Gelato made its name as a delicious after dinner treat, best consumed in walkable European town centers. In Dallas’ car-centric culture, that environment is difficult to find. The walkability of Lower Greenville provides a suitable setting for Botolino Gelato Artigianale, a new artisanal gelato restaurant joining the strip.
Taking over the space formerly held by The Bottle Shop at 2116 Greenville, Botolino is rehabbing the space for its purposes now.
Owner Carlo Gattini moved to Dallas from Italy with his family when he was 15, and they founded Momo Italian Kitchen in North Dallas. Gattini worked in many positions in the restaurant, from washing dishes as a teenager at Lake Highlands High School to management prior to opening the gelato shop.
Gattini comes from a long line of gelaticians. His grandmother and great-grandfather both made gelato in Italy before his family migrated. Gattini spent several weeks in Italy researching the frozen treat in preparation for opening his shop. “It is something really special to go home to your people and talk about the minutia of food,” he says.
Lower Greenville seemed like the ideal location for Gattini.
“I love the area and live within walking distance. It is a unique area in Dallas as natural walkability is rare,” he says. “It is also an older area, and being from Italy I like older things.”
Botolino will open afternoons and evenings in late August. It will focus on quality rather than quantity, with only 12 flavors at first. Eventually, it will add Italian popsicles, other frozen treats and pastries.
It joins a crowded dessert market within two blocks of Steel City Pops; Dude, Sweet Chocolate; and JOY Macarons.
