Dippin’ Dots

Dippin’ Dots!!! Seriously so fortunate to have this shop open up in the neighborhood. The banana split is my favorite but you can’t go wrong with any flavor. The workers are very nice but the dots are the main attraction!

If you go to Tampa Bay Rays baseball games, you’ve probably seen the Dippin’ Dots booth. I had no idea they were a franchise until this store popped up out of nowhere right next door to the Publix supermarket that I shop at. My daughter loves Dippin’ Dots so this has become a frequent stop. It’s a great addition to St Pete Beach. If you haven’t had Dots, perhaps you’ve had ‘astronaut ice cream’? It’s kind of like an ice cold version of that; without the weird aftertaste. It’s unique and tasty, and kids love it. The reason for only three stars is the price. The smallest bowl of dots you can order is $ 4.50+tax and it rapidly increases from there. I can buy a quart of ice cream next door in Publix for $ 4.50, so a few ounces of dots for the same price seems a bit excessive and tourist trap-​ish.
Word of warning; the parking lot that Dippin’ Dots is in is notorious for towing cars. Do NOT think about parking, grabbing some dots and heading to the beach. Your car will be gone when you get back. The towing company Publix has patrolling the lot has people actively watching cars and any that are there too long will be gone when you come back, and it will cost you several hundred dollars to get your car back.