Angelato Cafe
Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Santa Monica301 Arizona Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90401 (310) 656-9999
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
47 Reviews for Angelato Cafe
This my favorite stop along 3rd St Promenade. I love gelato and have tried a few places, but here they have such a wide variety of flavors. I like how you order the serving size first before you pick the flavor to speed up the service, as it gets very busy there with a long line out the door at times. It takes awhile to preview all the flavors the first time you go there.
Cute looking place, lots of flavors to choose from. There's no indoor seating, but they have a couple tables outside.
Sugar Free Coconut - I loved it. Super creamy, and it had no flakes (i don't know if you consider that a good thing or bad thing)
Mocha Chip..or Java Chip...or some Coffee Chip thing. I don't remember the name but it was really good. The chips were large and chunky with a really great espresso flavor.
Chocolate/Chocolate Chip - eh. I've had better.
I went last Saturday and I didn't have to pay first. I got my cup of Gelato, then headed over to the register to pay.
p.s. you can confuse the workers and get a couple samples per worker. I know that's lame, but first 3 flavors I tasted kinda sucked. so i had to try again.
great place to stop for dessert. it's right off the 3rd st. promenade and offers a ton of different flavors. can't make up your mind? ask the employees and they'll be happy to give you a sample of whatever you're choosing between.
everyone i take here leaves happy. it's a great little indulgence and not too expensive. i cant remember if they take credit cards...it may be used on order over $10 or something like that. just bring cash with you just in case.
Overrated. Seriously. Aside from being a quick fix on the promenade, Angelato's flavorings are super strong/super sweet. Very American-ized gelato. Not worth it. If you want gelato, try Massimo's on Washington. Or if you want that super sweet overload, you can always hit up the local Pinkberry's (ick).
Well, I have fond memories of this place. It seemed to finish off our night wonderfully. We loved it. Well, maybe just *I* loved it. He would stand in line while I pressed my anxious face against the glass to inspect the seemingly endless array of flavors. He didn't really understand the whole concept of "really expensive ice cream." He didn't appreciate that darling little plastic tulip shaped cup. I would patiently explain its NOT ice cream. When asked WHY it wasn't ice cream, I would draw a blank because all the cocktails we had earlier effect my memory. But its okay. I would say I don't remember right now, but i know I know cuz I watch the food network.
then I would save my little tulip cup and wash it lovingly and put it carefully away in the cupboard, never to be thought about again.
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I first went here when it first opened. Great selection of gelato. My favorite is the Green Apple & Wild Blueberry. Yum!
Very expensive (relatively speaking) with lots and lots and lots of flavors, though it seems worth noting that many would probably be very similar to all but the most discerning of palates.
I had a sugar cone with cookies and cream (tasty) and tried the chocolate gelato, as well.
This isn't the be all and end all of frozen dining establishments, but it's pretty good and easily-accessible if you're on the Promenade :)
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There are many flavors to choose from but you are only allowed 3 samples. It's $3.25 for one scoop which isn't too much. I tried the white chocolate raspberry. I thought it was a little too much on the sweet side. The other 3 flavors I tried weren't much better.
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$13 for 4 scoops of gelato? I believe the word I'm looking for is "ridiculous". I shouldn't complain though, my job paid for it. But still. Re-dick!
But when you tell 2 teen-aged girls (who were the most well-behaved out of the 5...that ain't sayin' much) that you're taking them out for a walk on the Promenade and for some ice cream, well, you have to deliver. Even though you KNOW, they will not appreciate gelato.
Turns out not too many options for ice cream at the Promenade. Bummer. But my Banana Strawberry was incredible.
I wish I could have tasted more flavors but they have a 3 taste rule. Pfft. Taste this.
Cash only.
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my friend noticed this place when driving on the way to meet me for dinner. so, after stuffing ourselves with some delicious food from a restaurant a block and a half away, we refrained from ordering a dessert and decided to get some gelato from this place. we walked in and the first thing i noticed was the sign that said, "CASH ONLY". uh-oh. i didn't have any cash. lucky for me, it was my friend's treat and had some cash. whew! i would've hated to walk out without even a small cup of gelato to taste. there were rows of colorful gelato in an extensive variety of flavors. i walked down to the end of the counter looking at each gelato, reading the flavor names and trying to make up my mind on which flavor i wanted. i asked for a sample and decided on one flavor. my next decision was what size i wanted to get. once i saw the size of the cups and the prices, i settled for a small... one very small cup. wowzers! the prices are absurd. although the gelato was yummy, i don't think i'll go out of my way to go back just for an expensive tiny cup of gelato.
