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Categories: Restaurants, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Coffee & Tea
2719 Wilson BlvdMon-Thu. 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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The gelato is great!! It tastes fantastic and the flavors are true to their names.
There are two things that keep Boccato Gelato from being five stars for me:
1. The lack of seating -- especially this time of year when it's cold outside
2. It's pricey and they only take cash.
I've been here a few times now and I still can't say I'm a fan. Some of the flavors I've had--like the pear--taste artificial or candy like (think Jelly Belly!!!) Let me tell you, I love my candy, but but for going prices, I expect fresh, natural flavors.
The limited seating also is not helpful--especially now that it's getting cold, there's no place to shelter you from the cold while eating a cold dessert! Maybe I'll revisit the issue....next spring after it begins to thaw.
I've been wanting to try to place for a while. Ever since Ben and Jerrys, this area was in need an… Read more »
Pretty good place! Not as rich as the place in Reston but a definite great stop after lunch!
My brother and his buddy got the Affogato (sp?) one with Cake Batter and the other got Chocolate Hazelnut. YUM! I just opted for a scoop of White Chocolate and Honey Almonds. Pretty delicious stuff!
1.5 stars
I think gelato should always tatse wonderful, even if it's not known to be great. It just tastes so much better than ice cream. The flavors I tried here were so-so. A few times they were a little icy. Service has a lot to be desired. I met who I believe to be the owner/manager. Not a very nice guy. There are a lot better, fresher, tastier
3.85 stars.
Delightful, cozy shop along Wilson Boulevard with coffee drinks, teas, and gelato. Stylish, with sexy lighting, and reminiscent of hip places in San Francisco. Very little seating, but there are a couple of wrought iron chairs and a nice ledge for enjoying your treat outside. Gelato is not authentically dense or incomparably creamy, but the chocolate spice yogurt was filled with cocoa and crisp autumn breezes (or, like chocolate-covered holidays), both comforting and refreshing. But, the blood orange sherbet fared a bit roughly, with a texture strangely akin to sugarless bubble gum. Overall, a nice place to stop for a treat while strolling along the quieter corridors in Arlington.
If you call ahead and ask if they'll stay open just a smidgen later for you, they will. If you want to have a flavor that they haven't made yet, they might just adopt it and make it part of their rotation.
Where else can you get such a sense of community that's just a few steps away from the metro? Not too expensive, and the staff is always one step ahead. I came in here and was muttering aloud to myself flavors I thought were interesting and I look up to see a sample spoon of Pumpkin waiting for me. It's not Iceberry, Shilla, or Milwaukee Frozen Custard, but it's better than tangysweet, Mr. Yogato, Yogenfruz, Dolcezza, Sweet Green, and Pitango.
Plus I have some awesome memories from here~
One star down for the teen who rang me up who seemed too bored to do his job.
I got a cup of the Elvis-inspired flavor, peanut butter and banana. Good stuff!
I saw the list where you can suggest your own flavor, so I put one up there. I hope they use it!
You know this place is good if there's a line out the door!
I've always passed by this place when…
Read more »
Based on on a thread written by yelpers about the horrific customer service, I vowed never to come here. However, my BFF was jonzin' for some cold sweets so I tagged along although I warned her we might be entering a fire storm.
To my surprise, the manager was super nice. I inquired his name and I believe he said his was Jason. So if you get Jason, you'll be happy with the customer service. His staff, however, seemed a bit frustrated (yet kept their cool) as I demanded to taste every single flavor of their "gelato". I would have left a tip but I really needed the quarters for the meter. Kudos to the staff.
Alas, this is not gelato. Sigh... It's a hybrid of gelato and ice cream. Perhaps they can call it crelato? or gela-cream? I was sad when eating it as I sat outside on their welfare benches made out of plywood and milk crates.
Sadly, I cannot return here. I gave it 3 stars because I got the "nice" manager who was happy, polite, and was very proud of his business. However it was not enough to wow me back... well, I lied. Perhaps I'll try their coffee.
The bottom line: Stumptown Coffee in the D.C. area warrants 5 stars. The gelato also gets a solid 4 stars.
Without question, Stumptown (from Portland, OR) is my favorite coffee. I have never tasted more distinct and nuanced flavor profiles (in this review, I'm talking about non-specialty drink coffee) ranging from rich and nutty to floral and fruity. At Boccato, they brew it right (takes about 4 minutes in a press pot) and it's worth the wait. Though I had luscious lattes in Portland, I have not yet tried the specialty drinks at Boccato.
