This place is a must if you love happy hour by the waterfront. You can get seated right away even if you don't have a reservation as long as you go to the top floor and you don't mind sitting outside. I highly recommend the clams and mussels off of the happy hour as well as the calamari. read more

Ray's Boathouse - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A favorite of ours! My husband is on a very restricted diet for health reasons and Ray's ALWAYS goes above and beyond to give us an excellent dining experience! Excellent service from beginning to end and the food is fantastic!! read more

We came as a group of 28 from a retirement community and had a semi-private room upstairs to ourselves. To get the room, there was a minimum order of $40 per person, a bit high for lunch. My wife and I shared a large calamari for $20 and it was very good but the 1/2 portion was generous and might have been enough. Lightly battered rings were very good and served with tartar sauce. My wife's ciapinno was as good as we have had anywhere. Most wines were in the $14 and up range and draft beer was $8. For a large group, the service was efficient and responsive. Prices seemed about 10% higher than other similar restaurants in our area. For us it was a long drive for a $154 dinner eaten at lunch. While the food was excellent, it was no better than its competitors closer to where we live. read more

We celebrated our first year anniversary and July 4th here. We checked in an hour and a half earlier than our reservation. Front desk staff was friendly and accommodating to check us in and seated us at the most beautiful ocean view next to the blue water for July 4th fireworks! We had Server Alejandro for the rest of the dinner time. Alejandro was attentive, knowledgeable and helpful to attend to our dietary restrictions. He helped us to make sure menu options would be accommodating to our food allergies. He helped us to light the candle and was very friendly to have some good chats. He helped from ordering, cleaning dishes all the way to our bills. Great customer service and left us a very pleasant and happy impression. We ordered one dozen Miyagi and one dozen Kumamoto oysters. They were absolutely fresh, delicious and great Appetizers. Grilled Beacon Russel Sprouts were so delicious, crispy, aromatic and smoky. Applewood Sablefish with Brown Rice as main course which the Sablefish was very tender, fresh, tasty, meaty and juicy, loved the sweet apple sauce with brown rice. White wine cooked with clams were fresh with seawater taste, meaty and tender! Sparkling Prosecco Rose and Brut Reserve which were the highlight for the seafood! We closed the dinner with a refreshing passion fruit/ orange sorbet with gluten free cookie that was to die for! I truly appreciate all the great seafood, beautiful ocean view and great staff customer service that helped giving us a beautiful memory of our one year anniversary and July 4TH celebration. We recommend you Ray's Boathouse and will definitely be back for more! read more

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A fancier seafood restaurant with a beaaaaaauuuuutiful view and a little parking lot! TLDR, the food is good, but it's overpriced for what it is. You're mainly just paying for the view (which is marvelous). We arrived on a weeknight without reservations, and were seated after a short wait. It was perfect weather to have a meal outside, so we sat on their outdoor patio area. A corner of it smells a bit funny, but nothing unbearable. Service was warm, and checked on us multiple times. Felt very laid back. We got table bread, the halibut, brussel sprouts, and the diver scallops. The bread was cold, and thus a bit hard, but after heating some up the day after, it was delicious. Brussel sprouts were really good. I liked the sauce it came with, some like roasted pepper purée. The sprouts were crunchy and a bit crispy. I really wanted to like the diver scallops, and I liked the scallops themselves, but it came with a strawberry something gazpacho.. which was interesting lol. Separately, they tasted fine. But the scallop and gazpacho together didn't really work. Halibut was nice! I liked the cherry sauce it came with. Green beans and potatoes were also a welcome addition. Lots of sides for the amount of meat given though. Overall, this was not bad! A bit overpriced for the amount of actual seafood you get. I'd maybe come back for a small snack and to enjoy the view. read more

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Rays is easily a 5 and one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. They consistently offer delicious , outstanding food . The servers go out of their way to make your dining experience memorable and celebrate special occasions. You cant beat water side eating when it comes to Rays. I look for any excuse to eat here. Everything on the menu is worth it, and I've tried most of the menu. That too, the menu changes and its good to see the new creations brought by the chefs. I will continue to bring my friends and family here, while raving about it to others too! read more

