Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Orlando
Sand Turkey District and/or Dr Phillips Area and/or Restaurant Row
I was in the area recently for dinner and my partner and I decided to head over to Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt for dessert in Orlando. Located in the newly built Rialto Plaza on the northwest corner of Sand Lake Road and Turkey Lake Road (henceforth named Sand Turkey District via Mark Baratalli and The Daily City LOL, previously Dr Phillips Area and/or Restaurant Row). Menchie’s is among good company in a plaza with classy Ocean Prime, J Alexanders, and quick-casual Bento Red next door.
Open only 4 weeks ago, Menchie’s business is booming. When we first arrived, there was literally a crowd of local prepubescent teenage girls chattering outside, no doubt there to idle away the last days of summer. I think there was a pop star or something there because in the crowd was one scrawny, tall teenage boy (I found out who it is! Joey Page from Radio Disney, he twittered about meeting up there all day on Monday, wow) , surrounded by adoring fans taking pictures with him and chatting. It was kind of a hassle to work our way through the throngs of fawning teens, but it was worth it.
Inside, Menchie’s is bright purply-pink and green colors with a long wall of yogurt flavors and toppings in the back with the register in the middle. There were a few seats indoor and outdoors.
Based out of California, this franchise here in Orlando offers 12 different types of yogurts, changing about 3 of them every week with new flavors. On this visit they recently came out with Pineapple Dole Whip, a flavor from Hawaii, Irish mist, and New York Cheesecake.
According to the friendly owner Rod, there are four popular flavors that never change: chocolate, vanilla, cake batter, and original tart.
The first step is to take a cup or waffle bowl, then bring them to the yogurt bar to dispense your desired frozen yogurt flavors. After that, you head to the toppings area which includes chocolates, candies, cereal, and a entire fruit bar with mango, kiwi, pineapple, raspberries, and more. If you so choose, you can top it all off with some syrup as well.
After you are finished with your frozen yogurt concoction, you bring it to the register where they charge you depending on its weight. The heavier it is the more it costs. Ours was a pretty medium filled cup and only cost us around $3.50. Score!
I think the appeal of Menchie’s lies within the great variety and choices for the consumer. At most places, like Cefiore’s in college park, the employees make the frozen yogurts for you and there’s probably like 4 flavors to choose from. On top of that, the employees usually are really light on the fruits and toppings. At Menchie’s, you can choose how much or how little you want each of the toppings, adding your own individuality to each cup. It doesn’t hurt that there are so many flavors and toppings to make combinations from either!
If you are in the area, I definitely would recommend you to drop by and check it out, just make sure to keep an eye out for the herd of teenagers in the midst. (They need to find a place to go, like the library to read the latest Twilight book or something LOL)
Note: all the flavors at Menchie’s are also kosher!
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
(407) 601-7792
7339 W. Sand Lake Rd., Suite #406
Orlando, FL 32819
www.menchies.com
Holy Crapsicles, Batman! its packed here at Menchies!
Choose your destiny at the yogurt bar
Butterfingers, nerds, cereal and more candy toppings!
Chocolate and Fruit toppings!! so fresh
farewell crowd! you can see Joey Page (visit his myspace) in the hat towards the back
A shot of the ugly Mcdonald’s across the street in the Sand Turkey district, By Night
its not any prettier at night…looks like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland lol
or a devil…
Tasty Chomps RATING!!
4.5 out of 5 variety packed chomps!
Ok Menchies looks HOT. Its like they took the best part of dinner at Golden Corral (the soft serve and toppings at the dessert bar) and made a shop out of it. Love it. Have to try it out! And the photo of McDonalds. You hit the nail on the head with Cheshire cat and devil. It just looks insulting and rude. Like a homeless woman peeing into an empty KFC bucket. I want the email of the architect.