I enjoyed my experience at Il Gusto (West Covina). I ordered the Medium Cup (2 Scoops - $8). I selected a milk chocolate scoop and a cookies-flavored scoop. The gelato is velvety & soft with prominent flavor profiles. It's tasty. (Important Note: Bring cash. Card has a small additional fee, about 3.5% extra. Also, there's no flavor sampling.) I arrived at Il Gusto (West Covina) on Monday (around 7:29pm). This location shares the busy parking plaza by 85 Degrees (West Covina). Fortunately, it was easy to find parking this evening. Staff is professional and helpful. Staff worked quickly, and staff answered all my questions. Line went very fast despite a group being ahead of me. As mentioned, I ordered the Medium Cup (2 Scoops - $8). I selected a milk chocolate scoop and a cookies-flavored scoop. Portion sizes are fair and adequate for its quality. The flavors are delicious. The milk chocolate scoop reminded me of rich, dark chocolate milk. Its consistency felt very velvety, and its strong chocolate flavor almost teetered towards chocolate brownie territory. The cookie-flavored scoop was very tasty as well. This scoop flowed smoothly, and I happily enjoyed the soft cookie chunks within. This had a milder taste, but it felt very satisfying. This gelato was not icy; rather, it had delightful flavors while flowing like chilled silk. Concerning ambiance, Il Gusto (West Covina) shows genuine effort. The location is very clean and well-ventilated (refreshingly chill). I also enjoyed the Elvis Presley music. However, the music was occasionally drowned out from the loud electronic buzzing/humming sounds from the kitchen's containers. Also, some portions of the walls and floors looked scuffed with black marks. Il Gusto (West Covina) is also fairly small. It has three reflective tables inside; customer-only restroom; and three nearby shaded tables outside. Overall, I had a pleasant experience at Il Gusto (West Covina). Its prices are adequate, the gelato is a good quality, and the staff is hardworking & helpful. If nearby, I recommend. 4.6 out of 5 read more

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The best gelato I've ever had was in Europe. This was pretty close. Super smooth and not too sweet. Tastes very natural. Staff was very friendly. I'm bummed that they didn't give samples. Establishment was very clean and inviting. Great place for dessert! read more

Il Gusto - Strawberry with coconut; cookie - Desserts Near Me - West Covina, California

Was craving gelato & stopped by this shop in West Covina. Got the pistachio & coffee gelato in a cup. Very flavorful, satisfying, & perfect for the hot (fall) weather. Plenty of parking in the lil plaza off the 10 freeway. It's located in the same plaza as 85 degrees and next to Dog Haus. Very quick and good service. Too bad they no longer give out free samples :( that'll be the only downer. Overall, still a great gelato shop. read more

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Tries their vanilla bean, regular cup size, $6. It was alright. Not too sweet, pretty big serving size. Wish there as more flavor though. I'm sad that they don't do samples. I remember they allowed samples before. The space is not very big inside, but there are a couple tables. There are also benches outside. The service was good. read more

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It looks like they have closed. I arrived around 7pm and it was completely dark inside and the door was locked.

My friend and I came here on a hot day to get some gelato. We almost didn't find a parking space...best to park in the first space we see than getting closer. There was only three tables inside the store, and the sun was shining brightly, so we ate outside in the shaded area. A regular cup with two scoops is $6 each. I got the coffee and mango vegan flavor, and my friend got the berry vegan and lemon vegan flavor. We sadly didn't really taste the mango or lemon flavor. The cassata was ok; it was sweet. I would come back to try the other items on the menu. read more

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Small little gelato place in the corner of a large shopping plaza. The parking is relatively easy. They don't do samples here so you'll just have to commit to a flavor and hope you like it. We got cherry and hazelnut in a small cup. Both were very tasty and not too sweet. There isn't much seating inside the shop though, just two small tables. read more

