Much like the others posting recently, we are also impressed that this place keeps getting better. No matter what time we stop in, it is always pleasant, smiling service, great tasting food and the prices are just great.

The lentil soup is superb!

Keep it up, and hope to see you succeed for many more years.

+1 - the food is fresh and really reasonable. We are really happy with the place.

I also feel that Gypsy Grill gets better each time I go. I wonder if Ibby's will adjust their pricing if they continue to lose market share. They were the only falafel joint in town at one point I believe, and certainly the only one downtown.

It gets better each time I go.

place is legit.

the combo sandwich is really good, great portion.

hate to say it, cuz Ibby's fueled me through the years, but this is my new #1 option in the area.

I passed in around midnight one day last week after a few drinks in the neighbourhood. People were friendly indeed and one of the guys insisted we try the filet mignon pita sandwich (it was not on the menu yet so you will need to ask them for it). He threw it on the fire and while we waited we were given samples of a lentil soup. That by itself was great. Then when the pita was ready I was seriously relishing it. The ingredients seemed really fresh (not sure how that could be at midnight) and the spiciness was just right after a couple drinks.

The price was great for the amount of food and the taste. They apparently are opened to midnight on weekdays and open til 3 am on Friday/Saturday.


I tried them today again just to see if it was a fluke (sans the drinks) and thankfully I was satisfied.

Great addition to the area. Hope they have better luck staying profitable.

We had two lunch specials...

I had Chicken Kebabs with Half Pita, Rice & Veg -- $5.99

I added a Lentil Soup for just $1 extra

She had Vegetable Kebabs with Half Pita, Rice & Veg -- $6.99

Free Tahini Sauce on the side too...

Tax was included -- really fast and cheap -- we'll be back!

I had the Chicken Schwarma which I thought was incredibly salty.
Told the Owners Wife who was very nice and gave me another meal. She tasted the chicken herself and agreed and said she would adjust the recipe. Haven't been back to try again tho.
Nice people and good cheap eats.

I got home at 2:30 last night and I was thrilled to see that Gypsy Grill was still open. It looked like it had a good friendly atmosphere, with the owner and some buds hanging out. Sure, I wish the new pizza place by the Grove PATH would stay open late on weekends, but this gives late-nighters a great option. Let's all support this place.

Ordered last night - delivered in 20 minutes. Had the lamb kebab, taboule salad and dolma. All quite good. Really loved the dolma! Putting it in the speed dial.

I have been here a couple times now and I think their food and service times are good. The falafal is delicious. The bread is a little thicker but holds up better so it's not in my lap after two bites. Two thumbs up from me.

both times i've gone in my food was ready in minutes. i guess they remedied their service times since some of the earlier posts.

i loved their chicken shawarma over ibby's. have not tried their falafel yet.

Last time I was there, I was In and out in 5 mins with sandwich in hand.. I don?t mind having to wait, as long as it not Ibbys, where the baseball or whatever game is more important.

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that sounds like a bit of an exaggeration. I've gotten food there a bunch of times and I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 10 minutes.

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We had the opposite experience last week, they were amazingly fast and the food was awesome. I'm sure the whole staff is not up to full speed yet but it looks very promising once they work out the kinks.

The owner/chef is friendly, and the two guys that work the grill and counter are friendly enough, but they are slow as molasses.

I like the kabobs and the falafel a lot. And the late night hours are great. But you really have to set aside an hour to go and grab a bite to eat there.

At Ibby's your food is served up within 2 minutes max, no matter what you order.

I like Gypsy's, but I think considering it's a falafel joint, they need to put some pep in their step or else they'll lose some customers.

I ate their for lunch today - the falafel was very good! The owner was very friendly too, handing out free samples of their freshly made turnip pickles and falafel to the people waiting in line. Great place.

Healy looks like Dwight Schrute only 30 years older in that awful short sleeve yellow shirt and tie combo.

