I pass by this place quite often and on the last semi warm day we had there were a crowd of people standing outside eating the gelato. So I told myself the next time I pass by I would definitely stop to try some. This was the day. Walked in to find one family seated at a table, enjoying their gelato.And then a girl and a guy behind the counter, they were both sitting but when I came in , the girl popped up immediately to help which look , I don't mind them sitting at all , I wouldn't want to be standing the entire time either. What I didn't love was that the boy looked like he could care less that there was a customer and continued to just play on his phone. The girl was really nice. I asked her to try the cheddar cheese flavor which I thought was incredibly wild to even have as an option.And i'm still confused how you can make gelato taste like cheddar cheese , but still be a dessert, it was good! I decided on marscapone and black sesame and had a seat to enjoy my Gelato. The Mars Capone was absolutely delicious.It was creamy, it was the right consistency.On the other hand I didn't love the black sesame.It didn't have a very strong flavor and I didn't like the crunchy whole black Sesame seeds. Usually when I get black sesame somewhere , the seeds are pretty much ground up. Before I left , I took a second look at the flavors and definitely have to go back to try some more of the unique ones. I'm actually pretty shocked that they only have 3.7 stars, I enjoyed the Gelato, hope it wasn't a fluke! read more

See all

It does feel a bit unwelcoming. The 3 inside tables block the walkway to the start of the line, so I had to squeeze past two families to wait my turn. There's also a printed sign proclaiming a limit of 2 samples, which is not enough; they have like 20 flavors. That said, I felt my mint chocolate chip was perfect: creamy and minty. The small size was $8 for a cup (and would've been +$1 for a waffle cone). I fully agree with other posters about how the staff is not nearly excited enough to be working in a gelato shop. Are their managers that bad? read more

il laboratorio del gelato - Small mint chocolate chip - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

The gelato is good, but the customer service is very poor. There's no greeting, no acknowledgment, and even simple requests feel like you're bothering the staff. Good product, but the experience isn't welcoming. Hopefully management improves the service, because it makes me not want to return. read more

The bad: -The store is small and awkwardly arranged - the folks being served and waiting to pay block the view of the freezers so it's impossible to see the current flavors and decide what to order if you're waiting in line - they badly need a sign on the wall with the flavors (and they're constantly changing them) - this would speed up the whole flow of the store -It's not a great value for the portion size AND some trips, depending on who is working, you get a smaller portion - they need to work on portion consistency - also, you seem to get less in a cup then a cone -This summer every time I went, much of the product was droopy and semi-melted - the freezers couldn't keep up with the summer heat - they need to address that -Many of the flavors are experimental and not all are winners - make sure to ask for a taste if you're going into uncharted flavor territory The good: The gelato is the perfect texture (when at the proper temperature) and the flavors are strong and mostly excellent. read more

This is such a fun gelato place. If you can imagine a flavor, they have it (think beet, grapefruit, toasted coconut, fennel, ginger, licorice, etc...)! I have been to Italy many times and am a bit of a gelato snob, but the traditional flavors do get old sometimes. You can still order a good old fashioned pistachio, vanilla, or chocolate here, but the real fun lies in trying whatever crazy new flavors they have. That's what keeps me coming back. On top of the fun flavors, the service is excellent. The staff behind the counters is always willing to let you sample a flavor you may be hesitant about. This shop is also nestled in a cute little section of Upper Montclair. It's very relaxing to grab a cup and just hang out outside, or take a walk in the nearby park. read more

il laboratorio del gelato - Beet and Fennel on top. Grapefruit and Toasted Coconut on bottom. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Nice ambiance, friendly and nice team behind the counter. A lot of flavors, some of those particular like olive oil ... I was expecting a better Gelato though, it wasn't as creamy as the gelato I tried in my life. read more

il laboratorio del gelato - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

I consider myself a Gelato connoisseur. And was looking so forward to going here . Neg: the gelato is more icy ,then creamy . small portions for price point . Positive : many interesting flavor choices . you can taste as many as you feel like There was only one server . Not sure how that would work during busy hours . read more

See all

The ice cream is some of the best ice cream I've ever had. The reason I'm putting this review pretty low is because their cheapest option, 2 scoops, costs $8.50. Yup, that's right, $8.50. Their atmosphere could also be a bit better as it is pretty bland at the moment. read more

