixed and served to someone. I don't think this would pass the MA board of health inspections...but just watch while she mixes your yogurt to make sure it's not yours. -
Review from Mike A.
Cambridge, MA
There's some really strange decor inside, like, murals and multipiece mirrors, sports decorations for Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox and Revolution all in the same place, and a really out of place sign that reads "Home of Generation X" or something like that. What the hell? Feels like this place is still stuck in 1995.
I've only bought some chicken vegetable soup on one occasion and the falafel+hummus wrap on another. Both were mediocre for taste and quality. I guess you'll want to stick to their deserts, which is what people seem to like about this place. -
Review from Morgan F.
San Francisco, CA
There are a few things you just have to prepare for, and then you will really like this place.
Delivery is SLOW and its kinda well, a hole in the wall location. If you are going to oder in for lunch do it well before you are going to get hungry. Or if you are in the area, call in your oder then walk over to pick it up!
Once you look over that, its great! I stop in here or order lunch from here all the time and have gotten at least half the menu. The salads are pretty good, fresh lettuce. The wraps are yummy and OF COURSE the frozen yogurt is AMAZING!
I personally get oreo banana ;) -
Review from Stephen L.
Menlo Park, CA
Whenever I go to Boston, I make it a point to revisit Ankara for the frozen yogurt (froyo). This is *the* place for Boston-style froyo...even though Cafe Podima and others are the exact same thing.
heath bar + caramel
mint chocolate
m&m + oreo
You can stare at the menu for hours. Don't get delivery because it'll take forever. While you wait you can admire the CITGO sign outside and wonder why there is no Citgo in the area. -
Review from Victoria D.
Boston, MA
I just had really lousy greek salad roll-up from ankara cafe.... so I'm taking out my rage the healthy way... writing a review on yelp!
Here's my story with Ankara... I've always been very calm about this place... the food is not that exciting, but because I live next door- and they're open late- I wind up ordering from here more than I would like.
However, tonight's roll-up was a disaster.. It was mostly just pita bread with a ton of black olives and onions, a slice or two of tomato and ONE PIECE of romaine lettuce and a few bits of cucumber- and feta... very dissapointing...but on the plus side, I think this is the last kick that will finally push me to stop coming here...
*note* despite tonight's fiasco, I have to say, I *still* think it might be fun to get frozen yogurt on some hot summer night/ or a nice coffee some early morning and sit outside here... -
Review from Caity G.
Boston, MA
I feel sad giving Ankara only two stars because I've been ordering food from here for the past three years. Unfortunately, however, they have disappointed me enough times I just have to do it.
Their frozen yogurt is delicious. They have a million toppings and even offer diary-free vanilla, which I haven't been able to find anywhere else in Boston. The only downside, which someone else has mentioned, is that you will get a little bit of the previous person's flavor on the bottom of yours... can be annoying/gross.
Food-wise, I've gotten plenty of yummy salads and wraps, pretty basic stuff, not amazing but pretty typical for this type of place in Boston.
Now for the HUGE let down... order online and they will literally take up to TWO HOURS to deliver. I use http://campusfood.com and have zero problems with other restaurants, but for some reason Ankara just doesn't get it. One time my friend and I ordered two vanilla yogurts with oreo and one vanilla with reeses... pretty simple, nothing crazy... they took two hours to deliver, forgot one of the yogurts, and when we called to tell them the woman screamed at us, then said they would bring it. Never did. My boyfriend said we would never order from there again but because I feel loyal to them we tried one more time. Huge mistake! Again, they took FOREVER and got our order wrong. On top of that, they are extremely rude on the phone and can never understand what you are saying.
Sorry Ankara, I won't be ordering from you any longer... I've moved on to Hidyan Cafe, who delivers in under an hour and has yummier froyo. Good luck to you. -
Review from Caroline A.
Chicago, IL
I ate here so frequently in Boston, that the whole staff knew me and started on my order when I walked in. When I called for delivery, I just said - This is XXX Beacon Street... I'll take my regular.
I recommend going in rather than calling for delivery. Delivery takes FOREVER... at least 45 minutes. My favorite item was their Emerson sandwich on whole wheat (albacore tuna salad, egg salad and bacon). It was ginormous and could be two meals, maybe three. Their hummus and falafal wraps were also great as well as their chicken, avocado and sundried tomato. Their pizza's are REALLY REALLY greasy and weigh about 10 lbs. I don't recommend them unless you are running a marathon the next day.
The best thing about ankara is their frozen yogurts. They have about 50 different flavors - from chocolate peanut butter, pumpkin, apple pie, blueberry, pistachio, granola bar and cracklin oat bran and every candy topping you can think of. I use to have one of their strawberry banana smoothies for a meal it was so satisfying.