The gelato at Boccato is rich, creamy and delicious. I can't think of any other area gelato that is so similar to what I had in Italy. I have seen some inventive flavors: chocolate with bacon (garnished with fried pork rinds) and pineapple-basil. I can enjoy subtle flavors but I do wish that the gelato flavors popped a little more.
Overall, I think this is a great (albeit a bit pricey) stop for coffee or gelato.
3.5. Who knew this is where all the locals hangout after dinner?
it's an interesting sight to see people happily overpay for coffee and gelato and then eat their purchases sitting on wooden planks outside. Some of the flavors are a little strange, I think there was a lavender pomegranate? I like the peach flavor. but i admit, I enjoy the place, even if it is overpriced. And I enjoy sitting outside, even if it's on makeshift benches.
Ding ding, check! Add this to the list of shops serving real espresso. I hear the gelato is great, but I can't weigh in. On the espresso, however, I can sound my trumpet: they do it right.
Friendly barista answered my questions about the espresso blend (Hair Bender from Stumptown -- pretty dope), and clued me in to private parking lot around the corner. What a chap!
'Twas so good, in fact, that I returned later the same day. ...to have an Affogato -- a scoop of gelato covered with a double shot of espresso. I got the XXX chocolate blend and all was right. Mmmm.
I have to say, I've seen a lot of critique of the service at Boccato, and I've never had a problem, but I've also never been there when it was crazy crowded. I've always been able to try any number of flavors, and things went really smoothly with getting my gelato.
As far as how it compares to gelato in Italy, I also can't say. I know that the flavors I like best are bananatella (banana and nutella - heaven), carambola (starfruit) and pineapple basil. There's also a hazelnut chocolate flavor that gave this chocoholic her daily fix. The fruity ones definitely remind me more of the tart sorbets, rather than ice cream, but they aren't as icy as sorbet, which I like. One disappointing thing is you never know if they're going to have your favorite flavor, because they change it up pretty frequently. Overall, though, I say go for it!
Somewhat limited selection, but they are always showcasing new, creative flavors. Absolutely delicious. I've never left disappointed.
There is always a line out of the door and it seems they've hired new staff so the wait times aren't as atrocious. It's worth the wait though.
Downside - cash only!
1 scoop for 3.50 and 2 scoops for 4.50 so the prices are pretty standard. the choices are somewhat limited (I think there are 10-15 or so). If I had stuck with all one flavor (Minty choc oreo) for my 2 scoops I would've given this place 4 stars but my other scoop of roasted almond was mediocre. The roasted almond tasted less creamy or more icy while the minty choc oreo tasted like what I think gelato should taste like - smooth and creamy.
Boccato is a standard gelato place but since it's situated in a nice part of Clarendon and gets a ton of foot traffic, it will be a novelty for a while - as for me though - I can get mediocre gelato from my neighbor grocer's freezer.
The gelato itself? Fine. Nothing special. It's a little like delivery pizza: you're enjoying it while you're eating it, but there's nothing about it that'll make you think about it after it's done.
What really bugged me about the place was the people working there. Between the three employees that I saw, they gave the entire place an atmosphere of couldn't-care-less. It was completely disorganized.
The customers had self-organized into a line, waiting for the one person who was scooping the gelato, but she had no interest in honoring the line, instead just letting us fight out who was next, which this one guy was happy to take advantage of and jump right in front of us, leaving us to organize ourselves and tell him that there was a line.
Then there was the girl behind the counter, whose job it is to also make coffee, meaning you had another long, disorganized wait after actually getting your gelato. She also had no interest in the line and just seemingly randomly picked out people to ring up when she was done with the very slow coffee-making process.
Then there was the guy who I'm assuming is the owner. He was charging around behind the counter in a ratty Yuengling t-shirt and was *dripping* sweat. I don't know what he was doing, but it had nothing to do with the customers in the store. He wasn't ringing anyone up or helping the other employees in any way. He just seemed angry and annoyed.
It was 8:00 on a warm Monday night, but I left this place feeling the same way I do when I end up at some exclusive club with arbitrary rules at the door: that everyone working there had the attitude that I should feel lucky to be there, but that there was absolutely nothing to the place that made me that way. Maybe I'd been spoiled by Dolcezza (really good) and Pitango (fantastic), but I can only recommend this place if you happen to be in the neighborhood. There's really nothing else about it that would make it worth going to.
