Quick Bite: Berry Chill
Freshly diced mangos and blueberries at Berry Chill are the highlight.
The words "yogurt couture" were enough to get us out the door to try the latest hot summer offering, Berry Chill. The line was out the door on a Sunday afternoon and we had high hopes of finding a new way to beat the summer heat.
Toppings are the best part of the visit but the choices can be overwhelming.
When you walk in, your eyes are hit with menu boards in constant motion. It was good to spy toppings from local favorite Sarah's Pastries inserted among a scrolling host of cereal brands, sprinkles, cookies and fruits. However, what the boards didn't tell you is what might pair well with each of their yogurt flavors. The kids might like gross-out combos, but I want flavors that compliment. Fortunately, the guy who took our order was able to help out.
Pistachio should stand alone but needed an assist of chocolate toffee.
I ended up with my favorite flavor, pistachio, topped with chocolate pistachio toffee from Sarah's Pastries. When I took my first bite, I expected a lovely nutty coolness. Instead, I got a sharp, tangy taste that was almost but not quite completely unlike pistachio. Ugh. Fail. Bridget had the same experience with her mango/peach yogurt. Nasty. Fortunately, the toppings helped both of us get through the experience.
Berry Chill encourages recycling of their heavy green plastic containers and color-changing spoons. I appreciate that, but it's not enough to save the planet -- you have to make something worth eating, first.
A small, flavor-of-the-month yogurt with toppings will set you back about $5.50. Save your money and go buy a pack of Flav-or-ice if you want to stay cool this summer. It'll last you longer and taste a hell of a lot better.
Berry Chill
635 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60610
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I don't get all the fuss for this place. Sure, it's pretty--the business AND the product--but there's very little taste and what there is to taste is exactly as you describe: sharp and tangy.
You guys obviously don't get it...Berry Chill rocks!
I wish more people didnt like it, so I wouldnt have to wait in line every night!
If you're looking for something cold, delicious, and pistachio flavored, I highly recommend the pistachio gelato at Ventrella's, 4947 N. Damen Ave. (And the coffee and panini are great, too.)
I've only been in Ventrella's to get a cup of coffee & wait for a table at Over Easy. I'll make a point of checking out the gelato! Thanks!
Well we did try, Josh. Didn't mean to hate it, but we did.
I had exactly the same experience with the pistachio flavor. Pistachio ice cream and pistachio nuts are definitely some of my favorites. The acidic concoction I tasted was absolutely terrible, nothing like pistachio, and I returned it with my constructive feedback. Instead, I tried their standard frozen yogurt with some Girl Scout Cookies- thin mints - (nice to see those choices in the mix- shows a little market expansion & revenue opportunities for the Girl Scouts) and it was pretty good, though it certainly hasn't made me an addict.
I did a little frozen yogurt tour while I was in Chicago (http://gracenotesnyc.com/2008/05/22/berry-chill/) - Berry Chill's flavored yogurt isn't quite right, but you should give their plain frozen yogurt a try - it's very similar to Pinkberry's and you're right - their topping choices can be very overwhelming!