Fro-yo girl here. I’ve been wanting to go to The Pacific Seas tiki bar inside Clifton’s Republic since it opened last fall but I heard that reservations were necessary and that they were booked for weeks. So, I decided to wait for the excitement to die down before going. I didn’t actually see the Pacific Seas because we went too early in the day (it opens at 6 PM), but we decided to check out Clifton’s Cafeteria instead.
Clifton’s is hard to describe but it’s a part of old LA history (Ray Bradbury and Walt Disney were regulars). It was a well-known chain of cafeterias, with the original location founded in downtown LA in 1931. This location was reopened in 2015 under new ownership. It’s much more than a cafeteria. There are multiple levels with the cafeteria, a ballroom, The Monarch Bar, the Gothic Bar, Pacific Seas tiki bar, gift shop and interesting décor.
People come because of the over the top fantasy décor. There’s a huge redwood tree in the center, more trees, a waterfall, taxidermy (buffalo, bear, peacocks, foxes, etc.), and a rock like chapel you can enter. The place is like a forest meets lodge, meets natural history museum. The interior is dark and it feels like you’re stepping into a different world.
The cafeteria is pretty amazing – so many options and it’s nicer than it used to be (prices are higher too, but not crazy). They serve free range chicken and use quality ingredients. There’s a salad/soup station, carving station, pizza/sandwich station, fresh baked pastries, breakfast bar (we were there on brunch), dessert station (cakes, jello, pies), PINKBERRY station, Stumptown Coffee, Rishi tea, housemade lemonade, etc. Grab a tray and get what looks appealing. Some of the items are cooked to order.
And yes, they have frozen yogurt. They used to serve soft serve ice cream and switched to Pinkberry a few months ago. This is the only place in the downtown core to get Pinkberry!!!! And you can serve yourself. There aren’t as many toppings. Toppings included gummy bears, nuts, coconut, yogurt chips, peanut butter chips, crumbled Oreos, mini M&Ms and granola. A small is $4.95 and a medium is $5.95, flat rate. Sadly, the machine didn’t have a sign saying frozen yogurt and the flavors, original and pomegranate, weren’t even labeled. I didn’t get the feeling that they ever offered other flavors.
* Pinkberry original and pomegranate frozen yogurt: The texture was icier than usual but the flavor was definitely Pinkberry!
This must be the most interesting place to get Pinkberry and the only flat rate, self-serve location that I know of. If you have good swirling skills, you can get a lot for $5 plus tax.
I still have to visit the Pacific Seas, but I doubt it has frozen yogurt.
You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
* CLIFTON’S REPUBLIC: 648 S Broadway, Los Angeles (Downtown), CA 90014
Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.
Fro-yo girl here. I’ve traveled all over Burbank, CA to visit every froyo shop in town, including frozen yogurt shops that have closed their doors for good (RIP, Yogurtiers, Froyo Bliss). Yogurtiers, which opened in 2008, was Burbank’s first frozen yogurt shop. There are currently 6 frozen yogurt shops in Burbank and only one of these, Pit Stop Froyo & More, is an independent froyo shop. All of them are self-serve.
Downtown Burbank
Yogurtland has two locations in Burbank. The downtown Burbank Yogurtland location (304 N San Fernando Blvd.) turned 5 last year (the celebration included free froyo and prizes). They carried the Yogurtland cookie dividers early on.
Pinkberry (120 E Palm Ave.) is across from the AMC Burbank 16 movie theater and it has the distinction of being the first self-serve Pinkberry location. There are 12 self-serve froyo flavors a day and your typical Pinkberry toppings bar (fresh fruit, popping boba, mochi, candy, nuts, cookies, sauces, Nutella, granola, coconut, cheesecake, brownies, cereal, waffle cookies, and luxe toppings) for 49 cents an ounce. It’s very similar to a regular Pinkberry only with more flavors, larger cups and the self-serve format.
Burbank Bob Hope Airport/Magnolia Park
I’m not too familiar with this area but it has strip malls and Magnolia Park has interesting retro/vintage boutiques (apparently it's a new shopping hot spot). FroyoFace recently morphed into Pit Stop Froyo & More (3503 W Magnolia Blvd.). Pit Stop has six self-serve froyo flavors a day (from YoCream), juices, smoothies, and boba drinks. About a block away, the ARCO station has a Yumz Express (3701 W Magnolia Blvd.) with four flavors of froyo. While you can serve yourself, the pricing is based on cup size. The frozen yogurt we tried was horrible…definitely avoid – it’s the worst place in town. Pit Stop and Yumz are right by Porto's Bakery and the Magnolia Park shopping district.
Menchie’s (3800 Verdugo Ave.) is also close by and the Yogurtland (2400 W Victory Blvd.) has a nice outdoor patio. Both are in strip malls.
Scoopable Froyo
You can also get scoopable froyo at Quenelle, Cold Stone Creamery and Ben & Jerry’s but why bother?
You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.
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Fro-yo girl here. I was surprised to learn that the downtown Burbank Pinkberry location switched to a self-serve format last year. I didn’t see an announcement at the time (though they did announce it on the Burbank Pinkberry Facebook page – a page I wasn’t checking). It’s just a toe dip into the self-serve format though. As far as I know this and the Brea location are the only self-serve Pinkberry locations.
The Burbank location carries 12 self-serve froyo flavors a day (the same flavors you’d find at other Pinkberry locations) and your typical Pinkberry toppings (fresh fruit, popping boba, mochi, candy, nuts, cookies, cookie dough, sauces, Nutella, granola, coconut, cheesecake, brownies, cereal, waffle cookies, chocolate, granola, and luxe toppings) for 49 cents an ounce. It’s very similar to a regular Pinkberry only with more flavors, larger cups and the self-serve format. At your typical Pinkberry you can get multiple flavors and unlimited toppings so there isn’t much difference. Sample cups are on a tray at the toppings bar. You can also request a waffle bowl.
The shop looked like a regular Pinkberry shop only with a wall of froyo machines. The interior has pastel colors, plants and pebble floor. They kept the toppings bar very clean and the fruit looked fresh. The toppings are better than average. My favorite topping is the dark chocolate crisps.
Froyo flavors of the day:
- Vanilla bean
- Chocolate chip cookie
- Sea salt chocolate
- Cookies & cream
- Passionfruit
- Pomegranate
- Mango
- Original
- Blood orange
- Raspberry white chocolate
- Pineapple
- Pina colada
I don’t think this location has frozen shakes or yogurt smoothies. It’s froyo only. Mr. Froyo and I thought it was a well maintained shop. We weren’t that thrilled about serving ourselves (counter serve is more sanitary) but we did enjoy our froyo. I recommend getting the new Raspberry White Chocolate flavor – the raspberry is tangy and the dominant flavor but the white chocolate adds a pleasant sweetness.
You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
* PINKBERRY BURBANK, 120 East Palm Avenue, Burbank, CA 91502
Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.