I miss Ankara and recommend it for a great local place to grab a quick meal or dessert. Cute outdoor dining area for summer lunches. -
Review from Kevin M.
Boston, MA
Ok, so you might have to wait forever.
And they will undoubtedly be rude to you on the phone.
And, they will probably speak in an accent so thick you will have to strain to hear them...
but trust me on this:
the reeses peanut butter cup vanilla frozen yogurt is worth it....and only $3.33!!Listed in: Best frozen yogurt!
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Review from Victoria H.
Philadelphia, PA
When I visited my older sister in Boston the first thing she did was take us on a walk about four doors down to Ankara's. It was one of those hot, humid summer days that make you want to immerse yourself in a tub of ice water with a tall glass of lemonade in one hand and a fan in the other. I wanted ice cream. My older sister started spouting accolades about Ankara's frozen yogurt. I was skeptical.
Ankara's may not be aesthetically pleasing, but it's more of the worn, comfortable feeling than a dingy one. (Although the lady behind the counter staring at you can be a little distracting.) I was surprised at the number of flavors and decided that if this frozen yogurt was as good as my sister made it sound it might be worth going to college in the Boston area just to try them all out. I ordered and watched, fascinated, as she threw the ingredients in and my frozen yogurt appeared.
It was awesome.
I also have a penchant for their calzones, which are more filling and awesome than I thought they would be, but are probably murder on my arteries. I get pepperoni and broccoli. The prices aren't bad, but the service can be very, very slow. I could have taken a nap in the time it took for the calzone to cook, but it definitely tasted like it had just come out of the oven so it was worth it.
Definitely a place I'd come back to.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Susan A.
Fresh fresh fresh home-made frozen yogurt! I've moved out of boston for 2+ years now and still salivate at the thought of going to Ankara's!
And I do go back to visit every now and then! YUM!
The freshness keeps me coming back, the taste, and the fact that I'm not buying into some fast-food chain.
The things that make me want to reconsider this venture are the moodiness/sourness, depending on how the people feel that day. =/
My faves: maple walnut, black raspberry. They also have a fantastic pistachio. -
Review from Stephanie ..
Cambridge, MA
Allo? Ankara Cafe?!
As people mentioned, slow service and expensive for what you get. But I like their food-their eggplant and sundried tomato wraps and their triple decker. I don't go much anymore, but used to frequent regularly when I lived pretty much next door.
There are many other places with almost identical menus around the city, most with quicker service. Kiraz and Podima come to mind. -
Review from Enjella L.
Los Angeles, CA
I am going off by memory here - as with all my other Boston reviews.
I remember distinctly my college friends rave about Ankara. And I didn't understand what the hype was about.
It's just alright. -
Review from Michelle P.
Washington, DC
Skip the food, do the frozen yogurt. And if you live more than 20 feet away, have it delivered. THAT'S what it's about.
Tip: Mocha counts as 1 flavor, but it's already chocolate+coffee
Tip#2: "Alfin" is actually Elfin cookies. Give the english a break. -
Review from G J J.
Boston, MA
Terrible.
First of all, who has ever heard of a 5$ frozen yoghurt. It's gross, too. Choose between 30 flavours, all of which taste crappy.
Second, the pizza slice was cold and she didn't even bother to reheat it. Why bother at 2.50$?
Never to return. -
Review from Stephanie W.
Cambridge, MA
I've kind of gotten over the fro-yo here. You can get much yummier and healthier stuff at Berryline.
Calzones are good here. A medium was two meals for me!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/20/2009
It's a family-owned place. The two women I have met who work there are the sweetest.
Good fro-yo!!!… Read more »
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7/20/2009
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Review from Emily C.
Baltimore, MD
Two syllables: FRO YO
every so often my college floormates and I would get cravings for Ankara's. We'd knock on each other's doors and with michievous looks on our faces, utter those three tempting words: "wanna get ankara's?" Usually the temptation would be too hard to resist and we'd soon make the late night call placing our orders with unhealthy toppings. And when http://campusfood.com came around it couldn't have been easier to satisfy the late night sweet tooth. One of my favorite combinations was chocolate froyo base with strawberry and oreo toppings Don't knock it till you've tried it.
A few words of advice (assuming things haven't changed in the last few years). They take the last delivery order around 11:30, and they take FOREVER to deliver...sometimes over an hour. Is it worth it? We seemed to think so. -
Review from Elizabeth B.
Salem, MA
Is great after a Red Sox Game! When you need some good food to sober up or some dessert!
I had the eggplant sandwich which was delicious.
Ankara's frozen yogurt is blended in this special machine and they have a long list of food to put in the yogurt. I had a key lime pie with extra graham cracker swirled into my frozen yogurt.
My friend had a lamb wrap and cookies and cream yogurt.
Their food is made with care and they have great baklava.
