Don Carvajal Café

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stopped by this Dominican café today and was so impressed! I tried several items on the menu and everything was absolutely delicious. The coffee was amazing — rich, smooth, and perfectly brewed. And the Cuban sandwich? Hands down the best I’ve ever had. Fresh, flavorful, and made with care. On top of the great food, the service was warm and welcoming. The owner was there and truly added to the experience — you can feel the pride and passion behind the place. That personal touch made it even more special. I’ll definitely be back!

Beautiful small place with a lot to offer. Very nice menu with traditional entrees from the motherland. Offering a good variety of coffee styles and great types of lunch varieties. If you're in the area, definitely stop by. Hector will make you feel welcomed.

I grew up in the Heights and around Dominican food, and honestly, this place is way overrated and not worth the travel. I don’t understand why people are so blown away or saying it’s so delicious — it really wasn’t. The wait time for food was crazy — we waited over 30 minutes. The spot itself is small with limited seating, and while some staff were friendly, others weren’t as welcoming. The food was the biggest disappointment. I’ve had much better tres golpes in Inwood and Washington Heights for way cheaper. The portion was skimpy — cold pickled onions, only one small fried egg, and about a cookie-scoop amount of mangú. The salami and cheese were the only decent parts, but definitely not worth $16. The Cuban sandwich ($20) was another miss — no pickles or mustard, flavorless pork, unmelted cheese, and dry, overcooked yuca fries. The only thing I genuinely enjoyed was the coffee. Overall, I was really disappointed with the taste, quality, portion size, and price. The pictures speak for themselves.

Visiting from RI and we stumbled upon this amazing Dominican cuisine, Food was amazing, the set up here was beautifully put together, everything about this place felt really authentic. will be coming back again for sure!! Recommend 10/10 .

I went with my sister and we were both blown away! As a Dominican and a picky coffee drinker, I couldn’t believe how smooth and delicious the coffee was—sourced straight from the Dominican Republic. We also had the bacon, egg & cheese and the tres golpes—both amazing! Great vibe, friendly service, and so proud to see our culture represented this beautifully. Highly recommend!

We finally got a chance to make it out to Don Carvajal and we are so glad we did! I love supporting my people. As soon as we walked in, I knew it was going to be a good experience. Everyone looked so happy to see us and greeted us from the moment we walked in the door. We tried the Avocado Toasts (come with salad) as well as the Blueberry Pancakes. We tried the Iced Vanilla Oatmilk Latte as well as an Oat Mocha. Everything was fresh and you could just taste the love they put into each meal/cup. We will definitely be back!

This is a quaint little coffee shop where you can get peace & quiet while working on your phone or laptop. Staff here is friendly & the food is delish. The coffee and a one of the best to try here especially the Canelita.

Break away from the fast pace life and take a trip to a relaxing small town in the DR right in Irvington. You’ll enjoy the coffee and the ambience. Great feeling in supporting a local business. My four stars are because we can all leave some room for improvement. But overall great morning experience.

The food is amazing, and definitely worth the price, especially for the quality and portions! The drinks were pricey for the size, but still of quality! It did take a noticeable time for the food to come out, but it was worth the wait! The service was okay, nothing extraordinary. As for the atmosphere, it definitely what keeps you there if there was more seating, completely calm and chill! Cubano sandwich 9/10 and tostone sandwich 10/10

I love seeing Dominican-owned businesses thrive, and this coffee shop does it beautifully. It blends seamlessly into the neighborhood while proudly incorporating Dominican touches that make it feel like home. We had the tostones and an empanada, and both were absolutely delicious. The espresso was served in the cutest mini coffee pot. The service was outstanding. The owner was incredibly attentive, even swapping out the plate under my coffee cup after I spilled a little while being clumsy --such a thoughtful touch that shows their dedication to hospitality. If you're looking for great coffee, authentic Dominican flavors, and a welcoming atmosphere, this is the place. Will definitely return!

I've been stalking this business from afar for a long time & I finally made it. It is a small coffee shop in Irvington NY, 30mins north of the city. Owned by a Dominican. The shop is small but the coffee smell is major and it's amazing! There are ample beverages to choose from, breakfast options and pastries, croissants and danishes. There is merch, coffee, Jarabacoa medium roast, Barahona dark roast and Colombia medium roast. There are coffee mugs and tumblers, beanie hats or as we call them, skullies. I loved the record player, spinning Erykah Badu. They have a nice collection of long playing record albums. There is a small back area with tables where we can slow down and enjoy the aromatic coffee and yummy pastries. I ordered a mocha with almond milk and almond croissant. Dear God, the coffee is divine!! It's just rich, smooth, aromatic, well balanced acidity and flavor. The almond croissant is flaky and almond paste spread out deliciously into every nook and cranny. Make your way to this wonderful shop, sit down and enjoy a great coffee experience.

Incredible coffee from baristas who really care about their craft! Amazing food, great ambiance. Great service. Highly recommend. Best Dominican Coffee.

