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Almare Gelato Italiano
Category: Food Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
2170 Shattuck Ave(at Allston Way)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Neighborhood: Downtown Berkeley
(510) 649-1888
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 12 am
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
148 reviews for Almare Gelato Italiano
Review Highlights
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"The flavors spanned from sweet milk to raspberry." In 10 reviews -
"The hot chocolate was so thick it coated the spoon." In 7 reviews -
"My favorite is strawberry and panna cotta." In 8 reviews
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148 reviews in English
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Review from Theresia D.
Vallejo, CA
4/10/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Yummmmmmmmmmmm
I wish that was all I could say but let me tell you. This place is so good that the BF and I come from West Oakland almost twice in one weekend (at least this month).
The service is on point. The flavors are the best i've had in town. And the hours are the best....open till at least 11pm and midnight Fri and Sat.
We never get to make it home with our gelato, it is finished in the car ride there, LoL. -
Review from Katie S.
3/26/2012
They don't have the biggest flavor selection, but they sure make delicious gelato. I love their sweet milk, coffee, and hazelnut flavors :) I wish they have pistachio more often! (heads to Naia..)
FYI they accept credit card with a $5 minimum. Otherwise theres a 50 cents charge. And be sure to get a frequent buyer card! -
Review from Stephanie L.
Berkeley, CA
1/11/2012
No fro-yo places were open late during winter break because when the Cal students go home, Telegraph shuts down. So I was left looking for a gelato place. I was originally headed towards Naia Gelateria but I couldn't remember exactly where it was on Shattuck. So I ran into Almare first and went in.
There was a decent number of people sitting at the tables but it wasn't over crowded. There were two men helping behind the counter with samplings and orders, so there was no wait and great, efficient service. I ordered the three scope, which you initially think is expensive at $4.50 but then you realize that they give you plenty of gelato. I got the lavender blueberry, caramel, and banana&coconut&mango. The last flavor was all three flavors mixed together in one delicious flavor. I loved the unique flavors! My brother got the lemon and creme (two scoops was $3.50). Next time I am craving gelato, we will be back! -
Review from Jennifer K.
El Cerrito, CA
5/11/2012
The hot chocolate is somewhere between a normal hot chocolate and a sipping chocolate texture wise. Unfortunately it was pretty bitter so we didn't end up finishing the tiny cup we got. The toasted almond flavor wasn't as strong as I was hoping it would be, but was still good. The caramel was good. But where they really shine is the hazelnut, best hazelnut (sorry Naia!) I've had outside of Frost (in Tucson, AZ). Get that and some chocolate - good but nothing special - and you have a fantastic nutella flavor combo. The gelato here is also super smooth and creamy, I think half step up from Lush and a full step up from Naia. The selection here is around the same size as Lush, but mostly straightforward flavors.
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Review from Negien M.
San Francisco, CA
12/30/2011
The selection is limited, but I suppose it's better to do a few things well. I tried the toasted almond, cookies and creams, and chocolate. The flavors were clean and the texture was smooth with a very slight stretchiness. The price is typical - $2.50 for the smallest size.
I use to go to naia a lot, and I don't remember how it compares to this place.. but naia did have an awesome chocolate orange flavor, which almare should considering stealing :) -
Review from Geoff U.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2012
This place makes good gelato but the workers are sometime unfriendly. The other day I went in with the attention of buying two scoops. I asked for a taste of just one flavor and the unfriendly guy working there gave me about as little as could possibly fit on one of those mini spoons. It was almost a joke how little it was. Bad business strategy. I walked out and went to John's instead.
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Review from Jana S.
Updated - 9/20/2011
Were it not for the reminder from cousin to bring some gianduia over to Asia, totally would have forgotten to mention Almare's.
It is simply perfect.....luscious, creamy, super decadent. Deep flavors...
Tried too a light, clean, crisp pear anise sorbet.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/8/2011
So delicious....
