Just had a really wonderful meal here. I usually leave long-standing seafood dinner places like this feeling a little underwhelmed or annoyed, but Ray's was just above and beyond wonderful.
Every staff member was doing a wonderful job and greeted and spoke to us with the kindest smiles and attentive service. I was worried coming with our two year old but everyone treated us with such kindness and respect and they didn't make a deal out of it at all. We went later and missed the sunset, but the location is fun at any time and the ambience is really nice just as is. You see the water lit up below and we saw a seal wandering around.
The food was all DELICIOUS with good sized portions. We had fresh oysters, Penn cove mussels, sablefish, butternut squash and grilled salmon. Each dish was classic and cooked beautifully, but had little accents and special ingredients that set it apart and made it memorable.
Thank you so much for the lovely meal and the wonderful service. This will be our go to occasion dinner from now on.
J
Julia Moss
Google
a month ago
4.0
We had a lovely dinner at Ray's. Chose upstairs for a more casual experience. Views were incredible of the Olympics. Ordered from the Happy Hour menu and a special Seafood seasonal menu. Ended up sharing 3 happy hour aps- clams, muscles and pokè and 2 entrees- crab salad and the squash and ferro. All was tasty, nothing was jaw droppingly delicious besides the oysters which speak for themselves.
Easy to get to, great parking, no wait at 5:30 on a Wednesday evening.
P
Paul Nguyen
Google
2 months ago
5.0
A cool boathouse, great view of the water, and you might see a seal popping up its head out and having a frolic, an ideal waterfront dining location. Food itself is good, good variety of shellfish with a local bias for good reason, particularly the sablefish is a standout. Pack a couple of cookies for later, they're a treat as well.
A
Audrey Spurr
Google
2 months ago
5.0
We arrived at 9 PM Saturday and was told by the host the kitchen was about to close. He graciously seated us anyway. We were still served with exceptional service. The drinks and food were amazing too. I had the King Salmon and two Martinis and my husband had the steamers. I’m mad at myself for not remembering our server’s name. Kudos to him!
K
Kevin Morimoto
Google
3 months ago
5.0
Family went last Thursday to celebrate my brother's birthday, it was first time for everyone but my dad. We tried a little bit of everything, I did the sablefish and it was so good. Family enjoyed their meals of ribeye, Crab legs, Scallops, clams, asparagus and ahi katsu. We were served by John & Airel from the Cafe side both very friendly and top notch service.
A
Amy W
Google
3 months ago
5.0
Friend chose this restaurant and said it had an excellent view and atmosphere! When I arrived, I couldn't agree more! And all the dishes were very tasty, highly recommended!
V
Victor Bonhart
Google
4 months ago
5.0
Great dining experience as we celebrated our lovely sister's birthday. Food was exceptional and well prepared. The service was fantastic and prompt. Our entire dining experience was fantastic! Thank you Ray's Cafe for a great dining experience! Keep it up!!!
E
Emma W
Google
4 months ago
5.0
Wonderful food and service! The restaurant had a congratulations card waiting at our table since I had marked on the reservation that my partner and I were celebrating an anniversary, which was a really nice touch.
I wish I could remember our server's name, she was very friendly and made us feel like valued customers right away, and was proactive in addressing my partner's gluten sensitivity, which I had also put in the reservation. She even gave us a recommendation for an ice cream spot nearby with gluten free cones.
For food, we split the sake sablefish and a salad, both of which were delicious but the fish was incredible, perfectly done.
Then, our server and the front desk staff facilitated my now-fiance's surprise proposal with dessert and they brought us congratulatory champagne. The dessert was also very tasty, I think we got the creme brulee and a mandarin sorbet. The above and beyond service combined with awesome food made for a wonderful evening. Thank you, Ray's!
D
David Lee
Google
5 months ago
5.0
Beautiful waterside, private restaurant that serves a wide variety of seafood and fish. The food is spectacular and the views even more so. The oysters were fresh, and I got to try a little bit of all kinds of fish and they were very good. Great company outing event spot.
Food
I came here with my coworkers and got to try a bite of all different kinds of appetizers and dishes and they were all excellent. I liked the oysters as they were fresh and the fish were all well cooked and not dry. The octopus was also another favorite dish of mine. For dessert, the regional ice cream that they have is better than the cake in my opinion.
Atmosphere
The restaurant is fancy and not too loud. The views of the sound are beautiful especially during the evening to catch a sunset. You are right by the water without any other buildings or boats blocking the view so it’s nice. I came here for a company outing and would definitely come here again for a business dinner.
Pricing
Prices are on the higher end but nothing unreasonable for a business dinner. The quality was good for price paid.
Service
Service was good and the people were friendly. We got good recommendations for our large party to split.
Other
There is a parking lot you can take advantage of since it’s a short drive from the rest of Ballard.
L
Leminal
Google
6 months ago
5.0
The view itself is worth the trip. We were visiting Seattle for our vacation and picked Rays boathouse as our special night out dinner spot and the whole experience was beyond measure. It’s got the best view of the sunset with Olympic as the backdrop. Occasionally you see a sea lion popping out of the water and some ducks floating by. Simply picturesque! For food, first of all, love the complimentary bread! We ordered fried oyster with pork belly, clam chowder, and Brussels sprout as appetizers and our favorite was the clam chowder and Brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts were crispy like and well seasoned, while fried oyster with pork belly was a bit on the greasy side in my opinion. For mains, we got crab cake and river salmon. They were both delicious. Great service from the wait staff and lively, light filled atmosphere. Highly recommend!
A
Airline Pilot
Zomato
Jun 21, 2017
4.0
Great view of the sound with cliffs and constant large boat traffic. Knowledgeable wait staff that makes the whole experience great. Craft cocktail menu is phenomenal. Come for the seafood and view.
C
Chris
Zomato
Sep 08, 2016
4.0
Top-class restaurant with exceptional waterfront views. The food was very good as well, but my memories will be more about the ambiance than the flavors. This is a special dining room, and I'll remember it for a long time.
M
Michalsheff
Zomato
Jul 26, 2016
2.5
What a disappointment. This place used to be one of my favorite places to go for a good meal. Yesterday's dinner there changed it completely. As lovely as the location is, the food was mediocre and very expensive. Too bad.
E
Erika Bauer
Zomato
May 20, 2016
3.5
Great atmosphere but my crab cakes w kale and sausage was too heavy. My mom's black cod/sablefish was wonderful! The sunset was amazing and wowed my visiting mom. Service was great too. So we were all happy. One of my goto waterfront spots in Seattle.<br/>
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Bob
Zomato
May 09, 2016
4.0
Located in Ballard with a beautiful view of the sound. Getting here from downtown Seattle is no easy task, so plan accordingly. Our evening started at 7pm, with the dining room entirely filled on Saturday evening, it had a sense of being a great experience. We met another couple, and our table was a half booth with a view. We started with some cocktails and caught up with our friends, with our server occasionally checking in with us. I started with the clam chowder, and this was one of the best chowders I've had, with the clams steamed in<br/>the shell, it was just so heavenly. My entrée was the wild king salmon paired with roasted potatoes and asparagus. Our wine of choice was Faille Chardonnay, butter went so well with our dinner choices. Dessert a nice Sauternes and chocolate to end the evening which noticeably we were the last table to leave.
