Smitten Ice Cream

It’s worth every pretty penny… we love Smitten Ice cream!!! My toddler was amazed at all the smoke from the nitrogen… made-​to-​order, pretty fancy show, and delicious. Servers were friendly and happy to suggest tasty combinations and favorable toppings. We ordered vanilla w/​oatmeal topping and salted caramel ice cream. If we’re ever in the area, we’ll make sure to come back for more. They ran outta waffle cones/​bowls, but ice cream was sweet enough.

Awesome «sweet» experience!!! I had a custom made sundae w/​TCHO Chocolate Ice Cream topped w/​brown sugar caramel and cookie dough chunk. Pure bliss! Ice cream so velvety and silky smooth. Honestly one of the best quality ice creams. Ice cream perfectly complimented w/​a cookie dough (egg-​free) and pretzel crunch. Great texture! Brown sugar caramel to die! Very distinctive flavors. One of the perks about Smitten’s is all ingredients are locally grown. Honestly experience wouldn’t have been pleasant if it wasn’t for the helpful and super friendly employees! So knowledgable about the product that honestly I was left indecisive about what to get because everything was described in such detail!!!

I have been to the location in SF and this one is just as good AND it’s inside! I went with the standard chocolate and it was just as great as I remember it. I don’t think you need to say much more about Smitten. They’re the best at what they do.

My first time at Smitten was a few weeks back with my group of friends. We were the only customers in the store and they definitely gave us all their attention. The lady was so helpful when it came to choosing flavors, she even let us sample some of their flavors. I didn’t catch her name but she was the biggest help! She was very knowledgable and knew exactly what she was talking about so it reassuring to know that she had credibility of some sort. I could also tell she was passionate about her job and this business. If she happens to be the manager then she is doing something right here!!!
Just wanted to share an awesome experience and definitely will be back for more!
And if you are ever in doubt, try the salted caramel ice cream with cookie dough chunks topped with their spicy caramel sauce! You won’t be disappointed!

Huh… I think you need to find the right flavor here. When they had the seasonal rhubarb, I totally adored it and came back for it many times, but haven’t been so successful with other flavors. I really wanted to try the pear when I came, and they said it was available on the website, but they had already switched over to pumpkin.
Instead, I ordered the Berry Crisp sundae, but replaced the vanilla with the cookie dough. There was no cookie dough flavor at all. Even when I was just eating the bits of cookie dough, I couldn’t taste them? Very confusing. The most successful part of the sundae for me was the bits of oatmeal cookie. The sundae itself did not give me the image of «berry crisp» when I was eating it, it wasn’t cohesive at all.
The strawberry sauce tastes like… confusion. Sorry, that’s the best way I can think of to put it… it can’t decide if it wants to be strawberry or if it wants to be alcoholic. It’s sort of tasty, I guess…
I wish they had a fruity flavor on their menu all the time, because I think they are most successful when they include fruit in their stuff. When they have another seasonal fruit flavor, I’m sure I’ll come back and change my mind. The rhubarb really was fantastic.
Maybe I’ll find another liquid nitrogen ice cream place that changes my mind, but I think it’s just a gimmick…

Great ice cream, better staff. I came in right before they were about to close down. I turned to go and they stopped me and said «you’ve got 3 more minutes before 9, what can we get you?» Then they made a sea salt caramel masterpiece. Awesome! Great energy, very clean shop, awesome sundaes. Get a sundae!

They only have 2 tables to eat inside
There is much more space for an additional 2 – 3 more as it would easily be used.
I like the idea of the fresh nitro charged ice cream but it is kinda slow getting your order… maybe 5 min after you order you get your ice cream.

Very good ice cream. Ice cream tastes and smells fresh! This is ice cream on demand so you can customize your ice cream to your heart’s and taste bud’s delight! Staff are knowledgeable of their product and accommodating. Great customer service!!! Coffee ice cream delivers! Ice cream was not very sweet which is how I like it! Got the coffee sundae and it really rocked!!! Flavorful and generous serving!

The ice cream was delicious but I’m not a fan of the limited options of flavors and the flavors change daily. So if you want to come back for a flavor you like last time, it may likely not be there.
Also, the prices are very expensive! We got a two scoop sundae and it cost us $ 8!

