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Bubby's Gelato
Category: Food Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
937 S Coast Hwy 101Encinitas, CA 92024
Neighborhood: Encinitas
(760) 436-3563
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 9 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
66 reviews for Bubby's Gelato
Review Highlights
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"Roasted banana is pretty fantastic too." In 7 reviews -
"i got a single scoop of honey lavender in a cone." In 5 reviews -
"My favorite is the vanilla rose." In 5 reviews
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66 reviews in English
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Review from Mo F.
Kailua, HI
4/23/2012
Great sandwiches, our favorite for years, much better than san tropez next door and the Gelato is fresh, made there and the best, ask anyone...
Those low stars either are fake reviews, or they like ice cream from cvs !
This is real European quality goods. -
Review from Jack M.
Rancho San Diego, CA
5/5/2012 3 photos
For a refreshing treat, I stopped by here for some Vanilla Gelato. I ordered the small for $3.25.
When I got my Gelato I dug in with earnest. But, as I started to eat it, I noticed a floral taste to it. I took a few more taste to make sure, and I was right. So I told the nice lady behind the counter, and she quickly realized that she had served me the wrong flavor. She gave me the Vanilla Rose flavor. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
She was apologetic, and I told her not to worry about it because it tasted pretty good. I asked her for a taster of the vanilla bean that I wanted, just to see what I was missing, and man, it tasted great. It was better than the one I was given.
Good Gelato................. -
Review from Connie G.
1/2/2012
Gelato craving anyone? This place is cute and has history. Make sure to bring cash because that is all they take. Price was less then 5 bucks for two scoops. I hd to take away one star because 2 scoops is more like 1 compared to other places. The flavors change from time to time and it is in a great location. The flavors I tried were:
Hazelnut and Lemon Cheesecake -
Review from Lindsey J.
Venice, CA
10/9/2011
We stopped by Bubby's for a sweet treat after an afternoon at the beach. We were stoked to find that it was a mom and pop shop and to learn they had flavors like lavender honey
Unfortunately we were so stoked after tasting it. Flavors tasted artificial. We tried a few flavors and settled with pistachio and didn't even finish it
Disappointing. -
Review from Hey El El E.
San Diego, CA
8/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
We've passed this place many times while in Encinitas. Finally, I had a chance to stop by while kiddo needed a potty break. (P.S. No potty for customers here)
The amount of selection is impressive, but I'd have to say that the product is just not my favorite. It's something about the texture that I feel is a bit off. I've had better elsewhere.
Would I go back if I needed gelato in a pinch? Maybe. But, I wouldn't go out of my way to go back. Probably just find a 31 Flavors. Oh, and the owner isn't that friendly. Not quite "bubby" like. Lacking a bit a warm personality. -
Review from Maria C.
3/23/2011 1 photo
I have always seen this place, and since I was in the area, decided to stop in and finally curb my curiosity.
They had a good amount of selection in 2 glass cases and I was able to sample some flavors.
I finally decided on Chocolate Hazelnut. There are only 2 sizes and I opted for the 1 scoop. When I was shown the cups for the 1 and 2 scoop cups, I had to clarify since they were so tiny. For my 1 scoop cup, it was $3.15. Note: Cash only
I totally dig Gelato, but this Gelato just didn't cut it for me. It lacked the creaminess, texture, and flavor of "good" Gelato.
All the while, sadly, I was craving my FROYO...Listed in: FRO-YOOOOO!!!!
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Review from Nino R.
3/7/2011 1 photo
An expertly textured gelato will be served with a slight firmness to it (think Dairy Queen Blizzard). An expertly made gelato will not have a buttery aftertaste like ice cream, because less butterfat is used to make it.
At Bubby's you will find average gelato at best. I've had more than my fair share of authentic gelato italiano growing up in an NYC suburb. In fact, one of my childhood best friends had a grandmother that made her own gelato from a recipe brought over from Varese, Italy.
The consistency at Bubby's isn't very good. The gelato began to visibly melt almost immediately. However, to their credit, the flavor was ok, I ordered the Cappuchino. My GF chose Coconut--yuck! With better texture, I would have bumped my review up another star.