This place is great for late night, lunch, or for some dessert! If you are leaving a Red Sox game it is about an eight minute walk from fenway down comm ave.
I would give this place five stars if it had beer & wine. -
Review from Liz M.
Frozen Yogurt that isn't TO DIE FOR but its decent. Lots of flavors makes it seem like its the bomb diggity.
I would recommend the following combos:
(1) chocolatey frozen yogurt with a fruit topping OR
(2) fruity frozen yogurt flavor with a chocolatey topping.
I once got a chocolately frozen yogurt with a chocolately topping. No bueno. Don't know why. Oh well. -
Review from Neety P.
San Jose, CA
The people who work here can kinda be rude, but the ice cream is worth it. They have countless yummy treats you can swirl in.
When I lived in Boston I used to get carrot cake and cookie dough swirled together....sounds nasty, but it's incredible!! Yummm....I wish they had places like this where I live now! After having this ice cream, I don't understand how people can like places like cold stone and marble slab....yuck.
Not that great of a place to sit and eat there. During warm weather though, they put tables outside which can be nice for people watching. -
Review from Elizabeth K.
Boston, MA
If you like shady, overpriced, and bland frozen yogurt, this is the place for you. I was thinking of a little frozen yogurt to celebrate my first paycheck, so stopped on my way back from work. Despite there being "we accept these credit cards" on the door, halfway into the order the lady said cash-only. So I walked to the Sovereign bank (despite her saying that there was an ATM from some non-descript company waiting to steal my number) and walked back with 10 dollars. I got 4.35 back for a "3.90" dollar yogurt, according to the sign. She told me it was flavored (I had gotten coconut). According to the board, that's .75 more. So I should've gotten back at least 5.10. Not patronizing there again, they can't do math and have misleading signs.
TL;DR? Ben and Jerry's is more delicious, and less expensive for a pint. Get yourself some happiness. -
Review from AccioSoyMilk ..
Richland, MS
Ah, Ankara's. A staple for BU students, as they are well known for their frozen yogurt. They have pizza, sandwiches, soups, salads as well as appetizers, side dishes and desserts. It's very likely you'll find something to please everyone. They do have vegetarian dishes, so everybody should be happy.
Sadly I have to knock off some of my rating because honestly, the waiting times for either dining in or deliver is terrible. They have one person handling the register/phone, one person making the food, and one person making deliveries. You might as well place your order and walk or T it to Kenmore instead of waiting for delivery.
The staff, however, are always very friendly and very happy. The place itself, though, is really cramped and not really worth eating in, as gusts of cold wind can come in every time someone opens the door.
Recommended: panini sandwiches, "side order" of the chicken kabob plate (on the menu it was a side order, but really it's a meal in itself), wraps, baklava, yogurt!
Don't recommend: soups. Usually lukewarm at best. Order at least 30 min ahead or pick it up yourself. -
Review from Michael M.
Back Bay, Boston, MA
Food is not good, everythng was very bland. Frozen yogurt is ok.
Service wasn't spectacular either.
I got delivery and it took an hour and a half, after quoting me 40 minutes. -
Review from Kimberly K.
Solana Beach, CA
A favorite of Meredith back in the day, and evidently nothing has changed in the past decade - lucky for us!
The wrap with eggplant, sundried tomatoes, peppers and cheese = yum yum, yum yum, YUM!
Perfect for reaching food coma nirvana :) -
Review from Jon B.
Boston, MA
Ordered some delivery from them to the NU-area. Fairly slow (took over an hour). For dinner had the supreme Hawaiian something or other. It was pineapple, bacon, ham, etc. The pizza was decent. The spices were really good and the topings were good, but the crust was somewhat unsatisfactory.
By and far the best part of the dinner was the frozen yogurt. I enjoyed some chocolate mixed with peanut butter (which could have used some more peanut butter frankly). But all and all, it was pretty good.
I didn't visit the physical locale, but delivery is available through campusfood.
I'd probably order from here again once in a great while, but it's nothing to come rushing back to anytime soon. -
Review from Cat S.
Los Angeles, CA
Crap cafe with a wonderful selection of frozen yogurt.
Takes hella-long to deliver.
Would stray in a heartbeat 'cept that they are the only place nearby of which I know that carries non-dairy froyo.
Hella pricey froyo too. -
Review from A-S R.
New York, NY
This place is part of why I miss Boston! I used to order (or go pick up in nice weather) frozen yogurt up to a couple times a week. Delicious! Their wraps are not bad but the fro-yo wins the prize.
A couple faves:
mint-chocolate (andes) and kit kat in a chocolate base
and
kit kat and milky way in a chocolate base
and
strawberry and york peppermint patty in a chocolate base (of course) -
Review from Mike P.
