located in between Hawthorn Coffee and Tajima Ramen...
The old dry cleaning business was actually gone, but the new business kept the name, An's Dry Cleaning although they will sell handmade small batch gelato here.
In keeping with the laundry/dry cleaning theme, all flavors are named after fabrics. We had to look up melton and termeh. For the record melton is a wool fabric woven in twill form while termeh is a type of handwoven Iranian wool cloth. Those two I would never have known, the rest is pretty easy.
Short is their small cup while tall is humongous. Starch refers to a cone. Fluff and fold is not being offered yet, but that will be their flights. They are still deciding how to execute the presentation in keeping with their theme. Their flavors are also locally sourced which is nice (for example, coffee comes from Hawthorn Coffee shop next door).
The flavors above are their rotating flavors. The flavors on the shorter list on the wall are the flavors they will offer every day. Once you walk in, they ask if it's your first time and if it is, then you are given a taste tour of all of their flavors. Yes, ALL. You get a palate cleanser first (ginger lime), then they proceed to take you from the lighter water based flavors to the more cream based flavors. I have to say that their employees are quite patient and cheerful throughout this all. Imagine doing that with each and every customer.
This was the watermelon mint. Every flavor was available except for the avocado and lemon. I passed on the goat cheese and honey though. The server had already scooped a small spoon so she ended up eating it. Sorry, but I fucking hate goat cheese. Ugh, it does NOT belong in ice cream!
Here's a tip...if you're like me and don't like committing to one flavor, I found out that one scoop can be split into two flavors. I mean, why just have one when you can have two? Plus their scoops are pretty big here verging on overkill. You really only need a few spoons of something to get the jist of the flavor. That's my opinion. I like to maximize my flavors options.
Damn, they're just spackling it onto the cup!
The decor is also a no to the former tenant with laundry related items like ironing board shaped mini counters and napkin holder in the shape of an iron. The stepped neon lights are an homage to the zig zag art deco design found on the exterior of the historic building.
"I'm melting!"....
The face on the wall refers to those decals of what seem to be 80's era women at dry cleaning shops (also seen at old school beauty salon).
Bert's Plaid (chocolate, honey, cinnamon and pepper - yes, all of these flavors) and Velour (salted caramel with optional black lava sea salt).
Gingham (coffee made from Hawthorn's espresso + candied orange) & Melton (mango peach)
We liked all of our flavors. I was surprised at the amount of candied orange peel in my cup. There were so many tiny chopped up pieces of orange in that flavor.You have to really really really really like orange. For those that don't, the flavor tends to be on the bitter side and paired with coffee? I think people will either love or hate that combination. I loved it. The mango peach was refreshing as well. Loved that pairing.
The black lava sea salt looked cool on Bert's scoop and didn't have too much of a flavor, other than salt itself. I wasn't a fan of the Plaid but can see why some folks would enjoy it. There's a lot going on and you can really taste the distinct flavors.
The very next day, we returned with TC after having had dinner at Tribute Pizza...She was able to do a taste tour of all of the flavors.
Our three split scoops. There was one repeat (TC says she didn't know I also got the banana chocolate flavor, no worries).
Bert's Wool (avocado & lemon zest + Termeh (saffron pistachio vanilla) - He was intrigued by the avocado flavor, which was pretty creamy.
This was my Linen (pineapple + basil) paired with Gabardine (banana + chocolate chunks).
The pineapple basil was quite refreshing and I really enjoyed that banana chocolate combination.
Apparently TC thought the same because she also got the Gabardine paired with Plush (Watermelon + mint). The watermelon was pretty bright and fresh tasting as well.
Moved outside...
Articles:
"Historic dry cleaning building transforms into gelato shop" Fox5SanDiego (this has a linked video that you should watch since the owners are interviewed while they explain the new shop's concept)
"An's Dry Cleaning irons out an unlikely service" SD Union Tribune, June 15, 2018
"From scratch gelato shop opens on Adams Ave" SD Eater, June 4, 2018 (this article shows some of the favors on different boards; plush was previously tangerine + pomelo; I suppose they were experimenting with flavor combos before opening)
"An's Dry Cleaning shop heading to Sa Diego's Adams Avenue" SanDiegoVille, Dec. 2017
"Next level gelato shop coming to Adams Ave" SD Eater Dec. 2017
An's Dry Cleaning Gelato
3017 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 450-6166
adcgelato.com + reviews from you know where
Last year:
"Our 22nd Anniversary- Communal Coffee, OB Beans Coffee Roasters & Supannee House of Thai" July 2017
2 comments:
We just had dinner at Et Voila next door and saw this gelato place. It was packed by the time we left restaurant! Hopefully will try their gelato next time. Agreed that goat cheese is ick in ice cream. Happy Anniversary -
Aww, thank you re: anniversary!
Hope you had a nice dinner at et Voila Faye. I've only been there for brunch a few times and liked it. I need to try dinner next time.
Definitely check out the gelato place in the future. I like that they plan to rotate their flavors. Everything but goat cheese, ugh.
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