After trips to Italy and Portugal, Wifey and I are suckers for gelato. We didn't know this place existed and were actually going to a different place for dessert, but changed our minds as soon as we walked by. The person working behind the counter was great- let us try a few flavors and seemed like they were having a good night. I do t remember what flavors Wifey and I got, but we both got small cups with two flavors. The service size was plenty for us after a filling dinner and we both LOVED what we had. Next time in Montclair - definitely going back! read more

Highly recommend the Nutella gelato! It tasted better than Nutella itself. The gelato was very fluffy and smooth. The Nutella flavor was delicious and not overly sweet. The staff there was super friendly and the portion is generous. read more

il laboratorio del gelato - Small size gelato with canola cream and nutella - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

I have never seen a gelato place that has so many unique flavors. I sampled their honey lavender and chocolate amaretto crunch and just went with those as my options for the small. The best part was the small size allows for 2 scoops which means you can mix and match and taste for variety. One star off for the customer service in that the staff who served me looked like she didn't want to be there and didn't explain that the small came with 2 scoops and I only knew since I heard another staff telling the customers she served. read more

il laboratorio del gelato - Honey lavender and chocolate amaretto crunch - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

The salted caramel gelato is a must try. Cute little shop with seating indoors. I will be back just to get it again.

Now one of my favorite places to get dessert in Montclair! Such a cute spot and they have so many wonderful flavors - I haven't tried a flavor I didn't like yet. I really like the espresso, hazelnut, pistachio, honey lavender and black sesame. Line moves quick even when it's busy and the staff is super friendly. If you are unsure of which flavors to get, you can always sample up to 2 per visit. You can also take ice cream to go or order a cake in case you have a party. Prices are very reasonable for the quality you are getting. They also have a rewards system so make sure you input your phone number to reap the benefits :) read more

See all

Delightful gelato, especially for fruit flavors. I'm glad I went to this location to avoid the nyc crowd. They also allow two flavor samples here, which I'm not sure is allowed in the city location. I agree that their white laboratory look inside the store is kinda unusual, but I didn't mind it. I got a scoop of banana (recommended by the person there) and mango. Both were delicious but the banana flavor was so natural tasting. Their origin story written on the wall was a nice touch and it feels nice to support a local successful business like theirs. read more

Super cute gelato shop in Montclair! It seems to be very popular with people in and out the store. I've never seen these types of gelato flavors (ranging from vanilla to basil to sage, affogato crunch). I settled on a cup of the affogato crunch and it was delicious! I will opt for the kids size next time as the portions are too much for me personally. The guy that served us was really kind compared to his peers! Great customer service by him! You are only allowed 2 servings which I find a but odd especially with the gourmet and unique flavors if the gelato served here. Also, you can also order pints here! However the gelato is really soft and will melt on your way home. Very disappointed by that! Perfect dessert spot to stop by after a nice summer walk or after you finish dining at some of the great restaurants Montclair has to offer! read more

Servers were giving me a weird vibe but the gelato was spectacular. Two scoops with two different flavors for $8 is a very good deal in my opinion! read more

This is a cute little spot in upper Montclair with some very unique gelato flavors! Perfect location to grab some gelato on a hot summer (or spring) day. They have some really cool flavors, but I felt like they weren't that strong. Maybe I picked incorrectly, and I should come back to do more research! read more

il laboratorio del gelato - Basil Gelato Mascarpone Gelato - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Love that this gelato shop has opened up a location in NJ. They offer a variety of gelato and sorbet flavors as well as pints to bring home. Limit of 2 samples per person. Customer service is friendly and the line moves quick. Can't go wrong with any of their flavors here - all are bold in flavor, super smooth and don't taste super sweet where your teeth hurt after. They have your standard flavors such as espresso, hazelnut, vanilla, etc. and also some unique flavors like milk chocolate graham cracker, malt, black sesame, white sesame. Got the hazelnut and turkish coffee (like coffee with spices). 2 scoops/flavors for $4.50 or 3 for $6.50 so on the average/slightly pricier side. read more

il laboratorio del gelato - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

See all

My daughter and I walked in on 8/22/ at about 6pm. There was a staff behind the counter attending a client, my daughter and I are apparently next in line. This staff actually walked out the store "mumbled something" didn't even acknowledge us. She totally left the business unattended with clients in line. Not cool read more

Solid gelato place! Many tasty flavors, cute space with some seating (more outside), and nice service. My go-to dessert spot in this area. read more

il laboratorio del gelato - Dark Chocolate and Turkish Coffee gelato! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

The best of the best. Truly natural flavors and made expertly. Just like the old country - maybe a bit better. Super clean place and friendly staff. Excellent all around. read more

This is an excellent gelato chain! Service is normal and the ambience is modern and fluorescent.

