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    Ray's Boathouse

    3.9 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Ray's Boathouse Photos

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    RAY'S BOATHOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Ray's Boathouse

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    Dinner with a waterfront view
    Kristina G.

    Such a beautiful place for dinner! The waterfront view is absolutely stunning, especially around sunset. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was relaxing, and the service was great. Definitely a lovely spot for a special evening, and I would happily come back again.

    Higata Half Dozen 1/2 Shell Oysters*
    Ka'ili H.

    This was the first year I thought it would be fun spend my birthday somewhere else. What made the most sense to me was to head to Seattle, spend time with Dillon's Aunt, and see more of Seattle than I have in the years past. Dillon found this restaurant and we headed here a couple of days after my birthday. It turned out to be the best decision, it was less crowded, away from graduation dinners and celebrations, and though the day was a bit overcast, being near the water, we got to see a club? of stand up paddle boarders and kayakers do their routes in the bay! It's easy to say since we don't live there, but there is beauty in the cloudiness of the sky juxtaposed against the water. We went back and forth with the entrees but ultimately decided on an order of their shigoku oysters they had on special and we each got the Copper river salmon here. We loved it so much the first time we tried it that we had to try Ray's version of it and we were thankful we did!! The oysters were tasty and had a lovely unique flavor and the copper river salmon was cooked perfectly on a bed oof potatoes. The bread plate, though crispy, which we loved, was perfect for dipping and scooping up the remaining sauce and oils. Since it was my birthday there was a nice card left on the table which was a nice sweet touch that started the evening off on a personal touch. The dinner ended with our kind and chipper waiter bringing out a chocolate cheesecake and singing "Happy Birthday," it was fun and so nice! It was truly a wonderful birthday experience and I'm ever thankful Dillon made it so special. The chocolate cheesecake was divine, it had fresh raspberries and a house made raspberry sauce I believe and the cheesecake itself was fluffy and light and probably one of the best chocolate cheesecakes I've ever had. Another cool thing about this restaurant, we got to see an eagle's nest from where we were sitting looking up on a cliff in the trees!! Ray's gave us a fantastic dinner, a wonderful birthday celebration, and cherished moments we will always have now.

    Ribeye. Would order fish instead
    Sarah M.

    We ordered bread to start ($8). The butter was hard, and since the bread itself wasn't warm, it made spreading nearly impossible - a small detail that set a slightly off tone at the beginning. For mains, we ordered the ribeye and the grilled sablefish. The sablefish was delicious and a nice change from more standard fish dishes I've had before. The puree it came with was good, but the dish, I thought could've been served warmer. The ribeye had a weak sear and chewy, unrendered fat making it tough and difficult to slice, and the cut itself was uneven with one end thicker than the other. The sauce ended up being overpowering rather than enhancing the dish. On a positive note, the service was thoughtful, and the view is absolutely stunning. In the end, I'd come back for the ambiance and maybe another seafood dish, but skip the steak next time.

    Courtney C.

    Ray's is a decent choice for seafood, but without the views, this would be a 3-star. The restaurant has amazing views and is right on the water. We were sat right at the window, and even post sunset it is a nice ambiance. The restaurant was not overly crowded and we didn't have to wait long with our reservation. I do recommend getting a reservation though. The staff was friendly, helpful and on top of things. The food was good, but was pricey. We got the mushroom risotto and added scallops to it. To add 2 scallops was +$26 which is steep even for Seattle. The scallops were cooked really well, but I would still say the price tag wasn't justified. We also also had the Wild Alaskan King Salmon and the Sablefish in Sake Kasu . The salmon was okay, but nothing noteworthy. The sablefish was delicious, and I would definitely recommend. If you are looking for a special meal - anniversary, birthday, etc. - and want great views of the water then I think Ray's is a good choice. While the food is pricey, there are some solid options on the menu. But if you are just looking for some great seafood, there are better tasting and better priced places around Seattle that would be better suited.

    Estella K.

