The Pellegrino Gelateria Monteforte In Rome Is Pretty Chill

In a recent attempt to beat the Roman heat, we headed over to the Pellegrino Gelateria Monteforte and enjoyed the tranquil respite that we needed.

Near the hustle and bustle of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is a small gelateria that is worth your attention. With some comfortable seats outside and a couple of plush benches inside, this tranquil spot is perfect for someone who needs a break, but also needs some gelato.

How Is Gelato Made In Italy?

There are differences in the ingredients used in Gelato and Ice Cream. For example, in the US, more cream is used and in Italy milk is used to reach a lower fat content. The gelato in Italy also uses more sugar, which is surprising to me because generally things are much sweeter in the US than in Italy. Also, in the US, egg whites can be included, but aren’t part of a typical Italian gelato recipe.

How To Spot Good Gelato In Rome?

When you are looking for gelato, you should definitely try any place that looks good, but are there some signs of lower quality gelaterias that you should skip? Yes, these are a couple of pointers that you should pay attention to:

• Color – the super bright and glowing colors are unnatural and should be avoided. Dull colors are more authentic, like banana gelato that isn’t bright yellow and pistachio flavored that is a very dull gray/green color. These are signs of quality.
• Container – plastic bins are a dead giveaway that the quality is low. Only stainless steel bins should be used and Pellegrino Gelateria Monteforte had lids on the bins that held their Granita, which is even better. In addition, the gelato should NOT be overflowing the container. This is a sure sign that too much air has been whipped into the gelato and is lower in quality.
• Taste – Most importantly, you can usually ask for a small taste to make sure you are choosing something you will enjoy. I heard about a gelateria that uses some strange flavors, like Cacio e Pepe gelato, but doesn’t allow for a taste. I would skip a place like this. 

How Much Does Gelato Cost At Pellegrino Gelateria Monteforte

The prices for gelato at Pellegrino Gelateria Monteforte are pretty typical for Rome, which is to say: very affordable. Small cones and cups are €3, medium cones and cups are €4 and a large cone or cup is €5. There is also an extra-large cone (only) for €7. This time we chose getting the gelato in a cup to avoid a mess, which was likely. 

Our Experiences Visiting The Pellegrino Gelateria Monteforte

The location on the piazza made it easy to find, but the road was full of parked (legally and illegally) cars that obscured the view of the Gelateria.

The staff was patient, friendly and helpful. Even though there were a good number of customers, the gelateria was tranquil with a relaxed atmosphere and some comfortable places to rest.

Their offerings were more fruity, which can be nice, but more recently my favorites have chocolate or gianduia, or something adjacent. We did have some buyers’ remorse because even though we enjoyed the raspberry gelato, we did see a peach gelato that looked to have chunks of fruit mixed in. We both would’ve loved that, but I guess it will have to be next time.

There are a couple of seats outside, but those were taken. Because of that and the heat, we sat on their indoor benches and enjoyed our gelato. It was a good call because gelato is not frozen to a low temperature like ice cream in the US. It is just below freezing, which helps with the creamy texture, but on a hot and humid day it can get messy quickly.

Where Is The Pellegrino Gelateria Monteforte?

More Roman Gelaterias To Consider