Il Laboratorio del Gelato - scooponcones.com

the scoop on cones

Taking a bite of this gelato is to realize what gelato is supposed to be like. It’s dense and bursting with flavor. The texture is beyond creamy and smooth. If you know someone who claims they don’t like gelato, this will change their minds.

They recently moved from a little walk-up window to a giant storefront a few blocks north in the Lower East Side. The new location has a laboratory vibe, it’s very industrial and stark (and sadly no tables).

But we love love love the gelato and the creative flavors. On a recent visit we tried Beet gelato, which was scrumptious with a wonderful bright fuschia color, although it made us crave some goat cheese and arugula. We also tried Mastic, which is a tree resin with a slight pine or cedar flavor. We found the gelato to be mild and creamy with a nice pine finish.

The sorbet also comes in exciting flavors, such as cactus pear and black plum. It’s not as creamy as the gelato, but still flavor packed and refreshing.

Hours: 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 7:30 a.m.-midnight Friday; 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday.

Price: $3.50 for a small (2 scoops)

Phone: 212-343-9922

Website: www.laboratoriodelgelato.com