Pineapple basil mixed with watermelon ice was a recommendation from the very pleasant attendant- what a delight! It was delicious. Highly recommended.
(5)
Kenny R.
Had the peanut butter ice. It tasted like they must be using cheap ingredients. Overall it's good, but could be so much better. Your product will only be as good as the ingredients you choose to start with.
(3)
Amy E.
This place is awesome! Delicious ices! You can drive thru or walk up for your order.
(5)
Bev S.
Good service . Good flavors. I would definitely be coming back and telling others as well.
(5)
Laura L.
Love it here! Reminds me of when im in Philly during the summers. The watermelon and cotton candy are my fav. I don't like the gelato and this is why I took off a star. The lady that served us is so nice and sweet.
(4)
Cassandra B.
First experience and it's a good one! Can't believe I didn't know about this place. Perfect for Florida weather. I WILL definition be back
(5)
Adrianna U.
Great place. I love Italian ice, and i made a great decision coming here. Let's first point out how convenient this place is. You don't even have to leave the car to get your fave ice. Only tried cherry and pineapple so far... GREAT FLAVORS. I liked pineapple a little better. I The only thing is I don't like the pieces of fruit in my Italian ice, but i respect that people enjoy that, so i will suck it up :)
(5)
Drew B.
This place has the best ices in south Florida. I stop here every time I'm coming north or south on 95 - it's a must!!!
(5)
Dennis B.
A landmark establishment. I don't know how long they have been here but it has to be at least 28 years as they were here as long as I am a resident of Broward county. Their Italian ices are served in plastic cups similar to those used to drink water rather than the typical squeeze cups that are synonymous with Italian ices. On this occasion, I ordered the chocolate ices. It was a dark chocolate. it was cold, icy and had a deep chocolate taste. It was delicious as always. All their flavors are just great. They have about twenty. They also serve soft ice cream. I have never tried the ice cream. I am sure it is as good as the ices. I usually just get the ices. It is just refreshing on a hot summer day or any day. They also serve cold drinks, cappuccino, soft pretzels, and muffins. I would definitely recommend this place. Note: this is strictly take out. There is no indoors here. Just drive up or walk up and order. One of the oldest and best places for icy cold refreshments.
(5)
Theresa '.
Wow! Found this gem as I was driving in the neighborhood! My goodness, it was great! The staff member was friendly and offered for me to sample different Flavors. Lemon was so good! Reminds me of the ices up in NY/NJ. Tried the pineapple as well- very good. I will be back!
(5)
Lory M.
Unbelievable flavor a. We are still trying to figure out how they make the ice texture to be so GOOD! they are refreshing, tasty and full of goodness!! If you are in this area you MUST stop here and at least try it. For a hot sunny day I recommend the Citrus Delight. A perfect mix of lemon, lime and tangerine: JUST AMAZING. Staff is always knowledgable and friendly.
(5)
Diana E.
My favorite gelato place is in Orlando so I thought I would give this little place a try. It was definitely good stuff but not wow factor. The ice cream was very good but the gelato was too icy for me I prefer my gelato to be a little bit more of the creamy side than icy.
(3)
Down Like Four Flats S.
Excellent service the owner was very friendly I was very surprised. I had the watermelon in Coconut Italian ice excellent excellent excellent. I would definitely recommend this small business for anyone looking for something to cool them down on a hot summer day.
(5)
Gina L.
Love this place! Make a special trip for it every few weeks and I'm never disappointed!
(5)
April H.
Great little gem! I come here to get a cappuccino and a muffin! So delicious! The staff is very friendly!
(5)
Sergio F.
Their eye catching nonna mural caught my eye, my need for caffeine brought me in, and their pleasant customer service might have me driving to Broward for a sugar fix. Even though it's a small kiosk - maybe an old Fotomat ? - with no inside seating it will get 5 stars from me. For one, their latte kept me awake during my 40 minute commute down 95 South after a hearty meal. Going ahead a little bit, since I was too full to eat it, the sweet cinnamon pretzel was pure cinnamon and not overly sweet (I'm enjoying it now at home). More importantly, the cashier was pleasant, joking about the cold weather, and served my food with a smile. I know I'll be stopping by again!
(5)
Kelsi C.
I'm back for round 2 and I stand firm in my previous review.. This place is great! Didn't see the owner this time but the employee who was present still gave me the same awesome service I expect from a nice establishment like this!
(5)
Dominika S.
For the past few days I have been addicted to getting these ices!! They are so flavorful and I have yet to try a flavor I did not like! Today I had the mango which was one of the flavors of the day and when I tell you it was like eating the most juicy and sweet mango I've ever had, plus I love how they put real fruit chunks in it! If you are looking for a tasty cool treat I highly recommend this place! I will defiantly stop by tomorrow and try the blueberry which I am very excited for!
(5)
Ana B.
Like A. Nonymou S. said, this is the best Italian ice ever! I know it's hard to believe how Italian Ice be this good, because it's pretty hard to get wrong. They are all pretty much the same. But I'm telling you, Richie's is not. It is the best. I find myself craving it at least once a week. Quality makes a huge difference. They have real pieces of fruit in them and the flavor taste natural, like how it is supposed to taste not the usual artificial flavor taste. Strawberry and honeydew are my favorites, but all the other flavors are good too. I'm a little embarrassed to say I finished a QUART of this stuff all by myself. My boyfriend usually gets the Gelati, Italian Ice with soft-serve ice cream. I don't particularly like the soft-serve ice cream that they use (kinda taste like a softer version of D'lites), so I usually skip this. But my boyfriend likes it. I also heard the coffee is really good, but I haven't tried it yet. Do yourself a favor and try them, you won't want any other once you do.
(5)
Julie T.
Oh my goodness, the Gelati's are amazing. I blend Coconut Italian Ice and Frozen Yogurt and it is to die for. With all these hot South Florida days coming up, this is a great break from the heat. It's so refreshing and I bet it'd be even better with a spike of some rum (which I haven't tried yet ;] And now I think I should). Jonathan has come here a few times for coffee as well, and it satisfies him enough, but I think he needs to try something more decadent.
