Ciao Gelato — Restaurant in Venice

UPDATE 11/25/23 CHRISTMAS PARADE

Well, my husband wanted gelato so I thought enough time has passed where I would give them another shot, hoping for a better experience. Unfortunately, it was an encore performance to their horrible customer service from last time.

I wasn’t that hungry and I asked the woman for the smallest size she can give me. She wanted to give me an adult small I said no I want the smaller cup behind you she says that’s for only kids 12 and under. I told her I didn’t want to eat that much, she said I can’t give it to you you’re not 12 and under. I told her how ridiculous that sounded but I’d like to support local businesses so I took the larger of the cups even though I knew I wasn’t going to finish it. As my husband and I walked outside, we saw three children sitting at the barstools by the window all with adult large cups. How ironic that an adult can’t get a kids small but a kid under 12 can certainly get an adult large. I guess all they care about is making the sale and not a happy customer.

Absolutely my last time. You just really aren’t that good, just a commodity on the street.

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2nd time this week that they have closed before their posted hours! It's Friday night at 8:48 and the doors are locked. We tried to enter and the girl behind the counter looked up from counting her money and did the cutting her neck gesture as if to say they are closed. It's Friday night, the restaurants are PACKED with diners and you close over an hour early?? Which by the way, even for Venice standards, is ridiculously early especially for anyone serving any type of food not to mention dessert. Does the owner condone this? Don't you want customers??

The first time they did this was earlier in the month and again closed down well before 9:00pm.

Well that was your last chance for me & my family. Your gelato isn't even that good, it just happens to be the only gelato place in town. You are overpriced with a mediocre product and definitely a lazy staff. By the way, there was 11 of us. That may have been worth it.

Kilwins ice cream is right up the street and is absolutely fantastic. Friendly staff, fair prices and a very tasty treat! We...

Not anymore. We've lived in Venice for 3 years, love to stop in to Ciao Gelato after dinner at Casariano's next door or just pop in on a hot day. One time while eating at the restaurant, my hubby asked for gelato and they suggested we grab a cup next door and bring it back to our table, while I enjoyed a glass of wine. Tonight, I was taken off guard - walked into the Ciao gelato shop and noticed the sign "no samples"; I asked if that was for real as I wanted to taste the Orange Creamsicle and a young girl shyly deferred to the owner. The answer was "no, we serve 500-800 a day, no samples since COVID". A bit stunned I said " i can't have a clean spoon just to taste it, we come often and want to try before buying." The answer was so cold "then if you come here often you surely have tasted it" Yikes! Everyone has a bad day, but somehow asking for a taste was treated like asking for free services - I was a bit stunned. Now seeing the same reply in other reviews, about serving hundreds of people - I realized this was the norm. I guess I looked shocked as the owner said "you want a sample - here" - but we decided "no thank you" and left. We went down the block and ordered a sweet treat at Venice Avenue Creamery where I ordered my Salted Caramel: I did ask if they have a Creamsicle and the young woman offered samples of an orange sherbet if I wanted to try it - which i declined! Venice Creamery was very kind, sweet and customer focused - with delicious cold creamy desserts. Ciao Gelato = No customer service and a bit rude; Maybe one day we will give it a go again, but not this season. I'll just walk down the block where they may not have Creamsicle to try but i'll be...

This place discriminates immensely. The previous reviews are factual. Don't believe their responses. I just left this establishment 5 minutes ago. I asked for a sample. The young woman pointed to the 'No Samples" sign and said sorry. I accepted it and ordered.

Then 2 families came into the establishment. Kids asked for samples and she gave them out. Then the adults/parents asked for some and she gave them samples. Not to just one family but both families. I sat there and ate my Gelato and listened. Then once most had left, I point blank asked her why she wouldn't give me a sample but other adults got them. I felt discriminated.

The young women advised kids get samples and when the adult asked it is just easier to give the parents/adult samples rather than argue with them as miss out the possible sale. Because I didn't have one of my kids with me....I must not have qualified.

You put the employees in a disgusting position and upset the patrons. I realize most people are tourists so you don't care what we say but I hope someone reads this and goes to one of the many other ice cream establishments.

I bet the BBB would like to...