Enigma Cafe Ice Cream Shop

Awesome place. I’ve been here several times and the owner remembers our faces. Because of that she gives us more. The owner is super nice. It’s a quite small ice cream shop, but it’s gradually getting popular. The owner has a son and the interior has many pictures of his drawings. It’s super cute. They sometimes make their own flavor a of gelato. I personally chose ice cream over gelato, but my mom said it’s pretty good.

Gelato is excellent. Intense flavors and not sweet. Nice lady. It’s just hard to find this place because it’s tucked inside a plaza with no front signage and their overhead sign is fading and they’re behind a tree. They’ve got ice cream, gelato, and sorbet. Ice cream is from Lourdes. Gelato is fron Café Classico in Concord. Sorbet is made in-​house.
1 cup= 2 scoops (flavors).

Best Gelato: Coppa Mista. chocolate, vanilla, pistachio and almond. It was so good. Actually I think it is even better than a few gelato places in Italy.
I was expecting a regular 3 «scoops» of ice-​cream + gelato for the medium waffle cone, instead I get 3 heaps of godly food stacked onto the cone. I could barely hold the cone with one hand… it was heavy!
I got Coppa Mista which is Top 3 in all the gelatos I’ve had in my life. Honey Lavender and Mint Choco.
I would come back any day, even when it’s cold and rainy!

I will admit I dumped my «go-​to» Gelato place for this one because of Sandra. Excellent customer service that makes you feel like a friend rather than a customer. If you are an indecisive person like me, she will let your taste buds make all the necessary decisions. Support your local business and give Enigma café a try.

To our nice surprise, this little shop serves great ice cream! We tried the Lychee flavor ice cream and Honey Lavender gelato. Both are very delicious. Sandra the owner is very generous and friendly. We will come back!

This place is a bit out of the way for me, I finally found a chance to try it out when my friends and I happened to be in the area.
Just customer service by itself is enough to earn Enigma 5 stars! I guess my friends and I came on a bad day of the week, right before they were about to get a new shipment of ice cream/​gelato– a lot of the flavors were out. It’s okay though, because she still had honey lavender left, which is what I came for after reading the reviews! The owner was extremely nice. She let us sample a bunch of the different interesting flavors, and even encouraged us to do so. Some places are kind of jerks and limit you to 2 or 3. She was also very apologetic running out of certain flavors. In the end, 3 of the 4 of us ended up getting honey lavender because it was so good! It seems like the owner rotates in new flavors every week too, to keep things interesting.
Too bad I live 20+ minutes away, otherwise I’d be back way more often :)

Here’s a question that runs through my head each time I go out for ice cream:
«Why should I go to an ice cream shop? Isn’t it cheaper to buy Ice Cream in bulk and enjoy it at home?»
My visit to Enigma Café today gave me a much needed dose of perspective on this problem.
My family’s favorite ice cream comes from Mitchell’s in San Francisco. We seldom go to San Francisco just for the ice cream, but there is a supermarket in Daly City that sells Mitchell’s in the large tubs. Those tubs are good enough for us. Going to an actual store location like Mitchell’s or Bi-​Rite or Fenton’s feels like a pilgrimage: you wait in a long line before receiving your boon from a busy ice-​cream cleric (which is often the well-​hyped cup of ice cream that wins you at least thirty likes on Instagram and an instant reply on Snapchat from the person you have your eye on). I like Mitchell’s ice cream enough to buy it in bulk, but I’m not one to actually go to the shop and endure the ice cream experience for the sake of social media recognition.
So I see the point to going to an ice cream shop, but I also recognize that the social ritual aspect has little merit for me. I like ice cream because I like ice cream. Hence the question, «why should I go to an ice cream shop when I can buy ice cream at a supermarket?»
When we started browsing the ice creams at Enigma, Sandra almost immediately asked if we wanted to try anything. I ate at Coldstone just last week, and I wasn’t asked to try anything. I’m accustomed to going into an ice cream parlor knowing what flavor I want. But going into something knowing what you want removes the mystery essential to the ice cream parlor experience.
Now here’s the core of what I’m trying to say.
At an ice cream parlor, there are a slew of flavors, all of which are offered because they taste good, but only a few of which hit you and incite in you a feeling of joy rooted in your first experiences with sweet food (imagine the joy a child feels the first time they have ice cream). Every once in awhile, we stumble upon a combination of flavor, texture, and context that returns us back to innocence momentarily, pausing the parts of us that want to criticize the décor, to worry about the calories, to fuss over who pays the bill. In a moment, we’re not ourselves, we are eating ice cream and that’s all that matters.
I think that simply going to a store knowing what you want precludes us from these «ice cream» epiphanies. You have to be taken in by flavor and texture through surprise, because that first taste of ice cream, for the vast majority of us, surprised us with the delight of the unknown. From that experience, we learned the mystery of delicious food. We try to reproduce that mystery each time we eat out, we try something new, we venture beyond what we consider ordinary in search for that «wow…this is good» feeling.
So to sell a long story short, the whole reason you go into an ice cream parlor is to be surprised by the flavors they have. You want to taste a gelato flavor and think «this is something new, something I want, something that delights me». You can be surprised from flavor combinations too. You can even be surprised by a simple Afogato, or an ice cream sandwich.
At Enigma, I had the Honey Lavendar gelato mixed with Ube Ice Cream. It was delicious. It reminded me of when I first had Ube ice cream as a kid in the Philippines. A simple, transcendent delight.

