By Julia Lucey
Although summertime doesn’t typically bring face masks and social distancing efforts to mind, that is shaping up to be our reality this year. Luckily, there is one thing that never fails to bring that long awaited summer feeling: a delicious ice cream cone — something Greenwich is well equipped to provide. Whether you’re looking for a classic ice cream cone, frozen yogurt, or an authentic gelato, there’s a spot for you here in town with the perfect snack for a hot summer’s day!
In Old Greenwich, Rosie’s Frozen Yogurt (235 Sound Beach Ave) is open daily from 12 to 8 pm. Rosie’s serves all your favorite froyo flavors, from original tart to chocolate and vanilla, along with a selection of unique flavors, including pistachio gelato, pom raspberry sorbet, and cake batter. After selecting and serving your desired amount of frozen yogurt, Rosie’s has an extensive toppings selection — chocolate candies, gummies, fruits, cookie dough, hot fudge, and so many more. There is currently limited indoor seating available as well as some outdoor seating facing the street — a perfect place to sit and enjoy an after-dinner treat or conclude a day at the beach.
While Gofer of Greenwich undergoes repairs from a fire this past winter, Gofer of Riverside (551 E Putnam Ave) is open from 12 to 10 pm daily (until 10:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays). Gofer offers all of summer’s most refreshing desserts: soft and hard serve ice creams, milkshakes, ice cream floats, smoothies, and Razzles (ice cream with toppings blended in). There is seating available outside the shop near the Mianus river, making for a casual spot to enjoy your ice cream.
If you’re looking for a cup of gelato, La Fenice (315 Greenwich Ave) serves delicious, high quality gelato in their small Italian-inspired cafe. While travel may not be an option for most this summer, a cup of gelato here can bring you pretty close to a trip to Rome. Flavors range from the classics — chocolate, vanilla, coffee — to European ones — Gianduia, Stracciatella, and Hazelnut. What’s more, their strawberry gelato tastes just like biting into a fresh strawberry! La Fenice has an outdoor seating area set up outside the storefront where you can savor your gelato while surrounded by Greenwich Avenue’s lively energy.
Similarly, Gelato&Cioccolato (232 E Putnam Ave) serves traditional gelato following recipes inspired by the original gelato from the Italian Dolomites. A small shop nestled into a strip of stores along the Post Road, Gelato&Cioccolato is open from 12 to 9 pm daily (until 9:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays). Their gelato menu includes an assortment of dairy and nondairy flavors, from amarena cherry to stracciatella, hazelnut to tiramisu, and lemon to blueberry. A spoonful of Gelato&Cioccolato’s rich gelato can transport you to Italy, even if just for a moment! The shop itself is small but there are plenty of places nearby to enjoy your ice cream — just down the street is the small park in front of the Cos Cob library.
Joe Studio (185 Sound Beach Avenue), an Old Greenwich coffee shop and juice bar, has expanded their menu to serve their own unique approach to ice cream this summer! The cafe has introduced their “Ice Cream Fusion,” allowing customers to customize their own frozen treat. It begins with an ice cream base of either chocolate or vanilla and your choice of mix-ins and toppings. Mix-ins include a variety of classic cereals (Captain Crunch, Lucky Charms, Trix, and more), candies (Snickers, Reese’s Cups, M&Ms, etc.), and berries. After the mix-ins are blended into the ice cream, toppings such as peanuts, grandola, sprinkles, and gummies can be added along with a choice of drizzle-ons (caramel, chocolate or raspberry sauce, and honey). Joe Studio has some seating available inside the shop with appropriate distancing in place, as well as some outdoor seating looking out toward Old Greenwich.
While we do have to take extra precautions this summer to protect our health and the health of others, there are still ways to honor your favorite summertime traditions — or perhaps make new ones! With so many ice cream options readily available in Greenwich, all you need is a craving for a refreshing treat (and your face mask!) to beat the heat.
