Rita’s Italian Ice, Gulf Shores

Contrary to its name, the signature item at Rita's​ Italian​ Ice is a sandwich. Well, sort of. Known as the ​Gelati, the tasty creation consists of a mound of ​Italian Ice ​—made from scratch every day using fresh fruit—crammed between two giant dollops of frozen custard. The ​G​elati, along with a construction team that demands to be paid in sprinkles, has helped Rita's expand to more than 500 ​stores in the United States over three decades. The franchise has become so popular that it even made the top of Zagat's list of Best Quick Refreshment chains in 2012.

But the expansion would mean nothing if the desserts themselves weren't delicious. Thankfully, Rita's carries​ a variety of flavors of i​Italian Ice which run the gamut from ​mango and cherry to cotton candy. The shop also serves ​award-winning Frozen Custard, milkshakes, and sundaes awaiting to be piled with limitless toppings. To keep taste buds tempted, Rita's consistently adds inventive and seasonal flavors to their menu. Among these are ​Pumpkin Cheesecake, Chocolate Covered Strawberry, and Peppermint Chip.