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Syosset

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[edit] Syosset

Welcome to Syosset, Long Island, New York 11791 (as if there might be another Syosset!) Syosset is a hamlet in the Town of Oyster Bay. It is on the north shore of Nassau County closer to the Long Island Sound than to the Ocean of the South Shore. A quick drive up through Oyster Bay Cove, the town immediately north of Syosset, will let you look across the sound to see Connecticut. It is one of the most in demand places to live.

[edit] The Syosset Name

When the Dutch ceased to maintain rule of Long Island, parts of the Township of Oyster Bay began utilizing Indian names during the Indian name phase of naming Long Island Towns. Syosset American Indians? No.

"Suwassit," describes a "place in the pines." It is true, there are some lovely tall pine trees in the yards of many modern day Syossetans! (?)

[edit] Syosset, A Great Long Island Town

Syosset is a popular place to live. If a home goes up for sale, it can sell in a day with many bidders if priced correctly. The demand for living in Syosset is one of the highest in Long Island due to three key factors:

  • Syosset School District is one of the three most popular school districts on Long Island due to excellent graduation statistics of an exceptionally high number of students going on to a four year college. The ratings are also high due to the high number of students taking Advanced Placement exams. The district is large and serves Syosset, Woodbury, Muttontown, and parts of Oyster Bay Cove. A small number of Plainview residents also are zoned for Syosset schools. Some of the reasons the district is appreciated are:
    1. Many high achieving students
    2. Bussing for every student
    3. Active teacher initiation of tutoring for students
    4. Extensive second language programs with good results for students
    5. Doubling of class instruction for students in their weakest subject
    6. Special planned award dinners and social events for student achievement
    7. Coaches that are very attentive to safety concerns on trips, who often hold meetings with parents to describe travel procedures.
  • Syosset - One of the Nations Lowest Crime Rates

Syosset is a family oriented community, mainly surrounded by other low crime residential neighborhoods. Driving through, you will rarely if ever see typical teenagers standing around. Nearly every student is highly engaged in school, sports, and planned activities even through upper teen years. It is an exceptionally productive community and students have exceptional peer support with little or no negative distraction. Sports initiations or teenage drinking efforts very rarely occur, and are discovered early and thwarted by on-guard parents on rare occasion.

[edit] Well developed Sports Programs

In addition to Lacrosse, Wrestling, Football, The Track team of Syosset High boasts two recent All American players.

[edit] Syosset Properties and Homes

Although above the median price for housing, Syosset residents enjoy living amongst many of the large Gold Coast estates in the surrounding community. Top schools, access to the Oyster Bay Harbor within minutes, yet immediate access to trains, and main road routes make it exceptionally conducive to both family life and business. There are beautiful older traditional homes in and around Syosset. Top rated restaurants are everywhere you drive and seldom close. The joke is that noone cooks in Syosset/Woodbury. Restaurants, quiet by day, come alive with completely filled parking lots when residents return.

[edit] Syosset Real Estate

There are dozens of real estate brokers in the town of Syosset. The most known non commercial broker is Lex Realty who has his office right in the village along with others. It is the oldest Real Estate Office on Long Island with the same Owner/Broker, James Balletta. Lex is synonymous with Syosset. For Commercial Real Estate there is one star player at the Nassau Suffolk Real Estate office. Charlie Bevelaqua knows every building in the four or five town radious. Who owns them, who tried not to pay a commission, who is ready to deal. Doing business in Syosset requires a good realtor for good space. He is it. He has rented space to the successful as well as those whom have lost their shirt. Paying to much a square foot, he claims results in the owner getting desperate before going out. The right space and price of commercial real estate are important as is understanding the market. When a business goes out of business in Syosset, it seems to be in 10 minutes. Either that or they stay forever. No matter what. For instance there are stores you would imagine would have no customers at all. Yet they remain on and sometimes make changes in their shop windows lazily.

Strong community support of education and sports programs, make Syosset an ideal place to live, work and raise a family.

[edit] Syosset Village

The main town in the middle of Syosset is not too fancy. It looks like a bunch of old fashioned German buildings with pointed roofs on the individual connected stores curving around a bend in the road. Old, but not qualifying for quaint as much as is quirky, the town is a hodge-podge of oddities. Across the way are some worn down stores such as an 1970s rent a tool, 1950s sport supply shop, a never completed "coming soon" small corner building, and far across the way north another incongruous few stores kind of making a strip from a distance. The stores are patronized heavily regardless of the lack of or defiance of ambiance. I personally enjoy the messy village.

[edit] Stores of Syosset

  • Little Chefs of Syosset

Syossetans do not cook or the restaurants would not be booming at night. However there is a "Little Chef" cooking school for tots.

