Cafe Nonna

What an adorable and completely unsuspecting little café!
I would never had expected from the outside of the store how absolutely darling this Fountain Square gem is! After a hot day on the patio for lunch, we wandered here at the suggestion of our waitress. I’m so glad we took her advice because now I know about this little gelato place!
The had about a dozen different gelato flavors. I settled on the Italian Cheesecake and the Banana Cream. The cheesecake was for sure my favorite and next time I’ll mix it with the strawberry!

I have the worst time deciding what sort of gelato to get every time I go to Café Nonna. I tried the pistachio and the berry, but I decided on the biscotti, and I don’t regret a single bite. The texture is incredibly creamy and smooth, and the flavor was incredibly rich. Such a fantastic treat, especially during a walk on the Cultural Trail. I can’t ever walk by without stopping!

How cute is this place? We were looking for a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning and stumbled onto Café Nonna (a spot we clearly need to return to). Prompt friendly service as my husband ordered a sandwich and 2 coffees. Then an older gentleman (I imagine it was the owner) came out and offered a sample of their delicious looking gelato, I politely declined and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He proceeded to hand me three of his very favorite gelato samples. Yes, please! Salted caramel was sweet, stracciatella was creamy, and the banana cream was not overpowering.
My husband had the Italian sausage sandwich with peppers and sauce. He reports it was tasty, simple flavors served hot. There was a couple sitting outside eating meatball sandwiches and it made me immediately hungry.
I will say that this is not a traditional breakfast spot or coffee shop. This is an Italian eatery serving colorful macaroons, Italian sausage sandwiches, and gelato. Luckily they did have hot and fresh coffee as well. They had a good array of coffee fixins too!

Mmmmmmmm I can still taste the delicious pumpkin-​hazelnut concoction I created in my little cup. We ended up at Café Nonna honestly because a lot of ice cream/​gelato places around the area close early in the winter months on Sundays. HELLOOO I still need something at 9 on a Sunday. Whatever, I can deal.
Anyways, we walked in around 8:30 p.m. and were the only people in the joint, but the server was still friendly and accommodating, even though you could tell he was attempting to clean up for the night.
I loved the variety in flavors they had! So many to choose from! And each looked just as good as the next. They graciously will let you sample, and I suggest doing so!
I decided on the pumpkin and hazelnut, 2 scoops. At fist I was like. oh that cup looks small I am going to want more. but honestly, it was plenty. The gelato is pretty filling and rich so I am not sure I could have handled anymore (thats a lie. I could have but I was totally fine).
Now, I am no gelato connoisseur, so if you are, I have no idea what you will think. I purely went off of the fact that it tasted great.
Downside to this place, they close on Nov 29^th for the season, so if you are looking to get it, get it soon!

Pricy but tasty!
The gelato is amazing! It’s expensive, but gelato usually is and his is one of the few actual Italian cafes in the city. $ 3 for a tiny tiny baby cup, $ 4.50 medium (more like a small size for other places) and the large size (3 scoops) is still not that large. But it’s delicious!
The $ 5 meatball sandwiches are a great price and very tasty. They also have an assortment of treats, such as cannoli and macaroons.
For the locations it’s right in the historic Italian neighborhood of Indy! The Italian festival happens down the street every year.

Half the fat of ice cream and even creamier! Seriously as good as it gets. I had the chocolate, and it was pretty much the best thing ever. I can’t wait to go back and try the rest! Cute location too, right down the street from our favorite distillery. How handy!

This is a nice little café and their savory food might be fine. But if you’re looking for some really good gelato look elsewhere.
I’ve tried several flavors. Few of them have that gelato creaminess. Most are hard frozen ice cream. So the gelato texture is lacking. As for taste, it also isn’t quite right. Some flavors, like banana, taste more like vanilla. The flavoring is weak. Others, such as many of the chocolate varieties, border on the bitter. The salted caramel tasted very good going in. But it developed a heavy, bitter aftertaste. It might have been freezer burn. Gelato should be kept at a higher temperature. I guess my favorite was the Mascarpone.
For a richer and much tastier frozen treat try the South Bend Chocolate Café on the Circle or BRICS in Broad Ripple. Or for actual gelato the chocolate store within City Market is superior.

