At Rita’s in Parrish, dessert doesn’t have to pick a side

Save a little room

Dinner decisions are hard enough. Dessert should at least offer a happy ending.

Rita’s at Creekside Commons gives Parrish another option for that last stop of the evening, with Italian ice, frozen custard and several ways to put the two together. The official Parrish page now lists daily hours from noon to 10 p.m. That leaves a useful window after dinner, without turning dessert into a separate expedition.

My starting point would be the Gelati. It layers Italian ice with frozen custard, which seems like a sensible response to a household divided between “something fruity” and “something creamy.” Nobody has to win that argument. Both go in the cup.[1][2]

A little help with the menu

If you’re new to Rita’s, the names can take a minute. Italian ice is the starting point, with flavors ranging across the chain’s menu from lemon and mango to Swedish Fish. Frozen custard is the creamy alternative. A Gelati keeps the ice and custard in layers, so it is different from simply ordering a cup of one or the other.

The Blendini takes those same two ingredients and blends them with toppings. A Concrete goes in another direction: thick frozen custard loaded with toppings, without Italian ice in the chain’s description. Those are useful distinctions when everyone in the car says they want “the same thing” and then orders five different things.

I’d lean toward a fruit-flavored ice and custard combination for the first order, if that day’s selection allows it. Someone who wants their dessert built around toppings may be happier starting with the Concrete. And there is nothing wrong with keeping it simple and ordering the ice on its own.

One thing I would not do is fall in love with a flavor from the national website before seeing the local selection. Rita’s lists a much larger flavor library than any single day’s lineup. The Parrish page directs customers to call for that day’s flavors; it does not publish a live list.[2][1]

Where to find it

For a low-key date, I like the idea of leaving dessert open and making this the final stop. It also gives families room for individual orders instead of negotiating one dessert for the table. No elaborate evening required.

The shop is at 8980 US-301 N., Unit 126, in Creekside Commons, Parrish. Its posted hours are noon–10 p.m. every day, and the phone number is 941-729-8400. The location page also offers a delivery link and lists pick-up, delivery and full-service catering options.[1][2]