L'Arte del Gelato Looks Better Than It Tastes

I usually pass L'Arte del Gelato en route to Cones, which is just around the corner.  Don't tell Raul D'Aloisio, but I stopped short this time.  (It won't happen again, Raul!)

Though small, L'Arte del Gelato's West Village store is bright and inviting.  The two-dozen varieties of gelati and sorbetti are displayed with iconic  adornments (e.g., slices of fruit, nuts, coffee beans, etc.) which enhance their visual appeal.  The flavors are labeled in Italian, thus affording a good opportunity to thrill in the trill and flaunt one's pronunciation.

Unfortunately, the visual sensation here far exceeds the gustatory one.  The sweetness of the flavors do not compare favorably with the refreshing tastes of Cones or Grom.  The watermelon sorbetto was laden with sugar; the grapefruit was not much better.  The intensely flavored passion fruit sorbetto was too sweet as well, but less cloying than the others.  When I treat myself to sorbet on a warm summer's day, I'd like something refreshing.  In this case, however, I felt as though I needed a palate cleanser afterward.

With their high prices (my small cup cost $4.50), L'Arte del Gelato ought to accept credit cards and offer more than a scanty two samples.  Recent DOH sanitary violations at the Chelsea Market location further militate against the likelihood of my hasty return.  The upshot: this art is better enjoyed with the eye than with the palate.

 

L'Arte del Gelato

West Village:

75 Seventh Avenue South (SE corner Barrow St), Manhattan

(212) 924-0803

By train: 1 to Christopher St-Sheridan Sq
By bus: M20 (downtown)

Chelsea Market:

75 Ninth Avenue (between 15^th & 16^th Sts), Manhattan

(212) 366-0570

By train: A,C,E (IND) to 14^th St; L (BMT) to 8^th Av
By bus: M11, M14D

West Side (May-October):

Lincoln Center Plaza, Manhattan

By train: 1 to 66^th Street
By bus: M5, M7, M11, M20, M66, M104

http://www.lartedelgelato.com/