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I took my parents here on a Tuesday to celebrate my mom's birthday. I reserved a table in advance, and I'm so glad I did because this restaurant is quite popular. The window seating added a nice touch to the overall dining experience. This is a fancy seafood restaurant, and the prices reflect that, but the food is absolutely worth it. We ordered the clam chowder, crab legs, and the sablefish in sake kasu (I added scallops and shrimp to it). The sablefish was the highlight of the meal--tender, perfectly cooked, and paired with a flavorful soup base. My whole family loved it, and I can't recommend this dish enough! Our server was friendly and attentive, making the evening even more enjoyable. Overall, we had a wonderful time and would definitely come back for a special occasion. read more

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Wow. What an all around incredible experience Ray's Boathouse is! It's hard to not have your breath taken away as you walk in and sit, only to watch the sun set throughout your meal behind the striking Olympic mountains. The location and views are reason enough for a 5 star review, honestly, but the FOOD. THE FOOD. Wow. The scallops and halibut absolute melted in my mouth, the prawns were perfectly garlicky and the asparagus was so refreshing (I literally ate the whole plate hehe oops). It was fresh and each dish had its own distinct flavor profile. The crème brûlée was also just the absolute perfect little sweet treat for the end of a truly unforgettable meal. I also must mention that I am such a rosé girl, and their rosé special on the menu right now is not to be missed if you're a rosé girl too! Oh, and I would be remiss not to mention how wonderful the service was. Our waitress was so attentive, she even brought us over a little lamp for the table (we were with my partner's parents and they were struggling to see the menu in the mood lighting) because she noticed that they were using their iPhone lights (lol). She was lovely, so friendly, it was super busy and she still made us feel like we were the only ones there. All in all, wow. If you are looking for a Seattle seafood spot to impress, you simply must try Ray's! read more

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We have been there multiple times and loved the food every time. Very fresh food, mouthwatering preparations along with amazing service, of course a great view! read more

This is such a very beautiful restaurant, especially when Seattle finally receives sunlight (about time!). Located in the West Ballard area adjacent to the Shilshole Bay overlooking closest land masses Discovery Park and on a clear day Bainbridge side, this location is excellent for a nice meal with nice views. Initially, when I did my research on the website saying there is outdoor seating walk-in, I was tempted to not make a reservation and chance it for the best views, but good thing we did because when we arrived around 5:30pm, the restaurant is already packed and parking lot, while huuuuge, was completely full with multiple cars camping for a spot so we just parked on the street (which also has good amount of space). So just plan ahead if you go at busier dining hours. I made a reservation (which is only indoor downstairs dining, aka ground level) for 5:30pm (so we can enjoy some happy hour which is 5-6pm daily except holidays) and simply mentioned preference for window seating and they gladly accommodated it. That way, we can enjoy the dinner at room temperature and at our comfort, and the window does not have much glare or reflection so pictures are still excellent. We got the Ray's Clam Chowder, Little Gem Salad, and PNW mussels from the happy hour menu (most of which are nicely priced as they are half the main menu prices), applewood grilled sablefish in sake kasu from the dinner menu, and Oreo raspberry cheesecake from the dessert menu. From happy hour: Ray's Clam Chowder - clams are fresh, but the chowder was a little blad Little Gem Salad - the lettuce were nicely dressed with one of my favorite dressings - Green Goddess. Great vegetable option PNW mussels - the mussels were very fresh and the sauce is light yet flavorful so you can really enjoy it and eat the sauce like a soup Applewood grilled sablefish in sake kasu - the sablefish is what Ray's Boathouse is particularly known for, and it was sooooo soft and buttery! However, take it what you will, but this dish overall really reminds me of the meals that I eat in first class transcontinental / business class international for US-based airlines. For example, the lettuce is flavorful but too charred so some pieces were not edible, and the rice was a bit undercooked, to be helped with the sauce. I am not saying that it is bad, but for $46 before tax/tip, I'd have expected a more higher-end restaurant quality and not something that I can enjoy in premium seating in a flight. Oreo raspberry cheesecake - very good end to the meal, though it is a bit on the sweeter and heavier side. We got this to share, and between the two of us, we still weren't able to finish because it was just that heavy. This dessert is comfortably shared among 3 people at least. Service overall is great - water refills are present, they clear dishes out fairly quickly, and they check up on you once in a while, as is typical of American restaurants. Overall, this is a great place to enjoy a beautiful dinner, whether with friends, a date, or a group! read more