G
Goli
Zomato
Apr 01, 2016
5.0
I came here for Thanksgiving dinner and the buffet was delightful and delicious! Great service and a beautiful view of the water! I haven't tried their regular menu yet, but I'm sure it's just as good!
F
Food Sleuth
Zomato
Oct 03, 2015
4.5
Balllad Icon:<br/>All of the great time with this great establishment, we were regular here before and after the fire before we moved and when we come to visit we away come to Ray's<br/>you will never have a bad meal,great views.<br/><br/>Highly recomended
M
MrSuaveh
Zomato
Aug 25, 2015
1.0
Truly disappointing. We had two halibut steaks and one order of jumbo prawns for dinner. Both orders of halibut were over cooked and under seasoned. They came on a bed of quinoa that had no seasoning and a few deep fried chickpeas that had burned flavor.<br/><br/>The 'jumbo prawns' were 31-35 or 26-30 at best they were the smallest jumbo shrimp I've ever seen. The shrimp were served with rice seasoned with coconut milk which was very plain.<br/><br/>For $115 we got halibut so over cooked it was tough, chewy, dry and tasteless. Also, I felt the restaurant misrepresented the size of the shrimp. All of this was served with poorly conceived sides. It was a rip off and I strongly urge others to avoid this place.
L
Larry A.
Zomato
Jul 05, 2015
4.0
First off, the view off the back of the restaurant is spectacular! Calm, serene, ducks swimming single-file across the water. Beautiful homes across the way, boats docked next to them. The surroundings alone will keep people coming to dine at this longtime Ballard seafood institution, but the cuisine wonderful as well.<br/><br/>My wife and I both started with their Butter Lettuce salad; light, savory, flavorful. She ordered their salmon with asparagus, beets and roasted fingerling potatoes (which she loved), I had the halibut with asparagus and couscous... Equally delicious! We split the Bananas Foster with bruleed bananas, SO GOOD!! Our server was efficient and quite friendly, knowledgeable with excellent recommendations. We had been dying to try this place for years, and it was worth the wait!
S
Sanhita Haldar
Zomato
Jun 17, 2015
4.5
Loved the sablefish and the calamari. Location is fantastic. Try and get a table outside on the patio. We went on a summer evening and the experience was awesome.
R
Roger Leed
Zomato
Jun 03, 2015
2.5
3 adults and 4 yr old for dinner. The steamed clams were ok but the clam chowder was served luke warm, kasu cod was undercooked, the king crab was overly salty, and the vegetable sides, bok choy and broccolini, were so underdone they were inedible. Not up to the Ray's Boathouse standard. Not inexpensive either. The pana cotta dessert was mediocre. Service frantic but acceptable.
A
Amy Neil
Zomato
Apr 17, 2015
0.0
Great Spot for a First (Blind) Date. A blind date chose Ray's as our first meeting place and I'm really glad he did (for selfish reasons). The date was forgettable but the food and service were amazing. I went for the halibut and finished it off with the creme brûlée.
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Paula Mookerjee
Zomato
Apr 01, 2015
4.5
Gorgeous view. I love the setting of this restaurant and come here for the ambiance and to celebrate a special occasion. It's on the top floor, above Ray's Boathouse, and is the less expensive restaurant of the two. The views of the Mts and Sound are wonderful, and it's worth it to sit on the deck on a summer day, although it can be windy. Has that docky, marina feel but in an upscale environment. Service is very attentive, and the food is pretty good, especially the desserts. One note - I can only comment on the vegetarian options; I just wish they had more of them! Usually only one thing one the menu (not counting salad) that I can eat. My family has gotten salmon and crab cake a lot and have commented favorable on their dishes.
B
Brian
Zomato
Dec 01, 2014
4.5
Great food. Improved a lot since I last came.. I got a hamburger both times I ate here. The first time I ate here (maybe a year previous) I remember it being very bland and not very memorable. The last time I ate here it was really good. <br/><br/>The service here both times have been really on top of it. The view is always worth eating here. It is also very nice that they have a big parking lot.
B
Brian
Zomato
Dec 01, 2014
4.5
Nice view, good restaurant for a date.. I recommend Ray's Boathouse for a good place for a date because of the view and ease of access. The food is pretty good. Service is great. My wife really enjoyed her scallops. My steak hit the spot.
J
John_n_frank
Zomato
Sep 24, 2014
0.0
My love of salmon made Seattle a logical vacation spot for my wife and I. Seattle is awash in salmon. Indeed we had it everywhere from Pike’s Place Market to Safeco Field. How many baseball stadiums have a salmon offering on their menus? But when we ate out with a good friend of ours who lives in Seattle, she took us to a wonderful place we wouldn’t have found on our own, Ray’s Boathouse . My salmon at Ray’s Boathouse in Seattle…wonderful. Ray’s served me the best salmon I had during my time in Seattle. I asked for it and the asparagus and potatoes that accompanied it with no salt, as I usually do. The special request was not a problem for Ray’s The salmon was the thickest I had in Seattle, and so wonderfully flavorful. My wife ordered her favorite, halibut, and called it the best halibut she’d ever had, high praise indeed from such a halibut fan. The atmosphere was upscale casual and the place is mammoth, so we had no trouble being seated fairly quickly after we arrived. Ray’s is a sp
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Vilal206
Zomato
Sep 15, 2014
2.0
Ray's used to be a good place to go but someything has happened in the past year.. Waited for my drink ... waitress apologized said bartender is really bad. finally the drink came as we were escorted to our table. Once settled I tasted it and wow was it a sour marguerita. advised my waiter who responded, sorry the drink was paid for in the bar cannot help me. I took the drink back to bartender advised very sour. His body language told me he was, in no way going to take the drink back without a fight. He recited the recipe to me, especially the fact that their recipe did not include simple syrup but he would add it. ( I did not want a scene ). I had him add the simple syrup, was still not good. Dinner came .. medallions of beef.. was tough, the mashed potatoes were "instant" round ball of dry diner quality. the roquerfort overwhelmed the flavor. did not eat it ..I will not go back and have frequented this restaurant for over 30years. Something is very wrong here. Customer service from 3 employees was poor and the quality of the food was poor also.<br/>Oh, one more thing. we were placed in front of an open door and it was very cold. We had to request they close the door..(9PM not daytime). Everyone was packed tight. I saw a couple placed at a table where there really was not room .. Looked like a first date and the gentleman saw how uncomfortable the lady was and they left.<br/><br/>Who is running this place now? Accountants? Too bad.
