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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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
Love the customizations you can make to the dessert of your choice. Not only that, but the toppings they have range from fun of the mill sprinkled to more adventurous dips and flavors. Docked one star because of price and the atmosphere could be a bit more fun!
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.
If you are coming to eat aesthetically pleasing dessert, this is the place to come. You are able to personalize your own ice cream bars by choosing the toppings. The staff make each ice cream bar in to a work of art. That being said the flavors of the ice cream bar itself and there gelato is good but not amazing. I live 45 minutes away from this store and I would not drive out of my way to stop by again. However, if I was in the area I probably would stop by again. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Omg! This was worth every single calorie! Let me just tell you that I underestimated how delicious this would be. Location: located in the Rio Lakefront Mall right at the center of all the restaurants by the Rio AMC Theater. Such a pretty location. I hadn't been to Rio in ages and was drawn in by this icecream spot. There is soooo much parking. Ambiance: it's a very simple and open space with lots of white. Very friendly environment and customer service. The experience itself: when we first walked-in it was a bit confusing because there were people in a line others sitting and then I noticed a few people down towards the back of the space. I quickly realized that if you wanted the gelato icecream in a cup then you'd wait by the entrance but if you were looking to customize a Popsicle you needed to head towards the back of the store. Omg the selections of popsicles! I was in gelato heaven! I went with the tiramisu half dipped in the chocolate hazelnut with coconut , graham crackers and chocolate; drizzled with white chocolate The icecream : AMAZING! Atleast the tiramisu Popsicle was. Super duper creamy, taste exactly like tiramisu (the hints of coffee were divine), and held its shape very well. I was able to take my time and enjoy it without it melting. It is provided in a little open face box container which I didn't find any issue with. Yes, you'll have to eat the Popsicle semi sideways so that the toppings don't fall off which mind didn't anyway but that was to be expected. Price: $6.95 which I found was worth it for the quality of the ice-cream and the experience of customizing it. This is a total must have treat! Bringing my brother whose visiting on Thursday from NY. There are so many ones to try and toppings to mix that everyone's experience will be different so don't let a bad review keep you from trying this. Experience it yourself and enjoy the experience ;-) read more
2 years ago
I found out about this place through my Yelp community director Mike! I honestly thought this was going to be one of those places where I go once and never again BUT holy smokes this place blew my mind! I've never had ice cream/gelato like this before. I'm not much of an ice cream guru, but I want to come back and try some of their other fun flavors like the orange creamsicle and birthday cake popsicle. I was recommended the rose popsicle, which I got, and honestly no complaints. The flavor was a subtle floral taste and absolutely refreshing. I added vanilla chocolate dip to only half of my popsicle, but you can also do the full popsicle if you want! Everything about this place is so cute, and I love that you have a wide range of options to choose from the base flavor of the popsicle to the toppings and the drizzle. I will be back throughout the summer for a light snack to cool off! read more
There are a lot of these popsicle businesses starting up! I really enjoyed Fantasticks. I think it is a reasonable price for a a popsicle with three toppings. The process is really simple. You choose your popsicle flavor and then your three toppings. You can choose to get the popsicle dipped in one of three different "sauces" before they shake your toppings on. After the popsicle has taken its bath and put on its outfit, it takes a final stop where it can be drizzled with a topping sauce. Personally, mine was already so rich, I chose to opt out of the final drizzle. Lastly, it's put in this great little container that is great for holding and catching all your toppings. Now, I'm not one to bite ice cream or popsicles, but with the way the popsicle is dressed up, you kind of have to in order to eat it. Turns out, the popsicle is a perfect temperature to eat. I didn't have a problem with it being too cold on my teeth. It was a really enjoyable experience. There are plenty of flavor combinations to choose from. You won't have a problem of finding something you'll like. There a fruit flavors and then also sweet flavors like strawberry or chocolate. The space is smaller on the inside, not too many tables to sit at. There is a water station in the back and a one stall gender neutral bathroom. It's a fun place to stop for a sweet treat and I would definitely return! It's a fun and bright environment and the staff were helpful. read more