(5)
Jboo B.
Went to Richie's for the first time ever last night. I had heard such great things about this Ft.Lauderdale landmark and was dying to try it. We got there at 9:57 pm and ordered two cappuccinos and the kid responded in a really rude and annoyed tone... "Sorry, the machine has already been cleaned because we close at 10pm". Kinda bummed, we figured, well you are closed yet so why is it already cleaned, but whatever, we came here for the Italian ice, not coffee so no big deal! We responded by saying "ok no worries, sorry!! We didn't know you guys close, at 10 we'll just take two Italian ices". We ordered our ices, and then the kid who seemed to have an attitude since the very start, handed us the ices and told us "Next time try to get here earlier before 10 since we close". I actually started laughing with my husband because I couldn't help but think, "Did we just get reprimanded by some kid for getting to the place too late??" lol We didn't know! Jeeze. And after that, AGAIN, we said sorry as we weren't aware of the closing time otherwise, we would have never come. The kid was totally rude and sarcastic to us even after that continuing to make comments... Ridiculous... I don't need that kind of service... If you're closed or don't want to serve people 2-3 minutes before you close because you hate your job and want to get home, then either don't work there, or just tell us you're closed! Spare me the rudeness and sarcasm! It's a shame because I have to say, the ices are PHENOMENAL! Not sure if the owner is aware of who they have representing them when they're not around... It's really crappy customer service... And for that reason only, I am giving 3 stars and not 5...
(3)
Jonathan M.
This place is SO GOOD. I love their Gelatis! I always order the vanilla and coconut one. It's just so good. Their service is always really friendly and I love how I can pull up to their window with my big doberman sticking out of my window and the guy will just hand him a dog treat. So, my wife and I like coming here and now my dog likes coming here. I live really close by so it's our goto spot if we're craving a cold dessert. It's located right on commercial and it's a tiny little building (that you can't really miss, though) and they have a drive through along with a walk up window. There's not much seating at the place so I wouldn't bring a bunch of people here. They also have a 10% off coupon if you check in with yelp. It's not much since the orders are small but hey it helps! Oh, and they have great coffee as well!
(5)
Lissie O.
We got lemon, coconut, rainbow and chocolate chip flavors. They were soooo good!! We will be back. It made us reminisce of our NY summers.
(5)
Greg O.
I love the drive thru. haha This place is really a wonderful gem. The quality of the ingredients are really quite impressive and tasty. The Italian ice is not like the overly sweet and sticky italian ice I've had elsewhere.The ice is soft and not sticky at all. The lemon italian ice is my favorite so far.
(5)
Paige I.
Delish! From a Philly girl, that's a huge compliment. Wish they had more flavored though. Really cute place too.
(4)
Michelle B.
i just came back from dinner and ice cream with mamadukes... we stopped here because it was right across the street from the dinner spot. first impression was that it was tiny and cute, but there are literally two spots to park and we rode separately, so because one spot was already taken upon arrival for the one person working, we had to make a spot in the grass. i had the vanilla chip with chocolate ice cream on top, mom passed altogether. the vanilla chip tasted really artificial and hardly had chocolate chips in it. the chocolate ice cream had a splenda-y taste to it, which i am not a fan of. i am by no means a picky eater, but i noticed and mentioned these things to my mom while we were sitting outside (two benches, one on either side of the window). i ate most of it before deciding to toss it. let's just say i could hardly wait to get home, and it wasn't because i was looking forward to anything besides the bathroom. mom made it unscathed - we shared our entire dinner, so we know it wasn't the restaurant. i was hoping my first visit would be one of many, as i am new to the area and love to try local eats. this place was a disappointment. i will not be returning.
(1)
Tay B.
Ive lived here now in the area for about 3 years and I've gone here at least twice a week ever since. The staff is always friendly, the coffee is amazing never a miss , the lines are worth it. Need I mention the Italian ices are some of the best I've ever had all the flavors are delicious. Personally I get the mixed with lime and a blueberry it is so refreshing on a hot day.
(5)
Caryn B.
I have been going here for soooo long, from kid to adult. Richie is the best and knows his stuff. The Italian Ice is perfect texture and not too sweet, not too sour. My favorite is vanilla chip with strawberry hand swirled! (Yes, if you ask nicely you do not need to have 2 flavors on top and bottom.) They usually have 3 special flavors and my fav is the cantaloupe. Thanks for refreshing us all these years, especially during Florida spring/summer hot days.
(5)
Jennifer S.
Richie's has been off of commercial since I was a kid and anytime I am in the area I have to stop and get one of their amazing Italian ices!! Recently I was with some Yelp friends and we were heading to the Funky Buddha, then we drove past Richie's so we decided we had to stop on the way home. They always have several flavors to choose from and a couple special flavors for the day. I love the watermelon, lemon, vanilla and cherry (but really I love them all lol). They have a rainy day special discount as well as a yelp check in discount but the prices are a steal even without a discount. We each had a small which was under $2 and we were very satisfied (lets just say it got really quiet in the car after we got our treats LOL!!). Its a must stop!
(4)
Luis P.
I love this place. Small little place with only two parking spaces and a small drive thru. Flavors are out of this world and taste amazing. I'm love Italian ices and I don't know of a better place then this one. It's great for little get together a or when you're just craving some good ice. Not a big fan of the gelato, tastes bit powdery, but I've only had it once because I only care for the Italian ice. I love that they use real fruit and when your eating the ice you can real cherries or real pieces of lemon. My favorite flavor is the lemon, cherry or orange. Pretty much any flavor is good and fresh. Highly recommend this place to anyone who is in the area, it's simply the best! Just wish they didn't have a minimum on cards :/
(5)
Peter N.
This place is awesome! The man that works/own this place is super nice and helpful. He lets you try flavors and mixture of flavors to decide on what you like. This place is more of a drive-thru place than anything. We tried the pistachio mixed in with custard, boy oh boy was this awesome!
(4)
Iza B.