My wife and I were heading to pick up some family members and wanted to get some coffee on the way. I saw Don Carvajal on Yelp and knew we had to try it. Don Carvajal is located in a beautiful river town. Parking was reasonable. Before walking into the cafe, you're hit with a wonderful coffee aroma. Once you walk in, you're hit with a vibrant energy. The staff and customers all seemed happy to be there. Service was excellent, every single staff member had the pride of a business owner. We selected a latte, pour over coffee, and an order of tostones with chimichurri. While seating is limited to five or six tables, we lucked into seats. My wife's latte was excellent, with a pronounced coffee flavor. For my pour over, they selected the pink honey coffee bean. Great choice, the flavor was smooth and well rounded. The excellence of the coffee was met by the outstanding tostones. Prepared in real time, they are the best I've had. Crispy and paired with an excellent chimichurri, the portion is outstanding! Absolutely loved them! Don Carvajal is going into our rotation!

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.

5 stars for the service alone. I strolled my lil' Long Island butt into this establishment and asked if I could work on my laptop. Even though it was packed and I would've happily accepted 'no' as an answer, they were kind enough to let me work (provided there was free space) The iced mocha I had: superb. I love a mocha with a bitter edge and this did not disappoint. The canele itself was custardy with a caramelized exterior, a wonderful treat. They do also sell their own beans, sitdown food options and a variety of pastries and drinks galore. Well worth a visit if you find yourself in this area!

My friends and I had time before a dinner reservation so we decided to stop here for a caffeine boost. We ordered a variety of drinks including iced lattes, matcha and chai. They have outdoor seating which was very convenient. The iced vanilla latte really hit the spot. Will come back to try their food items!

Delicious food friendly service and nice location / ambiance fun Dominicans So proud of my people

Came here for lunch with the kid and my partner. Want to lead with overall I liked the place a lot and am excited to go back and try more coffees and food. First thing that jumps out is that it isn't a traditional sit down cafe - more like a Starbucks with real food options (no wait service). You place your order at the front and grab a seat. They take your name and bring the food to you wherever you are based on calling you by name. There are a few tables inside and more outside. We sat in the back corner which was nice to be able to fully take everyone and everything in. Ordered a lemonade, iced latte, tres golpes, yuca fries, and a cubano. The employees were all very pleasant and looked willing to pitch in on any task which is nice to see. The food was good. The yuca fries were excellent, better than the messes that pass for yuca fries nowadays. No batter just straight yuca as you can see in my pic. The Cuban sandwich was actually delicious. I always find them to be dry and crappy in most places, this was a great sandwich. The tres golpes - the salami and fried cheese were good. The plátanos were a bit on the dry end but overall good. The drinks were good. Ordered a cafe con leche to go which I liked less. A great addition in Irvington and westchester in general. One spot for improvement would be a bit of efficiency. Saw too many staffers walking around with orders trying to find the right table. Would prob be easier to just give numbers like Panera.

Great ambiance. I have had the pleasure of coming here a couple times and have enjoyed it. Beautifully created food menu & amazing coffee. The owner, Hector, is so attentive and makes every guest feel welcome. We ordered the vegan bowl and the 3 golpes dish. We are in LOVE with the passion fruit vinaigrette. WOW! Also had the OJ, The Don cold brew & the affogato. Everything was fresh & delicious. .

What a nice coffee spot!! The coffee was delicious and the pastries smelled great and looked fresh. As soon as I walked in I was greeted and the barista answered all my questions with no issue. My coffees were made quickly and perfectly. As I was waiting I looked around at all the decor and noticed and old school record player going, it was such a cool touch! There's a nice sized seating area toward the back, you could definitely order some treats and get some work done or just catch up with friends. I will definitely be back!!

The coffee was nice but I would have liked at least background music. It was too quiet and a bit awkward. The service was good and the servers were nice.

Excellent coffee. Food was yummy . Avocado toast and steak recommended. The space has limited seating for customers but enough to grab a bite with a few friends or alone.

I've been ordering beans from Don Carvajal living in Florida, as I wanted to support a Dominican owned business. Making the coffee at home, it's one of my favorite beans - so I knew I had to try in person if ever given the opportunity. The coffee was even better in person - and this is coming from someone who works for a coffee brand. For breakfast I ordered the tres golpes and it was perfect. The food came out quickly, everyone was friendly and the overall vibe of the cafe felt very communal. I'll continue to order my beans from here and stopping by when in the area.

The big surprise in Irvington NY. Not just a place where the coffee makes you feel like anything is possible the tres goulpes, the mangu was like your mom made it. You can take the love that goes into the food and the baconeggandcheese was one of the best with quality eggs, bacon and cheese. Their menu is short but very sweet and I am going back there again this week.

