By Nora Donnelly | Editor-in-Chief
If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “wouldn’t it be great if there was a second Rita’s a block and a half away from the first one,” or perhaps, “the two dozen ice cream options in Williamsburg just aren’t enough for my refined palate,” then you’re in luck. A new custard and italian ice franchise called The Meadows has opened on Richmond Road on the opposite side of the Food Lion from Rita’s. Opening that close to the reigning custard and italian ice queen is a definite power move, designed to spark what I’m sure will one day be known amongst Williamsburg historians as the Great Custard Debate of ‘19. Usually in battles that pit a cocky newcomer against a tried and true classic, I would side with the classic. However, I think I have to side with the newcomer this time.
To put it bluntly, The Meadows is just doing a better job than Rita’s. Their gelati is delicious and a dollar cheaper than Rita’s. They also have indoor and outdoor seating, a vast improvement over Rita’s, which just expects you to wander around the Earth Fare parking lot while you eat. Additionally, it’s a block and a half closer to campus, which is not a large difference, but considering it means you don’t have to cross the death trap that is the intersection of Richmond Road and Monticello Avenue, it is definitely more convenient. While they only serve a handful of flavors each day, The Meadows does offer a wide range of products including sundaes, cakes, smoothies and pints of custard that you can bring home to eat while watching High School Musical 3 alone in your dorm. I got the gelati- the italian ice and custard combo- with vanilla custard and lemon italian ice, and it was absolutely delightful.
Unless there is a Harry Potter-style prophecy that says neither can live while the other survives, there is a pretty good chance that Williamsburg’s appetite for ice cream will be able to fill the needs of The Meadows without neglecting Rita’s. Perhaps this is the start of a trend, and we will soon have a custard empire to rival our pancake house empire. If so, I would argue our next food empire should involve shawarma. Either way, don’t feel too pressured to take a side in the Great Custard Debate; if you want to support both establishments, just eat more custard.