YUMMMM
While I have to agree with some of Boccato's previous Yelpers that no, it is not the best gelato in the world (let alone state), I still really enjoy coming here. (Ha! Admittedly, I've only been here twice.)
Having lived in the heart of the Tuscan countryside and eaten gelato every day for six months, ANY gelato that I've had outside of Italy has been inferior. But taking into consideration the fact that I'm in Arlington, Virginia and not the rolling hills of Tuscany, Boccato Gelato (admit it, they have a great name) is really pretty good.
What sets them apart from other American gelaterias is their creativity and innovation with flavors. Credit has to be given to them for concocting such flavors as Pineapple Basil and Pomegranate Mint. The Pineapple Basil, which was the flavor I wound up trying after deliberating for about two decades, did not disappoint. Being lactose-intolerant, or a "lactard" as I like to call it, the Pineapple was a great choice - it was light, refreshing, and not too sweet. The Pomegranate Mint was also pretty good, albeit a little strange at first. Other highlights on rotation include Blood Orange and Bartlett Pear (AMAZING together).
In addition, you can add potential gelato suggestions to their ever-growing list (right side when you walk in). It's also just amusing to read them, especially when they include such oddities as Chicken Noodle Soup (wtf, would you REALLY want that as a gelato? I mean, come on, meat and ice cream just don't mix).
YUM! Stopped in here last Friday. I tried to visit last summer but they must have been renovating/closed or something. The space was open, but no gelato :( So I was really excited when I noticed it open once again!
Tiny lil' shop right next to ShoeFly off Wilson Blvd. Not very well ventilated, it was really warm inside. Cute inside, not a whole lot of standing/sitting room though. They do however, have some seating outdoors and a ledge to sit down on in the front of the store.
The flavor I tried was Pomegrante Mint! It was really delicious for my first taste of Boccato. Their flavor offerings were quite unique and the presentation was amazing! Apparently they have tons of flavors they rotate in and out, so never get bored with selection!
Staff was really friendly, offering samples of whatever you'd ask for. Only thing is that they are CASH ONLY! While I understand why (card fees), it'd be nice if they accept credit card eventually. It's not really practical as a lot of people don't carry cash on hand.
However, overall... really yummy! I'll definitely be stopping in after a few lunches this summer!
Pineapple Basil gelato - that's all you need to know for your visit to Bocato's.
So, it's a bit bit pricey and not distinguishably different from good homemade ice cream, but gelato dates make love go 'round. Besides where else would you get creative flavor ideas from? Be brave - try something new and share it with a friend.
I recently went to the well regarded Grom gelato in New York, and I was very disappointed. But last night in the suburbs of DC, we chanced upon this amazing gelato place that is better than the well regarded spots in Manhattan. It's not exactly a secret though with the long line that awaits any curious customer -- but it is worth it!
I had two scoops ($4.25) opting for pistachio and cookie batter flavors. Both of these were really good. The pistachio flavor was robust, bold, engaging, and consistently interesting -- just perfect. The cookie batter flavor was very sweet and enticing as well. The price point is about half of that in Manhattan -- Yay!
The only clear drawback is that this place is CASH ONLY. They have an ATM on site, but the transaction fee is $2.25. So be aware.
Wow, another hit suggestion from a fellow yelper. Do not be surprised or tempted to leave the premises because of the long line, it is quickly moving, and definitely tells you that you will get excellent gelato.
I had the 2 scoops option for $4.25, which was composed of Hazelnuts and Double chocolate flavors. Dang, I really know how to combine flavors. DELICIOUS.
Totally recommend this place. And if you happen to make your way there soon, definitely try the hazelnut and double chocolate flavors (for those only not allergic to nuts or chocolate).
I joked that it's kinda sad to go here alone because of all the young couples and families that end up here post-dinner. But this place certainly is worth its hype. My favorite flavor: Pineapple Basil -- it really tastes like Basil.
But one of the quirks is that flavors change daily. What's there one day is gone the next so be careful about going to the place for your favorite flavor. It might not be offered that day. They should do a better job of distinguishing what is "special" and what is regular.
This place is amazing. It's adorable, good location and has an amazing selection of flavors.
I /love/ ice creams, gelatos and frozen desserts. I'm very picky but Boccato's was a delight to find. My friend tried the tiramisu gelato, it was heavenly. It tasted like tiramisu in a cone. I tried the guava gelato and it was really good.
There were so many good flavors, I could hardly choose. I almost went with a Pomegrante-Mint gelato. Perhaps next time!
oh, and despite what a reviewer below said, there are several signs both outside and inside the store saying "CASH ONLY" and "no credit cards".
