What is the best way to entice kids (and husbands...) to go on a walk? Well, a sure fire way is to make a promise of icecream at the end!
... and that is what happened recently on a nice little trip down to Merimbula on the Australian Sapphire Coast in New South Wales. Merimbula is one of the larger towns in the area, and it is most notable for having the regional airport (amongst other things...)... the airport is one from which we have flown to and from in the days when we were living overseas and catching up with family that were in the area. It is quite strange to get in one those little prop planes with those crazily large and heavy international suitcases... but thankfully, those days are long past us!
Anyway... we had seen this Boardwalk Gelateria on the way out after lunch (more on that on a different post...) and on the way to the Boardwalk... walk... So, to give us a little treat for completing the walk, we promised ourselves a stop back in the Gelateria after the walk was done without complaints. Well, suffice to say... there was minimal grumbling, and the kids even found the attractions on the walk to be pretty amazing (me too... and more on that in a different post!).
The Space
Well, there isn't much to be said for the space of the Gelateria, there are a couple of indoor seats for couples... but there is ample seating on the boardwalk outside. However... keep in mind that unless you have chosen for the caffeine hit... well, you will be eating ice-cream, and that doesn't always require seating to eat! In fact, for some of the kids with ice cream cones, seating is probably even less desirable!
The Menu
No menu... just a gorgeous array of colours and interestingly named ice-creams to choose from. Sigh... there are so many, and there are only so many scoops that my stomach can possibly fit. I might have to make more excuses to visit this town in the future...
The Food
So, in the end... I chose for a lime sorbet on top of a mascarpone coffee. When I ordered, my wife immediately told me that those things couldn't possibly go together and that it would be disgusting... well, I wasn't planning on mixing them up into a mush... and, I really wanted to try those flavours!
... and let me say, I was NOT disappointed! The lime was fresh and refreshing after the walk... and the mascarpone coffee was thick and creamy. Interestingly enough, the coffee was actually the favourite of the entire family!
My kids chose for chocolate... which was a little bit unusual, but it was a nice rich chocolate flavour, and thick as well! The one underneath (on the cone), was a rainbow sort of a affair... thankfully, not those sickly rainbow "flavoured" sorts, but a mix of three different flavours... I think it was custard, vanilla and strawberry. Definitely a better version than the weird rainbow flavours that you normally get!
Behind the cone (but hidden) and underneath the other chocolate scoop, my oldest had chosen for a mixed berry sorbet. Also, tart and refreshing! I'm glad that she has a taste for those clean fruity sorbets!
The Experience
The staff was friendly, and at the time that we went (nearer to closing time) there were very few people... so service was definitely no problem.
The ice cream was pretty damn good... and I don't mean that for a small town... it was actually really good, and would match up with any other ice-cream shop from larger cities. I'm definitely not joking when I say that I'm going to have to find more excuses to come here... perhaps to do the big food shops?
Next time, I will have to also try a coffee... if their ice-cream is good... perhaps they will also do a pretty decent coffee? Or will I be disappointed... should I just leave it with the fond ice-cream memories?
Opening Times
Monday 8am–2pm
Hours might differ
Tuesday 8am–2pm
Wednesday 9am–3pm
Thursday 8am–2pm
Friday 9am–3pm
Saturday 8am–2pm
Sunday 9am–3pm
Contact Details
Address: 4 Market Street, Merimbula, NSW, Australia 2548
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