Mastic Beach, NY

The small settlement (also known as a hamlet) of Mastic Beach was originally formed in 1928 by a private membership civic organization.

A famous historical site in the area, William Floyd Estate, has amazing grounds and the house has been remarkably preserved. William Floyd was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and his family home is open to the public. Over 250 years of history is steeped in this house with outbuildings and waterfront property in which to stroll around. In colonial times, the Floyd family ran a plantation, but when the family turned to business and politics, the land started being used for hunting and fishing. There are 25 rooms in the old house, 12 outbuildings, a family cemetery and over 613 acres of land that include a forest, fields, marsh and trails. Exhibits filled with furnishings and artifacts spanning eight generations litter all the rooms of the house.

Locals in the Mastic Beach area love to dine out, and conveniently the area is packed with lots of great eateries. You can have a quick or casual dining experience or go upscale and choose fine dining. If you are just grabbing a bite before going out or are planning to have a romantic night out, Mastic Beach can satisfy any palate craving. The wide varieties of different cuisines have options to suit all budgets and occasions. There are places to hit with the kids (grab a slice of pizza), or places to go with that special someone (sushi is on the menu).

You can find many restaurants along the main street, Neighborhood Road. New Rooster Kitchen, a family-run business, has plenty of vegetarian options and they provide fast delivery services. A must-try item is the chicken dumplings. The dumplings are fried in a sauce before being added to udon noodle soup. Locals say the sauce is so addictive that you can drink it. New Rooster Kitchen offers affordable lunches: $5.75 will get you a main course, soup and an egg-roll. The orange chicken dish is also another to-die-for option. If you want a vegetarian meal, try the bean curd with garlic sauce and brown rice.

You can’t make a stop in Long Island without trying fish and chips. California Fish and Chips is the perfect stop for any seafood lover. It is located on Neighborhood Road, close to New Rooster Kitchen. Meal prices range from $4.50 to $9.50, and the side dishes cost $1.50 to $3.25. Free delivery is available for orders over $30.00, the restaurant recently has begun serving breakfast.

One of the busiest places to dine in Mastic Beach has breakfast, lunch and daily specials. TJ’s Hero Shop has consistent service with great values. What more could you ask for? The business has been running for over 20 years and the owner, a Long Island native, has a passion for sandwiches. TJ's Hero Shop creates and serves thousands of hero sandwiches each year and only uses premium cuts of meats and cheeses. Its produce is sourced from local vendors, and the bread is baked and delivered daily from two of the largest bakeries in Long Island. All the speciality products are made on site. Whether you order soup, salad, chicken cutlets, roast beef or ham, the item is made daily, guaranteeing quality and freshness at its best. TJ’s Hero Shop’s menu board lists the Top 20 Heroes such as the Manhattan, which is hot roast beef with gravy and melted mozzarella on garlic bread. But if you prefer roast pork, try the Long Islander. If Italian heroes are more your thing, the menu offers hot or cold varieties such as the pepperoni and provolone or the meatball parm for $8.99.

Nightlife seeker? Try Linsa Torr’s Place, a dive bar with a live music venue and an octagon-shaped bar that should keep you active well past the midnight hour. During the day, the shutters are closed and portray a quiet facade, but when they are opened, plenty of night-time activities abound within.

Mastic Beach has one airport nearby for those flying into Long Island. Unfortunately, there is no Amtrak station within 30 miles, but most of the people living in or visiting Mastic Beach use public transit, walk around the area or carpool to work. There are three cab companies that provide taxi, airport shuttle and limousine services. You can choose from Hampton Coach, Li Town Car Taxi or Uber (which are always seeking new drivers, especially in the Mastic Beach area). Public parking is available along streets and requires drivers to either parallel park or angle park. Standard parking meters are used along these streets, but if you want to save up to 70 percent on parking meters or parking tickets, use JustPark.com. This friendly service allows the user to reserve a parking space at someone's house or a church/school lot for much cheaper than standard meter parking, and it is safe and secure.

Mastic Beach strives to be friendly to bicyclers, so the town has developed a system of over 108 bike trails. And if locals or visitors wish to make a stop in New York City, they can make the one hour and 48 minute drive by taking the William Floyd Parkway and then looping onto the Long Island Expressway.

Mastic Beach has a fun and exciting annual festival called Blue Claw Crab Festival. It is held every August at Marina 1. People flock to this outdoor activity to enjoy fresh steamed shrimp, crabs and crab cakes, clams on the half shell, beer, wine and soda. Music can be heard from the minute the festival opens to the very end with dance performances and activities such as face-painting and sand art for children. The free admission helps bring the crowds in to purchase goods from food vendors and arts-and-crafts suppliers.

Music by the Bay highlights live music at sunset and is free to the public. The family-friendly event happens in July at Marina 1 and has been organized to heighten the awareness of the natural beauty of the Mastic Beach waterfront.

Beside the regular parks such as Osprey Park, Mastic Beach has a state-of-the-art skate park. Residents of Mastic Beach can obtain a free membership pass to use the Mastic Skate Park facility, but non-members will need to pay $10. The park is open to children, eight and older, and proper safety equipment, such as helmets, is required.

The cost of living in Mastic Beach can be 6 percent higher than the New York average but gas prices hover around 8 percent lower. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment can run you around $1700 per month. Mastic Beach ranks high in quality of life standards compared to other communities with a score of 71 out of 100.

Public transportation costs $2.00, which is almost half the cost of a beer. Locals have reported paying an average of $5.00 per beer at their favourite establishments.

A multitude of businesses serve Mastic Beach. They provide everything from retail shops to professional services and entertainment. You can spend the day window shopping, or shop until you drop with a group of friends, stock up on necessities at the two local grocery stores and find just what you're looking for at the seven different shopping areas.

Then and Now Thrift Shop makes for an interesting day of salvaging to find treasures. If gifts or flowers are what you are seeking, try Beacon Cottage. The family-owned operation is talked about by locals and is said to have impressive gourmet goodies and fresh, flavorful bread. The flower arrangements are perfect for any occasion, and Beacon Cottage is used repeatedly for wedding arrangements.

Designer eye-wear at discount prices can only be found at Bella Eyewear. The service is spectacular and the selection of reading glasses and sunglasses is outstanding.

Handy Pantry Convenient Store is located along Mastic Beach's main street and is the perfect place to stop for snacks, coffee and fuel. Groceries can be picked up at Village Food Mart.