Green Eats healthy cafe opens in Glen Cove
The Green Paradise smoothie at Green Eats, a health-focused cafe in Glen Cove. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus
Two Glen Cove natives decided their town needed more healthy food options and, instead of complaining about it, they decided to do something. Simone Castillo and Edward Villatoro took over the Bridge Storefront that had briefly been Nelly’s Empanadas and established Green Eats, specializing in smoothies, bowls and more quick-serve options.
"We wanted to serve real food, no junk," Castillo said.
She acknowledged that "healthy" is a moving target in a world where spinach, T-bone steaks, protein powder and fasting all fit someone’s definition of the term. But she and her partner are bullish on vegetables and whole grains and are equally mindful of sourcing. She and Villatoro opened Green Eats last spring.
Edward Villatoro, left, and Simone Castillo are the owners of Green Eats, a health-focused cafe in Glen Cove. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus
While their kitchen is not 100% organic, they are guided in their purchasing by the annual "dirty dozen" list, published by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, that identifies the vegetables bearing the highest pesticide load — spinach, kale-collards-mustard greens, strawberries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, cherries, apples, blackberries, pears, potatoes and blueberries — even though they are more expensive.
Castillo's mother is a professional cook; Villatoro’s father is the second-generation owner of El Tazumel, the Glen Cove eatery that is Long Island’s OG Salvadoran restaurant. Having grown up in the business, they know that sustainability means more than eschewing chemical fertilizers and pesticides — it means ensuring that your prices are in line with your customers’ budgets.
The warm Bliss Bowl at Green Eats, a health-focused cafe in Glen Cove. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus
"We really pay attention to prices," Villatoro said of the menu where everything is under $15. Bestsellers include the Green Paradise smoothie (pineapple, mango, passion fruit juice, spinach, kale and agave, $6.99), the Bliss Bowl (brown rice, lentils sweet potatoes, corn, kale, whipped feta, pickled red onions, poblano cream and chipotle-Caesar dressing, $13.99), the Spring Pea Salad Wrap (arugula, radish, peas, carrots, cabbage, feta and blush dressing, $12) and the Green Eats quesadilla (kale, spinach, feta, Monterey Jack cheese, pickled onion and chipotle chicken, $12.99).
The decor of the shop lives up to its name, greened by dozens of plants (many of them rescues) scattered among the vintage tables and chairs.
Green Eats, 17 Bridge St., Glen Cove, 516-787-7476, greeneatsli.com. Open Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sunday.