J
Jimster
Zomato
Jul 17, 2014
2.0
I wish it was better. It used to be my go to place for clients as I live/work in the area. I entertained a client on Tuesday and it just wasn't the old Rays Cafe. The service was fine with a couple of notes; Two of us ordered the Rock Shrimp Tacos which were fine. Our server said he recommends the avocado which really ups the flavor. Sounded good so we both said "sure". The bread was, well, not fresh. I take that back. One roll was fresh and the others sat on everyones place after the first bite. Two guests had salads and the lettuce was as was remarked quite soft for romaine. Business done in a pleasant atmosphere. Check arrives and everything looked fine until I spied a $3.00 add on to each taco order for the avocado. REALLY, between the two orders they used at best 1/2 an avocado.<br/>No mention of "would you like to add the avocado for an extra $3?" I wouldn't have had the cajones to ask and then add it. I'm not going to take issue with a client present but no way will order anything without asking the price. Seriously, this used to be a regular for me. At least once a week with 4. With the addition of many new restaurants in DT Ballard, I will be meeting my clients in Ballard.
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Darren LaMarr
Zomato
Jul 02, 2014
4.5
My boss was in town last week so I thought that would make a good chance for us to try out Ray’s Cafe for lunch. We got there right after noon and the place was as busy as you’d expect.
O
Oxana Silchenko-Milovidova
Zomato
Jun 26, 2014
0.0
Great views and nice decoration. Food is average.. I noticed today that they put new pics (?) of their meals. I probably should come and check if they changed their menu. Because the actual meals in Ray's cafe looked... worse. And the food tasted pretty ordinary.<br/><br/>BUT in summer I love to sit on the terrace for the dessert or a drink only (between or after the rush hours) - one of the most beautiful sunset in Seattle :) In September the days are shorter so you enjoy the sunset view around 5pm, i.e. when it's not so crowdy there and you don't feel uncomfortable saying that you're not really hungry now :)<br/>And this place turns to really nice ski resort lodge-style cafe with a fireplace when it's winter. Then the only true dignity for their pasta is: thank you, it was hot :) <br/><br/>I really hope they had some improvements on the kitchen. But I guess I will still enjoy the decoration and atmosphere there anyway.
M
Mehitabel
Zomato
May 23, 2014
2.0
My love for Ray's Cafe is on the wane. I have been to Ray's probably two to three times a year on average over the 20 years I have lived in Seattle. It's been, for me, a go-to place to take out of town visitors, mostly because of the location and view, but also because the food is generally good, and sometimes great. My favorite dish there is the mussels.<br/><br/>But I have been disappointed as well. My most recent visit to Ray's was a week ago, when my boss took me to lunch. I ordered one of my standby lunch dishes, the salmon sandwich, which is generally a pretty good sandwich, but this time it wasn't so great. The salmon was way overcooked, dry, and generally unappetizing. Quite disappointing.<br/><br/>Ray's used to be, for me, a special place to go -- a place for celebrating special occasions and for entertaining special people. But of late, it's starting to feel a little tired and been-there-done-that. I actually found myself, after last week's lunch, thinking that Ray's has become little more than an upscale Ivar's. Which is kind of a 'meh' thing to be.<br/><br/>The Boathouse downstairs got a recent remodel. I don't think the cafe upstairs needs a full-on remodel, but it might not hurt to freshen the place up a bit, maybe update the menu, and try not to overcook the salmon.
M
Mehitabel
Zomato
May 23, 2014
2.0
Very nice remodel, very nice restaurant. I generally go to Ray's Cafe upstairs from the Boathouse, but my last visit to the Boathouse was very pleasant. The remodeled restaurant looks nice and the meal was very enjoyable. I hope the cafe gets a similar refresh, because it needs it.
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Frank
Zomato
Mar 07, 2014
4.5
Awesome. Visited Ray's last week with my wife and friends to have dinner and we're so impressed with their customer service, so friendly. The food so tasty and well presented. definitely will be coming back.
J
Javan Lamar
Zomato
Oct 27, 2013
4.5
Food is great and so is the customer service. My first time ever going and my wife and I were not disappointed! Exquisite presentation and a breathtaking view of the Puget Sound! Eat and drink to your heart's content!
M
MFW
Zomato
Oct 10, 2013
2.0
Nice, but.... Visiting Dad wanted to go, had been there before and swore it was the best salmon in town. It was quiet, with a nice, modern atmosphere. Service was great, and the appetizers were nice, simple salad was delicious. The entrées were promising, Dad had the Salmon bowl, I had the Dungeness crab cakes, and my wife had the steak. Ironically, for a waterfront restaurant focused on seafood, my wife won. The spaghetti squash, potato cakes, and the steak were perfect!<br/>Dad's salmon was wonderfully seasoned, and only slightly undercooked. My crab cakes and the side salad were almost inedible; it was as if an entire lemon had been squeezed over the plate. While an awesome venue, for these prices, you can do far better for food. We wanted to like it sooo much, but at the high end of the price point, they need to do better.
A
Anna Vanessa
Zomato
Aug 24, 2013
4.5
I'm in love. First time in the Northwest. Unforgettable views.... Was going to have dinner but on a limited schedule and somewhat limited budget so went exploring more of Ballard after the most delicious oysters and drinks at the bar. Not sure what the food would have been like but definitely intend on finding out when I go back to Seattle! Thanks again to the pilot sitting next to me on my way there last month who recommended this place at sunset :)
N
Nick In Ohio
Zomato
Aug 02, 2013
4.5
Great food, fantastic views, cool sweatshirts...literally nothing but positives
A
AC
Zomato
Jul 19, 2013
2.0
Disappointed.... Came here yesterday to celebrate birthday with two other girlfriends. Was going for happy hour at the bar but since it was so full by 4:30p, we went for a table on the deck outside (not happy hour menu) which had fabulous view. I first ordered a berry mojito and after my first sip, I was like what the heck is this? It as salty, fizzy, and really...nasty. Then came the clams and mussels which were OK. My girlfriend ordered sablefish, and it was very salty even without any sauce. The fish and chips were good, but no better than Ivars. For dessert, we ordered the upside down apricot cake, and my girlfriend said "I'm not even going to waste my calories on this". Bottom line: great view, bad food, over priced.
R
Randy
Zomato
Jun 30, 2013
2.0
Great view, terrible food and even worse service,. Eagles fishing from the sound, CHECK! View of Olympics at sunset, CHECK! Food, terrible! Service, must have taken evening off! <br/><br/>Get a drink at the bar, see the sunset.... Then quickly walk over to Anthony's for decent meal and server's who are not betting their tips on looks.
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Eli G.
Zomato
Jun 29, 2013
4.5
Amazing food and Amazing views. Ray's Boathouse is an amazing Seattle Star right by the amazing Ballard Locks. Boats and Barges pass by the critically acclaimed restaurant in the historic city of Ballard. I absolutely adore different varieties of seafood. The Valet Parking is also a bonus. Ray's is a Seattle Jewel I will visit again!
K
Kdub
Zomato
Jun 19, 2013
0.0
Get special.reservations in writing, and know.that upstairs and downstairs use (seemingly?) different systems. What was supposed to be a private party for my father-in-law downstairs turned into a.noisy dinner upstairs. No acknowledgement from Rays on dropping the ball, either. Next time - Anthonys!
