The Bottom Line
There's a lot to like about Menchie's, one of the many self-serve frozen yogurt franchises popping up around Atlanta. The cheerful decor, yummy yogurt, and creative toppings add up to a delightful - if pricey - frozen yogurt experience.
Pros
- Complete control - you try before you buy; you choose the yogurt and the toppings
- Healthy, low-fat, low-sugar options
- Sophisticated as well as kid-friendly flavors
Cons
- So many choices make it difficult to eat moderately
- Paying by the ounce can get expensive
Description
Locations
- Acworth
3348 Cobb Parkway, Ste 100. 770.529.3221
- Atlanta
3535 Northside Pkwy., Ste. 12. 678.732.9757
3655 Roswell Rd., Ste. 112. 404.228.6387
3011 N. Druid Hills Rd. 404.228.6229
- Cumming
905 Marketplace Blvd., Ste. B. 770.781.9721
- Johns Creek
9775 Medlock Bridge Rd., Ste. R. 678.691.0742
- Marietta
2960 Shallowford Rd., Ste. 112. 770.971.6601
- Roswell
12030 Etris Rd., Roswell, GA. 770.992.7992
- Woodstock
2265 Towne Lake Pkwy, Ste., 108B. 770.924.4004
Reservations: N/A
Cuisine: Frozen Yogurt
Price: Yogurt and toppings cost $.44 per ounce
Hours: Vary by location, but most are open 12:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Sunday-Thursday and 12:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday
Website: http://www.menchies.com/
Guide Review
We walked into Menchie's on an unexpectedly sun-drenched late Sunday afternoon in January. The charming pink and green shop was filled with families, kids, and couples. After greeting us, the young woman behind the counter explained that we'd pay by the ounce for yogurt and toppings, and encouraged us to try small cups of yogurt to choose our favorite flavors. The four of us happily sampled the dozen or so flavors - from chocolate and vanilla to cake batter to berry to tart, the tongue-puckering flavor emblematic of this new generation of yogurt stores. We noticed that non-fat, dairy-free, and sugar-free choices were available.
We made our selections and swirled the yogurt into the pint-sized bowls we were given. Then it was on to the toppings - luscious fresh fruit, cereal, candy bars, brownies, syrups, and nuts. Why not some hot fudge? The children finished theirs off with gummy bears.
We looked with some apprehension at the overly generous but delicious concoctions we had prepared for ourselves. All of those ounces were going to add up - and the calories! "That will be $21.09," said the young woman as she weighed the four bowls. We gulped, paid the bill, and called it dinner.
It really was worth it. But next time we'll stick to fresh fruit toppings.