New York, NY

I love ice cream (as much as cheese and chocolate). When I was in Italy, I ate gelato every day (even twice a day in the August heat). My family visited me in NYC for the first time in September 2023. After landing, I took them straight to Katz’s for pastrami and then to Gelatoville for dessert.

What’s the difference between ice cream and gelato?

The Kitchn breaks it down. Essentially, ice cream is made with heavy cream and usually eggs. Whereas, gelato is made with milk and no eggs. Ice cream has more fat content, which lends to a creamier texture. Gelato is more dense, allowing ingredients to come through.

So many gelato shops

When I visited NYC, I was excited to see Grom, the gelato chain from Italy (the NYC outposts have since closed). Italian roots are still very evident in the city. Living in Manhattan, I’ve discovered a plethora of gelato shops. I continue trying different ones whenever I find myself in various neighborhoods. But Gelatoville is the one I keep coming back to.

Ferrero Rocher

Gelatoville was the first shop where I saw the Ferrero Rocher flavor (yes, named after the gold-foiled chocolate filled with hazelnuts). My go-to gelato flavor is gianduja (chocolate with hazelnut paste). Gianduja is rare to find in the US. Ferrero Rocher is a close substitute. I’ve since tried the Ferrero flavor at other gelato shops, but I prefer Gelatoville’s. The consistency of their gelato is smoother and the flavor profile most resembles the chocolate to me.

Vegan options, sorbets, pastries, coffee

For a small size, you can pick up to two flavors. I usually choose Ferrero and Bueno (photo above). Gelatoville has added a Bueno Cream flavor based on the Kinder Bueno chocolate with wafers. Delicious! They also have a selection of vegan gelato and sorbets. They have expanded to offer pastries and coffee.

Inviting space and staff

Gelatoville recently renovated their space so that there’s more seating: counter height stools on one side, tables and bench seating on the other, as well as a few chairs outdoors. They stay open late, popular on a late summer night. The staff has always been courteous and friendly. The East Village deserves a food crawl, and Gelatoville is worth a visit.