Gelata is what makes Zeppe’s special. If you read that fast, you may think I spelled gelato wrong and wonder what I’m talking about. I had never heard of gelata but when I arrived at Zeppe’s I got an extensive gelata 101 lesson from manager Daniel Ochoa complete with a sampling of Italian Ice and custard to help me understand what makes this dessert truly special.
Gelata 101:
Gelata is a unique combination of Italian ice and frozen custard. It starts with frozen custard in the bottom of the cup, then you put on a layer of Italian ice. Then you top that all off with a big twist of frozen custard. You can mix and match it anyway you would like. There are a variety of flavors, and you can substitute Dole Whip for the custard if you’d like. The flavor combinations are virtually endless.
What I love about the gelata is that you can eat your frozen custard or you can scoop down in and grab a bit of the Italian ice to combine with the gelato. There is something so satisfying about the combination of creamy frozen custard and the flavorful Italian ice.
Whenever I get shaved ice, I always get the little disc of ice cream at the bottom which I used to think was pure magic until I tried my first gelata. You can’t beat the double portions and the creaminess of the fresh frozen custard.
Italian Ice: The Foundation for All Things Delicious
The Italian ice is smooth and luxurious. I’m used to the snow cones with tiny ice crystals that I grew up with. Italian ice has an almost velvety texture and feels creamier than shaved ice even though there isn’t any dairy in it.
And there are a lot of flavors to choose from, including banana colada; blue raspberry; cotton candy; lime rickey; orange cream; root beer; sunset splash; tiger’s blood; blue lagoon; coconut creme; green apple; mango; pina colada; strawberry paradise; tidal wave; and watermelon.
The most popular flavor is Sunset Splash, which is a combination of orange creme, mango, and strawberry. It has a great tropical flavor that reminds me of POG (pineapple, orange juice, and guava). The second most popular flavor is strawberry paradise, which has strawberry and pina colada. If you’re looking for a fun tropical mix, I’d go for a combination of the sunset splash and strawberry paradise.
When we went, my kids instantly wanted the large size but honestly we struggled to finish a regular. I feel like a kid’s size would have been almost perfect. The servings are huge, too. You may see a small cup and think you need an extra-large serving, but the small cup has a huge portion of custard on top. So even a kid’s size is a big portion. The Gelata prices are $3.95 for kids’ sizes, $5.96 for regular sizes, and $6.95 for large sizes.
Something for Everyone: Italian Ice, Frozen Custard, Floats, Concrete and Gluten-Free/Dairy- Free Options
If you don’t want to have the Italian ice and custard separated, then you can get a blended gelata which combines your ice and custard or dole whip. ($6.49 for 16 oz and $7.69 for 24 oz.)
If you’d rather skip the Italian Ice (no judgement), you can just go for a vanilla or frozen custard. The Dole Whip flavors are pineapple Dole Whip and strawberry Dole Whip. Custard or Dole Whip options are Kids $5.50, Regular $6.50, and Large $7.50. For plain Italian ice, kids’ size is $3.95, regular is $4.95, and large is $5.95.
If you’re in the mood for a float ($5.54), there are a variety of sodas like root beer, Fanta, Mountain Dew, Dr Pepper, Diet Coke, and Sprite and you can do frozen custard or the Dole Whip. I’m kind of kicking myself for not making a Sprite float with pineapple Dole Whip.
Zeppe’s also has concrete, which has frozen custard with a mix in, like brownie bites, Oreos, etc. One thing to note is that they do not mix in any additional liquids. It is plain and simple with just custard and the mix-ins. Nice and thick and creamy. Concretes are a 16-oz serving for $7.12.
Finally, something that makes the treat extra magical is the sprinkles, which you can add on for $1. If you’re daring and craving something spicy, you have the option to put a sprinkle of Tajin on for only $1 or you can order the mangonada or spicy sandia ($5.99 mangonada and $6.39 spicy sandia).
The custard and Italian ice are all gluten-free. They also have dairy-free options. There is even a sugar-free tiger’s blood Italian ice, so there literally is something for everyone.
The Surprise Hit: Perfect Pretzels
Finally, the surprise hit of our visit was the pretzels. These pretzels are GOOD. They are so tender and served warm. They are the perfect complement to the gelata. We got one to share just to get a taste of it, but that wasn’t enough, so we had to go back for one more. The nacho cheese dipping sauce was delicious, but they also have cream cheese, hot caramel, and hot fudge. You can get a salty pretzel, plain, or cinnamon. Pretzels are $2.99, and you can get the dips for an additional $1.00.
Perfect Spot for a Cool Treat on a Warm Evening
Zeppe’s is the perfect place to stop by on a warm evening. They have a covered deck with picnic tables as well as some round tables on the grass with umbrellas. Indoor seating is also available. It’s the perfect spot for a date, family treat night, or when you just feel like something cool and sweet.
Zeppe’s Italian Ice is open Monday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Once school gets out, they will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.. It is located at 829 W 400 South in Springville
Note: Prices subject to change. Prices were current as of May 1, 2026.
