The Three "R's"

the scene outside of Roma
Originally uploaded by michelle1975.

So, first and foremost, this entry is on the topic of ice cream. Secondly, it features three places where you can get ice cream in Montreal that begin with the letter "R". And thirdly, but importantly, this entry focuses on affordability at a time when the price of just a simple summer ice cream cone has inflated to absurd proportions at many of the city's crèmeries.

Roma
Roma is an Italian bakery and pastry shop that's renowned for its foccacia, its pizza, and its "old-school" pastries like the practically phantasmagoric ones seen here:

Pastries at Roma
Originally uploaded by michelle1975.

What a lot of people don't realize, though, is that Roma also serves up their own homemade gelatos and sorbettos from a small counter inside. You can't get a cone there, but you for a mere $2.00 you can get a very generous portion of, say, their fine Limone, with just the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Then you can park it on St. Laurent, savor your flavor, and take in the colorful Little Italy scene, like we did.

Roma, 6776 St. Laurent Blvd., 273-9357

Ripples
Operating out of a tiny little storefront located right in the thick of the action along the Main north of Avenue des Pins, Ripples has been a frozen dessert hot spot for almost 20 years now. They feature two prize-winning flavors: their French Vanilla and their unbelievably intense 6x Chocolate (otherwise known as Chocolat XXXXXX), but our favorites also include their spicy Ginger, a rather powerful Capuccino, and their wonderful sorbets, including Guava-Grapefruit and Strawbery-Banana.

l-r: guava-grapefruit and strawberry-banana at Ripples
Originally uploaded by michelle1975.

Best of all, the prices at Ripples have remained very reasonable, and on those days when you just want a teeny-weeny little taste of something, you can still get a mini (we prefer to call them "micro-minis") there for a mere 50¢ (!).

Ripples, 3880 St. Laurent Blvd., 842-1697

Roberto's
Last, but not least, depite the fact that Montreal has a rather sizeable Italian population, the city is shockingly devoid of gelaterias. One of the only true gelaterias in town, and an exceptionally good one at that, is Roberto's, located on the eastern fringes of Little Italy. All the classics are there, including Baci, Torrone, and Zuppa Inglesa, but on a recent visit, it was the sorbettos--like Pear and (especially) Litchi--that were blowing us away.

the selection at Roberto's
Originally uploaded by michelle1975.

And, once again, the prices at Roberto's have remained very reasonable. A single only sets you back $2.25, while a double is only 50¢ more.

Roberto's, 2221 Bélanger E., 374-9844