Pricing is a bit ridiculous. $3 for a mouthful of gelato seems a tad high. Especially when you consider the fact that you can purchase an entire snack at McDonald's (McDouble/McChicken, small fries & soda) for that price.
CASH ONLY
I know gelato... -
Review from Jamie D.
Encinitas, CA
10/16/2011 12 photos
Bubby's Gelato Encinitas is a local favorite owned by a wonderful French-Moroccan woman named Monique Renard. Not only does Bubby's have gelato and sorbet, but they also make gourmet and deli sandwiches with bolillos, French rolls or ciabatta bread. Bubby's is a perfect place for your sweet tooth or for lunch! While in Bubby's I met two customers and friends of Monique, John Paul and Eve. John Paul explained his favorite menu items were the Green Tea gelato and the Chicken Santa Fe sandwich. Eve then expressed her delight in the Cardamom gelato and could not decide between either the French Riviera or the Italian Veggie sandwich with grilled eggplant. Yum!
While Monique helped the local, foreign and tourist customers that arrived while in Bubby's she started to tell me how Bubby's began. Her parents had a café with gelato, ice cream and pastries in Nice, France. She simply loves making unusual gelatos and her famous sandwiches and paninis. Her favorite gelato is the Lemon Cheesecake and she loes her lemon-thyme chicken, which goes great on any sandwich. This year will make her 24th year of business! She currently makes custom, unusual gelatos for famous hotels and restaurants like Poseidon of 23 years who orders the Lemongrass, PampleMousse Solana Beach, Hyatt La Jolla, Roponggi who orders the Mango Jasmine, Marine Room La Jolla Shores, etc, etc, etc. She explains, "I love to create unusual and unique flavors for the prestigious chefs of these restaurants. Since my flavors are natural, they pop and stay in your mouth for hours after you taste my gelato!" Monique went on to explain her newest edition to the menu, delicious non-dairy vegetarian soups in the winter season!
There are so many different kinds of gelato and sorbet you just might have to sample them all! Currently the new hype has been the Spicy Chile Mango, Nectarine Togarashi and the Chile-Chocolate. Spicy is in! When I had the chance to try some of the gelato my favorites were the Honey Lavender for a mild, creamy gelato and the Mango sorbet for a hot day. While cruising through the Lumberyard Mall, take a peek into Bubby's Encinitas to grab a bite to eat.
"Just one taste of the gelato is enough to set you free!"
- L.A. TIMES
Flavors:
Gelato - Amaretto, Banana, Cappuccino, Caramel, Cardamom, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Hazelnut, Coconut, Cookies n' Cream, Espresso Chip, Green Tea, Honey Lavender, Lemon Cheesecake, Mint Chip, Pistachio, Pumpkin (Seasonal), Spumoni, Strawberry, Tiramisu, Vanilla, Vanilla Rosewater, White Chocolate
Sorbet - Coconut, Champagne, Blackberry, Grapefruit, Key Lime, Mango, Orange, Passion Fruit, Raspberry -
Review from Sammy B.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
8/2/2011
Best gelato in Encinitas.
Not nearly as expensive as Chuao, must higher quality, and super creamy.
I believe it is run by family and friends, which is a nice touch.
The flavors are all consistently really good, and the sandwiches are good as well. I've only had them a few times, but the gelato I have been getting since I was a very little kid.
I usually stick with classic chocolate chip or my other favorite, espresso chip. They have some funkier flavors, but the more traditional such as chocolate chip, cookies and cream, and mint chip are better.
Great local business :) -
Review from Samantha T.
Encinitas, CA
12/29/2011
This is a wonderful little gelato joint hidden in Encinitas. Don't go in expecting Italian gelato...it's its own unique type of ice cream that is by far my favorite in all of North County. The sizes are small, but the richness and creaminess makes up for it! The caramel mixed with chocolate hazelnut is my absolute fav. If you live close by, spend an extra 3 bucks and get an entire pint! What a steal!
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Review from L M.
Irvine, CA
5/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
We say this shop while walking by the little shopping plaza. We share a small up of the pistachio gelato. The pistachio gelato has good flavor and was nice and creamy.
