Very strong flavors across the board with a satisfying creaminess. There was a sweet aroma in the air from the waffle cones. A freezer held a wide selection of gelato pints, including some flavors not available in the display case. I appreciated that even the small cup could be split into two flavors. The gelato, vegan options, and sorbetto were all neatly organized, and the staff were generous with portions. Deeper into the shop, there was also a dessert case and a menu for coffee drinks. *Toasted Almond: intensely nutty and very forward in flavor. It tasted almost exactly like almond extract in the best way. One of my favorite nut based gelato flavors I have had. *Vanilla: similarly bold, with a rich and pronounced vanilla flavor. A sweeter take on a classic, but still very satisfying. *Green Tea: well executed with a clear earthiness. It was not overly sweet or milky, making it a solid and above average version. *Cherry Blossom: a seasonal flavor that could have easily felt gimmicky, but was handled well. It reminded me of a lighter lavender honey profile, not overly fragrant or sweet. It tasted natural and paired nicely with creamier flavors. *Espresso: true to its name, though slightly sweeter than expected. It was the least sweet of the group but did not stand out as particularly bold or aromatic. *Honey Mascarpone Fig: my favorite of everything I tried. The mascarpone added a slight tang and depth, while the honey and fig brought a soft, almost jammy sweetness. This was the most balanced flavor and would pair well with many others. While they do not offer as many flavors as some dessert shops, the quality across the board makes up for it. The execution is strong enough that it does not rely on gimmicks, and I would definitely return to try more of their seasonal offerings. read more

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I'm on my way to the car after finishing one review, & I saw this Gelati spot! I figured...why not! I found out that shop owner Chef Gianluigi Dellaccio is Italy's Gelato Ambassador!! Yeah...I'm 'bout to get that REAL!! Let's Go!! . Where I am: @dolcigelati . Location Reviewed: 1420 8th St., N.W. Washington D.C. . Items Reviewed: STAMP!! Their Award Winning Honey Mascarpone Fig Gelato, & Sicilian Pistachio ($7.90 Large Cup). Smooth, rich, & fragrant honey mascarpone gelato!! A sweet almost floral pistachio gelato! STAMP!! Their Dark Chocolate Gelato, & Caramel Banana with Pecan Praline ($6.90 Small Cup). Intense super smooth dark chocolate gelato that paired perfectly with that caramel banana gelato!! STAMP!! Their Dubai Chocolate Sundae ($12 with house made pistachio gelato, pistachio cream, fudge, kataifi-crunchy shredded phyllo dough, & pistachio crumble). My new favorite Sundae!! Rich, creamy, sweet, crunchy, & delectable!! STAMP!! Their Dubai Chocolate Bar ($12.50 dark chocolate, pistachio cream, & kataifi made in house). The BEST Dubai chocolate bar that I've had so far, & I've had a couple!! STAMP!! Their Apple Cake ($7.50 with a white chocolate mousse, apricot marmalade, & apples). Soft, rich, & fruity!! STAMP!! Their Cappuccino ($3.50 with milk, & French Vanilla cream). A perfect way to end this review!! Hot sweet, & creamy!? . Customer Service: On Point. . Parking: Decent but $$ . Recommendations: It's no missing here!! Rich Gelato!! . Accessibility: It's is wheelchair friendly, & it's differently abled persons friendly. 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews read more

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I was leaving a concert at Capital One Arena and needed to kill some time while I waited for my Uber. Anytime is a good time for a cool, sweet treat, so I decided to stop by. The place looked inviting from the outside and the staff was very welcoming as soon as I walked in. They greeted me, gave recommendations, and let me sample a few flavors before making my decision. Ultimately, I decided on the hazelnut and cinnamon apple. Both were delicious. The hazelnut was silky smooth and full of nutty flavor. My favorite of the two was the cinnamon apple. It's a seasonal flavor with cinnamon gelato and granny smith apple compote mixed in for texture. A scoop of this would definitely elevate a slice of apple pie. Why does gelato taste so good?! I've noticed this chain popping up in some places I frequent, so I look forward to my next visit. There are some many flavors to read more

Dolci Gelati - Cinnamon apple gelato - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Yum! You can't go wrong here! There are delicious desserts and treats here. The store is located in Shaw, at the market. The flavors are simply incredible. Pick one that doesn't make sense and sample it. That is probably the one you'll order. A lot of love goes into these items. read more