Finally made my way into this wonderful gem. If you visit this shop you will not regret it, even on a rainy day. The owner is very nice and generous.
We thought we’d pick up s scoop but spoiled our dinner! Couldn’t wait to get home and have our gelato; Spinoni, tiramisu, coconut and rum raisin.
We will be back!

Unveil this place, it’s a blah blight on your eyes — I’m talking interior design. Close your eyes, and it’s a sticky-​yummy, smacker-​luscious gelato haven. Better yet, take all this heavenly dream cream to the car to eat it there. Like I did. And I want you to know something: After I was done with my double-​scoop cup, I almost went back in to get another. There was that third flavor. But I guess I’ll just have to go back another time. For now, I’ve had HONEY LAVENDER and TIRAMISU. They have more ordinary non-​gelato freezer job ice creams for you traditionalists out there, but I’m glad there’s a little this, a little that. #sublime

Came here with high expectations and they were all met! Had the greatest customer service in which we tried an assortment of gelatos and ice cream. Would highly recommend the honey lavender! Since he small comes with two flavors, we asked her which of the other flavors would go well with it. The lemon chiffon flavor went amazingly well with the honey lavender.
Overall wonderful experience, wonderful gelatos, and wonderful ice cream. I’ll definitely be back!

OMG, how have I not been here!!! Came here after having a hard time deciding on a dessert place. I wanted something that was quality and different. Saw the Unilocal review and asked myself why I haven’t been here so I lived so close. They had so many flavors but I tried the Honey Lavender and went right for it. It was so unique and the taste was just amazing. Each bite enhanced the honey taste a little more and soon the lavender became a aromatic after taste. Ill be back again soon but might try another flavor but knowing me, I stick to what I like and I am dreaming about that lavender. P. S. They do take CC but you can’t add tip. We didn’t know that so we couldn’t leave a tip and didn’t have single dime. Bring cash for tip. The owner is the sweetest person ever!

One of the BEST customer service experiences I’ve ever had! The lady who runs this place is honestly the sweetest gem and she’s about 50% of the reason my bf and I always stop by to say hello and grab a scoop of gelato.
Gelato and ice cream game OP OP. Huge array of flavors that are LOCALLY MADE. You honestly get more than what you pay for.
¹⁰⁄₁₀ would definitely recommend!

