City September 2, 2012 8:30 AM

Gelateria Luca: A real Italian Café and Gelateria

Gelateria Luca: A real Italian Café and Gelateria
queenseyes
queenseyes 22
As if popping up overnight, Gelateria Luca has opened at the corner of Elmwood and Potomac, close to Bidwell Parkway. The corner spot is a prime location for a small gelateria-café, and should do a lot to liven up the corner, which has been mostly vacant since 'room' left for Hertel. 

If you're a fan of gelato, I highly recommend that you stop in to try a few of the different homemade flavors. I stopped in last week and met up with co-owner Cristina Hiscock who told me that all of the gelato is made in-house, making it exceptional in taste and texture. She gave me a couple of samples to try and I couldn't believe how smooth and flavorful they were. The coffee mocha was outstanding. Plus, gelato is generally less fattening than ice cream, so I didn't feel as bad scarfing if all down. 

During my visit to Gelateria Luca, I ran into Cristina's various family members who all appeared to have some sort of a hand in the opening of the café. Some of them were bakers and others were pastry makers, and all of them were passionate about good food and traditional recipes. It appeared to be a family reunion at first, but then I realized that it was more like a support group, with everyone wishing great success to the venture. It was a jovial scene and I could tell that this was a tight-knit family that has been bonding at the dinner table for generations. Now it's time to take the recipes public with a wide selection of homemade gelato, cannoli and pastries, as well as frozen yogurt, coffee and espresso. 

Gelateria-Luca-Buffalo-NY-2.jpg
Elmwood continues to get sweeter this summer. When it comes to Italian cafés, Gelateria Luca is the real thing. Indoor and outdoor seating available and within close proximity to Bidwell Parkway. Be sure to ask for one of the homemade gelato cones!

Gelateria Luca
988 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY.
1 (716) 882-5353
Today 9:00 am - 12:00 am

Lead photo: Facebook

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22 Comments Leave a comment
Travelrrr
September 2, 2012 10:31 AM
Travelrrr

What a great addition to the strip. Please, please kill the awful flourescent lighting--it totally detracts from the space.

I love gellato, and will certainly be there.

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Dagner
September 2, 2012 10:52 AM
Dagner

Tempting news. Any predictions on what the hours will be after today?

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elmdog
September 2, 2012 11:34 AM
elmdog

It's a really nice addition but, I know I am going to get negatives on this - why does it seem like Hertel Avenue commercial projects have more character and Money spent when new places open?
Examples- the new globe, spot, mes que, uncorked, canvas, etc...... I am guessing it's cheaper lease prices, less guidelines than Elmwood village and better floor plans ....

When does over thinking and regulating a neighborhood become a detriment? Also, how does zettis and other store fronts get away with ugly exteriors and standards ....

And when is Elmwood going to get new cross walks, corners etc...., what does the Elmwood Assoc push and actually do?
Okay, maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the bed ....

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Cam33r4
September 2, 2012 12:36 PM
Cam33r4

I think the cheaper lease is one of the biggest factors, honestly. Though I bet Hertel's prices are steadily increasing with the recent surge of commercial business. I actually prefer Hertel to Elmwood because I like the family friendly attitude over the pretentious hipster vibe I sometimes get from Elmwood.

Anyway, I digress. I think this is a good addition but wow this place seriously did come out of of nowhere. I LOVE gelato though, so I'm excited, especially because this stuff is all homemade. I've been to Italy a few times and a lot of times the gelato in the states is basically just like ice cream, so I can't wait to try this out to see if it's as good as the real think! (That sounds kind of pretentious of me, doesn't it...) =/

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300miles
September 2, 2012 1:45 PM
300miles

You pretentious (gelato) hipster, you... :)

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grad94
September 3, 2012 11:38 AM
grad94

i had to chuckle at the 'pretentious hipster vibe' observation, because my experience is just the opposite. i've taken to calling the stretch of elmwood from ferry to potomac the stroller district, because that is where families feel safe bringing young children. often arriving from elsewhere. just last night, i noticed a huge suv parking on elmwood and out pops mom, dad, the kid, and the obligatory monster stroller.

ever tried to navigate the aisles of the co-op or 7/11 around one of those behemoth 2-seat strollers? on elmwood, parents strap kids into them who are fully capable of walking. it must be a 'safety' thing to roll your kindergartner around rather than letting him walk off some energy. modern strollers are like the suvs of the pedestrian world and elmwood is full of them.

