Mr. Yogato is at the top of the list for destination spots in Dupont Circle. I recently visited the small yogurt shop on a Monday night at 9:30. The line reached the door, and it appeared that most of the people waiting had made a special trip to the neighborhood to fulfill their cravings for some FROYO.
Mr. Yogato serves a variety of flavors (up to 18), but only rotates four flavors at a time. Peach, mojito, tangy, and soft were available when I stopped by. I chose peach and got chocolate chips to top it off. It cost me around $3.75. The frozen yogurt was delicious; it tasted more like yogurt than fake ice cream. According to a HUGE sign on the wall, Mr. Yogato's is fat free and only 25 calories per serving (there are 5 servings in the little portion). Not bad.
One of the attractions at Mr. Yogato is the goofing around that goes on between the staff and customers. Here are the rules:
1. If Mr. Roboto comes over the speaker system and you sing along, you get 10% off yogurt.
2. Try your luck with a trivia question. Get it right for 10% off, but get it wrong and 10% is added.
3. If you will wear a yogato stamp on your head, you get 20% off.
4. If you can recite the Stirling battlefield speech from Braveheart in a great scottish accent, you get 10% off yogurt.
5. Order a yogurt for 30 consecutive days and we'll name a flavor after you.
6. If a customer suggests a topping or flavor which is then adopted, that customer receives a 5% discount for life.
7. If anyone can stump Steve on trivia regarding Seinfeld or "The Rock," 10% off yogurt.
8. Anyone wearing a kickball uniform and has played hard (evidenced by dirt on their knees) will receive an automatic 10% off yogurt.
I didn’t make these up. I swear.
Other quirky things: olive oil is one of the many free toppings (chocolate sprinkles, Hershey’s syrup, and honey were also available free). Lots more toppings, including fresh fruit, are available for a few quarters more.
It is clear that Mr. Yogato will continue to draw people to 17th Street. I’ve seen a few glass-eyed frozen yogurt seekers coming through mumbling the lyrics “domo arigato, Mr. Roboto, domo…”
