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Sprinkles Frozen Yogurt
Rating Details »
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
Neighborhood: University City3606 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 387-1222
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
9 reviews for Sprinkles Frozen Yogurt
I like the fact that I can exercise my own version of portion control at this new Univ. City establishment. I do wish they had cups smaller than their smallest one, though, because it's hard to know when you've overdone it until you're paying $6 for fro-yo.
I mixed the original tart and pumpkin. Both had exceptionally good flavor. The pumpkin actually tasted like pumpkin pie - neither too sweet nor too spicy.
Unfortunately, I think some folks believe that fro-yo equals a completely guilt free treat. In reality, you can't really frequent the place several times in a week and expect not to pay for it. Yeah, they use HFCS, but I'm ok with that because I'm not eating there every week. I also like that I can indulge in sinful toppings like snickers bars and chocolate sauce if I'm so inclined. As someone with a nut allergy, I'm glad the place isn't overflowing with all manner of those options.
I think the self-serve option is great and it's fun to swirl unusual flavors together. I feel like this a great place for students unlike some of the more pretentious-feeling venues in center city. Dessert should be fun - and I don't necessarily want to cover it in fruit and granola after long day.
I went with a friend on their grand opening day during the fall, when they were giving out free frozen yogurt all day. I was super excited because we probably have 10+ froyo places in my hometown and I'd been waiting for it to migrate over to Philly.
I was SO disappointed by their froyo. It didn't taste good and the texture of it was off too. I had tried different flavors and I didn't really like any of those I tried (although I don't remember what they were now). The toppings dispensers were terrible too, making a mess all over the floor. Also, much more expensive than what I'm used to.
Later in the afternoon, another friend wanted to try Sprinkles so I went with her. We waited in the long line and I waited outside as she got her free froyo, as in I had the chance to get more free froyo and I didn't because it sucked that bad.
Sprinkles puts the froyo name to shame.
I finally stumbled upon Sprinkles while wandering around Univ City while my bf was off in his lab being a mad scientist for an hour. I knew that there HAD to be some version of the froyo franchise here because who WOULDN'T take advantage of all the UPenn kids (and employees!) who go gaga over this stuff as much as I do.
I wasn't actually in the mood for froyo, but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to try - thank god its self serve! They offer several flavors, I guess maybe about 12 or so total? Rough estimate. The flavors are the usual suspects and probably rotate a little bit since they're currently offering a pumpkin flavor, but I'm sure you will always find some vanilla/chocolate, some tart fruit flavors, the tart plain FOR SURE, and then things like mint, coffee, birthday cake (I shudder to think what it tastes like)...nothing too unusual. And since its self serve you get to choose which ones you want and how much of each, but choose wisely because even though you may be craving both coffee and strawberry, its not going to mix together so well.
The toppings, though, are a little different than at all the other self serve froyo places. They still offer guilty goodies like cookie dough, brownie bites, cheesecake bites, crushed Oreos, etc, etc in small bins with a scoop, but then toppings like M&Ms and other candies are in these vertical tubes with a handle you turn to release them. BAD IDEA. Sure, I can TECHNICALLY control how much I want, but not really. Those machines are like the ones I've grown up with where you put the quarter in, turn the knob, and your measured amount of candy falls down into your hand. Except these things look like you turn the knob, open it, and candy falls out until you turn it the other way. I totally envision not closing it quickly enough and having more candy than froyo, purely by accident. No thanks.
The froyo itself is...well, it can be improved upon, and I hope they do. The flavors vary in terms of quality; some taste great, some taste bad, and some don't quite taste like the flavor they're supposed to be but you shrug it off because it doesn't taste bad. The texture, too, isn't the best. Its on the icy side instead of tasting rich and creamy, therefore it isn't satisfying AND it melts quite quickly. If you like to savor things, you'll end up with gross soup before you're halfway through.
