Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop

Reviews 5

BE

Bea Janelle

THE QUEST FOR OG Tis a tale of 2 Girls and 1 Cup... of warm chocolatey, gooey, creamy, oh-so-chunky brownie sundae. (Yes, an actual sundae. Not, ahem, youknowwhat.) It was one quarter past ten, when traveling companion (TC) suggested a late night treat from Ghiradelli. My inner sweet tooth had only one thing to say: "Um, frick yeah." Since it was late we only had two options: either the one at Ghiradelli Square or the one near The Palace Hotel. I wanted the latter because it wasnt far from our hotel in Union Square; however, TC wanted the one at Ghiradelli Square because, well, its the OG. Cant say no when it comes to the OG. Gotta give respect where respect is due. *shrugs* We didnt necessarily have a concrete plan in getting there. I thought wed get a lyft or ride the cable car, but lol thats Not what happened: we ended up wandering randomly around the city--from Union Square we walked inside The Palace Hotel, through the Financial District, near the Ferry Building Marketplace, and past Piers 1-39. It took us a bit longer getting there because (1) ofc wed stop to take touristy pics and (2) TC had a sprained toe and blister. Plus, (3) TC would go all Ted Mosby on me, spouting various architectural facts (btw SF history is v cool stuff) and (4) it was freaking cold, I couldnt feel my numb face let alone my non-gloved hands. From the seemingly never-ending travel to reach OG, I was about to tear up when I finally saw the sweet tooth oasis--the lit Ghiradelli sign--only a couple feet away. TC didnt think wed make it in time (they close at midnight), but I had a gut feeling we would. Though all those stairs in Ghiradelli Square were a huge pain in the butt (my glutes were on fiyah), whaddayaknow, we still made it and with 15ish minutes to spare. Theres a couple of steps in getting your order: getting a table number, ordering, paying (psst dont forget to show your yelp check-in for that 1$ off any ice-cream sundae), hopefully finding a seat, sitting down, and waiting for your scrumptious dessert to arrive. Luckily, we were able to get one of the last 3 table numbers (halle-freakin-lujah). TREASURE ISLAND Vanilla ace-cream, CHUNKY choco brownie (the way it should be), handmade fudgy fudge, fluffy whipped cream, nut fragments (almonds), and one poppin cherry. Treasure Island you did an overwhelming, mind-blowing job to my taste buds. Your brownie was the best brownie Ive ever had in my life (so far). Gooey...warm...moist...mm all that oomph. And that fudge was FUDGING delish. Very thick and rich, just how I like it. I shall treasure the special 8 mins we made mouth-to-mouth contact. I’m hooked. *In terminators voice* "Ill be back." FYIS/TIPS -The Original Ghiradelli (OG) is BAD*SS. In 1982 Ghiradelli Square was granted a National Historic Register status, their factory SURVIVED The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, and they STILL operated during both WWI and WWII. -I read somewhere that theres a "hidden hotspot" on the 2nd floor (a way less crowded ice-cream shop), but I havent visited it yet, so idk if this is true or not. -Its usually crowded (its a popular tourist attraction what do you expect?), so be prepared for long lines and trying to find a table. If anything keep yourself occupied by checking out the goodies in their shop or watching how they make their signature chocolate in the back (fun for kids and adults--that is, if youre not allergic to choco and if you are, *virtual hugs*). -Youll most likely be spending more than 10$ here, but I think its definitely worth trying OG at least once in your life. -They usually hand out their famous chocolate squares for free to any visitor who comes inside (-: -Theres complimentary water near the napkins. -Lay some napkins on the table because youre bound to make a mess. I have no idea how many miles we traveled, but like that one wise foo said, "Its not about the destination; its about the journey." And a journey it kind of was.

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E.

E.Alexander Negrete

We went on a rainy day for my sons 12th birthday around the city. One chocolate shake $8, but delicious, its true. However, sitting down by the chocolate-making display, I noticed at least 70% of the employees were frowning and had somber attitudes. The waffle maker was clearly ticked off as he tossed dipped waffle bowls in a stack with prejudice. The floor mopper looked like she was about to scream as she passive-aggressively waited for people to pass by the busy seating area so she could continue cleaning. The cashier insisted with a dead eye that I had to go to the back of the (non-existent) line (outside the entrance door threshold) before she could take my additional order. (I had already waited in line and ordered before.) I walked to the threshold and walked back. It was only then that she took my order. No frown, but no smile or kindness from the moment we engaged in conversation. Upstairs, a nice young lady handed out samples. However, she wasnt allowed to hand a sample to my 12 yr old son who was between my wife and me (even though we had clearly given permission). End Game: Great treats. Great look. Horrible service. Management is evidently too on top of the kids working here. Not much fun on a personal level. Employees are not allowed to practice common sense (lawsuits? fear? whatever). I am not up to returning ever again except to view the nice shops with visiting friends.

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HE

Heliana Mano

Touristy? Yes, but oh so worth it! We came here on fathers day Sunday June 18th after a loooong walk from Presidio picnic - Chrissy Fields - Fort Mason and then we turned here for some ice cream. Let me point out I already had 2 ice creams that day (pistachio gelato from Alimento and ice cream sandwich from Bi-Rite at presidio picnic -off the grid) but nothings was going to stop me on such a hot day!!! And Hello? Super long walk? Totally deserved it, right? Between the three of us we shared the Treasure Island - warm brownie sundae. No questions asked! That brownie though... Place is packed but lines move fast (section upstairs where the chocolate making takes place) and we easily found a free table inside :). Already missing it. Cant wait for a good excuse to go back :)

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BR

Brad Randall

If you thought you loved chocolate before, try some of their concoctions here -- you have never really experienced chocolate until youve sampled one of Ghirardellis ice cream and syrup masterpieces. They arent cheap, but you wont regret what you spend. If you really -- I mean REALLY -- want something chocolaty from top to bottom, go for the Midnight Reverie, a parfait with layers of Dark Chocolate Hot Fudge, Chocolate Ice Cream, and Dark Chocolate mini-chips, topped with whipped cream and a square of dark chocolate. Better yet, share it with a friend or two. Or three. It is, without question, the richest, most decadent dessert I have had anywhere. Your hips may not thank you for a visit here, but your taste buds will be your friend forever.

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SE

Sean Lee

Overpriced desserts. I cannot say much about their chocolate because I did not try them. But I had the "World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae" in a crispy biscuit bowl for USD15 (more expensive than my Fish and Chips lunch elsewhere). Vanilla ice-cream lack the full and thick creamy taste. Hot fudge was a little too sticky making it really difficult to eat with a single plastic spoon out of an imbalanced round biscuit bowl in an oval metal plate. Has a decent view of Alcatraz Island if you can get the window seats. Busy even on a weekday afternoon but still managed to get an empty seat with no difficulty. Not as busy as the "Ghirardelli Chocolate On-The-Go" shop which is literally along the street.

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