I’m surprised I liked Café Nonna as much as I did. I’m guilty of being one of those «I traveled throughout Europe and ate gelato at least once a day» snobs (sorry, Unilocalisphere). Although I was excited to see Indy open a gelateria, I was skeptical that the gelato was going to have more of the texture of ice cream, something I have experienced with other shops in the US. Don’t get me wrong, ice cream is delicious, but there is something about the swirling smoothness and elasticity of gelato that can’t be beat. How would I feel about Café Nonna’s recipe?
I’m happy to report that Café Nonna has whipped up something typical of what one would find in a European gelateria. My mascarpone was quite lovely, flashing me back to the days when one could always find me with a sugar cone of slow-​melting gelato in one hand and a map in another. Not only was my mascarpone tasty and on-​point with the sweet and milky flavor, but more importantly it had the dense, silky «body» I yearn for in a cup of gelato. I’m happy to positively report back and recommend this spot.
Let those who have been abroad know that when they’re feeling nostalgic, a trip to Café Nonna is the trick to tide them over until they jet set again.

Cute, cool, fun atmosphere/​ambiance… good tasting gelato (worthy of 3.5 stars). Decided to stop here for some gelato and was happy to see the family owned dessert shop here. It’s nice to see the area/​store renovated, bringing something nice to the community. The service was very friendly. The selections were unique as well and I was happy to take care of my gelato craving. I would come back!

I’m not actually a dessert person at all. Chocolate? No thanks. I get it. I’m weird. With that being said, I walked to Café Nonna after a great meal at South of Chicago and thought that it would be a fun ending to my dinner. It was.
The inside of the café is large with plenty of seating, but there were some unoccupied tables outside. I’m all about the patios/​outside seating.
There were plenty of options to choose from. I got Peaches and Cream soft serve. I loved it. I tried the Salted Carmel gelato after hearing it was the top seller and I see why. Incredible! Once again — I hardly ever eat dessert. Not my thing… except for this.
One scoop was sufficient for me. They load it up.

This is a quaint little place I’m Fountain Square that’s colorful, cute and has a nice little outdoor seating area.
I was thoroughly impressed with it.
The employees there seem to be more than happy to help and we’re all courteous when we asked our questions about the gelato and their food.
I got the peanut butter gelato and I absolutely loved it! My favorite thing is that they also let you sample a few flavors before you get it.
My friends got the marscapone flavor and that one was absolutely great too.
However, they have more than gelato! My friend got the meatballs on a stick and let us try one of them and they legitimately just almost melt in your mouth. They’re also quite a big size too.
I think this could be a great afternoon hangout place or a great place to start a first date or something on. I am sure I will definitely be returning!

My daughters and I finally went into Café Nonna today because I have been told that I need to check it out since I love cannoli. Unfortunately, I still did not experience these cannoli that others recommended because no one would wait on me, hence this review is based solely on service. When I arrived, a gentleman was being checked out at the cash register and two ladies were being attended to at the ice cream bar. When the gentleman at the cash register left, the young man that was helping him left as well without acknowledging my presence. So I continued to wait.
In the meantime, another customer came in. Shortly thereafter, the two women at the ice cream bar finished making their choices and moved to the cash register. I am also still waiting by the cash register and no one behind the counter has said so much as «hello.» A staff member came to the cash register and said something to the women and left, so they continued to linger. Then, an older male staff member came to the counter and started helping the gentleman that came in after me and whom was standing off to the side and behind me. I believe he ordered some type of meatball something or other. Once the older man behind the counter completed the order he motioned for the man to come up to the cash register and then he called a female staff member to check him out because he said he was not allowed to work the register. I don’t know if he was trying to be funny or not.
Well, to say the least, I was quite offended and my girls and I left at that point. First, I was never acknowledged, and second, absolutely no one would wait on me. Honestly, I should have left before I did to save myself the humiliation of clearly being ignored. If a staff member is unclear on whom should be helped he or she should ask who is next; but honestly, it shouldn’t have been that hard to tell since one person was behind the other. I certainly will not return and spend my hard earned money in an establishment that thought it was fine to be so discourteous.

