This is maybe the third visit to Fantasticks and each time I've been impressed with them. Fantasticks covers all the bases gelato in a bowl and stick options and vegan options. The sticks can be covered with 2 or more toppings followed by a drizzle of chocolate, caramel or strawberry. The only tricky part is that the dip cools down very quickly. If they don't put the toppings on very soon after the dip then the toppings don't stick and roll off into the container. Still great but kind of ruins the presentation. read more

I was surprised that a store with signs about allergens hadn't bothered to train their staff on how to answer a simple allergen question, in this case whether the popsicles were gluten free or not. The first response was basically "I don't know," the second was "I think the vegan pops are GF," and when asked for an ingredient list, "they don't tell us what's in anything." I can't imagine a worse set of responses. read more

Love that this place stays open late! I first visited after a family dinner and it was the perfect stop. Such a fun spot--kids will LOVE making their own colorful popsicle. I'm super indecisive, so it took me forever to pick mine. If you're like me, I recommend checking the flavors ahead of time, haha. Fantasticks is creative, refreshing, and tasty all in one! read more

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I very much enjoyed this unique Gelato experience. My family enjoyed the Gelato Bar option which is what me and my son chose. The Tirimisu did not disappoint and my little guy raved about his oreo cookie whole inside his Gelato bar ! If your in or staying in Rio it's worth the try we will definitely go back. read more

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This was a meh experience for me. It seemed like freezing the gelato into a bar sucked out all the flavor or something. I tried to choose toppings that would be natural, but it all tasted so fake. The girl who worked there was super nice, though. read more

I love the way that the gelato pops taste and they are so pretty as well. They are a perfect treat for a warm day after lunch or dinner. The staff is nice as well and the service is decently fast. I also love that they have a cart on the boardwalk and a truck by the playground area so you can get it in multiple places around Rio. Try this place out if you want a pretty and delicious dessert. read more

Fantasticks - Cookies and cream gelato pop with chocolate dip, m&ma, and chocolate pearls - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

This place is just another spot that mainly banks on Instagram I think. It's decently tasty in its own right and the showmanship of customizing your popsicle is definitely fun! But despite being tasty its not anything special beyond the presentation. At the price you pay to get all the fixings and everything its hard to justify, even some of their more unique offerings end up a little flat in being good enough to wow you or leave a lasting impression. I'd say come here and try it once for yourself and take your photos for social media but after that the next time you want a frozen treat just go to a regular ice cream place. read more

Thursday 2/29/2024 Always saw this spot when I go to the movies so today I finally decided to try it for the first time. The service was pretty good, the worker had no problem with me sampling multiple flavors and was helpful in letting me know about the popular/suggested flavors. I sampled many different gelato flavors but the main ones that stood out were the chocolate lover, caramel brownie batter, white chocolate, and cookie butter. I ended up getting a 3 scoop regular gelato cup of 2x chocolate lover scoops & 1x caramel brownie batter scoop ($7) and a Oreo regular fantastik ($5). The gelato 3 scoop cup was solid but the Oreo regular fantastik was very underwhelming and overpriced (definitely wouldn't get it again). Overall, it was a solid experience if you only consider the gelato flavors but the disappointing Oreo fantastik brings the down the experience as a whole. read more

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Not even 3 days later I'm back..Ha! Always been a fan of Fantasticks, so after our dinner around Rio, we all decided to finish with dessert. Awesome service as always! This time instead getting gelato pops, decided on gelato in a cup. Decided on small scoops of Caramel Brownie Brittles & Tropicana flavors. I think Caramel brownie def became my favorite, my friend agreed. We both think it's so damn delicious that it just hits the sweet spots! read more

Fantasticks - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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We walked around on a lazy Sunday afternoon and stopped by for a nice treat. I ordered two scoops: Ube and Cookie Monster. They were so delicious! read more

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Have gone here multiple times throughout the years and can't believe I haven't written about them yet. The popsicles are always delicious and love all the flavors that they have. The staff could be a hit or miss depending on who is there but mostly, the service has been pleasant. They also have a pretty goof variety of gelatos so that's always nice! They even have vegan options! It gets pretty busy in the summer so don't be surprised if you don't find seats. But it's a pretty nice small storefront. Mostly clean most of the time unless it gets real busy. read more