Duo of kiwi and toasted almond with carmelized figs
Bro ordered an affogato with the… Read more »
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Review from Vino L.
Berkeley, CA
2/25/2012
FAVORITE GELATO PLACE IN BERKELEY. MMM all the flavors are very authentic and the gelato is just delightful creamy goodness. Favorite flavors: Hazlenut and chocolate, toasted almond, and lavender and blueberries (sounds a little eccentric but it's so well made!).
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Review from April K.
9/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
DANG!
#1: Amazing gelato. I tasted nearly every flavor before deciding on the Cardamom Custard. Yup. Cardamom Custard! It tastes even better than it sounds. I wish I was eating some right now.
#2: While I was eating my gelato I heard both Rob Base and Madonna songs. This made me feel warm and fuzzy.
#3: Did I mention the CARDAMOM CUSTARD flavored gelato?!?!?!
EFFF YESSSSSSSS. More please. -
Review from Noor M.
Berkeley, CA
8/19/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I love this little place! They are always nice about letting you sample the different flavors.. however, my favorites are the chocolate gelato and the strawberry sorbet.
Each time I go in thinking that I will try a different flavor but habit gets the best of me as I stick to chocolate or strawberry!
Nevertheless, I highly recommend going here and enjoying a scoop or two of amazing gelato in unique flavors!
Overall rating - - 4/5 -
Review from Johnny C.
Oakland, CA
1/3/2012
*disclaimer*: provocative sexual references are in this review
Ever since I reblogged a picture of thick Italian (that's what he said) hot chocolate on tumblr, I've been wanting to try a nice mug of it. The only problem is that I thought I had to go all the way to Italy to get it. Thankfully, my friend and I walked by this place and saw a sandwich board with a picture of it and immediately we ran in and ordered some sweets!
My friend ordered the smallest size of gelato with half strawberry and half lemon gelato and she thought it was delicious :] She was surprised though that it she ate it so fast!
And I ordered the thick Italian (that's what he said) hot chocolate with whipped cream on top (that's the way I like it). I have to say I was pretty impressed! It was really delicious and I'm glad after looking for it for so long, I finally found it! When I saw it being poured into the mug, it was so thick (unf) and creamy (oh yeah), almost like a warm chocolate pudding. And when I drank it and experienced the creamy warm feeling run down my throat, it was very satisfying and really hit the spot. And the whipped cream was very thick as well (damn right it was). And it was a cold contrast juxtaposed to the warm hot chocolate. And I noticed that it was like drinking liquid dark chocolate. It was fairly bitter but a great flavor that I really liked :]
I highly suggest coming here to get the beverage. Now if only I could find a thick Italian man. -
Review from Carolyn Y.
Berkeley, CA
10/12/2011
I go here way too often. I'm not sure what real authentic gelato should taste like since I've never been to Italy but it tastes good, which is good enough for me.
I usually get the whole fruit flavors (kiwi or strawberry) - they taste super fruity and not so creamy like ice cream which is great. Chocolate is good too.
Also they have student discounts on weekday afternoons and a buy 9, get the 10th scoop free card (that I always forget to use). Workers are super friendly. -
Review from Miyako L.
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Super authentic Stracciatella gelato is a must here!! My uncle heard about this place from his co-worker. So that means word spread from Berkeley all the way down to Silicon Valley!! We came here after a movie at the Shattuck Cinema and were amazed by the perfection of the gelato. Two flavors that stand out in my mind (besides the Stracciatella) are the Pear Anise and Cardamom Custard.
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Review from Hannah C.
Berkeley, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
The flavors here are delicious and unique. I don't like my desserts overwhelmingly sweet and their desserts were light and flavorful. :)
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Review from Stacey C.
Fremont, CA
6/30/2011
The best gelato I've ever tasted.
Not too sweet, not sticky like those from the other gelato places. It simply melts in your mouth without after taste. I've tried quite a few varieties. (Thanks to their generosity.) They are all authentic and rich in flavor. The pistachio is to die for.
