Downtown Review: Jeanne’s Gelato & More

While summer is slowly heading out, we wanted to introduce you to a great spot to help beat the heat. Jeanne’s Gelato is a nice addition to Evansville that can help cool you down with their flavorful gelato, Italian ice cream. Gelato is the Italian take on ice cream that has a much lighter, creamier texture than regular ice cream.

Jeanne’s is located in a small building on E. 4th St. downtown. It is small, but already inviting on the outside with cheerful rainbow colored umbrellas at tables outside. Inside there are just two or three tables, but that’s really all that is needed. It seems that people stop in sporadically and take their fare with them instead of sit. Everything is behind a counter-display case that begins in the middle of the room-this definitely shortens the customer’s space, but also gives the impression of intimacy between customer and owner.

There are usually ten gelato flavors available at one time. There are always constant flavors like chocolate, coffee, or raspberry, other flavors switch regularly between a long list. If you need to, you can taste test the flavors before choosing. Today, I sampled pineapple, lemon, and raspberry, while my friend sampled chocolate gelato and cheesecake. Everything was great; the gelato was so smooth and light, but filled with flavor.

You can have multiple flavors in your cup so you don’t have to choose between your two favorites. If you want a little more than a cup, there are also waffle cones, or even gelazzies (their version of a milkshake).

We went just for the gelato, but Jeanne’s also serves sandwiches and soups for a light downtown lunch. They also prepare cookies, pies, and cheesecakes that are displayed on the counter or in a case if your sweet tooth wants something more traditional.

Prices at this unique Evansville shop are very reasonable by any standard, especially for a quick simple lunch with a little sugar pick-me-up after. If you decide you love this gelato so much, you can even buy gelato or gelato-cakes to take home. Take a trip downtown while it is still summer to cool down with this creamy, sweet gelato.

Jeanne’s Gelato is located between Locust and Walnut Ave. at 113 SE 4th Street, next to Jaya’s. 812-402-8282. Mon-Thurs 11am-6pm, Fri & Sat 11am-9pm, Sun (Spr/Fall) 1pm-4pm.