“I’ve had nothing short of amazing and delicious experiences at Goodies. My favorite treat is the Boogie Woogie or usually the specials like homemade rum cake! If you see it on IG stories, RUN to Goodies!! You won’t be disappointed. I’ve also tried the Nutter Butter sundae, many different donutwiches, banana pudding, peach cobbler and the Juke Box. All great choices.The kindest humans operate this spot and I can’t say enough about them too. Uncle takes his time interacting with each person who comes through and preparing their orders. Each time I visit I feel like more than a costumer, I feel like family. A moment I was particularly touched by was observing him hold space for a child paying on their own and listening as they excitedly shared their weekend. My heart melted. Children deserve to be seen as whole people. Brandon will occasionally sell his homemade caramel and dinners (recently was jerk chicken, mac n cheese, green beans and cornbread) and has looked out and saved me a jar or a plate when I’ve reached out. Everything is so, SO good!! It’s spectacular!The patio is the most gorgeous place to sit and enjoy the treats. This place can get busy and while I wait, I love listening to the music played on the speaker, when it’s on. They play all the classics! On a few Sundays I’ve gone after church, it was Gospel so I got round two of worship! Haha! I’ve been during slower moments and once, Uncle had come out and gardened and talked about his process. They’ll tend to it through the seasons. To name a few, you may see tulips in the spring and giant elephant ears and marigolds in the fall. Just a beautiful space! When you visit Goodies you truly feel the labor of love and bright spirit each time you visit. It’s like a frozen custard and treats community ministry.“
“Old Town Alexandria can be a tourist trap if you don't know where to go or access to the local-"in crowd" on where to go. I myself would confess to being a zombie tourist if it were not for all the crowd-sourced reviews and convenient map search features. This long-winded review intro is meant to steer you off-the-beaten-path, away from touristy stuff, and see what little shops lurk in the edges off *streets of royalty* ( ahem, I meant look at what's out there beyond King Street, Prince Street, or Duke Street ).And in the case of Casa Rosada Gelato, you would literally walk pass it given recent construction that forces the relocated front entrance to be hidden deep off some loading bay alley (the pictures says it all). The alleyway is almost 25 paces off the main street and there are no signs except for some Casa Rosada icon on paper taped to a plywood board where the front entrance would be. Had to band up with a visiting family of 5 to go gelato hunting for the front entrance. It's especially scary at night and yet so fun too given how dark the entire surrounding intersection block is with no cars or people in sight. But the gelato is good - way better than the throw-back-themed ice cream chain shops that promise to top sweetened air-filled cream (ie. normal ice cream) with rainbow covered sugar that's meant to distract you from all the air you are buying in your ice cream. With most gelato classic flavors available, we opted to go 'off-the-beaten-path' theme and go for walnut and madeira wine gelato. Tasting both flavors mixed was a symphony of flavors I doubt you can find anywhere else in this Old Town.“
“Cookies are amazzzzzing. I love getting a box of 6 and trying them out. I cut pieces and my whole family tries them. I honestly don't think there is a cookie I didn't like. I may not have preferred the flavor but never down right nasty lol. I only gave 3 stars because it's not really a sit down place and I can't speak for all locations but the one I normally got to in VA is always clean. I'll get photos next time. I eat them so fast I don't get the chance lol. ,?“
“It's a nice Ice cream shop, and we were there on a sunday afternoon, the line was extremely long. Once we got to the front the servers seemed eager to move us along.The bathrooms are really clean and it is delicious but expensive ice cream.“
“Such a WONDERFUL addition to our family gathering/reunion. I hired Circus Ice Cream truck to accompany our grand feast for the reunion dinner. I am so glad I did.-Many members chatted about how it was a nice throwback to our own childhood.-Lots of selections like strawberry shortcake ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, Dororitos, bubblegum cigarettes, sunflower seeds fudgecicles, you name it!-But most of all, our ice cream man/dessert extraordinare was so kind and patient with all the kids screaming and excitement around the truck being parked conveniently in front of the house. The truck arrived on time just as we were finishing our late lunch/dinner. A good time was had by all. Thank you!“
“As my wife and I approached the store, we saw it was in a creepy looking dark corridor. It had no lights except those from the store. When we got close to the corridor, it suddenly didn't look dark. That's a trick on the eyes due to distance! It's located in "the mall" which is located in the corner of a small shopping area. This is a small family business. They sell ice cream, paletas, Latino prepackaged snacks, and cold drinks. They have a lot of unusual flavors in their frozen treats. Flavors like chicle, nuez, nance, pinon, tequila, etc. Paletas are Mexican frozen treats on a little stick. It can be made with fruit, herbs, spices, or ice cream. Some flavors are a combination of these. All of the frozen products in this store are bought from vendors. There was some delay in ordering because the woman in charge spoke only a little English. A young lady who was helping her, spoke English well. She didn't know all of the ingredients in many of the flavors. So, understanding Spanish would be useful. Searching the names of the flavors on the internet will