Why: Frozen yogurt’s glory days were in the 1980s, but a new generation is discovering the delicious appeal of this tasty, nutritious treat — and those of us who fell in love with it then are savoring the comeback.
The Yo Licious frozen yogurt shop, which opened Aug. 12, serves the YoCream brand, manufactured in Portland. Its frozen yogurt contains high levels of beneficial live and active cultures. Yo Licious always offers at least one sorbet and one no-sugar-added frozen yogurt option.
Atmosphere: The ceiling is black with spotlights on a track; the floor is stained concrete. Seating consists of bar stools at a window counter and unsecured benches with tables down one side of the shop.
Ten yogurt flavors are individually dispensed using pull-down levers, and five swirled combinations can be chosen from side-by-side flavors. Toppings are spooned out at a topping bar.
Customers help themselves by dispensing yogurt in the flavors and amounts of their choice and piling on toppings. Portions are weighed at the counter and paid for by the ounce.
What I tried: My dining companion and I tried the Georgia Peach, New York Cheesecake, Blueberry and Hawaiian Pineapple.
Neither of us added toppings, though I would have added some granola if the topping bar had been more appealing. It was messy. Toppings had fallen into neighboring bins, were scattered on the surface between containers and had mixed together in most of the containers.
The consistency of the frozen yogurt is similar to soft-serve ice cream, only with more of an icy quality and not as sugary or rich. I found it to be much more refreshing than ice cream.
All the flavors were delicious, but we both decided that the New York Cheesecake was our favorite.
We agreed that our least favorite flavor of those we tried was the Blueberry. However, if you’re one to eat blueberries raw, this yogurt flavor, which is just barely sweet, might indeed be your favorite.
Other observations: Yo Licious cycles through more than 40 flavors of YoCream, including tart and no-sugar-added varieties. Toppings include candies, nuts, granola, cookies, syrups and fresh fruit.
Cost: Yogurt and toppings are 40 cents per ounce. If you choose to dispense your selections into a 12-ounce container, you can expect to spend between $2.50 and $5 for a serving size of yogurt that satisfies, depending on your appetite.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Telephone: 360-695-1997.
Where: 7710 N.E. Fifth Ave., Vancouver.
Health Score: Yo Licious has received a pre-opening inspection and is scheduled for a routine inspection sometime in the near future. For information, call Clark County Public Health at 360-397-8428.
