A welcoming, owner-operated empanada shop with fresh, generously filled pastries, playful lounge seating, and unusually strong value, though vegan diners and those wanting formal dining should look elsewhere.
Doce Empanadas and coffee delivers exceptional food quality, with its made-to-order beef, chicken, and spinach empanadas drawing repeated praise from diners. Attentive owner-led service and a loyal following reinforce the experience, while the ordinary commercial setting keeps it from a higher standing. The food, not the surroundings, is the main draw.
Doce Empanadas is a small, cozy Carle Place shop where the owners greet guests, explain the fillings, and make the empanadas fresh while customers settle into couches or play board games. The mood is relaxed and neighborly rather than polished; one reviewer essentially described it as being welcomed like family, while another noted that the seating can feel unconventional. The cooking is focused and comforting rather than experimental: crisp, lightly fried pastry surrounds generous beef, chicken, shrimp, pork, cheese, and vegetable fillings, with chimichurri and house sauces doing memorable supporting work. The food is inexpensive enough for sampling several flavors, and repeat visitors consistently single out the beef and chicken. It is an especially good fit for casual lunches, cravings, and anyone who enjoys trying a whole lineup of empanadas rather than ordering one conventional entrée. Families should find plenty to like, including familiar beef, chicken, cheese, ham-and-cheese, pepperoni, churros, couches, and board games. The current menu also includes spinach-ricotta and veggie empanadas, but vegan diners should plan carefully: the menu shows no clearly vegan empanada, and a past reviewer reported that vegan choices were extremely limited. Kids who enjoy handheld food and games are likely to be happy; formal-table diners or strict vegans are not the target audience.
Area vibe: Suburban commuter corridor with shopping strips and local businesses.
Safety: Generally safe with moderate evening activity; streets quieter after businesses close.
What's nearby: Near Sunrise Hwy (NY-27), local shopping plazas, commuter rail access at nearby stations, and residential neighborhoods.
The beef and chicken empanadas are the safest starting point, but the $2.90 lineup makes it easy to try several fillings and finish with churros.
Expect a cozy but unconventional setup, a short made-to-order wait, street parking, and very limited vegan choices.
Couches, board games, and owner-operated warmth make this a relaxed neighborhood hangout, though the compact seating is not especially formal or spacious.