Okay, so I went to school at Drexel and still frequent the area to visit friends. Not too long ago I was introduced to Sprinkles. Then, I fell in love. Ice cream is my weakness. It is my go to when I'm happy or sad and it's the answer to all my problems. Soooo naturally when I entered and immediately saw ALL of the various soft serves along the back wall, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Not only can you mix and match whatever ice cream you want (I totally recommend the peanut butter.. it is the best peanut butter yogurt I ever tried in my entire 21 years of living) but you can all mix and match whateverrr toppings you want. Then at the end they weigh and you pay. So that's the tricky part.. don't go toooo far overboard. But I cannot wait to make a trip back to Philly.. that will definitely be my first stop or maybe second after a Pat's cheesesteaks? MM, I'm a fat kid.
After crying my eyes out for the last year and a half because the only thing (non-human) that I truly miss about Cali is Pinkberry, I was appeased (mostly) by the few fro-yo places that are springing up Easties. The appeasement is dwindling, however, and I'm starting to forget how great Pinkberry really is.
I'm pretty disappointed by Sprinkles. Here's why:
These chains are all knockoffs of some original - an original that offered PLAIN fro-yo and green tea fro-yo with HEALTHY and FRESH topping options. Thus, it made sense in the health-over-bearing LA. NONE of the places in Philly stick to this m.o. Not only that, but every time I've been to Sprinkles, the plain and green tea options were out of service. What's more is that the topping options didn't include much fresh fruit! With these issues, this venture seems so (lol) fruitless...
Get with it, Sprinkles.
Ugh... where to start?
Seemingly good things:
- self-serve
- charged by the ounce
- fat-free
- cute decor
Not that good:
- the yogurt is FLAVORLESS!
I just don't get it...
Looks like someone finally got wise to the fact that there were a bunch of froyo-crazed folks in University City who wouldn't mind skipping the walk to Sweet Ending and Yogorino in Rittenhouse Square. This Sprinkles shop, one of four in a local chain, just opened Friday next to the Wawa on Chestnut Street just north of 36th. Apparently the company is fighting off a lawsuit from the famous LA cupcake joint of the same name.
The wall is studded with several self-serve yogurt machines boasting a large variety of crazy flavors, including peach, oreo, peanut butter, and plenty of classics. It is sold by weight. I found the yogurt to have a good texture (better than the icy Sweet Ending product), but the strawberry and peach flavors I tried had a somewhat false taste. After a look at the nutrition info on their website, it looks like they mostly use natural flavors, although the yogurt is chock-full of additives and high-fructose corn syrup.
In addition to the fruity flavors, I tried vanilla and chocolate as a baseline. The chocolate had the best flavor of the lot, although its glacially slow emergence from the machine evoked decidedly scatological imagery, a definite turnoff. They must still be working out the kinks with those machines.
The toppings were plentiful, though slanted toward kiddie toppings like candy rather than grownup gourmet tastes like those at Yogorino. Nonetheless, I found the raspberries and blackberries I tried to be delicious and fresh-tasting, though I was astounded the only kind of nuts they had was whole walnuts. No almonds or peanuts? Really?
The exceedingly perky staff, mod look, advantageous location and popular concept seem destined to make this spot a hit, but it doesn't hit the quality and creativity of Yogorino. For those who prefer a classic froyo stop to the exotic probiotic Euro-yo, however, this place is a gem. And given that this is two blocks from my office, I'm sure I'll be back!
It was cold. It was rainy. It was windy. and I had a froyo craving*! so what to do?
I braved the cold, the rain, and the wind for a cup of froyo that tasted very sweet and not tart at all. They should advertise that they sell soft serve ice cream and not froyo. Some standout flavors- strawberry and birthday cake.
*am i the only one? horrible weather induces my craving for frozen treats.
Fun atmosphere, but slightly limited in selection of flavors. They don't have that many tart flavors, but they have the essentials that are perfectly satisfactory. This place doesn't particularly blow me away, but recently the pumpkin flavor has been really hitting the spot, so I can't complain too much. All in all, it's a great place to unwind and catch up with friends!