Review: Cups Frozen Yogurt

I feel like we’re on a bit of a frozen yogurt kick here in the O’Malley household, but I think it’s largely due to the new onslaught of new frozen yogurt establishments.  We always *did* like frozen yogurt, now we just have more places to go to make our own concoctions.

A few weeks ago, knee-deep in Birthday Week celebrations, my friend Beth and I made plans for a burger followed by a frozen yogurt dessert, knocking out two new establishments in one fell swoop.  The burger restaurant review will be saved for another day because, well, to be fair to the restaurant we’ve decided to give it another try before really bringing down the hammer.

The fro-yo place?  Today is the day.

Cups is very similar to Red Mango and Yogurtland.  Lots of flavors to choose from, serve yourself, load on toppings and dig in.  If I didn’t know better, I’d think they were actually owned by the peeps behind Yogurtland.  They both have a dispenser near the front door with strawberry-flavored water for the taking.  Weird that they both have the same EXACT thing.  I mean, it’s not like you see strawberry flavored water everywhere.  But I digress.

Cups charges .49/ounce, just like Red Mango, as compared to Yogurtland’s slightly cheaper per ounce price of .39/ounce.

Same weird shower stall partitions as Yogurtland.

All three places have a good variety of yogurt flavors and toppings.

The real difference?

The vibe.

The energy at Cups is completely different than the other two spots.  Every employee that worked there looks like they took a wrong turn while heading for MTV’s Jersey Shore auditions.  Short shorts, skimpy tanks tops and surgical enhancements need only apply.  The music was a loud, thumping techno club sound with the cashiers dancing and singing the words along with the beat.  There is a velvet rope outside to keep control of the crowd when the lines get out of hand.

A reviewer on Yelp said, “When I walked in, I was blasted with a wall of sound.  Please let me eat in peace.  To me, this place was definitely conceptualized and decorated with the North Jersey teenager in mind.  If you’re in high school, this place is definitely for you.”  Another one chimed in with “…the negatives: its sensory overload once you walk in…its really tight, hella loud, and full of snotty little tweens…”

And the marketing?  Suggestive and slick.  Taking the term “cups” and twisting it on its ear, the slogans on the bottom back of the girls’ spaghetti-strapped tank tops read:

“Don’t go topless.”

“Size matters, fill your cup.”

“The art of spooning.”

“It’s what’s in the cup that counts.”

I am all for being suggestive.  Just ask a few of my close friends.  But I also think there is a time and place for everything.  And here, in a frozen yogurt store, where I might be bringing my kids, I just found it slightly offensive. In fact, you can even buy your very own Cups bikini while you’re there.

That being said, if you’re in the area and in need of a refreshing, reasonably guilt-free and inexpensive sweet treat, stop in.  But for me, it’s an in and out type of place.  Get it to go.  Unless, of course, you want to get in touch with your inner 17-year-old slutty self.

August 15, 2011 – Bonus Photos

A friend introduced me to this drink tonight. Can be purchased at Aldi’s. Good stuff. We may or may not have drank the whole bottle in an hour. I had help. Swear.

The same friend and I held a swap tonight with a group. Like a garage sale. With your girlfriends. But no money changes hands. I got rid of a box of stuff I didn’t need. And come home with a few things that I did. These two had quite the night themselves, trying on all the heels and purses and jewelry. Too cute.