Coldstone Creamery

12800 Chenal Parkway Little Rock, AR 72211 (501) 225-7000

Decor: Coldstone is set up to look like a little coffee shop. They have the ice cream bar at the back and a few tables scattered around the front. There are two doors, one an entrance and the other an exit. To most people, the entrance is on the right and the exit is on the left. The problem is, you make your order on the left side of the bar and pay on the right. This ends up causing a traffic jam in the middle sometimes. Two of the walls are covered with menus describing the different desserts they make.

Cleanliness: There is never any clutter around, but they are very busy and don’t have time to wipe the tables. The trash is usually full, which is too bad because it is next to the tables.

Service: Get everything you want the first time. Once they hand you that cone and take your money, they are on to the next person and you cease to exist. This is bad because it is always packed and you pretty much have to cause a scene or get back in line if you forgot a spoon or something. On the plus side, you get to watch them pound the living bajinkeys out of your ice cream, which is the whole point of going to Coldstone, right?

Cost: Expensive for ice cream.

Taste: Mike thinks it’s good. He likes a lot of the flavor combinations, especially Germanchokolatekake. Ebony doesn’t like it that much. She likes Shake’s much better because it’s richer and less crowded.

Tips:

• Bring a drink. They don’t have a water fountain and drinks are expensive.
• They have non-fat and low calorie desserts available.

Planet Smoothie

102 A Markham Park Dr. Little Rock, AR (501) 227-6399

Decor: It’s a tiny little shop that’s not really meant for eating in. There are only two permanent tables inside and one that appears and disappears at times. The tables are barely large enough to hold two drinks, two napkins and four elbows. The place is really meant to serve people through the drive through window. The preparation bar where they make your order is on one side, and on the other is some nutrition supplements and a drink machine.

Cleanliness: The place is always spotless. It makes you wonder if anybody ever goes in there. The only dirty place in sight is the back stock room, which doesn’t have a door. Even that only seems just a little untidy because of cardboard box dust.

Service: Always friendly and fast. You are greeted on the way in and they wish you a nice day on the way out. It’s usually empty in there, so you get two or three people serving you. It can be fun sometimes when their friends come in and they forget you are there. You get all the juicy high school gossip.

Cost: Average for smoothies. The large is about $4, but it’s big enough to last you a long time. Their other items, like Pirate’s Booty or protein bars, are expensive. Your health is worth it if you can afford it.

Taste: It tastes good. Ebony loves to get the Leapin Lizard. Mike usually gets a Frozen Goat, but gets others from time to time.

Tips:

• Use the drive through. It seems to get served faster and the place is centered around it.
• A small smoothie can be a healthy dessert to offset the greasy KFC buffet you just ate next door.
• It’s great for diets. They have low-carb, low-calorie, and smoothies with vitamin boosters.