As a Dominican, I was very excited to learn about Don Carvajal. And I was doubly excited because I am from a small coffee producing region and the coffee from my tiny little town, Jarabacoa, was featured! My sister and I were so excited. We arrived around 11am on a Sunday and it was packed. We ordered the food online but then found a table and they were able to serve it to stay. The Tres Golpes (the three blows) was excellent. The mangú was nice and soft and well seasoned. The eggs, salami, and cheese were on point. Really nice presentation too. My daughter had the pancakes and they were insanely good. They were very crispy and lacy. I know a thing or two about making pancakes and these were probably cooked in an ungodly amount of butter to make them this good. The coffee was fantastic. Some of the best coffee house coffee I've ever had. And they sell their coffee either ground or whole bean so you know I'll be going across the bridge from Nyack to get some coffee from Jarabacoa.

If you are vegan, do not eat in this place. They advertise a vegan bowl which is basically a big salad. It had no fingerling potatoes and it had no avocado. It did have a few mushrooms and a few pickled onions and a tiny bit of quinoa mixed into the salad, but it was basically just a salad. It was extremely overpriced for a salad.

I love this place!!! Coffee is great!! Gets very packed. The espresso beans 10/10. I do feel their prices are a bit high on their merch. I was going to buy a cafesito 6oz travel mug. It was 27 dollars.

Great vibe to study as student, good balance of busy and quiet. Awesome coffee and food, and everyone who works there is really nice. I have brought a bunch of friends and they all love it.

I had a great time at Don Caravajal cafe. The tres golpes was out of this world. The coffee was extraordinary - it reminded me my grandma's coffee in the DR.

I chose this place from the pictures of the coffee and the food but when I came to order the tres golpes it was cold. the egg wasn't fresh either, it looked like they just heated the the mangu and egg in the microwave. such a disappointment since it's my first time here but the food wasn't fresh and it was cold and dry. very disgusting. they didn't even offer to refund me at all. The coffee was the only good thing there. This will be my first and last time there for sure

I came here because I wanted to try this cafe after hearing so much about it. I ordered the match lemonade and the cubano sandwich. My friend ordered a breakfast sandwich and coffee. My matcha lemonade was ok but I had nothing to compare it to because I have never had matcha before. The cubano was ok as well nothing which makes it different than the other Cubans I have tasted. The yucca fries to me were not good; I'm not sure if they were freshly made yuca fries but my fries were dry. I think the size was pretty big and it came with yuca fries. I would definitely say the portions are big and can be shared. The way this cafe works is your order at the counter then they bring you the food. The place was busy but I would say we did not wait a long time. They did forget my drink and I had to remind them for it. I live in Harlem so I don't think I would be back but I do recommend you try the food. My friend said her coffee was watery.

I am a tea drinker (and they do have tea, too!) but I decided to try a cup of decaf coffee at Don Carvajal today. So delicious! It was very fresh and made to order. Friendly service and an inviting, lively environment make Don Carvajal a must-visit when you're in Irvington!

Easy, quick and good coffee. Service was great & there's indoor & outdoor seating during the summer. Small, but somehow fits a lot of people!

Friendly staff, creative menu and great food. The line inside waiting to be seated moved quickly. While checking in the host shared some of the restaurant highlights. Will go back when visiting the area again.

Found this coffee shop while driving around the neighborhood. Then started reading about it, delicious food, amazing and friendly staff, and honestly super cool vibes. I love how the owner grows his own coffee beans, the pastries are delicious and the small bites menu is so tasty. Highly recommend.

Was down in Puerto Rico last week for some much needed r&r and came across a very nice low key coffee spot across from where we were staying in Condado called ReVital Coffee. Among other things they specialize in an authentic Puerto Rican style latte that is quite robust and more flavorful than standard coffee versions here in the states. Had to have this every morning during our stay. I was lamenting to the barista that I wish I could get this type of coffee in my neck of the woods in Westchester. To my pleasant surprise she mentioned Don Carvajal in Irvington about 15 mins away They specialize in importing the same Dominican fair trade coffee at both businesses Stopped by DC late this afternoon for a mocha and was very pleased with the service and quality of their coffee. The place itself was really chill and the music was pumping. My only regret was owing to the late hour, I wasn't able to sample any of their food menu but will definitely put the empanadas on my must sample list the next time I stop by for lunch.

Amazing everything! Coffee is the best, the staff is so hospitable & the music completes it. Love this place.

I've been wanting to go to the cafe and today was the day. The cafe wasn't busy. I ordered the tres golpes and I was very disappointed. The salami was dry, they over fried it, the mangu was dry the egg were over cooked, the red onions were still a bit raw cold and oh and the cheese was over fried and dry. My mom ordered the avocado toast with an egg and the bread was very soggy. I normally do not write a review, but wanted to share that I wasn't impressed with the food. I requested to eat inside and the waitress went outside looking for us, when I originally stated that we were going to eat inside and the ticket said "inside". I don't think I'll be returning. I wish I would have taken a picture of the food that we did not enjoy and threw it in the trash. I was going to order the coffee, but I was so disappointed with the food that I did not want to take the chance be disappointed with the coffee.