I dont know how this place has such a high rating..... maybe things were better back in the day...... but know its definitely not above a 4 star place. Walked in here on a Saturday when it was super hot and sunny outside and there was no one in here. Which should've been a sign that this place isnt all its cracked up to be. They call it Cozy I'm gonna call it small. Huge sign that they dont offer any samples. Which is like...... what......? I understand unsavory and ghetto people taking advantage of the free samples but maybe limit it to 1 or 2; but none is a bit stingy. There's so many flavors, I dont know if I'll like the one I choose, unless I get a couple samples. I was taking a picture of the gelatos in the case, and the person working the counter was like, your not taking a picture of me are you?!? In a rude tone of voice. No girl..... I'm more interested in getting a picture of the gelatos then of taking a picture of you. C'mon now. Don't be so rude. I ordered an affogato. It normally comes with vanilla, but I wanted cherry and it was an extra cost. Which is crazy cuz, unless its pre-made, why cant you just scoop the cherry gelato instead of the vanilla gelato when making it......? Now by no means am I a gelatto connoisseur. But they put so much extra fluff into here, affogato purists would be turning in their graves..... they have cookies, they have a mountain of whip cream, they drench it in chocolate syrup. I ended up throwing away the majority of the whip cream and chocolate syrup abomination and cookies. If I wanted something so high in sugar I would just goto Starbucks and get a frappuccino!! Only saving grace about it was that there was a huge helping of cherry gelato. The coffee/espresso though tasted weird. And was really bitter. I definitely know strong coffee as I've had a double shot of Turkish coffee in Turkiye and accidentally drank the grounds at the bottom. That tasted better than whatever was created in this place. They have another display case of some other pastries and desserts. Either they sold everything out cuz it was looking pretty sad and empty. Or no one buys them and they only make 1 or 2 of some of them....... I know I won't be back. read more

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The place was a typical ice cream shop layout the woman that served us was very kind and patient. We both enjoyed the vegan dark chocolate gelato and a coffee gelato. If I lived closer to this place, I would definitely go there more often. read more

Il Gusto - Left is vegan dark chocolate and right is coffee - Desserts Near Me - West Covina, California

Came here for Father's Day with my kids. It was easy for them to find their favorite flavors Milk Chocolate! I had the Coffee, Hazelnut and Strawberry. All the flavors were very rich and real. Quality ingredients and love went into these homemade recipes. The server was happy to serve us and very patient with the kids. Nice cute shop in a nice shopping mall. Perfect date night spot! read more

First time here, I like gelato, but don't have it often. I love dark chocolate but when I saw the dark chocolate vegan, I hesitated and asked for a sample. Unfortunately, they don't give samples, so I took a chance and ordered it. No regrets at all - I loved it and would definitely order it again!!! The service was fast and welcoming, would come back again! read more

Il Gusto - Yeah - Desserts Near Me - West Covina, California

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I can't recommend this place highly enough! From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with genuine warmth and professionalism. The staff and part owner is incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they do. Simona even stayed and have a chat with us. We tried their vegan chocolate and milk chocolate gelato -- both were absolutely amazing! Rich, smooth, and bursting with flavor. My wife had the hazelnut and chocolate chip, and she loved every bite. It's rare to find a place that nails both dairy and non-dairy options, but they've done it here. The service exceeded our expectations -- not just because of the quality, but because of the care and detail put into every step. You don't always find businesses that operate with both heart and excellence, but this one absolutely does. We love the ambiance so thank you for an amazing experience -- we'll definitely be back and will be recommending you to everyone we know! read more

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This has been on my list of places to visit for awhile so I'm glad I was able to try. Great variety of flavors, but no samples at this time which was a total bummer. I loved the pistachio. Friendly employee and a great sweet treat. read more

Il Gusto - Desserts Near Me - West Covina, California

Absolutely heartbroken to see the doors closed for business sitting out here waiting for sushi, and noticing so many people also so sad that the place is closed please update if there's a new location! I'd love to stop by for some ice cream and cannoli read more

The gelato here is mediocre at best, and I'm honestly baffled by the high ratings. Flavors are bland and uninspired. They don't offer samples, and when I politely asked what happens if I don't like my choice, the server snapped back with, "Do you think I came from the other half of the world to not make good gelato?" Well, madam, yes ,I think you did, and the evidence is right in the cup. They don't even have napkins, the seating is uncomfortable, and the overall ambiance feels neglected. Easily the worst way I've spent $20 in recent memory. read more