Having been disappinted with the latest craze in the ice cream industry, I was reluctant in trying this place while visiting the in-​laws while up in NorCal. Walked in and after deciding two different flavors to try, we were then told that one of the two were sold out. WTF??? Yep two of the 5 flavors offered for the day were sold out. Being disappointed we then opted to just order a pint of the TCHO chocolate. I believe the pints were already premade so didn’t get to see the cool liquid nitrogen show that I had expected. It appears that if you order any size smaller than the pint, the employees will go ahead and make the ice cream for you right then and there.
Surprisingly the TCHO chocolate was actually pretty tasty, unlike what I have had at other liquid nitrogen ice cream shops in SoCal. Still couldn’t believe that they sold out of the cookie dough but apparently it’s common. Will have to come back the next time I head up to the Bay Area and apparently I have to come in the afternoon to ensure I’ll be able to get the flavor of my choice.

It’s been about six months since I’ve been to Lafayette and was surprised that Cold Stone Creamery was replaced by Smitten. My father in law (not really, but too hard to explain the complicated relationship) had a hankering for ice cream after our lunch at American Kitchen.
Surprised to see a long line at 3pm, so had high hopes. I love the concept of this place – ice cream made to order with locally sourced ingredients and no additives. I felt gluttonous so ordered the Blue Bottle Ice Cream with Chocolate Krispies in a waffle cone. BF and dad ordered chocolate chip mint (two peas in pod with one in denial).
My ice cream tasted great – fresh without being overly heavy and strong espresso flavor. The waffle cone was warm, just off the waffle iron. Needless to say the ice cream melted fast and eventually dripped all over the floor.
BF really enjoyed his ice cream too. I think dad did as well, or at least I assumed because he literally downed it in less than five minutes.
My biggest complaint was that the place was not well kept. The floors clearly had a lot of ice cream spills and was sticky to walk on, the counters did not look like they were wiped with regularity and the bathroom had paper strewn all over.
If I’m going to spend this much on ice cream ($ 4 for small/​$ 6 for medium plus $ 1.25 for waffle cone), I think it’s reasonable to expect at least a tidy and clean place.

This is apparently a chain of nitrogen infused ice cream. The flavors are extremely limited (like 4 flavors) but I would say that their many toppings can help spice things up! I got the vanilla this time with their berry crisp concoction which was very tasty though the regular sundae was probably a bit too heavy for me. The service is pretty good and the place is definitely on the small size. Gourmet ice cream for the win!

Okay, so perhaps I gave Smitten a hard time last time when I visited their Rockridge/​Claremont location because perhaps the person who made mine overwhipped because the texture was more like butter than it was cream, but before I go into that, let me describe this Smitten Ice Cream.
After noshing on some lovely food at Roam, we had seen Smitten on the road to the Lafayette Reservoir and well already had it in mind when deciding on fooding. So Smitten is fairly small with entrances from the street vs. the parking lot in the back where you have to pay for parking… yes pay. I didn’t realize Lafayette was so posh.
Anyhoo, the ordering areas is from the street side entrance. I still get a price shock when I come here cause it’s $ 5 for a small cup for one flavor. You can get two flavors for $ 6! There’s also sundaes, root beer floats, vegan pops, but of course you’re here for ice cream right? So they have monthly flavors. This month was Strawberry White Balsamic, but I opted for the fresh mint chip as the bf doesn’t like mint and I try my best to get it when he’s not around :)
The whole process is quite fast and I got my ice cream and took my first bite (after of course a little photog session). You can taste the fresh mint and the chips were in every bite. I did feel that the mint taste died the more I ate, but at least the ice cream felt creamy in the good way and not the whipped in the tub butter way.
My bff who withstood a long hike with me had the vanilla with TCHO crispies. It was pretty good as well! But we both were lactose intolerant and well if you like your ice cream rich and pure then just letting you know it’s definitely real milk/​heavy cream in there.
Great place to have a nice little dessert after having lunch or dinner at the places nearby.

The service was great the staff was friendly. It’s a real neat concept and I am glad I tried it but it just wasn’t for me. It’s not their fault it’s just different than what I prefer.

The Ice cream is really good, but be prepared to wait. I love the salted caramel flavor – so yummy!

The first time I ever went to a smitten ice cream was in San Francisco. So the whole concept of nitro frozen ice cream still amazes me and I’m glad we have one closer to home.
I ordered a small of their cookie dough and I enjoyed every bite of it. The texture is so creamy! The only thing that saddens me is how expensive it is. $ 5 for that small of a scoop. I guess it’s understandable. I tried the Salted Caramel flavor as well, but that one tasted like butter. Not sure I’m a fan of that one!

