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We were wandering the streets of Little Italy and decided to stop by Pappalecco for a sweet treat. The workers were nice and made great recommendations. I had the caramel and vanilla gelato. The flavors went really well together. The gelato was dense, creamy, and sweet. There are a few tables available inside and outside for enjoying your dessert. There's a bathroom inside as well.
I was really craving a quick dessert before my flight home so decided to check this place out. It was a pretty cute place to go to and hang out. They had sandwiches, pastries, and also gelato too (might have to try in the future). Decided to get the tiramisu and it was light, airy, and creamy which was nice. Honestly sitting outside and people watching at this place was peaceful so id want to come again just for that lol.
The gelato was just way too thick, and there was not much flavoring when it came to the variety of gelato flavors. I did enjoy the macadamia nut chocolate chip cookie, and some of the pastries look really good but you are definitely paying more of a premium price for a lot of the gelato and the pastries. Service was just OK and nothing really standing out.
This location has amazing pastries! They have espresso drinks, wine, and teas. The cashier was very friendly and some great suggestions on the gelato. They also have food options as well. They have Panini's, toast options, and croissant sandwiches. I would highly recommend coming here for a quick bite or to unwind with wine and a croissant
Quaint little shop tucked away in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood, serving fresh Italian sandwiches, strong coffee, and delicious espressos. But the real star here is the gelato, it hits different! Creamier texture, rich flavors, and just the right amount of sweetness. Definitely a must try when you're in the area!
Extremely disappointed in our gelato experience at Pappalecco. My absolute favorite dessert is ice cream/gelato and this place came highly recommended online and from friends. Between our group of 5, we tried 8 different flavors. Almost all were icy rather than creamy. The chocolate and hazelnut flavors were gritty not smooth. Blindfolded I wouldn't have been able to tell you there was chocolate in the gelato there was almost no chocolatey flavor. The coconut was excessively sweet and all the flavors melted super quickly. Most of us didn't even finish half of our single servings. The only halfway edible flavors were the pistachio and the mint and even those had a very artificial flavor to them. Really disappointed that 3/5 of us threw away more than half of the expensive gelato.
I don't know what's more disgusting. The customer service, or the pathetic $10 on fully filled cannoli. Came in today with my son after staying at the corner hotel, and looking for cannolis. Customer service is terrible by this young girl who tried to be cute or funny. Talking about the New York Knicks and people from New York. Which I am both a Knicks fan and an Italian American from New York. I will never go back nor will I recommend them the next time. I'm in conversation with someone in that area.
Amazingly good gelato here. I had one scoop each of mint and coconut strachiatella. It was quite rich and creamy and I loved the crunchy chocolate throughout. Note that you have to pay first before you make your scoop selection(s). I still crave coming back there for gelato. I recommend highly.
Excellent, freshly made and delicious gelato. Love that you can get a cup or cone. Staff were clear in explaining that you have to pay first before they scoop. The ambiance was cozy and comfortable with both indoor and outdoor tables. Highly recommended!
My wife and I ordered affogatos, and you get to choose two different gelato flavors, which was a nice touch. The gelato itself was delicious. We also had the cheesecake, which was very tasty as well. I would definitely recommend stopping by. The only downside was that the outdoor patio had a noticeable urine smell, so we chose to sit inside instead.
My friend and I stopped by on a beautiful Saturday morning, and while the shop was quite busy, we luckily found a table inside without any trouble. There were plenty of different pastries and light bite options on display, but we had came specifically for the gelato. As someone who is not a chocolate fan, they had a good balance of flavor options which I appreciated because I didn't feel like I had to settle. The only downside was the ordering process. It felt a bit backwards and rushed, since you have to pay for your cup or cone before you even get a chance to see the available flavors. The cashier was persistent on us following the checkout process which was a bit annoying considering there was already a group standing in front of the gelato display which did not allow us to see the available flavors. Once we got through the line, however, we were able to mix and match two different flavors. We both ordered a mango, I got strawberry and my friend got the lemon. We both felt like the strawberry and lemon was better than the mango. Overall, the quality of the gelato is really good and the flavors were very well-balanced. It's a great spot for a high-quality treat, even if the checkout flow is a little unconventional!
