Salty Paws ice cream bar wows four-legged critic with dog-friendly flavors
Craig LaBan's Great Dane mix, Buttercup, has a first lick of the shop's peanut butter, cheddar, and bacon ice creams.
Am I a picky pooch? Maybe.
I prefer kibble made of boar and imported from Italy. My morning eggs should be gently scrambled, local and cage-free. I usually won’t budge toward my bowl unless mom or dad first hand-grates a little cheese over top, preferably a well-aged Alpine style, or a punchy Roman Pecorino.
I may be a rescued Great Dane-mix from Mississippi, but I’ve got standards! Plus, everyone’s a critic these days … especially in this family.
When it comes to ice cream my passion runs deep. If it’s cool, creamy, and whipped into a pretty cup, I’ll be there with hearts in my eyes and leftovers on my nose. Kohr Bros. on the boardwalk at the Shore with my big sister and brother. Spontaneous Ben & Jerry’s frozen treats at home flavored with pumpkin and cookies. Free pup cup Mondays at my local Igloo, where the froyo’s even healthy!
Now there’s a new place all my friends are barking about — Salty Paws, an ice cream bar for … dogs! Peanut butter. Cheddar. Blueberry. Maple … bacon?! Let’s do it!
“It costs $5.99 for two scoops — not even counting the toppings!” said my dad, already griping about the prices and plotting to detour our future walks away from South 17th Street. He’s so predictable! (I still want to lick his face all over: I love him!)
Sure enough, some of my friends were already there when I arrived. Sonny. Basha. And a new friend named Willa. My bulldog boyfriend, George, had already posted a report to his 14.7k followers on Instagram. And then I even got asked out on a Salty Paws date by my pal Pete. (I hope my mom says, “Yes!”)
I weighed in on my own feed (@buttercupofrittenhouse) with a review. I give bones, the only rating that matters these days.
But the competition is getting fiercer than a slobbery ball at the dog park now that the Doggie Style nearby at 17th and Spruce just started to offer soft-serve on weekends for free. It’s a dog-eat-ice-cream world out there now in Philly, and I am on the case.
Salty Paws, 211 S. 17th St., Philadelphia; 304-780-9037; saltypawsrittenhousesquare.com