Family-run Bushwick restaurant, Pastelitos Elys, serves up tastes of the Dominican Republic
BUSHWICK, Brooklyn (WABC) -- On a colorful corner in Brooklyn, you can find the sights, sounds and "sabor" of the Dominican Republic.
From a corner of Harman and Wilson streets, and from their delivery van named "Patricia," family-run "Pastelitos Elvys" has been serving the Bushwick neighborhood for 15 years.
Customers crowd into the cozy space for unparalleled pastelitos, a tasty concoction of beef, chicken, or cheese, or some combination thereof, nestled in deliciously fried envelopes of dough.
They are all lovingly made by Leticia, who hails from the same town in the Dominican Republic as the Contreras family. For variety, she makes other fried Dominican delicacies, like sweet bocadillios of cheese and corn.
Customers also come for the specialty juices, like the "morir sonando," which means, "die dreaming," which is made of orange juice, condensed milk and a touch of vanilla extract. It's also called "Dominican juice," and it's a crowd favorite.
Owner Elvys Contreras, who does not speak English, is also a Pentecostal pastor, and credits God with his success.
His 11-year-old son Alexander has recently created a TikTok rap to advertise the family business.
He works at Pastelitos Elvys after school.
"I sweep, or do whatever they need me to do," Alexander Contreras said.
But his eyes are on the future.
"I want to follow in my father's footsteps," he said.
When asked if had thoughts about becoming a franchise, the 11-year-old said "yes."
As for the eternal debate over whether they are called "pastellitos," the favored moniker of Caribbean nations, or "empanadas," more commonly used in South America, here -- as in the Dominican Republic -- there's no debate.
"Son pastelitos!" Elvys Contreras said.
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