I didn't have the Italian ice but the ice cream was just awful. I can honestly admit that I've never thrown ice cream out but I couldn't eat this. It tasted like watered down frozen instant vanilla pudding. It was expensive too two small cones were over $5. Very disappointed :( I don't know how the yelp community has rated this place at 4.5 stars.
(1)
Brian Z.
Best. Ices. Anywhere. This long lived and long loved local gem is a Must-Visit! The excellent quality of their espresso and cappuccino rivals any high end coffee shops, and the prices won't hurt your pocketbook. I drive by at least twice a week for a double espresso macchiato - to die for! And if you like Italian ices (which, of course, is what they're known for) my favorite is the Rainbow, made with real fresh fruit and juices. But the most amazing flavor there, another must-try, is the Cotton Candy flavored ice, which actually tastes like you're eating cotton candy!! For the regulars, they have a stamp card for buy-ten-get-one-free. Even if it's your first visit, I guarantee it won't be your last, so pick one up while you're there. As you can tell, I can't say enough good things about this place. In fact, I think I'll stop by there tomorrow :-)
(5)
Melissa K.
Awesome Italian ices, and coffees as well as gelatis! The people are so wonderful and friendly and the best part is that it is a drive through! This place is always a "must stop" on my way home from the beach, or any other time for that matter....I have even made special trips with the kids from the west side of town on a hot summer day! My favorites are the watermelon, coconut and pineapple....but having been here so many times with various people- its all good!
(5)
L M.
I absolutely love the gourmet ices!!! I've been coming here for 20 years and I've never received bad service or was dissatisfied with my order. They have all kinds of flavors, my favorite being very berry! If you're in the area it's a must try. I come at least once a week! Enjoy!
(5)
Anonymous ..
The absolute best Italian ices you'll ever eat. Totally worth the drive. Amazing flavor. Amazing texture. And quite a selection. Lemmon, cherry, chocolate, vanilla chip, tangerine, strawberry, cotton candy, blueberry, pineapple, coconut, watermelon, lime, rainbow, citrus delight and flavors of the day. My favorite is watermelon and cotton candy. Yum. Richie's is a drive drive-thru.
(5)
Briena C.
Only two benches to sit bit very nice Italian ice. Easy to eat fresh lemon flavor with bits of peel make it tangy! Nice
(5)
Vanessa P.
Driving on Commercial Blvd it's almost effortless to miss this tiny Italian ice shoppe, but it's well worth a quick stop. There are 2-3 parking spots or you can take your cool treat to go using their drive through window. Or you can take a load off and relax under one of the benches that line the outside of the tiny building. Either way, your taste-buds will surely thank you. As far as the menu goes there are tons of different flavors and they will happily mix any flavors you want together. But since I've been here I can say my favorites are the citrus delight (orange, lemon, and lime) and the rainbow (cherry, lemon, and blueberry). Plus, they use real fruit in their deliciously cool concoctions. There are other items on the menu including pretzels and gelato. With the temperatures quickly rising this place is a must if you're in the area.
(5)
Sierra C.
I ordered their Strawberry Gelati; a layered mix of Italian Ice and Soft serve. The soft serve had a pungent flavor; a sour and tartness that left an unpleasant after taste in my mouth. The Italian Ice on the other hand, was good. Smooth with chunks of fresh strawberries. The strawberry flavor was well balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. I gave them 3 stars since I wasn't fond of their soft serve, but did delight in their freshly made Italian ice. Overall I would recommend their Italian ice, but waive a flag at using a credit card without a minimum $5 purchase.
(3)
Nick J.
This little spot, located in East Fort Lauderdale..brings me back a few years back, to growing up in Brooklyn, going to the pizza spot in the summer to get an icee!! There is absolutely nothing better in the summer than a rainbow Italian ice...this place was awesome!
(5)
M R.
I really appreciate this place - Italian Ices through a drive thru, cmon. There is a good selection - some of my favorites Watermelon, Vanilla Chip, Blueberry, Pistachio. The Coffee drinks here are good too.
(5)
Ray T.
We found this place half way through our vacation and my kids liked it so well (so did the wife and I) that we drove 20 minutes every day for the rest of our vacation to get them. Delicious treat with real fruit chunks. I'm now searching Phoenix Arizona to find something like this as we love it so much. Can't wait to get back during our next visit to South Florida.
(5)
Sara M.
If there is one thing I consume more than coffee, it is oxygen. So, yeah.. coffee: I'm keen on it. A 2 to 3 cup a dayer. To be honest, I was driving down Commercial Blvd. with the intentions of stopping in at Dunkin's (literally right across the street ) for my usual ice caramel latte with skim milk and sugar. However, feeling a bit lethargic today, I felt I could use something a bit stronger, and the words "cappuccino" and "espresso" which are proudly displayed across the rooftop of this establishment were calling my name. Richie's Gourmet Italian Ices & Cappuccino is more or less a stand/ drive through. Not a walk in or sit down place, so keep that in mind. After I parked in 1 of the 2 available parking spaces, I made my up to the order window. I perused the menu of italian ices and soft serve ice cream, which all sounded very much appealing to me, but I was there for one thing and one thing only. Caffeine. Being that it was a lovely 80 degree south florida winter day, the iced cappuccino was my top pick. The lady working said she could blend it with regular or chocolate ice. Umm do you even have to ask? Chocolate ice.. F**k yeah! I also told her to add in a shot of vanilla flavor since she advised me that the cappuccino was strong even when blended with the chocolate ice. There was a variety of flavored cappuccinos to pick from: vanilla, white chocolate, caramel, raspberry, mocha, etc. etc. Always nice to have options. The final product was smooth, cold and delicious. I could feel the caffeine making its way through my nervous system as I sipped. Win. for a 16oz cup, my total was 3.80$ A tad more pricey than say a DD, but it was a blended drink and thus no ice in the cup taking up space. I would and plan on going back.
(5)
Eliza G.
Been going here for years and years, the best Italian ices and all home made and super new flavors every day. .. Hidden gem and a definite must visit! Love love love!
(5)
Sarah J.