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replied to Cam33r4
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EricOak
September 2, 2012 11:47 PM
EricOak

You didn't wake up on the wrong side; those are valid concerns. What does the EVA actually do?
And you're right about Elmwood--it looks shabby and hungover more often than not, and yet it's extolled as a paradigm for neighborhood vitality. It shouldn't be-- because that makes it, and us, complacent. This is a strip with multiple student slum blocks, not a single elegant restaurant, commercial landlord malaise and exorbitant rents. It hangs on because of the relative density of the area, the affluence of some of its adjacent streets, and the luck of geography. But its needs leadership, vision, and money.

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replied to elmdog
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grad94
September 3, 2012 11:21 AM
grad94

for what it is worth, the elmwood village design guidelines are silent on interior issues such as floor plans and lighting. those are subject to the same building codes as the rest of the city.

personally, i cheer on the success of hertel, grant, and allentown. for a while, elmwood was the only 'safe' place to open a shop. luxury goods soon pushed out necessities. i can't tell the precious little dress shop apart anymore. it is as if an entire neighborhood needs little more than lots of coffee, ice cream (see, i'm trying to stay on topic) and smart cocktail party frocks.

anyway, as other commercial avenues become viable, entrepreneurs have a lot more choices about where to rent. which i hope will exert downward pressure on elmwood rents so maybe we can have a simple shoe repair shop again.

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replied to elmdog
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whatever
December 5, 2012 10:14 PM
whatever

elm>"when is Elmwood going to get new cross walks, corners etc…."

There's many streets that kind of question can be asked about - also for sidewalks, paving, crime cams, ...
Actually by comparison, I don't think there's much to complain about regarding Elmwood for that. It seems to receive more upkeep than most.

I'd much prefer more of that kind of spending on public infrastructure for Elmwood and other streets that need it instead having $ be given to Rich Products, AMRI, Uniland condos, IDA subsidies for anything anywhere, Livery, new street for Colvin Estates, etc.

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replied to elmdog
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RickyBobby
September 2, 2012 9:43 PM
RickyBobby

Wow! Best gelato since my family and went to Italy last year! Great to see a growing crowd in a quality establishment.

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Slu
September 2, 2012 11:59 PM
Slu

I checked it out today. Good gelato, but I hope they expand the menu a bit.

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townline
September 3, 2012 12:20 PM
townline

Everybody focuses on the faults of the starting quarterback and the backup is always the favorite guy in town. This situation applies to Elmwood and Hertel. People are so excited about the fact that something nice is happening on Hertel, they totally ignore that it has far more crappy properties than Elmwood has. Ever been into some of those "antique" shops? Conversely, Elmwood has finally become established and much regarded outside the city - that some people expect it to be perfect in every way. Eric repeated points out that the street looks tired on this site. The truth is - that some areas do look tired, but there have ALWAYS been areas that have looked tired on Elmwood, and there are far fewer of those today than there have been in the past. Elmwood is doing extremely well as an urban district - there are always going to be ups and downs with certain nodes and certain properties, but overall the trend has only been up.

If you really think Elmwood was more pristine years ago, you're stuck in some sort of nostalgic-flavored, rose colored Bubble.

