In order of preference
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Lemondrop, Colonie
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Plum Dandy, Saratoga
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16 Handles, Clifton Park
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TCBY, Latham
It’s difficult to drive more than a few miles around the Capital District without passing a frozen yogurt shop. Rather than resist temptation, the Family Chow decided to visit as many of them as we could to find the ultimate fro-yo experience … tough assignment!
Our first taste of the modern-day frozen yogurt shop was years ago in New York City at Pinkberry, one of the places that started the trend. We love their perfectly tangy yogurt, carefully edited, fresh toppings and bright modern decor. We were clearly not alone when we thought they ought to expand the franchise north. Although we can’t count Pinkberry among the local offerings, we are lucky to have at least a half dozen shops to choose from.
We narrowed down our choices to four: Plum Dandy in Saratoga, TCBY in Latham, 16 Handles in Clifton Park and Lemondrop in Colonie. Although we ended up with a favorite, it was a little like picking the cutest puppy from a litter. There were minor differences between shops, but really, what could be bad about an icy treat on a hot day? All four places are self-serve and charge by the ounce (Lemondrop and TCBY are 49 cents per ounce, 16 Handles is 52, and Plum Dandy is 55 cents). We found that with a generous amount of yogurt and reasonable (by parent definition) number of toppings, we usually rang up at close to $5 per serving.
In terms of yogurt, 16 Handles offered the most choices at, no surprise, 16. Lemondrop had 12 flavors; TCBY, 10; and Plum Dandy, 8. While Plum Dandy offered the fewest choices, the flavors rotate frequently and are updated on the company’s Facebook page. The standout yogurts for Mom were the white chocolate macadamia at 16 Handles, the Dulce de Leche at Lemondrop and the Ghiardhelli chocolate at Plum Dandy. Both Son and Daughter liked the consistency of the yogurt at Lemondrop along with the ability to twist two different flavors together. Of all the yogurts we tried, there was only one bad review from Son — the graham cracker yogurt at 16 Handles.
While the yogurt is yummy, the toppings are the real draw for these places. For Son and Daughter, the yogurt is really just a convenient place to rest a pile of candy and perhaps a few pieces of fruit. Each shop has dozens of toppings and several sauces including healthy options like fresh fruit, nuts and granola to less healthy ones like sugary cereal and gummy worms. Mom especially liked the topping arrangement at Plum Dandy and TCBY where the fruit came first theoretically leaving less room for candy down the line. Daughter is a big fan of the Mochi (a Japanese glutinous rice snack) at Lemondrop. Son liked Lemondrop’s varieties of Popping Boba (jelly-like balls of flavored liquid). Plum Dandy had some more unique toppings like carob chips, flax seed and acai raspberry sauce. TCBY helpfully angled their toppings for easier access and had a mango variety of mochi. Daughter also liked the rainbow cookie topping at 16 Handles.
Each shop has it’s own unique touches, perhaps to help it stand out from the competition. We found the space at Lemondrop to be the best since it was large and we didn’t have to pass through a cramped seating area to start the process. They also have a party room and full ingredient/nutrition info listed on screens above each yogurt machine. Plum Dandy has a prime location on Broadway in Saratoga, but that makes it difficult to find parking. They encourage lingering, however, and have several board games available to play while you eat. They also featured a menu of alternative treats like bubble tea, smoothies and floats. Much to the kids’ delight, you can buy toppings-only at 16 Handles. TCBY is most convenient with 4 locations in the Capital District and has a very friendly staff.
Overall, our local fro-yo showdown ended with Lemondrop on top, followed closely by Plum Dandy, 16 Handles and TCBY.
The Family Chow hails from the Capital District and will be contributing regular reviews of area restaurants based on service, food and family friendliness.