We were at the Italian Festival and wanted gelato and could not believe they were not selling it at the festival. But not to fear there was a ice cream shop just a block away.
It is a cute shop with plenty of seating indoor and out. They have a menu board on the wall with everything that they serve. There are a lot of option. We wanted gelato so Kyle got sample of the peanut butter and I got the mascarpone. They were both amazing. We each got 1 scoop. The scoops are pretty small and cost $ 3.50. It was really good but a little expence.

This gelato is top notch! I can tell this will become a new favorite. What a great addition to Fletcher Place!
You can tell he staff loves the product because they are delighted to offer samples of any of their delicious flavors!
For me, the amaretto gelato takes the cake! It is amazing! I also really enjoyed the salted caramel and several of their sorbetto flavors. But guys, really, get the Amaretto. You won’t be disappointed.
Plenty of seating indoor and outdoor. Right on the cultural trail and near a lot of other great food spots in Fletcher place. Perfect for an after dinner treat. Or an anytime treat really!

I’m so happy about this location!
#1. Fountain Square is a hub of growth right now
#2. It’s nestled in the heart of Indy’s own Little Italy.
The space is open and comfortable. The Italian flag awning outside and the Italian family tree photo wall inside visually remind visitors of the Italian roots of the sweet treat. The ice cream color décor is happy and bright with the visually stunning cases of options beckoning to come taste the gelato rainbow. In addition to gelato, they have sorbetto, soft serve, and pastries. They had TWO sandwiches on the menu board. Ham or sausage.
The pricing is comparable to most other ice cream shops in Indianapolis.
We had the Rum soft serve and coconut gelato and were not disappointed. I love rum ice cream, and this did not disappoint. It had a tasty rum flavor without being overpowering. I went in trying not to have too high of expectations because, as some of the other reviewers have mentioned, gelato in the states often doesn’t measure up to having it in Italy. I really think the coconut gelato was as good as some that I had in Italy. It had a great flavor and a creamy texture, not icy.
That being said, I prefer to base my rating on gelato here and not compare it to Italy. Also, my rating is based on one visit, and I’d like to do a lot more «research»! Took off one star for the two sandwich thing. It’s just me, but if you’re going to have food, have more than two sandwiches.
Definitely will be returning!

Due to my love affair with gelato in Firenze, Italy I feel I am super critical. This place is good but tasting their gelato didn’t whisk me back to my days in Firenze.
I learned a lot about gelato during my time in Italy. Lesson one avoid neon colored gelato because those colors don’t naturally occur so you know their ingredients are not the best. For example pistachio should never be green because the nuts are naturally brown. I give this place kudos for a natural brown pistachio gelato but feel it was still lacking in flavor. Simply my humble opinion after having the real deal. Also the marks they get for having the right color pistachio go out the window because their mint chocolate is neon green.
During my visit I got a mix of strawberry sorbetto and mascarpone gelato. It was tasty just not amazing. Please know I am being über critical.
The staff are friendly and eager to offer you samples of any and all flavors. Try a couple and settle on your favorites.
I also thought the price point was decent. $ 3.50 for one scoop or $ 4.50 for two. I also enjoyed that with one scoop I was able to get two flavors.
The interior is clean and candy colored cuteness. There are tables inside and out to sit and enjoy your tasty treat at.
This place is in my neighborhood so I know I will be back because I walk my dogs by here almost daily.