Smitten! What a crafty memorable name! A solid 3.5 stars, in my opinion.
Now I gotta say, I love Smitten’s ice cream, only it hasn’t won my heart as my local favorite overall. The place itself is also small, yet simple, and RED; Definitely red all over! They only offer a few benches inside to relax and enjoy your ice cream. No tables, but who really needs a table. They DO need to mop the floor, as there were drips everywhere. Even worse when you see kids trampling all over it. The menu board is pretty straight forward with their «Flavors of the Day.» They even offer vegan pops. Something different I shall try next time.
Thus far, here’s what I’ve tasted:
~ Salted caramel — All-​time favorite! Nice and creamy, smooth and rich in flavor. Can never go wrong with salted caramel!
~ Mint chocolate chip — Loaded with chips and very very minty! Also a winner, only they no longer carry it. Boooo! :(
~ Cookie dough with pretzels and chocolate chips — Pretty good pretty good! I really really enjoyed this salty crunchy creamy one.
A few prices:
4 oz $ 4.95
6 oz $ 6
Waffle cone $ 1.25
Service was OK the few times I’ve been here. Though the guys behind the ice cream machines don’t care to smile. No biggie, I just want my scoop.
I do agree with some Unilocalers that it is kind of pricy for a small scoop; But then again if l want quantity over quality, I would just settle for Cold Stone. Plus it’s the «liquid nitrogen» entertainment that you’re paying for. The cooling process is always fun to watch! It’s kinda like watching Krispy Kreme donut being made. Okay, enough with the free advertising for corporate companies, sorry. So basically, I love eating in the Lafayette area, so coming here for dessert isn’t a bad idea.
+Added Smitten to my list!

I’ve died and gone to sweet treat heaven!!! Made to order ice cream! Where have you been all my life??? I live for frozen yogurt and ice cream.
Yes it’s a buck or two more than Baskin Robbins but this is another level! You start off by choosing your flavor, then toppings and then watch the chemistry begin. Made completely from scratch the liquid nitrogen freezes the creamy, dense, goodness to perfection I’m about minutes or so.
The only down side is because the ice cream is made to order they can’t offer samples. I opted for the salted carmel since it’s seasonal and I can get my favorite Vanilla year round. They suggest toppings for each flavor; I went with roasted walnuts. Excellent choice might I add.
A small equals two scoops (a tad smaller than a traditional portion) and with one topping my total was $ 5.05 if I remember correctly.
CAUTION: Highly recommended and addictive

They are right when they call their ice cream the «freshest, purest, creamiest» and made-​to-​order just for you.
The concept is simple: they use liquid nitrogen to make their ice cream in the little ice cream makers in front of the open arena. Each station is devoted to one of their flavors – salted caramel, mint chip, TCHO chocolate, vanilla, brown sugar and their seasonal flavor (which was crème fraîche with pear caramel at the time I came in).
I ordered their seasonal flavor – Crème Fraiche with Pear Caramel – and got the regular size (3 scoops) in a cup to share with my brother. My order went into the machine and was made on-​the-​spot (takes some time). The immediate taste was very creamy with an almost cheesecake-​y kind of feel; there was a lot of flavor and it was VERY dense but still so soft, creamy and milky. The texture of their ice cream is just AWESOME. (I’ve tried another liquid nitrogen ice cream in SoCal which charged waaay too much for their ice cream and didn’t taste creamy or thick or memorable at all.)
The price is a bit on the steeper side, as compared to your normal ice creamery, but the concept and use of fresh, real ingredients make a huge difference in creating rich and complex flavors.
The entire space is very clean and attractive. I went here after my visit to Roam Artisan Burgers and the modern «hip» feel to both places pair well with the budding Lafayette area. Although you don’t entirely fall in love or feel like you’d DIE to have this ice cream again for the price, it still is a treat for enjoying complex and rich flavors with a very dense ice cream texture. I’d only come back here on occasion, since the concept and price is something I’d want to try a few times (and I’d want to try their other flavors too since it’s made-​to-​order and no sampling here!).

A Love Letter to Smitten…
Dear Smitten,
I think I’ve fallen (perhaps I’m smitten) for your tasty wares. The other night, myself and my sweet friends walked through your doors to experience «this nitrogen thing people are talking about» and I am so glad we did.
There was no wait for us and I was able to get my hands on the salted caramel vegan pop almost immediately. While I didn’t really taste the salted caramel as a distinct flavor, I thoroughly enjoyed the creamy, dreamy, frozen treat while we waited for our scoops of fresh mint chip and salted caramel to get made.
We were dazzled by the machines as smoke from the nitrogen wafted all around the fresh, made-​to-​order, individual servings being prepared. Then we sat in the back and enjoyed… yes the ice cream is pretty rich (we didn’t get anywhere near finishing) but for the whole experience plus the creaminess that can only be accomplished through the individual cooling of nitrogen, Yay! I’m a fan!
Thanks Smitten, I’ll be back!
Love,
Robin L