Latest news with #StevePinch
Washington Post
21-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Fire damages a popular Rhode Island restaurant known for its 'pond-to-table' menu
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — One of Rhode Island's most famous restaurants has been damaged after a fire broke out early Tuesday morning. Union Fire District Steve Pinch says firefighters arrived at 3:45 a.m. to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but the state fire marshal is investigating. No injuries have been reported.
20-05-2025
- General
Fire damages a popular Rhode Island restaurant known for its 'pond-to-table' menu
SOUTH KINGSTON, R.I. -- One of Rhode Island's most famous restaurants has been damaged after a fire broke out early Tuesday morning. Union Fire District Steve Pinch told reporters firefighters arrived at 3:45 a.m. to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the Manutuck Oyster Bar in South Kingston. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. No injuries have been reported. A phone message seeking additional details was left at the the Union Fire District of South Kingstown. The oyster bar has operated a seven-acre aquaculture operation on a local salt pond since 2002, and later opened the restaurant on the waterfront in 2009 where it quickly became a 'pond-to-table' destination for diners. The restaurant regularly offers oyster farm tours for the public. The oyster bar's littlenecks and chourico dish was lauded one of the ' Best Dishes ' of the year in 2023 and USA Today listed the location on its ' Restaurants of the Year ' list in 2024. 'Everybody in town either works or knows somebody who works at the oyster bar, or comes here and enjoys the oyster bar, so we are just saddened for all of the employees and the owner,' Pinch told WPRI-TV. The fire comes just days before Memorial Day weekend, marking the unofficial kick-off to summer and a boost in business for New England's seaside businesses. 'I'm grateful there were no injuries and thankful to first responders for their quick response at a treasured local institution,' U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo, a Rhode Island Democrat, said in a statement.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fire damages a popular Rhode Island restaurant known for its 'pond-to-table' menu
SOUTH KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) — One of Rhode Island's most famous restaurants has been damaged after a fire broke out early Tuesday morning. Union Fire District Steve Pinch told reporters firefighters arrived at 3:45 a.m. to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the Manutuck Oyster Bar in South Kingston. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. No injuries have been reported. A phone message seeking additional details was left at the the Union Fire District of South Kingstown. The oyster bar has operated a seven-acre aquaculture operation on a local salt pond since 2002, and later opened the restaurant on the waterfront in 2009 where it quickly became a 'pond-to-table' destination for diners. The restaurant regularly offers oyster farm tours for the public. The oyster bar's littlenecks and chourico dish was lauded one of the ' Best Dishes ' of the year in 2023 and USA Today listed the location on its ' Restaurants of the Year ' list in 2024. 'Everybody in town either works or knows somebody who works at the oyster bar, or comes here and enjoys the oyster bar, so we are just saddened for all of the employees and the owner,' Pinch told WPRI-TV. The fire comes just days before Memorial Day weekend, marking the unofficial kick-off to summer and a boost in business for New England's seaside businesses. 'I'm grateful there were no injuries and thankful to first responders for their quick response at a treasured local institution,' U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo, a Rhode Island Democrat, said in a statement.
Winnipeg Free Press
20-05-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Fire damages a popular Rhode Island restaurant known for its ‘pond-to-table' menu
SOUTH KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) — One of Rhode Island's most famous restaurants has been damaged after a fire broke out early Tuesday morning. Union Fire District Steve Pinch told reporters firefighters arrived at 3:45 a.m. to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the Manutuck Oyster Bar in South Kingston. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. No injuries have been reported. A phone message seeking additional details was left at the the Union Fire District of South Kingstown. The oyster bar has operated a seven-acre aquaculture operation on a local salt pond since 2002, and later opened the restaurant on the waterfront in 2009 where it quickly became a 'pond-to-table' destination for diners. The restaurant regularly offers oyster farm tours for the public. The oyster bar's littlenecks and chourico dish was lauded one of the ' Best Dishes ' of the year in 2023 and USA Today listed the location on its ' Restaurants of the Year ' list in 2024. 'Everybody in town either works or knows somebody who works at the oyster bar, or comes here and enjoys the oyster bar, so we are just saddened for all of the employees and the owner,' Pinch told WPRI-TV. The fire comes just days before Memorial Day weekend, marking the unofficial kick-off to summer and a boost in business for New England's seaside businesses. 'I'm grateful there were no injuries and thankful to first responders for their quick response at a treasured local institution,' U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo, a Rhode Island Democrat, said in a statement.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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@ 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