Fletcher Place is seriously on a roll. Café Nonna is another tasty addition to this developing neighborhood bustling with some of the newest and best restaurants in the city.
Café Nonna can be found along the Cultural Trail. It is the perfect place to stop and take a break as you are exploring the city. Not to mention s/​o to Brooke K. for letting us know that gelato is lower in fat than ice cream. I love a treat with less guilt! I immediately like the warm and welcoming environment. I loved the family photos found along the wall and the exposed brick wall. I felt like a kid when I saw the case full of gelato. Yummmm!!! 12 flavors nicely presented. It was Memorial Day, so they were pretty busy, but the staff was super nice and attentive. Try as many flavors as you like they said. Sweet! I was feeling adventurous and didn’t want to get my usual go-​to gelato flavor which is stratciatella, so I sampled the almond and marscapone italian cheesecake. Both were winners! I didn’t even sample anything else because I wanted more of these flavors. Two scoops, please! My boyfriend opted for half a scoop of the popular peanut butter and chocolate. The price point seemed reasonable. $ 3.50 for one scoop and $ 4.50 for two.
It was such a beautiful day so we sat outdoors. The outdoor seating is somewhat limited, but we were able to find a table and enjoyed ourselves. Without a doubt, I will be back to Café Nonna to try some more delicious gelato. They also offer pastries such as cannolis and cheesecake. Yep! Adding those to my list to try as well. This place is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

100% worth going to and a great addition to Fountain Square.
I went to Café Nonna on a nice evening so I was a little surprised to find the inside empty. Of course, there were a lot of people sitting outside enjoying their gelato, but the inside feeling like a ghost town seemed odd. The staff was friendly and you could tell they were excited to finally have customers at this new place!
There are plenty of flavors of not only gelato to choose from but also soft serve. So, great place if you’re an ice cream fan. I will agree with Kate W. that the gelato isn’t entitely authentic. It’s still good, but I think the determining factor as to how much you’ll enjoy the cold treat depends if you’ve been to Italy or not. I had both the tiramisu and pistachio gelatos — pistachio was very good but the tiramisu was overwhelmingly a coffee taste. Not up to Italy standards but okay for Indiana I’d say.
Overall, I’d come here again when craving something frozen or sweet. Not my favorite gelato or ice cream related place in the city but a good place overall.

Positives: The space is very cute, and outdoor seating is a plus. Family friendly but also a good place to go with a date.
Negatives: I fully admit, after spending time in Italy, I can be somewhat of a gelato snob. The consistency of the gelato is not where it needs to be. I had two flavors (and some bites of my friend’s) and overall it was too icy. It should have been smoother, more creamy. Also the flavors were a bit off. The stracciatella fell a little flat (quite bland) and the tiramisu had an extremely strong (and overpowering) espresso flavor to it (for some this could be a definite positive). It just tasted… off. Not like gelato should taste.
Overall, if you like ice cream, you’ll love this place because their gelato is closer to ice cream than it is to gelato. It is a great atmosphere and a good experience. They have a lot of work to do to create more authentic gelato, but I’m sure they’ll get the hang of things as time goes on. They do have other things than just gelato. So maybe those are better.
I recommend going for the experience or if you’re looking for a sweet treat/​something to do, not for the quality of the gelato.

12 Flavors of Gelato
5 Flavors of Sorbetto
24 Flavors of Soft Serve
Gelato Banana Splits & Cannoli’s & Italian Pastries
Yep, my kind of place!
I am a sucker for the sweet seduction of icy sweet treats so after an adventurous day biking on the Cultural Trail Nonnas was calling my name. I love the name, makes me think of family as if I am going over to my grams place for dessert. Every flavor looked divine Tiramisu, Mascrapone, Hazelnut, Banana… the staff encouraged sampling so of course I obliged. My favorites were the pistachio, peanut butter, and salted caramel. The good news is Gelato is lower in fat then ice cream so I doubled down and went for the recommended 2 scoop combo peanut butter & salted caramel ($ 4.50). Those two flavors complimented each other well. Not as creamy as ice cream of course but the flavor was more intense especially the peanut butter. I didn’t try the Sorbetto but dang that sure looked good. The strawberry & pineapple options are definitely on my list to try.
Highlights:
*Two scoops is a good portion size… not too big… not too small
*There is a small selection of toppings that can be added to your concoction
*The space is pretty ample. Much larger inside then I expected. Lots of indoor seating.
*There are 3 – 4 tables for your outside sweet treat enjoyment as well. Plenty of shade mid afternoon.
Oddities:
*The country music… not sure if this is always the choice of music but come on… this is supposed to be an Italian dessert shop. It was really killing my Italian Gelato moment.
Will I be back… for sure! Can’t wait to try more flavors!