(Desserted 03/28/26 SA @ 8:00pm): Venchi... Silviano Venchi, was the latest name in the high-end sweets game at The Americana!
After some drinks, food, and the Dodgers game across the street at The Famous Bar, my friend and I were in the mood for dessert, and Venchi came up on our search. Located at The Americana in a former Sprinkles Cupcakes storefront, this "chocogelaterie" (chocolates and gelato) was doing brisk business. This sweets journey started back in 1878 when 20-year-old Silviano Venchi invested all of his money on two bronze cauldrons and started experimenting with chocolate in a small shop on Via Degli Artisti in the neighborhood of Vanchiglia, Turin, Italy. His successful experimentations with nougatine, chocolate, and gelato slowly built a sweets empire that was approaching 150 years of history with shops in over 70 countries around the world. How was our venture into this sweet shop of dessert decadence!?
PURCHASE(S)
Regular 2-Flavor Gelato Pistachio Kunafa Delight + White Chocolate & Salted Nuts ($8.25) + Freshly Handmade Waffle Cone ($1.75) + Gourmet Cone Add-On ($2.70): With twenty freshly-made flavors to choose from, I went with two unique-sounding options. The pistachio kunafa was a tantalizing treat that harkened to Indian or Middle Eastern palates while the white chocolate salted nuts had a bit more familiar gourmet elements of fancy sweets. Each scoop was a decent portion size, the flavors were somewhat exotic, I always favored a homemade waffle cone, but the cone add-on was excessive. The exorbitant price tag left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth even before the cone and add-on. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=fUThB-7kb7Hpj9A77Mc0dg
SERVICE
We were eventually greeted by a young man outside as we queued up in a snaking line, who was ready to take our order like an In N Out employee in the drive-thru. He gave us a rundown about the brand, how to order, etc. Once it was our turn, the ordering process was simple, you were handed a piece of paper of your order, and once you got inside to the counter, you handed the piece of paper, stated the flavor(s) you wanted, and the rest was up to the people behind the counter. It was a busy night, but the process went rather quickly - grazie!
PARKING
(Varied; FREE this instance): I parked in the nearby original Glendale Galleria parking structure and simply walked over to The Americana. Otherwise, there was limited parking along the main drag of Brand Blvd. and other surrounding side streets, the nearby Glendale Galleria II parking structure, The Americana parking structure that offered validation, numerous public transportation options, and rideshares - 'nuff said!
ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE
A sliver of a layout split in half with one side focused on high-end chocolates and the other cooler trays of gelato with minimal space devoted to each. A modern feel with a ton of eye candy and vibrant colors https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=3SRnhZSvQdxk6j1vyHnmlg all around, each square inch of this place was maximized for usability. And, there was a highly visual menu https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=ZZa40axeF4DzEK9aXNMiqg up on the wall behind the counter. Outside, were several chairs/tables to enjoy your treat. Plenty of natural lighting came through the front doors and windows while bright electric outdoor and ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were no TVs while pop music played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=0&select=8t_69sWRtD9M8byT2Ut-qw
ATTIRE
Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops.
OVERALL
Venchi was an expensive fun way to wind down the day, but I couldn't say I would willingly visit again on my own. I enjoyed the two gelato flavors I picked and would like to try others, but I honestly found it difficult to get past the price, and I definitely would opt for a cone and add-on. The chocolates looked superb, but again those were an arm and a leg. The customer service was easy, friendly, and straightforward. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $13.00 BEFORE any discounts/tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS read more