  • CVS

Lacking in department stores, Syosset has a busy 24 hour CVS that carries cheap holiday gifts like stiff slippers, the equivalant of Old Spice cologne, cheap candies, and holiday decorations. After Christmas one can make off with these items at 75% off. They fly off the shelves apparently needed severely for next year.

  • Bagelmaster

The owners hail from Russia and run a tight ship. Breakfast (eggs or pancakes)come in a silver tin, with free bagel and coffee for about $3. The bagelmaster owners are not the original but the store makes a claim for inventing the world famous "Flagel" now used everywhere since being invented in Syosset. The big flat bagel is crispy with no doughy inside. The new owners are feisty and will not hesitate to speak up if a patron annoys them. They have easily kept the Syosset crowd and actually improved it. Lines wrap around in the busy part of the morning and on a crowded Saturday a car could wreck easily in the small lot.

  • Rent a Tool

I have never been in Rent a Tool, but it has always been there for renting tools and equipment to those in Syosset who do their own repairs or lawn, a sight not yet seen by me.

  • Home Depot

Home Depot of Syosset is the treasure we have all been waiting for. The Home Depot of Syosset has no lines. It is a semi "mini" Home Depot, which will eventually evidence itself when searching for tile, windows, doors, etc.

[edit] Restaurants of Syosset

  • Cardinali's of Syosset- The Italian Bakery

Even the regionally renowned Cardinali's bakery has an aging pink sign that needs replacing. But inside.. there is a phenomenal bakery with special soft Italian style home made Ice Cream (Gelato) in a multitude of fun flavors. Most popular is the Gianduia "JANDUIA" or Chocolate Hazelnut. Too delicious for words. They have another turning case of homemade ices scooped back fancily into the fruits used for the flavoring. Oranges, Lemons, Coconut halves, Pineapples etc.. The other half of the store patrons can sit in and have fresh cappuccino with the bakery items they order at 11:30 at night on a weekend. Few bakeries offer such service on Long Island. Even when closed you can see a small smoke stack going on the roof, from the mass baking they must do in the basement as they also supply other retailers. If you visit, try their Italian cheese cake and cappuccino and get a small table by the window to relax and take a break. Cardinali's also serves as one of the only "Good Coffee" places in Syosset village.

  • Cardinali's Pizza

Next Door to Cardinali's Bakery- Not the same owners either. Supposedly the two brothers are in no way affiliated (or speaking) ahaha. Great place to sit at little stiff old tables and order from the real Cardinali who actually makes the Pizza. Pizza Margarhita is the famous one that has a white ricotta over sauce neopolitan style. Minestrone or pasta vagiole soups are hits. You can buy soda.. but do not expect ice. They do not or will not bother to carry it. But this is Syosset Village and demand is there in the captured audience.

  • La Viola Restaurant of Syosset

La Viola is another Italian Restaurant in Syosset a few doors down from the two unaffiliated Cardinali brothers eateries. This place is the one that impresses over and over again. You must go for lunch and eat whatever the chef's special is. It is their own new creation and always tastes better than it looks on the special board. They serve a fantastic Italian salad, homemade breads with olive oil for dipping, their own overly roasted coffee, and a sample of their own homemade Italian cheese cake or whatever the chef feels like putting out that day. It is way underpriced at $8.95 and warrants a double tip for the waiters who are dressed fancy, and very polite while hurrying around with all the courses.

What is amazing is the Melon and Proscuitto appetizer worth ordering. Is it fresh? Yes said the elSalvadorian waiter, I am going downstairs to open fresh box. Box? Downstairs? It was the freshest cantaloupe and they did obviously have a need for boxes as it was clearly to be in demand. Apparently the nighttime crowd far surpasses the lunch crowd which is more regular than overwhelming.

  • The (only) Malaysian Restaurant

Also not to be missed is the Malaysian cuisine right in the middle of town. No name is provided as they are the only restaurant that seems to "close" every year. Then they reopen with a new name and what looks like the same people! The food is great. The sign keeps changing. Imagine vanilla ice cream, red kidney beans, strange rose hip jelly beens, cold corn from a can, and a strange sweet drizzle of red syrup. Well that is one of the gotta have it deserts that confounds the sensible mind.

  • It's Greek To Me

Syossets only Greek Restaurant sits on the side of the main road going from the main road of Jericho Tpk up into the village. They are sweet proprietors who make a good Greek Salad and flavorful Chicken Souvlaki.

  • Christianos

A older Italian place just before you get to the village stores. Old red and brown interior. Stucco ceilings, dollar bills on the ceiling and a decent crowd at night. Intelligent looking people professional may be found dining at the bar probably after getting off the train after work. The place looks very 1970 ish and holds its own as do the other local restaurants. Chicken parmigian is their dish with homemade chunky chicken breast - obviously not premade.