Saturday night around 8pm...1/2 of the flavor options were pretty much being close to empty.The 2 servers wore no gloves and one sneezed into her hands and then promptly to scoop to the couple behind us. The logistics are very poor since when they ask you to order the line ahead prevents you from seeing the dozens of flavors. way too awkward and uncomfortable.BTW the gelato is no better than anywhere else.Don't go out of your way to go here read more

I love a real Gelato and this is a great place to get your fix. Really reminded me of the ones you get in Italy. They offer so many flavors, even ones that you would not think of. The staff is always friendly and they have seating inside and outside if you want to stay a while. My favorite flavors are the Apple fuji and Lychee. read more

While I love the gelato here, today I had a terrible experience. Three young teens working for the summer with absolutely no customer service skills. Two girls standing a behind the one scooping for the customer ahead of me. Neither asking if I need help. Eventually, one steps forward and I ask her if the empty salted caramel is all she has left. She replies, "Oh, I can make a couple of scoops out of what's left!" I opt for passion fruit and allow my friend to take what's left of the SC. I move up to pay and not one of the 3 girls comes over to ring us up. Meanwhile, I see the girl take a FRESH, full container of the salted caramel out to replace the one we just took the scrapings from. How obnoxious!!!! The owners really need to explain to these girls that their jobs exist because customers pay the $$$. This should never have happened. Totally unprofessional and I was not in the mood to cause a scene. read more

A very cool spot in Montclair. It is street parking. The flavors were unique but you are able to try samples before you commit. Either way, the flavors won't disappoint. They had interesting but refreshing flavors like basil, lavender to black sesame and green tea. If you want to try interesting and unique gelato, this is a spot you don't want to miss. read more

il laboratorio del gelato - Black sesame and white sesame - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Cute gelato chain in town with great unique flavors. I had the black sesame & Red velvet birthday cake it was delicious read more

il laboratorio del gelato - two scoops of ice cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

See all

What a delicious spot with so many flavor profiles! Actual savory ice cream. You are allowed to sample 2 flavors but the locals seem to waste time on the line and bend the rules and the young employees aren't in a good position to push back. It's a small area with outdoor seating, and you have to see the ice cream to see which flavor you'll pick. I had white sesame, black fig and hazelnut. The hazelnut was divine, almost had a coffee flavor to it and was rich smooth and nutty all at once. White sesame had the baked sesame flavor and actual sesame pieces, quite savory and true to the taste (I wish I had included a vanilla or chocolate to try). The black fig was nice, almost plum like. My mom wasn't a big fan of the walnut nocello but my sis loved her salted caramel in a cone and brother in law enjoyed raspberry sorbet. read more

il laboratorio del gelato - White sesame, black mission fig, hazelnut - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

So I'm usually generous with my stars but tonight I just can't. We went in rather late and was surprised that most of the flavors were not available. We both ended up getting the small sizes but I was given one little scoop and the person I was with got a full cup! I wish I had taken a picture. They were both $7 which was deceiving on the website which has the prices at $4.75. So I was shocked when I saw the prices were very different. The gelato and sorbet was good but I don't think it was worth the price especially when they didn't have any flavors I was really craving. I assume this is the kind of place that only makes small batches and once it's gone that evening you are out of luck. The employees were also super not interested in wanting to help us chose a flavor especially since the pickings were slim. Interesting enough I saw someone else rate this place a few hours ago and also wasn't impressed by the service. With all the options in the area I can't say if I will be back any time soon. Was so looking forward to the mocha flavor with La Colombe coffee, which I love. Unfortunately I don't think I will rush back after tonight's experience. read more

Outdoor seating is cool. Couldn't get an Affogato cause the machine was broken, which is what we specifically came for. Vanilla flavor was limited. When they don't have what you want, you can only sample two servings which I understand if I was a child but I'm a whole adult. I tipped tho, cause the kid was pleasant and they did provide a service There are better options for gelato. Put the mileage on your Tesla if you must. read more

It was empty since it was the middle of the day. The nice scooper let me try a bunch of flavors usually you can only taste 2. Every flavor was amazing! read more

il laboratorio del gelato - Cucumber and sage gelato - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Nice flavors of gelato - Fig and Coconut. Cute store in a cute Montclair neighborhood.

