Several days prior to Memorial Day weekend, the Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, was badly damaged due to a morning fire on May 20, 2025. Considered one of the most popular restaurants in the US, the establishment had to start over completely following a fire that hit its 2½-story building.
Fire Breaks Out Before Dawn
South Kingstown police and members of the Union Fire District were called to the scene of the fire at around 3:44 a.m. Firefighters got to the site in just minutes and found that most of the building was already consumed by a large fire. Union Fire Chief Steve Pinch said that overnight windy conditions escalated the blaze in the beginning. But, after just 30 minutes, the wind lessened and made it possible for firefighters to get things under control.
A total of around 35 firefighters, coming from Charlestown, Narragansett, and North Kingstown, worked to extinguish the flames for more than an hour. Around 5:30 a.m., the fire was largely dealt with, but crews stayed there in the morning to snuff out any remaining hot spots and evaluate how much was damaged.
Structure Likely a Total Loss
According to Chief Pinch, most of the restaurant’s interior and structure are now damaged. Probably, they will have to tear down the building and begin again, he suggested. Even though the complete assessment has not yet been done, the building is predicted to be completely lost.
Fortunately, nobody was injured during the fire, and it took place after regular operating hours. No unusual events were noticed at the restaurant’s closing time the evening before dinner service.
Authorities are trying to determine what started the fire. The precise way or place the fire started is not yet determined.
A Local and National Culinary Favorite
Many people are feeling the loss of Matunuck Oyster Bar, a restaurant both nearby and around the country. Just recently, USA Today included the restaurant on its list of the top 44 restaurants in America in 2025. Because it features New England’s oysters, many now see it as an unmissable place to eat in the area.
Owner Perry Raso created Matunuck Oyster Bar in 2009 as an addition to his oyster farming business. In 2002, when the farm began on a seven-acre lease in Potter Pond, it played a key role in supporting the restaurant’s goals for sustainability and using fresh, naturally harvested food. Over the years, it added a variety of seafood dishes, paired them with wines, and offered diners amazing waterfront views, drawing diners from throughout the nation.
Their menu featured lobster rolls, Rhode Island-style spicy-chunk clam chowder, sushi, scallops, and ceviche, all showing the flavors common along the coast. Its distinguished wine list helped make the bar feel classy without being intimidating.
Community and Industry React
It didn’t take long for word of the fire to reach people in Rhode Island and beyond. Fire Chief Pinch compassionately expressed his feelings since he had dined at the restaurant. He added, “We are sad for every employee and for all those impacted by what happened.” “It’s heartbreaking.”
Locals referred to the restaurant as an eating place and a center of community identity and growth. Because of its popularity with tourists, even before summer begins, its unexpected closure is tough for local hospitality.
Restaurant owner Perry Raso arrived at the scene shortly after firefighters arrived, but he has not yet released a statement about the restaurant’s future.
A Path Forward
While the full recovery process remains uncertain, many expect that Matunuck Oyster Bar will rebuild. The community’s support, the restaurant’s national reputation, and its deep local roots suggest a strong foundation for a comeback.
As investigators work to determine the fire’s cause and assess next steps, the focus will shift toward helping displaced staff and planning a path to rebuild one of Rhode Island’s most cherished culinary institutions.
