Category: Sweets

Bordering Beverly Hills, Al Gelato is a small Italian eatery nestled along Robertson Blvd. As you may have already guessed, their specialty is homemade Italian Gelato – a thick and creamy spin on American-style Ice Cream. If you come in for the Gelato and are overwhelmed by the options (there are usually about 25 on display), they’ll be more than happy to let you sample the flavors; I would suggest sampling either the Pistachio or Coffee Crunch flavors first. But there is much more to Al Gelato than just the deserts; their food is quite good.

The Food

I love coming to Al Gelato for the pasta, but I’ll admit…the taste isn’t for everyone. The marinara sauce is thick and creamy, but what sets it apart from typical Italian fare you’ll find in Los Angeles is that it’s on the sweet side. If you’re not a fan of marinara sauce, give their pesto a shot…it’s a little extra, but worth it. Their most popular pasta dish is the Rigatoni – served in either a full or half portion. The portions are hearty and will probably fill you up, but the full is only a few dollars more and you can take it home with you.

If you’re a meatball fan, good news for you; their meatballs are huge and are complemented perfectly by the sweet marinara sauce. All of the food is accompanied by freshly baked bread that is delivered warm right to your table; it’s also great for soaking up that left over marinara sauce. If you do decide to take some food home with you, leave the bread behind – it’s not very good after a few hours

For desert, there is the Gelato of course. If you’re not in the mood for Gelato or maybe want something to accompany it, they have a variety of homemade Italian desserts, including crispy cannolis, creamy tiramisu, and a fantastic apple pie.

The Service

This is really a toss-up and it depends on what mood you catch them in. The staff has been there for years and on some days they’re absolutely great. However, on other days – they can come off as a little obnoxious or snotty. Since I’ve been eating here for years, I’ve learned to just let it go; plus, the food and desert make up for it.

NOTE: Al Gelato only accepts cash. If you forget, there’s a gas station a few blocks away and an ATM machine at the 7-Eleven on Olympic and La Cienega.

If you haven’t tried Pinkberry, I’m sure you’ve at least heard about it by now. With only two flavors of its non-fat yogurt, Plain and Green Tea, Pinkberry puts the simplicity back into frozen desserts.

Pinkberry isn’t the taste you’ve become accustomed to with traditional soft serve Frozen Yogurt…it’s sweet, but not too sweet. With only 125 calories in the small serving, it’s a healthy alternative when you’re looking to indulge.

So what’s the catch? Well, it doesn’t come cheap. A small serving of Pinkberry yogurt will run you about $5 with your choice of 3 toppings. Toppings include seasonal fruit (great quality), granola, cereals, and a few others that I am probably missing. Be prepared to wait a little bit – on an ordinary day, you would be hard pressed finding a Pinkberry location without a line snaking out the door.

There is also a little issue with parking at some of the locations. The Los Angeles Times refers to Pinkberry as, "the taste that launched 1,000 parking tickets" – because trying to find a parking spot at the original West Hollywood location was almost impossible. Finding parking at their Westwood location is no picnic either. But if you’re already in the area, I suggest you visit the new location at the Olympic Collection on Olympic and Sawtelle. There is ample parking in the underground lot and you don’t have to constantly look over your shoulder for parking enforcement.

So is it worth it? The taste isn't for everyone and many will say that it’s a waste of money. Although I frequent Pinkberry from time to time, I still enjoy other frozen yogurt shops like Bigg Chill and Penguins. Give it a shot and decide for yourself.