Gelateria 4D

I just wanted to thank the blonde associate who was working tonight (Sunday 22) after being out of town for 2 weeks I didn’t realize how humid and hot it got. I took my dog on a walk and he was super hot. I was afraid he was overheating so I went into the shop ordered a scoop (that I only ordered to ask to get him water). She was so nice and brought water and even though he spilled it and then proceeded to lay in it because he was so hot she didn’t mind. She went and got him more. It really showed her compassion and although I offered to mop his mess she told me it’s not a problem. It’s hard to find people who genuinely care when you are in a tough spot. I really appreciated her kindness and so did he.

Customer service is terrible! Very rude if you want to try more than one flavor. If you’re someone who’s undecided about flavor choice, this is not the place to try out!

This place continuously disappoints and I refuse to go back. The gelato is always good but the service is beyond awful. I think they would be better off hiring monkeys instead of the current staff since, well, monkeys have more personality and can communicate better. Between the staff and the AC never working, I just hope this dump goes out of business soon.

I went there yesterday the gelato didn’t taste that great in didn’t taste like gelato to me the prices were super high and get forced to tip

All of their flavors are delicious and I’m pretty picky when it comes to gelato. I don’t like things overly sweet. The hazelnut is divine! So is the pistachio, mint and coconut. We love walking here after a yummy dinner :)

It was not until I tried I save a few shekels buying «gelato» at Whole Foods did I truly come to appreciate what 4D has to offer.
How can cream be whipped in such a way that it has such substance and flavor and — dare I say — bite — and yet still be so airy and ethereal? So authentically flavored and so complex, yet still so decadent and moreish?
I have seen the light.
From here on out, I splurge in peace.
And if you buy the liter/​half-​liter, you verynearlyalmost get something close to economy of scale.

Taste — 4.5 stars
It really does taste delicious and refreshing on a hot day.
Price — 3 stars
$ 6 for a small is steep although we had a very generous 2 scoop (probably because we were the only people in the store).
I’m giving this chain 3 stars because it’s just not gelato. I lived in Italy and recently got back from a trip there. The texture of the gelato just isn’t the same. The chocolate in no way replicates true Italian gelato. The pistachio gets closer both in texture and color. Again, the taste is very good because it’s like a higher quality, creamier soft serve. But alas, gelato is hard to come by in the US.

Gelateria 4D was the first stop of our food tour, and our meeting place. Their gelato is actually amazing, and a much needed treat on the regularly-​hot Miami days. I sampled the strawberry, as well as their mango, but their strawberry flavor really won me over.
Service is abysmal — there is a language barrier, but instead of acknowledging that, the person behind the cashier will say «yes» to everything as though they do understand, and then just not deliver what you asked for. I asked for a large iced coffee, and they acknowledged me that they do serve iced coffees. What they served me was a hot small coffee … when I asked them to make it cold as per my original request, she just took it to the back, poured out half of the small coffee, and added ice to it. I later asked if she could split a small cup of gelato into two flavors (which means she just gives me a little less of one flavor), but this is something they «could not do.» Seriously … you just scoop a little less … the small cup is sufficiently large enough to house two flavors.
Premises are very clean, with a near-​clinic feel as everything was stark-​white and very sanitary.
All in all, the service is what really frustrated me and made me deduct the stars, but their product is good.

Let me start with the most important thing here, the Gelato. The product is good. No doubt about that. Too many great flavors to select a favorite but I never go wrong with the Coconut or Dulce Leche, two scoops. If you are not a scooper, I recommend the Gelato smoothies. They’re great in any flavor. The mix is never too thick or too soft, just right on point.
This location lacks customer service and the reason I dropped one start. I will not go into details but my recent visit was the worst. I don’t mind paying the steep price for Gelato as long as the customer service is above average.

Mmmmm so I had this craving for hazelnut anything, well their gelato was amazing. Just the right fix for my Monday. Will def return. Maybe today… don’t judge me. Lol

After having dinner at Big Pink to celebrate the day of friendship (or Valentine’s, if you want to be a know-​it-​all, politically correct person), I felt like getting a sweet treat, and my friend suggested 4D. I did not even know there was a SoFi location, I always thought their sole location was on Lincoln Road, but I would finally get a chance to try the much-​acclaimed 4D.
Wow, decisions, decisions… I am normally a pretty assertive person, except when it comes to sweets, and especially, when given so many tempting options. Dulce de leche, hazelnut, mango, chocolate, pistachio… which one would it be? My friend quickly settled for the dulce de leche and shook his head as I decided for the nutella and mango (one scoop of each). Pshaw, don’t diss it till you try it, and if you’re a chocoholic, like I am, you know that chocolate goes with ANYTHING!
The gelato was nice and creamy, and sweet. I really liked it but he thought it was overpriced, considering you can get so much more FroYo and at such a lower price (a small cup here sets you back about $ 5-​$ 6). I guess he did have a point, which is why I deducted one star, in addition to the fact that parking anywhere near here is virtually impossible.

Excellent gelato and a favorite stop during every trip to SoBe. My favorites are pistachio and hazelnut. If you’re in the area, definitely make the stop… They also had sugar free varieties which I’ve never seen before.

I hate being disappointed at a food establishment in any way/​shape/​form.
They had no menu board, so without asking, I ordered a small, assuming that it’d be under $ 5 (on the steep side). Surprisingly, it was $ 5.90! I can buy lunch for that much money).
I don’t get it, though. They are making a killing off of the price, here, and not worth the money if it’s just going to make you fat. As I’m writing this, I can just feel the dairy + lactaid sinking in my stomach. UGH!
Need some coffee to wash it down.

