Oddono’s

Everything is exceptional, except the price. Mildly curious why yet another ice cream shop was opening in Chiswick (too many have failed before) I thought I’d give it a go. The service is definitely spot on and they give out samples if you wish to try a particular flavour before buying. Everything is made on site with the machines out the back. As for the interior — you probably want to take your ice cream to go. Unless you’re Italian, then you’re probably conditioned to bright screaming colours already. Another Italian eccentricity I’ve never understood is why Italians always insist on writing out menu option in their own language, as if that somehow adds to the experience. At almost five quid for a medium ice cream it is on the pricy side. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really good ice cream, but there is a limit to how far you can stretch frozen milk in a waffle … even if it speaks Italian.

Oddono’s is family-​owned and they have a couple of locations throughout London (and they sell their gelati through Firezza as well). Having just opened in the old Baskin Robbins site on Chiswick High Road and being a day where the hubby and I were in a mood of trying new things, we stopped in one cold Saturday evening.
First, the space. It has been awfully decorated. The seating is royal blue and the walls are two-​toned with pastel yellow on the top ²⁄₃ and a Big Bird yellow on the bottom ¹⁄₃. It is not easy on the eyes. The menu and logo are horribly designed. The place just looks cheap, as though everything was purchased out of the bargain bin at Homebase.
Second, the gelati. I ordered a small cup of stracciatella which was quite tasty and for £2.95, good value for money. A bit melt-​ier than gelato I’ve had in the past but I loved every last bit of it. It had a great chocolate chunks to gelato ratio. My husband ordered the Nutella and he said it was tasty.
The shop was constantly full of people, coming and going. It seems to be a hit with the locals already and it’s only just opened.

Had the Hazlenut and Stracciatella. Not impressed. Stracciatella is my favorite flavor of gelato, in fact, and Oddono’s recipe bore no similarity to the classic flavor at all. Consistency was too icy, as well. Should have been creamier. Needs work.