Tuesday, June 29, 2010

THIH: The Water Ice Wars Continue

Philadelphia Water Ice (1204, but giving out samples outside the owner's other business at 1012 H Street) and Rita's (1014 H Street) continue the war for your taste buds. I plan to sample both, but the allure of Water Ice, much like that of Slush Puppies somewhat eludes me. I love the Philly Cheese Steak from PWI, and I suspect I'd enjoy the cream ice or the gelati on occasion. The Hill is Home samples Rita's offerings.


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UPDATE
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To clarify (it's been coming up in discussions here), Rita's is a franchise model, but it's not exactly like the Philadelphia Water Ice Factory franchise model . If you look at the Rita's site you will notice that all of the Rita's franchises are called Rita's. Not so with PWIF franchises. Often they are co-branded (I don't know if Rita's allows co-branded, or not). Rita's, which is now partly owned by McKnight Capital Partners, is a much larger organization with over 500 franchises in 17 states and DC. PWIF has 17 locations in 7 states and DC. I hope that helps clear things up a bit.

14 comments:

ro said...

We need an ice cream war on H street as well: eggs or no eggs? Will this be custards last stand?

Tom A. said...

hmmm...two shops that sell ice with sugar water in it, but no ice cream or frozen custard shop?

inked said...

Tom A.,

you can get soft serve at PWI (I think), cream ice and frozen custard at Rita's.

ro said...

Yes. PWI has soft serve, at least when it's open. Very tasty when mixed with the water ice. Never been to Rita's, so I'll have to try its custard. Anyway, I'm thinking I need to buy a snow cone cart and push it in front of Spoiled & Rotten this weekend, assuming they're open, so I can get in on this food war action. My mussels and frites cart didn't go over so well with the folks at Granville's.

Anonymous said...

can we get ro and tony t to do some stand-up at the next p.o.w. open mic?

all proceeds can go to the argo or to the loser of the ice war

Anonymous said...

Hey my partner and I went to Ritas last night to try there free product.I the mango water ice....it was "OK".I still like PWI better.


5th street

Anonymous said...

Custard's last stand is better than anything i've got. I donated some gift certificates for the argo fundraiser, trying to squeeze in some argo workers, but i prefer pot smokers who watch tv and don't open regularly
tont t
the pug
ps. I'm working on a response to the ice wars don't worry. I'll announce it here first, then i'll announce my running mate on facebook.

Nichole said...

The original post on The Hill is Home (along with comments mocking the term "water ice") can be found here: http://www.thehillishome.com/2010/06/ritas-on-h-street-cold-treats-and-a-taste-test-await/

Anonymous said...

You don't get the allure of water ice because no place in D.C. serves actual water ice. Rita's water ice is like going to Olive Garden for good Italian. PWI is hardly any better. Take a trip up to South Jersey or Philly to see what it should taste like.

no-e-plz said...

I'm all for new business coming into our area but I'm not so keen on the additional trash lining the streets now that clearly ID the source -- Ritas. Walking back from dinner at the Liberty Tree last night, I counted no less than 4 cups and spotted a group of teens walking down the street tossing their cups into neighbors yards. I realize that poor manners and lack of consideration are not business owners responsibility. However, encouraging patrons to dispose of litter in appropriate places should be standard practice.

inked said...

Thanks Nichole, didn't realize I omitted the link.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:59

Go to Philly or South Jersey? No thanks. Why is it there's this pride in really lame food stuffs? Sugar + Water + artificial flavorings = area desperately searching for something to be proud of.

gilly said...

I agree with Anon 9:45. Its a little sad to see grown people spend so much time talking about ice a syrup. 72 comments on the last post about water ice wars plus this one is a bit much.

pool said...

they really set up outside their competitors store and gave free samples?