Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard — Restaurant in Town of Hempstead

No respect to customers, even when you can’t get what you order.

Went for the first time tonight. Decided to get a milkshake. They made it and handed it to me. It was so thick, was actually not able to sip it. I asked them to please make it creamy like a regular milkshake. They took it back to the blender and gave it back to me. It was still too thick so I asked why. They said, “Oh, we ran out of milk today so we only put frozen custard cream. The only thing we can do to make it better is to add water”. I said a milkshake without milk isn’t really a milkshake.. so I politely asked for a (cheaper) “cinnamon pretzels with maple syrup” at no charge since I am not able to drink the milkshake they can take it back. They said that they have to check with the manager. The “manager” (seemed like a 16 year old girl) came up front with a nasty attitude saying that is the way they make milkshakes and no-one ever complained. I said, the salesperson said they couldn’t make it as usual since they ran out of milk. But she still insisted that it’s the same as they always do. I said how can you make a milkshake without milk, so then she said they do usually put some milk but not really a whole lot. Then she added, “It happens often that you go places and won’t like everything you try”. I said that I never had experienced a place that didn’t respect the customer who isn’t happy with an item they ordered. She said she can’t give me something else instead. So I asked her to refund me for the milkshake but she was very disrespectful and aggressive and said no. So I paid for the cinnamon pretzels and they brought mustard pretzels..to which they corrected it and brought the right order. There was no maple syrup, just artificial “pancake syrup” made from corn syrup. How can they sell milkshakes without milk..and without asking if I would still want it? Why would they advertise maple syrup when they give...

Ok this place is open year round. I've come here in winter and here it is the start of summer and they STILL don't have lemon water ice!?!? Are you seriously trying to tell me LEMON is too exotic to be conceivably obtainable on your menu? LEMON??? Today they didn't even try to pretend to carry it, it wasn't even listed today. Instead they had "key lime". So I went to order it...... .... They DIDN'T have it in stock anymore. It's become as elusive as lemon. Wth Ritas, it's not kryptonite nor garlic... It won't kill you to actually supply a flavor that doesn't taste like it was created in the toilet bowl of a mad scientist on a sugar rush. Get it together Lawrence Ritas and carry...

For the prices they charge, you’d expect half decent customer service. Fuhgetaboutit! The girl serving us was downright rude. I asked for strawberry, she told me they just ran out and that I’d have to pick something else with an attitude of like, you should have known! After that order was filled I asked for a milkshake, she says which flavor, I asked what the options were. Her response, “look at the menu.” I ask for vanilla and chocolate, she goes to make it, I see that about a quarter of the cup spilled out and she’s looking all over for something to clean it up with. She didn’t even bother to refill what spilled out, she just handed me a 3/4 full cup. There’s more, but I’ll...