Gypsy (Northern Italian)
Location: 1025 Barton Springs Road [map]
Phone: (512) 499-0200
Cost: Lunch salads ($7-$10) Panini and Entrees ($8-$12)
Dinner Apps ($5-$9), Salads ($6-$10) Entrees ($14-$20)
Food: Gypsy, a new Northern Italian Bistro on Barton Springs Road next door to Vinny's on Italian Row, is the newest incarnation in a space that has seen an endless chain of eateries open and close. Only time will tell if this iteration will remain, but here's our take. What’s cool about the atmosphere? Gypsy features a striking blue-tiled bar, a subterranean water fountain and an upstairs patio for sipping tasty wine under the oaks. What’s pleasing? The bistro is tidy and the wait staff is friendly (albeit a bit timid). What’s kind of weird? The Italian singer on Wednesday and Friday nights is a little cheesy (yet still endearing.) Maybe he should stick with acoustic guitar and ditch the canned drumbeat.

Image courtesy of Gypsy

We went for dinner on a Wednesday night when all wines by the glass are half off. Coincidence? Clearly not. To start, we ordered the four cheese fried ravioli with red onion chutney - a tad chewy, but with a smoky flavor and divine mix of cheeses that brought it back from the precipice. We enjoyed.

We continued with a colorful take on the classic Caprese Salad. The difference between a reputable Caprese and a so-so experience is the sweet ripeness of the tomatoes (obviously) and in this respect, Gypsy didn't disappoint. We inhaled a gorgeous serving of perfectly salty red, green and yellow slices punctuated with ample amounts of basil and sweet olive oil.

For entrees, we selected traditional Northern Italian meat-eaters fare: Veal Saltimbocca: It's hard to go wrong with anything wrapped in prosciutto. Are we right? This dish, sautéed in white wine butter sauce and served over basil pesto penne was quite good. Although the meat was a smidge tough, the garlic and basil tastes were full and satisfying.

Next, Chicken Piccata. We loved the combined tastes of sun-dried tomato and sweet English peas with caper-lemon butter served over the cute little chicky scalopinis. Thumbs up all around.

For dessert, we ordered an elegant presentation of Tiramisu. If you like a cake-y (more American) rendition, you’ll dig this. We were hoping for more of the savory mascarpone, but then again, we’re suckers for cheese.

Gypsy is open Monday through Saturday. Breakfast: 7am-10am, Lunch: 11am-2pm, Dinner: 5:30pm-10:30pm.