Dolci Gelati - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is so cute! We were immediately welcomed in by an employee who explained their flavors and options. I got a sugar cone with blueberry mint. I love that they have samples since there were so many options I didn't want to commit to one I didn't like. After trying two, I decided to go with blueberry mint, such a unique and delightful concoction. I love the color and taste, such a vibrant blueberry flavor. They had a lot of seating inside which was nice and very many napkins to prevent it leaking. They also have a bathroom for customers only and I only saw street parking. read more

Dolci Gelati - Blueberry mint - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I really cannot complain at all about my experience at Dolci Gelati. First up, I definitely will need to make a few more trips to this gelato shop because I think they have at least 25 different flavors of gelato (that's not counting the dairy-free options), which i guess is a good problem to have. Fortunately, you are allowed to try a few samples before making an executive decision regarding your flavor of choice. Overall, I thought the workers were very friendly and helpful. Also, they were super patient because I admit that it did take me a while to make my final decision. For my gelato flavors, I went with something old and something new - a waffle cone with a scoop of cookies n cream (something old) and rum raisin (something new). Both flavors were absolutely delicious and super creamy. Also, the portions size is quite large for eight bucks, which is a win in this economy. My two-scoop cone probably was more like 3 to 3.5 scoops. Since I'm not a huge fan of eating ice cream (well, gelato) on the go, I was happy to see that Dolci Gelati has a few tables to consume your desert on the spot. Fortunately for me, the shop was not super crowded so I had the dining area, which was super clean, all to myself. Overall, I'm very glad that my other plans fell through, which gave me some extra time to make this random stop. read more

Dolci Gelati - Two-scoop waffle cone for 8 bucks. - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Got a small cup with two different flavors: toasted almond and espresso gelato. The service was really nice. Decent amount of seating indoor and some benches outside. Street parking available. Cute decor on the inside. Had good range for options. read more

Dolci Gelati - Toasted almond and espresso gelato - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It is a very pretty little gelato spot! There were many flavor options to pick from, and all of them tasted naturally flavored. When I sampled the pistachio it didn't taste like the normal artificial pistachio ice creams, but the actual nut you'd get out of the shell! And the cherry blossom tasted just like a flower. The young lady working there was very kind, helpful, and patient. I would definitely recommend trying it out if you're in the area! read more

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Lovely cozy gelato place with seasonal flavors! The servers are also really kind. You can taste the gelato flavors before ordering what you'd like. We went during fall and they had a lovely pumpkin pie flavor that I thought is really yummy if you normally enjoy pumpkin. The hazelnut is also really good too! All in all, a perfect dessert spot to visit after your dinner in old town Alexandria. The location is conveniently located walking distance to the waterfront as well. Must stop by! read more

Dolci Gelati - Pumpkin pie, hazelnut, straciatella, and pistachio gelato - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was craving a dessert on Sunday at 7pm and sadly a lot of places were closed. I found this spot and tried it out. It is a little small, but definitely a spot for more intimate get together like date night. We shared an ESPRESSO gelato. They didn't have regular chocolate sadly. I liked it - tasted like coffee and not sugary. It was on the pricier side $7.98 for the serving (which you didn't get to see fully because i ate before my camera did lol). read more

Dolci Gelati - Small gelato - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Really tasty! I had the run raisin and dolce de leche, both were great. I would return to try the other flavors. read more

Dolci Gelati - Half rum raisin and half dolce de leche - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went in to ask if they validated the parking but she said no. I took the time to try a few flavors before leaving to go to Giant to make a purchase to validate the parking. I had decided but didn't want to carry it in Giant. I quickly returned and got the Baci single in a waffle cone. It was delicious!! Omg. So glad I don't live near this place! The gelato was creamy and the cone was crunchy! She was super friendly. read more

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I love that you can get two flavors in a small and it was still a decent scoop size for each flavor. Got the pistachio and hazelnut and both flavors were nutty with a hint of sweetness but not overly so. The gelato was creamy and didn't melt super quickly. Overall a solid sweet treat! read more

Dolci Gelati - Pistachio and hazelnut - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Amazing gelato with plenty of vegan flavors that are not overly sweet or icy. Didn't try any regular flavors but they looked great so stop by if you're in the area. read more

Cute spot in Old Town Alexandria by Market Square. It has great gelato flavors, and also carry some vegan options and sorbetto. Like most gelato shops, you can sample to your heart's desire. I got strawberry lavender and tiramisu. The texture was okay, but a bit icy and not as creamy. Something that bothered me was finding a piece of hair inside my gelato! I was disappointed by my first gelato experience in DC. However, the girl who served me was friendly. read more

