Fatamorgana Gelato — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I had a rather unpleasant and odd experience here. I've been to Italy before about 10 years ago and absolutely loved their Italian gelato! Specially one flavor being my favorite: the pistachio gelato. Returning to the states, I tried to recreate that experience by buying pistachio ice cream and gelato. But I quickly learned there was a big difference in taste between Californian pistachio and Italian pistachio gelato.

So I stumbled up this restaurant 2 months ago. I was hesitant but I asked the counter the tedious question. To my surprise, the one guy working the counter that day told me they had both kinds of Pistachio Gelato and confirmed for me that he did have the fabled Italian Pistachio! It was nearly a decade since I tasted it but I was almost positive it was Italian gelato! Not the absolute best I had since I visited quiet a few shops while in Italian but it was definitely up there. I loved it! I thought I stumbled upon gold!

Now here's where the story gets odd. I was on a diet so I unfortunately had to avoid the shop for about 2 months. When I returned though, I once again asked for Italian pistachio gelato... Here's the kicker: the guy at the counter this time said they didn't have it for 2 years already. Imagine my utter confusion: I had an ice cream, only 2 months ago, that apparently did not exist in that shop for 2 years! The man also said he was working there for a long time. A few years I believe he said. And I know I got the right place, my memory of where the shop was etched into my mind like one of those really happy memories you can't help but to never forget... so what happened? Was I lied to on my first visit? Was I misinformed on my second? Did my own tongue lie to me? Imagine my disappointment in this location, the idea that my goldmine I found turned into fool's gold and that the place has me questioning my own memory and tongue. Whether unintentional or with purpose, this place really rubbed me the wrong way in all the...

The person who works here now - I had a chance to meet him on July the 23rd, takes someone else’s work place and doesn’t fit the vibe of the ice cream shop. Extremely unhelpful, lazy and slow. He was silent most of the time when I was trying to ask about new flavors etc. He did look and sound as he was there as a temporary worker who had been in the place for no more than an hour and not going to be back. No genuine interest to help guests navigating their exploration of what’s new or good here. Also, he was remaking my coffee 3 times while my ice cream was melting - the idea was to enjoy it together with the coffee. First time he made caffeinated coffee instead of decaf . Then, made the coffee sweet with sweetened oat milk, but this I can understand. Then I asked him to make just a short Americano, literally half a cup and showed him exactly in the cup how much water to add. Guess what. He took his time - like 5-7 min (and the store was empty at the moment) and gave me Americano full cup of water. Not coming back while this unenthusiastic gentleman is here. It feels like he doesn’t appreciate neither his job nor customers.

Btw. This is not a true gelato. It’s ice cream loaded with sugar so badly that the flavor gets lost in it, but it’s only if you know the difference and have tried a real...

I discovered Fatamorgana while living in Trastevere this Spring. Every day, while walking to/from the tram station, I noticed a gelato shop with a line coming out the door all times of the day & night! Finally, after about a week, I HAD to go check it out! I ordered a scoop of Chocolate Hazelnut and Panacea. It was just the MOST delicious, healthy, refreshing, organic, dairy and gluten-free gelato I have ever had! After returning home, I looked up the website to share some of the highlights of my trip with family and noticed that a Fatamorgana had just opened up in my home state of California (the first one in the USA)! I drove 3 hours to take my mom there and it was well worth the trek :) After sampling several flavors like prickly pear, fresh fig, and another with ginger, pink grapefruit, carmelized lemon and horseradish (all were like AHA moments for our tastebuds), we decided on the chocolate orange and vanilla on a gluten-free cone. We are both looking forward to going back SOON and trying some of the other seasonal & exotic flavors (they have over 60 at a time). Bravissimo Fatamorgana...