Centereach, NY

The hamlet of Centereach was originally called West Middle Island, but had come to be known as New Village up until the early 20th century. Realizing that a town in Upstate New York shared the identical name, the decision was made to change names. With the hamlet entrenched in the center of Long Island, the concept of "center reached" led to the naming of what we now know as Centereach. Centereach has grown over the years from a small hamlet to a suburban community, with a major construction boom in the last decade.

2014 marked the hamlet's second annual Centereach Fair. Despite its short existence, the fair has already attracted thousands of Long Islanders from near and far. Two stages infuse the festival with live music, and craft vendors, food trucks, local businesses and community organizations all provide entertainment while strengthening and expanding social ties within the region.

The Centereach restaurant and nightlife scene can be as busy as its streets are crowded. There are no shortage of eager individuals scouting Middle Country Road and Centereach for the perfect meal to accentuate that special occasion, or for simply a quiet, casual bite to eat from the comforts of a quality restaurant.

Voulapitta Greek Restaurant, situated in the Centereach Mall shopping center, serves Greek salads, gyros and other Greek foods in a fast, convenient manner. Voulapitta's salads and gyros easily top the majority of people's favorites list, while the meat kebabs and lemon chicken soup also earn esteemed regard. Ordering a Greek salad allows you to choose between grilled chicken or gyro meat with your favorite vegetable toppings and a light, tasty dressing. At Voulapitta's you are assured a quick and convenient flavorful meal; place your order at the front counter and servers will soon bring over your food.

For a more upscale, though still very affordable destination, Pollo Rico Latin Bistro serves authentic Spanish cuisine from around the world. The restaurant has a large room with more than enough seating to accommodate big crowds. The empanadas are a popular appetizer, and the Colombian-style entrees generate favorable opinions. Diners eat to the sounds of light Spanish music (sometimes live) in the background, with a happening bar area and an overall warm, friendly atmosphere. One must try the sangria, as the restaurant keeps it strong and flowing. The Monday Special allows you to order a full pitcher of the sangria for under $10.

McCarthy's Pub on Middle Country Road has been a long time local bar and hangout spot. One of the benefits of being established here for so long can be seen in the friendly, familiar atmosphere. McCarthy's is a place where people know each other, and there's a degree of comfort and charm in this certainty. Live music often comes to the venue, and familiar foods can be ordered as well.

TJ Halpin's Bar & Grill features great food, friendly staff and crowd, live music and affordable drinks. The bar places cleanliness as a top priority, with the locale nearly spotless. Thursdays at the bar allow you to embrace your inner Madonna at Karaoke night, and Saturdays bring the entertainment to you with live bands and music. Kids eat free on Mondays, and important sports games are bound to be shown on the bar's multiple big screen televisions.

Centereach's main roadway, New York State Route 25 Middle Country Road, connects the hamlet to key surrounding destinations. Nearby Nichols Road takes you south to the important commuter highway Interstate 495, the Long Island Expressway. Those seeking cab services have options such as Uber and the local Quality Taxi company, which stays available 24 hours, seven days per week. Middle Country Road has bike lanes, which unfortunately are not very safe for bikers; if biking on the road is a bad idea, then walking it should never be an option. Keep in mind that this road can get heavily congested with traffic at times.

Additional transportation options in the area include the Suffolk County Transit bus service, which runs three bus routes that pass through Centereach. The nearest train station sits about 10 minutes away in Smithtown. The Long Island Railroad can conveniently take you to essential destinations such as New York City's Penn Station. When booking a flight, your best options are to fly out of either the nearby Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, or the popular JFK International Airport.

While Centereach may not have the largest array of parks in the immediate area, neighboring hamlets provide supplementary options. Centereach does have The Department of Parks, Recreation and Sports, and Cultural Resources center on Hawkins Road, which coordinates outdoor recreational opportunities for the entire town of Brookhaven. The department oversees more than 170 parks, sports complexes, playgrounds, ball fields, beaches, pools and docks throughout the town. It also offers a huge amount of services connected to these activities such as sports lessons, sports leagues and camps.

Sports-minded individuals have extensive opportunities to participate for fun and recreation. The Levitt Ballfield Park on Lynn Street in Centereach contains 8 baseball fields and ample free parking lots. The ball fields range from little league size to professional, and host baseball games from the area's various leagues. Across from Bell Meade Road, the Percy B Raynor Memorial Park provides a number of baseball fields along with two soccer fields. The park also contains a sizable field for general purpose. Centereach Park features tennis courts, basketball courts and the Centereach pool.

Centereach holds an annual town of Brookhaven Comedy, Juggling and Crafts event around Halloween. A professional magician captivates and enchants the crowd with tricks, and even invites audience participation. The event prefers for participants to come in costume, with prizes given to both the best and most original ensemble. Located on Hawkins Road, the event costs an inexpensive $5 per person.

Centereach's cost of living is higher than national averages and slightly higher than New York state. As compared to the rest of the town of Brookhaven, costs measure near identically, with Brookhaven being only 3.4 percent less expensive. Housing is typically expensive in Centereach, and rent for a one bedroom apartment averages about $1,300 per month.

Fortunately, the smaller daily living expenses in Centereach tend to be more than reasonable. Gas prices are a fair 11 percent higher than the national average. Starting at Centereach and heading into the city center via public transportation, the Suffolk County Transit bus fee costs a negligible $2.00. Drinking at the local pubs in the area will typically cost you about $6 a pint.

Centereach benefits from its location on Middle Country Road, a heavily traveled road with restaurants, businesses and stores throughout. Middle Country Road has developed into the center of commerce in the area, providing accommodating shopping choices for local residents. Pzaz Clothing on Middle Country Road in Centereach sells popular brand dresses for special occasions such as proms, sweet sixteens and formals. Their collections are always stocked with the latest styles, particularly in the prom dress department. The salespeople are helpful, patient and fortunately not too overbearing when it comes to completing the sale. Their in-store tailor can quickly make any alterations needed to help modify the dress until its a perfect fit. Fall hours add Sunday availability at this leading Centereach dress store.

Utopia, on Middle Country Road, sells general punk-style clothing and shoes, body jewelry, smoking accessories, and other eclectic items. They have a piercing professional on hand in the shop, able to perform body piercings in a safe, clean and sterile environment. Utopia carries aftercare products to follow up with upon completion of the piercing. Having been around for many years, Utopia is well-known in the region and a common place to go for piercing needs.

Grocery stores in the area include popular franchises such as Pathmark and Waldbaum's. For supporting a local independent business, Fratelli's Pork Store on Middle Country Road specializes in fresh meats and cheeses. The deli comprises deftly cut meats from the butcher shop, softly baked breads, homemade pastas, and a large number of imported cheeses. The sausages in particular draw wide praise. The store also cater events at reasonable prices, including options for catered BBQ which includes a grill master, assistant and charcoal grill along with all the requisite foods.