Gypsy Den
125 N. Broadway Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 835-8840
2930 Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 549-7012
I don't think spicy bean burgers and garden quiches are part of a gypsy's normal diet, but these items from the menu of this trendy-but-tries-to-not-be-restaurant is perfect for those folks on a vegetarian diet, which has made a resurgence in its popularity recently. Gypsy Den is a quaint cafe with 2 OC locations, one on in the Lab (which claims to be an "anti-mall" although it has the same things as a mall: expensive stores and crappy parking), and the other in the up-and-coming arts district in Santa Ana.
The setting is something taken straight from LA: trendy hipsters with sunglasses sitting out on a patio eating exotic salads and soups with unusual ingredients like summer squash (you won't see any Campbell's chicken noodle here), discussing the latest indie film that no one has seen. But unlike its cousins to the north, which tend to be overpriced and reek of snobbiness, Gypsy Den is actually good...and relatively cheap. I admit my reason for coming here was I attempted to ride the vegetarian wave (which I quickly fell off of after an brief affair with a beef taco). But whether or not you're a vegan or megan (meat eater), one can easily find a yummy and healthy meal here.
The menu items basically mirror ones you would find in a classic cafe (if your mirror was from a carnival funhouse): grilled ahi sandwiches, baked mac and cheese with bell peppers, vegetarian bean chili with cornbread. They also carry a plethora of homemade desserts (that are deliciously unhealthy, yet comforting) such as cookies, brownies, cakes, and even Rice Krispie treats. The prices are more than reasonable; the entrees all run under $10, and the desserts and drinks range from $2-$3. The Costa Mesa location (which I visited) has a huge patio that's even larger than their indoor dining room, and is perfect for catching some Orange County sun. The service is great, the servers are genuinely warm and helpful (surprising for a place that oozes coolness, and especially surprising for south OC). So moral of the story...try Gypsy Den! Recommendations: Any of their soups because it comes with scrumptious homemade bread.
