Gypsy Apple Bistro

OK. The space is small, with only about 20 seats. The tables are a bit tight. The menu only offers 4 to 6 entrees. BUT I’m not going to cry foul when a Bistro is true to its name and the food and service are all 5 star.
The décor and atmosphere (rich colors, soft music, appropriately styled accents are just what you want in a romantic place. The lighting is soft and glowing, not bright and in your face. The service was impeccable and the wine pairings we were recommended were spot on. The olive tapenade and fresh bread were the perfect opener. My steak was done exactly as ordered and the sauce was delicately flavored. Just enough to let the meat sing with every bite.
Definately call the afternoon before to get a reservation. The place is small and walk ins were definately turned away. (At first we thought they were closing early since there were two tables open at the time and they stayed open until about 45 minutes later when a party came in that filled them up.) I really appreciated seeing that. It’s nice to know this isn’t a a business that will take a chance on having to have a true reservation wait just to squeeze in another seating for the evening.
The prices are on the higher side, but perfectly reasonable for the quality of food. Highly recommended for a special date night.

A sparkling jewel, of purity, great energy, freshness, magical people that work there and most excellent food. Wow, wow, wow… We made the journey to Shelburne Falls, starting in the Springfield area. It was 6 degrees when we arrived and we were welcomed by a women from the inside, as she made a circle from the moisture driipped inside iwindows. What a cozy, kind and special, yet subtle welcome, as If were entering their own home. We started with a glass of champagne to toast the beginning of our evening. As the night continued, it just got better and better. We started with the soup, which was pea with crème frace swirled on top with some bacon on top, which that looked like a piece of art. Our first spoonful sent us into heaven. Then we had the Caesar salad which was perfection. It was the best Caesar we ever had and seasoned and coated with dressing in the right amount. Then we proceeded with the Harissa lamb and Bass, that were two of the five evening selections. Again, prepared to beyond our dreams. After that we had dessert and coffee and OMG, what kind of coffee did they serve, we still wonder, as it just sent us offf as a sweet kiss goodbye…

Outstanding for Pioneer Valley victuals.
Filet and duck were sumptuous. Cannelloni were nice, not amazing yet with seasoning fresh, delicate, and tasty. Well-​balanced plates, well-​plated and gracious portions; don’t believe reviews to the contrary.
I’m not a fierce gourmet; if you are, there’s another review that might better inform. It’s not five-​star among five-​star restaurants. Still this place holds up really well; it is among the top Pioneer Valley eats. It’s a great meal with a small, lovely selection of dishes. Place settings are attractive, décor pretty and well done. There is nothing dull, missing, or off.
Do make reservations; there were 7 tables, only three of which were four-​topped this eve. Total seating approximately twenty customers.

Portions too small!!! The servings are barley enough to fill you up and they charge so much for the menu items. They only take a certain amount of customers a night to keep the feeling that the place is special. TO be honest they should take all the customers they get so they do not go out of business because the place only has about 5 tables. I saw them turn people away with tables available and it was only 8pm. The food is good but as i said very small portion for the price you pay. The waitresses had the attitude that you are lucky to be eating there. This is my personal opinion.

Consistently great food in a cozy, classy atmosphere. Chef Michelangelo is a culinary genius! Meals here are worth the price. This is my go-​to restaurant for special occasions, especially when I have family visiting.

This restaurant is a real gem. We can’t get this kind of goodness living in Boston — really, really. We have been here many times and the food is consistently wonderful every time we are here. The food is simple, fresh, interesting, well prepared and absolutely on-​point all the time. The service is individual and attentive. But at the end of the day, we always leave wholly satisfied and feel like we got more than our money’s worth. And happy. Very happy.

