This ice cream shop is an ATL staple for a reason. Hundreds of reasons, actually, like Coconut Jalapeno, Bourbon Fudge Brownie and, of course, Salted Caramel. And, good sir, that's reason enough for us.
The Scoop: They've garnered a cult-like following of locals, as well as nods of appreciation from Food and Wine, Bon Appetit, the Cooking Channel, and Newsweek. They gave a major upgrade to the idea of an ice cream shop with their made-from-scratch, unique flavors -- after all, it's pretty unlikely to find ginger-lavender, jackfruit sorbet, or black sesame seed in your average TCBY. Oh, and they came up with a little something you might know as salted caramel, which is at the top of many an Atlantan's culinary bucket list. Yup, Morelli's might just be the best place in Atlanta to grab a scoop of instant childhood.
Those kids who walked into a Baskin-Robbins and became paralyzed with indecision at the rainbow of flavors spread before them? That was, and still is, me. Luckily, since Morelli's makes their ice creams fresh from scratch each week, there are only about a dozen to choose from. But that doesn't make it any easier, because they are all as rich and delicious as Leona Helmsley lounging on a gilded yacht in St. Croix. The basics (chocolate, vanilla, butter pecan, strawberry, and so on) are all there, and done beautifully. But the not-so-basics are what keep people coming back and coming back again -- enough for each of Morelli's locations to go through ten to twelve buckets of salted caramel per week, in fact. The laundry list of flavors range from the indulgent (lavender, rosemary honey, balsamic strawberry) to the, well, even more indulgent (maple bacon brittle, chocolate bourbon, Krispy Kreme). And if you're bringing your inner or outer child, don't worry: they won't be flummoxed by a menu of gin & tonic, chocolate Guinness, and lemon vodka-flavored treats. Kid-friendly options abound here, like the good ol' Dirt 'n Worms (vanilla with Oreo crumbles and gummy worms). But hey, it's never to early to start 'em on that rosemary olive oil -- or one of Chef Kevin Gillespie's sundae creations. They char the Campfire S'mores marshmallow topping with an actual blowtorch! That's what I call a happy meal.
It'd be easy to gush about how perfect a cold Morelli's treat is for this blasted heat, which is completely true. But to be honest, I'd probably brave another snowpocalypse just to get a cup of salted caramel or try some ginger cinnamon. Luckily, there's no epic quest involved, beyond pulling up to Morelli's and following your sweet tooth to the front door (hint: it's right between Figo and Willy's, and you can park by Best Buy). Quest no quest, there's one ice cream shop to rule them all, and we're ready to embark. Our tongues are limber and our craniums are braced. Bring on the brain freeze.
Monday, 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Tuesday - Thursday, 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday - Saturday, 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.
$5 max discount. 1 per person. Can't combine offers.