I know, the C-VILLE Weekly has given Splendora the “Best Dessert and Best Frozen Treat” award on numerous occasions, but a lot of readers on this site disagreed with that award and for good reason. I heard that Splendora was somehow “back” and their gelato was amazing now. Seems like an impossible feat for a place that didn’t seem to have a clue about quality gelato.
Boy am I happily proved wrong. One of my favorite new flavors is honey, although I am not sure if they still serve this. They have a nice blackboard behind the register recommending different flavor combination with this obviously promoted star. I didn’t listen to any of the recommendations hoping I could pick something better. Not sure if the honey/ginger was better than my honey/cardamom, but I don’t care, it was dam tasty.
Lets start with the honey. It was creamy, very freaking creamy. But not heavy. It tasted like the air content was much higher than it was previously. Also, the temperature in the gelato case wasn’t freezing cold so the consistency wasn’t ice solid. The taste was smooth and delicate. The honey didn’t overpower your palate…amazing.
The cardamom was a nice surprise. While not as airy as the honey, the taste was dead on and was perfect for a post-Himalayan Fusion dinner. It was a nice contrast to the honey’s texture.
Overall the flavor offering seemed kick-ass and the overall look was better. cocoNUT noted a “watery” consistency in the gelato last year…that issue seems to have since evaporated, and we are definitely the better off for it. As happy as I am we have another stellar gelato place in cville, its sad (in a weird way) that Milano finally has some competition. As an FYI Milano moved to a new location. Could this mean the beginning of a gelato war in cville? Only time will tell.
Please please please go to Splendora and try the other flavors and let us know if they are good and if you think they are better than say, 12 months ago. Some interesting ones I saw: Jack Daniels, Butterscotch and Toasted Almond to name a few. Go eat now!
Note: we wanted to include pics and notes from a store-tour Francesco (Spicy Bear) attempted to setup with Splendora’s owners, but they weren’t that accommodating with him. What are they afraid of!?
Popularity: 45% [?]
Tagged as: best of c-ville, Dessert, frozen dessert, Gelato, Ice Cream
Let’s all take a moment and thank Vanillavy for using an actual picture of Splendora instead of a stock picture of gelato. Thank you.
Favorite mix of flavors is pistachio and stracciatella (vanilla ice cream with chocolate shavings). I admit it I like this place and stop in when I can. Easily my favorite dessert on the mall. Only complaint is that the store layout makes it impossible to get in / out when they are busy. The line is often out the door and moves pretty slowly. Good for them, they have a popular summer treat but they need to do something during the peak times to keep the line moving (no more samples for you, you buy now!). Oh yeah and move that coffee table so people can get out of the store without banging their shin / running people over. Sorry whover you were, it hurt me too.
*hand clapping*
I also agree that the stuff has changed dramatically since the last time we reviewed it.
Do they have watermelon? Cuz that would be so gud in some cava.
I haven’t seen watermelon, I have seen lots of tropical fruits, raspberry, cherry and others that would mesh with cava well.
That’ll do. Mmmm, know where I’m stopping on the way home tonight.
What are they afraid of!?
Splendora Green is people! PEOPLE!
i’ve stopped in there a few times recently and have been very impressed. the Jack Daniels was always one of my favorite flavors and their Zabayon (sp?) is usually very good as well. they had a really good sweet cream-esque flavor there last week that was muy tasty.
Cherimoya? Is there Cherimoya? I demand Cherimoya.
/is so fun to say
cream-esque
Oh, I think there’s actually a word for that. Wait let me think…ummm…maybe CREAMY?
Slendora’s great but where is the love for Chaps?
i’m not sure Cville can handle another gelato war, that last one was a bad scene.
@13 I hear they are reinstating conscription for it.
RIGHT TO BEAR ICECREAM
@15 bear ice cream? That sounds grizzly
I’ll be drinking like an adult, while you kids sort out the carnage over ice milk or whatever.
this is all very interesting…how do we know Vanillavy speaks the truth!? I’ll be back with a new review for Milano, just you wait!
Right on! Honey is the best. Dulce de Leche and Nociolla are awesome too.
sorry shen, i didn’t want to over use CREAMY in my descriptions of the scrumpdiddlyicious flavor-whose-name-still-escapes-me.
/still wakes up at night in a cold sweat from the nightmares of the first gelato war.
@5 - They had it last week, don’t know if it’s still in the lineup.
Their lemon gelato is not very good.
My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard
@13: battle of the bulge?
@12 Isn’t that a theme night at 216?
I used to love Splendora’s… then I discovered Milano in the Main Street Market and haven’t bothered for gelato anywhere else. Authentic Italian stuff, and a rooftop patio to enjoy it! Dreams really do come true…
golightly.. i think that’s the point of this article.. we were the same way.. splendora’s got waaaaaay better
i’ve always been one of those snooty “splendora’s is so much worse than europe’s” people; maybe i’ll have to try again. i didn’t know milano had gelato.
/except rome. rome’s gelato sucks.
stay tuned…we will re-visit Milano as well…
Milano moved, it is at 206 South St., next to South St. Brew’ry. More food. Same Italian coffee as Spendora (Lavazza). Good stuff. Precision espresso ya know. Outdoor seating, Euro style (next to traffic). Location: metered parking + 2 block walk to the Mall.
I know some people are fulsomely sensitive about courteous service & all that. I am not. But Milano is super friendly & attentive as of now.
I love that, in this thread, the place has alternately been called “Spendora’s” and “Slendora’s”
@30: Wow, you actually made sense for once.
Yeah I wasn’t trying to crack on you in that other thread. It was an homage!
@30. Nice comment! It’s actually nice enough weather-wise for outdoor seating.
@32: You love me. Oh, and parlie cracked on you in the Questions thread btw.
Shenanigans loves herself? Who would have thunk it!
@33 I meant. Shut up Dieter.
@37 someone needs a nap or a time out. Perhaps you could take a nap during your timeout.
I WISH I could have a nap. They should allow those for grownups.
Oh crap! Naps aren’t allowed for grownups?! No wonder my boss is always asking me if I want to make a pot of coffee in the afternoons.
I just rocked a 45 minute one. But it’s kosher in my line of work.
coffee is fabulous. drinking a lot is like being drunk except my bosses don’t get mad at me for “having too much fun” or “behaving unprofessionally.”
Went in on Saturday and was not impressed. Me and the bf tried three flavors and they were all bland and too milky. They stuffed the small cup with way too much of the stuff (how American) and we ended up throwing it all in the trash after a couple of bites.
Oh man, really? I must have gone right before you 2, and we LOVED it. I thought the Salted Caramel was delicious and very creative and I paired it with their pistachio, which was out of this world. The only one I heard a complaint about was the pineapple.
[…] Best Gelato/Ice Cream: Tie between Maggie Moo’s and Splendora’s. […]
Splendora’s at least makes their gelato on-the-spot. Milano ships their gelato from Michigan in plastic tubs.
READ: Milano’s does not serve _authentic_ Italian gelato.