If we are in the area we would stop by again.
The only bad thing is cash only. -
Review from Amanda M.
Norfolk, VA
6/18/2011
Yuck!
I was excited when I spotted this place because we are big fans of small batch non-chain ice cream shops. On this particular evening Hubby and I were looking for a small yummy treat to end a perfect date night. Of course I wanted ice cream. We were both sorely disappointed in this place. His milkshake was bleh and watery with a funny taste.
The rose ice cream sounded interesting, but after sampling, I decided to pass and go with something a little more traditional. I ended up with chocolate chip ice cream and hot fudge - well I asked for hot fudge - what I got was super sweet syrup. The ice cream was gritty and also had a funny taste.
If you are a true ice cream lover, this place is not for you...
Oh yeah, also cash only. -
Review from Laura H.
San Diego, CA
10/16/2011
This is exactly where you go if you are tired of large bland sloppy American ice cream cones and want something much more flavorful. If your a banana lover try the roasted banana, it'll knock your socks off. If you like vanilla you might want to try their Vanilla Rose which is my friends favorite. You won't make a bad decision on both of those, trust me.
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Review from Paige G.
Oceanside, CA
4/18/2011
As gelato goes, outside of Europe where apparently the cows run free and the dairy is made by some magical fairy, this is pretty darn good. Now, to be fair, my husband is the gelato connoisseur and he did enjoy Bubby's. We both agreed that the flavors lacked a little something but we thought the texture was good.
We will, and have, gone back. -
Review from Jay D.
8/10/2009
Bubby's is hidden within the Lumberyard and I honestly (versus dishonestly, what? LOL) had forgotten about them until one of the desserts at nearby 3rd Corner included their gelato - creme cappucino. A small is about $4.25 and the flavors were vibrant today as much as they were that one Saturday night that I had tried it. I didn't miss a thing except for the time between today and Saturday night. Am I a fan? Yes.
I also ordered the "Gourmet Grinder" on bolillo bread (http://en.wikipedia.or...), a hispanic/latino version of a baguette. A filling sando with turkey breast, ham, mortadella, provolone and jalapeno cheeses, tomato, onion and mustard. At $6.25, it's certainly no "$5 footlong" but it's not bad for a "gourmet sandwich" as it's listed.
That said, I didn't have everything in one setting. In fact, the gelato ended up being "lunch" and the sammich for "snack" later. Gosh, I spent over $11 for lunch. HA
Speaking of snack, Bubby's also sells "snack sandwiches" which for $3.95 are - peanut butter and banana, three cheese, hummus and black forest ham. That's kinda cute. HA
If you end up visiting Bubby's for lunch or snack, leave your plastic at home. It's CASH ONLY.
Overall, I'm a fan and glad I rediscovered them because I need choices at lunchtime. I do have choices but honestly, I need to broaden them because certain foods on certain days or making lunch makes it feel like I'm on cafeteria rotation --- without a nasty hairnet.Listed in: CASH ONLY! CASH ONLY! CASH…
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Review from Ronald D.
Encinitas, CA
5/20/2009
I always wondered why people get so upset with Gelato. They yell "this isn't real Gelato" or "I'm Italian and I know what Gelato should taste like".
Nothing makes me want to have more of a difference in opinion with someone then when they spew out this cliche rhetoric. Seriously, does there always have to be someone from anywhereville that says, I am from crapville(hence why you moved),so I know good blah blah blah.
No sir/ma'am you don't know and I am sorry to inform you that no one likes you.
Someone's review even said they would rather eat Frozen Yogurt. Are you kidding me? Frozen Yogurt is lame and it's not ice cream. I guess Gelato isn't ice cream but at least it tastes good.
So you see getting mad at Gelato is stupid. -
Review from Katie H.
11/14/2010
Gelato twice in one week! Lucky me! Not really sure what the hype is about Bubby's though - to me it was "Encinitas-ized" gelato, definitely not the real thing. Unfortunately it also came along with an Encinitas price tag on a tiny scoop of the stuff.
