Fire damages Matunuck Oyster Bar, one of USA TODAY's best places to eat in U.S.
Just days away from the Memorial Day weekend, a popular New England restaurant caught fire overnight and sustained major damage, officials said.
The fire broke out during the early morning hours of May 20 to Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, local officials confirmed to USA TODAY. The city is about 35 miles south of Providence, the state capital.
A South Kingstown Police Department spokesperson, whose officers assisted with the blaze, said the fire was reported about 3:45 a.m. at the restaurant nestled on a beach road. No injuries were reported, the officer said.
Union Fire District Chief Steve Pinch said firefighters arrived a the establishment just before 4 a.m. and found "a large amount of fire" coming from the 2½-story building, the Providence Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network reported.
The fire was initially fueled by a strong wind, but the wind died down within about half an hour, and a dozen of responding firefighters had the blaze under control within less than two hours, Pinch said.
The building sustained significant damage and may be a total loss, Pinch said.
"I would think they'd probably have to take the building down and start over," the chief added.
It was not immediately known what caused the fire or where it started in the building.
The state Fire Marshals Office is investigating the fire, Pinch said.
According to the chief, the restaurant was open Monday night.
According to USA Today's 2025 Restaurants of the Year list, Matunuck Oyster Bar is one of the top 44 places to eat in America.
The business opened in 2009 as an extension of a local oyster farming business.
In addition to oysters, the restaurant offers lobster rolls, clear-broth Rhode Island chowder as well as sushi, ceviche, tuna tartare tacos and scallops. It also offers an award-winning win list.
Contributing: Gail Ciampa, The Providence Journal
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealu
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fire damages Matunuck Oyster Bar, one of USA TODAY's top places to eat
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