Jamaica Plain, MA
I used to go here a lot. Their HS3 was astounding. Their soup was hearty and bold. Their frozen yogurt filled the void of a tasteless evening with power-packed peanut buttery goodness. Until...
One day I ordered an HS3 (chicken, basil, mozzarella, onions, wedged in a grilled panini-style roll) like I would have on any other day. I was so excited walking back to my apartment--I actually skipped to my front door--no, I gallivanted. I got in the elevator. "Come on! Let's go! Move it!" I rushed into my apartment, unearthed this holy sandwich, and went to town.
Now, I should probably lay this out on the table: I'm pretty damn OCD. I inspect my food after every bite. Half way into my succulent HS3, I find a long eyelash hair. Not kosher at all. That's when I peel the doomed sandwich apart to discover a red, blood-like substance. Upon further investigation, I was able to discern that the substance was, in fact, blood. By this point, I was aghast. This ghoulish sight was not going to remain in the dark. I called up the Ankara and they told me I could return it for my money back.
Cold, listless, and dejected, I sauntered back into the hellish depths of the Ankara Cafe and opened up the sandwich to show the woman the hair.
"What hair!? Where!? I see no hair!" Then, in one fell swoop, she scraped it onto her nail and threw it into the garbage.
"You just threw it away!" I countered. "Of course you don't see a hair! Do you at least see the blood, or am I just a raving lunatic!?" She then took a napkin and wiped the blood off.
"What blood!? I see no blood! You are dreamer! You dream crazy!"
"I dream crazy!? Have you gone bat-shit insane, lady!?
"You dream! You like fond of the dreamer!"
"What the hell does that even mean!? How about my money back!?"
"I give you, but you are crazy dreamer crazy."
I turned to a young man standing next to me who appeared to be my only witness in this sordid saga.
"Buddy, do you believe this!? Have you ever..."
He just shook his head at me and blankly stared into oblivion, and that's when I realized that the Ankara has an intricate mind control interface that brainwashes customers to return to their establishment. If you look at the woman behind the counter for long enough, her right eye will start to twitch, then spontaneously ignite, beckoning your field of vision to encompass the satanic flames. If you stare at the Ankara woman for too long, you will turn to stone--which is better than repeatedly ordering sandwiches rife with bodily fluids and moist follicles.
Foul temptress! I broke away just in time after she handed me my cash, never to return to the slimy under workings of a third-rate hole spiked in the side of a demonic rat's asshole.
Two health inspectors visited them the following day. Hmm. Interesting... -
Review from Victoria K.
New York, NY
Frozen yogurt is the reason for coming here. Can't make any promises with the rest of the food, but they have about a million mix-ins for their yogurt. One of my favorite flavors is their pineapple, but honestly every one I've tried is really good. Their chocolate cake flavor is really yummy too! It's been a while since I've been here (moved around a bit) but I remember many happy evenings filled with frozen yogurt and fun. Never had it delivered, but as long as it doesn't melt by the time it gets to you, I guess it sounds like a pretty good deal.
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Review from Thuy Tien L.
San Jose, CA
I've never actually been here. The only thing I've ever had from Ankara's is their frozen yogurt, by delivery. It usually takes so long to come that by the time it's delivered, I've forgotten that I've even ordered anything. But that means that I get a pleasant surprise when my cell phone rings and it's the delivery guy. They offer about a bajillion different combinations of flavors of the famous frozen yogurt, which comes in a rather large tub (around a pint or so). It's pretty good, but nothing to rave about. Would be three stars if they weren't my only late-ish source of things frozen and sweet.
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Review from Etta M.
Somerville, MA
i started going to this place when we dropped my older sister off at Boston University for her freshman year, back when it was called angora cafe. their sandwiches were bigger and their prices lower... but to be fair, that was over a decade ago.
their sandwiches are still spot on. i love the turkey, motz, roasted peppers and pesto roll up. and of course, i spend many sleepless nights dreaming up new fro-yo combos (mocha heath bar anyone? blueberry oreo?) -
Review from Jen W.
Boston, MA
I've heard good things about this restaurant, particularly in regards to the vast array of frozen yogurts and toppings from which customers can choose.
Regardless of this, the delivery person was by far one of the most surly individuals I have encountered in a long time. It took over an hour to receive my delivery of a very simple order. The driver was utterly uncooperative when I tried to offer him my location within my building and meet him. He seemed to get very frustrated and demanded that I come and find him. He then had the audacity to create a scene in my place of employment because he was dissatisfied with his tip.
I would never order from here again. I can get frozen yogurt that is comparable and probably better elsewhere without the surliness. -
Review from Amanda G.
I don't know if people actually go here for meals, but I always go for the huge froyo with any mix you want. It's like cold stone, but not a chain, healthier, and larger portions for cheap. So many choices may leave you indecisive and you may want to share with someone cuz it's a lot of ice cream at 1 sitting.

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