First look: Mr. Yogato

Fro yo fans find their fix in Fells. (Credit: Jessica Novak)

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If you've recently overheard (or exclaimed), "holy shit!," in Fells Point, it's likely due to news that Mr. Yogato has arrived. (If you do drop such profanity outside the kid-friendly shop, check that ear muffs are secured.) He opened on Tax Day (sweet relief!) and has since dispensed the good stuff our area lacked: Frozen yogurt a.k.a. fro yo.

Specials attract trivia night geeks and people who don't take themselves too seriously, as well as people willing to do anything to save $0.50. Here's a sample of Mr. Yogato's house rules: "Try your luck with a trivia question. Get it right for 10 percent off, but get it wrong and 10 percent is added." Also, discounts are offered if you let Mr. Yogato stamp your head, stump the manager with "The Office" trivia or suggest a topping added to its regular offerings.

Fro yo fanatics who order Yogato for 30 consecutive days earn the privilege of having Mr. Yogato name a flavor after them.

Crowd: A steady line of tourists wandered into Mr. Yogato's Fells shop the first late Friday afternoon it was open. Other happy customers include all the Baltimore-area chicks who had formerly sped down 295 to Yogato's original D.C. location for their frozen yogurt fix.

Food: Do not order Mr. Yogato's fro yo, if you're craving Kohr Bros. frozen custard or TCBY's ice cream-like yogurt. Yogato's yogurt tastes exactly like, well, yogurt—the tart kind Jamie Lee Curtis says will make us regular.

When we visited, you could get tangy, creamy, chocolato or strawberry for $3 to $5. More flavors are in the works, and will move into rotation soon. Pressed to find the difference between tangy and creamy (both tart) we'd say tangy had an icier consistency while creamy was slightly sweeter. The strawberry and chocolato were tasty, but not exactly flavorful. That's left to the toppings: Nuts, candies, kids' cereals and fresh-cut fruit round out the more than 30 options. It's $1 for one topping, $1.50 for two and $1.75 for three. After that, it's $0.50 per pick.

Balsamic vinegar (which tasted bizarre, but not bad on tangy), olive oil and maple syrup are freaks in the free toppings group. For free, you can also get sprinkles, honey and chocolate syrup.

Drinks: Fro yo is refreshing, so you probably won't want a drink. If you insist, Mr. Yogato sells bottled water and cans of Diet Coke and Sprite.

Digs: Most of Mr. Yogato's décor shouts, "Shiny, Happy People." The upbeat, friendly place feels like an adult playground with yellow and hot pink tiles on the floor, mod chairs, games like Connect Four scattered on tables and a dry-erase board open to your witticisms or topping suggestions. The best part of Mr. Yogato's set-up—a lounge with exposed brick, tons of natural light with a ceiling 20 feet high and funky seating, including a swinging bench—is not yet open. But there's plenty of seating in the front room, if you want to eat in. Outside seating will be available as soon as the owner gets a permit.

Bottom line: If you can't wrap your mind around the fact Mr. Yogato's yogurt tastes like Yoplait's, you won't be satisfied. However, if you've dreamed of hybrid desserts suited to the cravings of stoners and pregnant women, you'll end lazy afternoons in Fells with a medium strawberry, topped with crumbled peanut butter cups, Cap'n Crunch and slices of fresh-cut banana.