Five Things: Matunuck Oyster Bar

Since the days got warmer, the talk among food lovers was that Perry Raso's Matunuck Oyster Bar was worth the trek on any night to South Kingstown. Would it hold up to scrutiny? With Sean DeBobes offshore on vacation, his fellow GoLocalProv food contributor David Dadekian took the challenge. Here are the five things he wants you to know.

One. Location Location Location.

Succotash Road heads down to East Matunuck Beach—definitely not like the road to Scarborough or Narragansett Beaches—and that’s a good thing.  Less populated, but very popular with South County locals, the area’s definitely busy in the summer, but much more laid back than Narragansett or Newport.  The best part about the spot for me was the gorgeous patio (there may actually be more outdoor seating than indoor). The patio overlooks Potter Pond and the waterway that connects it to Point Judith Pond. So you can look at the scenery or watch the many boats coming and going.  There’s even two high-top seating spots so you can see past your fellow diners.

Two. Raw Bar (duh).

The wonderful thing about the restaurant is not only do they serve owner Perry Raso’s own Matunuck Oysters he farms from Potter Pond, but they also serve up to six other locally farmed RI oysters (in addition to a couple of the “name” West Coast oysters). I liked the Matunuck’s, but I’m also a big fan of the Salt Pond Selects and the Cedar Island’s.

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Three. Now These Are Stuffies.

There’s not much to say here, except that at most RI clam “institutions” I find myself searching for clams in my stuffies. Not so here. These were big quahogs full of chopped clams and had a nice flavor with chopped chorizo and hot peppers in the bread stuffing. They weren’t so hot that I didn’t add a little Tabasco, so they should be accessible to everyone.

Four. Nice Light Fry.

The other thing that drives me nuts at some seafood spots is how almost everything is fried and heavy (usually because the oil is old and can’t hold a high enough frying temperature).  A good fry doesn’t have to be heavy and the fried dishes at Matunuck were good. Usually whole belly clams or oysters fry up the worst if you don’t know what you’re doing because they’re so loaded with moisture and yummy fat. These were very light and tasty.

Five. Not Just Seafood.

There are a few non-seafood dishes at Matunuck Oyster Bar if you’re dining with someone who just can’t eat from the sea (which is a shame).  They have several salads, a steak, some chicken dishes and a burger.  I can’t really comment on them as I chowed down on the good stuff—seafood fresh from the sea that day.

Would I go back? Yes, though with the note that I wouldn’t drive out of my way to go. If I was in the area and wanted seafood it would definitely be a choice.

Hit "Save": Matunuck Oyster Bar, 629 Succotash Rd, South Kingstown, 783-4202, open seven days, 11:30-9:00. Fri-Sat 11:30-9:30.

429 Too Many Requests

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