Get what you want the way you want it at Nubi Yogurt
by The Record, Recordnet.com
May 21, 2009

If "less is more" has ever sounded like a ridiculous concept, a visit to Nubi Yogurt is for you.

A recent addition to Stonecreek Village in Stockton, Nubi is a self-serve frozen yogurt shop that gives customers control. Of everything. Patrons get to pick portion sizes and topping volume, letting them create their own swirled masterpiece. So don't be shy about piling on the sprinkles.

The shop is at the corner of Stonecreek by Rubio's and Peet's, so parking is tough but the payoff is nearby outdoor seating. The shop is open late, until 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. weekends, so on a warm night, a cold yogurt and an outside seat are a perfect way to pass the time.

The Nubi system is pretty simple: First, grab a yogurt repository (either a 5-inch-diameter cup or a waffle-cone bowl). Then choose from eight yogurt flavors, which rotate every few days, depending on how popular they are (standards are plain tart, vanilla and chocolate). Then turn around 180 degrees to the topping bar, which features classics such as sprinkles and chocolate chips, and offbeat bites such as Cap'n Crunch and Jelly Belly beans. Then hit the fruit bar, which during our visit had things such as strawberries and kiwi. The cost is calculated by weight, at $0.38 per ounce. Quite a bargain. Just watch out for the heavy toppings.

The best part is that patrons aren't at the mercy of whoever is behind the counter.

There's no, "I'd like a perfect half-and-half mix of chocolate and vanilla yogurt." Or, "Can you put on just a scoop more of the sprinkles? No, just a bit more. More ..."

It's all in your hands. Mix and mingle to your heart's content.

Something to note about Nubi's yogurt: If the flavor name has "tart" in it, it'll be tangy, like real yogurt. The other flavors are sweetly traditional.

On a recent visit, we tried three different flavor combinations: plain tart with dark chocolate chips; banana cream pie with almonds and Cocoa Pebbles; and blueberry tart with coconut.

The plain tart was a little puckering at first, but once we got used to the "different" flavor, it was a perfect complement to the dark chocolate chips, and refreshing. We got double the health benefits with this one: antioxidants from the dark chocolate, and, as Nubi claims on its Web site, a boosted immune system from the yogurt.

The other two combinations were equally delicious. The banana cream tasted almost like a piece of Laffy Taffy (that's a compliment), and the crunchiness from the Pebbles and almonds made each bite a great mix of textures. The blueberry tart was identical to one of those fruit-on-the-bottom creations, and the sweetened, flaked coconut was a great accent against the tart flavor.

I have no problem with a place where you can choose your own eating adventure, and still have money to toss in the fountain outside.