I tried a few flavors: Strawberry (tasted like Bubble Yum, not like real strawberries), Chocolate Fudge (very textured, but not like gelato should be... kind of paste-y), White Chocolate (again with the weird texture), Vanilla Rose (very unique flavor, but so unique that I didn't want more than a taste). Unfortunately I didn't see any of the more common traditional Italian flavors (Nutella, Hazelnut, Custard, Stracciatella, Tiramisu, etc.). My husband also had a turkey sandwich which wasn't all that impressive.
Bubby's is located in an upscale shopping center, with a great outdoor seating area that is perfect on a beautiful San Diego day. As for the ambiance of the store itself, the gelato display was definitely lacking. A beautiful display is one of the unique characteristics of Italian gelaterias, and Bubby's had a setup reminiscent of Thrifty's.
If you're already in the area, give this shop a try - I hear that roasted coconut is to die for. However if you're in search of 5 star gelato, head down to Pappalecco instead. Oh, and don't forgot to bring cash and lots of it - Bubby's doesn't take plastic, and everything on the menu is overpriced for what you get. -
Review from Laura F.
San Francisco, CA
4/28/2007
I gained 17 lb. in the 6 months I worked here; the gelato is tasty, the flavors exciting, and spoon are tiny. Without combining them, DONT miss out on the homemade chocolate fudge drizzled on the ice cream or the garlic sauce they put on the sandwiches.
Careful of the roaches, though. Seriously. -
Review from ikoi h.
San Diego, CA
3/5/2009
This was the first ice cream shop I ate at when I moved to California (we're talking 18 years ago).
I was from the deep south, and Baskin Robbins was the name of the game there (ugh). I KNEW there was more to ice cream than Dryer's. Well, hallelujah, thank god. No more neon colored ice cream and pedestrian flavors overloaded with a monsoon of sugar. I have been saved.
So the Good Stuff:
I wouldn't call this gelato in the traditional sense- but it's wonderfully textured, creamy ice cream. The flavors are wonderful- I have yet to try the standards (i.e. chocolate, strawberry). One of my favorite here is white chocolate (when they have it), and I try a new flavor each time I come here.
Their sandwiches are just garlicky goodness of flavor packed between warm, crispy-soft bread. Yummeh. I used to save up my quarters for the chicken sandwiches in high school. The flavor and quality have not changed.
The Bad:
Here's where the docking of the extra star comes in.
*CASH ONLY- they do not take plastic.
*The service doesn't get major bonus points. It's erratic- sometimes, it's GREAT. Other times, it has been DISMAL. There has been a few sweet employees, but employee training in customer service seems to be nonexistent, and the staff turnover seems to be pretty high (although they all look like high school students, so maybe that's why). The female owner can be a bit brusque at times (real hit or miss), the male owner is very stable in his sweetness.
*Skip the pizza- it's not BAD, mind you, but I would pick the sandwich over the pizza any day of the week.Listed in: Nom Nom Nom worthy of…, Sugartarian Orgasms
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Review from Suzanne F.
San Diego, CA
10/29/2007
As another reviewer said - a hidden gelato place. But worth the search.
Service - okay. Not hugely friendly, but average.
Chocolate fudge gelato - fabulous.
Roasted banana gelato made my wife make odd passionate noises that got us some damn funny looks from the passers by... -
Review from Roxanna K.
San Diego, CA
5/1/2008
I'm not Italian. I've never been to Italy. But, I like to think my taste buds work. As far as their gelato goes, I give them a solid 8/10. The flavors I've had (White Chocolate, Chocolate Hazelnut, Pistachio, Ammaretto, Irish Cream...) are sophisticated and not too sweet. It's a nice creamy consistency too. I love swinging by here and bringing a couple pints to a dinner party.
The parking is a pain sometimes, but the service and quality of their product make it worth it. There's a common outdoor seating area in the shopping center that allows you to enjoy your treat, but be ready to fight St. Tropez diners for a table on a nice sunny weekend.Listed in: Ooohhh...Gelato...
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Review from Mick G.
6/12/2007
I was a huge Gelato Vero fan before I had Bubby's.
DELICIOUS.
The Gelato is the best in San Diego.