With flavors like fresh blueberry, coconut, rootbeer and watermelon there is something for everyone! The Italian ices aren't overly sweet but perfectly refreshing. Each made with fresh ingredients and real sugar. I had small chunks of watermelon in my ice. The prices are reasonable and using the yelp check-in coupon will save 15%.
(4)
Tiffany G.
Wow! This place is great! The quality of everything here is top notch and impressive! The Italian ice is not like the cheap tasting, sticky italian ice I've had elsewhere; here, the flavors taste natural and the ice is soft and perfect! The watermelon italian ice is my favorite!! Also, LOVE that this is drive-thru!
(5)
Katherine B.
My NEW favorite place! I couldn't count how many times my husband and I have passed by this place. But now thinking about I feel so disappointed I didn't stop here EARLIER!! The Italian Ice is beyond words; soft smooth ice, delicious flavor, and real fruit. What more could you ask for. This is the kind of place you will go back; just so you can try something new or a NEW usual. The price is inexpensive and the service from the "Ice Man" himself makes you want to keep coming back. HE even added a bit of Soft Serve to our Ice's so we can get a small taste to another menu item the Gelati. Which was awesome. My only regret is that I didn't get a large. GO and TRY IT OUT you will LOVE it too. My husband and I are DEFINITELY going back for more... .... Tried it again on another date. This time a different flavor. This place might be a seasonal thing. Because the strawberry one I had was a bit bitter.
(4)
Jasie F.
Wow! Richie's Italian Ice where have you been all my life? I've never tried italian ice before and this stuff is delicious! I got coffee mixed with vanilla chip and I was in heaven. The husband got strawberry, also delicious, and my mom in law got cotton candy and omg it tastes exactly like cotton candy. Crazy stuff. The service was also amazing. The lady who served us was very sweet and let us try all the flavors we wanted to help us decide what to get. She even gave us a small cup of sugar free ice cream for my little one for $1 rather than the normal price of $2.50. Do not pass by this place! Its a small hut that doesnt look like much but seriously guys, this place is a big deal.
(5)
Jonathan A.
When it comes to Italian ice, I'm a purist. Lemon was awesome and refreshing. I also had rainbow and it didn't leave me with that fresh clean flavor of pure lemon. I'll be back!
(4)
Ken P.
I was showing my family Pompano Beach while they were in town and decided to venture over to Richie's Gourmet Italian Ice. Being an Italian ice lover I was looking forward to my experience. We had a pretty long wait when we got there because there is only one person working inside. The business is setup as a single lane drive thru. Once you get in line there is no backing out as cars will be in front of and behind you. We tried coconut, tropical, pineapple, and strawberry Italian ices. Overall the quality was average and the flavoring was neither great nor bad. I can see why a lot of people like this place. The service was good and you can relax in the comfort of your car as your dessert or beverage is made. I hope to come back and try an iced latte next time I pass by.
(3)
MickeyBlue I.
Meh! Nothing special about this place. I've had better.
(2)
Shawn M.
I assume by the lack of reviews most people in Ft. Lauderdale have a cavalier attitude about tasty treats and have yet to partake in the delicious wonderment that is Ralphs Gourmet Italian Ice'y. For all those nay sayers and people who drive past it's humble door and checkers/rally's like drive through...let me enlighten you. The one true God of desserts freezes the purest water using a heretofore unused incantation and "absolute zero" like temperature. He then proceeds to magic them down from dessert heaven to Richie's downtrodden building where the all mighty flavor of them all CHOCOLATE (and a close second vanilla and choc chip) waits for your purchase. You pull up to the window. Order a small chocolate ice'y. The ex-new yorker hands you perfection in a cheap plastic cup with a spoon you haven't seen since elementary school. Before you can pull back on Commercial Blvd.... BAM! You go on to ingest this perfection in the vain hope that your obscenely overmatched taste buds can somehow grasp the delectable intricacies they are suddenly faced with. Is that ice? No doubt it is! But wait, did they? ... oh yes he did. It's as though the chocolate mixed by Oompa Loompas and a steam boat at Wonka's Factory. And then, future patrons, as your tongue and taste buds try to process the cacophony of taste IT HITS YOU...it melts in your mouth. It's a chemical phase transition!!!!! HOLY ROLLER COASTERS! (Batman) youtube.com/watch?v=85LU… A SOLID TURNS INTO A LIQUID. Just like that. It's a sea of rich watery grandiosity the likes of which your palate has yearned for years. To put it bluntly. I friggin love this place. You will too. Check it out. Thank you Rony M.; my inspiration for this review.
(5)
Jake B.
There's two things going on here, Italian ice and cappuccino. I wish that I could rate both separately. The cappuccino is 2 stars, at best. BUT the ice is awesome! Totally old school, basic, old fashioned - served in a Dixie cup, delicious. I had the rainbow, and loved every bite. So two star Capp and 4.5 star ice = 3 star total. I'd come back for the ice, but that's it.
(3)
Ginette J.
I absolutely love this place. Their italian ice's are heaven on a hot day. I've been going to Richie's for years and have never been disappointed. They also do big orders. I recently ordered enough Italian ice's for my sons whole 2nd grade class and the office staff. Everyone loved it....and I racked up some cool mom points. LOL!
(5)
Cherine A.
Wow, does this place bring back memories! I used to come here all the time in high school, and nothing's really changed. This is the italian ice by which all other italian ices are measured. I've had a few different flavors, but I always come back to my very unusual combination of vanilla chip (vanilla flavored ice with chocolate chips in it) on the bottom and creamsicle on top. They are my two favorite flavors, and even though they totally don't go together, I don't care. It's very easy to drive by this place, like Vanessa P. said. It's on the south side of Commercial, just west of Dixie, right next door to Albertson's. In fact, my friends and I usually park at Albertson's and walk across, since it's easier than parking at the hut itself.
(5)
Jo C.
Great place. I never get disappointed.
(5)
Irma A.
Out of all the years that my family has enjoyed going to this place, either there has been a change in personnel or they are becomming sloppy. I found a human nail in my ice. Very upsetting.... The person who gave me my order was a woman so maybe it came from her. I don't know.. Very disgusted
(2)
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Address :898 E Commercial Blvd
Oakland Park, FL, 33334
Thomas F.
