*UPDATE: This post officially marks my ONE year anniversary of Bella Vivere! Thanks to everyone who stopped by and for all of your support, I couldn't thank you enough! :D"
I don't know about you all, but lately, it seems like bubble tea shops are popping up around every corner in the Gwinnett area. While I swear by Quickly's or SunO's bubble tea drinks, I like to venture out of my comfort zone every once in a while and give somewhere else a shot. Because of that reason, I ended up here at Lattea. I've been coming here for quite some time now-not for the bubble tea, but for the various snacks & ice cream treats they offer here, which is what really sets them apart from their competition down the streets. Not only are their products reasonably priced, but they're delicious and offer a fun environment to bring friends and family.
Let's get started:
♫Lattea's storefront
♫Post-its Wall :)
♫Order counter
♫Pretty wall decals, pictures & more post-its
♫Seating area
♫Pineapple Boat ($5.75): Fresh pineapple half filled with one scoop each of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream, with whipped cream, sprinkles, and flavorings
♫Avocado Smoothie ($3.50): Ice blended with fresh avocados and condensed milk with tapioca balls
♫FOOD (3.5/5): While not pictured here, I've had quite a bit of Lattea's menu selections! From their taiwanese snacks up to their milkshakes, shaved ice treats, and more, I've definitely managed to have quite a few favorites. For those of you with a sweet tooth, I'd highly recommend their fried ice cream with fresh fruits (kiwis, strawberries and watermelon)-the tempura batter is a bit thicker than what you might find at other places, but it sure is delicious and the fresh fruits really complement the tasty vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup. But what's even better than that is the pineapple boat in all of its glory! They don't skimp here-and it's obvious! I was having a bad day and had walked into Lattea, and this dessert was screaming my name. 3 large scoops of ice cream, fresh pineapples, whipped cream, sprinkles and more....SIGN ME UP! Oh boy was I glad I ordered this. The ice cream was extraordinarily creamy and delicious, and the diced pineapple beneath the ice cream was super refreshing and fresh. The sprinkles gave it that extra crunch and the creamy whipped cream just about goes with any dessert you can imagine. For less than $6, you're really getting quite the steal considering how large this dessert is. If you went to any restaurant in Atlanta, you'd probably only get a dessert a fourth of the size, based on personal experience. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Here are where the stars begin getting docked off though. I recently found the most delicious avocado smoothie right here in Duluth at I Luv Pho for about $4-it's thick, creamy and ridiculously addicting. I think I had high hopes thinking that everywhere else made it in a similar fashion, so I ordered it here at Lattea. When I asked the employee what was in it, he said it was a blend of ice, fresh avocados, and condensed milk. Well, okay-so I ordered it. When I was handed it, it was nothing like I had expected it to be-it was sort of watery, no whipped cream and was not thick and creamy like I had imagined. It was kind of a disappointment, the condensed milk flavor was way too strong and overbearing against the avocado flavor. The best part of the smoothie though were the chewy and succulent tapioca bubbles, which they definitely gave a good bit as well. I should've stuck with their house black milk tea, which is pretty darn delicious!
♫SERVICE (5/5): Every employee I've encountered here has seemed rather young (early 20's-early 30's) and extremely friendly. If you've never been to Lattea before, they have no trouble recommending some of their most popular drinks and snack foods, and are really helpful if you're unsure of what to order. After placing your order, each item is freshly prepared and then brought to your table while you wait. Similar to a restaurant, they even come by and ask how you liked everything, which isn't really normal considering it isn't a bakery/restaurant, but it is greatly appreciated. The service here is definitely top notch compared to some of its competitors in the area.
♫DECOR (5/5): Friendly and vibrant! As soon as I walked into Lattea, I couldn't help but notice the hundreds of colorful post-its covering the wall. Stars, hearts, squares, circles, flowers with cute little messages and names, it was definitely something I've never seen before. While some people might think it looks messy and childish (like my brother), I actually love the playful addition and liveliness it brings out of Lattea. In addition, all around the restaurant, there are dozens of wall decals, each depicting something different. On the other side of the wall, there's a huge musical stanza decal, in the restrooms, there are cute poop-shaped decals lining the walls, and so much more. I like that Lattea isn't trying to impress a certain clientele by making it modern or classy looking inside, but rather making their decor open for anyone to enjoy. In addition to tables and chairs, they also have bar stool and high tables too. While the seating area is rather small, I'd estimate it could fit about 30+ people. On another note, they play some awesome music here on the flat screen hanging overhead! Ranging from Kpop to hip hop to pop rock, I like jamming out and hanging out with friends here. It's comfortable and cozy, just the way I like it.
As if that wasn't enough for that, Lattea is probably one of the ONLY bubble tea shops open extremely late in the Duluth area! On weekdays, they open till 2AM and on weekends, they open till 3AM. I have heard that they close early every once in a while, but hey, if business is slow one night, I'd call it a night and wrap things up too (just my two cents). Free-wifi, great yummy & affordable treats and a friendly environment makes this a winner in my book, in addition to the awesome hours of operation. While I probably won't be coming back for the bubble tea alone, I'll be back for just about everything else.
Thanks for stopping by,
-Sandy
FTC: I was not paid or compensated for this review. All reviews and opinions expressed are my own.
If you'd like to invite Bella Vivere to cover & share your restaurant's media events, tastings or parties, feel free to shoot me an email at bellavivere@gmail.com-Thanks!
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