Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Introduce
Welcome to Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, a familiar name for delightful frozen treats, conveniently situated at 1124 Lancaster Ave #30 in Reading, Pennsylvania. For residents of Berks County and those passing through, Rita's offers a taste of refreshing Italian Ice and rich, creamy Frozen Custard. As a well-established chain with roots in Pennsylvania, Rita's is dedicated to providing its signature array of cool treats that have become a staple for many on warm days, or whenever a sweet craving strikes. This particular location aims to deliver the standard Rita's experience that many Pennsylvanians have come to know and love, offering a convenient stop for a quick, satisfying dessert.
At Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, the core mission is to spread "Ice, Custard, Happiness!" We strive to create a cool, smooth, and delightfully happy treat experience for our guests. Each shop, including this one in Reading, is typically individually owned and operated by someone from the local community, emphasizing a connection to the neighborhood. Our famous Italian Ice is made fresh daily at each location, ensuring a vibrant and refreshing taste. We take pride in serving our fresh, tasty treats to the community, making it an ideal place to build memories, celebrate special moments, or simply enjoy a pick-me-up. While the overall brand promises super-friendly guest service, individual experiences at specific locations can sometimes vary, as reflected in customer feedback. However, the commitment to fresh, quality ingredients and a wide variety of options remains central to the Rita's brand.
Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is conveniently located at 1124 Lancaster Ave #30, Reading, PA 19607, USA. This address places it along a key commercial thoroughfare in Reading, offering excellent visibility and easy access for residents throughout the city and its surrounding communities within Berks County. Lancaster Avenue is a well-traveled route, making our shop a straightforward destination for those commuting, running errands, or simply seeking a sweet treat. Its location within a unit suggests it's likely part of a small retail complex or strip mall, which often provides convenient parking for patrons.
The accessibility of this specific Rita's location is generally good for local Pennsylvanians. Whether you're coming from the heart of Reading, neighborhoods like Shillington or Kenhorst, or other nearby towns, reaching 1124 Lancaster Avenue is typically uncomplicated. The presence of ample parking in such commercial areas means that visitors can usually stop by without the added stress of searching for a spot. This ease of access makes it a practical choice for a quick, refreshing stop on a hot day, a planned family outing, or a spontaneous indulgence. We aim to be a convenient and inviting part of the Reading community, easily integrated into daily life for those seeking our signature frozen treats.
Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard offers a comprehensive menu of frozen delights, designed to cater to a wide range of preferences. Our key services and product categories include:
Italian Ice: Our signature product, made fresh daily with real fruit, available in a rotating selection of over 95 mouthwatering flavors, including various cream ices and sugar-free options like Cherry, Dragon Fruit, and Tangerine.
Frozen Custard: Award-winning, rich, and creamy Old-Fashioned Frozen Custard, typically offered in vanilla, chocolate, and a daily rotating flavor.
Gelati: A signature layered treat combining our famous Italian Ice with our creamy Frozen Custard, often available in 5-layer variations for an extra decadent experience.
Concretes & Blendini®: Frozen Custard blended with a variety of tasty toppings (Concretes) or combined with Italian Ice and toppings (Blendini®) for a thick, custom-blended treat. Popular options include Apple Pie Concrete and REESE'S Peanut Butter Mudslide Concrete.
Shakes: Creamy classic milkshakes made with our rich Frozen Custard, available in specialty flavors like REESE'S Peanut Butter Mudslide Milkshake and OREO® Cookies n' Cream Milkshake.
Drinks: Refreshing blended beverages such as Gelati Blenders (Italian Ice blended with custard mix), Ice Blenders (Italian Ice blended into a drink), Frozen Coffee (Cold Brew, Caramel, Mocha), and Frozen Lemonades.
Freezer Fillers: Options for enjoying Rita's at home, including Frozen Custard Pints and Custard Cookie Sandwiches (available in 6-packs).
Salty Snacks: We also offer pretzels, which are typically expected by many customers to complement their sweet treats, although availability can vary.
Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is known for several key features and highlights that generally define the brand experience, though specific customer experiences at this Lancaster Ave location in Reading have varied.
Extensive Flavor Rotation: A major highlight of Rita's is its commitment to offering a rotating selection of over 95 Italian Ice flavors, ensuring that there's always something new to try and appealing to a wide range of tastes. This variety keeps the experience fresh for repeat customers.
Signature Gelati: The unique combination of Italian Ice and Frozen Custard in a Gelati is a highly popular and distinguishing feature of Rita's, offering the "best of both worlds" in one treat.
Freshly Made Italian Ice: All Italian Ice is made fresh daily at each location, emphasizing quality and taste, a core promise of the Rita's brand.
Diverse Menu Options: Beyond Italian Ice and Frozen Custard, the extensive menu includes sundaes, concretes, milkshakes, and various blended drinks, catering to different preferences for frozen treats.
Online Ordering and Delivery: This location supports mobile orders and third-party delivery services, providing convenience for customers who prefer to order from home or on the go.
Challenges with Staffing and Preparedness: Customer feedback indicates instances where staffing levels or teamwork might be suboptimal, leading to longer wait times ("growing crowd," "clearly overwhelmed") and frustration. A specific review noted a team member "not step up while the others worked hard to keep things moving."