Pineapple basil mixed with watermelon ice was a recommendation from the very pleasant attendant- what a delight! It was delicious. Highly recommended.
(5)Kenny R.
Had the peanut butter ice. It tasted like they must be using cheap ingredients. Overall it's good, but could be so much better. Your product will only be as good as the ingredients you choose to start with.
(3)Amy E.
This place is awesome! Delicious ices! You can drive thru or walk up for your order.
(5)Bev S.
Good service . Good flavors. I would definitely be coming back and telling others as well.
(5)Laura L.
Love it here! Reminds me of when im in Philly during the summers. The watermelon and cotton candy are my fav. I don't like the gelato and this is why I took off a star. The lady that served us is so nice and sweet.
(4)Cassandra B.
First experience and it's a good one! Can't believe I didn't know about this place. Perfect for Florida weather. I WILL definition be back
(5)Adrianna U.
Great place. I love Italian ice, and i made a great decision coming here. Let's first point out how convenient this place is. You don't even have to leave the car to get your fave ice. Only tried cherry and pineapple so far... GREAT FLAVORS. I liked pineapple a little better. I The only thing is I don't like the pieces of fruit in my Italian ice, but i respect that people enjoy that, so i will suck it up :)
(5)Drew B.
This place has the best ices in south Florida. I stop here every time I'm coming north or south on 95 - it's a must!!!
(5)Dennis B.
A landmark establishment. I don't know how long they have been here but it has to be at least 28 years as they were here as long as I am a resident of Broward county. Their Italian ices are served in plastic cups similar to those used to drink water rather than the typical squeeze cups that are synonymous with Italian ices. On this occasion, I ordered the chocolate ices. It was a dark chocolate. it was cold, icy and had a deep chocolate taste. It was delicious as always. All their flavors are just great. They have about twenty. They also serve soft ice cream. I have never tried the ice cream. I am sure it is as good as the ices. I usually just get the ices. It is just refreshing on a hot summer day or any day. They also serve cold drinks, cappuccino, soft pretzels, and muffins. I would definitely recommend this place. Note: this is strictly take out. There is no indoors here. Just drive up or walk up and order. One of the oldest and best places for icy cold refreshments.
(5)Theresa '.
Wow! Found this gem as I was driving in the neighborhood! My goodness, it was great! The staff member was friendly and offered for me to sample different Flavors. Lemon was so good! Reminds me of the ices up in NY/NJ. Tried the pineapple as well- very good. I will be back!
(5)Lory M.
Unbelievable flavor a. We are still trying to figure out how they make the ice texture to be so GOOD! they are refreshing, tasty and full of goodness!! If you are in this area you MUST stop here and at least try it. For a hot sunny day I recommend the Citrus Delight. A perfect mix of lemon, lime and tangerine: JUST AMAZING. Staff is always knowledgable and friendly.
(5)Diana E.
My favorite gelato place is in Orlando so I thought I would give this little place a try. It was definitely good stuff but not wow factor. The ice cream was very good but the gelato was too icy for me I prefer my gelato to be a little bit more of the creamy side than icy.
(3)Down Like Four Flats S.
Excellent service the owner was very friendly I was very surprised. I had the watermelon in Coconut Italian ice excellent excellent excellent. I would definitely recommend this small business for anyone looking for something to cool them down on a hot summer day.
(5)Gina L.
Love this place! Make a special trip for it every few weeks and I'm never disappointed!
(5)April H.
Great little gem! I come here to get a cappuccino and a muffin! So delicious! The staff is very friendly!
(5)Sergio F.
Their eye catching nonna mural caught my eye, my need for caffeine brought me in, and their pleasant customer service might have me driving to Broward for a sugar fix. Even though it's a small kiosk - maybe an old Fotomat ? - with no inside seating it will get 5 stars from me. For one, their latte kept me awake during my 40 minute commute down 95 South after a hearty meal. Going ahead a little bit, since I was too full to eat it, the sweet cinnamon pretzel was pure cinnamon and not overly sweet (I'm enjoying it now at home). More importantly, the cashier was pleasant, joking about the cold weather, and served my food with a smile. I know I'll be stopping by again!
(5)Kelsi C.
I'm back for round 2 and I stand firm in my previous review.. This place is great! Didn't see the owner this time but the employee who was present still gave me the same awesome service I expect from a nice establishment like this!
(5)Dominika S.
For the past few days I have been addicted to getting these ices!! They are so flavorful and I have yet to try a flavor I did not like! Today I had the mango which was one of the flavors of the day and when I tell you it was like eating the most juicy and sweet mango I've ever had, plus I love how they put real fruit chunks in it! If you are looking for a tasty cool treat I highly recommend this place! I will defiantly stop by tomorrow and try the blueberry which I am very excited for!
(5)Ana B.
Like A. Nonymou S. said, this is the best Italian ice ever! I know it's hard to believe how Italian Ice be this good, because it's pretty hard to get wrong. They are all pretty much the same. But I'm telling you, Richie's is not. It is the best. I find myself craving it at least once a week. Quality makes a huge difference. They have real pieces of fruit in them and the flavor taste natural, like how it is supposed to taste not the usual artificial flavor taste. Strawberry and honeydew are my favorites, but all the other flavors are good too. I'm a little embarrassed to say I finished a QUART of this stuff all by myself. My boyfriend usually gets the Gelati, Italian Ice with soft-serve ice cream. I don't particularly like the soft-serve ice cream that they use (kinda taste like a softer version of D'lites), so I usually skip this. But my boyfriend likes it. I also heard the coffee is really good, but I haven't tried it yet. Do yourself a favor and try them, you won't want any other once you do.
(5)Julie T.
Oh my goodness, the Gelati's are amazing. I blend Coconut Italian Ice and Frozen Yogurt and it is to die for. With all these hot South Florida days coming up, this is a great break from the heat. It's so refreshing and I bet it'd be even better with a spike of some rum (which I haven't tried yet ;] And now I think I should). Jonathan has come here a few times for coffee as well, and it satisfies him enough, but I think he needs to try something more decadent.
