Hi rhy,

May I suggest the gelato at amorino.com?

It is better than Berthillion, especially if you have to go to an outlet.

Here is a list from David Lebovitz, who knows a thing or two about desserts:



http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archive...e_cream_1.html

I stand fully in the court of Cafegoddess and Ira...we were in Paris last fall and could not get enough of Amorino's (Ile St. Louis)...became good friends with the beautiful young lady who was in the store practically every night serving this wonderful treat..( a tad expensive )
Dupher

<<I also don't think Berthillon is that great. It is ordinary imho. May I suggest Amorrino instead? (sp)? >>

YES! I like Berthillon ice cream (I think it's a step above ordinary) and usually have at least one cone when in Paris, but I think that Amorino is a bit better. If I could have only one cone I would choose Amorino.

Last time I was in the Ile St Louis Amorino shop there were several people buying take away gelato in pint or quart size boxes, so either tourists renting apartments or native French. Or they were going to go around the corner and sit on a bench and eat a lot of gelato.

Without casting undue aspersions in the direction of the overpriced, overrated Berthillon, Amorino is excellent. Sample several of the various chocolate flavors...

Apparently, another trip to Paris is in order!

It was closed when we visited paris in august a few years back. however, just around the corner was another excellent ice cream shop

Interesting topic - so was Berthillon better years ago when they only had one shop? I was only able to try it last year, so I can't judge how it used to taste years ago.

I'm actually surprised by everyone's reactions since years ago, alot of people of fodors recommended a stop at Berthillon. I'm not a big gelato fan(it always seems sweeter to me than ice cream)but I thought that while the prices were a bit high and the scoops small(as forewarned here) it was really good ice cream. Lots of unusual flavors that you would never find in the US.

Thanks to djkbooks and ekscrunchy for the rec. and the link - always good to know about new places to find fabulous ice cream in Paris

Boston has far better ice cream with bigger scoops for the price.
Bertilon is sold everywhere like Polaine's bread. I had some at a small café one day, when I was tired of of walking and needed a break.

I have NEVER understood the big whoop over Berthillon. We have better ice cream at Rite Aid in Southern California. Laugh if you must, but you haven't lived until you've had their chocolate malted crunch! Mary

I will throw my two cents into the ring and agree with some of you..we couldnt understand the fuss with Berthillon either. We can get better icecream here in Adelaide at Cibo,laugh if you want to.And in simple flavours,no cookie dough here! But as they say,"when in Rome(or in Paris)"! Another thing to cross off the list.

Berthillon used to be the best ice cream in Paris, in part simply because there was so little competition. There is a lot of competition now, and it's no longer safe to blithely assert that Berthillon is the best of the best. Some people like it, some don't. It's definitely very good ice cream, but there are many sources of very good ice cream these days in Paris.

Personally, I'd say it's better than Haagen-Dazs or Baskin-Robbins, slightly better than Ben & Jerry's for some flavors, and on a par with some smaller chains and shops that serve gelato-style ice cream (such as Tutti Sensi, also known as La Butte Glacée).

It is increasingly a matter of personal preference, as there are many good ice creams to be had in Paris these days.

Many places that serve Berthillon serve tiny portions, so beware. You can get ice cream of equal quality in much larger portions for the same price at some other places. And waiting in line for ice cream is hard to justify, when so many places of similar quality without lines exist.

I never thought this would get so many different opinions. It sounds like maybe it has outgrown its reputation. I will try it just so I can know what everyone is talking about. Thanks for all the info.

<i>We have better ice cream at Rite Aid in Southern California.</i>

Is that formerly the famous Thrifty 3 scoops for 15 cents ice cream? If so, sorry, but I don't agree. Thrifty ice cream was great for the price, but not great in the abstract.

&quot;By all means try it if you find it, but I can't believe I'm alone in being unimpressed by Berthillon ice cream&quot;

No. you are not alone - I just got back from Paris , had it again : o.k. but nothing special.