  • Sweet Water Gone (now a looser tex mex place)

Just before the village going north from Jericho Tpk. is Sweet Water. Lobster specials were $10. Now the sign reads $18.95 and includes salad. The owners are in the wholesale end of seafood in NYC and the seafood is always fresh. A little fancy and neat for Syosset, and not as popular as the divy type old dingy places. The broccoli raab with prawns are unbelievable. Small portion. Drink their house Pinot Grigio or Cabernet.

Further North in Syosset are the following little/medium sized restaurants.

  • Mims

Mims is a cool place for evening drinks and appetizers. By day a few ladies may have lunch.

  • Angelinas

Angelinas has a valet ready to park your car for the restaurant immediately to your east on the small winding road heading north out of Syosset toward Oyster Bay Cove. When you look carefully the restaurant front is actually the side of a converted residential house that is on the corner between the winding road and a side street. The place somehow feels dressy despite that fact and the service is and atmosphere are nice. Food is excellent.

  • El Parral

This Spanish restaurant serves Paella with seafood, chicken sausage, clams, etc. Very good stuff. Again the dimly lit circa 1976 restaurant is at the end of a in a down trodden mini strip of tiny stores going north on Berry Hill road (Same as Jackson- just more north and right at the fork). In the strip is a paint store, printer and not too much else. Yet at night, the small lot is full. The restaurants earn their keep with fresh food, and do not appear compromised by high rents as they might be if on Jericho Tpk.

  • The Grey Turkey

Another Syosset Wonder. The store is in the down trodden strip with a paint store an printer. Moreover it is about ten feet wide and goes back long ways to a kitchen which could hardly have room to raise an elbow. The food is cold in a little display case with a blackboard on the wall to your right when you walk in. Something is always ready to be packed up sounding very gourmet. A soup, sandwich, or some meat with fancy sounding seasonings.. that appeal to Syossetans. It's a teeny tiny store with cold food needing re-heating that has patrons driving in and tearing out with a small bag in their lexuses. That's Syosset. Unpredictable and completely hit or miss. The grey Turkey is part of Syosset for many years and will stay in perpetuity, while big fancy episodes begin and close by would be cashers in.

  • The Mandolin Grill - GONE

This bigger, remodeled, restaurant right in the village with great parking and good ambience was never going to make it. One visit and you could tell it was over. Everything was just too nice and felt like a big deal that was just the same in quality as the dingy typed older places. Waitstaff seemed to seek approval and a thumbs up on the food. No one likes that feeling. Prior to being a "Mandolin Grill" it was two other places. It will take someone who understands what Syossetans' are looking for, for this place to break it's closing streak. Now it is empty as everyone knows it's history and the landlord must want high rent.(For more information on restaurants that broke the going out of biz cycle in the same spot.. see Woodbury - Gabby's Bagels. No bagel store could last in that strip until Gabby's came in, took the corner spot, and now cannot handle the lines at lunch. Article soon to come.)

[edit] Syosset- Near or on Jericho Turnpike

  • More Restaurants
  • Au Bon Pain

Right on Jericho Tpk - directy off the 135 Expressway are many restaurants. One of the recent additions in 2005 is Au bon pain Cafe & Bakery.. a chain store from Massachussets. Known for it's great coffee,artisan breads,fresh baked goods,signature soups,salads and gourmet sandwiches. They are in the Marshalls-HomeGoods shopping center. Viewers of News12.com voted it the best place in Long Island to "Grab lunch on the go" It has quickly become a local favorite. Arrive early for lunch as it can sometimes be very difficult to find a table during the very busy lunch rush.


  • Venezia Pizza

Owned by Afghani proprietors, that look Italian. The pizza is fine. Do not tell the owner that it is as good as if made by an Italian. He goes nuts with incredulous outrage that Italians do not make better Pizza. Haha. Go at lunchtime and there are more varieties that look very neat. The eggplant parmigian pizza is the big hit. Don't miss it.

  • Marios Pizza

Also on Jericho Tpk in Syosset, on the south side in the Blockbuster strip there are all kinds of big Pizza slices. Baked ziti slices are just wild and crazy. And good.

  • Mama Sbarros

On Jericho Tpk further West on the north side in the King Kullen shopping center next to Radio Shack is Mama Sbarros chain store. Independently owned. My coworker always goes here. They love the pasta, salad and cheap wine($3)and cannolli($1). They like the big booths, dim lighting, fresh fast moving food etc. Pizza is golden and salty with a nice sauce. Calzone with sauce is best.