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Panamamike
Zomato
Apr 06, 2013
4.5
A view with great food.... There are many times a local restaurant will be known for it's view, but fall down when it comes to the food. People go just to enjoy the scenery. That's not the case with Ray's, not only does it provide a nice picturesque environment, it delivers in spades with the food as well as the wine menu.<br/><br/>The food is excellent, and the service is top class. I enjoy both the salmon as well as the black cod. You'd think the salmon would be the top pick, being in Seattle where some of the best salmon can be found, be sure to have copper river salmon if available, but the black cod is really outstanding. It has a fantastic buttery flavor with notes of bacon, I won't draw any parallels here, but tastes a lot like fish I've had somewhere else :)<br/><br/>The other item of note is the excellent wine list. Ray's carries a vast and excellent selection of wines. Really something, good enough to make a wine connoisseur swoon.<br/><br/>A great restaurant that lives up to expectations.
M
Melissa
Zomato
Mar 26, 2013
4.5
I really enjoyed Ray’s and like I said earlier, I will have to come back to try the happy hour. I can see this place being very popular as the weather gets warmer. The food was really great and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Side note, their entrees made it difficult to pick :) Not a bad thing to have such delicious options! Happy dining :) There’s one last week!
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Ronald Holden
Zomato
Mar 06, 2013
0.0
How do you update your decor and your menu and appeal to a younger clientele? The solution was, in part, to remodel the space, to capitalize on its relatively low ceilings and length by turning it into the interior of a Chris Craft yacht: drop the ceiling even further, accentuate the contours with gold lighting, take a cue from the water to add blue tones, add a 30-foot bar in the middle of the room to break up the space and make it feel more intimate. "We'll still have around 50-percent tourists," Wohlers acknowledges, but more locals willing to spend $50 per person without feeling overcharged. So how do you modernize without scaring away your regulars? At Ray's, it looks like they're going to try rocking the boat a little bit. Not too much, just a little bit., but enough "to be on the leading edge again."
S
Steve
Zomato
Feb 16, 2013
2.0
Checked out the remodel downstairs. Bar totally destroys the flow and creates a south (better) and north (think Denny's with a view if it is nice) dining areas. Very limited menu and clearly lost the special seafood focus. Charged $3 for a small plate of very ordinary bread. Very slow and desultory service. Not sure what their current focus is? Bar for old folks who don't want to join the young bar scene upstairs? Food for diners an afterthought? Not a good experience or value. Out of the way, lost their unique reason for making the trek. Too many other places with great food and service. Too bad, but they killed Rays.
S
Stephen Kilisky
Zomato
Dec 31, 2012
4.5
Tasty chowder, smoked scallops
B
Bob's Stomach
Zomato
Nov 13, 2012
4.5
A Great Choice!. We went to Ray's Boathouse Sunday for lunch and discovered they are closed for a remodel--so we wandered upstairs to Ray's Cafe--it was an excellent choice. The chowder and pear salad's ingredients were fresh, attractively presented, and downright delicious. We ate in the bar area and Anna provided conscientious and professional service--along with humor and personality. A lucky coincidence that led us upstairs.<br/>Just do it!
M
Marcie
Zomato
Aug 26, 2012
4.5
Crab Cakes. The crab cakes were the best that my boyfriend and I have ever had. The view was amazing and the service was great.
M
Marty S
Zomato
Aug 17, 2012
4.5
Give this restaurant an 7/10. The beer was fabulous. I had one of the draft IPAs with 75 ibu. Calamari was not fresh and too heavy on breading and salt. It also was not served with a classic tomato sauce. I had the Alaskan sturgeon which was very good. It was the fresh catch of the day. It was served with kale which was too strong overpowering the delicate favors of the fish. Same comment on the curry sauce driZzled Near the fish My wife did not like her clams with linguini pesto. I tasted it and it was light on the clams and a little too much oil. my kids had steak with a crab sauce which was ok. Service was great and so was the view of the sound. All in all not worth the money. Which was disappointing given a high recommendation from a friend
I
Imkoonta
Zomato
Aug 13, 2012
4.5
Ballard rocks! Ray's rocks even more!. I love this neighbourhood and thanks for me, my spouse agreed to take a drive from downtown Seattle to this cute area. Ray's Boathouse is right on the water so we got great food and awesome view. I recommend their dungeness crab and rock shrimp crab cakes and for those seafood lovers, their Ray's Seafood Salad was to die for, the best smoked salmon and scallop! It did take a while to get a table with a view but the wait was totally worth it and the lady at the front desk was polite, and kept everyone informed on how long the wait was. Their servers and staff were all smiles! . I love this place and next visit to Seattle, we are definitely stopping here for dinner. There was a table who ordered these grilled salmon on skewers that looked to die for! Gotta try for next time!
M
Mt. Mike And Sugarwine
Zomato
Aug 09, 2012
4.5
Excellent service, food, view. Stellar!
T
Toni Michelle Fields
Zomato
Aug 04, 2012
4.5
Excellent salmon service ok. We had the Copper River King Salmon the second day it came in, so it was unbelievable and like no salmon I have ever eaten. The view was also excellent. However, the server was a little snooty and my husband didn't love the price!
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Ronald Holden
Zomato
Jun 08, 2012
0.0
Ray's has 140 seats downstairs, another 140 in the upstairs Cafe and bar, and, when the weather cooperates, there's seating for 140 more on the deck, making for one of Seattle's biggest standalone restaurants. Mo Shaw, Ray's longtime GM, reminds us that there are something like 5,000 restaurants in Seattle. "We want to be on the leading edge again."
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David
Zomato
Mar 25, 2012
0.0
Poor Quality Control. Service date: 20-MAR-12 in the evening. Atmosphere aside, I was disappointed that the chef tried to pass off a medium-well steak as medium rare. Even a low-end steak house will ask you to cut in to the steak to see if it has been prepared to the satisfaction of the customer. A restaurant that offers: Grilled Mishima Ranch Wagyu New York Strip Steak for $41 should also know how to prepare it as requested. While the flavor was good, I wouldn't trust them to be consistent and wouldn't expect them to bring me my selection as I ordered it.
C
Craeanne
Zomato
Feb 12, 2012
4.5
Romantic New Years Eve Evening. We ate here for our NYE celebration. It was the last night of a 10 day road trip and we were not disappointed. <br/>I had the Sable Fish which was amazing! My boyfriend had the special which was Steak and HUGE crab legs. Also amazing. We were not disappointed in the food at all. <br/>The service was very attentive and we enjoyed our servers personality. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and made great recommendations. <br/>To top it off the Creme Brulee was a VERY nice portion (and for only $7!) and was to die for! <br/>YUM YUM! <br/>Although it was dark - we could imagine the view is amazing in the day light. Great Valet service as well.