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Great scenery. Seafood is delicious. Service was excellent. My fiancée and I were blown away. We are having our wedding there next year! read more

I would actually rate it a4.5. It's on the dock of the sound. Lots of windows so great water and island views. We were there on Thanksgiving day but did not have the holiday specials. Reservation easy and times were accurate with seating. Two floors, didn't see or expect a bar area. Great server-Tia. She was informative professional and great to work with. Started with a bowl of mussels-one pound and tasted great. Even thought about seconds. Dinner:prime rib. 1/2 inch thick and cooked med well although requested med rare. Good level of marble and fat. Tasted good however it was not hot. Would have sent back for reheat but my friends were already eating. Potatoes were good. Sprouts were a little crispy. That was the 4. Rating. The remaining meals, halibut, salmon were exceptional according to the eaters. Large portions cooked perfectly. Sides were also cooked well. I do recommend the apple cake for dessert. My fault for ordering beef at a seafood restaurant. Service was as expected, plenty of attention from wait staff, good views, good time. Yes I would recommend. The steak was about $80 and the fish about $50. About $400 for a group of four. read more

We had a great Christmas birthday dinner. The service was fantastic. We tipped the dishwasher extra just because. The waitress came back and gave a heartfelt thank you on his behalf. We barely noticed the view because the food was so good. Our party of four were "oohing and ahhing" through each course. read more

Disappointed in this supposed icon. The food was just mediocre in a place where it should be exceptional. The 6 adults agreed "meh." Overpriced for sure. A great view only gets you so far. Save your money and go somewhere else. read more

This place always delivers - the food is always amazing, the service is always quick and friendly, and the ambiance is perfect for either a sunny day on the deck or a rainy day inside read more

Smoked scallops that I had in the scallop and bay shrimp salad were off-the-charts amazing. Good service and an fantastic location, right on the water. What a delight! read more

The view.... c'mon!!! Worth a seat @ the cafe just for that!! Calamari is addictive, fish n chips is very bland, unfortunately. Can't speak to the rest of the menu, but haven't heard that many great things. read more

Ambiance was really nice. Great view of the water and had a very cozy feel to it. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. While the food was fresh, it lacked flavor. The tuna was bland and needed more of the cucumber garnish to pick the flavor up. The salmon was cooked well but seemed dusted in flavor not well crusted. Per my husband the chowder has more potato than seafood and needed Tabasco to make it good. It was ok but with a few tweaks I feel like it could be really good. Hoping someone reads this from there and makes those tweaks as Rays could be very good if they do as there are some great aspects of it! read more

Unfortunately, the busser dropped an ENTIRE FULL glass of ice water directly on my 4-year-old daughter's head & all over her body -- thankfully the heavy, full drinking glass didn't hit her in the head or she would have been seriously injured. After he did it, he exclaimed "SH*T!" (loudly in front of said 4-year-old and her friend....) but never actually came back to apologize to us. Our actual server did apologize to us, and they comped the kid food (just 2 kid cheeseburgers- no drinks, or desserts or anything) but that response just wasn't quite adequate for dumping a bucket of ice water on our unexpecting daughter's head when she could have been seriously hurt That guy should probably get several more hours of training before going back out on the floor- it's a danger read more

This is your classic Pacific Northwest seafood restaurant! The service is amazing as well as what a beautiful view of the water! It's not a place I am running to go back to but great place if you want to celebrate with friends/family! read more

Este lugar cuenta con todo lo que quieres en una escapada, Buena vista a las montañas, al mar, deliciosa la comida y buen servicio.. Amazing read more