  • Baha Fresh Mexican Food

On Jericho Tpk in Syosset- King Kullen, Radio Shack..etc. Everything here is cooked when ordered. Nothing canned or frozen. Salsa(s) made fresh every day. Tacos, Burritos, Falutas, Tostadas, Fajitas, etc... etc.. Self serve soda. Young not to stuffy white collar working crowd rushes in from the business park at lunch time. Two tables outside when summer.

  • The Kam Garden

Another downtown "unpretentious" atmosphere that is here to stay. The cheap buffet has warning signs not to overfill past the ability to close the white plastic top of the to go container. The ribs are way too red. The food is so less than average, but quick to get and they are doing an amazingly consistent business near the train.

  • Kikkus

Used to be the most popular Japanese restaurant right on Jericho Tpk in the Borders strip center. Fading slightly but will surely be here forever also. The economy is just too strong and again.. no one cooks in Syosset Woodbury. LOL. Ok food. Nothing bad.

  • Tenjin

This is the one! Sushi and sashimi cannot be beat. So good. There is a difference and this is where it can be found. Simple restaurant. Nicer atmosphere because it is in the Syosset Plaza right off the Rt 135 expressway and on Jericho Tpk. This is syossets only quasi above average strip mall. Get the sashimi lunchbox before 2:30 or you will be sent back out.

  • Hidden Ridge Deli

Located in the Syosset Plaza.. there is no hot food. They are super busy despite the cold sandwich, salad limited offerings. The owner claims he tried hot food but Syosset visitors said "smells good..." and then ordered salad, etc. So we are forced to drive to Woodbury to the Country deli if we want hot food deli. The need is not that high to do so admittedly, but it can be annoying to see the cold stuff only. Try the fruit salad which is really made fresh in it's entirety every day with no mixing. I can tell. They are the Good Coffee deli in Syosset. Self serve, sometimes you must open a new milk container, they forget.

  • The Sagamore (Steak House)

Right on Jericho Tpk off the 135 Expressway. They replace the old Boulder Creek chain which wore thin in Syosset. This newly remodeled upscale restaurant is well received and has valet parking for the same people that parked their own cars when it was Boulder Creek. Much fancier we are happy they are there. Only went once to entertain an out of state client for a bite.. and the bill was $300 and change. For more similar Northshore steakhouses on Long Island see East Norwhich for Rothmans, and Great Neck for Peter Lugers, North Shore steakhouse and another in Great Neck.(Three or four compete fiercely). In Syosset there is only Sagamore and Maneros, down the street. Steak, salad, fresh mozzarella and tomato, are common, but drinks and seafood are common fare as well. I am not sure if anyone here orders a baked potato. It is not a very hungry crowd. It is an atmosphere and taste ambitious crowd.

  • Maneros

In the way too busy Blockbuster strip stores on Jericho Tpk. in Syosset, they have a butcher store next door which used to be the same name. They have partitioned it better and separated from the butcher. Smaller less fancy than Sagamore, and has a good preexisting crowd. Steak, salad, baked clams. etc.

  • Ralphs Ices

This place looks horrible as it is a shack way down the Jericho Tpk. almost near if not bordering on Jericho in the long road strip no one seems to want to dress up. On the shared lot of a body shop, and next to a bright yellow deli posing cheap breakfast specials and heros, This Ralphs got off to another phenomenal Syosset start. Syosset residents leave the residential area, travel west on Jericho Tpk. endanger themselves trying to turn left across the busiest part of Jericho Tpk going around a fast curve.. to struggle to find a spot in the lot shared with four mismatched entities (RVs, Fine Italian Restaurant, Old body shop, cheap Deli) so they may all wait on a wrap around line in August for an ice. I do this often.

  • Friendlys

Competition to Ralphs? No. The people look completely different at both places and are not the same customers. The Ralphs people are all thin. Friendlys Ice Cream.. not all thin but vary in size. They have a mean double chocolate icecream which blends well with pecan, which will tempt you if you go there.

[edit] The Syosset Movies

There is no movie theater in the whole town. Blockbuster or cable are the residents access to convenient movies. That or travel to the newly opened movies in north Jericho.

[edit] Syosset Art

I have found no sign of art in Syosset. Travel down to Woodbury for art in local galleries. Syosset has a large framing shop that sells inexpensive prints, or frames your art.

[edit] Syosset Business

Syosset business groups are many. The main groups include the Syosset Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwannis club.

[edit] The Highly Controversial Syosset Mall

Picketing, lobbying, letter writing... to stop the Syosset Mall from coming to the part of Syosset that is very far south of the village and south of Jericho Tpk area, all the way over by Jericho and the Long Island Expressway at the sight of an old polluted superfund site known as the Cerro Wire plant. They are cleaning it up and plan to put an upscale mall with high end retailers and nice cafes. Doesn't sound terrible. Southern Syossetans should move north, east or west, to avoid the feared traffic which will surely increase.

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