Also, try the delicious sandwiches. Garlic Chicken and Roasted Eggplant are my favorites, and you can sit in the courtyard area and dream the day away (once in a while). -
Review from Danielle J.
Seattle, WA
11/17/2008
Two words- GELATO VERO.
Trust me on this one, make the 15 minute drive down to Washington street and get some real gelato. The texture of the gelato is all wrong and how you can mess up chocolate or strawberry of all flavors is beyond me. If you like flavors like lemon cheesecake or lavendar- you might have better luck than I did, but if you aren't turned off by the gelato, I can guarantee you will be turned off by the service.
The owner was rude and petty about letting us try the different flavors. We purchased our gelato, had a bite, walked to the trash and threw it out. What did I end up with for dessert? Golden Spoon. And it was a million times more amazing. What a disappointment. I hate to tell all the people who rave about this place that they are seriously mistaken as to what yummy gelato tastes like.
Gelato Vero is where it is at- and if you love coffee, get the espresso con gelato. They throw a scoop of gelato in freshly brewed espresso- it is heaven. -
Review from Pavel T.
Carlsbad, CA
6/8/2008
Yummy. So many good choices, and not enough adipose tissue to assimilate all that cream.
Some of the gelato varieties I haven't seen elsewhere. Roasted banana and cardamom are particularly good.
They don't take credit cards, so bring cash or your first born.Listed in: Great hole in a wall eateries
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Review from Briana S.
Carlsbad, CA
7/17/2008
I love me some gelato. And I love there's a place in Encinitas that has some seriously tasty stuff. Consistently, their gelato is tasty and refreshing and never too heavy. The boy and I went there last night after dinner and it really hit the spot.
I had coconut in a cone. My only complaint is there was a girl working there who was clearly either still in high school or fresh out. She didn't really know much about customer service. She actually broke my cone shoving the goodness into it. So I had to eat rather quickly, because the top half of my cone was sort of very precariously supporting a rather large scoop. When I asked for a cup she said she'd have to charge me. Um...
But really, I didn't care that much. Their gelato is really that tasty. -
Review from madonna o.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 7/25/2009
Went back for Espresso Chip and the older woman behind the counter was rude to me and the other customers there. She was very short and said somewhat angrily..."Whaddya want! What size?"
She even grabbed a soda can out of a customer's hand when he asked if they recycled without saying anything.
Also, I forgot to mention the gelato is not as gooey as Gelato Vero's, its consistency is more that of ice cream, not gelato.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/16/2009
I've been here twice now, and the only flavor I've had is Espresso Chip. It's so good that I'll… Read more »
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Review from Jackson B.
Chula Vista, CA
2/19/2011
I never even knew what the word gelato meant until I found this spot recently. I have to say one thing about this place, it's not the cheapest place for ice cream. I do very much like the roasted banana gelato. If you like banana flavored things you must try this flavor period!
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Review from Allen P.
La Jolla, CA
4/26/2009
I've heard nothing but good things about this place from here and other websites, and I have to say, I was disappointed. The gelato wasn't cold enough, which meant it melted way too quickly, and the flavors in general weren't like that of homemade gelato, but more like, dare I say, Breyer's quality.
A shame, but looks like I'll be sticking to good old self-serve yogurt until a good gelato place pops up in North County. -
Review from Erica M.
Cypress, CA
8/13/2011
This really is the best gelato around! I love the exotic flavor choices. They have honey lavender, chili chocolate, cardamom, hazelnut and many others. My favorite is the vanilla rose. My family actually drives to Encinitas form North OC to get ice cream. The negatives that keep this from being a five star review: The staff is rude, they make you wait without acknowledging that you're there and they only take cash. Even so, we just keep going back. It's that delicious.
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Review from fleur s.
Encinitas, CA
8/4/2011
I like this place...maybe a little too much! Awesome gelato. My personal fav is the coffee chip. However, the coconut gelato is pretty special, too!
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Review from Jan K.
Carlsbad, CA
4/16/2008
I absolutely love Bubbys! :)
My personal favorite flavor has to be creme caramel.. It's nice and rich, and fills you up good.. It's worth every cent..