Product Availability Issues: A recurring concern was the lack of prepared pretzels, described as "a go-to item that many customers expect," suggesting that popular complementary items may not always be readily available.
Order Accuracy Concerns: One review highlighted an instance of an incorrect order (vanilla chocolate twist with chocolate sprinkles in a waffle cone received as "vanilla custard"), indicating potential issues with order fulfillment accuracy.
For direct inquiries or to confirm current hours and flavor availability, please contact Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard using the information below:
Address: 1124 Lancaster Ave #30, Reading, PA 19607, USA
Phone: (610) 796-2885
Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard on Lancaster Ave in Reading holds a place as a recognizable option for locals in Pennsylvania seeking frozen treats. Its suitability for residents stems from its brand recognition and the wide variety of products it offers, which are generally consistent across all Rita's locations. For many Pennsylvanians, Rita's is a familiar and often cherished go-to for Italian Ice and Frozen Custard, offering a taste of summer and a broad menu that caters to diverse preferences, from simple scoops to elaborate concretes and refreshing blended drinks. The availability of online ordering and delivery services also adds a layer of convenience that modern consumers appreciate, allowing them to enjoy their favorite treats without leaving home.
However, it is important for locals to understand that while the brand provides a consistent product line, individual experiences at this particular location, as with any service-based business, can vary. Recent customer feedback points to potential challenges with in-store customer service and product preparedness, such as the reported issues with staff teamwork during busy periods or the lack of readily available pretzels. For residents, this means that while the core products are often as expected from the Rita's brand, the overall in-store experience might fluctuate.
Despite these potential inconsistencies in service, the underlying appeal of Rita's extensive flavor options and unique Italian Ice and Frozen Custard combination means it remains a viable and popular choice for many. Locals who prioritize product variety and the classic Rita's taste will likely continue to find it a suitable spot for their frozen dessert needs. It represents a convenient and generally reliable option for a sweet escape within the Reading community, embodying a familiar taste of Pennsylvania's beloved treat landscape.
Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Details
From the business
- Small business
Service options
- In-store pickup
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Great dessert
Popular for
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Assistive hearing loop
Dining options
- Table service
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Trending
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Groups
Planning
- Quick visit
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
Parking
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Photos










Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Location
Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard
1124 Lancaster Ave #30, Reading, PA 19607, USA
Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Reviews
flavorsemployeespricesparkingfishvanilla custardmango gelatosizecherry
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1I don’t usually leave reviews for chain locations like Rita’s, as the experience tends to be pretty standard—but this visit stood out, and not in a good way.When I arrived, the store wasn’t busy— there was just two people in front of me who were waiting to give their order because the young man there was working alone on the previous order. The other young lady was on the phone not sure if it was work related. just three employees were working. The other young lady was handling mobile orders. However, after she completed those online orders, instead of jumping in to assist with the growing line, she walked back and forth and didn’t contribute to helping customers at all. Respectfully, she was the heavier-set of the two women on shift.Meanwhile, the other young woman and a young man were doing their best to manage the now growing crowd. They were clearly overwhelmed, and it was frustrating to watch one team member not step up while the others worked hard to keep things moving.What made the visit even more disappointing was that there were no pretzels prepared at all—a go-to item that many customers expect.In any customer service setting, teamwork matters. When one person checks out while others are stepping up, it affects the entire experience. This visit reflected that, and I hope it was just an off day.
July 07 · Divine StarrOrdered vanilla chocolate twist with chocolate sprinkles in a waffle cone but received a vanilla custard. Not sure how a mistake like this was made. Hopefully, we received our 2 pints correctly.
May 11 · Clare WannerIt was good the teens were more excited they like the ices the prices went up but I guess just like everything else It was a nice family treat
April 22 · Jamie HarrisThe vibrant colors and icy treats beckoned to me like a siren's call.Holy Gelati, Batman! What an icy adventure I had at Rita's Italian Ice. Nestled outside of Reading, in the heart of Shillington, this Rita's joint is the go-to spot for a frosty treat that hits the spot.The real cherry on top of this frozen fiesta was Allison herself. Not only was she a master at crafting the perfect ice concoction, but her friendly demeanor and infectious smile made the whole experience truly memorable. She even posed for a picture with me, adding an extra dash of superhero flair to my Rita's adventure. Thanks for being chill, Allison.Whether you're a local looking for a sweet escape or a crime fighter patrolling the hustling and bustling Lancaster Ave, Rita's Italian Ice is a must-visit destination. And if you're lucky, you might just get to chill out with the legendary BatmanJawn himself – action figure by day, ice cream aficionado by night. Thanks, Rita's, for a frosty-fantastic time!Be cool, eat a Rita's.
March 30 · Batman JawnPros-----The ice cream tastes good.Small size should be enough for all ages including kids.They have kid size also which is not mentioned on their menu and perfect size for kids only.They have tables to sit and enjoy the ice & frozen custard.Plenty of parking available back side of the store.They employees work at counter are so patient and clarified all our doubts regarding how each type would be and also they gave some sample of flavor for tasting, so we can taste and decide what we want which is so good.Cons-----They don't have any restroom on the spot.They don't accept Apple/Google Pay. They accept either cash/cards.
August 17 · Sreekanth Kancharla
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