My family has visited Gelato Joe's for many years. The first time we went the food, service, and atmosphere was incredible. We were welcomed like family. Over the years we have seen a steady decline in the upkeep of the restaurant, the service staff checking on customers and the food quality. The one item that has gone up exponentially is the cost of everything on the menu. We have continued to spend money here out of some false sense of nostalgia in hopes to see this place rebound. The picture I have included is a broken dish our food was served in. Luckily it was noticed before anyone in our party cut their hands on the protruding shards. The only reason I am giving this review 3 stars is because the live music performance by The Heat at the time we stopped in kept us there. I highly recommend looking them up and planning a night out to see them. read more

Gelato Joe's - Served food with broken dishes. - Sandwiches Near Me - Foley, Alabama

Amazing Place!! If you're looking for great Italian food, Gelato Joe's is a must! Our server (John) was fantastic. I ordered Joes Lasagna and it was so delicious. I selected the strawberry salad which was also terrific. Our family loved this place. For dessert, they had a dozen plus flavors of gelatos and pastries. We also tried their cannolis. There was one chocolate dipped cannoli left and I fully believe no cannoli should be left alone. If you've never had a chocolate dipped cannoli in your life, you'll experience the same life changed moment I went through after taking my first bite. If you're in Foley or nearby, this is the place to eat at if you're in the mood for Italian food. It was worth every penny we spent. read more

Gelato Joe's - A regular cannoli and a chocolate dipped cannoli. - Sandwiches Near Me - Foley, Alabama

See all

I ordered the garlic bread appetizer and spaghetti & meatballs it was very yummy. Our service was very courteous refilling drinks and getting us napkins. Cute cozy homemade treats near the front but I didn't order any this time. Waited around 15-20 minutes for food and I'd say that's not a bad time at all for such good food read more

Hard pass on Gelato Joes! This was the worst Italian food I've ever eaten. My frozen ravioli from Publix is better than what they serve. My "hand stuffed" ravioli barely hand any filling and it was drowning in marinara sauce. It looked like soup and not ravioli. This place is expensive for what you get! They charged us an extra $7+ for a side Caesar salad! Which was literally a small bowl of lettuce and side of Caesar dressing that was served in a disposable plastic ramekin. The Italian cookies are not freshly made...they're from a box. Everything looks and tasted prepackaged. The ambience was ok and peaceful - but that's because there was only one other family in there! The only bright side was our waiter was great. He was very friendly and attentive. read more

All I can say is what happened? I went there for dinner tonight I haven't been there in awhile it's really gone downhill. The prices have been come outrageous the quality of the food is gone. When you have to pay extra for meat in a sauce something is wrong. It's has become nothing more than a bar with an outside band. Are there new owners? Sad sad sad read more

We enjoyed every part of our meal at Gelato Joe's while visiting this summer! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the service was outstanding, and every item we ordered was delicious! Don't pass up any of the dessert items! read more

Second chance at Gelato Joes after a so so experience on valentines day. This time was very good , starting with our server Angila. Very nice and attentive. Food was really good also. Had the wings for an appetizer and honestly, they were the best wings I have had in Foley! Our entrees were served hot and were good size portions. They lacked some seasoning but were good none the less. Only knock is that one of our plates had a chip out of it and the salt and pepper shakers and the parm and red pepper shakers were in need of replacing and they should always be filled esp going into dinner. Otherwise, a nice visit and we will be back. read more

Cool vibe outside with nice seating. Inside feels a bit fancier. They have a ton of desserts too. There is a lunch menu on weekday afternoons. Had the lunch salad and chicken salad special. Very good. Would go back. read more

Gelato Joe's - Strawberry salad and chicken salad lunch combo - Sandwiches Near Me - Foley, Alabama

broken handle on soup cup and looked it happened recently as exposed pottery wasn't stained. Not the first time we have eaten there that the dishes had chips on them. The chairs at some of the tables are uncomfortable to sit on and realized why no one was sitting in that area by the bar. Food is mediocre and garlic bread tastes like WalMart premade garlic bread cut and toasted. prices are too high for the quality they serve. The music duo, The Heat, was awesome. we didn't see them advertised. We figured they had quit playing there, so we were glad to be there to hear them. The music and waitress were the only saving grace for a decent experience. go for desert or an appetizer and avoid the so called italian. Frozen Stouffers is better, so save your money. read more

Gelato Joe's - Broken handle on soup cup - Sandwiches Near Me - Foley, Alabama

We have been debating eating here for a couple on months and..... disappointment is a understatement, Super expensive for microwaved style dinner. Chicken breast was somehow dry while simultaneously undercooked, pasta was raw, bread was stale. Calamari was nothing special. Lobster soup appeared to have fake crab inside. read more

Gelato Joe's - Sandwiches Near Me - Foley, Alabama

Food was way below par, especially considering how expensive meal choices were. Server was nice, but it took over an hour to get our food Very disappointing experience from start to finish read more

Service was excellent! Food choices are plentiful! Outstanding bakery choices! Thanks for the effort!