Fantasticks - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Cute little shop to customize your favorite ice cream pops or even gelato. A little pricey imo as each additional add on is about .50 to $1 more. So about $7 for one popsicle. The tiramisu pop though was sooo yummy! It's not too sweet nor too creamy for an ice cream. I like that I was able to balance it out with some topping and the dark chocolate drizzle at the end. A great place to check out and get some custom desserts with a friend or partner! Right in the heart of RIO however so this place can get pretty packed especially on the weekends! It was a bit too packed for me personally so I'd stick to going when it's not as busy. read more

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Great little Gelato shop with pre-made Popsicles that can be dipped in your favorite toppings or go for your favorite flavor of Gelato from the tub. Wonderful staff will give you a sample before you lock in your choice. A few tables inside to beat the heat outside as well as a bathroom and ice cold water. We'll worth a try. read more

Fantasticks - Pre-made Popsicles - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Took three tween girls after an escape room visit a block away. The outside and indoor decor is super cute! It's nice they have indoor and outdoor seating (although limited) and the place was clean. Super cool that you can pick your own toppings to create edible art. It is weird that there are two separate lines for the regular gelato and for the popsicles. With respect to prices, are they cheapest no, but this is a unique place and the prices are not outrageous either, given the place needs to make money, especially during these inflationary times. Staff was nice and the gelato was good! Would like to try the DIY kits for an in home group tween experience, was told customers pick up and are given a cooler type container to keep the gelato intact during transport. I had the uber/coconut gelato cup which was very good. Girls had a variety of cookies and cream gelato cups and popsicle. Will try this place again! read more

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They offer some unique vegan flavors! My son and I love visiting this place in Rio. However, there isn't enough seating inside the store. The service is attentive and very accommodating. I appreciate the smiles we receive every time we go. read more

Stopped by real quick just to try their Gelato. The cashier made a great reccomendation for the white chocolate passion fruit and it was very tasty. Not too sweet and a light passion fruit flavor. They are very generous if you want to taste the flavors as well. read more

Nice ambience and relaxed. Gelato was good. Easy access for desserts... Good crowd and the service was very good read more

Fantasticks - Parfait with dark chocolate - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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I've been hearing a lot about Fantasticks recently and I finally had a chance to check it out. I definitely get the hype. There are two sections: the first has plenty of unique gelato flavors to get a scoop or two, then there's the DIY ice cream bar section. The gentleman behind the counter let me know that I can try any of the gelato flavors and I tried the brownie caramel brittle. It was so good. I decided to get a scoop to go. But...I couldn't leave without making an ice cream bar right? I decided to make my own. It was sooooo good. The shop itself is very bright and has a very cute decor and a small section for seating. I went when there was a heatwave outside so it may have been better to eat inside the shop. I'm already planning a trip back to take my daughter. I know she will enjoy it as much as I did. read more

Fantasticks - Brownie caramel brittle - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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As appealing as Fantasticks looks, I think it's overrated. We came here on a cool spring evening, so maybe there's a more optimal time/temperature to eat at Fantasticks. I ordered a dark chocolate gelato bar with some chocolatey toppings, and it was still pretty frozen when I bit into it... it was akin to eating a fudgesicle from the grocery store, except at the grocery store, a whole box will be cheaper than one bar at Fantasticks. While the gelato bars come in interesting flavors, a lot of the fruity options don't pair very well with the mostly chocolate and/or nutty topping selections. But I suppose that will save you the ~$1 upcharge to add up to three toppings (it's actually $0.75, but with tax and tip, we can round up to $1). One gelato bar with toppings cost about $6, which is typical for the artisanal gelato price point, but still pretty steep if you ask me. There also wasn't much finesse in adding the toppings, they literally just scooped them in a cup, added the drizzle to stick them on, and dumped it on top. And as I bit into the bar, most of the toppings popped right off. I was hoping for something a little more IG-worthy. The place definitely has the aesthetics for it, but since the bars were so icy with little flavor and no creamy texture to show for it, it seems more like a gimmick. read more