(5)Jboo B.
Went to Richie's for the first time ever last night. I had heard such great things about this Ft.Lauderdale landmark and was dying to try it. We got there at 9:57 pm and ordered two cappuccinos and the kid responded in a really rude and annoyed tone... "Sorry, the machine has already been cleaned because we close at 10pm". Kinda bummed, we figured, well you are closed yet so why is it already cleaned, but whatever, we came here for the Italian ice, not coffee so no big deal! We responded by saying "ok no worries, sorry!! We didn't know you guys close, at 10 we'll just take two Italian ices". We ordered our ices, and then the kid who seemed to have an attitude since the very start, handed us the ices and told us "Next time try to get here earlier before 10 since we close". I actually started laughing with my husband because I couldn't help but think, "Did we just get reprimanded by some kid for getting to the place too late??" lol We didn't know! Jeeze. And after that, AGAIN, we said sorry as we weren't aware of the closing time otherwise, we would have never come. The kid was totally rude and sarcastic to us even after that continuing to make comments... Ridiculous... I don't need that kind of service... If you're closed or don't want to serve people 2-3 minutes before you close because you hate your job and want to get home, then either don't work there, or just tell us you're closed! Spare me the rudeness and sarcasm! It's a shame because I have to say, the ices are PHENOMENAL! Not sure if the owner is aware of who they have representing them when they're not around... It's really crappy customer service... And for that reason only, I am giving 3 stars and not 5...
(3)Jonathan M.
This place is SO GOOD. I love their Gelatis! I always order the vanilla and coconut one. It's just so good. Their service is always really friendly and I love how I can pull up to their window with my big doberman sticking out of my window and the guy will just hand him a dog treat. So, my wife and I like coming here and now my dog likes coming here. I live really close by so it's our goto spot if we're craving a cold dessert. It's located right on commercial and it's a tiny little building (that you can't really miss, though) and they have a drive through along with a walk up window. There's not much seating at the place so I wouldn't bring a bunch of people here. They also have a 10% off coupon if you check in with yelp. It's not much since the orders are small but hey it helps! Oh, and they have great coffee as well!
(5)Lissie O.
We got lemon, coconut, rainbow and chocolate chip flavors. They were soooo good!! We will be back. It made us reminisce of our NY summers.
(5)Greg O.
I love the drive thru. haha This place is really a wonderful gem. The quality of the ingredients are really quite impressive and tasty. The Italian ice is not like the overly sweet and sticky italian ice I've had elsewhere.The ice is soft and not sticky at all. The lemon italian ice is my favorite so far.
(5)Paige I.
Delish! From a Philly girl, that's a huge compliment. Wish they had more flavored though. Really cute place too.
(4)Michelle B.
i just came back from dinner and ice cream with mamadukes... we stopped here because it was right across the street from the dinner spot. first impression was that it was tiny and cute, but there are literally two spots to park and we rode separately, so because one spot was already taken upon arrival for the one person working, we had to make a spot in the grass. i had the vanilla chip with chocolate ice cream on top, mom passed altogether. the vanilla chip tasted really artificial and hardly had chocolate chips in it. the chocolate ice cream had a splenda-y taste to it, which i am not a fan of. i am by no means a picky eater, but i noticed and mentioned these things to my mom while we were sitting outside (two benches, one on either side of the window). i ate most of it before deciding to toss it. let's just say i could hardly wait to get home, and it wasn't because i was looking forward to anything besides the bathroom. mom made it unscathed - we shared our entire dinner, so we know it wasn't the restaurant. i was hoping my first visit would be one of many, as i am new to the area and love to try local eats. this place was a disappointment. i will not be returning.
(1)Tay B.
Ive lived here now in the area for about 3 years and I've gone here at least twice a week ever since. The staff is always friendly, the coffee is amazing never a miss , the lines are worth it. Need I mention the Italian ices are some of the best I've ever had all the flavors are delicious. Personally I get the mixed with lime and a blueberry it is so refreshing on a hot day.
(5)Caryn B.
I have been going here for soooo long, from kid to adult. Richie is the best and knows his stuff. The Italian Ice is perfect texture and not too sweet, not too sour. My favorite is vanilla chip with strawberry hand swirled! (Yes, if you ask nicely you do not need to have 2 flavors on top and bottom.) They usually have 3 special flavors and my fav is the cantaloupe. Thanks for refreshing us all these years, especially during Florida spring/summer hot days.
(5)Jennifer S.
Richie's has been off of commercial since I was a kid and anytime I am in the area I have to stop and get one of their amazing Italian ices!! Recently I was with some Yelp friends and we were heading to the Funky Buddha, then we drove past Richie's so we decided we had to stop on the way home. They always have several flavors to choose from and a couple special flavors for the day. I love the watermelon, lemon, vanilla and cherry (but really I love them all lol). They have a rainy day special discount as well as a yelp check in discount but the prices are a steal even without a discount. We each had a small which was under $2 and we were very satisfied (lets just say it got really quiet in the car after we got our treats LOL!!). Its a must stop!
(4)Luis P.
I love this place. Small little place with only two parking spaces and a small drive thru. Flavors are out of this world and taste amazing. I'm love Italian ices and I don't know of a better place then this one. It's great for little get together a or when you're just craving some good ice. Not a big fan of the gelato, tastes bit powdery, but I've only had it once because I only care for the Italian ice. I love that they use real fruit and when your eating the ice you can real cherries or real pieces of lemon. My favorite flavor is the lemon, cherry or orange. Pretty much any flavor is good and fresh. Highly recommend this place to anyone who is in the area, it's simply the best! Just wish they didn't have a minimum on cards :/
(5)Peter N.
This place is awesome! The man that works/own this place is super nice and helpful. He lets you try flavors and mixture of flavors to decide on what you like. This place is more of a drive-thru place than anything. We tried the pistachio mixed in with custard, boy oh boy was this awesome!
(4)Iza B.