(review is for espresso only)
Espresso: 3 stars. They've got a decent machine and decent beans, but the doppio they pulled for me only brewed for about 10 seconds. A solid 3 stars to sbux 1.5. With murky gone it's as good as you'll have in Arlington. Give 'em a shot. Solidly above average.
Went here twice. Unique flavors, very good customer service, and late hours.
Seating is a bit tough and it is a bit pricey too, but the price is not that huge considering the ingredients, etc.
I love this place and have been frequenting it since they opened late last year. helps that my work is across the street from them :)
So when a colleague of my offered to buy me a scoop of ice cream today, I could not say no! Tried their Boccatella flavor today - vanilla, berries? chocolate mix - perfect for the summer feel kinda day!
Running up and down Wilson Blvd in the winter, I would always past by telling myself to try it out once the weather gets warmer. Since then I have been here a few times and love the fact that its in Clarendon! Its perfect on a warm/hot day or as an after dinner treat. I love gelato so wherever I see a place serving gelato, I just have to try and see how good it is. I would say the texture here is definitely not the best I've had but it doesn't disappoint. It hasn't deterred me from coming back again and again. I was curious about their Affogato so I tried it once. It was good except I wished they had put more gelato in it.
The little shop is cute, they offer samples, and the prices are reasonable... I don't know about the Affogato though, to me its a little pricey for what you get. Funny how an earlier reviewer wrote about the gelato in the Fair Oaks Whole Foods. I was thinking the exact same thing when I last ate at Boccato. If you are looking for fantastic gelato, check it out over in Fairfax! Its too far for me to venture out there so Boccato will do in satisfying my cravings. Overall, its a wonderful addition to Clarendon!
OK, I'll admit it....I've never been to Italy (not for lack of wanting), and I'm a sucker for pretty much any kind of frozen dessert--be it a McDonald's sundae or TCBY yogurt. So, maybe I'm not the best judge of gelato quality. But, I think Boccato's is DELICIOUS, with a variety of flavors and friendly staff who allow you to sample before you buy.
Plus...the atmosphere of the place is an absolute trip! My first visit there was in February with a friend. Wanting a sweet treat after dinner, we walked into the tiny Boccato, which has room for only one table inside. It seriously felt like we were walking into a Saturday Night Live skit, or about to be Punk'd...there were strobe lights, those swirling, roller skating rink colored lights, and European techno music blasting! Combine all of that sensory overload with the tiny space and it's hard not to want to just crack up. But of course we had to keep a straight face to the staff. So, it being winter and too cold to eat outside, we enjoyed our yummy gelato, sitting at the lone table, in the midst of some sort of Euro rave. The only missing ingredient: glow sticks. Overall, solid gelato and major points for entertainment value.
expensive, small, but I keep going back for some reason. I think there is crack in it. The nerds flavor is really good, my favorite so far.
This doesn't taste like the gelato I had in Europe, but who knows. They seem to rotate flavors… Read more »
2.5 stars.
Why is it so impossible to find good gelato around here? It is insulting that so many gelaterias keep opening, and none of them are notable. Is this the new cupcake fad? Why do all gelaterias think their gelato is worth $5 for a tiny cup of mediocrity?
I was excited to try Boccato this past weekend, when the weather was to die for and I had a hankering for something sweet. I only tasted a couple of flavors, as the scoopers did not seem interested in waiting for me to taste more. Speaking of scoopers, gelato IS NOT DOLED OUT WITH AN ICE CREAM SCOOPER. Ugh.
Anyway, the girls working there did not seem very friendly. Maybe it is because they are perched high above the patrons and cannot help but looking down on them.
The Lucuma and Roasted Almond that I tried were both not good, and I finally decided to just order two flavors I hadn't tried: the Chocolate Mousse (more on the chocolate side, less on the mousse side, which was fine by me) and the Chilean Pear. The pear was actually quite good. My friend got the Banana, which was really good, almost like banana pudding. So I lucked out. If I had decided to get the Lucuma and Roasted Almond without tasting them, I would have given this place one star.
I think all these places succeed because people don't know what gelato even is or should taste like. Actually, there are gelaterias even in Italy that serve gelato like this; they are all around tourist areas.
On a final note, Boccato was BLASTING Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger in Paradise" while I was there, which is even more indication that this is just something you would eat if you were grilling out and drinking Natty Light with your friends in college.
If you want good gelato around these parts, head to the Whole Foods gelato counter in Fair Oaks. Really.
