It gets better in downtown Phoenix with every new ice cream parlor, especially if it’s locally owned. The folks who own Z-Pizza opened this little joint and connected it to the pizza place at 49 West Thomas.

You readers from out of town stop laughing.

We do what we can, alright?

On a hot Saturday afternoon recently, we took a ride through Willo neighborhood from downtown and tried the offerings.

It was hot. They brought out some water for my dog. Very cool.

Which makes it hard for me to say that I was not really inspired. The staff was really busy next door and seemed to forget that they had an ice cream shop. Maybe I was expecting shooting stars, but the ice cream just did not have much zing.

It was brought in from Richmond California-based Lappert’s Ice Cream. So, “A” for effort. (Or, maybe “F” for huge carbon footprint.)

Still, the nice thing about ice cream is that you really have to try more than once. And, since it is going to be hot for a while to come, I might as well give it another try.

Couldn’t hurt. Might help.