Portside Coffee and Gelato — Restaurant in San Diego

Second time this happened: I came here a few months ago and ordered Gelato-I cannot consume caffeine due to my physical health. After eating the Gelato I ordered, I called them to ask if their Gelato contained caffeine. I was told that the flavor that I ordered did indeed contain caffeine. I explained to the lady that I cannot consume caffeine, and she seemed apologetic, but she said that it was listed on the menu that it contains caffeine. Fast forward to today, I stood in line for a bit and then placed my order with the lady-this time ordering the pistachio flavor (understanding that this flavour did not contain caffeine/coffee)-the lady responded, “ohh I'm sorry we're out of that flavor” (problem #1- this should have been listed on the menu)-so as to not make the people behind me in line wait, i scrambled to come up with an alternative flavor, and ordered the salted caramel instead. With it being a rather warm day today, it began to melt rather quickly after I left the pickup window. I began eating it, and knew right away this one obviously contained coffee or caffeine as well! Who would ever expect a salted caramel flavour of anything to have coffee or caffeine? My strong feeling on this is that they need to be informing patrons that some of their flavors of Gelato do indeed contain caffeine. On the occasion that I came a few months ago, the lady told me that it was listed on the menu somewhere about the caffeine content. I searched and searched on the menu before leaving today, and found NOTHING anywhere to indicate this! (Why would this employee lie to try to cover her backside like this?!?) Also, I tried to call earlier today after the event, as well as this evening, BEFORE they are supposed to close (as it is now 8:44pm); and both times I received a message stating that their phone was turned off/unavailable--NOT a professional...

VEG review: 3 wildly different experiences here. (1) I ordered a vegan burrito and as they weren't too busy, we walked through everything they could include. Potatoes, several nice veggies, and salsa. It was GREAT! In fact, they could comfortably put a $10 vegan burrito on the menu if they just left a 60-cent can of beans in the kitchen. (2) I returned the following week hoping for the same burrito, despite the lack of protein (beans, etc.) b/c it tasted good and they're close by. But WOW, did this disappoint. Somehow, this one was just a lettuce and tomato wrap with salsa. No potatoes, no hot veggies, just a failure. No idea whether the cook or the young woman who took my order was more to blame but this was hardly a burrito at all. (3) I was in a hurry and asked if they had any non-dairy spreads for the bagels. She replied "butter and jelly." We know that butter is dairy and I wouldn't be surprised if the jelly had gelatin, oh well. But, I was in a hurry, so I compromised my values and ordered a bagel with cream cheese. It came out 10 minutes later. . .with a knife and plastic container to spread my own cream cheese. So then what was the 10-minute prep time? IN SUMMARY: First visit was nearly a homerun, while the second and third visit taught me not to return for food until changes are made. All that said, it's still a very convenient place on the island for a...

A Hidden Gem on Shelter Island! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Portside Coffee and Gelato is exactly what you want in a neighborhood coffee spot - a true little gem that delivers on all fronts. This cozy hole-in-the-wall may be small, but it packs a big punch with everything you need for the perfect coffee experience.

The service here is outstanding - clean, fast, and genuinely friendly. I love that you can even call ahead, which is such a thoughtful touch for busy mornings. The staff clearly cares about getting you in and out efficiently without sacrificing quality.

Don't let the compact size fool you - they've got a fantastic menu with an impressive variety of both hot and cold drinks, plus food options to satisfy any craving. The gelato selection is a delicious bonus that sets them apart from your typical coffee shop.

The colorful outdoor seating adds such a cheerful vibe to the whole experience. It's the perfect spot to enjoy your drink and soak up some San Diego sunshine.

Sometimes you don't need bells and whistles - just great coffee, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Portside delivers exactly that. Highly recommend this Shelter...