This restaurant was simply not what I expected, according to the reviews. For stronger French food, and a MUCH nicer atmosphere, try Chez Albert in Amherst.
First, the tables are ridiculously small. The evening we went, there were seven tables, and they were so crammed together that we could easily hear the conversations happening on either side of us. For a really good restaurant, cramped quarters are acceptable, but for decent food, they make the experience all the more «blah.»
We started with veal sweetbreads, which I love. Ours were chalky (overcooked) and not very tasty. We also only received three, which is a bit of a bummer for $ 12. Both Chez Albert in Amherst and Gramercy Bistro in North Adams serve up better (and more!) sweetbreads for the same price.
We also had a chicken liver mousse for an appetizer. This was truly exquisite. If all of the food had been as delicious as this mousse, then this restaurant would have been a home run. It even came with saffron pickled onions. This appetizer was truly delicious! If I had eaten only this mousse, the restaurant would have been a 5, for sure.
I had the pan-​seared scallops, and my husband had the filet mignon. My scallops were good, but they were nothing special. The scallops themselves were a nice texture, but they weren’t really «seared.» There was no crust to speak of. They came with rice, peanut satay sauce, bok choy, and shitake mushrooms. The rice was the best part, as they clearly chose medium-​grain rice, which resulted in a risotto-​esque texture. The bok choy was good, but it tasted like any bok choy I’ve ever had, including the stuff I make myself. The peanut satay sauce, however, tasted very generic, like the stuff you can get from a glass jar. The dinner was good, but not $ 28 good, and certainly not something I couldn’t replicate by myself (and have) for much cheaper.
My husband had the filet mignon, and this was also not as good as steaks that we cook on our own. The red wine reduction was nothing special, with no herbs or spices, and the mushrooms were pretty slimy, rather than cooked until meaty. Again, it was good, but not $ 29 good.
Our dining experience was also marred by how poorly the two waitresses got along with each other. On a ridiculously small table, my husband and I at one point had glasses of water, glasses of wine, a wine bottle, bread plates, a bread basket, olive tapenade, butter, and two appetizers, in addition to the silverware, candle, rose, and salt and pepper on every table. It was a puzzle, to say the least, but we managed. When the waitress came out to serve our entrees, and our empty appetizers had not yet been cleared, she exclaimed «Jesus Christ!» This was uncomfortable, and only got worse when this same woman acted disappointed in us for not ordering dessert and gave us a hard time for not knowing where our coats had been stowed. The two women clearly did not like each other, and one was not skilled at hiding her animosity.
In all, the food was good, but for a bottle of wine, two appetizers, and two entrees, it was not $ 141 good. We could pay less, and have better food, at Chez Albert in Amherst or Bistro Les Gras in Northampton. When we go out, we expect food to be better than what we could cook ourselves, and the entrees fell far short of such a caliber.
Rather than order dessert, we went home and made our own whipped cream and caramel sauce with pears and cashews.

Probably one of the best dinner locations between Springfield, MA and the Vermont line. This guy’s cooking and atmosphere is an art in the highest sense. From the service to the food quality, it’s an enjoyable place to dine. I have visited a number of times over recent years, and most recently, a few months back. My only regret here is that they do not do their brunch anymore. They have the best beef hash dish, this side of the Atlantic. You can’t lose here.

Food: Everything was flawless. The meal began with hot from the oven rolls with fresh butter and olive tapinade. My partner and I both had the red pepper bisque which was the soup de jour. For entrees: I had the catch of the day, which was salmon served over asparagus and whipped potatoes blended with lobster; and my partner had the filet mignon. For dessert we had pear cake and cheesecake. This was some of the best food I have ever enjoyed.
Service: Timely, considering the food is all freshly made to order. This is not a good place to go if you are looking for something fast to eat; it is where to go if you want food cooked to perfection. This takes time. Our server was calm, pleasant, knowledgeable, capable, respectful, not at all overbearing, just overall great. We loved her.
Ambiance: It is a small bistro, so neighboring tables are tightly knit. But some soft music, richly painted walls, locally made pottery, elegantly decorated tabletops, candlelight, and lovely travel pictures make for a soothing environment.
Location: Right in the center of culture-​rich Shelburne Falls. Allow this restaurant to lure you in. If it is a long drive in, fear not, come early as there is much to see and enjoy in the neighborhood and this restaurant is in the thick of it.
Cost: It is around $ 20-​$ 40/​plate for dinner, not including soup, salad, or desert. Considering the quality and caliber of the food it is well worth it, however, it will not be a weekly dining spot for the average wage earner. This is a good place for special occasions.
Overall: I highly recommend Gypsy Apple and will definitely be coming back!

Outstanding little French Bistro in Shelburne Falls. I wouldn’t change a thing! The friendly, professional service, the quaint décor and the perfect food — it was all fantastic. The flavors were creative, bold and fresh!
We loved the Provencale seafood soup, the standout roasted vegetable salad, the bass special and the rack of lamb. The touch of sea salt on our blondie sundae dessert hit the spot! We hope to be back.

So special and romantic. Tiny dining room with white linen and fresh roses in the table. Everything about this place is a winner. The pea soup with bacon was extraordinary. We enjoyed a cider brined double thick pork chop, perfectly done and the duck breast was deeply flavored and so satisfying. This would be a wonderful find in any town. To have it in the lovely village of Shelburne Falls makes it even better. The wine list is reasonably priced but we brought our own wine and they cheerfully served it with a $ 20 corkage fee. A tad pricey but certainly fair given the beautiful dining experience.