So I came in here looking at the crazy high prices on the menu and thought there's no way I'm going to be satisfied with the amount of gelato purchased to fit the confines of my budget. To my utter horror, I was only allowed to sample 3 different flavors out of the 40 something there. They are totally on to me and probably every other customer there. On a more practical note, how are you supposed to make a choice with that kind of sample size?!?
I finally settled on the hazelnut in a sugar cone and realized that they actually give you quite a bit. The gelato is so concentrated in it's sugar and cream content that you might even feel as if it's too much. That said, it still wasn't a good deal for the price and if not for the super convenient 3rd street location, I'm sure they'd never be able to price gouge like that.
Some other notes: This place might be crowded even on a cloudy day but the service will be awesome, especially if you like cute boys. The plastic gelato cups are neat and you can reuse them at home.
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If you are paying for quantity don't stop here. They only allow 3 samples and its over three dollars for a small scoop. But I believe quality is the most important and that variety is the spice of life. Everything I tried was delicious! And this gelato is much better than any ice cream!
Eh, I've had better. I agree, the "pay beforehand policy" is lame. There was a line of people! Anyway, I tried the cantaloupe sorbet--BIG MISTAKE! It tasted like a hint of cantaloupe and more like plastic. YUCK. I also had a scoop of blood orange--much better! Orange-y, citrus-y and refreshing. Maybe I shoulda tried Pinkberry first!
For ice cream lovers...this place just makes you happy...Lot's of flavors to choose from and 80 % fat free. From bubble gum to pina colada..I sampled 5 before decided on pistachio and creme brulee. Always have pistachio for gelato and compare to the other pistachio i have had...this was alright...but again it's 80% fat free. Price is a little steep.
This place makes real pretty gelato. I want to give Angelato 5 stars, but their policy of paying first before getting your scoops just seems silly. Goodness, it backs up the line completely!
I shall return. SO many flavors. SO little time.
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Feel a little sad only giving three stars but the people who work here are pretty rude...today was my second experience there and the dude who scooped my gelato was just a jerk...i asked for sugar free latte and sugar free coconut and he started to give me sugar free chocolate...(i don't really dig sugar all that much) so, when i said something to him he had all sorts of attitude about it. Then I made the mistake of not telling him ahead of time that it was to go....he actually said to me 'why didn't you just tell me that ahead of time' and then walked away shaking his head.
But, rude staff aside.....I really love the sugar free flavors here. The coconut is really strong and so it the latte. They give you a lot, both time I have been here I have had so much left over. Plus, even though both flavors were sugar free you couldn't tell at all. The strong flavors really made up for the lack of tartness/sweetness that gelato sometimes has.
Its cash only....and both times I have been here it is crowded. But, four stars on the flavor.......and two stars for the staff........
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Please complete this customer service survey of Angelato's gelato emporium, where you can find 100+ tempting but not overly adventurous flavours of Italian-style ice cream.....
Good Taste? Strongly Agree
Good Price? Strongly Disagree
Good Presentation? Disagree
Good Selection? Agree
Good Service? Neither Agree nor Disagree
Thank you! Your opinions are important to us and you have been entered into the prize draw that you won't win as the deputy manager's girlfriend has already been promised it. Please come again.
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Ahhh gelato..... hmmmmmm gelato..... yeeeeeeah gelato.... OUCH the price!!!
Now it's not the same stuff you get as in Italia (what ever is?) and the service could be better and the prices lower but overall it's pretty darn good. There is a vast array of flavors to choose from and it's creamy and yummy.
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Who carries cash anymore, when you have a debit card! Unfortunately if you want to get a gelato here you better be carrying some cash or be with someone who does. They let you sample flavors which is a big plus and I did think the gelato was good but it's kind of expensive, I rather get a .99 rite aid ice cream scoop with all the calories any day!
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Yum! I can understand why they only let you try three flavors of gelato. If they didn't limit me, I'd be tempted to try every single flavor in the house. And the flavors are fabulous! Unlike most ice creams, the flavors here are so intense that they're almost overwhelming. I work a mile from here, and I'm trying to figure out if a two-mile round-trip walk is enough to burn off all the calories from a scoop of ice cream.
