[Photo: Kathy YL Chan]

The newly opened Popbar now occupies the spot Beard Papa previously held on Carmine Street. Gelato on a stick, sorbet on a stick, frozen yogurt on a stick—you get the idea. It's kind of kitschy, kind of fun; a summer treat for sure, but far from extraordinary.

Pops range from $3.99 to $4.99, all made on premises—clear glass windows inside the shop give you a peek of gelato, sorbet, and frozen yogurt in the works. They make it a point to note that most ingredients are shipped from Italy, hormone-free milk is used, and that there's only real fruit in the fruit pops. The major downside? With everything already premade in pop form, there are no samples or tastes to be had!

After you've picked your pop, jazz it up with a "popping" and a dip if you desire. "Poppings" include everything from ground biscotti to granola. As for dips? Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, and a somewhat creepy-looking orange flavored dip. I went with the tart and refreshing Strawberry-Yogurt Pop, a popping of pistachios and a dip of dark chocolate. I'd hoped for a more intense strawberry flavor; it was unfortunately light on its own, then completely wiped out by the dark chocolate dip. Perhaps not the most ideal flavor to pair with a dip. The total, $5.50, was on par with a scoop of gelato at nearby L'arte del Gelato or Grom. Would I be back? Sure—but more for the novelty of having my gelato on a stick, rather than in seeking out an excellent gelato, sorbet or frozen yogurt.

Popbar

5 Carmine Street, New York NY 10014 (map)
212-255-4874
pop-bar.com