Figo il Gelato Italiano — Restaurant in New York

In the past month and a half, my quest for the finest gelato took me through the bustling streets of Manhattan, visiting no less than 25 gelaterias in a relentless pursuit of that quintessential scoop. My journey, rich with countless flavors and experiences, has led me to a remarkable discovery—Figo Il Gelato. This place is not just another spot on the map; it's a treasure trove of authentic Italian gelato that stands unparalleled in quality and taste, transcending the ordinary to offer something genuinely extraordinary.

One thing that sets Figo apart from the rest is how they manage their gelato. At other places, I’ve noticed the quality can be hit or miss depending on the day you visit. You might drop by on a Wednesday and get a perfect scoop, but come back on Friday, and it’s just not the same. This inconsistency often comes down to how the gelato is stored and when it was made. Figo, however, has cracked the code. No matter when I visit—morning, afternoon, or evening—the gelato is always perfect. The texture, the temperature, the flavor, it’s like they’ve found a way to stop time and preserve perfection.

Beyond the impeccable quality of their gelato, the service at Figo Il Gelato deserves a shout-out. While every employee there contributes to a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, George (or Jorge) really goes above and beyond. He’s always ready to offer recommendations, answer questions, making each visit feel personalized. I truly have nothing but good things to say about every single experience I’ve had at Figo. Even the long lines are managed very efficiently. Having recently returned from Italy, where I indulged in the gelato of Florence, Rome, and Milan, I can attest that Figo Il Gelato offers an experience that rivals, if not surpasses, those authentic Italian flavors. It's a bold claim, yet one I make with confidence and a palate enriched by comparison. The gelato here is not just food; it's a craft, an art form where flavors like Ferrero, Greco yogurt, lemon, an array of chocolates, Nocciola, Mango, and Figo shine as masterpieces of culinary excellence.

At Figo Il Gelato, every detail—from the creamy texture of their gelato to the warm, welcoming service—is executed with precision and care. It's a place where the passion for gelato is palpable, and the quality speaks for itself. Against the backdrop of Manhattan's vast culinary landscape, Figo Il Gelato emerges as a beacon of authentic, Italian-style gelato, offering a slice of Italy in the heart of New York.

However, there’s a “danger” to becoming a regular at Figo Il Gelato: it might just ruin other gelato for you. Their standard is so high that everything else starts to pale in comparison. And with their late closing time of midnight, the temptation to grab a late-night...

Absolutely atrocious customer service here tonight. There were a total of 2 girls working in the front at the scooping counter and 1 girl working the register, to which the blonde girl at the scooping counter was completely respectful. However, the other girl (the brunette) working at the scooping counter that took the cake for worst customer service ever provided. As I entered, she not only did not greet me and my friend, she was snarky towards my friend and I and rudely told me to come over and blankly asked what I wanted as my friend and I were looking at the menu and discussing flavors. She then proceeded to glare and roll her eyes at me as I was telling her which flavors I would like. And then the icing on the cake is when she kept hounding my friend to order when he was clearly not ready as he said to her more than twice that he was looking at the flavors of gelato that was being offered. She repeatedly kept insisting that my friend order right away, even though my friend kept telling her that he was not ready and it would be okay to serve the next guests coming in, but she was not having it and kept rushing my friend to order right away. She then turned to me and asked me what my friend said in a sarcastic tone, as if she was disregarding my friend. I told her to please give him a second to decide on a flavor and size, and then she rolled her eyes again. Once my friend was ready to order, he clearly stated which flavor he would like, but she had her back towards him and was more infatuated with the song playing through the speaker and singing to the lyrics and dancing than taking my friend’s order after having rushed him multiple times. After ignoring my friend, she turned to me and asked me what flavor gelato my friend would like and I had to speak for my friend as she was disregarding him straight to his face and I was forced to repeat myself to her while she was singing and dancing to the music. Instead, the blonde girl working at the scooping counter had to go and grab my friend’s order as the brunette girl was more worried about the music playing in the store. Then the brunette kept glaring at me while I was being rung up for mine and my friend’s orders, and then the brunette and the girl at the cash register kept throwing looks at one another and finally when I paid, the cashier and the brunette rolled their eyes and smirked at each other as my friend and I were heading out. Please don’t get me wrong as I truly enjoyed my gelato, but the customer service I received from the brunette girl working at the scooping counter and the girl at the cash register was not at all pleasant in the slightest bit and...

After trying different gelato spots in town, I can confidently say FIGO is my favorite. I can’t praise enough their creamy gelato texture, perfect sweet level, reasonable prices and attractive flavors. Their service is friendly every time. They were patient even I struggled between flavors and kept asking for samples.

Reasonably priced as you can pick up to 2 flavors for a small cup of gelato at $6. Only outdoor seating was available, but we felt warm enough even on a freezing night. Most importantly, their gelato scoop is on the larger side compared to other spots!

＊Ferror Rocher Imagine when a Ferrero Rocher is ground into gelato. It was sweet but enjoyable. I loved the Ferrero Rocher shell bits they blended into it, making it extra satisfying with a crunch.

＊Yogurt This was like a gelato version of froyo! It was very refreshing and would go well with any of their fruity gelato flavors in summer! Will 100% get this again.

＊ Sicilian Pistachio The pistachio gelato here was absolutely irresistible. Its richness, creaminess, and nuttiness were truly exceptional, while I could also savor small bits of chopped pistachios with every spoonful. The pistachio flavor was not overly sweet and not artificial with a satisfying crunch. A 10/10 and I’ll definitely order it again.

＊ Italian Roast Coffee The caffè flavor was good but nothing special. It had a nice balance of subtle darker roast bitterness and slight sweetness. As a caffeine addict, I prefer my coffee gelato delivering straight-up espresso taste. This one should be enjoyable for a wider range of palates though.

＊Cannoli, Bacio di Dama, Chocolate Bacio di Dama, S-shaped Cookies I also got a box of assorted Italian pastries and I enjoyed all of them. My favourite is the pistachio cannoli beyond a doubt — crispy shell, hearty fillings, and topped with many pistachios.

＊Nutella Bombolone Their bombolone was still warm when I ate, and the Nutella lava literally oozed out. The bread was bursting with buttery aroma and...