Smitten ice cream is the antithesis of your traditional ice cream chain store. The short list of flavors means no decision fatigue, and what they lack in quantity of flavor options, they more than make up for in quality. Some of the flavors change seasonally, but you can rely on a few classics to be offered consistently. Most of them, along with the majority of their toppings, are 100% gluten-free …
Smitten’s claim to fame is their process of making ice cream to order, by freezing it with liquid nitrogen in their patented ice cream machine. The thought process behind this is that by freezing ice cream on the spot, you can avoid having to use the loads of artificial ingredients (stabilizers, preservatives, etc.) which are generally needed to increase ice cream’s shelf life. So not only is the flavor list here concise, but the ingredient list within each scoop is too. The focus for those few ingredients is on local sources and seasonality. The result is unadulterated, pure ice cream in flavors like classic vanilla, salted caramel, Tcho 60.5% chocolate, and seasonal gems like nectarine crisp, and creme fraiche with pear caramel. The seasonal flavor during my visit was unfortunately not gluten-free (lemon gingersnap), but the upcoming flavor for Summer luckily is: strawberry white balsamic. The classics will not disappoint though. Among the ones I tasted were the Tcho chocolate which I had with spicy caramel sauce and toasted almonds (bomb dot com), classic vanilla with strawberry prosecco sauce (so fresh!), and salted caramel with Tcho chocolate crispies (think chocolate rice crispy clusters). Of these I’d have to say my favorite was the chocolate with spicy caramel sauce and toasted almonds. The spicy caramel sauce really makes it unique, and anything with toasted almonds is automatically a winner in my book. The menu also features Sundays, pairing different combinations of flavors and toppings for when you’re feeling extra indulgent, as well as vegan pops for the dairy-free crowd.
This sweet spot started with one location Hayes valley but is now popping up all across the Bay Area, with shops in Pac Heights, Oakland, and soon opening in the Mission. Make sure to stop in for a scoop next time you’re nearby.