One of my favorite ice cream/gelato spots in the area! They have the best pistachio gelato I've ever had. Besides pistachio, personal favorites include stracciatella (sp?) and tiramisu. Every visit, the staff are super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend coming here for dessert. There are quite a few restaurants in the plaza, so it can get quite busy and parking can be hard to find sometimes. But it is worth it! read more

Il Gusto - Regular sized gelatos with 2 flavors each! (Left: Kinder & Pistachio, Right: Black Cherry & Tiramisu) - Desserts Near Me - West Covina, California

We tried the hazelnut and strawberry flavors. The strawberry tasted quite artificial and wasn't enjoyable--I wouldn't order it again. The hazelnut was better, though it may have just stood out in contrast to the strawberry. Both flavors had a texture that felt more like sorbet than true gelato, which was disappointing. Also worth noting: they don't offer samples. read more

Il Gusto - Desserts Near Me - West Covina, California

WOW WOW WOW! AMAZING! It was my first time here. I came in on a Saturday afternoon. Right when they open (@12pm). They already had a line of people waiting! Luckily I was one of the first 2 customers. They have great customer service! She was so kind and careful with everything she did for us. She took her time, which I loved. A fellow customer expressed that the dark chocolate was good and wanted to see my reaction as I tried it and that alone convinced me to get that flavor. We stayed inside to eat it. It was nice and quiet. I didn't hear any music playing in the background. Just customers chatting it up. The gelato itself is to die for ! So rich and creamy and delicious ! We tried so many flavors and cannot wait to come back and get more ! read more

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This place was amazing, so sad that it closed :( The lady who owned it was also always super nice and made the best ice cream

This was a simple Iced Cream parlor here in West Covina, CA., but I was just in need of some flavored iced cream on a hot Summer/2024 Friday. I already like driving to 'The McIntyre Square,' West Covina, CA., so basically I was just looking for a different local biz to support other than just going to Juice n' Bowls all the time. I literally checked out this Iced Cream Parlor was due to the interesting Italian sounding business name~'Il Gusto,' quite catchy at that. I got a pink scoop spoon for keepsakes that actually said 'Made in USA,' on the spoon. I didn't realize it was going to be difficult to park arriving on a late Friday afternoon here. I had to walk about a block to get to Il Gusto. I may return on an actual week day to avoid such a crowded parking lot next time I May crave their coffee gelato iced cream again. We will see. I got the $8 cup of 2 scoops of iced cream flavors~coffee and pistachio. The coffee tasted great~pistachio was just ok....maybe if I had ordered a different flavor to go on top of the coffee would have been better. I'll give another item another shot on a different hot Summer/2024 day again. read more

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Was craving some creamy ice cream and found this gem nearby on yelp. It's right off Citrus in the plaza. Be patient for parking as this shopping plaza has everything from sushi to dumplings and ice cream galore but once you secure your spot, you're in for a treat, literally. Simona greeted us as we waited for the group in front of us to finish their order. It gave us time to go check the fridge at the other end of the small shop that had éclair/cream puff like treats and cakes. They also have a few small tables inside and outside. Once it was our turn, I had asked how much for the scoop. She explained they do it by cup, small cup can have up to two flavors, medium up to three flavors and so forth. Which was great considering I wanted to try all the flavors. Also, yes yelp fam, there are no free samples. Not sure why people in some reviews feel so entitled tofree samples. It's not the end of the world. While I understand free samples as a marketing strategy to entice new customers and build that relationship, I also understand health and risk, especially in this time. We ended up trying the coffee, chocolate chips and milk & hazelnut gelato, which she recommended after we asked for help. We also took one of their chocolate filled éclair like desserts from the fridge. The hazel nut was my absolute favorite. We shared it was our first time getting gelato. She shared we were getting authentic, made fresh every day gelato, less sugars than ice cream. I absolutely love the pride and joy she has for her shop and it shows in the gelato. Will absolutely return to try more flavors. read more