Stopped by for an affogato. They have a great assortment of gelato and baked goods. The service was very friendly and fast! Please note that while we were there we saw a sign for paninis being 50 percent off on Wednesdays. Absolutely hate to come back for that as they are all made to order and look divine! Please note we walked so I can't comment on parking. All in all solid!
Clean and comfortable environment, good service, and great tasting gelato to get us through the hot day
17 days ago
4 months ago
A cute authentic Italian neighborhood cafe in Little Italy serving coffee, treats, gelato, and paninis. My friends and I were just looking to get a coffee in Little Italy, but when we walked in and saw all the delicious treats we had to try something else as well. I ordered a latte and neglected to tell them it was for here so I was given a paper cup, but they give real cups if you ask. The latte was good, and my friend bought a kitchen sink type cookie with chocolate, coconut, and macadamia nuts. It was warm and gooey good! Another friend tried the gelato and said it was very good. There are a few tables inside and tables out in front outside. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful San Diego weather. The decor and tables definitely gives you an old school Italian neighborhood vibe with Italian markets right next door. If I am in the neighborhood again, I would definitely come back here to try the gelato and/or a piece of an excellent looking lemon pie bar I spotted. read more
If there is better gelato in San Diego, I have not tried it. They have more than gelato here but gelato is all we tried. It was later in the day so they were out of or running low on some flavors. Nevertheless, the two flavors we tried were incredibly rich and flavorful. A little goes a very long way. Parking is incredibly tough in Little Italy but it is worth it for gelato this good. read more
We were wandering the streets of Little Italy and decided to stop by Pappalecco for a sweet treat. The workers were nice and made great recommendations. I had the caramel and vanilla gelato. The flavors went really well together. The gelato was dense, creamy, and sweet. There are a few tables available inside and outside for enjoying your dessert. There's a bathroom inside as well. read more
I was really craving a quick dessert before my flight home so decided to check this place out. It was a pretty cute place to go to and hang out. They had sandwiches, pastries, and also gelato too (might have to try in the future). Decided to get the tiramisu and it was light, airy, and creamy which was nice. Honestly sitting outside and people watching at this place was peaceful so id want to come again just for that lol. read more
The gelato was just way too thick, and there was not much flavoring when it came to the variety of gelato flavors. I did enjoy the macadamia nut chocolate chip cookie, and some of the pastries look really good but you are definitely paying more of a premium price for a lot of the gelato and the pastries. Service was just OK and nothing really standing out. read more
This location has amazing pastries! They have espresso drinks, wine, and teas. The cashier was very friendly and some great suggestions on the gelato. They also have food options as well. They have Panini's, toast options, and croissant sandwiches. I would highly recommend coming here for a quick bite or to unwind with wine and a croissant read more
1 month ago
Quaint little shop tucked away in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood, serving fresh Italian sandwiches, strong coffee, and delicious espressos. But the real star here is the gelato, it hits different! Creamier texture, rich flavors, and just the right amount of sweetness. Definitely a must try when you're in the area! read more
1 month ago
Extremely disappointed in our gelato experience at Pappalecco. My absolute favorite dessert is ice cream/gelato and this place came highly recommended online and from friends. Between our group of 5, we tried 8 different flavors. Almost all were icy rather than creamy. The chocolate and hazelnut flavors were gritty not smooth. Blindfolded I wouldn't have been able to tell you there was chocolate in the gelato there was almost no chocolatey flavor. The coconut was excessively sweet and all the flavors melted super quickly. Most of us didn't even finish half of our single servings. The only halfway edible flavors were the pistachio and the mint and even those had a very artificial flavor to them. Really disappointed that 3/5 of us threw away more than half of the expensive gelato. read more
I don't know what's more disgusting. The customer service, or the pathetic $10 on fully filled cannoli. Came in today with my son after staying at the corner hotel, and looking for cannolis. Customer service is terrible by this young girl who tried to be cute or funny. Talking about the New York Knicks and people from New York. Which I am both a Knicks fan and an Italian American from New York. I will never go back nor will I recommend them the next time. I'm in conversation with someone in that area. read more
Amazingly good gelato here. I had one scoop each of mint and coconut strachiatella. It was quite rich and creamy and I loved the crunchy chocolate throughout. Note that you have to pay first before you make your scoop selection(s). I still crave coming back there for gelato. I recommend highly. read more