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Lisa Forman
Zomato
Jan 20, 2012
4.5
Ray's Cafe upstairs. Lunch in the Cafe was absolutely delicious. Lunch began with the chowder and was perfectly seasoned, texture terrific. Entree were the two Cods on the menu, (one Cod-the other Sablefish) both were expertly prepared and had fantastic balance of flavors. Sablefish was cooked to perfection, seared and served over Red Rice, honey glaze with miso. <br/><br/>We have visited Seattle 4 times over the past few years and this lunch easily could rival some of the finest food prepared in Las Vegas which we just left the day before. <br/>The atmosphere leaves a great deal to be desired as well as the appearance of the building itself which appears old and in need of maintenance. One would expect to find quite simple food by the looks of the place such as lobster roll or fried clams. One would not expect Sablefish cooked to perfection.Waitstaff was friendly however, their dress code was very casual. The waitress who was very amiable and efficient had no knowledge of the wine list.
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Krista L
Zomato
Jan 02, 2012
4.5
Delicious & Friendly. I've had great experiences every time I've been here. Both in the downstairs dining room and the more casual cafe upstairs. Their king salmon is my favorite dish-so moist and flavorful. I also love their manilla clams and we always finish with the creme brulee. Yum!
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Janet Cairns
Zomato
Nov 26, 2011
2.0
Do youself a favor and do ot go here for dinner. The entree came during the salad, the cod had bones in it, the manila clams shells were broken. To top it off the coffee was cold. <br/><br/>It was a special event and the service and food would have been better at Denny's.
J
Josh Gana
Zomato
Oct 22, 2011
0.0
The salmon was definitely the showcase of the evening, prepared medium rare with the lemongrass syrup and mango adding some nice accentuating notes.
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Brian
Zomato
Oct 08, 2011
2.0
Location is better than the food.. Ordered Ahi Tuna Nicoise Salad. In my opinion it was small for an entree salad. It was delivered with no dressing and the tuna was gristly. Sent it back and ordered the sandwich special. The pastrami sandwich was overdressed and fell apart when I tried to eat it. Beautiful atmosphere, underwhelming cuisine.
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AgentAlyssa
Zomato
Sep 26, 2011
4.5
Good not great. We ate in the cafe upstairs to save some money, also because we hoped for sunshine to sit on the deck (no such luck - it rained). The food we had was definitely not disappointing, but didn't dazzle us for the price either. I didn't leave craving more. The view is awesome even in slightly rainy weather; I imagine this has something to do with the price? Even though I liked it we probably won't be back as there are other better restaurants for the money. Overall, though - good experience with great service, worth trying at least once.
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Troy
Zomato
Sep 24, 2011
4.5
Happy Hour is AMAZING!!!. Get there early!!! Amazing deal...candied salmon on skewer to die for. Smoked seafood salad my favorite. Gotta go!!!
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Beth Partin
Zomato
Aug 30, 2011
4.5
I had sablefish, which I’ve never eaten before. It tasted lightly smoked and was lusciously fatty, like pork belly.
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Thursday Night Bites
Zomato
Aug 22, 2011
4.5
The food at Ray’s has a reputation for quality, but people really go there for the views.
F
Famished Foodies
Zomato
Aug 20, 2011
4.5
Our friends took us to Ray's Cafe, the more casual room upstairs, on one of the sunniest days of the year. Since the cafe doesn't take reservations, we were warned of a 45-60 minute wait, but after about 25 minutes sitting on the adjacent wharf enjoying the view and the weather, the buzzer buzzed, and we were comfortably seated on the large patio overlooking Puget Sound.<br/><br/>Despite being extremely busy, the staff were attentive. Our charming server handled our special requests with diligence.<br/><br/>Our dishes were all very good, but none were spectacular. We'd return for the amazing view alone, but the rest of the experience was pleasurable enough for another visit as well.
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NancyG
Zomato
Aug 02, 2011
4.5
Best Sunset. Outside bar deck.....best place for drinks and appetizers
G
Gastrolust
Zomato
Jul 25, 2011
0.0
The café has the usual suspects, like clam chowder, crispy calamari, and shrimp cocktail. The smoked salmon skewers with cucumber-sesame relish and fresh pineapple are a good starter. Perhaps the most popular (and tastiest) dish is the sablefish in sake kasu, served with grilled choy sum, jasmine rice, honey soy, and scallion oil.
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Monica Living
Zomato
Jun 03, 2011
0.0
Taking advantage of the no-rain weekend, I had dinner with a couple of good friends at Ray's Boathouse Cafe out in Seattle on Sunday. Although it was a little chilly, the deck was in full-service and we managed to grab one of the tables outside! Blankets were readily available which made sitting outside very enjoyable actually! The waitress did a wonderful job selling their Copper River King Salmon special for the evening. I rarely order fish that's not in the form of sushi or sashimi, but our waitress informed us that this particular salmon is in season right now and extremely fatty so I decided to give it a try. The $28 price tag might scare off some people, but let me tell you, it was definitely worth it! Cooked medium well, the fish was prepared extremely well. The meat was moist and flavourful. The sides included some mix veggies and mash potatoes which were pretty ordinary. My husband ordered a cheeseburger with a fried egg on top. I took a bite of his burger and thought it was p
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SJAyers
Zomato
Apr 21, 2011
4.5
It was good, but.... Good. Definately good. But I was expecting melt in your mouth fantastic after all the hype I heard to go to this place. I went upstairs to the cafe. They did offer me the dining room menu as well as the cafe menu. So it was nice to have the option of either. But neither one particularly excited me. There were not many options. I ordered the clam chowder which was good. And the shrimp and crab cakes from the cafe menu. They were just ok. I had better crab cakes when I traveled to Cleveland. So that was a little disappointing.
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SeaSalt
Zomato
Apr 12, 2011
0.0
Nothing special. Fine service and beautiful view, but not worth the price. Too boring for the Seattle Foodies.
D
Deeeelish
Zomato
Apr 03, 2011
4.5
Loved it. Celebrated my birthday here. Gorgeous view, impeccable service, and amazing food. The sablefish was unbelievable. What a gem in seattle.
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Electricweeb
Zomato
Feb 20, 2011
2.0
More sea food please. We are from Alberta and wanted some great sea food. We found it but not a very large selection to choose from. Great views and attentive service. The prices were very high. The decor could use a little update. Not a place to sit back and relax. It's a date place if you are out to impress with how fat your wallet is.
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Mike
Zomato
Feb 12, 2011
2.0
Boring food. Romantic setting. Chinooks seafood is much better.
P
Peach
Zomato
Jan 23, 2011
4.5
Romantic and delicious!. My boyfriend & I went here on a whim & were very pleasantly surprised. It was romantic & comfortable. The food was very good & the service was excellent. I would definitely go back again for another romantic night or during the day when we can enjoy the view.
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Steve
Zomato
Jan 16, 2011
4.5
I have been to both the Boathouse and the Cafe. Service was great both times. At the Cafe it was almost overly friendly. Maybe I'm just not used to such pleasant service. Food was delicious both times. There is a reason this place is so highly rated here on Urbanspoon.
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Natasha Reed
Zomato
Dec 27, 2010
4.5
Cafe salad (4). Best item we ordered from the HH menu. The vinaigrette is delicious, and blue cheese and walnuts are always a salad winner, but sneaking in strawberries? Awesome.