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The ice cream shop a few doors down doesn't open till 1 pm. We couldn't wait so we came to this place. The lady worker was nice to let us in a few minutes before they open at 12 as there was a line forming. It's a small shop with a few tables and chairs, their different flavors of gelato behind a glass case. The price was kind of steep for me so I had my son get his choice of caramel and hazelnut in a medium cup ($8) and I opted for the slice of tiramisu cake ($4). This is definitely the place when you feel like splurging. Parking was busy on a Sunday. read more

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Got a large (3 scoop) ice cream! Service was very welcoming (despite going 20 minutes before closing). I got the berry, cookies, and pistachio. The berry had a small crunch from the seeds, cookies was similar to a cookie dough ice cream, and the pistachio tasted similar to talenti but with fresher ingredients. I personally loved pistachio and would get that again. The worker said she liked the dark chocolate so I'll make sure to try that next time! Parking was easy to find because it was later at night, but I know the plaza gets busy during lunch and dinner hours. read more

After eating, my friend and I decided we wanted some dessert and we found this place near by. We didn't know what to expect but I'm glad we found it! Super friendly staff, we were greeted upon arrival and helped quickly. There were a good amount of options and vegan too! I tried the milk chocolate and my friend the pistachio- both flavors were amazing!! The place was a bit small with only three tables but we caught them at a good time with little no to people. I would definitely go back for more! read more

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This is my third visit to Il Gusto, and by now I've tried most of the flavors. I honestly don't understand the one-star reviews claiming the gelato is "horrible" or saying they threw it away. Everyone's taste is different, sure..but if that's your reaction to handmade, authentic gelato, I have to question your taste buds a little. Let's talk about the no-sample policy, which seems to be the hot topic. Yeah, I was surprised too the first time. But after seeing how busy this place can get, I totally get it. Imagine trying to serve a line of people while someone takes forever sampling everything, it's just not practical. That doesn't make the owner rude. It makes her efficient. The woman running this place is a strong Italian immigrant who clearly takes pride in what she does. We chatted the first time I was in, and she even made me a double espresso on the house. That doesn't sound like a rude person to me, it sounds like someone who appreciates good conversation and loyal customers. It's ironic that some of the loudest critics are the very people who say they support women-owned businesses, yet they're the first to tear down a strong woman who doesn't cater to their every whim. Favorites? The lemon is my absolute #1 Sour, fresh, and not too sweet. Coffee is a close second, and hazelnut rounds out my top three. The flavors are beautifully balanced and taste the way real gelato should: clean, rich, and never overpowering. If you're looking for something made with heart and authenticity, give this place a try, and maybe come in with a little more patience and a little less entitlement! read more

The lady behind the counter was so sweet! She recommended some flavors but my husband doesn't like fruity flavors, so we opted for coffee and cookie. Both were creamy, smooth, and flavorful! I couldn't get a pic cause I was holding a baby, but the portions are generous for the price! Would come back if I'm in the area read more

This was the most wonderful gelato ice cream, and it's so sad that it closed. I genuinely hope she can reopen her doors and share her amazing ice cream with everyone again. It's truly a treat that everyone should experience! read more

I think she closed. There is a door hanger from The Gas Company warning about the gas being shut off. The place been closed for weeks with no sign. Such a bummer because this is legit the best gelato outside of Italy. I wonder what happened. read more

No samples here so chose wisely! Pistachio flavor is pretty good (: I came in and ordered a medium cup. Told the cashier that I would like one scoop of chocolate chip. My husband picked the second scoop but as he was asking, we noticed she had two scoops of the chocolate chip flavor in the cup. I kindly told her that we wanted a different second flavor but she responded by saying we should have told her before she filled it. I responded that we did tell her the first scoop was chocolate chip. We didn't get an apology, just an awkward silence, it was a little rude that she accused us of not telling her we wanted a different second scoop when I did tell her ): she ended up throwing away a little bit of the first flavor and giving us 1/4 scoop of the second flavor we wanted. I don't think we'll come again, the gelato quality is not the same as before. read more

