Settlement of the area goes back more than three centuries, as evidenced by such landmarks as the Terry-Ketcham Inn, which dates from the late 1600s. With guests that included Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, the historic inn and tavern earned its spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993 (the site also served as a Civil War training ground). Another local monument on the National Register of Historic Places is the Masury Estate Ballroom, which was built around 1898 and is all that remains of a large shingle-style estate. (A less respectable landmark is the Lindenmere, the 14-bedroom estate seized from Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.) Center Moriches is a residential place, albeit with traces of the rural character that once dominated. You can spy a few farms, and in the southern section there are creekside inns, marinas, and laid-back beaches such as Webby’s.

Much of the commerce and dining is clustered along Montauk Highway, aka Main Street. As in much of Suffolk County, seafood is well-represented. La Volpe maintains a loyal following with a menu that includes stuffed eggplant, saltimbocca, and pastas that are pan-sautéed. The Sea Cove is another good red-sauce joint, with pulled pork as the unexpected menu item. Pizzerias in Center Moriches include Anton’s and Alitalia. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Seafood Fish Market and Restaurant is beloved for its fried oysters, shrimp pizza, and lobster nachos. The seafood buckets (peel ’n’ eat shrimp, Alaskan snow crabs, steamers, mussels, clambake, etc.) are perfect for sharing.