Restaurant: House of Dole Whip
Location: 7901 Santa Monica Blvd Suite 106 (West Hollywood)
Type of restaurant: Dessert
We stipulated: Back in Hawaii, my family would frequently play tourist and walk around lively Waikiki on a Sunday afternoon. While there, we'd usually end up getting a Dole Whip at a stand at the Royal Hawaiian shopping center. More recently, a Dole Whip is required eating while passing by the Tiki house at Disneyland. So when something called the "House of Dole Whip" popped up in West Hollywood, featuring a discounted coupon on Groupon, I bought one. This Labor Day, with my parents in town, it was time to relive those childhood Dole Whip memories.
They stipulated: House of Dole Whip is located inside a former yogurt shop, complete with the serve-yourself machines. But the store won't let you serve your own, they'll do it for you. That's partly because they don't sell the cups and cones by weight.
What we ordered: Pineapple Dole Whip, Mango Dole Whip, Raspberry Dole Whip in a waffle cone.
High point: The flavor selection -- at most places, including Disneyland, you can only get Pineapple.
Low point: The House of Dole Whip doesn't really specify what's Dole Whip and what's not among their flavors. I had to ask, and discovered that one side of offerings is still traditional yogurt (including Red Velvet).
Overall impression: So yes, the vagueness of this enterprise concerns me a bit. There's no signage anywhere, and you get the strong vibe that Dole has not sanctioned this store in any way. Contrary to what the House of Dole Whip says, the Dole Whip can be found in other locations besides Disneyland and the Dole Plantation in Wahiawa. But nonetheless, they're not easy to find -- and that's what makes the House of Dole Whip a unique idea. Rather than open another yogurt shop, I gotta give these guys credit for finding a niche.
Chance we'll go back: Yes -- especially since I've got another Groupon.
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