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Gelato Simply Italian
Category: Food Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
146 Cumberland StToronto, ON M5R
Neighbourhood: Yorkville
(416) 792-6620
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
8 reviews for Gelato Simply Italian
8 reviews in English
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Review from Alice T.
1/23/2012 7 Check-ins Here
I measure all gelato places based on their pistachio gelato and this is the best in the city (well and at their other location in Davisville), I don't need fancy seating, I don't care about the decor since I'm probably enjoying it out in the sun anyway. And I don't mind paying for quality. You're paying $4 at most places anyway so why not pay the extra $1 and get the best.
Pistachio is a good measure for gelato because a lot of places skimp on pistachio big time by using almond extract or peanut. In fact, before I went to Italy I didn't know what pistachio gelato was supposed to taste like, I thought I didn't like it because it always tasted like almond extract.
Gelato Simply Italian imports their pistachios from Sicily, the ingredient is so expensive they don't let you sample it. But even just looking at the colour you can tell it's proper pistachio gelato, it's almost an olive green colour NOT fluorescent green.
Even if you don't like pistachio gelato, you gotta think if they take that kind of care and quality with one ingredient what about the rest.
Another great example of this is their prickly pear which they only have at certain times of the year when prickly pear is in season. I stumbled across this flavour when the lady in front of me was chatting with the guy behind the counter "do you have it? is it in?" She was so excited I thought I was overhearing illegal activity in progress but nope, just prickly pear gelato. Apparently is sells out quickly so lucky for me I have no shame in listening to other's conversations.
Their are a lot of places in Yorkville that focus on image and decor, it's nice to have a place in the area that focuses on quality ingredients and a passion for their craft. -
Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
9/7/2011
I wonder if Gelato Simply Italian wil be closing we head into fall/winter. Do I care? Not really, but it kind of sets the mood and hints to how I feel about this place. Doesn't it? Just a little bit?
Let me break out my double-negative. I didn't not like it. It was good, and I appreciate that they don't sample certain flavours in the interest of nut allergies. While I love nuts, my BFF is deathly allergic to walnuts, so over the years, I've become more aware of how serious these allergies can be. I feel for them.
This particular gelato shop is on Cumberland. Duh, that's why it's so expensive, right? The owner is evidently a gelato aficionado of sorts, i.e. he's had a hand in a few other stores: Il Gelateria and another Gelato Simply Italian in the Yonge-Davisville area.
I didn't not like it, so I give it a yes, no, maybe.
Yes, my gelato was good.
No, it is not better than Soma.
Maybe, I'll give it another try.
P.S. To Flouny S. - the no sampling is because of the nut allergies. I just asked. I found the owner friendly, and the girls behind the counter rude. I guess we can't win em all?!? -
Review from Christine R.
Scarborough, ON
10/26/2011 2 photos
After having dinner in the Yorkville area, I was in need of a sugar fix to calm my dessert cravings. Luckily this cute little Gelato shop came to my rescue!
They have a good selection of flavours ranging from various fruit flavours, nut flavours, chocolate and original creations made fresh daily (they do sell out so make sure you snag yours before its all gone). They also serve panini & flatbread sandwiches, hot & cold beverages, and cookies.
You can can get your gelato in a cone or cup.
I think your best bet is in a cup (more bang for your buck!)
Comes in 3 sizes: Small -$5.00 Medium -6.50 Large -7.50
I decided to go for a Medium in a cup, and got to 2 flavours (half of each).
Caffe - It tastes like they made a perfectly brewed cup of strong roast coffee and turned into a frozen custard, smooth and creamy perfect balance!
Tartufo - If you have ever had a chocolate rum ball before this is exactly what this gelato tasted like!!! I was not expecting this at all it was a superrr yummy surprise! Great balance of rum flavour and chocolate!
No skimping here, they really load your cup and I like that they gave the option of allowing 2 flavours in a cup for no extra charge. Fresh and quality ingredients, amazing robust flavours, fluffy, creamy, and delicious gelato with friendly service whats not to love!
FYI Limited seating (3 tables with 3 seats each = 9 total) & they play Italian Tunes. -
Review from Flouny S.
Toronto, ON
9/6/2011
The young guy is friendly but that is more than I can saw for the owner.