give you the main ingredients. We bought 2 ice creams and 4 paletas.1) Gansito ice cream It was vanilla ice cream with swirls of chocolate syrup and strawberry syrup. It had shards of chocolate and pieces of strawberries. It had good flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. This was much better than neopolitan ice cream! Gansito is a Mexican snack cake that has a chocolate coated sponge cake filled with white creme and strawberry jelly. I've never had a Gansito, but this was very delicious!2) Raspberry cheesecake ice cream It was buttery cheesecake ice cream with swirls of sweetened raspberry puree. It had bits of raspberry and tiny raspberry seeds. It was rich and creamy with a mild sweetness.3) Tequila paleta It was like an ice milk with a light tequila flavor with a mild sweetness. I can't say that I loved this. It was so-so.4) Rum raisin paleta It was like an ice milk with a moderate smooth rum flavor. The raisins were all clumped together at the top. It would have been better if the raisins were distributed evenly because the sweet raisins went well with the rum. An almost great flavor.5) Piñon paleta Piñon is the edible seed from a pine tree, aka pine nut. The flavor is mildly nutty. This paleta had a mild nutty and coconut milk flavor. It smelled like oily coconut. Not appealing at all!6) Nuez paleta Nuez means nut in Spanish and pecan in Mexican. This had a light butter pecan ice cream flavor. We enjoyed it because it wasn't too buttery or sweet. The service was helpful, patient, and polite. The store was clean. There were 2 tables and 4 chairs. No restrooms for the public. There's plenty of free parking around the area. They have at least 27 ice cream flavors and 24 paleta flavors. The price for 4 small scoops of ice cream was $5. The price for each paleta was $3. Not cheap, but some are worth the price. We'll be trying more flavors. The Latino snacks looked interesting also.“
“This is one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in Old Town, Alexandria. The ice cream is smooth and the chocolate pieces are great! I like to see them making the products on the spot. Great store to shop for your chocolate and ice cream favorites.“
“These cookies were so scrumptious. I can't believe I've been missing out. The cookies change from week to week so don't get attached and if you like cookies within a week pick up some extra. Thoroughly enjoyed. You can order ahead of time. They also have a loyalty program.“
“At the custard shack, you can have your custard and eat it too.My friend said I HAD to try custard at "a place in Belle Haven" after happy hour 10 minutes away. We got there around 7:15/7:30pm on a Friday night and there was a line of 5 people at the order line and a crowd near the pick up window. We had to wait a while to order and to get our orders but there was only one person working, and I felt so bad for her. She kept a smile on her face and was so pleasant, polite, and apologetic. Her demeanor made it so I didn't mind the wait too terribly--I felt too bad to be angry. We got the chocolate oreo and cookies and cream, and they were both amazing! I liked the cookies and cream a little better. From what I hear, they always have vanilla and chocolate and then they have a flavor of the week. They also have milkshakes, sundaes, sherbet. It's a shack and they do not have indoor seating. There are some seats outside but we ended up eating in the car because it was so cold. Oh--they have a parking lot but it was packed, took me awhile to get a spot by circling around and waiting. There were some cars who were parked on the street.“
“I have been a fan of Rita's for a few years and was excited to see one opening in Alexandria much closer to where I currently live than going to DC, Maryland, or other NOVA locations. It was even better to learn that they are a year-round open location. I have mainly ordered large gelatis and have had them both in-person and by Grubhub delivery. When I have been there in-person, the location is clean with some bench seating outside and the employees are friendly (one time I ordered for delivery and they promptly called me when the flavor I requested was out and I needed a substitute flavor). I have also ordered pup cups for my dog and they are a good size and reasonably priced. I recommend this spot for people who like Rita's or frozen treats, as they have a varied menu between the water ice, custard, and combinations of the two, along with milkshakes and more.“
“A wonderful place to have your private event at. They have wonderful staff and excellent choices for ice cream. I did a magic show here and the place was packed with kids adults. Plenty of space to work in. They also provide a face painter. I truly enjoyed my time at Pop's Old Fashion Ice Cream Co.Kid-friendliness: Great spot for a Birthday party event.Parents call them and get book your spot now. I know they fill up fast.“
“Amazing affogato and coffee. Love all the options for affogato too. The people working argued about some bathroom situation for the entire 20 mins we were at this coffee/gelato shop though and it was not quietly. We sat in the back room and still had to listen to a full on argument the entire “
Ice Cream Shop • $
“Robert is awesome. So is the 'Dashing Thru The Dough" milkshake! We've already decided that next time we will try the "No OREO-Dinary Cheesecake". Thanks for the sweet treat, friendly conversation, and vacation memory.“
Ice Cream Shop • $
“The young lady serving when I went on Labor Day right when they opened at 1pm did a great job even tho she was the only person on site at the time. I like the containers they serve the waffle options in so I don't get so messy on a hot day. I enjoyed the Jamaican Me Crazy ice cream flavor the most out of what I got.“