Their service is always great. The girl who worked in the afternoon of Sat. 6/25 was so nice. I will definitely come back again and again. -
Review from Karen S.
7/19/2011 2 photos
I feel like I had been to this place before but I can't quite remember. Anyway, now that I actually remember coming here, I really really like this place! Thy boyfriend & I have been here twice & here are the flavors we've had along with some of our thoughts.
Pistachio: This was probably the best pistachio anything I've ever had. It was not too sweet & had only a slight hint of sweetness which showed that it was not artificial.
Lemon: The boyfriend said this was the most intense lemon flavor he's ever had & I concur. During the walk across campus, both of us kept eating and puckering our faces.
Chocolate hazelnut: This tasted exactly like Nutella but frozen. Fabulous!
Lavender blueberries: An interesting & unique flavor combination that worked really well for me. Unfortunately, the boyfriend equated it to eating my scented oil.
Sweet milk with passion fruit: I was very impressed that it was made with real passion fruit. However, without the puree, the whole thing just tasted like milk.
Mint chip: The mint flavor stood out but there was not enough chips.
Coffee: While it was good, it was too sweet & far from being the best coffee flavor we've both had.
I was not really a fan of gelato because of its richness & the dairy. However, since re'discovering Almare, I must say I have become a little bit of an enthusiast & I look forward to returning and discovering more awesome flavors. -
Review from Kelly C.
Gelato = YUM. The best gelato I've had indeed. All of their flavors are wonderful, particularly the fruity ones: strawberry & kiwi. Reason? They had REAL fruit pieces inside. I mean seriously, who wouldn't want REAL fruit? Feel free to taste any/all of their gelatos to your delight.
My gelato faves:
- kiwi
- strawberry
- hazlenut
So I saw this newspaper clipping posted on their wall talking about how delicious their Italian Hot Chocolate is. And I fell for it...I went ahead and ordered their $3 cup of hot chocolate. And? Well, I was sort of disappointed. It's super rich, but not like the delicious type of "richness" you want in your drink. It wasn't really sweet either, which was fine with me; however, I just found it really hard to drink. It was only bearable when I drank it with a small spoonful of whip cream.
Anyhow, come for their gelatos and listen to the store owners speak authentic Italian.
Oh and the best part is: they are "green" in the sense that they recycle their spoons. Awesomeness, period. -
Review from Cary L.
Berkeley, CA
4/3/2011
While I was frolicking through Rome and Florence I made it a point to eat at the best gelato places that locals recommended. (I had gelato five times in three days!)
I would definitely say Almare is very close if not just as good.
When it's available I highly recommend the grapefruit flavor! It is super refreshing and tastes like fresh grapefruit partying in yo mouf. -
Review from Angela S.
San Francisco, CA
4/22/2011
I really can't think of a flavor that I've tried from here that I haven't liked. They're good, basic flavors that all gelato shops should have, like lemon, chocolate, hazelnut, and tirimisu. I like that they don't get overly complicated with the flavors, because I've been to places where they don't have chocolate, but they do have lavender - guava - vanilla, and sea salt - almond - cardamom and shit like that. Nobody wants that shit in real life. Well, I guess some people do, and they can just keep their asses in the north bay.
This place is clean and bright, yet easy to overlook, because of the about 5,000,000,000 other gelato/ice cream/frozen yogurt places that adorn shattuck, as well. Almare is not a place to skip over. The gelato is rich and glistening, and the two friendly young guys listening to Def Leppard will gladly give you as many free samples as you want. -
Review from Alisha T.
6/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is the best gelato I've had in the bay area. Every time I'm in Berkeley, I visit Almare. The consistency and flavor are exceptional.
My favorite flavors are tiramisu, toasted almond with caramelized figs, and sweet milk (fior di latte). Their gelato seems to be better than their sorbet, but then again I'm not a huge sorbet fan.
The other downside is that the owner keeps rotating the flavors such that they rarely have my favorites. On the up side, I've been forced to try new flavors, and I leave happy every time. -
Review from Pam G.
