What’s that? It’s crazy to eat gelato in the dead of winter? Nonsense! Gelato is to be enjoyed at any time of the year, temperatures be damned. And if you find yourself in Ossining, how about a quick stop in at Ossining Pizzeria & Restaurant.
The restaurant looks like your everyday, run-of-the-mill pizzeria, but connected to it is a cafe and gelateria, with around 20 homemade gelato flavors.
So many to choose from — I’d say about half were fruit flavors — and the hazelnut (nocciola) was calling.
Here’s what I noticed as the server packed the gelato into the cup, and then after I tasted it: Unlike the other flavors in the display case, the hazelnut didn’t have the smooth, creaminess of say a Baci gelato at Via Vanti! or Frankie & Fanucci’s; it was firm and almost crumbly. I’m not sure how gelato is made, but I’m wondering if maybe this batch was over-frozen, or if it wasn’t as fresh as the others.
But the vivid and rich taste of hazelnut was top-notch. And as the gelato melted in my mouth, its texture smoothed out.
I chatted briefly with the server, who had a heavy Italian accent.
“Is this all homemade?” I asked.
“Yes. I make them all here,” she said.
“That’s a lot of work.”
(With a shrug) “I love.”
Ossining Pizzeria & Restaurant
181 Croton Ave.
Ossining, NY
914-762-1455
3 Comments
1 mister_pj wrote:
A few things you should know…
Ossining Pizzeria started out as a small pizzeria that only occupied the space where the over is (the main entrance). The storefront was the totality of the business for a bit of time.
But, it proved to be so successful it eventually took over the two storefronts to the right (as you’re facing the building) turning them into dining rooms and then expanded into the storefront on the left converting it into a Gelatoria.
And the Gelato is good, there isn’t a question about that.
As I said the business has been so successful the owner was able to renovate the retaining wall on one side of the parking lot, purchase the house and create a parking area behind it on the left side of the location.
It’s really quite an amazing story in the sense that in an environment where a lot of restaurants (and other businesses) have downsized because of these economic times, Ossining Pizzeria has expanded.
Simply put, it’s because their foo is good and not just good but for the price point is good as well, people go there feeling they get value for the money.
The Gelatoria hasn’t gotten the kind of attention you would think a place like that should but there isn’t a question it is unique in this part of Westchester and certainly warrants being a ‘destination’ kind of business because it’s not a bad place to just hang out.
2 Ron wrote:
I love this place too. Hardly in the same league as Purple Monkey. I’ve had their hazelnut a few times and it’s been the typical cremy-gelato consistency. I agree … could be a freezer anomaly?
3 KDC wrote:
I’m sorry to say I have had numerous consistency inconsistencies with the gelato at Ossining Pizzeria, enough that I have stopped going. Many flavors seem overly sweet or one-dimensional. I like the place & the people AND fact that they make it there, but I have never been too wowed.