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KatieKen
September 3, 2012 7:56 PM
KatieKen

Elmwood Strip "shabby, hungover, tired"? People I met this weekend out in Angola (for a big family/friends party) were in from Sarnia, Ontario. They came into town because they had heard that Elmwood is one of the 10 best places to live. They were in Sat AM, for the Bidwell Market, shopping, and walking, and were absolutely enchanted. Loved it, and they are suburbanites there in CA. Nice to hear, especially as they were a couple of blocks from where I reside.

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elmdog
September 3, 2012 11:11 PM
elmdog

I think that all of the success that Elmwood has gone thru and all of the good publicity and noteriety - you would think it would attract better looking storefronts, streets capes, cleanliness and more merchants and restaurateurs wanting to take a chance somewhere on the street. But in reality it handles cheaper food choices, nice shops, and a lot of turn around in the stores ..... I think the publicity is more than the reality of the street ......

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grad94
September 4, 2012 8:45 AM
grad94

if elmwood was merely the sum of its storefronts, i'd agree with you. but it is not.

it is also an olmsted parkway that might host a farmers market, anti-war protests, tightrope walkers, hacky sack players, or picnickers. it is a marvelously intact 1890s streetcar suburb. it is a church that is growing rather then dying (unitarian). it is families with young children who reject the 'suburban schools are better schools' assumption. it is block clubs, gardens, dog walkers, cyclists, baristas.

in other words, it is a functioning neighborhood, not just a commercial avenue. this is what people pick up on, especially if they're from a suburb where uses and income classes are strictly separated.

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replied to elmdog
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elmdog
September 4, 2012 9:13 AM
elmdog

I agree on the other amenities that it brings but- as an Olmsted parkway and having Bidwell as a centerpiece , In a perfect world the streetscape would match the Olmsted feel, new lighting, better corners all around the area, as I said before, cross walks etc.... I know money is limited but the very important corners around the neighborhood are concrete corners with no appeal ..... All of the sidewalks are stained, dirty, worn..... Elmwood and west delavan, zettis corner , etc.......
Believe me, I really enjoy living here but all of the "Elmwood talk" all of the time and you would think we were Lewistons main street ....... Which is immaculate by the way .....

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replied to grad94
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townline
September 4, 2012 11:32 AM
townline

Of course Lewiston's Main Street is immaculate in comparison to Elmwood Ave.... I would bet you that Main St. Lewiston does not have 1/100th of the foot-traffic and daily use that Elmwood Avenue has.

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replied to elmdog
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elmdog
September 4, 2012 5:29 PM
elmdog

Who knows but I am not going to guess that - main street Lewiston on a Saturday is full all day..... But it's a lot of the extras - planters, shrubbery, flowers, most of the corners are clean and kept up well - cross walks at every street crossing, - new restaurants that open look great from the outside and in ...... This was just an example of what they do to keep it looking great ...

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replied to townline
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300miles
September 4, 2012 6:09 PM
300miles

elmdog - I think part of the reason is that Elmwood itself does not totally control all the things you mention. While Lewiston is its own city with its own govt, Elmwood is merely a neighborhood within the much larger city of Buffalo which doesn't necessarily share the same priorities as the people and businesses of Elmwood. The people in the area aren't able to say "Let's change these crosswalks the way we want them" because Elmwood doesn't control that. They can only pressure Buffalo to allow it and fund it. And I'm sure you would appreciate why that is no simple task.

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JenHasse
December 5, 2012 8:48 PM
JenHasse

I hope they will have great success and not encounter much competition with other EV options out there: Dolci, Zillycakes, etc. Tried a cannoli, it was OK. Tried some sorbetto and it was good! I will be back to try a chocolate mousse dessert I was tempted to buy :)

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12stringjack
April 6, 2013 12:18 PM
12stringjack

Been there 3 time already, Great gelato very friendly staff (family!) Wish them all the luck. Try it you'll like it!!!!

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buffalorr
April 6, 2013 1:41 PM
buffalorr

The owners are an extremely nice family.
They've bought a home in the area and are doing a total renovation on it.
This is exactly the type of thing that's helping to bring Buffalo back again.

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