Il Gelatiere
647 Mount Pleasant Road
416-488-2663
(photo from BlogTO)
I love gelato. I’ve been eating it for years but my consumption usually skyrockets while on vacation. I spent two weeks in Italy a few years back and had gelato AT LEAST once a day… sometimes twice. Of course it was amazing. There is just something so much more delicious about gelato vs. ice cream. I think it’s something about the density and the pure flavour of top ingredients.
Toronto has it’s fair share of gelato from La Paloma (on old favourite) to Hollywood Gelato (not my fave…too sweet but does the trick sometimes) but nothing compares to Il Gelatiere. It’s not a new spot, it has been around for at least 2 years but it remains my fave. Lucky for me it’s about a 15 minute walk from my place.
Normally when I have a sweetspot (aka a spot that I hit up for sweets) I usually have a standby thing that I get. Not at Il Gelatiere… I flavour hop ALL THE TIME. Here’s a quick rundown of what I’ve sampled to date…
Hazelnut
Baci
White Chocolate
Tiramisu
Pistachio
Chocolate with Chile Peppers
Torrone
Peach
Mango
Lemon
Amaretto
Caffe
Coconut
Strawberry
(the flavour tags are in Italian but they are fairly easy to decipher. Ask the guys behind the counter if it gets confusing)
I’m sure I’m forgetting some flavours! In total they have about 32 flavours and they are all made on-site, which you’ve got to love. I’ve also heard that their cups, cones, spoons and syrups all come from Italy. That’s dedication.
The staff is friendly and willing to let you sample various flavours to make your pick. There are a few tables inside if you want to stay in and eat but I usually like to grab my cup (always a cup) and roam. Beware, on summer nights the line snakes out the door but it moves quickly so don’t fret. Oh, and for those that don’t love gelato (quelle horreur!) they also have fairly extensive coffee options.
P.S. My fave is the hazelnut… I often get it with white chocolate.
Check out what other sites have to say…
Taste T.O.
Toronto Life
Blog TO
The Eatery
