06/02/2026
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Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard
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- Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard
Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is a popular chain of ice cream shops and parlors, with over 600 locations in 31 states across the US. The restaurant offers an extensive variety of frozen treats including Italian Ice, Freshly-made Frozen Custard, Sundaes, Milkshakes, and signature creations like Misto and Blendini. Rita's is known for its unique recipe for Italian Ice made with real fruit chunks to perfection. Founded in 1984 by former Philadelphia firefighter Bob Tumolo and his mother Elizabeth, today Rita's continues to be a locally owned small business spreading happiness everywhere it goes.
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Address
239 South Street
Philadelphia, PA
19147
To reach the South Street area of Philadelphia through public transportation, take the subway and get off at 2nd Street Station. Walk south on 2nd Street until you reach South Street. Alternatively, take a bus that goes to South Street.
For those driving, parking is available in nearby garages, but street parking can also be found with some effort. Take I-95 and exit at Washington Avenue. Follow Washington Avenue for several blocks until you reach a right turn onto 7th Street. Follow 7th Street for several blocks and turn left onto South Street.
The ice cream shop and ice cream parlor should be easily accessible by foot from these directions!
Opening Hours
| Monday | 12pm - 9pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm - 9pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm - 9pm |
| Thursday | 12pm - 9pm |
| Friday | 12pm - 9pm |
| Saturday | 12pm - 9pm |
| Sunday | 12pm - 9pm |
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What people say
Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, located on South Street in Philadelphia, has received mixed reviews from various sources. According to a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Rita's has been serving up frozen treats for over 30 years and is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. However, a review on Yelp from last month suggests that the quality of their ice cream has gone downhill.
A review from Philadelphia Magazine praises Rita's for their unique flavors and variety of options. The article notes that they offer both Italian ice and frozen custard, which is a rare combination. Another review on TripAdvisor from earlier this year also raves about the variety of flavors available at Rita's.
On the other hand, a recent review on Google Reviews complains about the long lines and slow service at Rita's. The reviewer states that they waited over 20 minutes for their order and were disappointed with the quality of their ice cream.
Customer comments published online echo these mixed reviews. One customer on Yelp says that they love Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard but have noticed a decline in quality over the past few years. Another customer on TripAdvisor recommends trying their "gelati" - a combination of Italian ice and frozen custard - but warns that it can be messy to eat.
Overall, it seems that opinions are divided when it comes to Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard. While some reviewers praise their unique flavors and variety of options, others complain about long lines and declining quality. It may be worth checking out for yourself to see where you fall on this spectrum.
No information available yet about how recent each review is as no specific dates were mentioned in any of the reviews or articles found online.