We also had the vouchers and had great service our first time there from the young guy.
But things were not that great the next time we were there. I saw one 'no sampling' sign so I wasn't sure if I should ask. I didn't.
For what it's worth I don't think this place is that great. I would give this place 4 stars on our first visit but just 2 for the second. Owner needs to lighten up if they want to stay in business.
If you aren't going to offer samples to customers that is going to make it challenging for people who haven't tried all those exotic flavours. -
Review from Christian P.
Toronto, ON
9/4/2011
Really good and typical (Italian) ice cream!! very European, and lots of European tourists seem to like it (not a tourist trap at all!!! but possibly not for all North American palates).
I loved it!! and staff is smiling and friendly!
I go there every week now. Pompelmo rosa, lemon and dark chocolate are awesome!! They have twice as much more flavours during Spring and Summer, including red-blood orange, yeahhh! -
Review from jmc j.
Toronto, ON
10/25/2011
In the beginning, I didn't mind paying the price as the gelato is delicious but the following eventually disappointed me enough that it didn't feel like a treat anymore and I started to feel like a fool:
* Uses cups with high base so amount is deceiving.
* After the owner whipped the staff into shape there were no more generous scoops or top ups to the cup like other places instead the gelato is scraped into the cup with unfilled pockets at the bottom...just watch how they do it with two flavors...one horizontal scrape to one side of the cup plus one vertical scrape to the other side of the cup.
* Opened the Yorkville location with medium size at $5 but changed it to $6.50.
Pity how shortsighted business practices ruin a good thing. -
Review from Karyn B.
Vaughan, ON
8/3/2011
This is the second location of Gelato Simply Italian and it is right in Yorkville.
I ate here twice recently and have to say the gelato is very tasty.
I tried the kiwi flavour, strawberry flavour .. both very nice; the kiwi has a nice tang and refreshingness to it
The second time I tried the nutella flavour and the chocolate orange flavour. The nutella had thick ribbons of nutella in it and was great! and the chocolate orange was very tasty as well (ive never seen this flavour anywhere before)
I tried the mango from a friend but it was a bit too sweet in my opinion
The reason I don't give this place 5 stars is the customer service or lack thereof I should say
The people scooping the ice cream are RUDE (rude needed to be capitalised) and you are allowed only 1 (ONLY ONE!) sample
Both times the female scooper was quite rude - no smile, seemed irritated that I had the audacity to want to even sample a flavour and even more annoyed with the fact that she had to do anything; asking her a question only seemed to make her MORE annoyed (someone in my group asked if they had any fruit yogurt flavours.. what a ridiculous question.. NOT)
I would never go back JUST for the gelato .. i mean if i am in the area, i guess i would stop in but, if possible, i'd actually rather walk, even a far walk, and go somewhere that those providing the service CARE to provide it and do it with a smile -
Review from Karen S.
8/15/2011
Who doesn't love free stuff? With a free fabfind voucher in hand, hubby and I came here for an after dinner dessert. The deal was fab. Definitely a good business use of group-type vouchers as I would never have otherwise heard of, or gone to this place. The gelato was very refreshing and delicious - two generous scoops piled on top of a cone was enough for us to share. A bare bones location decoration wise, there were a few metal tables and chairs to sit at and chill while enjoying the dessert and people watching. On a humid, rainy Saturday night, there was a continuous stream and line up of people coming in for their cold sugary treat.
The attitude that Karyn B. noted barely raised its head as it seemed the servers were more interested in moving the crowd along. The servers could smile more yes, but they were efficient and unpretentious, so I didn't mind. What I was taken aback by was the little signs that they had stuck into various gelato that basically said, 'No sampling'. At first, I thought it was just for some popular flavours as there wasn't a sign for all of them, but then when I observed the lack of sampling spoons, I realized that they meant for everything. Fair enough, as a business practice, however, given that the industry uses sampling as a general mode of operation, it did plant the seed of 'this place is really too high up on itself' into my brain. I'm not sure that given that there are so many other frozen treat places out there and in the immediate area, that I would want to give my patronage to a place that treats me as a person that would take advantage of them (by trying too many flavours just because I can). I don't even know them!
$5 for a small and extra for a cup vs a cone (or that could just be for the amazing deal I had). I would come here again for their large scoops of yummy gelato.