HONEY LAVENDER
The best French dessert I ever had was Peach Melba Baked Alaska at La Folie, a one Michelin Star restaurant in San Francisco that specializes in classical French cuisine. Inside the Baked Alaska was honey lavender ice cream. On the ice cream you can see drops of fresh honey. Eating the honey lavender ice cream with the Baked Alaska was one of the most memorable desserts I’ve had at a fine dining restaurant.
I’ve read Unilocal reviews of this place. From the reviews the flavor that stood out the most was honey lavender gelato. I was intrigued because I wanted to taste it. On Black Friday I came here specifically to order the honey lavender. However it ran out of honey lavender. The owner/​manager Sandra stated she would order this flavor and that it would arrive the following Friday. She commented that the honey lavender is the most popular flavor at Enigma Café Ice Cream Shop. It shocked her because she stated she’s had bad experience with lavender in the past, but not with the honey lavender she serves at Enigma.
I came here yesterday for lunch. I asked Sandra if the honey lavender gelato was available. She said it was. In fact the container for the honey lavender gelato hadn’t been open. I took a spoonful taste of it and I knew I was going to get a scoop. I tried other flavors to go with the honey lavender. Even though I didn’t try it I considered getting a scope of ube. At the end I decided to get two scoops of the honey lavender gelato in a small cup as I came here specifically for that flavor. Is the honey lavender at Enigma as good as La Folie? No but it’s still REALLY delicous. There’s a distinct but not overpowering taste of the lavender. Unlike at La Folie where there were drops of fresh honey you can’t see the honey in the honey lavender that is served at Enigma as it’s blended in the gelato. However with the version of the honey lavender Enigma has the slight flavor of the honey makes this gelato soothing. Getting two scoops of the honey lavender was worth it then getting only one scoop of it. I can see what the honey lavender gelato is the most popular flavor at Enigma.
Unlike other ice cream or gelateria shops the ice cream and gelato aren’t made at the premise of Enigma. Sandra orders them from Loard’s and Gelato Classico. I don’t care if she makes them as long as what flavors she has in stock are delicous. That’s all that counts. Will I try other flavors? Yes. I might even get a scoop of ube. When I come back here again it’s specifically for its most popular flavor — the honey lavender gelato. Finally I recommend that if you ever come to Enigma Café Ice Cream Shop come mainly for the honey lavender.

Move over local gelato spots, Enigma is in town and it definitely gives businesses a run for their money. After frequenting another gelato spot for years, my friend and I decided to give this place a try. Now I’m a loyal customer and was hesitant to go somewhere new, but the reviews made it sound too good to pass up.
…And they were right! We were warmly greeted by the owner, who you can tell is very passionate about her business and prides herself on providing exemplary customer service. She was overly generous with giving us samples; she even paired samples for us together so we could make the best choice. I was beyond impressed. After so much indecisiveness, I settled on a small-​sized cup of chocolate hazelnut (very creamy and tastes like ferrero rocher) and honey lavender (perfect amount of sweetness and light). My friend got butter pecan (very rich, reminds of a pecan pie) and lychee (the best lychee-​tasting gelato/​ice cream I have ever had– tasted exactly like the fruit).
As the owner started scooping the gelato in, I expected her to smooth out the gelato to fit perfectly within the dimensions of the cup, but no! To my delight, she generously and happily heaped on the scoops of gelato. I was so happy since the flavors we had were delicious!
I have found my new go-​to spot for gelato. Enigma, you are quite the Fremont gem.

3.5 stars.
They have gelati and ice creams here, but I wasn’t really blown away. They don’t make their own ice cream or gelato, otherwise, I would have rated them higher.
The flavor selection was limited but pretty delicious! I had the blueberry cheesecake, banana, and chocolate showers. I got the large, and it was about 6 scoops, ha! All the flavors were tasty, especially the blueberry cheesecake.
Service was really nice. The woman behind the counter was a lot of fun and had a lot of suggestions. Décor is definitely lacking, but this is something easy to rectify.
I would come by again, if I were in the area.