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I got a rose popsicle just to try out the place. About five bucks for a stick of sugar. Eh, could've been cheaper. I normally am a sucker for floral flavored desserts. I really disliked this flavor. For some reason it smelled like I was eating borax?? Reminded me of homemade ant traps I couldn't finish it. Idk if this is a one time occurrence but it was really not good. The rose flavor was nonexistent. It was just sugar cream with the aftertaste of borax idk. Maybe they just messed up this batch. I love floral flavors and read good reviews about the rose flavor but idt this was it. The consistency of the popsicle was good tho and the texture is nice and creamy. I'm also glad they come with small container carry out trays. Maybe their other flavors will be better. Friend got the tiramisu gelato. it was alr melting and had a slight too sweet aftertaste for me. Melted super fast. All in all it wasn't the best experience. I might come and try another flavor next time, give 'em another chance. Tried a sample of mango gelato it was pretty good. read more

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Quite and a pretty clean layout for this store, especially during the weekday evenings. Some choices may be sold out by the end of the day, but they've always a flavor I enjoy in stock. The staff is patient. I am quite indecisive, especially with the toppings. read more

Fantasticks - White chocolate coconut gelato bar - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Fantasticks takes gelato and popsicles to the next level. I've indulged there many times since they opened last summer and have never been disappointed. Their popsicles are about $6-7 which seems like a lot, but their popsicles are truly amazing and topped with your choices of drizzles and candies. The gelato is equally as delicious. Their smallest cup seems small but is super filling and satisfying. read more

Fantasticks - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Finally stopped in here after passing this shop numerous times. They're an artisanal gelato shop, featuring gelato scoops and craft-your-own gelato bars. Price point is kinda high for a "popsicle" IMO but we enjoyed the experience and taste. The shop is cute, clean and kinda small. Typically ice cream shop size. Husband opted for just a small scoop of strawberry cheesecake gelato ($4.25). Good strawberry and cream taste and texture. However, it sorta lacked in the "cheesecake" department. Maybe throw some more graham cracker crumbs into the base. The girls and I each got our own gelato bars. These are frozen solid, so the texture resembles more of a fruit popsicle. You pay $5 for the bar, plus 75cent for (up to) 3 toppings, and another 75cent if you want to dip it in white, milk or dark chocolate. So it's basically $6.50 a pop. I had a cookie butter bar dipped in white chocolate with unicorn sprinkles and caramel crunch pearls with a chocolate drizzle. The eldest had a cookies n cream bar half dipped in white chocolate with m&ms and gummy bears with a strawberry drizzle. The youngest has a mango bar half dipped in white chocolate with unicorn sprinkles and gummy bears and strawberry drizzle. Each bar comes in its own pink rectangular box, perfect for catching excessive toppings or a potentially melted bar - if u don't eat it fast enough (here's me looking at the youngest kid). read more

Fantasticks - Cookies n cream bar. Half dipped white chocolate. M&Ms n gummy Bears. Strawberry drizzle - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Nothing (in my book) can top the rose gelato bar with all the added bling that I had at a Yelp Event earlier in the summer. I knew I had to return before the start of school. So here I am. I am so very, very tempted to repeat my last order. I had to say to myself, "Variety is the spice of life, Libby." So I did fight the urge and tried something new to me. I ordered the vegan dragonfruit gelato bar. It's pretty. I didn't think chocolate would mesh well with this flavor, and the server agreed. Goodbye for now, sweet unicorn dust. Maybe later white chocolate crunchy balls. I did get the top half with a vegan dark chocolate swirl. My instinct was right: chocolate doesn't belong on this bar. As for taste? To me it tasted simply like lemonade. And because it was vegan with no dairy it didn't have the texture of true gelato. It was more like an ice pop. It survived the 20 minute commute home without melting. It was very, very good, but not very, very good like my first love, rose gelato. I'm already thinking about my third visit. I'm thinking maybe birthday cake. Or maybe rose. read more