    Stunning views when you walk in. Staff were friendly & attentive and service was very quick as well. We went in for a mid day snack and ended up feasting on their HH deal! Everything was so flavorful and fresh and I can't wait to come back for dinner and try their full menu

    Ray's Pacific Northwest Chowder and salad
    Patrick W.

    Mmm... I had a funny feeling but granted it was a relatively quiet Monday night... The six of us came on the recommendation of a Seattle-ite. obviously, this place is an institution, but our first impression was overhearing someone asking to see the manager.... Uh oh we thought. In the end, the starters were pretty good. We had crab cakes, mussels and calamari. What unfortunately killed it for us was the sablefish was inconsistently cooked. One of us had to send it back because it was completely uncooked in the center even the waiter clearly noticed and apologized. That individual? He unfortunately had a very rough night. Let's just say severe stomach pains. Secondly while very subjective and a preference... one of us felt their scallops were undercooked... I'm not a chef, but if I see translucent areas... I might be concerned... and we are slight translucent areas... to the waiter's credit he offered to cook them further. And btw, the waiter however I must say was super professional, super knowledgeable, and clearly a very senior individual here. We thank him for waiting on our table. My knock is on the kitchen... I understand it's a quiet Monday night, but clearly they whiffed on some of the dishes. Me personally I never go to a place where yelp has less than 4.4 if I can avoid it. Overall Yelp was right on this one... definitely not 4.5 with hundreds of reviews

    Ciara W.

    Always a favorite! Ray's Boathouse never misses. The seafood is always incredibly fresh and cooked perfectly -- you can really taste the quality in every bite. The dishes feel elevated but never pretentious, just really well done. I especially love how you can sit by the water and enjoy that gorgeous view while sipping a cocktail from their great bar. It's one of my go-to spots for date night, but it's also perfect for getting together with a group of friends -- the vibe works for both. Every time I come, I leave already thinking about what I'll order next time. Truly one of the best seafood restaurants in Seattle.

    Fish and chips classic
    Chad P.

    Literally came here right after a funeral at the Elks club just next door. My mom suggested it and she had never been and I was in from out of town and was just fine checking it out. This place looks like it's been here for a while but it was very clean and didn't give me any weird vibes at all. Very friendly hostess staff and we were there around 4:00 so they were still just serving lunch. We had a great view of the bay on a very nice October day. I ordered just the standard fish and chips which to be honest we're actually pretty good. Portion maybe was a bit smaller but this is definitely more of a nicer place so that's expected of course. The coleslaw was also more high quality for sure. My mom just had some happy hour specials since she doesn't eat very much and that was all good. I would say definitely a good place for some good seafood! There's a lot to choose from in Seattle and this is probably one of the good ones.

    Sablefish in Sake Kasu
    Ashlee S.

    Sunset Vibes + Seafood Dreams at Ray's Boathouse Back in town this week and had the BEST team dinner at Ray's Boathouse . There were four of us, and we kicked things off with the crab appetizer ... it was so good we immediately ordered a second round . For my drink, I went with the Hot Girl Spritz (how could I not? ‍) and it was light, fun, and super refreshing. My entrée was the Applewood Grilled Sablefish in Sake Kasu and WOW buttery, smoky, and just absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious. But honestly, the views steal the show . Sitting outside on a warm summer evening, cocktail in hand, and watching the sun set over the water? Pure magic . It's the kind of dining experience that feels unforgettable. Service was on point too --our server was kind, attentive, and gave great menu context + recs when we asked. Only thing to note: they apparently don't take reservations, so be ready for a wait ... but trust me, it's worth it. Ray's Boathouse is the ultimate combo of fresh seafood, dreamy vibes, and killer sunsets . I'd go back in a heartbeat!

    Oysters
    Alyssa T.

