Center Moriches

Settlement of the area goes back more than three centuries, as evidenced by such landmarks as the Terry-Ketcham Inn, which dates to the late 1600s. With a guest list that included Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, this inn and tavern earned its spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Another local, certified historical monument is the Masury Estate Ballroom, a c.1898 wood-frame structure that is all that remains of a much larger shingle-style estate. For a deeper dive into the area’s past, the Havens Homestead—a Dutch Colonial built during the 1750s—now serves as the Moriches Bay Historical Society. Center Moriches is a primarily residential place, albeit with traces of the rural character that once dominated the entire region—look around, and you can spy a few farms. In the southern section of the hamlet, there are creekside inns, marinas, and laid-back beaches.

Much of the commerce and dining in Center Moriches is clustered along Montauk Highway, which functions as the hamlet’s Main Street in all but name. As is the case with roughly the entirety of Suffolk County, seafood is a well-represented cuisine. What you’ll find that’s perhaps a little more unique is adding a little turf to that surf in the form of shrimp pizza, lobster nachos, and the like. If you’re more of a traditionalist, you’ll still be able to find your favorite dishes, be they served on a plate or in a bucket. Should seafood for the sixth night in a row seem too tall an order, you’ll have other options to sail over to either in Center Moriches or other nearby hamlets. Fancy a drink? Stop in at craft breweries, stay with a flight or pint, or go with a crowler or growler.