Come for the gelato, stay for the show! Or maybe it's the other way around. Purveyors of fine gelato in home made flavors the shop also houses stages where you can catch anything from a magic act to sword swallowing, fire eating, burlesque and more!! Just a literal hop from Lincoln square, you need to stop in.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alexandra Whitley
Sideshow Gelato is a neighborhood treasure, and it's astonishing they're not constantly packed. Even when they're not performing shows, the location feels like a visit to an old-timey carnival, complete with sidecars you can sit in. A lot of people grab their gelato and go, but I recommend enjoying the atmosphere. The staff might just perform a tiny bit of magic, circus, or other silliness even outside a scheduled show.
The shows themselves are extremely cute and family friendly, and if you're in the neighborhood on a Saturday you should definitely stop by. During our neighborhood festivals, the staff set up a tent with classic circus humbug, like Spidora the Spider-Woman, who also tells terrible jokes. These are delightful people.
Oh right, the gelato itself! It's delicious and comes in generous portions. Sideshow Gelato carries a more interesting variety of flavors than your average location. This means that some flavors aren't for everyone, and that's a good thing. Taste the ones you're curious about, wince at the one your girlfriend loves and you hate, and then pick your own. I hope this place stays in our neighborhood a long, long time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amanda Spoor
This is a hidden gem in Lincoln Square! We walked in for gelato, which was delicious (including multiple vegan options) and were treated to carnival theme decor, a free fire eating show by the owner, and lots of laughs!
Michele Chinsky
Amazing gelato (dairy and vegan) and so much fun. Sideshow performances we fun. Lively decor and clever seating options :)
Dietary restrictions: Vegan options !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Daniel James Zylstra
Very engaging atmosphere and fun loving staff
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kate Lin
Great ice cream, and the staff was amazing. Brought kid in during her birthday weekend, and the staff did a little magic for her and made a ballon animal, made the experience very special. They have great collection of flavors and a lot of vegan options for folks with food allergies. Very happy to have this option in the neighborhood!
Amazing sideshow talent performing all nights of the week! And the gelato is 'out of this world' delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jay Johnson
PHENOMENAL! On a trip from Boston, stopped in and Cassidy gave us a quick sideshow during a lull in customers.
Peanut butter banana gelato for the win as well. Run, don’t walk!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicholas Caputi
The decor is awesome and the staff is amazing. One of the servers did a sideshow demo when it was only me and my two boys in there just because she enjoyed it so much. The owner heard my son was getting into magic and showed him multiple tricks. Even has a large selection of vegan gelato (if you’re into that kind of thing).
Yes the gelato is absolutely fabulous.. the people that serve you the gelato are also absolutely fabulous. The free museum of sideshows . Plus they raise money for local charity. I Feel it is one of the most unique establishments giving me my sugar fix in Chicago. Give the vegan gelato a chance, it also tastes fabulous along with the regular.
Kid-friendliness: O my god .. kids are welcomed with open arms. Plus fun booths made out of amusement rides. I have seen many happy families in those booths.
I don't think any dessert shop on the planet is quite like this place!! The girl working the counter was super polite and helpful offered suggestions and samples!! The decor and vibe are incredible I gotta make it back on a Saturday night for a live sideshow!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kurt Jolly
This place is a blast!! The flavors are so interesting and different- we went with the enigma and were not disappointed! The events are also top notch, and the whole place is so fun ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Penny C
Campy, delicious, and friendly. Great ice cream or gelato parlor with colorful tables and chairs.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu Gelato
Taylor Dye
My wife and I went last night for the Enigma show, we got there a bit early and got some gelato. She got a yummy sort of brownie batter tasting flavor and I got a Hot Toddy flavor that had Bischoff cookie crumbles in it. So yum! The place itself is super cool and there’s all sorts of carnival memorabilia everywhere. The show was super funny and my wife got pulled up for a bit lol. I was really pleased to read on their website that their shows are donation-based, making this among one of the most accessible venues in the city!!! Love this spot, I will be back. (:
Come for the gelato, stay for the show! Or maybe it's the other way around. Purveyors of fine gelato in home made flavors the shop also houses stages where you can catch anything from a magic act to sword swallowing, fire eating, burlesque and more!! Just a literal hop from Lincoln square, you need to stop in.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sideshow Gelato is a neighborhood treasure, and it's astonishing they're not constantly packed. Even when they're not performing shows, the location feels like a visit to an old-timey carnival, complete with sidecars you can sit in. A lot of people grab their gelato and go, but I recommend enjoying the atmosphere. The staff might just perform a tiny bit of magic, circus, or other silliness even outside a scheduled show.