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This place just encourages my decision-making disease, as they have SO many flavors that it takes me forever to figure out what I want!!! But no matter what I decide on, I'm never disappointed. My taste buds do a happy dance, they enjoy it so immensely. Everyone must go here, don't deny your mouth this treat!!
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Kind of expensive gelato place but you're on the Promenade; what do you expect? That being said, with 100+ delicious gelato flavors to choose from you really can't go wrong. On a hot day walking in the sun this can be just the little break you need.
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This is place has so many flavors of gelato! be prepared to stand there drooling for at least five minutes before actually commiting to a flavor or two. This is a great location, you can walk across the street and catch a movie with your sweetheart or go shopping for a new outfit. I really like the "feel" of this place. I came here on a cold windy day but the bright colors and lights made me feel like it was a hot late night in July. It might have also been the genuis kids talking about the costume design from Nanny McFee that made me feel like we were there during summer break. hmm...but whatev..it was good.
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With so many flavors to choose from, I spent way too long just looking at the flavors.
I was with three of my girlfriends so it was a better idea to get 3 scoops cup, instead of having each one scoop each (more pricey).
We got Green Apple, Green Tea (my FAV) and Raspberry (something like that), which was delicious. Also, the amount of 3 scoops was generous for all of us, which was good.
There is no space to eat inside so you can eat at the outside seating, which consists of several round white plastic tables and chairs.
Loved it. If you're at the Promenade, good place to stop by some yummy gelato.
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This establishment has been around for a while (at least 3 years in my memory) and many times I passed by without entering. Finally, after watching Blades of Glory around 12 a..m. I was practically forced to walk into Angelato because 1. It was freezing cold outside and 2. It was the only place that was open and not a bar in the area.
So, we're in there getting warm, while tasting free ice-cream, then I got sucked into buying a whole COOKIES AND CREAM gelato. Moly, that stuff is the shiznits. It's FREAKIN GOOD. Wow. I love cookies 'n cream and get it everwhere, but it was uber good at Angelato.
M claims that this is the BEST GELATO HE"S HAD IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE. I haven't had enough to say that quite yet, but it sure beats the home made gelato we had in Salamanca.
Edit: I went back here once more after having tried Gelato Bar in Studio City. Now Angelato is a 3.
It's not that great. PLeeeeease, if you love gelato, the trip to Gelato Bar is worthwhile. The Triplo is amazing.
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Ahhh....a perfect afternoon walking along the cobblestone streets around the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, look over there, it's the Coliseum...wait a sec, I'm not in Rome, I'm in downtown Santa Monica enjoying a dish of gelato on a sunny afternoon.
Where the gelato doesn't compare to gelato in Italy, it comes in a pretty good second. Big decision on which flavors to get (almost too many options) ranging from chocolate (and variations of chocolate - with peanut butter or cookies or chips or raspberry) to fruit sorbets.
A perfect break from the crazies on the Promenade. Or, a happy memory of the trip to Italy.
If you want a flavor of gelato and they don't have it here you're out of luck. Damn. I really wanted that dark chocolate I found in Italy that nobody in the US makes. Otherwise, choice abounds at this shop right off the promenade.
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This is like the baskin robbins of gelato but there's A LOT more than just 31 flavors...try like 100.
Yeah you can literally stand there all there testing out flavors, but they only let you try three so choose wisely. Here are the different types of products they offer.
* Gelato
* Sorbetto
* Tofulati
* Yogurt
* Sugar-Free Products
* Panini
* Espresso
You start with paying for the number of scoops you want, in a cup or cone, and then you show the receipt to the scooper. You get to sample 3 flavors maximum. 1 scoop is in actuality 2 scoops, but you can't ask for the second scoop to be another flavor (I guess they don't think their scoopers are big enough).
They even have a selection of paninis on the menu, but I've never tried them.
Cuisine--Italian gelato
Rating-- Four stars
Ambience--Storefront restaurant with a handful of sidewalk tables.
Best flavors--Black currant, mango, blueberry yogurt
Prices-- 3.25 for one scoop.
Service-- Casual
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I CRAVE this gelato...I wish I had more reasons to go all the way to Santa Monica so I could have it more often. I don't care about the price or the cash only policy, I just want my three flavor tastings and my little cup of heaven.
I was a gelato virgin until I stepped into this place - so many colors...all those flavors, this place ROCKS! If you're undecided on what you want to settle on simply ask for a free sample and they'll gladly oblige. My fav's so far are the 'chocolate pistachio' and the 'tiramisu' gelato. While it may be pricey, it's so worth it.