This is the jewel of Franklin County. Romantic, cozy and the food is amazing. Michael and Amy are superb hosts ! Every dish Michael creates is a true master piece. Love, love, love !!!

I ate dinner here with my wife a few weeks ago. We live in Cambridge and enjoy eating out and I can say that this place could hold its own against most of the finer establishments in Boston/​Cambridge. The quality of the food was extremely high and the service was outstanding too. One of the owners is the Chef, and the other waits on the guests. The place is tiny, so the level of attention is perfect. For an appetizer, I had braised short-​rib with a poached egg all set on top of caramelized turnips. My wife had their green salad, which included a healthy portion of local root vegetables, some of which were pickled. Going against my usual carnivorous inclinations, I ordered the roasted butternut squash ravioli, while my wife got the pork chop. Never in my life have I had such squash: the filling tasted like the squash had just been removed from the oven and was nicely herb-​ed too. None of this semi-​sweet nonsense you get at other restaurants. Instead of a creamy sauce, the ravioli were drizzled with some olive oil and covered with shaved Machego. This was served with shaved roasted Brussels sprouts: YUM! My wife’s pork chop was done perfectly: they were able to avoid the usual dryness that is a hazard of this cut. The deserts were standard but well executed. I had pot-​de-​crème, and my wife had the apple crisp. The alcohol (wine/​beer) is reasonably priced and I was surprised at how little we ended up paying. On a cold winter’s evening, I could not imagine a better place to eat dinner.

SO FINE! EXCEPTIONAL. From the moment you are seated at one of its seven tables, you will be taken care of by the server to the chef. Every dish is over-​the-​top delicious because every part of the meal is more than just itself: a carrot is infused in a sage brine; the salmon rests on a roasted succotash with lingering flavors; the pumpkin lasagna is out of this world and the portions are generous. Desserts are everything you dream of when you look at awesome desserts in gourmet magazines! You leave knowing you will be back.

Quite simply the best restaurant in the Valley. Quiet, intimate, comfortable and elegant. The food is amazing. A small and smartly devised menu. But keep it quiet. Gypsy Apple needs to remain hidden gem.

My brother is a recent transplant to Western, MA. During my last visit he made a reservation at Gypsy Apple telling me that it was the place to go for dinner in the area. Located on the main strip of the quaint town of Shelburne Falls, the outside of Gypsy Apple is unassuming, easily mistaken for a lunch joint or a café. However, inside is a different story. This entire glorious foodgasm of a restaurant is run by 2 people. Only 5 tables are available so a reservation is recommended. Everything is fresh, seasonal, and deliberately chosen. We started with the gumbo and salad with goat cheese. Yummy. For dinner we ordered the Thai chicken, striped bass, and vegetarian lasagna. Holy yummy. Dessert sealed the deal: profiteroles, citrus tart, and fried bananas. I died and went to food heaven. This place is friggin great.

Brunch or dinner, Chef Michael nails it every time. He is a wizard with chicken and has a delicate hand with spices and sugar. Excellent seasonal menu and wine list. We are pumped to come for Valentine’s Day!

Bravo to Michael Westcott and the Gypsy Apple for winning my heart. I have eaten more than a few times at other places he has been, but now that he is in his own venture, he has far exceeded what anyone would expect from Western Massachusetts cuisine. Having grown up in the Pioneer Valley, and now living in New York City area, it is always a refreshing change of pace to return home. But now, I have a reason to come home at least once a month: Gypsy Apple Bistro.
His fresh take on classic dishes and use of local products and flare has put this small but intimate restaurant on the map, and will continue to do so. To start, and for me the most important part, the wine list is short, but sweet. I went with a beautiful Duoro Portuguese wine ($ 22) and was wowed by the structure, texture, and best of all, price of the wine. I was also very excited to see one of my favorite vintners Owen Roe (a distinguished boutique winery from the Pacific Northwest) with a Riesling there. The wine list was simple, but was obviously put together with a lot of thought to the cuisine and tastes of patrons.
For an appetizer we had an order of the curried mussels. With coconut milk, I believe anise, and just the perfect amount of curry (and it was fresh leaves at that), My wife, mother, and I were fighting over the last shell… regardless to say they won. Not to mention my wife hates curry, or so she thought. For dinner my wife had fresh scallops cooked to the perfect temperature where they were slightly crispy on the outside and rich and creamy on the inside. We eat seafood, especially scallops often, and everyone agreed that they were some of the best we’ve ever had. My mother had sesame encrusted salmon which also was cooked to perfection. I had a filet mignon with wild mushrooms and red wine reduction. Michael told me that it was from Arnold beef a local high quality meat purveyor, and I’ve never eat a filet that has melted in my mouth like that.
After the bottle, my wife and I had a Crianza Tempranillo by the glass which was also a very well made wine and another value. We then 2 desserts, which I regrettably cannot recall exactly what we had being that I drank most of the Portuguese wine myself with some apple brandy to top it off. One was a fruit crisp that wasn’t overly sweetened, and a mousse and crème dessert that just was the perfect way to finish an amazing meal.
It was refreshing to have such a great meal in Shelburne Falls, and was great fodder for convincing my wife that we need to move back to the Pioneer Valley. Gypsy Apple Bistro is a true star in all of Massachusetts. The prices are only a tiny bit higher than other top establishments in the area, but I have to say deservedly so… Gypsy Apple Bistro is a step above most. Congratulations to Chef Michael Westcott, and please don’t go anywhere, I’m coming back soon.

