Rhode Island's Top 5 Raw Bars

Matunuck Oyster Bar, East Matunuck

If Perry Raso continues his dominance here, we're going to need a lifetime achievement award in this category. Mr. Raso settled on Potter Pond as the location for his aquaculture dream and a fabulous restaurant followed. Just look for the traffic alongside Succotash Road patiently waiting to get into the lot and you've found oyster nirvana. The oysters can't get any fresher than here -- the owner raises them right behind the beautiful patio. He's now branched out in to land farming also to ensure diners get the best he can provide. The oysters from this pond are incredibly sweet and briny and juicy. These are as good as we get in Rhode Island. 629 Succotash Rd. 783-4202, Welcome to Matunuck Oyster Bar - South Kingstown, RI

Midtown Oyster Bar, Newport

A relative newcomer to our list is the Midtown Oyster Bar. Centrally located on Thames Street, this spot is turning diners’ heads with delicious food and beautiful presentations. We quickly focused on two dishes on our visit: a sea scallop sashimi done in an Italian style, and a minute ceviche. The sashimi was in the cut only, after that the dish takes a Sicilian flavor with capers, olive oil, red onion and citrus juice. The briny scallops and olive oil work very well together. The minute ceviche is more of a southwestern preparation with jalapeño, lime, cilantro and sweet peppers all topping fresh salmon. Both dishes were light a flavorful and deserve a second visit. 345 Thames St. 619-4100, http://midtownoyster.com

Hemenway's, Providence

The grand dame of Providence seafood restaurants has aged like a fine wine. It still, somehow, gets better with each visit. Our favorite nook in the vast dining room is the raw bar that is to the left of the entrance. Here you can watch and smell and taste what the chef is shucking right in front of you. They feature the freshest local stuff they can find and work with several purveyors to pull this off. We love the oyster selection here. Some of us like big, bold oysters that become a full meal on their own and some of us like small, petite oysters that slide down quick and easy. Hemenway's does a wonderful job of having something good for everyone. 121 South Main St. 351-8570, http://www.hemenwaysrestaurant.com

The Sea Goose Grill and Raw Bar, Westerly

A newcomer on the scene in Washington County is the Sea Goose. What an upgrade from the BBQ that was in this spot previously. Local and seasonal seafood is the highlight here with the raw stuff deserving special mention. We began with the Ninigret Cup oysters. They were light and briny--just the way we like them. Their relatively small size makes them the perfect starter. We also enjoyed the chilled lobster cocktail. The lobster here was poached perfectly. This was not the rubbery, overcooked shellfish that can ruin a good cold lobster. It was expertly done.  265 Post Rd. 315-0788, http://www.theseagoose.com


 

Benjamin's Raw Bar, Newport

A lifelong love affair with Newport led several friends to purchase and re-invigorate this classic by the shore. And we are glad they did! This is the perfect old school spot for fresh, local shellfish in Newport. Every day, Chef Ron Aguiar selects the freshest shellfish Narragansett Bay has to offer and serves it artfully. All of the raw bar items are good on their own but really shine in the Mother Shucker Platter--or the Mini Shucker for smaller groups. This behemoth features a dozen oysters, a dozen clams, chilled lobster, Dungeness crab and a dozen shrimp. The mini is half the size but still delicious. The chef serves all the appropriate sauces and garnishes. Love it. 254 Thames St. 846-8757, http://www.benjaminsrawbar.com

Photo credit: Hector M. (Yelp)