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Nicol From Chicago
Zomato
Oct 29, 2010
4.5
Awesome food, service and views. My husband took me here for our Anniversary dinner and it was amazing. The waiter was stiff at first, to be expected with the fine dining atmosphere, but he loosened up and became engaging and friendly throughout the meal. There were families with young children which surprised me considering how adult the menu is, but Ray's caters to everyone so don't be afraid to bring your kids if they can behave or the waiter will give you the cold shoulder. We had the mussels which were amazing, then we both had the wild salmon (amazing, buttery, fresh fresh fresh) and I had the best gimlet of my life. Dessert was a decadent slice of chocolate cake and the waiter even gave us complimentary glasses champagne and some handmade chocolates. During the course of dinner we watched the sun set over the Pacific, saw either a seal or an otter, and then watched the lights come out like stars on the distant mountains? hilly peninsula? island? hell I was lit up and I'm not from Seattle so who knows...but I do know it was a wonderful experience. We spent around a hundred dollars on the entire meal. PS bring cash to tip the valet parking
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Rickey
Zomato
Aug 18, 2010
2.0
Gave away my table. We showed up for our window seat reservations on time. The party right in front of us said we are regulars, but had NO reservations. They said we have a table on the window and sat them there. We stepped up and they said we don't have your table on the window, you will have to wait :45 minutes. (table windows have a spectacular view). They said that party had reservations(they obviously did not know I heard them say thast they DID NOT have reservations). I"m am more mad they lied to me then gave away our table because the place is very nice, and our server was great. Food was just all right. The Coho Salmon was not that good, the crab leg where very good but a little cold. Other appitizers good. They didn't even offer us anything, even though I told them I caught them in a lie, and that upset me as well.
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Leigh
Zomato
Aug 15, 2010
0.0
Amazing!!. Really amazing food. So kid friendly!<br/>The sablefish was perfect! Best meal of our trip!
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Feisty Foodie
Zomato
Aug 11, 2010
3.5
Directly following my trip to Peru , I left on a research trip to the West Coast for two weeks. What was I researching? Glad you asked: a book on Stadium Eats ! Um, yeah, without a deal in sight currently (hint, hint, anyone reading this who is interested
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Rachel
Zomato
Aug 10, 2010
0.0
Ray’s is a classic seafood restaurant with high standards, but what I really love is the deck of Ray’s Cafe on a Summer evening.
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Ventimocha
Zomato
Aug 02, 2010
2.0
Completely snooty. And unwelcoming - menu descriptions for common ice cream servings available at local grocery store were the last straw - only for tourists who don't know better values are available in Seattle
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Traveling Food Junkie
Zomato
Jul 22, 2010
4.5
Absolutely Delicious. Here is a secret. Arrive during Happy Hour and go to the upstairs bar first. Great drink and appetizer specials you can't get down stairs. Try all their shooters (food that is), but don't get too full. Headed downstairs for dinner. As good as all the specials of the day sounded, I had to have the Northwest Sampler. Salmon, Sable Fish (Black Cod) and Grouper each cooked to perfection and individually presented to showcase their flavor. Very attentive waitstaff. Only slight bummer was unexpected bones in sablefish.
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Pink Princess
Zomato
Jun 28, 2010
4.5
Beautifull. Very impressive wine list as well as knowledgeable staff. Great dinner on a nice day!
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Chill Travelers
Zomato
Jun 16, 2010
4.5
Sunset & Sable Fish. Every once in a while you need to go to a restaurant that has a great sunset view. Our experience is that there is usually some compromises. Not at Ray's. We ate downstairs in the more formal dining room overlooking the Olympia's and the water. Beautiful between showers sunset and there was still snow on the mountains that cleared for a peek.<br/><br/>It was unanimous, we all tried the Sable Fish and it was wonderful. Helpful attentive staff and really good food from the appetizers to the dessert.<br/><br/>Felt a little like one of those bay side restaurants in Newport Beach, CA from the decor, but that is where it ended, so don't let the valet's and the beachy decor turn you away.<br/><br/>Bob & Wendy
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Noslokire
Zomato
Apr 11, 2010
4.5
Ok.... So been here twice, once to the restaurant, once to the cafe. Restaurant was wonderful, cafe was same. So I'd recommend the cafe to keep a bit of money in the wallet. But seriously, the fish is great, location is great!
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Ausserdog
Zomato
Mar 12, 2010
4.5
Excellent meal! I was afraid that we were in store for "art food" - long on presentation but short on quantity. No fear though, while the dishes were artfully presented, the portions were reasonable. The best part though was how good and tasty the food was. The Sablefish was outstanding - the combination of ingredients had great depth. We were there after dark, so didn't get to enjoy the view of the bay. We'll just have to back the next time we're in town.
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Jimmy B
Zomato
Feb 03, 2010
0.0
Quality happy hour. Resonable and yummy. Good service, and clean.
C
Chuck Lee
Zomato
Dec 03, 2009
4.5
Never disappointing. Ray's is always great. Great food, great scenery, great service. When friends and family visit from out of town, Ray's is always where they request to dine out.<br/><br/>In a previous career, I was involved with the design and construction of the Ray's downtown location (no longer exists) and got to know and work with the owner. He is a "great" guy and very serious about the quality of the product he produces.
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Tiffany
Zomato
Oct 19, 2009
0.0
Ray's cafe....loved it. My first visit to Ray's, it was a sunny Sept day, loved the view! Warm, gorgeous, seals in and out of the water...<br/>Had the crab cakes, very yummy, also tried the clam chowder- I'm not a fan of clam chowder...but hands down, their's is very good. Left me wanting more..... Will definately be back!
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Bridget
Zomato
Sep 22, 2009
4.5
The sablefish is out of this world!!! Truly one of the best meals I've ever had. Great steamed clams too! Nice wine list & beautiful dining room. A Seattle institution.
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ThE DrEw
Zomato
Sep 11, 2009
2.0
Not worth it!. Bland food and slow impersonal service! Good price for happy hour but who wants to sick on some ugly deck when Anthonys next store has a deck with a beautiful garden and an intimacy with the water.
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William Goslin
Zomato
Aug 27, 2009
2.0
Good Food But!. Servers Had an aditude and portions where too small otherwise it was great tasting food
J
Joel Melrosin
Zomato
Aug 09, 2009
4.5
View of the Olympics. Ive loved Ray's for years and endure the prices. <br/>Ray's Cafe is much more to my liking, more casual, more reasonable pricing and overall a lot more fun. The food is so good, Black Cod is so delicious and the service is good as well. The salmon rocks!
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Res03hrk
Zomato
Jul 31, 2009
0.0
Go for the view. When you want a place to go on the water with great views and a fun atmoshere head to Ray's. I'd skip the resturant and head up stairs to the cafe. It's first come first serve on the deck, but it's one of the best in town. The last 2 times I've been there the food and the service has been a little inconsistent. But if you're looking for NW classics you won't be disappointed.
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Scott Miller
Zomato
Jul 28, 2009
4.5
I got married here so perhaps I'm biased but the food is good and the view is simply classic out across Puget Sound. A Seattle landmark.
