South County’s dining scene is one of its main attractions, as you can get incredibly fresh seafood prepared by some of the country’s top chefs in numerous restaurants throughout the region.
Many establishments also have scenic waterfront locations, providing beautiful backdrops while you enjoy your meal.
South Kingstown’s Matunuck Oyster Bar is a restaurant you won’t want to miss because it offers all the perks you’d expect to find at one of South County’s most amazing eateries. The venue overlooks Potter Pond and is a short distance from East Matunuck State Beach, making it an extremely convenient place to have a meal after booking a vacation rental in South Kingstown.
Here’s everything you need to know about eating at the Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown, Rhode Island.
Indoor and Outdoor Dining
The first thing that will catch your eye as you approach the Matunuck Oyster Bar is the large patio, which has covered and open sections overlooking the water. The terrace is the perfect place to enjoy a meal, both day and night, and there’s even an outdoor bar if you want to enjoy a few drinks with your food.
The restaurant’s indoor dining area is smaller than the patio but offers a casual yet classy spot to have a meal. Not to worry because you can see the water from the inside tables, too, so you don’t have to give up the views just because you choose to eat indoors.
Reservations are available up to 21 days in advance and are highly recommended if you want to visit the Matunuck Oyster Bar on a particular day. You can send a note to the restaurant stating your preferred dining option when booking your table, as well.
The Menu
Of course, the main reason you’d visit the Matunuck Oyster Bar is the food, so having a look at their signature dishes before reserving a table is a good idea.
The raw bar, featuring Matunuck oysters from Potter Pond, littlenecks, seafood towers, and caviar, is always popular, although you can also order prepared shellfish, seafood soups and chowders, and salads.
You’ll find lobster dishes up and down the menu, including the restaurant’s famous lobster pizza, lobster roll, and stuffed lobster. You can also get a whole lobster, either hot or cold, and other seafood dishes like crab, calamari, yellowfin tuna, scallops, salmon, and clams.
You don’t have to skip the Matunuck Oyster Bar if you aren’t into seafood because the restaurant has other options available. Steak, chicken, pasta, burgers, and duck are on the menu, and there are vegetarian options, too.
Speaking of vegetables, the Matunuck Oyster Bar is a farm-to-table restaurant, as all its produce comes from the Matunuck Organic Vegetable Farm, located on the shores of Potter Pond. The farm even has a greenhouse to ensure it can supply the restaurant with vegetables in the winter.
If you want to enjoy some wine with your meal, the restaurant’s wine list is 21 pages long and full of outstanding options from across the globe. There are multiple local beers on tap, as well, in addition to an impressive cocktail list with many options using local ingredients.
Getting to know the South County culinary scene will take some time, but the Matunuck Oyster Bar will allow you to experience many local flavors at a single location.
Oyster Farm Tours
The Matunuck oysters on the menu come from Matunuck Oyster Farm, which sits in Potter Pond. It’s possible for guests to tour the farm during their stays by reserving a package beforehand.
The tour takes 60 minutes to complete by boat and allows you to see the farm and the rest of Potter Pond from the water. Everything starts with an introductory discussion at the Oyster Bar, followed by a trip on the restaurant’s barge.
Basic excursions are $25 per person, although private tours, including oysters and a bottle of champagne, are available for an additional fee.
Seafood Shipping
If you love your meal at the Matunuck Oyster Bar, you can get some seafood shipped to you once you return home.
The restaurant will ship Matunuck, Watch Hill, East Beach Blonde, or West Passage oysters right to your door, and they also have seafood sampler packs and shellfish feasters available in their web store.
All seafood is shipped overnight, anywhere in the United States, and the company offers free shipping to locations in the Northeast.
Having fresh seafood straight from Potter Pond shipped to your home ensures the vacation never has to end just because your time in South County is over.
Great Food in South County
South County’s dining scene is surprisingly diverse, but the seafood is what keeps the crowds returning to the region year after year. The Matunuck Oyster Bar is a significant part of the area’s culinary environment, as they pull oysters and other shellfish directly from the water and have it on your plate in a matter of hours.
You won’t find fresher seafood anywhere else in Rhode Island, and this commitment to using local ingredients and fresh fish makes the Matunuck Oyster Bar such a legendary South Kingstown location.