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Nice little dessert shop. Gelato was tasty but very firm. I recall it really should be more fluffy and creamy instead. Tasted nice but consistency felt off. Not many tables but still quite a few people inside despite the cold weather. read more

Leans towards ok rather than good, there was a wide variety of flavors but the texture was somewhat gummy. Would probably look for other places before I return here. read more

This place had a great variety of gelato flavors and sorbetto. The customer service was ok. Prices were normal. Just over $6 for a generous small size Good amount of seating outside and inside read more

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We ordered two small cups of gelato which had two different flavors each! They had a bunch of interesting gelato flavors as well as sorbetto flavors. Some of the sorbetto flavors contained alcohol, which is great if you want that! Would definitely recommend this spot if you are looking for a sweet dessert! Staff was helpful and patient while we picked our flavors, and they also let us try some free samples. read more

Dolci Gelati - Banana Nutella gelato Chocolate chip swirl gelato Toasted almond gelato Tiramisu gelato - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Friendly staff with multiple flavor choices. Cookies and cream was great. Not many tables so you may have to take it to go.

Nice Gelato place . Ordered Sicilian Pistachio and Honey Mascarpone Fig . Enjoyed very much . Smooth and you can taste snd smell the pistachio & the fig . Nice place to visit . read more

Dolci Gelati - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Visited Dolce Gelati today, while I was in the Smithsonian Zoo in DC. It was similar to a food truck, that's what it looked like -- a small shop in the Zoo near the entrance. I sampled the chocolate gelato, then the mango sorbet, then the strawberry gelato. I was told their most popular gelato is the chocolate and strawberry ones, and mango for their sorbet. None of them was really a home run or stood out for me; food truck fare, really. I had the smallest size cup w/ strawberry gelato, and they overcharged me for it, as usual. Almost a $10 even. Pays to not order food at a tourist attraction, I guess, but what the heck -- I was in the mood for it. Gelato didn't suck, but it wasn't hot stuff either. Overpriced for the quantity, and quality wasn't great either. It is what it is, I guess. read more

So good we went twice. Loved that they made a non dairy version of their dark chocolate. Also really enjoyed the fruit sorbets. Not overly sweetened. Sadly the second time, the service was just so-so, they were sloppy with their gelato serving compared to the first time, where the girl was so enthusiastic and nice. read more

Dolci Gelati - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

SO glad I stumbled upon this place because their gelato was fire! I don't consider myself a gelato person because I like my ice cream with more texture/chewiness and melts slower. However, their gelato exceeded my expectations! I got their dark chocolate flavor which was also vegan (made with oat milk). It was super smooooth and had a great texture! The chocolate flavors were pretty strong and I liked how it was *truly* dark chocolate / not overly sweet. I couldn't even tell it wasn't made with regular milk. It actually reminded me of this other vegan chocolate ice cream bar when I lived in LA. I also got to try a bit of the toasted coconut - pretty solid with strong flavors and little bites of coconut flakes. I went kinda close to closing time so the staff weren't the most excited to see me BUT they were still nice and patient when I asked to try flavors. Good amount of seating inside with some nice lighting ambiance at night. Would recommend trying their vegan and/or regular gelato! read more

Dolci Gelati - Vegan dark chocolate - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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There is ample indoor seating to enjoy your desert inside and service was great! I didn't think the flavor I got (vegan toasted coconut) was that too special which is why I rated it a three. Based on reading other reviews, it seems it would still be worth trying out a different flavor. read more

Dolci Gelati - Vegan Coconut Gelato - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

- Espresso and Dark Chocolate gelato - DF Coffee and Chocolate gelato - DF Strawberry gelato - Doppio x2 * 9/10 * Dolci Gelati was the closest dessert place from Dinner, so we decided to go here. We were impressed that there were several DF options available, making us happy. My sister ordered the DF version of my parents flavors (chocolate and coffee), and said that it tasted better than "the original", which is rare for non dairy flavors. My brother ordered the Strawberry DF gelato, and said it was "one of the best he's ever had". Of course we had to order some type of caffeinated beverage, which were doppios, and was great. The staff was super helpful and personable and let us sample lots of flavors. Also the bathroom light didn't work, so all they had for lighting was a nightlight. So random but was so funny. We loved Dolci Gelti and would come back! ^@kamibites on Instagram read more

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Best gelato I've ever had! Big portions for a decent price. The staff was so helpful and guided me in helping me find the best flavor! read more

Dolci Gelati - Gelato Pints - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Fantastic! Great location and got a scoop Of blackberry and another scoop of hazelnut crunch! Perfect consistency and a decent price for the area! read more

Super cute spot. Lovedddd the green tea flavor! And they have doggy gelato! So cute!! Great service. Super friendly. Cute spot! read more

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Some of the best gelato we've ever had. Friendly servers and tons of flavors! Indoor seating but no outdoor.

