Mercedes C.
Yelp
Since Dominican eateries are sparse in Westchester, I've done the deepest dive into the Dominican abyss in the county. This is a holy shit moment. So hello Don Carvajal in quaint Irvington on Main Street. Don C.'s owner, Héctor Carvajal centers around sustainable coffee. And while he does work closely with some Central & South American coffee farms, his goal is elevating Dominican farms.
The Dominican coffee culture sounds kind of familiar. We take one cup in the morning to wake up, then one after lunch, and round 4pm or so to lift up their spirit. Plus, for Dominicans, coffee is a strong linkage to our social life. Although I used to love coffee especially Starbucks' ginormous cups then stopped almost two decades ago, sometimes, the taste and aroma call me.
All the hot coffee served here means a small- the way it's intended hot cup. If you're a coffee aficionado, ask about other origins. I was here for a typical 'Tres Golpes' ("3 Hits") breakfast which consists of Mangú+cured red onions (mashed plantains), fried egg(s), fried white cheese and salchichón. Since I'm not a pork or meat eater, I opted for none, a non-coffee beverage and a coconut flan for my stay.
The mangú in my dish was soft and moist- but it could've been a bit more so. The fried cheese was hot, gooey and perfect, the egg yolk was runny- the way it's supposed to be. Pay up front and if you're lucky, you can sit on one of the stools by the window. Space is tight in the dining space with only 4 tables in the back. And if you do sit in, be considerate and don't occupy the valuable real estate of a table for hours. Service was super nice. If you like experimenting with coffee and drink coffee almost every day, Don Carvajal might be for you. I'll return for some of the eats and non-coffee drinks.