Rhode Island’s pond-to-plate restaurant named one of best by USA TODAY
A destination South County restaurant has been named one of the best in the country. Here’s what you need to know before you go.
Rhode Islanders know it doesn’t get any better than dining on Potter Pond, where Matunuck Oyster Bar’s signature dish is grown and harvested. Now everyone else will know, too.
According to USA Today’s 2024 Restaurants of the Year list, the local powerhouse is one of the top 44 places to eat in America. Food writers across the country nominated restaurants that excited them, restaurants they would recommend to friends and family, restaurants they’d return to again and again.
“It’s a huge honor,” said restaurant owner Perry Raso. “But we have to live up to those expectations every day. I see it as fuel to improve every day.”
He wants to impress every diner, he said, adding, “We want to be a favorite place where they can enjoy atmosphere, people and food.”
Raso is one of the new breed of oyster farmers who study the science of the sea. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Rhode Island in aquaculture and fisheries technology.