Il Laboratorio del Gelato, Houston
32 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC30 comments cited below
The comments cited below are a sample of the full tally across 23 threads.
What people say, in short
Most people who weigh in recommend Il Laboratorio del Gelato, and many say its flavours are wide-ranging and rotate often, with sorbets and unusual gelatos among them. One calls the lemon sorbet excellent, one the earl grey good, one recalls an excellent basil gelato, and one says the flavours are not overly sweet. A few note that the rotation means a given flavour is not always in stock, and one finds the mint weaker than another brand's. Commenters who place it name the Lower East Side shop, one saying it is near Katz's.
Address
il laboratorio del gelato, 188 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
At a glance
- Signature dishes
- Lemon sorbet, Earl grey
- Best for
- Ice cream
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to Il Laboratorio del Gelato, Houston, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/Disastrous-Bee-1557 in r/FoodNYC · May 2025variety
Named as an answer for inventive ice cream flavors.
- Recommendsu/boycott_nestingdolls in r/AskNYC · Aug 2025
Suggests trying this gelateria as one of two options.
- Recommendsu/Leptokurtosis-862 in r/FoodNYC · Apr 2026
Calls the Laboratorio shop incredible.
- Recommendsu/ahyatt in r/FoodNYC · May 2024taste
Recalls a basil gelato there as excellent; unsure whether it is still offered.
- Recommendsu/ratioed in r/FoodNYC · Mar 2025taste
Calls the earl grey good and notes it's sometimes unavailable.
- Recommendsu/The_CerealDefense in r/FoodNYC · Jul 2025variety
Says this LES shop offers many flavors and adds new ones often; notes a grapefruit sorbet that is close but not exact.
- Recommendsu/Shyronaut in r/FoodNYC · May 2025taste
Loves the place and finds its flavours never overly sweet and true to their labels.
- Recommendsu/Calm-Pea8612 in r/FoodNYC · Nov 2024
Lists this shop as a suggestion, with no further detail.
Show all 30 cited comments
- Recommendsu/Wanttopeturdoggo in r/FoodNYC · May 2025
Listed as a recommended ice cream spot.
- Recommendsu/feshroll in r/FoodNYC · Apr 2025taste
Calls its lemon sorbet excellent, though not always stocked in store; suggests ordering a pickup container instead.
- Recommendsu/dibzim in r/FoodNYC · Mar 2025taste
Says Il Laboratorio is likely the best they've tried in the city.
- Recommendsu/justflipping in r/FoodNYC · May 2024
Points to the shop's site, noting online reviews cite its basil ice cream.
- Recommendsu/liwerallyjustagirl in r/FoodNYC · Jun 2026
Says they are tempted to visit this gelato shop almost daily.
- Recommendsu/CharacterBike314 in r/AskNYC · Dec 2023
Named this gelato shop as the answer to the best-gelato question, with no further detail.
- Recommendsu/boroughthoughts in r/FoodNYC · Jun 2026variety
Describes a tip-only gelato spot with rotating unusual flavours, tasting two before choosing; says it suits a young child.
- Recommendsu/seashellsnyc in r/FoodNYC · Apr 2025
Calls it a longtime favorite near Katz, though they have stopped going due to distance.
- Recommendsu/Garconavecunreve in r/FoodNYC · Mar 2025
Lists it among ice cream recommendations with no further detail.
- Recommendsu/elenafoxx in r/FoodNYC · Apr 2026taste
Praises its high real-flavour content and its many single-flavour options.
- Mixedu/Wiknetti in r/FoodNYC · Feb 2026variety
Says this shop sometimes has several vanillas, but its selection rotates, so it may not be reliable.
- Recommendsu/thansal in r/FoodNYC · Jul 2025variety
Says this gelato shop lists rose among its flavors and points to its online menu.
- Recommendsu/Competitive-Bad2624 in r/FoodNYC · May 2025variety
Unique flavors, noting it's gelato.
- Recommendsu/bkhalfpint in r/FoodNYC · Sep 2024
Recommends this place for gelato.
- Recommendsu/Dobbin44 in r/FoodNYC · Jul 2024taste
Also praises this gelato shop's flavours, paired with Figo in the same sentence.
- Recommendsu/Confident_Blood_7912 in r/FoodNYC · Apr 2026
Says they're not a big gelato fan but still think the Laboratorio shop is amazing.
- Recommendsu/DvorakThorax in r/FoodNYC · Apr 2026
Surprised nobody else had suggested the Laboratorio pick.
- Recommendsu/shyaminator96 in r/FoodNYC · Apr 2026
Seconds a Laboratorio pick made earlier.
- Recommendsu/Spiritual_Option4465 in r/AskNYC · Aug 2025
Lists this gelateria among their personal favourites.
- Recommendsu/MoreMarshmallows in r/FoodNYC · May 2025
Disagrees with the icy criticism based on their own experience.
- Caveatu/imitationcheese in r/FoodNYC · Mar 2025taste
Finds the mint weak at Il Laboratorio compared with Haagen-Dazs.
- Recommendsu/sharpless140 in r/AskNYC · May 2024variety
Says it rotates a large range of flavors and likes its sorbets, recalling a carrot one enjoyed recently.
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Freshness
Details last checked 11 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.