Rita's

There is a new little business that has opened up in Hermitage called Rita’s. It is at 4219 Lebanon Road, just east of Old Hickory Blvd. I had never heard of it before, but apparently it’s a franchise that first opened in Pennsylvania in 1984. This was the first one to open in Tennessee, but there’s another one opening in Mt. Juliet and several others coming soon around the state.

Their signature item is their "water ice," a slushy treat that comes in a variety of flavors, most of them fruity. They also have "cream ice," which is similar but with a creamier base. They serve shakes, frozen custard, gelatis, iced coffee and a number of other chilly confections.

Don and I got a coupon in the mail for 2 free ices, so we decided to check it out. He got the Alex’s lemonade flavor, and I got cookies and cream. We both thought they were really good. We’re anxious to go back and try some of their other goodies. I signed up for their birthday club/mailing list on their website and they sent me another buy-one-get-one-free coupon. If you’re a weight watcher, these ices are lower in calories than regular ice cream, and the water-based ones have no fat. Their nutrition info is on their website.

They have a drive through, a few tables inside and a few outside. I didn’t pay much attention to the prices since ours was free, but there was a steady stream of people coming in while we were there, so I’m guessing they’re reasonable.

If you live in an area where there’s one nearby, I’d say it’s worth checking out.