Great food great service. Decent prices. Love the patio. I think I have one too. Got to keep typing

Very chill vibes. Good food, nice place to go for drinks and appetizers, with a yummy dessert selection to choose from! Also a great dinner place too. Live music, cozy atmosphere! read more

I ate here today for the first time with my family. My son and his family dine here at least once a week. Everything we had on the menu was delicious. Fresh salad, great soups and the spaghetti, lasagna, and sandwiches were excellent. Chocolate covered strawberries and gelato for dessert was outstanding. Service was fast and the staff were great. We'll definitely be back. read more

Amazing staff, amazing food, and don't forget about all the out of this world deserts that have each and every day. We've been in numerous times and recommended this establishment too many of our friends. read more

My family ate her for lunch after visiting Owa. Kids had Pasta, ravioli and all you can eat Spaghetti. I ordered the special of the day Meat Lovers Lasagna and my wife the goat and pear ravioli with Alfredo. To top it off we ordered dessert and we had gelato, strawberry cheesecake and carrot cake; all of which were excellent. Service was great and very attentive and decor was great and we will definitely be back. read more

See all

Gelato Joe's has officially become one of my favorite spots in Foley. I spent my first date here having drinks, and it was such a great experience that we came back the following week for food during karaoke night. Both times were outstanding. The atmosphere is fun, welcoming, and full of energy -- the kind of place where you instantly feel comfortable. The food is great, the drinks are strong, and the vibe is exactly what you want on a night out. But what really sets this place apart is the exceptional service, especially from our bartender and server, Kate Musgrove. Kate was absolutely incredible. She was juggling a full bar, multiple tables, karaoke night crowds, and still managed to take care of us with a smile the entire time. She works hard -- and you can tell she genuinely cares about her customers. Drinks were quick, food came out perfect, and she checked on us often without ever making us feel rushed. Kate is the kind of employee that makes you want to come back again and again. If you're anywhere near Foley, you have to go to Gelato Joe's. Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere -- and if you're lucky, you'll have Kate taking care of you. Highly recommend! read more

We had a great dinner here tonight on a hot summer Friday night. It's always hard to decide what I want when I come here. I love the apps. The arancini is delicious. I love the prepared salads, Caesar pasta and seafood salads are great. The sandwiches are really good. But tonight I had lasagne. I chose the meat sauce and stuffed pepper soup for my side. The soup came first and it's was really good. It was thick. Tomato based with Italian meat, beef and pork, maybe crushed meatballs, with strips of red bell pepper. I will get that again. The lasagne was hot and fresh. It had a stewed sauce which is good for me since acidic tomato sauces bother me. I loved it. The service was great too. Our drinks were kept full. Waiter was very attentive. This place is kind of small. It's got a lively atmosphere. It's a fun place with something for all. We did share a cannoli and they do have a great variety of desserts. Someday we might need to come back just to sample those. read more

This was my favorite lunch I've had in a while! First, a shoutout to Heather -- my amazing server who was attentive and helpful. She provided outstanding service during a busy lunch hour. Next the adorable dining room was busy but not overly loud. I was lucky to be able to choose from one of three tables left. I visited after the dentist (because this is my life now) so started with their amazing, now crave-able, lobster bisque. This bisque was rich and creamy without being heavy. 20/10 and Heather tells me they sell it in quarts! Also, my panini was served on homemade focaccia and had loads of turkey and melted cheese. I visited the dessert cases to ogle, and afterwards was told by my college daughter that I missed out on the cheesecake. Hmmm.... I guess I need to return ... soon! Their tiki deck had loads of fans and misters with some fun drinks I have included and daily drink specials. read more

See all

Worst pasta I've ever had at that price point. It was worse than frozen ravioli to be honest. And their large salad at an entree price was what a side salad would be at a normal restaurant. read more

Gelato. Need I say more. Actually a full service Italian restaurant, with Tiki bar patio and all kinds of Italian deserts. Large dining room and outdoor patio. Service is quite good. Our server, John, was very attentive. The appetizer plate was large and had a nice variety. We had a special of the day, meat lasagna. The portion was large. Great taste and best of all the pasta was firm which is always an important aspect of quality lasagna. It was a nice surprise in the area that is filled with so many seafood options. Seemed to be popular with regular locals know by the staff. read more

See all

This restaurant is a best kept secret. Great Italian food and deserts are out of this world. A in my book. If you're a fan of bread pudding don't miss the blueberry bread pudding. read more

Gelato Joe's - Blueberry Bread Pudding - Sandwiches Near Me - Foley, Alabama

Food was very good! One waitress somehow was able to serve everyone and did a great job. Salad was amazing I tried strawberry. The special was chicken, broccoli Alfredo which was also amazing! read more

The dinner for 2 is a bargain! The service was great and we loved the stuffed shell lasagna. Be sure to save room for a chocolate cannoli!