This new gelato spot opened up in RIO and I definitely had to try. First off, they have a great location. It's right next to a movie theater and close to several restaurants if you need some dessert. Their aesthetic is very picture- worthy and since opening they seem to keep things very clean. I have tried the gelato popsicle concept once before, but am still a little disappointed at this pricing. It's about ~5 bucks per pop and more for toppings. On average, I would imagine people spent about ~8 dollars per pop which can add up fairly quickly. Personally, I think that's a little on the pricier side for what you are getting, but some might disagree. I opted for the parfait and my sister got the cherry cheesecake. I'm a popsicle kind of person so I felt like mine was definitely flavorful and gave off that tart taste you look for in popsicles. The cherry cheesecake was definitely more on creamier side which helps you get that gelato flavor. Overall, they have so many options from you won't be disappointed. read more
Amazing icecream, worth the $$! I'm not a huge icecream fan but I tried their pops when they first opened up their stand outside, and now everytime I come to Rio I just automatically crave it!!! It's the perfect place to customize a refreshing & delicious popsicle with your friends/fam and walk around the lake! They have a huge selection of toppings and customizations, and the workers there always make it perfectly the way I like it read more
5 years ago
Definitely a great location in a much needed spot in rio. Their gelato is pretty classic. They have a nice simple clean ambiance. Only complaint is that it's rather small and can't cater to high volumes especially during covid. The lines were not meant to be in the store where the seating area makes the whole place congested and not covid friendly. The napkin and water are not conveniently placed in the back where you have to squeeze through the horde of line and sitting area to get needed supplies. They could be more covid friendly By having only a certain occupancy allowed and having customers wait outside or close off the dining area. All in all, this place does it well where you can grab a gelato and go for a loop around rio on a nice day. read more
5 years ago
Artisan gelato sticks - with a variety of flavors ranging from birthday cake, dragonfruit, avocado, pistachio, strawberry kiwi, banana Nutella, among common flavors. You have the choice to do full or half dip into chocolate hazelnut, strawberry, or vegan chocolate dip, drizzle, and up to 3 toppings. I got the pistachio with full chocolate hazelnut dip with strawberry drizzle, toppings - mint chocolate chips, chocolate balls, butterscotch crunch. I wished I had only done the half as it was too sweet with the full. read more
Yummy ice cream place next to the theater in Rio! My family got the gelato and they all enjoyed it. There are lots of flavors including sorbets to choose from. I got the coconut caramel "stick" with chocolate drizzle. When you bite into the coconut ice cream there is a dulce de leche type caramel inside which was really good! My one critique is that they may keep the gelato at too cold of a temperature; gelato is supposed to be stretchy and more aerated than regular ice cream. When it's too frozen, its harder to scoop and you don't get that soft texture. Still, when you're eating it and it starts to melt a little the gelato texture is there. Overall I enjoyed it and Rio was in need of an ice cream place so I will be back! I think I will a cup instead of a stick next time. read more
5 years ago
Very cool concept to add toppings to a popsicle. It's similar to a frozen yogurt place where you can add various toppings and drizzle. I'm a big strawberry fan so I got the strawberry popsicle and put a bunch of random toppings on it. Honestly, it looked too luxurious to eat and the price definitely reflects it. Quite expensive for what it is but I think it's really for the experience. It was nice to try at least once, but not sure if this is something I'd frequent. But it was pretty good so I'd recommend folks to try it out. The popsicle itself tastes good so the topping is just there to add more flavor and texture. One issue is that once it starts melting, it becomes kind of hard to eat since all of the toppings start falling off as well. The storefront is nice, new, and clean, but I think the staff can definitely be a bit more friendly. But it's middle of the pandemic, there are a lot of restrictions, etc. so I don't blame them. Go try this place out! read more
5 years ago