OMG! The staff are quite entertaining too - when we walked in they had the ABBA soundtrack playing from Mamma Mia! and just when they thought we weren't looking we caught them singing and dancing to the tunes - what a sight - 2 guys singing/dancing!
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when it comes to gelato you usually find:
a. not a wide variety, but a good price
b. an okay variety and an alright price
c. a wide variety at an expensive price
unfortunately, angelato is too damn expensive, but it does have a really wide variety.
The flavors are pretty good, some are questionable....
the staff can be rude too.
the ambiance is cliche but i didn't really expect better...
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Soooo many flavors, and they have an authentic espresso sundae, which is really like an coffee orgasm in your mouth (try it with Tiramisu gelato). But the service wasn't nice at all.
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Uh huh... over a hundred flavors of gelati in a brilliantly saturated spectral array. Folks who work here MUST undergo a test or drill in patience, cuz you KNOW even the most impulsive get-to-the-point kind of person is gonna kvetch to no end about what they'll order here.
Once I witnessed a meter maid starting to write up a ticket for my car just outside (expired parking meter... no, dumbass forgot to put the coin in). I dashed out, pleaded and offered to buy her a cup of gelato. She smiled, obliged with a cup of Pistachio & Mascarpone, THEN gave me the ticket.
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Yes, lately it seems that gelato is all the rage. But until I stepped into this place I had not yet experienced the rage.
My boyfriend and I were just hanging out at the SM Promenade when I noticed this place. I decided I wanted to try some gelato so we went inside.... where we were almost overwhelmed with the many, many, many different flavors one could experience. Growing up a child of the 80's this was nothing like the visits to 31 flavors, there must have been over 100 flavors to choose from.
I finally choose 3 flavors, and of course saw 50 more I'd like to try. I was happy with all of my choices and will definitely be going back to try some more!
The gelato selection is enormous. The gelato was okay. The sign in the store pretty much states that the gelato is fat-free/made with non-fat milk. This explains why the texture and the taste of Angelato's gelato is not like the traditional gelato. For the health-conscious types, this is the place for you. For a Foodie, this is not your place.
Agree with Nicole G. that the workers here are pretty rude. It's obvious that they don't really care about you wanting to come back or not. Kind of arrogant, I suppose since they do have customers continuously lining up for the gelato.
I wouldn't say it's "to die for" kind of gelato. I had a scoop of their Mocha and a sample taste of "After Eight", which was a white minty chocolate chip something... didn't like it. The Mocha was too sweet for my mouth. I probably wouldn't get it again if I happen to drop in again. My sis had the mango and she liked it. They do have a large variety of colorful flavors to choose from, but I didn't get a chance to check out all of them since people in line where just as rude as the workers. They will push and shove ever so impatiently... probably because you have to pay for your selection before being served. And, it's probably human nature to want to be served immediately once you pay for something. A lady behind me couldn't shut up about me asking the worker for a sample taste. She said something like " Oh great, now they're going to sample all of them!" What a bitch. I turned to her and told her to wait until her turn and let the worker wait on me then she can have a sample too. She had nothing left to say after that. Some people. Come to think of it, I should have lagged on longer and sampled another (you can sample a total of 3 flavors) just to piss her off.
Pretty pricey for the quality of the gelato. $3.25 per scoop.
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This place looks great from the outside b/c of all the colors and choices
but the flavors suck!
I am surprised by all the positive reviews.
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More than 100 flavors of gelato gourmet Italian ice cream, displayed like a rainbow. Paradise found?
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I know I shouldn't compare this to the gelato that I had in Rome. But I can't help it. Overall, if I hadn't gone, this place would probably be the shi-et. It's conveniently located off the Promenade, has an assortment of flavors & all very neatly displayed. Everything feels cool, fresh & clean. You get three free samples, which makes it nice. But, I can't shake off the price for a scoop of gelato. Granted, like the other yelper said, you get adorable cups & small shovel spoons with your gelato. But I guess they have to justify their prices b/c of the high rent? Who knows? I guess when visitors stop by & the weather's nice, why not treat yourself?
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I'm an indecisive person, so for me, this was like stepping into hell. They have over a hundred flavors. Geez Louise. I ended up getting the kiwi sorbetto (doesn't compare to the one in Berkeley), the tiramisu (extremely, extremely good) and the black forest. It's definitely a place to try.
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