Matunuck Oyster Bar: As good as it gets

Don Fowler
Posted 12/18/14

We pass Matunuck Oyster Bar on our way to East Matunuck Beach during the summer months, stunned by the overflowing parking lot, traffic police and people waiting two hours for a table…and that’s …

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Matunuck Oyster Bar: As good as it gets

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We pass Matunuck Oyster Bar on our way to East Matunuck Beach during the summer months, stunned by the overflowing parking lot, traffic police and people waiting two hours for a table…and that’s in the middle of the afternoon.

“Have you been there?” people always ask.

“Too crowded. Nothing’s worth waiting that long for,” I reply.

After our November trip to the popular restaurant, I could be wrong, now knowing why lovers of the best prepared seafood in the state are willing to wait patiently for a coveted table by the water.

I surprised Joyce on our 55th anniversary by driving south on Route 95 to Route 4, taking the East Matunuck Beach Rd. exit to 629 Succotash Rd. in South Kingston. It was a cold, windy afternoon, but inside the intimate restaurant the atmosphere was warm and friendly. We were shown to a table overlooking the water and greeted warmly by our excellent waitress, Lindsay. The place was buzzing at 2:30 in the afternoon. Oyster shuckers were busy shucking the sea creatures that are the restaurant/oyster farm’s specialty.

I started with the best Bloody Mary I have ever tasted – and that includes Twin Oaks. You can even get it with an oyster garnish. Ditto for Joyce’s Black Russian.

The raw bar features an assortment of farm fresh Matunuck oysters, little necks, cherrystones and jumbo shrimp. We chose and shared the Oyster Trio from the Hot Oyster menu, which had two grilled, Bourbon and Rockefeller style oysters ($12.95). Which ones did we like best? All of them.

Entrees included the best and freshest seafood: lobster, Alaskan king crab, clams, scallops, salmon, Atlantic cod, duck and a rib-eye steak for that person who was dragged along but doesn’t like fish, with prices ranging from $13.95 to $43.95 for a pound and a half of steamed Alaskan King Crab.

We were there to honor the name of the place and ordered jambalaya and a special of the day, paella, which we shared ($20.95 each). The presentation was so attractive that we hated to upset the plate. But we did…quickly.

Four fried oysters were delicately breaded, sweet and tender. The two jumbo shrimp were JUMBO. The Cajun tomato sauce was served piping hot over rice, mixed with spicy andouille sausage and tender chicken

The special plate of the day, paella, was rimmed with eight tender mussels, cooked with the andouille sausage in a mixture of rice and tomato that included tender squid and a pair of equally huge shrimp.

We didn’t see any bologna sandwiches on the menu, but we did notice their lobster roll ($16.95), Oyster Po Boy ($14.95), whole belly clam roll ($14.95) and a Matunuck free range beef burger ($12.95).

Folks near us had two large salads prepared with local ingredients, as is just about everything on the menu.

We left appreciating that we had had a very special experience. We’ll leave Matunuck Oyster bar for the vacationers in the summer, but we’ll be back this winter to try everything on the menu that has oysters in it. And that includes the Bloody Mary.

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