Our family of three (me, wife & 3 yr-old son) went shortly after it opened. They need some refinement in the service side. The ice cream was okay. Son's chocolate was oldie-timey malt flavored and just okay- he didn't really like it; I hade the Grasshopper which was inedible. Must have had a discount on mint oil that week- way to strong. My wife had the best one which I can't remember now. Anyway eventually we'll probably go back but more likely Powell's gelato will remain our favorite after dinner treat.

I agree. From what I've been told, they make their ice cream on site and pretty much just make up flavors. One of the flavors we had was something one of the kids that worked there had made up. I think they'll need to put some process and consistency behind their recipes if they're going to last.

As for the service, it was very disorganized and mostly lacking.

I think the concept is great, and it's a family run business, so I really would like to see them do well. Petaluma could really use a quality shop like this.

They have really, really good coffee. Seriously, my new favorite. They french-press espresso apparently.

I very much agree with all the above comments...aside from the coffee. I have yet to try it. I would love to see this place do well as some one stated previous. I have come twice now and the first time was enjoyable...enjoyed not only service but the ice cream. Second time, not so much. Paid $8.00 for regular scoops and were served their junior size scoop after waiting 15 minutes (not kidding on the time) when there were about two other customers in there...asked for bigger scoops, waited another 5-7 minutes. In the mean time watching the owners son behind the counter serve himself a scoop of ice cream and proceed to put his fingers in his mouth and lick off what ice cream he had gotten on his hands, puts the scoop back and scoops another one...without washing his hands. I will definitley give them another try...however not for some time while they work the kinks out and learn the proper health department rules. Please do better we need a place like this downtown!!

I really enjoyed my experience at Lala's. I found the ice cream to be good and the staff to be friendly. They are new so I'm sure they are still refining their service issues. I found the interior to be charming and I liked the unusual offerings. My only complaint is that as a family-oriented store, they need a CHANGING TABLE in the bathroom!

I LOVED Lala's. Went there the day of the antique fair & got myself a traditional banana split. Jr. size mind you. And I couldn't finish it - I had to call my teenaged daughter to have her come and help me.

My boy had an awesome rootbeer float. My friend and her daughter both had chocolate shakes.

It was all wonderful. Service was great, Michael in particular was very friendly.

I saw some of the other comments & am glad people seem to be giving them grace as it's hard to start a new "service-oriented" business and not have kinks.

We should be thankful to have that space on the Blvd filled with something that is family-friendly AND supports our local economy as they use so many local ingredients.

My wife and I got try LaLa's last week, we enjoyed the ice cream and especially loved what they did with the place. It truly was a throw back to the old fashion ice cream parlor.

Yes, they are still learning, they make their ice cream fresh as they run low, so it should always be fresh. Give them some time, I am sure they will get better and better.

This is exactly what downtown Petaluma needed, we are glad they are here. Even if my Gelato is just a little bit better (but I may biased)

Good luck to the family, you did a great job Will.

Will, you are such a nice guy. Your posts are always on the upbeat and positive side. I think you should run for Petaluma Mayor sometime!

p.s. Yes, your gelato is always excellent!

Have had two excellent experiences there. Both times we went when it wasn't busy so we were showered with attention and good service. I wish them loads of luck. Thanks you for adding to the character of our beautiful downtown!

I took my 3 year-old neice to La-la's last week and we thought it was darling. The ice-cream was super rich and yummy. The floats/shakes are a little pricey. I couldn't figure out if they used local ingredients, so I asked. The pleasant young girl behind the counter explained that they used Strauss Family Cream (from Marshall) for their chocolate based ice cream and a few others, everything else was made with Foster Farms.
We also discovered standing sand-boxes out back, which my neice loved playing in with some other children. What a great place for a play-date!

As for Powell's- we'll keep going to Theatre square and having gelato by the fountian. I think they are two different experiences.

I was so excited for this place to open and was sure I would love it, but was so disappointed with our experience. We took our 2 kids out some scoops, and the service was quite poor. We ordered 2 regular size on cones and 2 kid sized in cups. The kids got huge scoops in cups and the adult cones were teeny tiny. We suggested that they might have mixed up our order, but they insisted they had not (yet it was so obvious the swapped it, but wouldn't admit the error). I love just about all ice cream, but was not very impressed. My husband got coffee ice cream and it was vanilla with ground up coffee beans mixed... not really coffee ice cream. I hope they figure out how to make better ice cream and improve the service, because this place would be a wonderful addition to town if they improve their product and service. Decor is nice, but that's not enough. Powell's is still our regular ice cream place in town. It's always yummy!

I just gave it a second try today, and it was much better than my first try in April. The service was so much better and the portions were gigantic. I still like Powell's gelato better, but I eat enough ice cream to give both plenty of business. I didn't look out back because it was too cold, but I heard there are sandboxes for the kids. Mine will love that.

I was hoping to hear it's the best thing next to Fenton's, right in my backyard yet. But the two people I've heard from that have been there said it was just OK, nothing special.

it is definitely not fenten's BUT, it is good and is welcomed!