Excellent, freshly made and delicious gelato. Love that you can get a cup or cone. Staff were clear in explaining that you have to pay first before they scoop. The ambiance was cozy and comfortable with both indoor and outdoor tables. Highly recommended! read more
6 months ago
My wife and I ordered affogatos, and you get to choose two different gelato flavors, which was a nice touch. The gelato itself was delicious. We also had the cheesecake, which was very tasty as well. I would definitely recommend stopping by. The only downside was that the outdoor patio had a noticeable urine smell, so we chose to sit inside instead. read more
My friend and I stopped by on a beautiful Saturday morning, and while the shop was quite busy, we luckily found a table inside without any trouble. There were plenty of different pastries and light bite options on display, but we had came specifically for the gelato. As someone who is not a chocolate fan, they had a good balance of flavor options which I appreciated because I didn't feel like I had to settle. The only downside was the ordering process. It felt a bit backwards and rushed, since you have to pay for your cup or cone before you even get a chance to see the available flavors. The cashier was persistent on us following the checkout process which was a bit annoying considering there was already a group standing in front of the gelato display which did not allow us to see the available flavors. Once we got through the line, however, we were able to mix and match two different flavors. We both ordered a mango, I got strawberry and my friend got the lemon. We both felt like the strawberry and lemon was better than the mango. Overall, the quality of the gelato is really good and the flavors were very well-balanced. It's a great spot for a high-quality treat, even if the checkout flow is a little unconventional! read more
7 months ago
Stopped by for an affogato. They have a great assortment of gelato and baked goods. The service was very friendly and fast! Please note that while we were there we saw a sign for paninis being 50 percent off on Wednesdays. Absolutely hate to come back for that as they are all made to order and look divine! Please note we walked so I can't comment on parking. All in all solid! read more
1 month ago
Clean and comfortable environment, good service, and great tasting gelato to get us through the hot day read more
10 months ago
Pappalecco was a cake that looked perfect but tasted like cardboard. Vibe: Located on State St, it is a small Italian restaurant that offers coffees, gelatos, paninis, croissants, and wine. Their menu has a lot to offer, but I came here for breakfast, so my review ONLY covers my breakfast experience. Bite: I got the Nutella fresh fruit croissant, while my husband got a ham and cheese croissant. My fresh fruit croissant was generously slathered with Nutella (the only thing I've no complaints about) and topped with sliced banana, strawberries, and a few blueberries, some of which were wilted. The croissant itself was extremely underwhelming; it was soggy, limp, and did not taste very fresh. Interestingly, these croissants were quite pricey for something so poorly laminated. It was a disappointing experience, because I've had much better crossiant at far more unassuming cafes read more
5 months ago
My boyfriend and I stopped in while staying in Little Italy for a long weekend. We had a lovely little experience, first with espresso shots and then also with gelato. My boyfriend's name was misspelled on his order to "Chess" instead of "Chase" so I had fun calling him Chess for the rest of the weekend. The corner cafe was welcoming and reasonably priced. I'd definitely recommend a visit. read more
I frequently go to this Italian coffee shop, it's only now I get the chance to write a review. I love this coffee shop because the Barista really knows how to make coffee. Even their sandwiches are delicious. They also have different kinds of gelato flavors. The ambiance is good, they also have a patio seating. The staff are very friendly, polite, and welcoming. I recommend this place for anyone who wants great tasting coffee, pastries, croissants, sandwiches, and gelatos. It's a cozy place to hang out. read more
super cute spot to stop by and get some gelato! got the pistachio and tiramisu and both were super yummy!! pistachio was sweet and very nutty, while the tiramisu was sweeter. only thing was that i wished there was a one scoop option, but gelato was great! yummy rating: 8.5/10 read more
Couldn't resist the temptation for a sweet treat as I was walking back to my car this afternoon. The Almond Tortino was delightful! They warmed it up for me and it was the perfect afternoon pick-me-up after a skincare appointment next door. Great service, lots of seating, and a great location for people-watching in Little Italy. Perhaps this will be a new tradition every time I'm next door for skincare. :) read more
I love pizza. This one had good flavor, but it would have been taken to better heights had it had more sauce and had not been burnt around the edges of the crust. That being said, I have always loved the vibe at the location in Hillcrest, so we ordered a pizza for dinner from this location when staying in the area. Anyway, we didn't finish this pizza because it was so burnt. read more
2 months ago
BEST GELATO IVE TRIED !!! I had the mixed berries and wifey had pistachio gelato . Service was great ! Place was clean as well. I definitely recommend this place !! read more
8 months ago
Solid experience, but was short of some of the amazing gelato I had recently in Italy. I enjoyed the initial bite of the gelato, but was hoping for a bit more depth that was found in the gelato I had in the Old World. For a sweet treat in the area however, it was a solid experience. It was good though after a lot of going around the city, and I wouldn't say no to coming back. read more
1 year ago
Came for a cannoli - left wanting one of each. ChatGPT recommended this place as a good option for a hand-filled cannoli so we had to test it out! When we entered we were immediately overwhelmed by all the delicious options. Several servers tried to help us but we were indecisive and overwhelmed. The place was clean and cute. The gelato looked amazing and every savory / sweet pastry looked fresh and delish. We ended up getting a cannoli - exactly what we came for - and it really hit the spot! We will definitely be back next time we are in San Diego! read more
My friend and I came in after having lunch nearby and wanted dessert. I ordered Piccolo, 2 scoops of gelato. I opted for Pistachio and a berry cheesecake flavor. I also ordered a limoncello cheesecake to go. I was kind of bummed that the cup is filled with one flavor and you get a small scoop on top of the second flavor, I expected it to be more even. Luckily the pistachio was my first scoop so it was the larger amount. The gelato tasted fine, similar to other's I've had. It was good, but not the best I've enjoyed. The cheesecake was okay, not a whole lot of flavor and kind of dry. I wouldn't order it again. The store itself is pretty small with only a few tables inside. It was pretty warm on the day we visited, it was summer and there was no AC, so we ended up eating our gelato in the car. Service was okay. It was a little confusing for the take out. They called mine and handed it to me next to the gelato. My friend, they put her order on a counter near the entrance and didn't say anything. We were confused why it was taking so long so we went over to check out where her order was and it was sitting on the counter. No consistency it seemed and confusing for a first time customer. read more
1 month ago
I'm not one to write reviews but I tried this place out, the ice cream was really good. Sadly as I was midway through my ice cream I found a hair and it wasn't mine. read more
30 days ago
Such a yummy gelato place! The flavors were rich, creamy, and super fresh. You can really taste the quality in every scoop. The shop itself is clean and inviting, and the staff was friendly and patient while I sampled a few flavors. A perfect treat -- I'll definitely be coming back for more! read more
11 months ago
This coffee shop has an intimate location. When a coffee shop is situated in a corner it gives that relaxed vibe. Pappalecco definitely shows that. Cappuccino was warm and pleasant. There are Italian pastries and gelato to choose from. I can spend all day here if I'm not pressed for time to catch a train! Service was very welcoming. Tables are set up outside just like in an Italian city or town. read more
Business owner information
Francesco B.
Grazie mille for your lovely review! We're thrilled you enjoyed the…
1 month ago
5 months ago
11 months ago
My wife and I stumbled upon this coffee shop in the Little Italy neighborhood. It has a wonderful, friendly vibe to it with outdoors and indoor seating. We ordered a cappuccino and sat inside. Although we were tempted we didn't order the great looking pastries on display. The cappuccino was perfect: not too foamy nor too much milk. The coffee was strong but not overpowering. The woman who served us behind the counter was very friendly --- and the other patrons of the coffee shop were enjoying it in their own way. They also had a sign at the shop that I liked alot: "Help valued" it said with the word wanted crossed out. I think this place is something of an institution in Little Italy. I can see why. read more
10 months ago
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More info about Pappalecco
1602 State St
San Diego, CA 92101
Little Italy
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(619) 238-4590
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https://pappalecco.com
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Ask the Community - Pappalecco
Is there an email where we can get in touch?
Is the Little Italy location reopened?
Yes, the location is open (not sure if it is different with the stay at home orders).
Anyone know why this location closed?
They were remodeling at one point, but they have been back to open for a while now.
Are there vegan options for gelato?
They have a few vegan options but not all flavors will be available as vegan.
Will they be open christmas Eve as normal business hours?
They open pretty late (10pm) but I would call and ask about their holiday hours before you head over there! Happy holiday!
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