We return to Gelato Joes whenever we travel through the area! Great food. Great service

My Reuben sandwich and broccoli salad was very good. The sandwich could have used a little more sauerkraut but it was delicious. The blueberry bread pudding and gelato was a great finish to a delightful lunch. They were very busy and our wait staff was hoping. The service was the best we have had since getting here 5 days ago. The restaurant is small and very intimate. Your neighbor is right beside you so your conversation is not very private. But still clean and friendly. The price was comparable and fair for the serving sizes. read more

Food, service and ambience was underwhelming. Much better Italian restaurants in the area.

The food is not the best. The shrimp Alfredo was greasy. What really bothered me was our server , Amanda, she was abrupt and curt, and looked like she just got out of bed. We won't be going back. read more

Had the appetizer trio, and the rhuban with fries. The fries were the only thing that was hot. Not worth the $17 for a sandwich.

Firstly, I like the restaurant, it has a bistro feel, our waitress was good. We both had meat lovers lasagna, very heavy meal! The main reason for only 3 stars, we ordered appetizers, so our appetizers, soup or salad course and entree were all bought to our table within 3 minutes, so basically we had a table full of food. I asked why this happened and was told it always comes out quickly when we are quiet. So if you want a nice relaxing dinner, This is not the place. read more

This is our second visit and as great as it was on our first. My wife and I had the Italian Parmigiana Meatball Hoagie. Great flavor, loaded with cheese and marinara. We are stuffed. Only complaint, prices on menu are not reflective of prices on bill. Asked server if it was correct and she replied she was sure the prices went up. Regardless, not worth arguing over a couple of dollars. It won't. Keep us from returning. read more

Absolutely amazing! Went here at lunch with a group of friends and everyone's food was sooo good. Got the best broccoli soup I've ever had. You can tell it was the real deal. Got the Italian panini and it was delicious, it came with a red pepper sauce and it was good but my friend had a pesto sauce that came with her chicken spinach panini and it was better so I stole it our server was super attentive too! read more

See all

Great food. Fun atmosphere with a tiki bar out back. Not your average Italian tiki bar...... Will be back and the service was fantastic.

I'd say that the tiki bar gets 3.5 stars and the Italian restaurant gets 4.5 stars. We had drinks out in the tiki bar, hoping to take advantage of happy hour specials. HR drinks were mostly beers, with $3 well drinks and house wine. I know those aren't unusual options, but just hoped a tiki bar would have some specialty drinks (Mai Tai, etc.) Drinks were weak (Captain and Coke, Bushwacker.) Bushwacker was straight up milkshake without a hint of booze (and it came from inside the restaurant so I can't verify that it did in fact have alcohol. Lots of places have a premade machine, but when we went inside I didn't see one.) Tiki hut atmosphere was cool, nice breeze going through, a few tvs at the bar, laid back vibe. Inside we ordered Caesar salad to go, which is where I noticed a large drink specials sign with lots of options. Seems they were only available if you sat inside, which was a bummer. All the food in the cases looked amazing -- desserts, salads, calzones, so many things! And -- gelato, of course. Large Caesar salad with three extra (small) dressings was over $14 without any protein on it, so that seemed a bit pricy. If I returned I think I'd sit inside and order some lasagna and a specialty drink. read more

Gelato Joe's - Bushwacker - Sandwiches Near Me - Foley, Alabama

Friend and I decided to have lunch at Gelato Joes. I arrived first and they were not busy but had a sign that said to wait to be seated. After standing for several minutes my friend arrived and I said to her "No one had acknowledged that we are waiting on a table ". A large girl in a tee shirt and shorts looked up and as rude as she could, let me know she did not see me and that is why no one spoke to me. I don't know about anyone else but she could have said something like "I'm sorry, I did not see you but you girls can sit here". Instead she attacked me. Needless to say I walked out and had a wonderful lunch at Fish River Grill. This girl does not need to be in Customer service. I will not go back. read more

Best French Onion soup, I've ever had. Everything I've tried has been made with quality ingredients. Left overs are really good as well. The only thing I haven't cared for was the lobster bisque soup and that's because it's not a true bisque. Instead of lobster there was imitation crab in it. It tasted good but I'd say it's more of a seafood chowder than a lobster bisque. That's a personal opinion though. If you love Italian food, Gelato Joes is a place to stop by. The food is great and the staff is friendly. read more

Every single thing I've had here was delicious. I've found my new favorite spot! I got the French onion as a said (all sandwiches come with a side) and it was phenomenal. read more

See all

I love their chicken salad and the prices are great. I've been several times and it's always worth going. The staff is great as well. It has a quaint atmosphere and ambience read more

So, first time here. I was in the mood for Italian and I was not disappointed. Of course, my eyes gravitated to the glass wall filled of fresh baked goods and ice cream but I still needed a taste of the marinara. Not that's a spicy meatball... well stuffed in a res bell pepper for me. Great atmosphere with an outdoor bar (happy hour starts at 1500) and good service. Prices are reasonable. Remember to support your local businesses... read more

See all