Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard — Restaurant in Carlisle

Rita’s on a Hot Afternoon: The Official MacaroniVAN Pit Stop Review

There are a lot of things in life that test a parent’s patience. Like sunscreen application. Or five car seats in one vehicle. Or trying to reason with a 3-year-old who insists she is a unicorn.

But then there’s Rita’s.

Glorious, icy, flavor-packed Rita’s. The moment the temperature dares to creep above 75, the MacaroniVAN screeches into that parking lot like it’s the winner of the “Hot Mess Express Grand Prix.” And suddenly, peace.

River is living her technicolor dream with Unicorn Sparkle on Unicorn Flavor, like a Lisa Frank folder exploded in a cup. Ridley’s rocking the most chaotic combo imaginable—Nerds on blue raspberry, with a rogue Swedish Fish swirl like he’s building a sundae for a cartoon character.

The tween, of course, has transcended childish things and now requires a Gelati cola float, because it’s giving cool, it’s giving vintage soda shop, it’s giving “don’t talk to me, I’m vibing.”

And me? I’ve got the mango peach sugar-free—a treat that lets me feel like I made a responsible choice without crying sugarless tears into my sunhat. It’s fruity. It’s refreshing. It’s giving “mom deserves this.”

Rita’s is more than just a stop. It’s a survival tactic. It’s a reward. It’s air conditioning in edible form. And on a hot afternoon, when the van smells like feet and someone’s melting down over lost sunglasses, it’s the only kind of meltdown I actually enjoy.

10/10. Highly recommend. Will return approximately… every time...

I ordered the Mango-Peach sugar -free Italian ice with DoorDash. The Dasher literally dropped off my order at a random house and then told me to call DoorDash support. I just had surgery and haven’t eaten in almost 3 months. I can only have clear liquids or sugar free popsicle or Italian ice. As long as I can tolerate it! I was so overwhelming disappointed that the dasher didn’t do his job. I called Rita’s and explained to the manager Taylor what had happened. Taylor then assured me she would make sure the next door dash gets to me and they did! To my surprise the manager at Rita’s (Taylor) also wrote me a note with my order from her and her employee. It’s the little things that count! And I can’t express how grateful I am for this locations act of kindness. Thank you so much. This will forever be my favorite...

We stopped in n on 10/18/25 to get a mango gelati and a vanilla custard cone and a concrete. Mango gelati next to no flavor of mango, the custard tastes of way to much heavy cream not much flavor. 1st trip to the window gave me a strawberry gelati to it back again ask for mango, my mango again taste of little next to nothing as well ice was very thick, custard on top fell to the floor and this cup(lg) was filled to the top with ice no custard in between 3rd trip to window finally got it made right. Again not much mango taste. Mango Gelati is the only I get!!!...