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Sheila
Zomato
May 17, 2009
0.0
Sunday May 17, 2009. The view on this sunny warm day was lovely, the waitress was friendly and attentive, the food was adequate. I ordered the Fish and Chips. The fish was very heavily breaded and dark brown on the outside, but not entirely done on the inside. McDonald's has better "chips" frys and at least they are not soggy. My Marguarita tasted like lime flavored water and was servied in a tiny glass. For $15.50 for the fish and $8.50 for the drink, I felt like I had paid for nothing but permisson to enjoy the view. A very poor production for all the hype.
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HappyGreenEater
Zomato
May 14, 2009
4.5
Go for the Cafe Upstairs - You won't be disappointed. With parents visiting from out of town, I used this as an excuse to check out Ray's Boathouse Cafe (the "cheaper" upstairs locale). The views are amazing (can't wait for summer weather on the patio) and the food didn't disapoint either. <br/><br/>Our server was apparently in training ... forgot our Thai Mussels app (so we got it for free with dinner and they were a-mazing) and he dropped the ball on espresso with dessert - but overall the experience was awesome. <br/><br/>I would highly recco the Scallops with Red Curry and the Cajun Rockfish with Polenta. The Crab Cakes were just ok - they tasted a bit "bready" for me. Also, the Strip Steak with Crab wasn't really that exciting. For dessert, we opted to share a Rhubarb Tart and the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Both were incredible ... definitely save room for dessert!
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Don Waddell
Zomato
Apr 20, 2009
4.5
Good Food, Great View, Great Service. Six of us drove up to Ballard to try this place out. The young lady who waited on us had a stellar personality and did a wonderful job. Most of us had the seafood trio, salmon, sablefish (black cod), and halibut. While the salmon and halibut were good the cod was stellar. The sunset we enjoyed was the cherry on top.
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Kid Icarus
Zomato
Apr 15, 2009
0.0
We had company calling this weekend and, as I've discussed at length before , I was hardly surprised when the inevitable breathless request was made for Northwest Seafood! TM I've long since realized that this actually means "I want salmon", but please al
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Kristina
Zomato
Apr 15, 2009
4.5
Not only was the food here incredible, the service was fast and efficient. Grab a seat in the upstairs cafe and get lost in the spectacular view while you eat. VERY reasonably priced. Can't say enough about it. Enjoy with your family or a date.
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BizzNessMPLS
Zomato
Mar 23, 2009
4.5
Ray's Cafe!!!. On vacation in Seattle, we wanted to make sure and get as much seafood as possible before heading back inland to Minnesota. We researched a bunch of places and came across Ray's Cafe, just upstairs from Ray's Boathouse. The prices at the Cafe are more affordable, but the quality of the food did not suffer as a result. My wife and I both had some of the best seafood dishes in our lives. I had the crab and shrimp cakes that came with a black bean corn salsa. I use these crab cakes to judge all others. My wife had the halibut, which was equally delicious. It was really busy, but we were able to cozy up to the bar and have a few drinks while we waited. When we were finally seated, our table had just an amazing view. We were inside but right next to an open window, so we had the benefit of the stunning scenery but the not chilly breeze at sunset. Highly recommended.
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Nurit - 1 Family. Friendly
Zomato
Mar 06, 2009
0.0
I come from a place where salmon is only… salmon. But after 8 years of living and traveling in the Pacific Northwest, I learned a thing or two about this magnificent fish, about fresh seafood, and the Pacific Northwest cuisine which I knew nothing about b
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LH
Zomato
Feb 23, 2009
4.5
Consistently great. Extremely consistent and best sunset !
C
Culinary Fool
Zomato
Feb 22, 2009
4.5
One of my favorite places in Seattle is Ray's Cafe . It was one of the first nice places I want to when I first moved to Seattle and throughout the years I've spent many a sunny day out on the deck. It's location near the The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks mea
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Santino Marella
Zomato
Feb 17, 2009
4.5
Good to eat. I like this place very much, but had a bad dinner because I brought a Vegan to eat with Santino. Even though Ray's did a good job attempting to help, she was very rude and didn't eat anything. I highly recommend. Don't bring Vegan friends.
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Ki
Zomato
Nov 06, 2008
2.0
Your food is not quite that good. I eat your steak last SAT. Your steak was not so good. Your chef need to bring out better steak for the restaurent.
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Kate
Zomato
Aug 31, 2008
4.5
Great food!. Ray's always has a great selection and the view is incredible! Great place to take out of town guests! Make reservations if you're able!
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Linda Whang
Zomato
Aug 27, 2008
4.5
Great fish and views. The upstairs cafe is one of our favorite places to take out of town visitors-- they have a great view of the sound, good seafood selection, and a nice casual atmosphere.
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Swards
Zomato
Jul 28, 2008
4.5
Rays Cafe is very kid friendly!. Rays Cafe is on the second floor of Rays. They have a great happy hour - deals on drinks and food. We recently went for dinner at Rays Cafe with our 2 year old boy and 6 year old girl. The boy is allergic to nuts, dairy, and eggs.<br/><br/>Allergies are our biggest concern. Usually, when we ask about dish ingredients, most waiters don't have a clue, but our waiter was well prepared. The french fries and calamari were safe, but the fish and chips were not. No worries there - we easily found a good selection for everyone. He predicted a few other concerns for us and it was great to have that go so smoothly.<br/><br/>When a diaper change was required, I brought our son into the bathroom, not expecting to find a changing station, but there it was. And to wash hands, there was a stool for him to step on. Auto water and soap allowed him to do everything himself.<br/><br/>We went at 5, it was easy to park without needing a valet, and it was still before the rush. We sat near the back of the seating area. The kids had plenty of room to walk around and weren't distracting the other guests. <br/><br/>Going out for dinner with a 2-year old with allergies rarely gives you time to enjoy the food. Ray's was surprisingly well set up to make it great for us. We'll be back again soon.
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Painterlady
Zomato
Jul 24, 2008
4.5
Wowed Me. I just visited Seattle for a week and was excited to have a great dinner reservation every night, carefully picking the restaurants before we left. I write a food blog and am very seriously into cooking, so I'm pretty critical when we go out to eat. I made a reservation at this place based solely on the reviews on this website. I was skeptical when we arrived there because this place was right on the waterfront, big and very busy. I thought "this place could be have very touristy kind of food - oh, well, the view is great". Well, yes, the view was incredible but I was surprised by the food. This was one of our best meals during our week. The food was beautifully prepared and the waiter was very smart about wine and turned us onto a Pacific Northwest wine we had never had before that was perfect. I would come back here in a minute. The chef knew what he was doing. I had the manila clams appetizer and I was in seafood heaven. I love manila clams - these were the best I ever had. GO!
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ZachEd
Zomato
Jul 21, 2008
0.0
Food. The smoked Sablefish is one of the best meals I've had. I thought this place would be all about its service and view but it's all about the food. (Still, great service and view, of course)
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BH
Zomato
Jul 21, 2008
4.5
Classic. I took a group of friends (10) visiting from New York, Omaha and San Diego. Wanting to show them the beauty of Puget Sound and wonderful NW food, Ray's was perfect in every way! Even accommodated a reservation on the same day! Food was perfect. The view amazing. Wait staff fun and knowledgeable.
