Last Saturday was a sweltering, humid, narsty summer day here in Charleston, and your PopCulteer and Mrs. PopCulteer were out and about enjoying said day in the comfort of our air-conditioned car, flitting around to various interesting places, when Mrs. PopCulteer suggested we check out the new Gelato place in South Hills.
Mel had read Jennifer Gardner’s piece in the Gazette-Mail last week and it sounded great, so we made our way up Bridge road to the converted house located between the two blind curves, parked the car and went in. We had found Caffe Romeo.
Just setting foot in the door we could tell this is a special place. You immediately find a service counter that makes carry-out a snap, but around the corner from that is a spacious lounge area and a deck where you can hang out and enjoy your treats. The walls are covered with photos of Italian scenes and service was fast and friendly. Caffe Romeo offers fresh-made Italian Gelato as well as fresh-roasted coffees. Since neither of us are coffee drinkers, and the heat index outside was nearly a hundred degrees, we opted for the Gelato.
Mel had the Chocolate Hazelnut, and I was about to follow suit when the owner, Mario Sommella, brought out a fresh batch of Hazelnut gelato that looked irresistible. Mario’s exuberance and sheer joy in what he was doing came through in spades in the few moments we spoke, and I can tell that Caffe Romeo is destined to become a Charleston institution in record time. I would post photos of our Gelato treats, but they did not last long enough for us to capture images.
The great thing about Mario’s Gelato is that it’s leaner, less sweet and has a much stronger and more satisfying flavor than standard American ice cream. Caffe Romeo also offers up sorbets, if your tastes lean in a fruitier direction.
It’s great to have a cool new place to visit in Charleston. PopCult whole-heartedly recommends Caffe Romeo, You can find it at 1026 Bridge Road, not too far from Lola’s. Your PopCulteer’s Neopolitan origins triggered a great sense of “home” here.
Love the look of that building, and it probably wouldn’t take much to talk me into a sorbet.