This is one of my favorite gelato shops the flavors here are so rich & creamy. Plus they serve you a lot actually & for an affordable, reasonable price. My partner & I love coming here to enjoy it inside. The shop is rather small but still very nice. The woman who is always there is really welcoming & helpful. read more

I never tend to waste food, I always do my best to finish it even if I am not that into it. HOWEVER- this place made us throw our cups of gelato away after a few bites and head next door to After's ice cream instead. It's a small clean shop, worker was nice, but the problem was the portions. We don't understand how it works here but... I'm pretty sure it's common sense to scoop the same amount of gelato per person right? The guy ordering in front of us received an insane amount of gelato in his cup, and we were excited to get ours. Once it was our turn to order, we noticed the worked kinda rationed ours and comparing each other's cups- I was given more gelato than my best friend. Not just that, the 2nd flavor we chose (which will be scooped on top) was WAY lesser than the bottom flavors. Why did she scoop it so weird??? Why are we paying for a 2nd flavor that we're BARELY getting??? Anyways, it's alright. This wasn't the best gelato anyways. Just not fair how everyone gets different portions... definitely wouldn't come back here. What a waste of $12... SO GLAD AFTER'S ICE CREAM SAVED THE DAY. read more

Il Gusto - COMPARE THE PORTION SIZES (why is the white gelato lesser than everything else ????) - Desserts Near Me - West Covina, California

Pretty sweet gelato in Covina in the same plaza as 85 degrees! Service was quick and professional. This establishment does not offer samples at the moment, but I shared a small with the Tiramisu and Stracciatella flavors (milk base with chocolate shavings). The Tiramisu had a strong coffee liquor flavor, which my partner liked, but I preferred the Stracciatella-- the chocolate shavings were a snappy dark chocolate, which added texture to the smooth gelato. Expect some good gelato. It's going to taste and feel a little different from ice cream. In general, gelato will feel softer and taste stronger because it's served at a higher temperature. It will also feel more dense because there is less air (so you'll get more cream for your buck, and you'll feel more full). A small goes a long way. Will come back to try other flavors! read more

Il Gusto - Small size gelato, tiramisu (left) and stracciatella flavors (right). - Desserts Near Me - West Covina, California

Good gelato, fairly priced, and exceptional service. A good variety of flavors, and ample seating inside. My only con is the limit of 2 samples... I am pretty indecisive and I didn't like the two samples I tried, so it made it a little tricky to order. read more

Il Gusto - Desserts Near Me - West Covina, California

I used to go to 85 bakery everyday for my sweet treat fix. I now go next door to il gusto! Real Italian treats in West covina. The owner is awesome! And very much Italian she knows what. Get a gelato for the family. It's a cool time read more

We had dinner at one of the restaurants located in this plaza. Then, it comes the time for gelato! Il Gusto has a nice variety of flavors. But we decided to have the following: - Ambrogio and vanilla medium size 6.90 - Cremino and Ambrogio 6.90 - Mango and vanilla, same price and we had small size of cannoli  1.99 The ice cream was awesome. The cannoli was perfect too. The employee was very friendly and she let us try different flavors because I was indecisive. I will go back of course to try more of their awesome flavors. read more

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Went to this place after having dinner nearby. Simona was so friendly and super helpful with suggestions and even let us sample some of the Italian ice creams before we made up our minds. I ended up deciding on a combination of cherry and dark chocolate ice cream. The texture is so different than your regular ice cream shops. So delicious! Would definitely make another stop here when I'm in the area. read more

Il Gusto - Cherry Italian ice cream - Desserts Near Me - West Covina, California

Ice cream was okay. Looked better in the pictures They didn't have any cannolis. May try again if I'm in the area.

This is my favorite Gelato spot! I wish I lived closer! The gelato is delicious and they always have vegan options ! Super delicious and authentic ! Highly recommend! read more

Got a scoop of the berry and dark chocolate. Tastes delicious and the person who took my order was very friendly! Loved the service today

Not good quality service nobody was in the shop and that's to tell sign. The next-door there was another shop where they let you try different flavors so you can decide which ice cream you want to buy obviously, you are coming to buy ice cream. read more

Il Gusto - Ice cream store - Desserts Near Me - West Covina, California