Step inside Manny’s Sweet Treats, Mineola’s dessert haven

From gelato pizzas to cookie fries, Manny’s turns desserts into imaginative, family-friendly experiences

First opening its doors in 2016, Manny’s Sweet Treats in Mineola has become much more than a great dessert spot on bustling Jericho Turnpike. 

For many local teens and adults, it’s become something of a town square on Friday and Saturday nights, a place where owner Hector Carvalho said “people can be creative, have fun and make lasting memories.”

“When we opened, there were no dessert shops around,” Carvalho, 37, said. “I wanted to create a space where you could go for a date and not spend a lot of money for anyone from teens to adults, I wanted a place where people could have fun and create memories with families and significant others.”

Only doors away from Manny’s, Carvalho, who came to the U.S. at age 12 from Panama, gained valuable experience while working with his Portugese-born dad Manuel as the director of operations at Churrasqueira Bairrada, an iconic wood-charcoal Portugese restaurant known for its meat-centric, all-you-can-eat rodizio.  

“I was in charge of managing everything at Bairrada, from opening to closing and everything in between. After almost 10 years, I decided I wanted to branch out and do something on my own,” he recalled. 

And, as a spot devoted almost exclusively to creative desserts and breakfast offerings, Manny’s — located at 156 Jericho Turnpike — is a venue Carvalho can surely call his own. 

He describes himself as always having been a creative person and that Manny’s is his creative outlet. 

“I like to always find new ways to eat desserts, from making our cookie fries to gelato pizza, it’s always about creativity, he said. “I truly enjoy when people see a new creation and think, ‘Oh wow!! That’s amazing!'”

Carvalho is also a big fan of being creative with his marketing and has created his own board game. It becomes available soon, along with his own line of coffee, dubbed the Unicorn Chronicles and the Sacred Colombian bean, based on his Unicorn juice character. 

“I like to be creative with every aspect of the store,” he said. “For example, when people order via UberEats, we’ll include a card that says you’ve won a free gelato, come in and claim it!”

Mineola mayor Paul Pereira is a fan of Manny’s, calling the shop as well as its owner, unique in the village and the entire area.  

“What he (Carvalho) does there I do not see anywhere else. He is a true artist with his craft of producing unique desserts in a creative way,” the mayor said. “The space itself is immaculate and whimsical at the same time.”

Pereira said that Manny’s “is always pushing the envelope and rediscovering new ways to improve on his business, his products and the experience. We are lucky that Manny’s sweet treats call Mineola home.”

Carvalho is also involved with his family’s foundation, which seeks to empower the local and global communities through support, education and humanitarian work.

“The Carvalho Family Foundation represents our family’s belief that when you invest in young people and community partnerships, you invest in the future,” he said.

“Through the Junior Fire Alliance mission, we brought together youth firefighters and community leaders from Panama and New York for hands-on training, cultural exchange, and leadership development. Witnessing their growth, confidence, and commitment to service has been the most meaningful outcome of this initiative.”

However, despite his outside endeavors, which include splitting his time between overseeing Manny’s and managing properties in New York City, what really sets Manny’s apart from other dessert shops is the unique and constantly evolving menu. 

Indeed, the shop calls itself a “dessert paradise where imagination meets flavor,” where numerous sweet creations await, such as Liquid Luck, Magic Brew, Unicorn Juice energy drink and Manny’s popular Bathtub Sundae. 

Other ambitious dessert offerings include a Nutella Mousse Flower Pot, Chimney Cake Cone and Freeze-Dried Candy delights.

Fake Chicken Ice Cream and Pound Cake Fries, cookie fries and gelato pizza, are part of Manny’s fake foods, real dessert line-up that Carvalho said are among his most popular items.

“They’re imitation foods that are real desserts,” he said. 

The shop is also known for its freshly made gelato, made in-house daily and in small batches. Unique flavors include orange pineapple, fruity pebbles and cinnamon toast crunch.

“We definitely like to play around. I encourage my staff to go crazy and experiment,” Carvalho said. 

Breakfast items are also featured throughout the day. That selection includes Wolverine pancakes and the Homer Simpson donut sandwich, in addition to an array of waffles, pancakes and crepes.

Manny’s also hosts popular event nights, such as a book exchange on Tuesdays, where the shop offers money toward Manny’s food if you bring a used book to the restaurant; board games night on Wednesdays and a chill and study lounge on Thursdays.  

People can keep up to date with shop events via Many’s website or on social media, such as Instagram. 

Manny’s numerous dessert fans include Tosha Linzy of New York who wrote on Facebook: “Sweets is my middle name and this place fits right in.. great flavor and a different selection for all.. I had death by Brownie tequila. Yummmmy.”

And, Fanny Guzman added, “The best milkshakes. You should go and try.”

Manny’s is open Sunday to Thursday, from noon to 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, noon until midnight.

_{Top: Manny’s Sweet Treats in Mineola (Alan Krawitz photos)}