Tell Jamba Juice and Cold Stone to take a hike. While looking to cool down from the sticky monsoon heat, get away from the familiar and try different cold treats from these sweet places around campus:
Sammy's Woodfired Pizza
Phone: 480-967-6444
Address: 414 S. Mill Ave.
Must have: So Sammy's isn't really an ice cream or drink shop, but that doesn't stop them from having the big mama of ice cream goodies: the "messy sundae" (pictured). A one-foot sundae glass is filled and covered with vanilla ice cream, fudge, whipped cream and nuts, with everything overflowing and exploding onto a plate. "We get a lot of 'Oh, my god,' and stuff you can't really print in the newspaper," said supervisor Luke Cunningham of customers' reactions to seeing the massive masterpiece of sweets.
I Y Brooklyn Italian Ices
Phone: 480-736-0011
Address: 15-101 E. 6th St.
Must have: Tucked away in a little corner of Mill Avenue, this shop, which serves gelato, Italian ices and ice cream, is a Mecca for refreshing treats. Erin Johnson, who works at Brooklyn's, said one of their most popular items is "Spumoni," a cream ice with a specialty flavor of chocolate, creamolatta, and pistachio. Edward Goldstein, masters of program education student, stopped in the store Saturday afternoon: "The ice cream here is really great. The only place where I have had better was when I was in Italy."
E! Ba Café
Phone: 480-784-2292
Address: 705 S. Forest Ave.
Must have: Crystal Lin, a computer information systems junior, swears by the mango "snow bubble" (a blend of fruit, ice and ice cream). Asian customers usually stop in for "pearl milk tea" or "boba." These drinks are like iced tea, but with a Taiwanese twist: squishy, almond-sized tapioca balls float at the bottom of flavored, creamy tea and are slurped up through a wide straw.
Rollerz
Phone: 480-466-9063
Address: 420 S. Mill Ave.
Must have: A low-fat, non-dairy, strawberry banana smoothie might sound as plain as white bread, but one sip of Rollerz's blend will perk up your taste buds. The drink bursts with fresh fruit and tastes like you are drinking blended banana bread with strawberries. It also leaves a pleasant, creamy aftertaste.
Mill's End Café and Creperie
Phone: 480-829-0755
Address: 310 S. Mill Ave.
Must have: What's summer without a tall refreshing glass of lemonade? Mill's End's "lemonade frost" is an even more refreshing, slushy version of the old-fashioned hot weather favorite.
Reach the reporter at lynh.bui@asu.edu.
