Carmelita's - little Hempstead gem
On Hempstead Tpke, just east of Clinton, a few restaurants have opened in this previously deserted section of town. Aside from Subway and a mediocre pizza joint, we have Carmelita's. Our office orders from there at least twice a week. The owner is this charming gent named Francisco. All the soups are homemade, including an ambrosial seafood soup - sort of a coral-colored bisque filled with just about everything that lives in the sea - clams, shrinp, mussels, crabmeat, fin fish. I also love the tongue in tomato sauce. LUnch orders come with rice, beans and tortillas. There are three "typical plates" - Salvadorean, Honduran, and Colombian. Huge amount of food. This is not a destination place, but if you are in the area, you couldn't do better for lunch. We are all pulling for Francisco to make it with this new venture.