Fantasticks - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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I came here for the first time this past weekend after having brunch in Rio. Upon arriving, one of the employees greeted me right away and was super friendly. I told her I was there for the Yelp experience, and she explained all of the options available and ways I could customize my order. I went with the tiramisu popsicle and topped it with the butterscotch flakes and half-dipped in dark chocolate. It was yummy and perfect for a hot day! In addition to many different flavors of popsicles, they also have ice cream and gelato! read more

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The first time I visited was at a Yelp Elite event. And it was sinfully decadent. This time I stopped by after a movie. And as enticing as all the flavors look, I couldn't help but go with what I know the cherry cheesecake bar. One day I will be bold enough to try the cherry jolly ranchers gelato that was whispering to me as I stood in line. read more

I've been wanting to try this place for quite sometime and finally had the opportunity after a zumba class. Located near Nandos and Lilys cupcakes. Now the place is cute and very trendy looking. Now I can agree with the other Yelpers that customer service is a little a hit or miss. Mostly high schoolers who lack basic common courtesy or customer service skills 101. You can get a gelato or a custom made popsicle. You pick one and then you have the option to pick your toppings of up to 3 and then you have your choice of a drizzle. The actual Popsicle is small and kinda flimsy in that paper tray that they give you. Im not sure if Ill frequent this place. Its expensive and the service kinda sucks, am I willing to pay more? I rather treat myself to Haagan Dazs. read more

Fantasticks - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

The spot is 95% white (painted in white) some wall are dirty or stained and doesn't look good when serving food, anyway, the gelato and tiramisu was good, I give three stars because the service was bad, holding the phone all the time and annoyed attitude is bad combination. read more

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Loooove this place! Everything is Vegan and the flavors are amazing! So good! We got dark chocolate covered coffee gelato bar, a caramel covered birthday cake and strawberry gelato bar. The gelato bars are $5 You can get three toppings for $0.75 The caramel and dark chocolate dips are free/complimentary (from what we were told). I love this place. Great customer service! Super nice! read more

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I was excited to try the gelato at Fantasticks and was not too disappointed. I went with a small order of the pistachio and loved how it truly tasted like pistachio. It was nutty and very creamy. Like a few of the reviewers, I agree that the gelato did not have that elastic/sticky consistency that is authentic to gelatos. This shop is beyond cute and is very open and airy. The staff seem to have the option of wearing masks and I confirmed that they must be vaccinated to have the choice to be unmasked. read more

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Dessert before dinner? Say less! We decided to go to California Pizza Kitchen for Mother's Day dinner. They had a 20-30 minute wait, so me and my brother decided to head over to Fantasticks. I experienced this for the first time in Rio because they had a cart, but I wanted to check out the shop itself since it just opened a couple of days ago. The line seemed rather long, but it was quick as there were a few people waiting outside, but I assumed it was because of social distancing. There was no line to get the sticks. Here's the drill - you get to pick your Fantastick, 3 toppings and 1 drizzle. I got the: Cookies n cream with white chocolate drizzle, crushed cookies n cream, rainbow sprinkles and Reese's pieces: 4.5/5 My brother got the: Chocolate hazelnut with white chocolate drizzle, crushed cookies n cream, Reese's pieces and M&M's: 4/5 One of my biggest complaint is the container the stick comes in. I tried to pull the stick out and all the toppings flew all over the place. What a disappointment. However this place screams my aesthetic and color palette! With the blush pink, plants and gold and white accent tables, I couldn't stop snapping photos for the 'gram. The neon sign was also very cute and aesthetic! If you want different concept of ice cream, then this is the perfect place to go and then walk around Rio with your 'stick! read more

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I honestly went for the aesthetics and the experience because the pictures looked cute since you get to customize your own ice cream. So I didn't really have high expectations and also wasn't sure how the ice cream will taste with all those different toppings combined together. But surprisingly it tasted pretty good! I got the strawberry popsicle as my base and the strawberry flavor was so strong it felt like they actually used real strawberries. And you can choose exactly what toppings you want so that's cool too. You can choose them to your tasting. Chocolate can be a little too sweet though so I suggest you only do drizzle or half dip. Overall, it tasted good and I would love to come again but it's a little pricey. read more