Berkeley, CA
11/17/2011
Almare Gelato is heaven. I crave their hazelnut flavor often. While all of their flavors are light yet rich (like a cloud of Olympian Ambrosia), the hazelnut is by far the best. It's rich, creamy, light, nutty, and hazelnutty.
And they have a frequent customer discount card, which is a nice added perk.
Whenever friends are in town, I always bring them here. It's definitely one of Berkeley's go-to places.
The dining space is not that exciting, pretty basic really--but it doesn't matter because it's the yummy gelato that is the real draw here. -
Review from T L.
Berkeley, CA
3/17/2011 4 Check-ins Here
It's a nice place to stop by if you're in the area! Parking can be hard depending on time of day but it's pretty free at night! There's a few tables so you can come here for a sit down post-dinner date.
Their gelato is pretty good. I am sad to say that there aren't that many different flavors, and they really don't change it up much. I tried their fruity flavors and I was not fond because it was wayyy too icy. Not even like regular sherbet. Also I normally really like the yogurt berry flavored but there's was waayy to milky. So I would steer clear of those.
But my 4 star review is for the CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT, PISTACHIO, TIRAMISU yummmmmm. All three are super delicious. The chocolate hazelnut is the bestttt; it's the only flavor I get now! Their portion sizes are perfect too. Not too small for you want more and not too big to get sick of it. Great gelato place! -
Review from Ken S.
Berkeley, CA
4/13/2011
Food: 3.5 Stars
Almare Gelato has good flavor and good variety for a good price. I usually feel bad about trying 15 flavors, so I only tasted the Strawberry, Caramel, Hazelnut, and Almond. They had a consistent richness and creaminess without being too heavy. The flavors were all pretty well balanced. Nothing spectacular on the creative end, but I heard they had reduced their flavors by half. (Recession gelato... what are you gonna do?) Almare isn't spectacular, but it's a good place to drop by if you're in the area. -
Review from Paolo T.
Brooklyn, NY
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good but not great gelato. I had much better. Kinda pricey for Berkeley also, almost as expensive as NYC.
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Review from Lynn P.
10/17/2011
Sampled 4 flavors before settling on their Toasted Almond & Carmelized Fig and their Chocolate Hazelnuts, and thought the flavors were good. However, I've had phenomenal gelato elsewhere and so felt like the gelato here didn't quite live up to what it could be in terms of flavor and texture. I was impressed by the staff's level of attention to all the customers wanting to sample various flavors on this recent, busy Saturday night however, and so I'd give them 3.5 stars to be more accurate.
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Review from Joan K.
Berkeley, CA
Okay... whenever I am down Shattuck I usually get yogurtland or John's ice cream BUT today... I discovered Almare!! Our group wanted something fancier after our dinner! Therefore... GELATO!! =)
So... the place was pretty cutesy with them Christmas lights! AHH I love Christmas lights &&& the interior was pretty cute! AHA anyways... the service was realllly good! Example: We basically waited like 15 minutes for one person but they didn't complain ONE bit! :D
I basically got like 4 samples? BUT they were really chill & nice about it! I loved them ALL! I couldn't decidee :/ I ended up getting the almond & the hazelnut. SUCH A GREAT COMBO!! The hazelnut was a tad better^^ I also tried my friends' strawberry, oreo, coffee, lemon, pineapple, && basically... I think all of them were good! tehe
Such a nice place to just chat and enjoy dessert! I am definitely going there from now on. You should too!! GO GO GO!! =)Listed in: Berkeley Favs!
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Review from Tito Y.
Emeryville, CA
10/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
It was a late, warm night, about to watch a last showing at one of the neighboring movie houses. I saw this brightly colorfully glowing storefronts, where I entered and saw a display case gelato selections. I only went in to grab a much needed Illy espresso fix when I was also offered a small teaspoon of any flavor to taste. Three teaspoons later, mental pictures of heaven bubbled over my head like a scream of joy releasing into the small space. I could see smirks of others that could understand my glee.
