Like other taverns of the time, the Ye Olde Mill's east end waterfront location served bootleggers well during the Prohibition Era. With the pertinent law enforcement authority situated miles away in Manhattan, boats carrying the contraband could pull right up to the tavern's trap door and clandestinely unload their booty without incident. This trap door remains a fixture of the Old Mill Inn's kitchen. Also remaining are the mill's original driveshaft, which now serves as a pillar, and the millstone sits at a corner of the building, a timepiece that maintains the memory of the Old Mill Inn's earliest history.
In 1958, the restaurant was taken over by Mr. And Mrs. Holmes, who operated the restaurant and bar into the late 1970s. In addition to the trap door, driveshaft and millstone, Mrs. Holmes is rumored to remain on the premises to this day as well, only in her case, her presence is in spectral form. Brief moments of unearthly, frigid chills felt by bar patrons and observances of poltergeist-like phenomena have been recounted, adding the Old Mill Inn to a lengthy list of Long Island's haunted legends. Perhaps these experiences are fueled by spirits of the imbibing kind or conjured from power of suggestion and active imagination, or perhaps they are in fact visitations from the restaurant's one time owner to inspect today's restaurant and bar operations. If the latter is the case, the ghostly manager will not be disappointed.
As of 2006, the Old Mill Inn has been under the ownership of Bia Lowe, who has maintained a welcoming place for North Fork passersby to pause for lunch or dinner with a waterscape view. Restaurant guests can opt to dine in the spacious indoor dining room or on the breezy outdoor dock with the mesmerizingly relaxing scene of gently lapping waves and cruising boats in close proximity. Chef Saul Flores is the master behind the diverse menu that includes some mid-Atlantic classic fare with a measure of Latin flare. The beverage menu is dominated by an impressive selection of local wines and craft beers. Happy hour begins at 3:30 in the Old Mill Inn bar, with oysters, clams, wings and other cocktail friendly nibbles, and live music is featured on Friday and Saturday nights from 8:00 to 11:00.
The Old Mill Inn is a seasonal eatery, closing their doors annually after Halloween. For directions to the Old Mill Inn by vehicle or by boat, for hours of operation, menus and a schedule of events, visit www.oldmillinnmattituck.com