Giolitti

Ciao! Every week, I try a new gelato shop in Rome, throughout all the different neighborhoods. Each shop is evaluated by flavor, service and price. Each shop can be rated up to 30 points: 10 possible for each category. This week: Giolitti, Via degli Uffici del Vicario, 40, 00186 Roma

·         Flavor: I could go on and on about the flavors at Giolitti. Every flavor is so authentic. If you order the mango flavor, it tastes like you just put the sweetest juiciest mango in your mouth. When it melts in your mouth it’s like you’ve died and gone to heaven. Same goes for all the fruit flavors. You can tell the gelato is made with real fruit. If your order Bailey’s be prepared because it actually tastes like Bailey’s liquor, you can taste the alcohol in every bite. If you want, each cone is topped with real, fresh whipped cream. There’s nothing better. There are other unique flavors like Champagne, Candied Chestnut and Disaronno  Amaretto.

Here’s the full list of flavors:

• ·         Limone (Lemon)
  ·         Menta (Mint)
  ·         Banana
  ·         Mandarino (Mandarin)
  ·         Pistacchio
  ·         Arancia (Orange)
  ·         Fragola (Strawberry)
  ·         Mango
  ·         Lamponi (Raspberry)
  ·         Visciole (Cherry)
  ·         Mirtilli (Blueberry)
  ·         Ananas (Pineapple)
  ·         Cioccolato fondente (Dark Chocolate)
  ·         Nutella
  ·         Biscotti Oreo
  ·         Cioccolato (Chocolate)
  ·         Nocciola (Hazel)
  ·         Crema (Crème)
  ·         Caffe (Coffee)
  ·         Zabaione (Cheese)
  ·         Tiramisu
  ·         Torrone (Nougat)
  ·         Stracciatella (Cookies and Crème)
  ·         Disaronno  Amaretto
  ·         Marron glaces (Candied Chestnut)  
  ·         Amarna (Black Cherry)
  ·         Pompelmo rosa (Grapefruit)
  ·         Cioccolato (Chocolate)
  ·         Canella (Cinnamon)
  ·         Noce (Walnut)
  ·         Caramel
  ·         Fico caramellato (Caramelized fig)
  ·         Liquirizia (Licorice)
  ·         Bailey’s Irish Crème
  ·         Pera (Pear)
  ·         Cassata Siciliana (cake filled with ricotta, chocolate and candied fruit)
  ·         Riso (Rice)
  ·         Yogurt
  ·         Cocoa
  ·         Champagne (sherbet) 

Flavor Score: 10

Service: When you go into Giolitti you have to buy your ice cream first from the cashier at the door. You choose your size and how many flavors you want, and then you take your ticket to the man scooping gelato behind the counter.  Each time I’ve been there they are very friendly and speak English pretty well. If you ask, they’ll even recommend what flavors go well together.

There’s seating outside if you want to sit and enjoy your gelato or there’s seating inside too. The catch is you have to order other food to be allowed to sit there. The shop offers lots of other pastries and sweets as well as premade sandwiches. Overall I was pleased with the service.

Service Score: 8

Price: The prices are moderate to expensive depending on your budget. They’re a little higher than a small little shop you would find in a residential area like Prati, but considering Giolitti is a well-know spot just blocks from the Pantheon, it’s a little more expensive. Here’s a full pricing list for gelato:

·         Small 2 flavors – 2.50

·         Medium 3 flavors – 3.50

·         Large 3 flavors – 4.50

·         Extra Large with chocolate dipped cone 4 flavors – 5.50

You can check out all the other delicious treats they have here: http://www.giolitti.it/english/home.html

Walnut and Bailey's with a dollop of whipped cream 

Price Score: 7

As a whole, I would definitely recommend you visit Giolitti at least once if you come to Rome. Although I wouldn’t mind weekly visits. The flavors are the great, the service is good and the prices are reasonable. I would have to recommend a cone with strawberry and mango or if you’re not a fruit person, chocolate and walnut. And be sure to get a big scoop of whipped cream!

Overall Score: 25