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Gypsy's Trattoria Italiana (Italian cuisine)  $

 8.5
JaT Rating

2519-A Durant Ave, Berkeley, 94704  (Directions)


510.548.4860


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Bargain italian cuisine in Durant food court


Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1040
Reviewed: 3/15/2005
Rating: 8.5
My photo gallery 		Gypsys Trattoria Italiana has been sitting in our wish list page for months and its about time we got off butts and try it out. Its quite a trek from peninsula over to Berkeley (35+ mins) and having to deal with parking can be a PAIN IN THE ASS. We took a risk and parked at the lot without paying, actually I took the risk since somebody wouldnt share the ticket if I got one.

Gypsys Trattoria is a no thrills italian restaurant offering bargain meals for the starving college student. I forgot how cheap food was in the college area, I think I need to move to Berkeley. The restaurant was completely packed and barely found a table.

I ordered the Chicken Primavera and was finished in 5 minutes. Damm this place is fast and the portions are big. For $6, this place is a steal.

veggies - stir fried style, plenty of fresh tomatos

pasta - hot off the grill, a little overdone but still enjoyed it

chicken - lots o chicken

bread - its just normal french bread but its topped off with a real baked garlic clove. Garlic Spread...hmm..good.

I love Gypsys Trattoria Italiana not just because its cheap, but their food is quite delicious, great portions. and served hot hot hot, it was steaming. Oh yeah, you have to see the calzone, it might be bigger than a nerf football. You cant go wrong with Gypsys Trattoria and you can even hit up Kingpin Donut for dessert...quite possibly the best combo in all of Berkeley.
 
8.25
Agent Rating


Reviewer: Julie
Total Reviews: 46
Reviewed: 3/15/2005
Rating: 7.5
My photo gallery		 Entering Gypsy's took me back to college. Young people everywhere with books all askew, lines, laughing, and lots of cheap food. It was good. If I was a student at Cal, I think I'd eat at this place all the time and give it a far higher rating. However, as much as I hate to accept growing up, I'm no longer a college student and reasonably good food for a very low price no longer creates the same excitement as in the days of yore.

I opted to get the Gypsy's chicken. I figured that the dish bearing the restaurant's name would be the signature item and therefore worth a try. It was tasty. There was an abudance of chicken, and like most cream sauces, doesn't feel that heavy until about 15 minutes after you've quit eating and realize how ridiculously full you are. The portion was big (though in this day in age, that's not really so rare), and came with some garlic bread. They have self serve fountain drinks, so I helped myself to a refill or two. I think all of this cost me around $7. All and all it was a good meal and a great value.

The reason for my 7.5 is that I don't live anywhere near this restaurant, and the food was not compelling enough for me to drive back there for it. The crowds show that this is definitely a popular college place and the next time I find myself in Berkeley, I wouldn't mind going back. Next time though, I'm going to try the calzone. Those things were monsterous!!
 


Reviewer: Grace
Total Reviews: 42
Reviewed: 11/8/2005
Rating: 9
My photo gallery		 Gypsy's is one of my favorite restaurant in the bay area. I like they way they cook the pasta, the prices are affordable, it's cooked and given promptly to you, and it's tasty tasty tasty!

I usually get the mediterranean with penne noodles, and alfredo sauce. I like the garlic on their bread, and I wish I could have a big bowl of it, I usually steal the one off my boyfriend's plate when he's not looking :D

I've tried a lot of the other items on their menu as well, and I like the green salad that you can get as a side along with your order. The downside is that they don't sell it a la carte, and you have to buy some food to go with it. I've also tried their calzone once, and it wasn't baked for long enough and the middle was still raw, and after sending it back to be baked, it was still uncooked in a few parts, which was disappointing. Their lassanga is good, but nothing too special, and I usually go for my favorite. The Gypsy's chicken is really good as well, the chicken is cooked tenderly, and there are some mushrooms that go well with the sauce.

My complaints about Gypsys are few and are mostly things they can't control. Their food is a bit on the heavy side, if I take home my leftovers, I can tell how much grease was in my food and it tastes bad cold so I have to heat it up. They could really use a bigger location as it gets packed during lunch and dinner. They should also consider expanding to San Jose, so I don't have to drive 50 something minutes for a good pasta craving. Also the parking is horrible around that area of Berkeley, and there are a lot of homeless people hanging around the restaurant and they hit you up for money and leftovers before and after you go in, and they will come in and take any food that is unattended at the table, so keep an eye out for that.

Besides that, it's an awesome place for cheap food. I've had 'expensive' Italian food and pasta, but none of it has been as good as Gypsy's in my opinion. Everytime I'm up in the area, I make sure to stop by and grab a bite to eat.
 
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