Just came from 2 weeks in Italy this is by far the best Gelato in all of Washington DC!!! Authentic!! Owners name is Luigi from Sicily read more

Dolci Gelati - Bacio (chocolate hazelnut) and Biscof (cookie) - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Absolutely love this place! The ambience is very peaceful and the service was amazing. You can try multiple samples and even get two flavors in a small. The options are really diverse and they even offer sorbet! Definitely worth trying if you're in the area. read more

Dolci Gelati - Earl Gray and Dulce de Leche - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place was just ok for me. The staff was nice but were like teenagers having their own drama in the back..pretty entertaining however, a bit too extra when you have customers. Also, the ice cream was alright. Had bits of freezer burn. Not sure if I'll be back. read more

Dolci Gelati - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I look forward to this gelato every time I perform at the Cherry Blossom Festival. My mom and I know the exact location and we make time to visit the cart every time. Pictured is the cherry blossom flavor which was meh and hidden is the matcha flavor which was very good. Looking forward to going back again! read more

Dolci Gelati - Cherry blossom - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

They have amazing flavors here. Some of my favorites are Honey Mascarpone Fig, Biscoff, Mango Sorbet, and Bacio (chocolate hazelnut). Everything tastes fresh and has the perfect amount sweetness. Waffle cones and cookies are made fresh here and the tiramisu is EVERYTHING! The people here are nice and generous. A definite must-try in DC! It's a small shop with a couple of tables inside and a few small ones outside - ok for quieter days, but expect to hang outside on busier days like the weekends. read more

I came to this place since I saw that it has a wide variety of flavors online, but when I arrived, the place only has one third of the flavors listed in the site. I got the hazelnut and the toasted coconut flavors, and although they taste okay, the ice cream does melt faster than normal, even during winter months. The one thing that I disliked when I get the cone is that the paper outside is glued to the cone, which makes portions of it inedible. Good service, but the food is 5.5/10. read more

How could I have missed this gem??!?!? I used to go to the Giant across the street at least once a week. I drove pass this spot every week, Monday through Friday going to work downtown and missed all this goodness. Do yourself a favor and stop by and get you some gelati? OMG!! Ya'll it's so delicious. The server, I can't remember her name, was so pleasant. We stopped by when they were getting ready to close and she still welcomed us in and didn't rush us. Great customer service in these days is rare!! She was definitely a jewel. I'd revisit for the customer service alone. You know by now that the kid has allergies. They even had options for him, another added bonus. Since I love Biscoff, I got that flavor. It was amazing. I'm drooling right now as I type this review. Let's just say it was so good, I went back in the week and got another scoop. Hush... don't tell hubby. He doesn't know! read more

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Well after dinner we went to have dessert and it is my first time and I wish they would give more information. It was yummy I had the one with chocolate gelato with hazelnut and my fiance had a ok one. It is worth going too. read more

Dolci Gelati - The sign to the place - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came to this new gelato place in this newly developed area with the understanding that they had quite a broad variety of flavors, based on their website. I was disappointed, but only mildly, to find they weren't all in stock, and that the place was out of waffle cones as well. However, the flavors I did try were quality stuff; a chocolate with candied orange and a seasonal peppermint that were both excellent. They had a decent selection of vegan flavors as well for those who prefer. Conversely, their mousse has gelatin in it so I'll steer clear, but there are a variety of confections on offer. Since this location wasn't as big as I'd hoped, I may visit another location before I come back here. read more

Dolci Gelati - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The staff was so friendly and helpful when I stopped by yesterday evening. Her cheerful attitude really brightened my experience. This has been a go-to local gelato shop of choice for a while - they have a great variety of flavors as well as nondairy / vegan options. I ordered the honey marscapone fig and bacio on a sugar cone and my guest had the vegan toasted coconut and vegan dark chocolate on a sugar cone. Can't wait to come back! read more

Dolci Gelati - Honey Mascarpone Fig Gelato Bacio Gelato Vegan Toasted Coconut Vegan Chocolate Almond Milk - Gelato Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia