Cute boutique gelatoria. With Italian music playing in the background and the bright and lovely decor, one can't help but feel antsy to eat gelato! There are a few fruity flavors like strawberry, raspberry, lemon, and mango. I opted for a cup of cappuccino and tiramisu/matcha blend. All of it was so good. Not just because I was in the mood for it, but the flavors were strong without tasting chemically. The texture of the gelato was so smooth and creamy. The tiramisu has bits of chocolate with a light mascarpone flavor. The matcha tasted perfect- not too sweet or earthy. The cappuccino was delicious and the right blend of espresso flavor without making the coffee flavor overpowering. I didn't get a chance to try the chocolates but will plan for another trip to purchase these perfectly wrapped, handmade artisanal chocolates from Italy. read more

Venchi - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Absolutely love the interior design of this place. Super artistic, trending, vibey, and just aesthetically on point. This is located in South Coast Mall so plenty of parking inside. The staff were super friendly and hep provided recommendations when needed. Haven't tried the chocolates but tried the following gelato flavors: - Matcha & Vanilla - Hazelnut & Cappuccino All the flavors were good! Definitely can taste the earthy matcha flavor and I think my next favorite would be the hazelnut. Would want you to come back again to try more flavors and the chocolate! read more

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Stopped by Venchi while walking through South Coast Plaza and decided to grab a quick gelato. This place definitely leans upscale candy shop meets gourmet gelato bar. The interior is fun--there's a huge wall of chocolate behind the counter that immediately catches your eye and gives the whole place a cool Beverly Hills, Willy, Wonka atmosphere. I ordered a regular 2 scoop cup with caramel and peanut butter gelato. The texture was creamy with good flavor, and overall it was solid. That said, I had just come back from Italy earlier this year, where the gelato was on another level, so the bar in my head might be a little unfairly high right now. Still good--just not quite the wow factor I experienced overseas. I'd give it about 3 out of 5 stars. One thing I noticed: the milkshakes looked amazing, but I didn't try one this time. Might have to go that route on the next visit. Overall, it's a fun stop if you're already at the mall and craving something sweet. Not destination gelato for me, but definitely a convenient and enjoyable treat while shopping. read more

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Right when you walk in, you are greeted by this impressive chocolate waterfall. All the chocolates are made in Italy and carefully unpacked greeting guests with a sweet aroma. You can choose from bark, truffles, individually packaged chocolates to bundles and more! The choices are beautiful and the flavors even more amazing. I was there when it was "slower" even though they always have a line. The worker there was so generous with samples and you can just tell he was very passionate about chocolate (not to mention, his job). We couldn't make a decision and ended up getting a whole bag of chocolates. The shelf life is actually pretty impressive! Some of them last up to 6 months - which is not even a problem for this chocoholic. And of course, they had gelato. I'm not saying it's the world's best gelato. But they sure do make a superb flight of flavors. We got the mango and BacioDiDama (hazelnut and crunchy biscuit). Overall, yes, the chocolates (any everything in there) is not cheap, but you do get what you pay for and I have zero regrets. read more

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1. The Gelatoshake was really delicious, and I love the chocolate used! 2. The spot has fun casual vibes! The interior is very vibrant! 3. The staff was friendly and timely with my order! It was ready in about 5 mins! 4. There are few tables inside! 5. There is lot of parking for this mall! Parking can get crowded depending on time and day! Note: There is a restroom area outside the store nearby! Photo: Creamy Strawberry Gelatoshake read more

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Gelato and another chocolatier store at SCP. If you're interesting in purchasing their desserts, then you must line up at the first cashier upon entering. The line will continue outside the store. After purchasing the gelato cup or cone, then you can sample it. They had a couple of sorbets and authentic options. They had a lot of varieties of the same thing. Like a hazelnut flavor then a hazelnut with chocolate. I got the tiramisu and raspberry. My boyfriend said the raspberry tasted exactly like Talenti. The tiramisu flavor was delicious! It is really busy so the indoor seating and small tables are a bit sticky. They also sell chocolate truffles and have some samples available. I looked into the dark chocolate bars and it doesn't state whether if it's direct or fair trade. The prices are steep and I expect their chocolate to be ethically sourced. read more

Venchi - Regular size. Raspberry and tiramisu. - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First week open and the wee after Christmas is bound to draw lines and crowds to the newest gelato spot at South Coast. Situated right near the kids plaza where the carousel is - it's in a prime spot to attract both children and parents and anyone looking for a sweet treat. We sampled a few flavors and decided on the mango- everything was really delicious, smooth and not too sweet. The raspberry was also yummy and the pistachio and hazelnut chocolate flavors were delicious too! We just got a baby size since we waited 30 mins in line and were just about to go to dinner. The environment was like being inside Charlie and the Chocolate factory with a huge chocolate fountain logo sign above the gelato scooping area. There are a few seats and tiny tables for people to enjoy their purchases and a chocolatier. read more

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I was shopping at South Coast Plaza when the bright lights and a bevy of gelato scoops in cones displayed caught my attention. I'm so happy I walked in and ordered their Affogato Gourmet. I got mine with caramel gelato. It was so creamy and authentic, as if I was back in Italy. It also came with chocolate hazelnut, nuts, and whip cream. Talk about decadence! It was so heavenly and the perfect pick-me-up. The service was wonderful as well. I will definitely be a repeat customer. read more

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The hazelnut spread with olive oil is really good, but costs $21 for the jar and doesn't allow one to lose weight as well due to the higher sugar content of 7 grams per 2 tablespoons. The chocolate is kind of mediocre and I greatly prefer French and Swiss chocolates because they are more pure. The cappuccino was caffeinated which I don't like and ended up making me dehydrated. The staff are more overly protective of their chocolates, to the point of being a bit comedic, than staff are at luxury fashion stores like Dior, and were even a bit worse than the staff at Tiffany's. The guy working there in a suit literally took my Läderach chocolates out of the Läderach bag I was holding and commented on them and gave me a free small square of their inferior chocolate as compensation. The queue is crazy and the staff tells you to line up against the side of the store when there's almost nowhere more to line up along it. Not a fun experience and the food and drinks aren't great or healthy either. read more

Venchi - Cappuccino - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great addition to south coast plaza. Very beautiful and luxurious. The staff is very friendly and patient as we taste and decide on what flavor we want. Their gelato is really yummy and flavors are strong and high quality. It's kinda odd they don't have cones though. read more

Venchi - Matcha - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I could not be any happier that this Italian gem made it to this side of the world! When I went to Italy a few years ago, I was obsessed with Venchi. The chocolate wall, the yummy pistachio gelato, the delicious chocolates!!!!! Yum, yum, yum!!! What's not to love. I've tried other pistachio flavored ice creams/gelatos and the flavor was just not right. Venchi has the secret recipe to pistachio flavored magic. I always paired the pistachio with their super dark chocolate. Again, yum, yum, yum!!!! Just like with anything at South Coast Plaza, be prepared to wait in line. The way they set up their gelato counter and chocolate counter seemed disjointed and inconvenient. The line for the gelato was way longer than the line for chocolate, so there's a lot of wasted space for the chocolate. Also, the cue for the gelato snakes to the outside blocking the entrance. It's a little weird and I hope they adjust that for better movement and flow. Besides those few logistical things, I'm stoked that Venchi has made it to Orange County! Thank you gelato, gods! read more

Venchi - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Deliciousness in a cup, a very small one at that. Had the mod size one and it probably had one scoop of ice cream. Ordered the cup covered in dark chocolate and hazelnut with pistachio and atraciatella ice cream. The pistachio was unusually nutty and delicious. Very happy and cheerful staff in a colorful space with sensory overload. Definitely worth a visit if you're craving ice crea and you're at SCP. read more

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The gelato is delicious, but the customer service was so disappointing that I won't be coming back. First, the ordering process is confusing. You're expected to choose and pay for your size before you even know what flavors you want, and the menu isn't even visible until the end of the line. Its so small. It should be displayed at the entrance or above the registers especially when expected to pay at the entrance. What really frustrated me was the service. I'm pregnant and simply asked which flavor had the least sugar so I could make a more informed choice. Instead of helping, the employee told me to scan a QR code that opened a 112-page nutrition PDF. In a packed store with a line behind you--and while trying to manage a toddler--it's unrealistic to expect customers to scroll through over 100 pages just to find the sugar content of one flavor. When I was still trying to figure it out, the employee immediately offered me a refund instead of answering a simple question or helping me find the information. I wasn't asking for anything unreasonable. People ask about nutrition facts all the time, whether it's because of pregnancy, allergies, diabetes, or simply wanting to make a healthier choice. The interaction made me feel completely unwelcome, and I ended up having my husband order while I waited outside. The gelato itself is excellent, but customer service matters too. I hope management improves the ordering process and trains employees to be more patient and helpful. read more

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Went to the one in Italy a few months ago, so I had to try the one here... The store is cute and definitely in a great location for business. Typical wait is 25 minutes if you are at the wrap around outside. Everything was good and tasted the same, main thing though was they don't have cones! Wondering if they will ever get cones at this location, I feel like that's the cherry on top! read more

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Located inside South Coast Plaza, this place is an absolute gem!! Coming all the way from Italy, this Gelato did not disappoint. Their system for serving customers can definitely be improved. It is extremely inefficient to have a line out the door and only a few servers who can help 3 customers at a time. I hope they look into this and revise their system because it would be nice to enjoy their treats with a little more ease. But the perfect stars are for the ice cream. Just wow! It is creamy perfection in your mouth. I had the pistachio and another flavor with chocolate and biscuits. I've never quite had anything like it. Probably some of the best I've ever had. No surprise considering it is true Italian gelato. Just absolute yummy deliciousness!! Here's hoping they are convinced to update their system to a more efficient one before my return cuz I am so looking forward to coming back and trying more! read more

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Venchi is an ice cream and chocolate, all-in-one store. The line is always long but it's always like that with all newly open businesses. The location couldn't be better. Right by the main entrance next to the carousel so that makes it more noticeable. The chocolate selection is overwhelming. It's around $15-$17 for a quarter pound, which equals to about $60+ a pound. Sounds expensive? Yes, a bit pricey but that's how much chocolate cost by the pound at the other store in this mall. I love the dark chocolate (always prefer it over the milk chocolate) and I get to mix them in that little plastic bag provided by the chocolate bins. Good snacks while shopping! read more

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Shopping around South Coast ,saw a crazy long line of this Venchi People talks great about their Gelato ice cream. I'm here right the front of their shop so follow the line to grab a cup of ice cream , enjoyed it (so smooth & creamy , perfect sweet enough) The workers are friendly, nicely here. read more

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The line was long (apparently this is normal), but as others mentioned, it goes by pretty fast. For the price point, it's a delicious treat while shopping for your luxury handbags and whatnot at South Coast Plaza, but what I didn't quite vibe with was how unpolished the service was. While I understand the need to move people as fast as possible through the line, I definitely felt rushed and the staff there seemed tired/nonchalant. read more

Venchi - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've been to Venchi a number of times and have always had good service from the cashiers, the people explaining the chocolates, the gelato servers... Even when it's crowded, they're patient and helpful. The store is impressively designed with a chocolate fountain/wall, a chocolate bar wall, (sorry - not a bar that serves chocolate drinks - oh yum! but bars of chocolate lining a wall). The gelato gets mixed reviews, yet the line for the gelato seems to never end. Maybe reviews will all be good when people find their favorite flavor. I have to agree with some of the reviews regarding the price. (See the photo below with a few pieces of chocolate) read more

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I stumbled upon this place while waiting for my friend. There wasn't much of a line when I first noticed the store but it got a bit longer past 2pm. Wait wasn't bad...there's also two lines, one for ice cream/gelato and the other is for chocolate. If you're just buying chocolate, you can pretty much walk right into the store-there's no line; however, you'll have to track someone that's assigned to the chocolate to help you out...which was disastrous for us. They do provide samples but their chocolate is not as great compare to the other store by Bloomingdale's. Their ice cream and gelato were amazing. It was not too sweet and you can taste the freshness in the ingredients. I got the strawberry mix with chocolate and my friend got the chocolate (more tart option) and hazelnut; we both loved it and would definitely come back for it. read more

Venchi - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

When you're in South Coast Plaza and you want something sweet, of course you gotta have Chocolates or ice cream from this store. Well organized and people who works there are nice, but I guess they need to be a little more friendlier than being so serious. read more

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Line was getting long, but the service was too notch! Super friendly and kind. You pick the size first and pay at the register. After you can sample flavors and choose the flavor. Small size - one flavor Regular size - 2 flavors Large size - up to 3 flavors I got the vanilla and mango regular size! The combo reminded me of mango sticky rice with the coconut and rice haha, but the vanilla texture was like ice rather than creamy texture. And the mango was so yummy sweet and sour. It was also the workers favorite combo! She was really nice and helpful! I also tried the caramel flavor, the base of the ice cream was so creamy and smooth it was the texture I loved, next time I would definitely get the caramel one bc of the texture was like actual ice cream. I did wish I got to try the peanut butter flavor, but they were sold out. They sold out on a couple of flavors. The store was so colorful! read more

Venchi - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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We stumbled upon this new ice cream shop at SCP while taking our daughter to ride the carousel on a rainy weekend. There was a long line but since we had just finished dinner, waiting a few extra minutes wasn't a big deal. Once you reach the gelato counter, you choose your cup size along with any add-ins or toppings and pay upfront. When it's time to scoop, the staff asks for your receipt to confirm the order. The workers were friendly and helpful and they allowed us to sample several flavors before deciding. We ordered a baby green pistachio, a baby cremino,l and a regular dark chocolate with vanilla. With tip we paid over $25 which felt pricey for what we received. The gelato was decent but not particularly memorable tho we liked how it came with a nice chunk of dark chocolate on top. There is some indoor seating but it's fairly tight. We ended up sitting very close to the group at the table next to us. My daughter also wanted to try their chocolate that you select and weigh to take home. We chose milk chocolate and dark chocolate but unfortunately both were a disappointment. They tasted bland and lacked a rich chocolate flavor. Overall, I'm glad we gave this place a try but we'd likely choose a different dessert spot next time. read more

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The store was relatively empty at 11:30 am on a Tuesday, so I ordered a single scoop of STRACCIATELLA for a whopping $7.45. It was delicious. I did pick up some chocolates that I'm saving for later and I'm sure they'll be good. The workers there were not friendly and a bit curt with me as I didn't realize there were 2 separate lines for gelato and the chocolate. read more

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I had to satisfy my curiosity and try Venchi since it just opened. However, my all-time favorite is still Bacio Di Latte at Spectrum or Fashion Island. While the pistachio flavor was good here, it was quite sweet and became overwhelming toward the end. My husband got mango and strawberry, which were pretty good. When I arrived, the line stretched all the way to HEYTEA and took 45 minutes from that point. I also found it odd that you have to order and pay before choosing your flavor which is especially inconvenient for first-timers. I think if I got to try the gelato first, my husband would've just shared one instead of getting one each. I agree with other reviews that they need a better system/crowd management. read more

Venchi - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This shop has it all, slabs of chocolate, truffles, shakes, and more. Highly decadent and hard to resist, the small gelato is filling. You get a choice of chocolate or a biscuit on top to add to the texture and enhanced experience. There's great service here and clean inside. Expect lines but if there isn't any, take the opportunity to go all in! read more

Venchi - Pistachio knafeh - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Shoutout to khoa youre the best We went for the icecream and ended up buying chocolate to take home cause it was that good read more

Amazing dark chocolate gelato! Rich and creamy. A little bit on the more pricey side, but a great find for the mall. Directly across from the carousel, so it makes for a great outing with kids. They do let you sample but they have you pay first before getting your ice cream which I found a bit odd. There is limited seating inside. They also have a wide selection of chocolate for purchase. Definitely a place to indulge! read more

I visited Venchi on a Wednesday evening with my friend. Prior to this visit, I had only tried Venchi during my trips to Italy. Venchi is one of my favorite chocolate brands, so I was thrilled at the news of a new location so close to me. I was glad to see that the customer service was just as friendly & helpful as I remembered it to be. One of the employees was kind enough to offer us advice on which chocolates to grab for our other friend, & she even gave us a few samples--a practice that I remember from my past visits abroad. Will be bringing more of my friends to try their gelato next time! read more

Venchi - exterior + store front - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I had my first experience trying Venchi chocolate at their Rome airport store and it was incredible. So having a store in Orange County was very exciting! The chocolate is gluten free and top tier quality. A huge selection of wrapped bars, small bites and also whole pieces that you can have broken off and pay by the weight. The gelato is the best you will find and it's the same as being at their stores in Italy. It needs to be on everyones bucket list! We got a small container of half pistachio and half hazelnut to take home. Just a tip, I had a lunchbox size cooler in the car on this hot summer day for the gelato and chocolate bars. The gelato containers are insulated, but even better to have it near ice on a 90 degree day. The staff are very helpful and friendly. Khao is always my favorite there. He is so kind, patient with my questions and is knowledgeable about the different children chocolate and gelato flavors. Excellent customer service Khao! It is right across from the carousel on the first floor, so great to have a candy or gelato treat for families too. read more

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I finally got to try this place every time I go there's a line out the door on this certain day. There wasn't much of a line so I got a chance to try it. It was delicious next time I'm going to try it with the espresso on top very nice store friendly employees. You can also buy chocolate and other things. It's very Italian. read more

Yk that cliche of getting someone flowers & chocolates but then like nobody actually wants the chocolates. If it were a box of chocolates from here, I'd gladly take the chocolates and leave the flowers. Oh and the gelato ate downnn. In actuality, i ate and left no crumbs. I couldn't rlly taste the tiramisu in the strawberry tiramisu but I didn't rlly care today lol I had a good day. I sampled the pistachio and tht was fye read more

Venchi - Strawberry tiramisu & tiramisu - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Delicious ice cream! I love their decor and variety of flavors. They also have a section of Italian chocolates that look amazing. I will definitely come back! read more

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I really enjoyed this gelato spot! The texture of their gelato is so smooth and creamy. My favorite flavors are Matcha and Pistachio but honorary mention goes to Cremino! The Matcha is rich and has a perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness. The Pistachio was so creamy and I could really taste the nuttiness. Cremino is basically a creamier version of Nutella. There is a small line but it moves fairly quickly. I love that they let you sample any of the flavors as well. The only downside is the value - it's a pretty small scoop for the price even for their largest 3 scoop cup. The space inside to order is also pretty tight so it can get pretty chaotic especially if it's your first time there trying to sample all the flavors. They do have a chocolate counter inside as well where you can sample some of their chocolates. Their chocolates are not too sweet. The young man working the chocolate counter was very friendly and patient. I didn't get his name but he had a mustache and I would say he definitely provided better service than the staff working at the ice cream counter. There is limited seating inside so don't expect to enjoy your dessert in store. Overall, for the gelato and service at the chocolate counter I'd definitely come back! read more

What a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing store. Venchi is located on the first floor of South Coast Plaza Mall. They recently opened up and there's usually a little line being formed because of the word going around. As you walk in you are visually drawn to all the different items from their designer chocolate and the way it's decorated like a dessert museum. I was craving the gelato here and got to try some flavors out like the Raspberry Sorbet, Pistachio, and Baciodidama. The flavors of all of them were so cold and tasty that I enjoyed every spoon of it. Their portions are probably the smallest I've seen out of any gelato places I've been to but the flavor itself was amazing. They also serve espresso, and shakes here as well. To wash it all down I had a nice single shot of it and it went perfectly well with everything. read more

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the ice cream is alright. there's nothing special about it aside from the upscale shop in south coast. i don't know if i'll go again but it wasn't bad. read more

Venchi - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My family and I came to enjoy dessert after dinner. We spent almost $100. This employee allegedly was the supervisor. She was being extremely rude to us the entire time. Someone clearly lied on their resume because customer service is not in their skill set. We come here all the time. After this experience, I would never come again. -1000000. read more

Venchi - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I forgot South Coast got 1 of these. I've been to the one in NY. We decided to wait in the line wrapped around the store. We were able to sample their version of hazelnut spread. Very chocolately and sweet. Once you get to the counter, you order first and then pick your flavors. A little odd since I haven't tried anything yet, how do I even know if I want any. Didn't really like that so I just decided on 1 small since I haven't sampled any flavors at all yet. Then they keep wanting you to move down but where, it's already packed with others picking their flavors. Very cluttered. I'm glad I tried it but I most likely won't go again. Great chocolates and they let you try them which is great before you buy. They have specials at the counter but yet again, I haven't tried any yet how would I know if I want to buy. SYOY! read more

Great flavors, love this place. But the supervisor was extremely rude to my family. She was being abrupt with us, not properly explaining the rewards program, and was constantly telling us to move over when we were in the middle of trying flavors. She was incredibly pushy, rude, and insincere with us. We spent over $100 here as a family and I cannot believe how terrible the service was. Her hostile attitude was a stark difference against all the other workers, which were very pleasant and helpful. The first time we came, me and my wife were blown away with how great the flavors were! This is our second time here and we decided to bring 6 other family members, and they were all so disappointed with the supervisor's attitude. I don't think we will come back after this. read more

Venchi - Rude supervisor - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We stumbled across Venchi while walking around the mall. The people lined up outside piqued our interest. After walking around inside, we decided to get Gelato, which is what the line was for. We decided on pistachio after tasting several flavors and were very happy with the decision. Perfect night cap after dinner! read more

Venchi - Pistachio - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Costa Mesa, California