It's one of the better gelato options in the area. There are certainly some service issues. The staff is quite young, and isn't quite given the management it needs. Mostly, I've found the staff to be friendly and upbeat, though other patrons had communication issues. However, the product is quite good, at a reasonable price point. There are tried and true flavors as well as imaginative, creative flavors. Seasonal fruity flavors of sorbets, and a range of gelatos from the sweet to the savory. They do run out of flavors from time to time, and if you're there closer to closing time, they stop bringing out fresh containers. Fortunately, there are a vast array of options, and a plan b is readily available. Certainly could come here a few times to sample new varieties. Definitely a nice option for dessert if you're at a nearby restaurant, as it's in a convenient location. Also plenty of street parking as well as a nearby municipal lot. read more

So the ice cream is delicious here. The service I witnessed was atrocious. When I observed someone asking one of the workers there what they recommended, the response was "I don't like gelato." I also witnessed the same employee serve to "child sized" scoops to two teenagers who were then told that the child price ($5) was only good for children and that they would have to pay $7. This information seemed to be good to bring up before the young couple made it to the register, ya think? Basically the employee was miserable and rude. I get she was trying to do her job but her attitude and manners were piss poor. read more

If I could give 6 stars I totally would! My favorite gelato place from NYC is now in my backyard and I couldn't be happier. I love the unique flavors that il laboratorio has to offer and they each taste delicious!!! read more

il laboratorio del gelato - Cucumber Gelato, 20 Oz and lychee - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

It was my first time there. I ordered 4 flavors, one flavor per cup. The board advertised $11.69 for 4 flavors. I was charged $20 for the transaction. It was not explained to me I would be charged $4.69 (also it's not on the board) because of individual cups. When asked if I could get another scoop for each of the cups and pay the difference, the workers there didn't allow me to do it. They said it was against the policy. Workers should be trained to tell customers what is in their best interest rather than letting them find out at the end of the transaction. Also I was told my gelato would hold up. I live 10 minutes away. I got home to melted gelato. Feeling ripped off. Rita's ice cream or Holsten's are better alternatives. read more

See all

After visiting one Sunday evening when an ice cream craving struck, I now understand what the hype is all about. Fresh, smooth, and creamy gelato with more flavors than one could even imagine. I opted for the dark chocolate and birthday cake and wow they were delicious. Rich and flavorful but not in an overwhelming or overly sweet type of way. There was a consistent line of people out the door. In the 15 or so minutes I was waiting, the line never died down which I thought was impressive. This is a solid addition to the uptown Montclair area. read more

We are huge fans of gelato and were extremely excited for ildg to open up! We went on a Sunday afternoon, and the line was out the door, but the wait wasn't terrible. Walking in, we were both extremely confused by the set up. The menu is by the entrance/door so it is difficult to read because everyone's in the way and causes a huge crowd as well. There was also no discernable line or order. A very chaotic and confusing process to just order and pay. We decided to order 3 scoops in a sugar cone and got mocha, coconut, and maple pecan. The flavors themselves were pretty good! No complaints there, but again, were confused by receiving a pretty small cone for 3 scoops. Pricing wise, I believe it was about $7-8, so reasonable and on point with the area. I would love to go back and check out more flavors - they change daily - but hopefully the next time is less confusing. read more

Great location. But we saw a delivery truck and this is gelato is outsourced!!! Guerrerios gelato was unloaded. False advertising. Ice fraud! read more

I tried this place for the first time and I have to say that the gelato was delicious. The fruit flavors were spot on and the texture was creamy. The setup is a bit odd and chaotic. I did not enjoy that part of my visit. It would be nice to see ahead of time what flavors are available. It also felt like people were climbing over each other at the counter trying to see/taste the different varieties of gelato. Good product, so-so experience. If I find myself in the area, I would drop in to try other flavors. read more

il laboratorio del gelato - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

See all