    A scenic dinner spot with lots of good food options. Parking seems to usually not be an issue, but the night we went they were also hosting a wedding so we ended up parking about a 10 minute walk away. The location has a decent sized parking lot out front for both the downstairs boathouse and the cafe on the 2nd floor. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating available. We were able to make a reservation through the restaurant's website (reservations are powered by RESY) which made seating very smooth. The service was excellent and we got a lot of good recommendations from our waiter. We were there during happy hour so we opted for the happy hour portions so that we could try more food. We were informed the happy hour prices are about equivalent to that of the regular menu but they appear lower in price since the portion size is smaller. Everything we tried was delicious and fresh. My favorite dish was the shrimp scampi bucatini. It was packed with shrimp and was very flavorful. The brown rice that came with the sablefish was very dry but the fish itself was cooked perfectly. There were a couple of flys that kept lingering around our table, but other than that it was an overall great experience.

    Grilled Wild NW King Salmon*
    Bernardine D.

    We were visiting the Seattle Area after our cruise to Alaska and stumbled upon Ray''s while driving around. The atmosphere was great with a beautiful view of Puget Sound. The food was delicious! What really made the experience complete was our amazing waitress Frankie! Her bubbly personality made us feel welcomed and her food recommendations were spot on!

    Outside
    Hannah S.

    Gorgeous view, boathouse feel. Food was good, not knock your socks off, but tasty! We asked for medium cooked salmon but it was definitely medium rare. Kind of disappointing. But the salmon was very special- caught in Washington which was we were looking for as visitors to the state!! $50 dollars ouch! Not photographed- Brussels sprouts were yummy too

    Steve A.

    While visiting Seattle, we were in search of classic, non-fried seafood with a great waterfront setting--and we found exactly that at Ray's Boathouse. Ray's delivers delicious, high-quality seafood with breathtaking views that'll have you planning your next visit before you even leave. The service is top-notch, the staff are genuinely welcoming, and the extensive wine list complements the menu perfectly. If you can, reserve a table by the water and time your visit for sunset--it's an experience you won't forget. Parking can be a bit tight, and while they do accept walk-ins, reservations are highly recommended as the place gets busy. Come for the food, stay for the view. You won't regret it. Thank me later.

    Dinner with a view at Ray's

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    Thank you Chad. We appreciate your kind words.

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    Ray's Boathouse Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ray's Boathouse

    Do you offer gluten-free and dairy-free menu or options?? What about soups with that allergy dietary restriction?

    Wayne, Thank you for reaching out to us. Yes, we offer gluten-free and dairy-free menu items, Our on line menu is your best resource (www.rays.com). We do list DF and GF symbols next to the appropriate options. We only offer one soup and that is… 

    Is it kid friendly?

    Keep in mind this is based on a single visit there, but my impression was it's family friendly. It is a nice enough restaurant that people would like to enjoy their meal without little kids screaming and running around, but as long as your kids are… 

    View All 6 Questions

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    If I could give this 6 or 7 stars, I would. Ever since going back to New Jersey, I can't help crave…read morethe delicious coconut shrimp, the warm sourdough bread, and the fish-- oh god the fish. Of all the experiences in Seattle, this restaurant was the best. The servers were friendly and warm, the place was comfortable and had a great view of the water. Now beware one thing: this place is pricey. New York levels of pricey. Don't expect to leave with a light bill, but you get what you pay for.

    We were in Seattle for a few days and looked up some of the top places for clam chowder. We had…read morealready tried the number one spot, so we made the trip up toward Lake Union to try this one. We arrived around 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and were told the wait would be about an hour and 15 minutes. We asked about the bar, and after about five minutes, two seats opened up. We ordered the Dinghy chowder sampler so we could try three different chowders. We came for the clam chowder. I thought the flavor was good, although the texture was a little different for me. The biggest disappointment was the regular clam chowder. We don't eat bacon, and they told us the bacon could not be left out. Since clam chowder was the main reason we came, that really took away from the experience. A few minutes after we ordered, a couple sitting next to us at the bar asked the same question we did: "Is there bacon in the award-winning clam chowder?" When the server said yes, they said, "Okay, never mind. We don't want that." So we weren't the only ones asking. We ended up having the lobster chowder. Overall, 3 out of 5. The experience was okay, but because we couldn't really try the clam chowder we came for, we don't plan to come back.

    Photos
    Bar with a large assortment of drinks
    Bar with a large assortment of drinks
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    Ray's Boathouse - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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