My friend Emelia is a crazy Gelato fan. Whenever we go to NYC we get the best everyday we are there. I never would have tried DC geltato if it wer not for her. I picked this place since its close to home. I went on a Tuesday and the line was out the door, but moved quickly. The place isnt really set up for more than 4 people in the door. I got a single scoop of the Coconut. It was excellent but a little too sweet even for me. Over all a great experience.
Recently received this email from the owner -
"guess we wont see you again,,10 minutes??? come on !! you are being an asshole now and a liar !!
,,why are you people so mean to us,,, guess is the envy that we are doing so well !!! obvious!
now,,,,kiss off !!!
Boccato"
What a dbag. Really?
For the record everything i stated in my post is 100% accurate.
I've had several different experiences at Boccato. The first time i went in, I got a generous scoop… Read more »
Some of the best Italian Ice Cream around. Whole foods, Fair Oaks, Wegmans, none of those can touch Boccato's Gelato. I was able to sample some flavors and the mango flavor fell in love with my tastebuds. Not too sweet or tarty. It was delicious, nice and light. Dare I say, delightful? If you are in the middle of Arlington or want a light dessert after Ray's, I suggest this place to you. There is no seating area inside but most of the customers take it outside where they have crates with wood on top to give it a West Cost feel to enjoy your Gelato.
Wow! How did I not see this place for years? Tucked in right near Whole Foods, Galaxy Hut, and Revolution Cycles, Bocatto is somewhat hard to see, but a true sin to miss.
The gelato... was to die for. We split a 3-scoop ($5.25) of Mango (taste just like mango), Pistachio (taste just like pistachio), and Mojito (yep, taste just like a mojito)... Incredible stuff. Light, perfect flavor, friendly service, and great pricing!
The only downsides are I heard it can get pretty busy many nights (there was a short line and no seating outside at 9:30pm on a Wednesday night). THEY ALSO ONLY TAKE CASH.
Huge upside, tiny downside... GO!
Amazing gelato!!! It's the perfect dessert.
Nice little local shop, great range of flavors, quick and friendly service. Would visit again, and bring my friends.
Really enjoyed the gelato at this place. We went in on a Sunday night on the walk home on a whim because we wanted dessert. They let you try as many flavors as you want before you make a decision. I recommend the chocolate peanut butter, the cookie one, and the oreo one (they all had typical dumb ice cream shop names that I can't remember).
Very good. Only thing that sucked was that they didn't take credit cards and, as mentioned previously, the ATM on site cost 2.25 (unlike the free one at Hell Burger). Still highly recommended, just make sure you have cash.
This is simply my favorite place in all of Arlington, VA. It could do with later closing hours though. In fact, it should probably consider moving to a 24/7 schedule. Mildly inconvenient that it is cash only, but it sort of adds to the charm in a strange way. Gets very crowded in the evening, but that's because it's so amazing, obviously...and the line moves quickly. Great variety of flavors. Have yet to try their espresso. This is exactly the sort of place Clarendon needs more of to feel like a real town rather than a collection of soul-sucking yuppie chains. Independent, unique and high quality. Lovely stuff.
I'm a sucker for sweets so I'm glad something filled the void from losing Lazy Sunday in Clarendon
Maybe it's the 8 year old in me but it's really hard for me to NOT like gelato or sorbet. And Boccato was certainly not an exception. Flavor selections were plentiful and varied-- raspberry sorbet/ hazelnut/ pineapple basil (and many more on their ever changing list of flavors). My take? It was tasty, smooth, nothing had freezer burn (as you would find on most of the ice cream/ gelato stashed away in my own freezer) so it was more or less whetted my appetite!
The place is open relatively late, til about 10pm, even during the week. Super convenient for that quick gelato run, should the craving hit, post dinnertime.
I'm sure better gelato exists somewhere in the vastness of our city, but for now? Boccato cures my gelato fix.
Not the best gelato I've ever had in my life -- that honor is reserved for the dozens of gelaterias I went to during my trips to Italy. However, Boccato has the best gelato I've had in the states. Their flavors are constantly revolving -- I'm embarrassed to reveal this fact, as it reveals that I've been to Boccato way too many times for my waistline. Although gelato is healthier than ice cream. If you say that to yourself enough times, the guilt fades quickly.
Favorite flavors include the pistachio (which really tastes like pistachio) and the oreo biscotti.
And no, they don't serve their gelato with a paddle like in Italy. So long as what they're serving tastes good, I don't care what they use to serve.
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Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
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