We visited here for the first time. It took us a few turns around because gps/maps was showing it was next to itsugar but it was across from it. There was a few people there but not a lot. They had a few popsicle choices. Some of the flavors I wanted they didnt have. We decided to go with chocolate hazelnut popsicle. You get to choose your toppings, chocolate dipped full or halfway, and a chocolate drizzle. It was very cute inside. The employee was very sweet. It was soo good! read more
Upon entering Fantasticks, a large orange and pink balloon fixture greeted me at the entrance. There were two stations -- one for the gelato pops and one for scooped gelato. I chose to get gelato pops because they looked more visually appealing and I was delighted to find a wide selection of different flavored pops to choose from. I got the mango pop dipped in vegan dark chocolate with the crushed Oreo and rose gold sugar toppings and white chocolate drizzle. Since I was given a generous amount of toppings, they unfortunately didn't stick very well, but the mango flavor was delicious and refreshing on the hot day. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't experience the same issue of the gelato being too frozen to eat, but that was probably due to the 90+ temperatures melting it to a convenient texture to eat. At a price of ~$6, the size of the pop could be larger, but overall it was very tasty! read more
5 years ago
My first time at this place, trying out some ice-cream! You can pick your own toppings and customize it however you'd like! Not too shabby, I must say. Price is alright... Service provided was very good when we went on a Monday night (June 07, 2021). Got the Cookies & Cream flavored Gelato. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
it was my second time here! i haven't been since opening so this time i tried their gelatos instead of a bar. the service was great, i was offered samples to try gelatos before purchasing which ones i would like. the staff were exceptionally sweet as they had no problem with me in asking about multiple flavours. their dark chocolate is very high profile in authenticity it was very rich. it was a small nice store, pretty clean and quiet on a monday afternoon. shout out to rachel! very sweet staff member as she helped me today! will come back for more as i have yet to try their large selection read more
5 years ago
Definitely a big fan and will no doubt be back sooner than we should! How can you go wrong with house-made gelato, dips, sprinkles, and drizzles! Pro tip. The "pops" are delicious but you have to recognize that to keep their shape for all that dipping, drizzling and sprinkling, the gelato is frozen way harder than your traditional soft-scoop-like gelato. Regardless, I got a pop because I was feeling "extra", lol. My husband had a scoop from the "traditional" gelato selection which was everything you would expect from gelato - soft, flavorful, and amazing. Not sure which flavor it was but it was scrumptious and we both wished we had paid more attention because we would definitely get it again. While he was able to eat his while we sat there (limited seating inside), mine was too hard to eat (so I helped myself to hubby's while I waited). In the end we decided to drive back home with mine to give it a chance to soften to a more traditional gelato consistency. After a 10 minute drive it was amazing! Service was great and when we went at around 545pm there was no line and we felt very safe in the scrupulously clean and welcoming space they have created. read more
We visited this location in Rio a couple of times this year. We very much enjoyed all of the treats we have tried. There is sometimes a line, but it quickly moves without feeling rushed. I also appreciate that they separate put the gelato line so you don't need to wait for the people making display case selections, but it's a little awkward to pay if you're dipping in both ice cream pools, because you aren't checking out at the same pace. Not a big deal. I actually prefer them without toppings. It's a bit pricey but the quality is very good and it's a fun atmosphere. read more
I just love the concept of this place! They have so many flavors for you to choose from and customize with toppings and chocolate sauces. I tried the cherry cheesecake gelato bar and my daughter tried the birthday cake gelato bar. They have so many flavors including avocado (not for me but interesting lol) & if you're not into the bars, they have soft serve for cones or cups as well. They even had a yogurt bar with strawberries and granola. I can't wait to try something else lol. Super friendly staff and it's conveniently located in the Rio by the movie theater! I hope you guys stay forever! We will most certainly be back for more. read more
5 years ago
this place is the absolute cutest & so aesthetically pleasing. The workers are so friendly as well! They have a variety of artisan customized gelato pops & gelato. There have so many flavors! I decided to try the gelato today & it was delish This honestly tasted like ferrero rocher in gelato form. It was so good & I highly recommend checking out this place for a sweet treats. read more