The shows themselves are extremely cute and family friendly, and if you're in the neighborhood on a Saturday you should definitely stop by. During our neighborhood festivals, the staff set up a tent with classic circus humbug, like Spidora the Spider-Woman, who also tells terrible jokes. These are delightful people.
Oh right, the gelato itself! It's delicious and comes in generous portions. Sideshow Gelato carries a more interesting variety of flavors than your average location. This means that some flavors aren't for everyone, and that's a good thing. Taste the ones you're curious about, wince at the one your girlfriend loves and you hate, and then pick your own. I hope this place stays in our neighborhood a long, long time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is a hidden gem in Lincoln Square! We walked in for gelato, which was delicious (including multiple vegan options) and were treated to carnival theme decor, a free fire eating show by the owner, and lots of laughs!
Amazing gelato (dairy and vegan) and so much fun. Sideshow performances we fun. Lively decor and clever seating options :)
Dietary restrictions: Vegan options !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very engaging atmosphere and fun loving staff
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great ice cream, and the staff was amazing. Brought kid in during her birthday weekend, and the staff did a little magic for her and made a ballon animal, made the experience very special. They have great collection of flavors and a lot of vegan options for folks with food allergies. Very happy to have this option in the neighborhood!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dairy Free Options, Tiramisu Gelato
Amazing sideshow talent performing all nights of the week! And the gelato is 'out of this world' delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
PHENOMENAL! On a trip from Boston, stopped in and Cassidy gave us a quick sideshow during a lull in customers.
Peanut butter banana gelato for the win as well. Run, don’t walk!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The decor is awesome and the staff is amazing. One of the servers did a sideshow demo when it was only me and my two boys in there just because she enjoyed it so much. The owner heard my son was getting into magic and showed him multiple tricks. Even has a large selection of vegan gelato (if you’re into that kind of thing).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Pistachio, Chocolate Vegan Gelato
Yes the gelato is absolutely fabulous.. the people that serve you the gelato are also absolutely fabulous. The free museum of sideshows . Plus they raise money for local charity. I Feel it is one of the most unique establishments giving me my sugar fix in Chicago. Give the vegan gelato a chance, it also tastes fabulous along with the regular.
Kid-friendliness: O my god .. kids are welcomed with open arms. Plus fun booths made out of amusement rides. I have seen many happy families in those booths.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Pistachio, Tiramisu Gelato
Restaurantji Recommends
I don't think any dessert shop on the planet is quite like this place!! The girl working the counter was super polite and helpful offered suggestions and samples!! The decor and vibe are incredible I gotta make it back on a Saturday night for a live sideshow!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is a blast!! The flavors are so interesting and different- we went with the enigma and were not disappointed! The events are also top notch, and the whole place is so fun ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Campy, delicious, and friendly. Great ice cream or gelato parlor with colorful tables and chairs.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu Gelato
My wife and I went last night for the Enigma show, we got there a bit early and got some gelato. She got a yummy sort of brownie batter tasting flavor and I got a Hot Toddy flavor that had Bischoff cookie crumbles in it. So yum! The place itself is super cool and there’s all sorts of carnival memorabilia everywhere. The show was super funny and my wife got pulled up for a bit lol. I was really pleased to read on their website that their shows are donation-based, making this among one of the most accessible venues in the city!!! Love this spot, I will be back. (:
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
different Gelato shop than usual
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Pistachio, Tiramisu Gelato
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