First Responders: Yogurberry

As you know, we here at Epifurious enjoy ourselves a little Pinkberry, even if it did take some convincing. 
I do find myself craving a tangy frozen confection now and again, and when I happen by a Pinkberry, I tend to stop in (always the same: a medium plain with Cocoa Pebbles and raspberries).  I am convinced that they've gotten stingier with the toppings, but that's a topic for a different post. 

See, the thing is, there really aren't any Pinkberry locations that I pass by regularly.  And while I am willing, on occasion, to take a train ride for the express purpose of a cup of weird fro-yo, I don't want to make a habit of it.  So imagine my excitement when I saw, along 37th Avenue, the sign for something called Yogurberry, in the pink-and-green color palette of the Pinkberry logo.  Jackson Heights is getting their very own Pinkberry rip-off! And it's on my walk home!!

It opened this week, and tonight I stopped in on my way to the liquor store. 

Inside, it looked exactly as expected--a Pinkberry without any design flourishes.  Just a little storefront with a counter, a toppings station, and an angular, moderne wooden bench.  I ordered a small plain, but was saddened to discover that they had only Fruity Pebbles--no Cocoa? Why not?  I opted for Cap'n Crunch and what I thought were raspberries. 

It turned out that the raspberries were actually cut up strawberries.  They weren't bad, though they tasted a little like they had been slightly cooked in sugar water or something--they were very sweet.  The Cap'n Crunch was, well, Cap'n Crunch, which is to say that it made my teeth feel weird.  But actually, the crunch gave each bite a nice, full mouthfeel.  Still would have preferred the Cocoa Pebbles. 

But, of course you are all waiting with baited breath for my answer to that million-dollar question.  What was the yogurt like???  It was actually quite tasty, but I am almost hesitant to call it "frozen yogurt."  It's much, much icier than Pinkberry, so much so that it actually seemed to me more like a yogurt-flavored sorbet.  The characteristic tang was there, slightly less pronounced than in the Pinkberry.  I am a big fan of sorbets, sherbets, and ice milks, so to me, the Yogurberry was a delightful and unusual treat.  I can see how some Pinkberry acolytes might find the iciness off-putting, and might think it makes Yogurberry a little less luxuriant.  Strokes, folks, viva la differance, etc.  I liked!

I do have to admit that, without the schmancy interior, Yogurberry does seem like much less of a destination confection.  I'll probably stop by on warm evenings and hot summer weekends, but the desire to linger is small--it definitely has a "to go" feel about it.  Perhaps they haven't finished decorating. 

Back to you, Ulrike!

Yogurberry
37th Ave. around 81st Street
Jackson Heights, NY

Comments

[Ulrike Meinhof]

Yum and yum! Pinkberry, only icier, sounds AMAZING. I hadn't thought of Pinkberry in months, until I passed the new W. Village location on a fruitless search for an internet cafe or copy shop open at 10p (as usual, city that never sleeps, my ass...). I had just finished a long run and was dizzy with hunger so I decided to 'rexy it up and have PB for dinner. Small, with pineapple, thank you (sorry, IFC, but pineapple is good). It was good but it tasted like the distant past. How is it possible that Pinkberry is already nostalgic? That I found myself longing for the high-flying, carefree days of 2006? Is this how fast things cycle by these days?

[jazme]

There is no question in anyone's mind that YogurBerry is far better in terms of flavor, variety, and pricing.

Watch a video of YogurBerry http://www.jippidy.com/watch/viewkey/79e2c279fd162df0205c/YogurBerry