Bites Nearby: The Hollow Creamery

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, the Mineola Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here's this week's choice:

The Hollow Creamery – There are coffee houses that we’ve been to, perhaps in the Berkshires or Vermont, and we ask, why don’t we have anything like this on Long Island?

Rest assured, such a place exists at the Hollow Creamery in Carle Place. This café specializes in homemade ice cream (generally 21 flavors), specialty coffees and teas, cupcakes from Cupcake Contessa, and grilled cheese sandwiches with nine cheese choices made on a choice of delicious bread from Manhattan’s Tom Cat bakery. Owner Bill Fitzpatrick searches out the best products and brings them to the shop.

The Creamery is a comfortable place to drop in for a bite to eat or a hot or cold beverage (they carry Boylan sodas).

The décor is classy with wide plank wooden floor, linen white wainscotting, mustard, maroon and white walls, and a mural, posters and vintage photos on the walls. Light comes in from the street front window.

538 Westbury Avenue, Carle Place, 516-280-3703
www.thehollowcreamery.com
Hours: Open 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.; closed Mondays in winter; summer open seven days a week.

Prices: grilled cheese sandwich $4.95; ice cream starts at $2.99 for small.