**November 2025: Early Afternoon Visit**…read more My friend and I are on a roadtrip, and I saw all the positive reviews and thought this would be a great place to grab a snack for later. The shop is located in an ethnic part of town, right at the corner, and parking is pretty tight. I think there's three parking spots and admit that we did have a little trouble trying to get our spot. Eventually we secured a spot and I ran in to see the offerings. The shop is very intimate and the tray had a good assortment of savory empanadas and sweet pastries. There's no seating area and is definitely a grab and go type of joint. After looking at all the options I bought 4 empanadas (for a total of $11.86 paid cash. When I got home later that day I was really impressed by the flavors of each. They weren't in the slightest bit greasy and the filling to dough ratio as excellent. Spinach & Cheese: $3.00 (?) - great vegetarian options. It was creamy and Rancheta: $3 - Pork Sausage and Corn (LOVED THIS!) - This was recommended by the hostess and it did not disappoint. The sweetness of the corn complimented the salty/savoriness of the sausage Beef/Carne $2.70: Juicy and flavorful Pernil Pork $2.80: This one was my least favorite, even though it was still very good. I guess pork is a little drier than beef, but still good Overall - a fantastic find and all the trophies displayed are well deserved. If I come back to providence I will certainly make a trip here for the pockets of joy!

Would've gone 4 1/2 stars if I could. Some really good empanadas and other treats here. Friendly…read morecustomer service, and some great prices. Would definitely return when in the area.

I love sorpresa most of the time! They serve Colombian style…read morefood. They always have a good selection of food and it is always usually fresh, I think there was only one time where it wasn't, it really depends on the time of day. They have the buffet style food display where you can pick your own plate. They do not speak english, but they are not stupid and are able to interpret with hand movements or google translate. They have $5 plates and $8 plates. They also have delicious empanadas for $2 and a small section of assorted colombian pastries. Definitely recommend coming here for a quick eat-in or to go plate!

Really good food and the worker who helped me was very nice. Great little lunch spot. I enjoyed the…read moreoutdoor seating

Great selection of fresh breads and delicious treats. Brought a few boxes of goodies to. Cookout…read moreand everyone asked where I bought the treats. Brownies, apple treats and cakes slices were a big hit. A busy bakery, but with lots of staff to help fill the orders. Also a small section with some Goya and other grocery items and refrigerated beverages and items. Nice little seating area as well. Very good, great prices.

I've been going to Central Ave Bakery since I was born--almost 50 years! I love that the tradition…read morehas continued within their family. Everything they offer is fantastic, from their prepared foods to their desserts. No matter who is behind the counter, they always treat me with kindness and respect. Wishing the entire family continued success with their wonderful business, and many more years of serving us our beloved Portuguese goodies!

The best empanadas! An easy cheap lunch or dinner, with quick service and a chill vibe!read more

Incredible. Their empanadas are amazing and it's our go to spot for catering or any large family…read moreevents. Love this place!

Stopped in for their pastries. Was pleasantly surprised by their selection, there are a lot of…read moreneighborhood panderias/restaurants. Was excited to know they open early for morning people like me who need their coffee and pastry. Counter help was super nice and took the time to explain, why some things aren't labeled. They had a nice set up for the World Cup with lots where everyone can have a view no matter your seat. It's located near Main Street and is easy to get to from transit. I'm excited to make this place part of my regular routine.

My family and I came here on a Wednesday minutes before they closed so I was very appreciative of…read morethe staff allowing us to dine in and being very attentive throughout our time there. This place is massive, with lots of tables to dine in, and a bakery section. We ordered the following: Mondongo (pequeño), bandeja paisa, lengua sudada, and res apanada. The food came out in about 20 minutes. The serving sizes were a little bigger than normal (I am not complaining), every plate looked delicious, and all the plates were hot and fresh. The mondongo was tasty and had a good amount of tripe and the right thickness of the broth. I chuckled when I saw the side of banana, but honestly, it made for a good desert. The bandeja paisa brings a litte bit of everything and it all was cooked well. The lengua sudada was very tender and flavorful and the yucca was soft, with the sauce it was in giving it a really good flavor. The res apanada was a bit tough and the breading did not stick on too well, but overall the flavor was good and the breading was crispy which I enjoyed. The best part of it all was the prices. It is very affordable and you will leave full.   The bakery is inexpensive and the items I have tried and good. They do have a large parking lot and it's free. While in the area, you could visit the Slater Mill (they have tours you could sign up for) or visit the public library. One thing to note is that the GPS might bring you to their old location a couple blocks up the street, so do a little bit of research for the address beforehand.

Chicken Empanadas were delicious, nice and light and not too oily. Will definitely be returningread more

Food, drinks, and service were all excellent and deserve genuinely five stars. Two stars for one…read morereason: our bill was automatically added with 12% gratuity but then tipping options of 18/20/22% options as if no gratuity exists. I noticed but tipped another 18% anyway because of good service but found this billing behavior unacceptable. (We were a group of three) Automatic gratuity is fine. Pairing it with a misleading tip prompt is not.

Visited this Bakery many times, however this time, the chicken empanadas had a bitter, dry taste…read morenot very good , the assorted bakery items unfortunately were very stale.not sure if this day(Saturday early) was a miss. No fun paying for items that were not really edible

This is an open-late Portuguese bakery, they have different cheeses and meats as well as a small…read moregrocery variety of mostly traditional Portuguese shelf-stable items and cans. There's always two people serving customers and it's a small, quaint shop but some of the best and interesting desserts I've had! Their donuts are also MASSIVE! I've never not liked anything I've gotten!

Ordering on the phone isn't the easiest task if you don't speak Spanish. However, their food is…read moredelicious. I ordered a small tray from them and it was a hit at a party.

Our first visit to try the Colombian food at El Paisa was great. We were greeted warmly and told we…read morecould sit wherever we liked. We ordered drinks (the sangria was delicious!) and also ordered the Picada appetizer which consisted of Chorizo, Chicharrón, Yuca Fries, and Creole potatoes. When the appetizer arrived, I knew we had come to a great restaurant! Oh my goodness, the deliciousness was unmatched! The Yucca fries were hot and crispy on the outside with a soft & mealy interior. The chorizo and chicharron were both flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the potatoes were amazing as well. The appetizer portion was so generous, that all three of us ate our fill and there was still plenty to take home. For an entree, I ordered Steak with sweet plantains, tostones, and salad. All were delicious, especially when paired with the savory sauces on the table. We all wanted to try dessert and chose the tres leches cake and flan. Wow - I've never been served such large slices of both of these, and they were so flavorful and rich. We enjoyed the atmosphere of El Paisa as well as the friendly and efficient service and we hope to return soon.