4 years ago
Let's be real we all coming in here for the aesthetics and that instagram post/story of your v beautifully decorated popsicle. This, I give A+ for. For the taste and price, not so much... I don't recall what flavor I got since it was a few weeks ago but it was fruit based. Toppings I got some dried roses, pink sprinkles, and chocolate covered....raspberries? (Or was it cranberries....I let the employee decide on the toppings), and then I got the half dark chocolate dip followed by the dark chocolate drizzle. I swear each toppings + dip + drizzle costed a little bit more, so by the time I paid it was like 8-10 bucks...for a popsicle. Next time I'll just get gelato in a cup ==" We sat down and I lifted my popsicle up and literally ALL THE TOPPINGS FELL LOL omg I paid all that for what....and then on top of that the flavor was more icy than creamy and didn't have much flavor. I was kind of disappointed but I guess it was an okay after dinner treat in the hot weather? read more
3 years ago
Love this place so much. I was shocked how creamy the gelato stick was, I was expecting a more icy texture. I got the caramel brownie brittle stick dipped in dark chocolate, topped with graham crackers, hazelnuts, and chocolate balls. So good and such a cute place! read more
I enjoyed mine, I had the Oreo one with fudge and graham cracker crust. I wouldn't get it again but it was an experience. My bf tried 2, mango and a strawberry. I tasted both, neither was all that great. I say give it a try, but I wouldn't necessarily eat this again. I thought initially we were looking for a store but it was on the boardwalk right outside AMC read more
3 years ago
White chocolate had little tiny rice crispy cereal inside which gave it a nice kick, and just chocolate was so smooth and delicious. Next time I would love to try the bar with strawberry and kiwi inside of it :) read more
5 years ago
This place is FANTASTIC just as their name. I'm literally in love with this place. From their design and appearance to their desserts. It's so pretty inside and their decor is out of this world yet not too busy if that makes sense. So many gelatos to choose from and even with Covid, they give you samples. It's so rich, flavorful and yet so refreshing. Did I mention they have 2 big options: Soft gelato and Create Your Own Gelato Popsicles Wow. I have to come back to try their popsicles since that line was long. Great pricing, great portions and great staff. This is definitely a spot I will comeback to whenever I am in the area. This spot will definitely MELT FOR YOU!!! read more
5 years ago
We went on a Monday night (Valentine's day) there was only one person working but she was doing a good job of working efficiently. My husband got the chocolate hazelnut and coffee gelato which he liked after trying a few different samples. I got a popsicle in the caramel brownie brittle flavor. I got the caramel sauce, pastel colored sprinkles, dark chocolate circles and butterscotch coconut flakes as toppings for my treat. It was delicious! They had so many different flavors that it took me a little bit of time to decide what I wanted. Definitely a place I would recommend, especially when it is warmer outside. read more
4 years ago
Great service. The gelato was amazing. There was a lot of options on flavors. Very nice and clean sitting area. read more
5 years ago
The latest and greatest instagrammable hotspot on the scene. These popsicles are super aesthetic and yummy too! While there was a line when I went, the staff have an efficient assembly line going so the wait was not bad. There are a TON of flavors to choose from, including some fairly unique ones. I went with mascarpone and fig, but I couldn't really taste it too well, maybe because it was overwhelemd by the toppings. There are dairy free/sorbet options as well! You can choose to dip either the whole bar or half in various chocolates (I chose the vegan dark chocolate) then select 3 toppings. Lastly, you can top it off with a drizzle. The popsicles do not melt super quickly so it was not messy to eat. read more
5 years ago
Great concept my only complaint is that the Gelato pops are frozen so hard it makes it difficult to enjoy the taste and flavors of whatever you added on your pop. At one point I've watched one of the workers scrape frost off the display signs just so customers could read the flavors of the different flavored sticks. read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
Great little place for ice cream. Their sorbet / soft serve is great. The sticks although colorful and decorative was not as good. Personal taste more than anything else. But as with everything else these days. It won't come cheap read more
5 years ago
More info about Fantasticks
Ask the Community - Fantasticks
Are there any vegan options for the ice cream? Usually Gelato has eggs/milk/etc..
Yes! There are vegan options
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5 years ago