It’s odd. I realize that the gelato at this location has to be the same as at the Lincoln Road location. It has to be. Yet, for some reason, I prefer the taste (and flavor options) of Lincoln to South Pointe. It may have something to do with the fact that the Sofi location never has my favorite flavor (kiwi). The Lincoln location always has it. But, even the gelato staples such as nutella and bacio taste… a bit off here. This wasn’t a one-​time occurrence. I noticed the odd taste twice (more cloying sweet to the point it can make you a bit ill). Again, maybe it’s me but, for some reason, I prefer the product (which I fully recognize is likely the same) at the other location.
It’s important to note, though, that the Sofi location is smaller, less overrun with tourists and (per my experiences) has the more pleasant (patient) staff. Is it possible that the unwashed masses and surly service adds something to the product? … nah.

Oh I left here yesterday and I was unamused. Now in fairness, I was here once before and it was fine. Lovely.
So unfine yesterday.
My friend and I stopped in to grab gelato for my bf. I let the girl know it would be to go and told her it was for someone else. I mentioned twice that it would be to go. She attempted to upsale me it seems and described/​offered a larger box. Not sure why bf would need a gift box looking container of gelato, so I politely thanked her, but no. So she scoops the ice cream into a small cup and hands it to me with a spoon. I reminded her that it was to go, for someone else and asked if I might please have a top. A cover. Something to contain the item. She looked at me as if I was the fool and said that of course they don’t have any!!! Silly foolish Lou! I was like… ummmm…I mentioned three times that it’s to go. She stared at me and we both sort of stood there. I can’t even believe I stayed as long as I did. Another woman comes out from the back (seemed like a manager) and the counter girl tells the manager that I want a cover. The manager is unfriendly and annoyed (!!!) as she tells me I can buy the Macy’s gift box looking container, but no cover. I asked if at lest they can cover it with another cup. Again the manager became annoyed and reached over telling me they don’t have covers. I told HER that this was swiftly turning into a Seinfeld episode. They stare. I then ask for a bag as I have a bit of a walk, it’s warm and therefore barely covered gelato will probably melt. How about she practically threw a bag at me and walked away. I began to pay and then realized-​WHYYYYY would I give you my business?
I left that silly, barely covered cup right on the counter and headed to Red Mango.

Tiramisu, ftw!
Price for two-​scoops was a bit steep, but I loved my tiramisu & berry gelato. The server was very nice and offered ample amounts of samples. All were very refreshing, tasty and soft.

Gelato was great and their location near the beach makes them a perfect treat. I’d give them four stars because the gelato itself was delicious– I got fior de leche which tasted similar to sweet cream– but the lady working the counter was surprisingly unpleasant when I asked her to explain what two of the flavors were as I didn’t understand their names. Expensive as well, but it’s gelato, so that’s to be expected.

AMAZING gelato. Every flavor I tried was delicious. I opted for the coconut and it was so fresh and delicious!

During my second visit here, I decided to try a coppa — their defining point of difference between 4D and the other gelaterias.
What’s a coppa? A cup, pretty much. But it’s a sundae style tall glass cup that comes in varying sizes, sliced fruits — and with whipped cream that you’ve always loved. It’s the same as a tall glass cup you’d get in a diner laden with scoops of ice cream (except it’s creamy and tasty gelato here — which is a bigger and healthier plus).
You could pick from their preferred choices or make your own and they’ll put it together. The coppas are more expensive than the regular cup and cone deal — ranging from $ 10 to $ 20, depending on size — but with a cool factor, service (they brought it to me in a small silver tray — ooh la la), and a perfect sharing amount for a date or a group of friends (the more people, the bigger the cup, the more you should pay :)). But I think the smallest one COULD be good enough for one person — if that one person likes to be «oh-​this-​is-​a-​lot-​of-​gelato» full at the end since it comes in 3 scoops (which I personally think is a lot for just one person but I’m sure there’s others that may disagree).
But if this is too «rich» for you since buying a regular paper cup of gelato runs $ 4 or $ 5, standard for gelaterias in Miami, then you can always go with the latter. :)
I had the chocolate flavor which is by far the best chocolate gelato I’ve had in Miami, and I mixed it with the creamy yet vibrant flavors of mango and fruitti di bosco — and with the whipped cream, fresh strawberries, blueberries in a coppa piccola (the smallest cup) — I knew I was in heaven on earth!

Man, do I love gelato. I’m really glad I don’t live closer to South Pointe, as 4D Gelato (or Gelateria 4D, however you want to call it) could be the death of me.
The cases are chock-​full of freshly made, über-​creamy delicious gelato in a wide variety of flavors. The staff will make you feel welcome the minute you walk through the door, offering up samples of anything you want, and some others you didn’t know you wanted.
Which is exactly what happened to me. I came in asking if they had a chocolate/​hazelnut combo that my friend wanted. What do I get in return? A detailed explanation of the difference between bacio and gianduja, and a heaping tasting of the former, that’s what. Amazing service in South Beach?! Who would’ve thunk?!
When it comes to gelato, I usually stick to the fruity flavors. With the occasional pistachio thrown in. Not this time around. The minute I tasted that Bacio, I knew I had to have it. So bacio and pistachio it was. My friends’ bacio & lemon and mixed berries & mango were both awesome combos, with the latter tasting exactly like an awesome smoothie.
Prices at 4D aren’t the cheapest in town (but hey, they gotta pay rent in the Portofino building!), but with the quality of the product, and the service provided, it’s totally worth the price tag. Parking in the area is a challenge, so either walk from the beach (or your abode), or hop on the Local.