“We’ve always loved this place. Especially when it first opened. The owners provided amazing customer service & truly gave the feel of a small, family run business. Their mission behind the business is beautiful as well. I will say that the ice cream is great & there are plenty of unique flavors to choose from, without a doubt. But I must also say in our more recent visits, the staff has changed & are a lot less welcoming & friendly. There’s one clerk in specific that if we see she’s working the counter, we’ll turn around & leave because I’ve worked customer service for 15+ years & can’t bring myself to tolerate rude behavior or attitudes “just because” it’s your personality. Definitely stop in to try the amazing flavors & waffle cones, I can’t rave about that enough! But don’t take it personal if the service isn’t what you would expect. I would & do still recommend anyone to try this place out & still give 5 stars because we’ve been going since they first opened & will continue to go. We know the service which the owners strive to provide & the kids love this place over any other because of the ice cream (always cotton Candy LOL) atmosphere & board games. It is a great spot, truly. Maybe just a little customer service training is needed for newer staff.“
“My experience at the ben&jerrys in the national harbor was exceptional. The person serving me was very professional, polite and friendly. Due to a large number of my friends ordering all together, the man serving us was willing to give us a larger discount on our ice cream. Definitely the place to go for a sweat treat spring, summer, winter or fall!“
“Yogurt City has the very best red bean boba milk tea in the area! I have trouble finding red bean (powder) flavor in other shops. I feel so lucky that my local shop makes my bubble tea exactly how I like it, with plenty of boba, 1/4-sweet, and extra ice. So Yummy! (The frozen yogurt is good too, but that’s what my kids get.)“
“Stopped in to get my usual….caramel gophers. Still as good as the very first ones I tried in 2016. Bought only 2 this time and they did not disappoint. At a current price point of $26.95 / lb. I still believe this little guilty pleasure is a way to treat ME!“
“Shouts out to Des! Cuz slangin them mean @ss Philles! Joint was meaty af! Just a suggestion tho...cheese'em up a bit mo' cuz! D.C. dudes gotz ta have dat cheesy gooey goodness. Plus...put bacon on that toppin' list. Other than that...you str8. Imma give you a 5 hopin' next time, you read this review n' went in. Like you said...imma be back. Waldorf ji like a hike tho!“
“Had never heard of this chain before it popped up near the Wegman's. Their BOGO coupons convinced me to give it a shot and I'm glad I did! The waffle cones were fresh, delicious, and handily housed two large scoops of ice cream (my preferred order). Flavors that stood out include: coffee, black cherry chocolate chunk (legit had sizable chunks of cherries buried in the ice cream), strawberry cheesecake, and butter pecan. I look forward to future visits, especially in the summer.“
“I recently visited Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard and had a wonderful experience. I tried the mango Misto shake, mango Italian ice, cherry Italian ice, and mango gelato, and all were absolutely delicious!The mango Misto shake was creamy and refreshing, with a perfect balance of sweetness and mango flavor. The mango Italian ice was incredibly flavorful and tasted like biting into a fresh mango. The cherry Italian ice was also delicious, with a bold cherry flavor that was very refreshing. Lastly, the mango gelato was creamy and smooth, with a rich mango flavor that was simply delightful.The staff at Rita’s were friendly and welcoming, and the service was quick and efficient. The prices were reasonable, especially considering the quality and portion sizes.Overall, I highly recommend Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard to anyone looking for delicious frozen treats. Whether you're a fan of Italian ice, gelato, or frozen custard, Rita’s has something for everyone! Love me some ritas.Parking: Parking is plentyKid-friendliness: Perfect place for kids and the entire familyWheelchair accessibility: Wheelchairs will not be obstructed“
“Rita's is always nice. Stopped by with my grandson after his soccer practice and had some Papa time. He loves having sprinkles and gummie bears on his. Just our special time together and Rita's was the perfect place for it. Always a great place for the kids“
“This La Plata location is wonderful. Good, friendly service.They always have the sugar-free available, unlike the Waldorf location, who never has it. We drive into LAa Plata from Waldorf to buy the sugar-free often. They also have somewhere to sit and shade. Again, the Waldorf location doesn't have those either“
“The food lived up to expectations. Chili dogs were crazy delectable and the banana pudding was awesome. Can't wait to try more of the menu. This little quaint spot feels like I was growing up in the seventies.I know I'm 51 now lol. Definitely get a Sundae it's to die for!“
“Everything is by weight. Lots of options for flavor and topping. The machines are working well and none are broken so that’s definitely a plus! They have fruit options (dairy free) and sugar free options as well. Friendly staffs at this location. Plenty of seatings indoor or outdoor.“
Coffee Shops • $
“Good, solid breakfast sandwich, and I liked the customisability: you have a choice of bread (I chose the croissant) as well as a choice between American, cheddar and Swiss cheese.The pistachio latte was comforting, creamy and smooth. The pistachio taste however was quite artificial, reminiscent of almond syrup.The cafe itself is buzzy, and a nice spot to hang out.“
“To the lady at 7pm 2/25/23 who gave me a smile while handing me my strawberry cheesecake icecream one scoop in a cup, thank you so much. I didn't smile back because I didn't process it fast enough lol but your smile really made a difference for me, thank you so much. ??“