Category: Out of Area

Some people love La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café in the Trout Creek area of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (in the same building as Burger 21) for its varieties of frozen yogurt. Others (like yours truly) love it for the new Working Cow ice cream and still others for its variety of tasty, healthy sandwiches and other food items.

In other words, even if you think the name of the café is a little long to remember, just remember “La’ Berry” and you can enjoy a variety of great, healthy lunch and dessert items in a clean, casual environment. La’ Berry’s new owners — my friends Urvesh and Trina — have both worked in the health care field, so they’re particularly proud of the café’s many healthy options.

For example, La’ Berry always has several gluten-and dairy-free and one or more soy-free frozen yogurt options (all for just $0.59 per ounce) among its always-rotating flavors, as well as one or more flavors with no sugar added.

“We have a lot of people who love the taro, chocolate almond milk and even rose (yes, like the flower; it was available for a limited time in Feb. for Valentine’s Day) flavors,” Trina says. “And, we will be adding more flavors for people with dietary restrictions in the future.”

And, Urvesh says that Working Cow (which is based in St. Petersburg) is a healthier alternative in super premium ice cream. The company’s website says that everyone at Working Cow is, “proud of the fact that all of the dairy we use contains no hormones or high fructose corn syrup. Our goal is and will always be to provide you with the freshest healthiest ice cream available.”

And yes, it is delicious, as anyone who tried the Working Cow samples at last weekend’s Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel can attest. My favorites so far are the chocolate peanut butter, cookies & cream and espresso chip flavors, although the kids will go crazy for the “Superman” and “Cookie Monster,” too.

And, if you’ve never had authentic  and creamy “kulfi” Indian ice cream on a stick (photo top left on next page), ask Urvesh or Trina to give it a try. I’ve only sampled the cream-flavored kulfi as I’m writing this story, but…yum!

I also really love the toppings — especially the various sauces — that you can add to your frozen yogurt cup or your Working Cow sundae at La’ Berry, especially the hot fudge, marshmallow, peanut butter and white chocolate sauces, although there are at least 80 items — from brownies to gummy worms to fresh fruit and from Reese’s cups to boba juice balls (and so many more), so everyone will find something they like to put on top of their tasty frozen dessert.

Outstanding Sandwiches, Wraps & Salads

But, if you’re looking for a quick and healthy lunch or dinner any day of the week, you also really need to try some of La’ Berry’s delicious salads, sandwiches and other food items.

For sandwiches, my favorite is the foza chicken panini, which comes with grilled chicken, fresh spinach, basil and mozzarella, plus tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, red peppers, red onions and a delicious pesto sauce, all on artisan white or whole grain panini bread. I had Urvesh hold the artichoke mayo and give me an extra side of the excellent pesto sauce.

I also loved the chicken Greek wrap, the chipotle chicken panini (which has chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and a zesty chipotle spread) and our WCNT-tv sales and production assistant Gavin Olsen raves about his Philly steak panini). Our office also enjoyed both the big garden salad (which costs just $6.95, or add grilled chicken for just $1 more) with La’ Berry’s excellent Greek dressing (there’s also a Greek salad on the menu) and the La’ Berry salad, which includes fresh strawberries, blueberries, cand
ied walnuts, bleu cheese crumbles and a tasty raspberry  vinaigrette dressing.

On a future visit, I definitely plan to also try the gourmet grilled cheese (with fresh mozzarella, jack and cheddar cheeses) and the new tuna melt sandwich.

And, best of all, Trina and Urvesh always make everything fresh for you when you order your lunch or dinner, and all of these menu items cost just $6.95-$7.95. All sandwiches are served with your choice of chips or pasta salad or you can upgrade your side to fresh fruit cup, a cup of soup or a nice side salad for just $1 more.

For you vegetarians out there, La’ Berry also has not only a tomato and mozzarella panini, but also a Cali veg wrap and even authentic Indian potato-and-veggie samosas. These crispy, fried appetizers (photo above) are like a slightly spicy potato knish inside, but with a super-crisp shell, and served with a deliciously spicy dipping sauce.

I have yet to sample any of La’ Berry’s different soups, but I meant to during the recent run of colder-than-normal weather.

La’ Berry also has a nice kids menu, with everything from PB&J sandwiches to corn dogs to a chicken melt sandwich, all for  either just $3.95 or  $4.95 per item.  And, if you or your kids are into that whole smoothie craze, La’ Berry has you covered there, too, with ten different flavors, including my favorites — the peanut butter cup and bananas Foster flavors, and other fresh fruit options like strawberry, blueberry and even “razz matazz” and “mango madness.”

And, once you get the kids to eat a delicious, healthy meal, you’ll want to reward them with La’ Berry’s delicious frozen yogurt or Working Cow ice cream — and you should reward yourself, too.

“We’re committed to healthy food and serving people with dietary restrictions,” Trina says. “We’re still adding menu items and specials, so please keep stopping in to give us another try if you haven’t been here in a while and feel free to make suggestions about items you’d like us to add.”

 La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café is located at 20304 Trout Creek Dr. It is open 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. on Sun., 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. on Mon., & Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. For more info, search for “La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café-Tampa” on Facebook or call 345-8537. La’ Berry also offers fund-raising events on-site for school and other groups.