They have the best gelato in North County!
You've got to stop by, and give it a try! -
Review from carol a.
Encinitas, CA
11/13/2010
Have gone here for almost 20 years. The owner and Gelato maker is a very regal and sweet Italian immigrant.
The best Gelato in Southern California and I should know I have tasted it everywhere I go in the area.
Great place and people!!! -
Review from Becca M.
San Diego, CA
7/27/2011
Yummm.... The gal working let me taste all the samples I wanted!! And it was very delicious!!
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Review from Monica V.
Newport Beach, CA
11/1/2008
Mmmm. What a pleasant surprise to stumble into this hidden treat of an ice cream store in a shopping plaza along the coast hwy driving up from Del Mar. I peeked in and one look at the flavor choices was enough - lavendar-honey, roasted banana! I love unusual ice cream flavors.
They were generous with the free samples so I tried a tiny spoonful of lavendar-honey, cardamom and vanilla-rose. I chose the cardamom for my single scoop. The single comes in a small cup but they fill it up - filling the cup and then putting another scoop or so on tope, and it's so rich and fat-filled that that was plenty for me. It's too bad you can't squeeze a couple flavors into a "single" - if you want two you have to go up to the double order.
I've had gelato in Italy, and I'm not sure if I'd call this gelator or icecream but it was delicious either way.
The service was very friendly and helpful. The pizza wasn't worth the effort - go for the icecream or maybe a sandwich but skip the pizza. There are tables outside, and other food options including a bakery that also has sandwiches so you can mix and match for a meal if you want. Other stores are pricey and cater to the rich tourist crowd, I guess.
Chuao chocolate is next door too - so tempting but I didn't get anything this time.
Oh yes - one word of warning - bring enough cash for your ice cream (Single scoop was about $3). They don't take plastic. -
Review from Brittany R.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
5/23/2011
Okay this may not be "real" gelato, but I think it's pretty damn good. They have a plethora of flavors, and some really interesting ones at that. I love the coconut and honey lavender. The mint and chocolate chip is really tasty as well.
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Review from Mark S.
Carlsbad, CA
6/21/2011
Having just returned from Italy, I have to ask, when will North
County get a decent gelateria. Because Bubby's isn't. Not even close. Not the presentation. Not the price (it's acutally cheaper in Venice, despite the Euro). And especially not the quality. This is the only gelateria to which I have ever been that I think might do better if it didn't give samples. -
Review from Annalisa N.
San Diego, CA
2/28/2011
Unfortunately the gelato at Bubbly's is just not very good... at all. :( I've been wanting my bf to try it for a while now and there's a great place in AZ (Angel Sweet), they have the best gelato ever. I was hopeing that Bubbly's would show him why I love gelato above all other desserts. No luck. It was made ahead and frozen, I could tell... and that just defeats the beauty of the dessert. The texture is what makes it gelato, and when you freeze it, it totally changes the texture and you're left with gritty ice cream. Terrible. Sorry Bubbly's but you suck... I mean just sell regular ice cream if you're not going to produce the product you are advertising. Not cool. Even the flavors were off... just muted shadows of what they should be. Boo!
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Review from Elda P.
San Diego, CA
3/8/2011
Cash only.
I don't know about authentic or textures. But this stuff was the best testing coconut gelato I've ever had.
Prices seemed a little high for me, but sandwiches look more reasonably priced -
Review from Boravy N.
Oakland, CA
3/19/2011
I love this place. I haven't tried all of the sandwiches but I'm pretty damn happy with the ones I have tried. I always get the Italiano but once an a while I'll try something new, and you know what? It's always SO YUMMY!
Whenever I'm in Encinitas I have to stop here. It's really too good to miss. I love this place... the gelato is pretty friggin good too. -
Review from Brooke R.
Bay Area, CA
5/30/2007
Ice cream (or gelato..) here is amazingly good. 7 stars for that. I always come here after a day of surfing or just laying on the beach. The sandwich menu is very creative and very Californian, but I just don't like them. The bread isn't very good and the meats/cheeses just don't have that "fresh" taste. 1 star for sandwiches and 7 for gelato = my rating.
