“Froyo Lovers: Can You Handle This?” – Review of 16 Handles
BY SARAH IP
16 Handles
153 2nd Ave.
East Village, NYC 10003
(212) 260-4414 / 16handles.com
16 Handles. Photo by Sarah Ip.
After months of intermittent rain showers and overcast days, it seemed New York was about to come out of its melancholic stupor with a string of sunny, mosquito-batting days. But alas – the sun came, and the sun went…
Despite the less-than-summery weather, I’m always up for frozen yogurt (or froyo, as I affectionately call it). Yes, I’m referring to that icy cold, sour-tart treat made of active bacteria cultures. It’s supposedly a healthier alternative to ice cream and is beneficial for your immune system. In a city inundated with frozen yogurt options (hello Pinkberry fans), I’m often skeptical about the superiority of one brand over another. Truth be told, barring minor differences, they all seem to taste more or less the same.
That is, until I discovered 16 Handles.
Allow me to recount my first experience there:
I’m lousy without a map. And sometimes…even with a map. It took my friend and me a good 20 minutes wandering through Greenwich Village, Tompkins Square Park and Washington Square Park – looping through an outdoor fair on W. 10th & 7th – until we found our target destination: 16 Handles. The line was out the door. A quartet of mega-hipster (“I’m so hip I can’t be seen standing next to you because I’ll become un-hippified”) guys lounged around outside the store licking their froyo.
At last! We knew we must’ve hit gold.
Temptation in a cup. Photo by Sarah Ip.
16 Handles is one-of-a-kind in that it’s the only frozen yogurt store in Manhattan that sells 16 varieties (at a time) of frozen yogurt, three sorbets and an arsenal of fun toppings (from mochi to Cap’n crunch). After pumping down the handles of your chosen frozen yogurts into your cup, you pay by weight (the frozen yogurt’s – not yours). You also have a choice of three cup sizes, though I doubt you’ll need the large one. I noticed that the fruit toppings were quite fresh. The lychee was juicy and the strawberries did not have a frozen sheen.
Ahead of us in line stood a conveyor belt of a dozen similarly dressed slight-waisted females in their skimpy dresses, tight leggings and gladiator sandals. One curvy chick who had cut the line to talk to a friend said she couldn’t have any frozen yogurt because of “carbs.” Um…seriously? Please don’t talk to me about carbs when I’m about to take a most resplendent bite of this froyo. Just don’t.
Froyo Duo. Photo by Sarah Ip.
My friend mixed Margarita and Wildberry frozen yogurt with chewy mochi, mango, raspberries, strawberries, graham cracker and sprinkles. I went for the Margarita and Original frozen yogurt, mango sorbet, mochi, kiwi, mango and gummy bears, which came to $3.99 exactly. But next time I’ll switch it up and try something different. I hear Euro and Green Tea are also winners. My personal favorite was the Margarita base, as it actually tasted like the cocktail (none of that “hint of” nonsense). As always, I love my mango and gummy bears!
16 Handles, I salute you. You’ve managed to make me an ardent fan of your rainbow of luscious flavors (take that, Skittles!). My only gripe is the super long line. My froyo started to melt before I got a chance to sit down and eat it. The frozen yogurt itself is not as rich or tangy as Red Mango’s or Pinkberry’s, but the wide variety of flavors and toppings more than makes up for it. Plus, it’s more economical since you get to determine your own froyo-to-topping ratio.
