La Gelatteria
It may be winter, but that shouldn’t stop you from digging into the distinctive and vibrantly flavored gelato at La Gelatteria, a cafe that opened last May at Knowles Station in Kensington. You can even reminisce about warmer days while you sway on a swing aside a wall of artificial greenery in the shop that’s embedded with a neon sign that reads: “It was all a dream.” For owner and Kensington resident Elias Montilla, who was born in the Dominican Republic, that dream was to open a business in the United States; the signage serves as a reminder of the realization of his goal (while also playing on a line from rapper Notorious B.I.G.’s song “Juicy”). The gelato, sorbet and dairy-free options are made by Dolci Gelati, an artisan company based in D.C., and Montilla carries about two dozen flavors in all (we love the pistachio and the honey marscapone fig gelato.) La Gelatteria also serves coffee drinks (made with the Counter Culture brand), breakfast and lunch items, and for cold weather reality, an intriguing selection of hot chocolate, such as lavender, Nutella and s’mores.
10414 Detrick Ave., Suite 500, Kensington, 301-272-2255, lagelatteria.com