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Barbara
Zomato
Jun 19, 2008
4.5
Cafe is one of my favorites. This is where I take friends and family who visit Seattle. This is where I host parties and special celebrations. This is where I love going for no reason with my husband and kids. The food is consistently great, service is friendly and professional and who can beat the views.
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Kelvin
Zomato
May 21, 2008
4.5
Great place!!. Yummy and amazing views!! The service is excellent!! Would love to go back more often but probably just for special occasions.
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Lovepoeart
Zomato
May 12, 2008
4.5
Fab!. I love the seaweed salad- it's like the whole fresh ocean is in your mouth! Great experience.
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David J
Zomato
Apr 22, 2008
4.5
My favorite.. I'm surprised to see that there are a few negative reviews here. For almost 20 years Ray's has been my favorite restaurant -- for dates, for impressing out-of-town guests, for celebrating both my graduations from UW, for treating my employees to dinner, and (in the cafe) for meeting friends for dinner-and-drinks. In all that time, I've never had a meal that's failed to delight. Ray's has also always been notable for stellar service.
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Richelieu Gourmand
Zomato
Jan 04, 2008
4.5
Ray's Boathouse: 'Pretentious.' Ray's Cafe: 'Sublime.'. Best place to watch the sunset in Seattle? Ray's Cafe. When you go to Ray's Boathouse, just go upstairs to Ray's Cafe. More casual Northwest feel. Lots of windows, rustic wood beams, two fireplaces, and a more lively atmosphere - compared to downstairs which is more formal, stuffy, pretentious - and, overpriced. Upstairs at the Cafe or downstairs at the Boathouse, either way, the food is great and the service is prompt, attentive, enthusiastic, friendly. (I wish the new chef would bring back the french fried sweet potatoes though!) Great selection of beers and microbrews. And, you can't go wrong with an affordable bottle of Ray's private label wine.
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Laurent B
Zomato
Jul 28, 2007
4.5
Sweet patio. There are few better places to sit over lunch and a beer on a sunny Seattle day... (and the food's good too)
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Muffintop1029
Zomato
Mar 28, 2007
2.0
We ate at Ray's Boathouse back in November, also for the $25 promotion. While my guest's ling cod was fabulous, my alaskan king salmon was just terrible with parts of the filet still cold and frozen. As it was a birthday celebration, I didn't want to put a damper on the night by sending the dish back. I merely chewed and swallowed. Tonight, our party of 3 attempted the March $25 promotion and our experience was split down the middle yet again. The cauliflower soup of the day was wonderfully smooth and the generous pieces of smoked scallop a wonderful touch. The pan-seared scallop appetizer topped with bacon and leeks served as a decent amuse bouche in preparation for our entrees. We found the the grilled halibut in muscat grape cream sauce to be a tad bit on the dry side, but borderline enjoyable. Two of us had the sablefish in sake kasu. I had high hopes for this dish after having read reviews touting this as Ray's signature dish. Both of our dishes came out rawer than it was intended; one absolutely needed to be sent back to the kitchen. Our waiter was extremely gracious about the return and the dish was nicely prepared when brought back to us. While the sablefish, otherwise known as black cod, was tasty enough, I was not at all a fan of the honey soy sauce that tasted much like brown sauce that can be found at any corner teriyaki shop. It lacked the sophistication that I seek in a restaurant such as Ray's. All of the desserts we had, including the coconut rum creme brulee, the chocolate-pepper cake, and the rhubarb-strawberry twist were uninspired and a blah end to our meal. Our wonderful waiter made the savvy gesture of gifting us with a bar of gourmet chocolate to compensate for the returned dish. Wihle the food was borderline, the service was delightful and very amicable.
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Kerana
Zomato
Mar 26, 2007
4.5
Hit-and-miss (25 for $25, March 15, 2007). Ray's exudes Northwest charm like no other restaurant on the list, with views of wildlife like seals and herons right by the window. But it's the exquisite seafood that brings us back every time and the Alaskan Weathervane Scallops entrée did not disappoint. There were FIVE perfectly seared and seasoned large scallops served on top of a healthy helping of vegetables. The Grilled King Salmon, equally impressive, was melt-in-your-mouth tender. Crisp bacon accented the endive and apple salad that my husband enjoyed, while I puzzled over the cold piece of smoked scallop, better if warmed, in my creamy cauliflower soup. Dessert was a bit weak: the Just Chocolate cake, a dark floured cake had overly sweet icing; and the Glimpse of Spring, a citrusy pound cake ring, though tasted ok, sat like a life-ring that needed rescuing in the red rhubarb soup. The wine flight from Chateau Ste Michelle's Indian Wells vineyards was a good deal at $14 for three generous pouring, and the winery information card was a nice touch. Our server was not present most of the time: did not check on our entrées, or if we needed beverages with dessert, and could not be located when time to pay. The bussing crew and food runners made up the slack so all in all it was worth the drive to Ballard.
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Manda
Zomato
Mar 21, 2007
4.5
Ray's a beautiful birthday experience -25 for 25. I just went to ray's yesterday for my birthday dinner. I was pretty nervous because a lot of the restaurants I have been to lately have been quite dissapointing. Ray's, was definitely not dissapointing. The first thing that I loved about this place, was the view. My boyfriend had asked for a table at the window, and wow, that view was just breathtaking. You are looking right out at the sound, and it's almost like being in a movie on your own private island, I could not look away. Then, there was the service. Our waitress, Erica, was fabulous!! She was so so helpful, and friendly. The food was so good, we ordered oysters, which were so yummy and beautifully presented. The wine was okay, and the rest of the food was amazing. We talked to the manager for a long time at the end of the meal and told her how much we had enjoyed our night. Also, we did not go there with the intention of doing 25 for 25, but the selection for the 25 for 25 was amazing, and we ended up sticking with that, except for the oysters. They had almost all of their main dishes as selections. I was very impressed, and I would definitely celebrate there again!!
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Chaya
Zomato
Mar 19, 2007
0.0
Oh the cucumber hollandaise!. Ray's happens to serve possibly my favorite salmon preparation in Seattle: coho with cucumber hollandaise sauce over mashed potatoes and asparagus. The key here is the cucumber hollandaise sauce, both creamy and cool, which marries perfectly with the three components of the dish. Especially the salmon. Sure, coho is no Copper River, but the sauce brings out the rich buttery undertones while neutralizing the less subtle flavors. And on top of the salty mashed potatoes and summery asparagus, everything works together perfectly. I could eat this dish over and over--and I have! Order while sitting out on the deck on a sunny June day for best results.
B
Benny
Zomato
Nov 03, 2006
4.5
One word: happy hour. Ray's is solid between the hours of 4-6 and after 10. Their food is really great value for the $$ in particular the tuna (sashimi) and the thai mussels and the salmon burger and the walnut/blue cheese salad... Fight for a seat in the bar in the summer, or wait for the winter and the crowds to thin out.
