- Address:
- 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington, FL, 33414
- Phone:
- 561-333-3700
- Overall User Rating:
-
(2 ratings)
- Hours:
- 11 a.m. - 2 a.m., Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. - 3 a.m., Friday and Saturday
- Official Web Site:
- http://www.gypsyshorse.com
On this Saturday afternoon, the Irish abode isn’t much of a party place, like the old mall, it’s barely breathing. Good thing Gypsy’s has more to offer than fun and games. There are some good Irish foods worth biting into – no bar hurrah necessary.
The good: Hat’s off to the appetizers, which are big enough to be dished up for an entrée. The Irish smoked salmon, which came sprinkled with capers and layered on a bed of spinach, was tastier than its $8.95 price would indicate. On the plate were chopped jalapenos and strips of red peppers, whole cherry tomatoes and slices of pumpernickel bread. The varied sides were great because you could mix and match the flavors to your liking.
Then there was the hearty spinach dip, which fortunately had to be substituted with fried pico chips, as opposed to the tortilla chips, which they ran out of. The thick, herb-seasoned pico chips were a perfect complement to the dip, packed with loads of spinach, which was a refreshing take compared to the more common soupy or overly cheesy dips.
The bad: Unfortunately, after the appetizers the meal took a nosedive. Possibly, there just wasn’t a way to top the tasty beginning. The fish and chips and the fish sandwich were just unsatisfying. Both filets were beer battered and bland. The tartar sauce, although good, did little to bring life to the tasteless codfish. Even sprinkles of the tableside malt vinegar sat lifeless on the crispy coat and white flesh. Then again, this is the Old Wellington Mall. Were my expectations too high?
Surprisingly, the fish and chips dish is the most popular Gypsy’s delight, and after all, this is an Irish restaurant. But whether people order it because they actually like it or just for sake of theme is unknown to me. Nevertheless, I still had much of my Irish smoked salmon resting plate-side, and I couldn’t stay mad for too long. But I do wish I ordered the shepherd’s pie instead.
The ugly: Getting wasted is never a pretty sight. Still, a few patrons spill in during happy hour for a chance at glory, for a chance to be a member of the Gypsy’s 25 Club – a challenging feat that calls for 25 beers to be consumed in seven days. For the 32 current members of the Gypsy’s 25 Club, the blithering feat was worth its weight in gold, or at least the name-engraved brass plate that shines above the wooden Irish bar – as if to distinguish the triumphantly drunk from the meek and sober. Anyone who’s daring enough to sign the waiver ideally has to drink 60 to 80 ounces a day. Few complete the task, but many get hung—over trying.
The end: It’s that same determination of trying, despite the unimaginable odds, that makes this Irish bar so alluring, because even in the midst of a forgotten mall Gypsy’s Horse is riding strong.