I too noticed how much easier it is to eat a Gypsy Grill pita sandwich than Ibby's. Ibby's often falls apart and I'm eating my sandwich stuffing out of the foil with a fork. Is this a difference in the bread that some find too fluffy and American?

Personally, I like the fluffy bread. The falafel might be a step below Ibby's, but the sandwich itself was less of a mess, and quite tasty.

I've gone at lunchtime, so it does take a while to get my food, but the worker/owner were very personable. I wish them luck.

might be somewhat off topic, but since we're on the topic of falafels...just tried Two Pitas in a Pod, a grease truck that was parked in front of the Grove st path. I got the falafel sandwich and although it's considerably more ($5.50), it was quite a bit of food. One sandwich will definitely fill you up, whereas I'd have to eat 2 from Ibby's to feel full. You can probably call it a gourmet falafel also, it's packed w/ ingredients. Some may be turned off by this, opting the simplicity of other falafel joints. Overall, I thought it was really good and a lot of food for the price. Hope they return and often.

Portions are big, but I had a shawarma and found the meat a little dry and chewy. Ibby's is by far better. Also service was slow. I had to wait over 10 minutes for my sandwich.

Still...nice to see them in the neighborhood versus another dollar store.

Since I was going to drive by on Newark ave I figured I?ll stop in if I can find parking and luck would have it jersey / Newark had couple of spots open so I took it.. I got a Falafel and Shawarma sandwich.. didn?t eat the falafel but I was told it was good.. The beef shawarma was really good.. Its cooked the same way as Ibby?s but not mamoun's, since theirs uses a spice rub. The pita is fluffy I think, it is different than the other two?s.. The portions are very filling, unlike Ibby?s portions which consist of meat they feel like giving you. I?m so done with Ibbys now as these guys are cheaper and they give you more food.

Ate here last week and thought that the food was really fresh and served with a smile. Had a falafel and assorted vegetarian appetizers - yum! Last time I ordered from Ibby's the lettuce was getting old and the appetizers looked equally as tired.

They did an awesome job on the restaurant and I'm so thankful to have such a great new addition to our downtown. I'll definitely be putting them into my rotation.

The competition between these two places can only benefit all of us who enjoy eating at them - as we've had comments regarding the service and overall quality of the restaurants serving middle eastern food.

I wish them all success as I'd rather see busy storefronts in our downtown.

I agree with others who said the bread is too thick/"bready," but overall the food isn't bad at all (so far I've just had the falafel and the babaganoush). The service is quick and friendly. The prices are good. They're closer to my house than Ibby's, and being open late on weekends is a bonus. I'm happy to have them here, and I'll add them into my takeout rotation.

I like Ibby's felafel a bit better, but I think GG's tabouleh is superior. VERY fresh.

I went last night and was, unfortunately, dissapointed.

Negatives:
-tastes like an americanized pita. not terribly middle eastern
-week days they close earlier and run out of food and/or stop cooking an hour before closing
-Ibbys is significantly better (as is Pita Joe, in nyc, imo)
-bread/pita was too bread-y, thick, chewy.
-typical falaffel toppings were missing/not offered (or you had to specifically as ask for them, not sure)

Postives:
-rumor has it they'll be open late on weekends. It was "good enough" that I'd stop in for a late night bite when Ibbys is closed
-super cheap

I'd stop by once more to try the schwarma, but barring a late-night snack when other options are closed, I'll be sticking to Ibbys. This is unfortuante because I want businesses on Newark to flourish. Maybe they can make some improvements, or maybe other customers will be more impressed than I was. I hope so because they seem to be a good, clean, and well-intended store.

I have to throw an entry in for Rumi's Turkish Grill. The core kabobs are awesome. Plus their rice, I could bathe in it. And the shepard's salad I could go swimming in it. Awesome food. And it deliver's pretty well.

Good to have a range of options. IMO, Ibby's has always been lack-luster. The meat is poor quality, stringy and overly fatty. It is nothing close to Mamoons. Just sayin....

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Yeah, the falafel might be a bit better than Ibby's. I think Ibby's falafel might be TOO crispy sometimes.