For the longest time, I had no clue that this little gem known as Enigma Café Ice Cream Shop was tucked away in a tiny strip mall that I frequently come to. Now I have even more reason to venture over and indulge in some wonderful frozen treats!
I had just picked up takeout from a neighboring restaurant and thought this would be a great chance to check out Enigma and get some ice cream for dessert, and I’m so glad I did. Upon entry, I was impressed with the clean, inviting, fun, cute, and modern décor and promptly greeted by the owner, Sandra, who is very charming and friendly (she epitomizes super NICE and COOL). She offered samples of whatever flavors I wanted to try from her assortment of traditional ice cream, gelato, sherbet, and sorbet (her products are sourced from local, great companies here in the Bay Area like Loard’s, Gelato Classico, and Sorbetto Classico). I ended up choosing the Rainbow Sherbet and Lemon Custard.
The Rainbow Sherbet certainly brought back fond childhood memories. As a kid, I loved this classic frozen mixture with the various fruit flavors (orange, raspberry, lime, lemon, and pineapple). What I experienced this evening was a wonderful symphony of sweet, sour, and creamy (so refreshing and a great palate cleanser).
The Lemon Custard was rich, smooth, creamy, and decadent and not icy at all. You could really taste the lemon which had a nice tang but wasn’t overpowering. I specifically wanted this ice cream because it’s so rare to find (at least for me) and I was afraid it might disappear on me again if I didn’t seize the opportunity to reunite with this evasive and treasured flavor of mine (on special occasions, my dad used to buy this ice cream for me growing up in SF). It’s kinda like I can only find authentic pineapple ice cream in Hawaii and never in your local grocery store freezer, LOL!
I will certainly come back to Enigma to try out its other traditional and unique flavors (one of my scoops will always be the Lemon Custard as long as Sandra has and keeps it in stock; thanks and kudos to her for bringing back and helping me relive some great memories tonight) and to support this warm and welcoming family establishment. Scoop on!!! :-)

Love that this is a small, independent shop. But they need to take that and really find an identity. Throw a color scheme up, cohesive art work (doesn’t have to be expensive by any means) and maybe a more professional looking menu board. Enigma Café, you don’t have to be so enigmatic, just sayin’.
All basic and constructive suggestions. I know they’re new so there is much room to improve. Be a fixture in the neighborhood. I am so routing for this to be successful.
For an ice cream shop, what I noticed and liked, were the choices of gelato, regular creamy ice cream and sorbets. They use the Gelato Classico brand for gelato, which is good. Not as many flavors as the Gelato Classico shop across town, but they have about 6 – 10 flavors.
The other half of their freezer case stocks about 6 – 10 flavors of conventional American ice cream. I don’t know of the brand they use, but my taste buds says yes! I like the choice because you can compare the 2 styles (gelato vs. American) if you like. You can put both into 1 cup. One is fluffier with a prominent butterfat content (American), while the other is denser but with a stronger flavor intensity (gelato). Both good while being completely distinct.
They also do coffee drinks but haven’t tried that yet. Pelligrino in their cold box is a good accompaniment to gelato.
Great dessert option if finishing a meal at one of the many dining options in this strip mall.

I’m a fan of Sweet Orchid gelato, but Enigma is just a little closer to home so I decided to give it a try and I’m so happy I did!
They have gelato, ice cream, and sorbet so the flavor selection isn’t much but damn are they delicious! We’ve tasted the Coppa Mista, Crème Brulee, Strawberry Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Coconut Almond Fudge, and a lot of others and each have been great– you MUST try the Coppa Mista though! It’s my favorite :) Or whatever, try them all!
The owner, Sandra, is great about this. She’s never made us feel rushed or pressured or anything, and actually encourages us to try different things. I’ve been the one next in line while she is assisting other customers as well, which can possibly be irritating for someone who is impatient, but I think it’s awesome. Because once it’s YOUR turn, Sandra is SO freakin sweet and cool that you can’t blame her for trying to give everyone the best service possible. I totally respect that.
The shop isn’t huge and doesn’t offer much seating, but I think it’s really cute how the artwork on the wall is all from her son.
It is really no surprise that Enigma Café has received nothing less than a 5 star review. Sandra and this little local business has the charm and quality that I hope will last a long, loooong time.

Clean and friendly café! Owner is very kind^^ Ice bland coffee is better than Starbucks. Every sixth is free! Don’t forget free coupon!
I love this shop! Today, I tried new flavor. Coopa mista. It is so rich, creamy and tasty. I felt this flavor is high quality ice cream. I am so happy finding this shop!

Looking for a non-​chain ice cream shop in the Tri City area is virtually impossible, but luckily I stumbled upon Enigma Café on Unilocal!
Not only do they serve ice cream, but gelato, as well! And, that gelato is from Gelato Classico (good stuff). I opted for a scoop of regular coffee ice cream and it did the body good on a warm day.
Now, if you’re an ice cream aficionado, this really won’t do justice to some of the amazing new ice cream places on the Peninsula and in the City, but for the Tri City area, it’s pretty good.