Summer has officially ended, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy one of its greatest treats!
Located next to downtown heavyweights Emiliano’s Café and Harry’s Seafood, Bar and Grille, the Gelato Company’s glass façade is a window into a sweet treat lover’s paradise. Its brick walls and wooden serving counter give it a cozy ambience while the cases full of freshly churned gelato make it worth the hunt for downtown parking. The outdoor patio is perfect for enjoying a scoop of gelato on one of the first cool afternoons of fall and taking in the charm of downtown’s cobblestone streets.
Gelato isn’t the only thing on the menu at this café. Focaccia bread nestles in ingredients like proscuitto, roasted red peppers, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and oregano for the hot paninis and salads are tossed with sweet vinaigrettes for a satisfying duo of flavor. The cafe also offers crepes with flavors like the classic banana/Nutella combo or more savory offerings with fresh meat.
The sandwiches and crepes may be tasty, but save room for the dessert that makes The Gelato Company a downtown destination. If you buy a sandwich and drink combo, you get a free small gelato of your choosing as a treat.
Gelato is simply the Italian version of ice cream; a smooth, frozen dish with a more pronounced flavor. A slow churning process allows for a denser, creamier – and less calorie-filled – result than the ice cream most people are used to. The Gelato Company offers more than 50 different flavors, enough to leave anyone staring in agony over the choices they face in the freezer case. If you really can’t choose, the servers let you mix and match whichever two flavors you like the best. The sample tasting spoons are not to be spared.
The Gelato Company’s flavors are made fresh daily in small batches, allowing for a constantly rotating selection of flavors. With choices like Chocolate Obsession, Vanilla Cookie Crumb and Cake Batter, good luck trying to pick just one.
The Gelato Company
11 S.E. 1st Ave.
HC Recommends: Focoso Panini, Very Berry Turkey Sandwich or the Strawberry Rainforest Salad with a cup of Cake Batter or S’mores Gelato
Details: The Gelato Company is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Street parking is available.