Tasty tidbit: For a fun date treat, try Grandpa Harold's Ice Cream Sampler, five assorted flavors (you pick two, the staff picks three) with cookies for $5.59.

Ambience: Friendly, but too large and open to be cozy. A wide variety of patrons make this an interesting and welcoming place to visit.

Other factors: There's a takeout counter for those who want to dash in and out, and a jukebox for those who want to linger. Very welcoming for kids and can be budget-friendly if the kids get single scoops or share the larger treats. Wheelchair accessible.

Guero's Juice

Location: 6618 S. State, Murray (other location in West Valley City)

Price: $2.99 (for juices)

The basics: This newcomer to Murray serves fresh juices with south-of-the-border flair. If you want a cool summer treat that's a little healthier than a mound of ice cream with candy mixed in and chocolate sauce on top — and that's different from a smoothie — consider the watermelon shake at Guero's. It's frothy, creamy and brimming with the juice of what my 8-year-old daughter called "high-quality watermelon."

Straight watermelon juice also is available, along with dozens of other varieties from mango and apricot to mixes like the Hawaiian, a tart, nectar-like blend of strawberry, pineapple, cantaloupe, watermelon and orange juices. Fruit salads with such exotic additions as jicama also are available, at large enough sizes to make a nice light lunch. Sandwiches also are on the menu.

Tasty tidbit: For a refreshing, not-so-sweet and very good-for-you change of pace, try the Vampire, a just-sweet and blood-red blend of carrot, celery and beet juices.

Ambience: A comfortable dining space with large booths and lime green-and-orange walls. The 1980s geek in me was psyched to see a classic Asteroids video game in one corner.

Other factors: Wheelchair accessible with ample strip-mall parking. Kids will enjoy trying new varieties of juices, and they're so good and fresh that they don't even have to know it's healthy.

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Stacey Kratz is a freelance writer who reviews restaurants for the Deseret Morning News.

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E-mail: skratz@desnews.com