Gypsy Apple is a delight! A hidden find! It’s in the quaint town of Shelburne Falls, and is artistry at its best!
At Gypsy Apple Bistro, there is great attention to detail in the ambiance: it’s a small room with amber lighting, comfortable tables (not the place for a big group or kids, for sure); an incredible, (adult) menu, a good selection of beer and wine by glass or bottle, and divine food.
The bread, which is imported (probably in dough form) from a place in Saratoga, NY, by chef, Michael, is incredible: slightly chewy, served piping hot, moist and fluffy. It’s served with an olive-​caper tapenade and sweet, delicious butter in a beautiful pink glass. We ordered 2 entrees, which came with salads (both for around $ 25, total). The lettuce, which is from local farms, was soft and tender in a delightfully-​refreshing house vinaigrette.
Our entrees: a rainbow trout in sherry butter with mashed potatoes and fried capers was delicate, light, and flavorful. Perfectly baked. My partner’s chicken in cream sherry with mushrooms was rich, melt-​in-​the-​mouth pieces of chicken on the bone, also with mashed potatoes (which were smooth as silk) and fresh, perfectly al dente asparagus. Each was plated beautifully. Truly art-​on-​a-​plate.
Our server was attentive, appearing at just the right moments to check in, was friendly and also gave us just the right amount of space. I never had to answer with my mouth full! ;)
The receipt was handwritten on black paper with silver metal ink. Again, the touches of Gypsy Apple are a delight: artsy, and lovely, no detail left to chance.
I can’t imagine a better way to spend a romantic evening.
Gypsy Apple Bistro is, in every way, an exemplary experience.

The tiny town of Shelburne Falls is most noted for its Bridge of Flowers, and that main attraction must be why it hosts quite a few good shops and restaurants. I found promising reviews on Gypsy Apple through TripAdvisor, Chowhound, and a review (
).
My qualified three stars is partly my fault – I really hate sending food back, so the fact that I ate a badly executed entrée was partly my choice. First, some restaurant details:
–wood-​paneled, intimate interior and very limited seating means you gotta call to make reservations
–French-​influenced cuisine that includes seafood, meats and vegetables
Our meal comprised soup, appetizers (tomato soup, crab cake, scallop), and an entrée of housemade gnocchi with assorted mushrooms. I’m less partial to cream-​based, richer sauces, but Gypsy Apple Bistro has a light fresh touch, and the ingredients were spot on.
The problem came with the handcrafted gnocchi, AKA hard chewy nuggets. We were frankly perplexed that such a restaurant could let this dish out, so I asked the waitress if the gnocchi was supposed to be that way. (Hey, I don’t know: I’m on vacation, I don’t want to impose my gnocchi standards learned in Milan or the Bay Area. Maybe Shelburne Falls likes pasta that fights back.)
The waitress immediately offered to take it back, so here’s where I’m at fault: I said hmmm, no, check with the chef (yeah, passive-​aggressive dining behavior approach). The waitress returns to say the chef tried HIS batch and it was fine. He should’ve sampled OUR batch. My husband was really irked (he’s a send-​it-​back type), so we swapped meals and I tried to eat the gnocchi, and couldn’t. (The assorted mushrooms were damn good tho.)
My husband was still grouchy but I ordered the chocolate dessert (which turns out to be an exquisite). Then, the waitress (who probably stabbed at the leftover gnocchi nuggets) says upon second look, she agrees the entrée hadn’t been up to snuff, and would credit us for it.
So, the customer service did finally work out, although I’m not sure if it was more the waitress or the chef (I assume someone had to sign off on her action). For such a tiny restaurant, it would’ve been a nice gesture for the chef to emerge and say some words – no effusive apology, just an acknowledgment that some things don’t work out, thanks for sticking it out.
Definitely worth trying, although maybe not so much the pasta.