Gelato is suppose to hit you like a Ferrari in fifth gear. Its suppose to be that perfect. Almare Gelato Italiano, did exactly that, all in a small espresso and a tiny teaspoon of pure joy. -
Review from Alyssa L.
Berkeley, CA
8/4/2011
mmm what is there not to love about this place? the employees are always super friendly, they're open late and they have the best flavors. i sampled the green apple ginger and it was so good! my personal favorite is the chocolate oreo and strawberry together, they're amazing! i don't know what it is about the chocolate oreo but it gets me every time.
on a side note, there is this one guy who's very easy on the eyes that works there as well.. he always makes my day a little better when i come in. i can't help but tip. ;) -
Review from Marius K.
San Francisco, CA
5/30/2011 3 Check-ins Here
+ excellent consistency
+ excellent flavor
one of the best gelato places I've been to in the Bay Area, and whenever I'm in Berkeley I make sure to stop by there.
There are plenty of hipster gelato-chains in the area which have odd "fad" concoctions but don't really deliver on quality. But this place is very reliably great and keeping it somewhat more traditional. Excellent consistency and flavor... and I'm saying that after having been throughout Europe to try gelato -
Review from J X.
Berkeley, CA
11/15/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Almare's gelato is delicious. I'm not too big on the sorbettos, but man their nutella and hazelnut gelatos are awesome. High quality, and reasonably priced, too! (Especially if you're a Cal student and go during their special hours.) I also sampled some of their ridiculously thick hot chocolate the last time i went and am definitely going to get me a cup of that the next time it rains. And the owner, Alberto, was super helpful and nice.
Highly recommended. -
Review from Charles B.
San Francisco, CA
10/27/2011
They let chocolate be chocolate.
It's that simple.
Best chocolate ever!
And you can get a reasonable size too.
This is definitely my go-to gelato place in Berkeley over Naia and Lush. -
Review from Stella C.
10/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
Back before smartphones and mobile web was commonplace for the regular joe, we used travel guides to navigate through foreign countries. Remember books?! A travel guide I used in Italy taught me something that would become particularly useful for my future gelato endeavors and easily let me know within a second of walking into a store what was real/fresh and what was not. I have held this little secret close to my frozen-treat-loving-stomach ever since. And I'm sorry to say, Almare didn't pass the test.
We gave it a try anyway after dinner to try something new & indulge in some sweets. While they give you a good portion at $2.50/scoop, I wasn't impressed with the flavor at all. The yogurt flavored gelato was tasty, but I would say, just go get true tart froyo instead. The tiramisu flavor was just ok, but it was the toasted almond that tasted like it was filled with almond syrup.
With Gelateria Naia just a block over, sorry, I will not be back here. -
Review from Janice W.
11/8/2010 6 Check-ins Here
Good gelato for a decent price.
They have a large selection of flavors, and everything is made fresh in the mornings in their gelato 'lab'. The servers were nice and patient, as we tried the different flavors and couldn't really decide all that quickly what to get.
Ended up getting the strawberry flavored gelato, which ended up being extremely fruit-like (which was a good thing!), and left me content. I still prefer Fudgelato in Alameda, though, as their prices are cheaper, and I just happen to like their flavors more. -
Review from Kristy K.
Berkeley, CA
4/6/2011
Another good place to have some gelato~
It has a good deal for students when you go during the specified hours.
I ordered the smallest size, Uno and still could have two flavors.
The hazelnut tasted like nutella and the yogurt flavor was good, but for me it wasn't tangy enough.
My friend had the chai tea flavored which was pretty good too. -
Review from Elaine L.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 2/3/2011
what happened to the dollar scoops!? :(((
The grapefruit is delicious. i really like the italian ice texture but I'm super sad they didnt have the dollar scoop option anymore.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/15/2010
I came here again and tasted the white chocolate and pistachio.... only to find that they tasted too… Read more »
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Review from Ziru C.