I didn't have the Italian ice but the ice cream was just awful. I can honestly admit that I've never thrown ice cream out but I couldn't eat this. It tasted like watered down frozen instant vanilla pudding. It was expensive too two small cones were over $5. Very disappointed :( I don't know how the yelp community has rated this place at 4.5 stars.
(1)Brian Z.
Best. Ices. Anywhere. This long lived and long loved local gem is a Must-Visit! The excellent quality of their espresso and cappuccino rivals any high end coffee shops, and the prices won't hurt your pocketbook. I drive by at least twice a week for a double espresso macchiato - to die for! And if you like Italian ices (which, of course, is what they're known for) my favorite is the Rainbow, made with real fresh fruit and juices. But the most amazing flavor there, another must-try, is the Cotton Candy flavored ice, which actually tastes like you're eating cotton candy!! For the regulars, they have a stamp card for buy-ten-get-one-free. Even if it's your first visit, I guarantee it won't be your last, so pick one up while you're there. As you can tell, I can't say enough good things about this place. In fact, I think I'll stop by there tomorrow :-)
(5)Melissa K.
Awesome Italian ices, and coffees as well as gelatis! The people are so wonderful and friendly and the best part is that it is a drive through! This place is always a "must stop" on my way home from the beach, or any other time for that matter....I have even made special trips with the kids from the west side of town on a hot summer day! My favorites are the watermelon, coconut and pineapple....but having been here so many times with various people- its all good!
(5)L M.
I absolutely love the gourmet ices!!! I've been coming here for 20 years and I've never received bad service or was dissatisfied with my order. They have all kinds of flavors, my favorite being very berry! If you're in the area it's a must try. I come at least once a week! Enjoy!
(5)Anonymous ..
The absolute best Italian ices you'll ever eat. Totally worth the drive. Amazing flavor. Amazing texture. And quite a selection. Lemmon, cherry, chocolate, vanilla chip, tangerine, strawberry, cotton candy, blueberry, pineapple, coconut, watermelon, lime, rainbow, citrus delight and flavors of the day. My favorite is watermelon and cotton candy. Yum. Richie's is a drive drive-thru.
(5)Briena C.
Only two benches to sit bit very nice Italian ice. Easy to eat fresh lemon flavor with bits of peel make it tangy! Nice
(5)Vanessa P.
Driving on Commercial Blvd it's almost effortless to miss this tiny Italian ice shoppe, but it's well worth a quick stop. There are 2-3 parking spots or you can take your cool treat to go using their drive through window. Or you can take a load off and relax under one of the benches that line the outside of the tiny building. Either way, your taste-buds will surely thank you. As far as the menu goes there are tons of different flavors and they will happily mix any flavors you want together. But since I've been here I can say my favorites are the citrus delight (orange, lemon, and lime) and the rainbow (cherry, lemon, and blueberry). Plus, they use real fruit in their deliciously cool concoctions. There are other items on the menu including pretzels and gelato. With the temperatures quickly rising this place is a must if you're in the area.
(5)Sierra C.
I ordered their Strawberry Gelati; a layered mix of Italian Ice and Soft serve. The soft serve had a pungent flavor; a sour and tartness that left an unpleasant after taste in my mouth. The Italian Ice on the other hand, was good. Smooth with chunks of fresh strawberries. The strawberry flavor was well balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. I gave them 3 stars since I wasn't fond of their soft serve, but did delight in their freshly made Italian ice. Overall I would recommend their Italian ice, but waive a flag at using a credit card without a minimum $5 purchase.
(3)Nick J.
This little spot, located in East Fort Lauderdale..brings me back a few years back, to growing up in Brooklyn, going to the pizza spot in the summer to get an icee!! There is absolutely nothing better in the summer than a rainbow Italian ice...this place was awesome!
(5)M R.
I really appreciate this place - Italian Ices through a drive thru, cmon. There is a good selection - some of my favorites Watermelon, Vanilla Chip, Blueberry, Pistachio. The Coffee drinks here are good too.
(5)Ray T.
We found this place half way through our vacation and my kids liked it so well (so did the wife and I) that we drove 20 minutes every day for the rest of our vacation to get them. Delicious treat with real fruit chunks. I'm now searching Phoenix Arizona to find something like this as we love it so much. Can't wait to get back during our next visit to South Florida.
(5)Sara M.
If there is one thing I consume more than coffee, it is oxygen. So, yeah.. coffee: I'm keen on it. A 2 to 3 cup a dayer. To be honest, I was driving down Commercial Blvd. with the intentions of stopping in at Dunkin's (literally right across the street ) for my usual ice caramel latte with skim milk and sugar. However, feeling a bit lethargic today, I felt I could use something a bit stronger, and the words "cappuccino" and "espresso" which are proudly displayed across the rooftop of this establishment were calling my name. Richie's Gourmet Italian Ices & Cappuccino is more or less a stand/ drive through. Not a walk in or sit down place, so keep that in mind. After I parked in 1 of the 2 available parking spaces, I made my up to the order window. I perused the menu of italian ices and soft serve ice cream, which all sounded very much appealing to me, but I was there for one thing and one thing only. Caffeine. Being that it was a lovely 80 degree south florida winter day, the iced cappuccino was my top pick. The lady working said she could blend it with regular or chocolate ice. Umm do you even have to ask? Chocolate ice.. F**k yeah! I also told her to add in a shot of vanilla flavor since she advised me that the cappuccino was strong even when blended with the chocolate ice. There was a variety of flavored cappuccinos to pick from: vanilla, white chocolate, caramel, raspberry, mocha, etc. etc. Always nice to have options. The final product was smooth, cold and delicious. I could feel the caffeine making its way through my nervous system as I sipped. Win. for a 16oz cup, my total was 3.80$ A tad more pricey than say a DD, but it was a blended drink and thus no ice in the cup taking up space. I would and plan on going back.
(5)Eliza G.
Been going here for years and years, the best Italian ices and all home made and super new flavors every day. .. Hidden gem and a definite must visit! Love love love!
(5)Sarah J.