Fantasticks - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Service is great Super cute place I went with friends and got the rose, strawberry kiwi, espresso, and pistachio. Rose- I really liked it and my cousin like it because of the combination (dark chocolate, rose, dried raspberries, and rose gold sugar) Strawberry kiwi- eh... the kiwi part tasted like passion fruit and the strawberry reminded me of the strawberry candy that's like in the strawberry wrapper. Too artificial tasting. Espresso- icy, not as creamy which I liked but my cousin said she didn't get that cus she thought it would be icier. It looks icier too. My friend said this was her favorite Pistachio- solid choice There was a yogurt parfait with mango but they left the skin on. That threw me off and made me not want it. The customer in front said she was just saying the same thing I think it's $.75 for three toppings. If you want only one or two it's still $.75 and obviously more if you want more than that... so maybe ask for extra of one topping if you only want one or two. It's not $.25 a topping. I like it but the bars aren't the easiest to eat cus you can't really hold it like a popsicle but have to hold it sideways. Not a big deal Price is on the pricier side. I wouldn't care to spend that much of it unless my friends want to go. I'd rather spend a little more and get a pint of ice cream at Whole Foods or something read more

Fantasticks - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Went in to try out a gelato pop as it was an item I have not encountered before. The team member was courteous and patient as they guided me in ordering the item (simple process: choose base flavor, add toppings, etc.). The gelato pop was tasty--not something I would personally order again (over gelato), but I can see it being someone else's new favorite. The texture is tougher than ice cream, but in a good way. We were very impressed by how long it held its shape on the stick without melting! Definitely a good "walk-while-eating" treat. Final note: I can definitely see the pop being a great ice cream sandwich filler instead of being branded as a "popsicle". It's texture is perfect for that application and it doesn't melt--something to note :) read more

Fantasticks is located at Rio and is very close to the AMC dine in theater. Their premium gelato and has a rich indulgent taste. I chose the chocolover and highly recommend it. The store also offers flavor mixing so I added pistachio. The price is around $8 for a regular. There are only a few small tables so the seating is limited. The door is typically left open. They also offer toppings for ice cream bars but I would recommend the cup portion. There is also a lavatory for customers use. Very enjoyable. read more

Fantasticks is a cute little ice cream shop. It's a crowd favorite so pack your patience as you get in line to order some ice cream. There's a variety of popsicles and gelato. You can dress your popsicle up to make it fantastic! The best part of the popsicle is it's not too sweet; almost seems sugar free. The staff is kind and helpful as you ask questions about the toppings and flavors. There's indoor and outdoor seating or you can enjoy your treat while you walk along the lakefront of the Rio Shopping center. read more

Pretty cool gelato shop. The store is clean, and the product is on display for you to choose what you want. You can buy frozen bars and add toppings to it. As well, you can buy gelato by the cup. Cool gelato shop. This place seems to be packed with a lot of people, and there is confusion about which line to get into. I would try this place again if I could get in when it is not busy. read more

The mango gelato was amazing--like biting into a fresh, ripe, juicy mango. The pineapple coconut gelato was not as flavorful and I probably wouldn't get it again. The watermelon tasted unlike a watermelon. Had a very unenjoyable taste and wasn't worth it. The service was friendly and efficient. read more

Fantasticks - Gelato Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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This was my first visit! Not bad. But I wasn't wowed by the two flavors of popsicles I tried. Tiramisu and Pistachio( which I liked better) I think part of the issue I didn't love it was that I had it dipped in chocolate and then added nuts to it which just made it way too sweet. I'll def try this place again in the future and not add anything to their popsicles. read more

Perfect treat but can be pricey especially if you add toppings. Other than that I really enjoyed the pistachio and tiramisu ones. I tried the rose petal topping too but the texture with the frozen chocolate dip was not for me. I love that they also have some flavors that are dog friendly, it was peanut butter and strawberries & cream when we went. Our pups definitely enjoyed them and they were gone in 10 seconds. LOL. read more