Elena's on Orange — Restaurant in New Haven

I've visited this ice cream shop three times in the past three weeks so it’s safe to say I’m a big fan of their ice cream (maybe too big a fan). I’m especially hooked on Elena’s Special, which is absolutely delicious. That said, I wanted to share a couple of experiences that led me to take off a star.

Let’s talk pricing first. Last week, Elena’s Special in a waffle cone cost about $8, and with tip, it came to $9. On Monday, the same order was $9 before tip $10 total but the cone was only half full. Then, on Thursday, I paid $11 before tip for the exact same thing. Different cashiers each time, but Thursday’s cashier itemized everything à la carte, which seemed to drive up the price unnecessarily. It’s frustrating that there’s no consistency in pricing or portion sizes. Maybe most customers wouldn’t notice if they don’t come in often, but I definitely did.

The second reason I deducted a star was the service. On Monday, I arrived right at 2 PM when they opened and was first in line (yes, I’m a little obsessed). A family came in right behind me and, unfortunately, didn’t get helped until 2:10 PM. They were never greeted. The employee wiped down the counters, served me, then disappeared into the back. A second employee came out shortly after to clean up a spill but still didn’t acknowledge the waiting family. It may seem like a small thing, but basic customer service like saying hello or letting people know you’ll be right with them goes a long way.

This is an ice cream shop, after all people come here to enjoy themselves. A smile, a friendly greeting, or even a simple acknowledgment can make a big difference. Please don’t ignore customers who are literally waiting to give you...

Was heading downtown New Haven yesterday when I decided I didnt want to keep going to the same ice cream shops ive been used to all these years and wanted to try something new, and locally owned. I stumbled across Elena’s and saw the reviews and just knew I had to stop by. Not only did the gentleman running the shop greet us with open arms but was extremely hospitable and nice and was very welcoming and even gsve us some background into how they do things and let us sample the flavor of the week. The Apple Pie Ice Cream was some of the most rich and flavorful ice cream ive ever had! The portions were large and the toppings are great! Absolutely became my new go to spot for Ice Cream!...

The cutest place, but extremely overcrowded. Was in the area and decided to stop for a treat, googled the closest ice cream shop and Elena’s on Orange popped up with pretty good reviews. They only offer soft serve [ but delicious] ice cream, affogato, and hot chocolate * guessing seasonal. They have several topping options as well, i was a tad bit sad they didn’t have any waffle cones but overall it was good. I got the cookie sundae which was scrumptious! The cookie bits were soft along with the chocolate chips added an excellent combo. Highly recommend you stop by if you’re in the area.

Ps: i also appreciate the compostable bowls...