Middle Island, NY

Tracing the settled history of Middle Island takes you back to around 1766, when the first Presbyterian church was constructed. Rev. David Rose was the pastor there, and had another congregation all the way in South Haven. He traveled between the two by horse. 1813 saw the building of the first schoolhouse in Middle Island. A country store by the name of Pfeffer acted as the center of social activity in Middle Island for over 100 years until 1971. Middle Island was named for its central location on Long Island.

From Middle Island, the closest museum is the Brookhaven Volunteer Firefighters Museum in the adjacent village of Ridge, which displays antique trucks and firefighting artifacts to the public. Furnishing the arts' talent in Middle Island, Dance Boulevard on Middle Country Road in the village teaches dance classes from ages two to adult in a variety of styles, complete with recitals.

Restaurants in Middle Island feature an enjoyable mix of ethnic, casual and upscale foods for any time of the day. For a great breakfast or brunch in the village, you can do no better than The Cook Room on Middle Country Road. There's no need to over order here as the plates come stacked with your favorite breakfast and lunch foods of choice. Comfort foods come served in a small, cozy diner with a throwback 1950s decor. Make sure to try breakfast treats, such as the cinnamon-raisin French toast or the pumpkin pancakes with biscuits. For lunch, the sandwiches come piled high with meats and toppings, such as the turkey and swiss. The side potato salad rates among the best in Long Island by the loyal customers.

Widely considered the best Chinese restaurant in Middle Island, Good Wok has endured in the village for years due to its friendly service and great food. The sushi remains a favorite of patrons, with the presentation, taste and portion size showing a huge amount of effort and care infused into the meal. While the sushi can come expensive a la carte, the combos like General Tso's chicken provide great value for inexpensive prices. To pair with the great food, the staff works hard to present a friendly, welcoming atmosphere at the restaurant by treating each customer like family. Make sure to try the homemade fried ice cream for dessert after a satisfying main meal.

For nightlife activity in Middle Island, residents travel into the adjacent village of Coram or other surrounding areas where a wide range of bar and pub options provide an opportunity to socialize. O'Brien's Pub on Route 112 offers a friendly environment to unwind and enjoy refreshing drinks. The pub has a nice selection of tap beers, with many of them local craft selections. New beers constantly get added to the bar, which makes each visit fresh. Good food, pool tables, live music and a great crowd make this a special local bar for the community.

Transportation in Middle Island is led by car travel, the most prevalent way to get around the village. Middle Island's location straddles New York State Route 25 Middle Country Road, a major route of travel and business in the region. County Route 21 runs south to north through the village and takes residents locally and to major highways such as the Long Island Expressway. Ample free parking lies along these and other smaller neighborhood roads. While Middle Country Road has bike lanes, biking or walking this road isn't recommended for safety reasons, but residents can definitely ride freely in the smaller local roads around apartment complexes.

Getting a cab in Middle Island is simple with availability from services like Colonial Transportation and Uber. For public transportation, Suffolk County Transit sends two bus routes through the village, linking residents to nearby neighborhoods. The nearest train station to Middle Island is the Yaphank Station of the Long Island Railroad, located about 10 minutes away by car. Long Island MacArthur Airport tends to your air travel needs from its location in Ronkonkoma.

Middle Island lays claim to a number of outdoor parks for any purpose. The Middle Island Dog Park on Middle Country Road provides a huge space of over four acres for owners and their dogs to run around freely. While use of the park requires a pass costing $25 a year for town residents or $45 a year for New York State residents, the ample free parking, two separate running areas for small/large dogs, multiple water fountains and plenty of benches make this one of the premier dog parks in Brookhaven. Double-gated entries and a requirement for all dogs entering the park to have their rabies shots and to be spayed or neutered mean this is also one of the safest dog parks on the island. Relax in the shade while your dog runs unrestricted across the huge park, making brand new canine friends.

Cathedral Pines County Park graces Middle Island with its massive 320-acre site, complete with all kinds of worthwhile recreation activities. The park provides multiple campsites for use by individuals, families and youth clubs, and ten of these campsites come with comprehensive water and electric hook ups. Biking trails let you ride alone or with family and friends through the beautiful natural environment. There are also multiple hiking trails for various skill levels. Access to the park comes free of charge most of the year, with the exception of Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. Across from Cathedral Pines County Park sits the Prosser Pines Nature Preserve, another popular site for hikers and photographers. The preserve is dog-friendly, with only a leash requirement.

Middle Islands hosts events around the year to entertain and enhance the community. The annual Haunted Trail of Horrors in Middle Island runs throughout October and takes participants through a scary walking path with ghouls and ghosts designed around a local urban tale. Together in groups, participants inch through the dimly lit trail, spending about 15 to 20 minutes to make it to the end. Admission costs just $10, but families are more than encouraged to come, with children under the age of 5 getting in free.

Costs are not too expensive in relative terms,and the village is considerably cheaper than some of the surrounding and neighboring areas. As compared to the greater town of Brookhaven, Middle Island sits at a tremendous 13 percent lesser cost of living due to much more affordable housing. Prospective tenant's can comfortably search for a residence in Middle Island at an average rental rate of $1,544 per month.

A sampling of the daily costs of living in Middle Island sheds light on additional expenses. Suffolk County Transit buses cost only $2 for full fare on most routes through Middle Island and the surrounding villages. Gas prices in Middle Island hover about 9 percent above the national average. Head to the local bars in Middle Island, and enjoy drinks at a price of about $6 for a beer.

Shopping in the Middle Island area proliferates around Middle Country Road and its shopping centers. While Middle Island features plenty of large franchise stores along Middle Country Road, it also has many specialty stores that have been in business for years. Carl Hart Bicycles on Middle Country Road has a long history in the village due to its fantastic services. Residents make use of this shop for all their biking needs, and the knowledgeable staff gives expert advice to shoppers. Their mechanics can fix up any bike issue quickly and at affordable prices, many times right on the spot. The store sells bicycles from recognizable, quality brands as well as biking accessories, and frequent discounts help you save big on purchases. In addition, the store even holds workshops and biking events to further its integration into the community.

For a nearby bridal boutique, a short trip west along Middle Country Road takes you to the Bridal Suite of Centereach, which has outfitted brides and their bridal parties in the finest designer dresses for over 40 years. Dresses at the store include those for brides, bridesmaids, mothers of brides and grooms, flower girls and more, and the sizes vary to fit all proportions. During prom season, the store receives the latest collection of prom dresses for sale. The store recommends appointments for dress shopping visits in order to help aid your decisions with personalized attention and care.

Grocery shopping in Middle Island has your standard range of reliable supermarkets, such as a King Kullen store. Corwin Farms, located on Yaphank Mid Island Road in Middle Island, provides a village farmer's market for residents. Walking around the farm while shopping is a great experience, and you can purchase fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs and even honey harvested from the farm's own beehives.