With flavors like fresh blueberry, coconut, rootbeer and watermelon there is something for everyone! The Italian ices aren't overly sweet but perfectly refreshing. Each made with fresh ingredients and real sugar. I had small chunks of watermelon in my ice. The prices are reasonable and using the yelp check-in coupon will save 15%.
(4)Tiffany G.
Wow! This place is great! The quality of everything here is top notch and impressive! The Italian ice is not like the cheap tasting, sticky italian ice I've had elsewhere; here, the flavors taste natural and the ice is soft and perfect! The watermelon italian ice is my favorite!! Also, LOVE that this is drive-thru!
(5)Katherine B.
My NEW favorite place! I couldn't count how many times my husband and I have passed by this place. But now thinking about I feel so disappointed I didn't stop here EARLIER!! The Italian Ice is beyond words; soft smooth ice, delicious flavor, and real fruit. What more could you ask for. This is the kind of place you will go back; just so you can try something new or a NEW usual. The price is inexpensive and the service from the "Ice Man" himself makes you want to keep coming back. HE even added a bit of Soft Serve to our Ice's so we can get a small taste to another menu item the Gelati. Which was awesome. My only regret is that I didn't get a large. GO and TRY IT OUT you will LOVE it too. My husband and I are DEFINITELY going back for more... .... Tried it again on another date. This time a different flavor. This place might be a seasonal thing. Because the strawberry one I had was a bit bitter.
(4)Jasie F.
Wow! Richie's Italian Ice where have you been all my life? I've never tried italian ice before and this stuff is delicious! I got coffee mixed with vanilla chip and I was in heaven. The husband got strawberry, also delicious, and my mom in law got cotton candy and omg it tastes exactly like cotton candy. Crazy stuff. The service was also amazing. The lady who served us was very sweet and let us try all the flavors we wanted to help us decide what to get. She even gave us a small cup of sugar free ice cream for my little one for $1 rather than the normal price of $2.50. Do not pass by this place! Its a small hut that doesnt look like much but seriously guys, this place is a big deal.
(5)Jonathan A.
When it comes to Italian ice, I'm a purist. Lemon was awesome and refreshing. I also had rainbow and it didn't leave me with that fresh clean flavor of pure lemon. I'll be back!
(4)Ken P.
I was showing my family Pompano Beach while they were in town and decided to venture over to Richie's Gourmet Italian Ice. Being an Italian ice lover I was looking forward to my experience. We had a pretty long wait when we got there because there is only one person working inside. The business is setup as a single lane drive thru. Once you get in line there is no backing out as cars will be in front of and behind you. We tried coconut, tropical, pineapple, and strawberry Italian ices. Overall the quality was average and the flavoring was neither great nor bad. I can see why a lot of people like this place. The service was good and you can relax in the comfort of your car as your dessert or beverage is made. I hope to come back and try an iced latte next time I pass by.
(3)MickeyBlue I.
Meh! Nothing special about this place. I've had better.
(2)Shawn M.
I assume by the lack of reviews most people in Ft. Lauderdale have a cavalier attitude about tasty treats and have yet to partake in the delicious wonderment that is Ralphs Gourmet Italian Ice'y. For all those nay sayers and people who drive past it's humble door and checkers/rally's like drive through...let me enlighten you. The one true God of desserts freezes the purest water using a heretofore unused incantation and "absolute zero" like temperature. He then proceeds to magic them down from dessert heaven to Richie's downtrodden building where the all mighty flavor of them all CHOCOLATE (and a close second vanilla and choc chip) waits for your purchase. You pull up to the window. Order a small chocolate ice'y. The ex-new yorker hands you perfection in a cheap plastic cup with a spoon you haven't seen since elementary school. Before you can pull back on Commercial Blvd.... BAM! You go on to ingest this perfection in the vain hope that your obscenely overmatched taste buds can somehow grasp the delectable intricacies they are suddenly faced with. Is that ice? No doubt it is! But wait, did they? ... oh yes he did. It's as though the chocolate mixed by Oompa Loompas and a steam boat at Wonka's Factory. And then, future patrons, as your tongue and taste buds try to process the cacophony of taste IT HITS YOU...it melts in your mouth. It's a chemical phase transition!!!!! HOLY ROLLER COASTERS! (Batman) youtube.com/watch?v=85LU… A SOLID TURNS INTO A LIQUID. Just like that. It's a sea of rich watery grandiosity the likes of which your palate has yearned for years. To put it bluntly. I friggin love this place. You will too. Check it out. Thank you Rony M.; my inspiration for this review.
(5)Jake B.
There's two things going on here, Italian ice and cappuccino. I wish that I could rate both separately. The cappuccino is 2 stars, at best. BUT the ice is awesome! Totally old school, basic, old fashioned - served in a Dixie cup, delicious. I had the rainbow, and loved every bite. So two star Capp and 4.5 star ice = 3 star total. I'd come back for the ice, but that's it.
(3)Ginette J.
I absolutely love this place. Their italian ice's are heaven on a hot day. I've been going to Richie's for years and have never been disappointed. They also do big orders. I recently ordered enough Italian ice's for my sons whole 2nd grade class and the office staff. Everyone loved it....and I racked up some cool mom points. LOL!
(5)Cherine A.
Wow, does this place bring back memories! I used to come here all the time in high school, and nothing's really changed. This is the italian ice by which all other italian ices are measured. I've had a few different flavors, but I always come back to my very unusual combination of vanilla chip (vanilla flavored ice with chocolate chips in it) on the bottom and creamsicle on top. They are my two favorite flavors, and even though they totally don't go together, I don't care. It's very easy to drive by this place, like Vanessa P. said. It's on the south side of Commercial, just west of Dixie, right next door to Albertson's. In fact, my friends and I usually park at Albertson's and walk across, since it's easier than parking at the hut itself.
(5)Jo C.
Great place. I never get disappointed.
(5)Irma A.
Out of all the years that my family has enjoyed going to this place, either there has been a change in personnel or they are becomming sloppy. I found a human nail in my ice. Very upsetting.... The person who gave me my order was a woman so maybe it came from her. I don't know.. Very disgusted
(2)