Albany, CA
1/10/2011
My housemate took me here for an after dinner dessert. I have to say that what they have is quite tasty. I had the tiramisu and the pistachio, two loves of mine. Delicious creaminess.
The service is friendly and nice. They were very patient as I gazed upon their offerings with a blank look on my face, my indecisiveness taking over as there were so many yummy choices in front of me.
I would give this place another star, but I found a hair in my gelato. Is it gross that I just kept eating it anyway? I mean, tiramisu and pistachio! I couldn't help myself... *shame* -
Review from Lauren S.
San Francisco, CA
7/30/2011
Been on the hunt for good gelato for many moons, and this place really gets it right. Interesting range of flavors, from the more traditional (stracciatella, strawberry, tiramisu) to the more unconventional (cardamom custard, white chocolate blueberry). I loved the toasted almond with caramelized figs. Wonderful texture, vibrant flavor, and it tasted fresh-- almost homemade. Deliciosoooo.
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Review from Ligaya T.
San Francisco, CA
9/2/2009 1 photo
Wow, they've done it. They've unlocked the formula for optimally textured frozen desserts. Its description sounds like a contradiction: creamy, and smooth, thick yet fluffy, laden with flavor. Fresh made daily is no doubt part of the secret too. My only complaint with the product is too much sugar. The character would be much more bold if it wasn't masked by a cloying sweetness.
On a positive note, the staff is as sweet as the gelato. The rest of the operation leaves a bit to be desired. The lights are bright, and the space isn't conducive to chilling and enjoying. They also use plastic utensils and cups. It'd be great to see biodegradable or washable spoons for tastings. We are in Berkeley, after all.Listed in: Downtown Berkeley, Bay Area Frozen Treats
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Review from Ed U.
5/1/2008 1 photo
Here's my ole pal Dino singing one of his big hits...
http://www.youtube.com...
Almare, oh oh
Cantare, oh oh oh oh
Let them scoop up a flavor or two
And not worry about our growing bellies anew
We can lick up a bowl of coffee gelato
And let the vagrants yell their bravado
Let us leave all talk of diet and exercise behind
Just like pigs at a trough, a rainbow together we'll find
Oh yes, it is so Italiano this place and oh so new. It's right next to the 1970's-era pavilion that provides the main entry into the Downtown Berkeley BART station. It's too bad that it's also a central meeting spot for the loudest street people in the East Bay as they make you maneuver around their shopping carts. Alas, I wish the owners well because the gelato is pretty good, certainly as good as Naia if not better.
The have three sizes and I went for the smallest - the so-called "due" - and had the server combine mango and pistachio. There were dozens of enticing flavors in the case. Tasty stuff after a big dinner at Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen...although you can count on a request for change or your first-born if you loiter on the benches too long. And watch out for skinny girls who oversample...they take forever and have no regard for the people behind them. Oh, I think Dean Martin is singing again...
GELATO - 4 stars....good stuff, paisan
AMBIANCE - 3 stars..."No, I don't have any change."
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...regulation scoopers...too generous with their samples if you ask me
TOTAL - 3 stars...Almare, oh oh oh ohListed in: Go East, Young Man!, In Space, No One Can Hear You…
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Review from Tina B.
1/6/2009
Ah...just like the gelato of Italy.
I mean, I imagine it is, because everything was really delicious and really all in Italian. Even the chick working there wasn't sure of what all of the flavors actually were - "It's kind of like a nut flavor." Okay.....
So I had something that was Kind Of Like A Nut Flavor and one that was Kind of Chocolaty and another that was Probably Grapefruitish and what was Coconut, I'm Pretty Sure.
It was all Pretty Damned Amazing.
My vegan sister didn't partake, cause they seemed a little sketchy about whether or not it had dairy, which made me secretly crave it more (oh cream, delicious cream).Listed in: NorCal Round-up 2008, Neither Fish Nor Fowl (Nor Pig…