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I usually only write reviews when I love a place and/or plan on going back. I don't know if it was the fact that I didn't look like a majority of the crowd here, but multiple staff gave me side eye glances. As I waited for someone to take my order I questioned whether or not I wanted to give this place my money. It was so palpable, that I felt a need to review. I typically try not to assume negative things about folks on the clock (sometimes people are tired, things are busy, etc...), but this felt straight up nasty. While my server was good, at least three staff looked at me in such a way that I know this is not the place for me. Will not be back. read more

This place was amazing!! The dinner was delicious- we had crab cakes for an appetizer, the salmon, the halibut and both sablefish and it was all immaculate. Our server was attentive and kind. The ambiance was impressive as well, beautiful views along the water. Definitely a nicer dinner place, with a more expensive price range but so worth it! read more

Took my chef friend here and his daughter. i think the lovely setting and sunset here, would make any experience here incredible. And it was beautiful.My friend is a Silican chef, who treasures seafood as much as I do, a Croatian seafood fan. He wanted to celebrate his daughter graduating from college. We were seated right on the waterfront. Almost glaring , due to the evening sun. But sun can be a rarity in Seattle, so it was welcome. No expense spared, we started out with cocktails and appetizers. A bread plate, manila clams and Steamed Alaskan Tanner Crab Cluster were our starters. All were fresh and nicely prepared. We really were in the mood for fresh seafood, so this was welcomed. Also had to get the bread plate to mop up the delicious broths left from the seafood. We all next ordered each the "Applewood Grilled Sablefish in Sake Kasu GF/DF seasoned brown rice, garlic snap peas, pickled cucumber, ginger-soy glaze, scallions". Really enjoyed the Sake Kasu sauce on this buttery fish. The brown rice and pickled cucumber added to the light take on this fish entree. Did not feel overly full after eating this, as it often seems with fish dishes containing heavier ingredients. We also each added four Del Pacifico Dayboat prawns to our entree, which added an excellent balance to this dish. As our dessert, we added the crème brûlée. Very nice Carmel finish, with the suggestion of Sauternes wine as an accompaniment. Great service here. Wonderful food and a beautiful setting. Made a special memory here tonight, that I will not forget. read more

So, I really thought at the end of the entree course I was going to give this place five stars. The cocktails and wine were top notch, the oysters were fantastic and the salmon was delicious. The pasta was slightly over al dente but still good. The view was amazing as well; the sunset was like an impressionist painting. The service however... /start rant - I'm not sure if there was a magic veil over our specific table or the staff had a collective stroke but the speed at which we were avoided pretty much all night was impressive. The person who took our order was perfectly pleasant and initially reasonably available, but we saw her with decreasing frequency; I initially thought it was the volume, which I totally get and make allowances for, but this persisted past the dinner rush. Ended up having to flag passing staff for the check cause sitting for 15 minutes after the plates were cleared in a half empty room isn't a good look; we got dessert elsewhere. It wouldn't have pissed me off nearly so much if it wasn't just our table being ignored. But it was. /end rant. Go for the sunset and the oysters. And maybe ask for the check early. read more

Lovely seafood restaurant on the water w/a great sunset view. I had the halibut w/polenta. One friend had fish and chips and another had scampi with pasta. A really terrific server who made us feel so welcome and cared for read more

Ray's Boathouse is separated from an upstairs restaurant Ray's Cafe and a downstairs restaurant, Ray's Boathouse. I was taken to the upstairs location. I'm told the lower level is a trifle more upscale. We came for an early-ish dinner and it was a tad chilly outside, so we couldn't sit outside on the deck. If Ray's would just invest in some outdoor heaters, they could seat people outside much earlier as the scenery is why you're there. Our party ordered the Crispy Calamari as an appetizer. I'm allergic and did not indulge, but the others rather enjoyed it so I'll go with what they said. I ordered a small caesar salad and it was fresh and the dressing was good. A nice preamble to dinner. The funny thing about going here as that I and the two people who actually live in Seattle are not fish lovers. In fact, none of us like fish, so to be taken here is quite silly as it's mostly fish and seafood. I hear it's good, but know I'll never know. So the three of us got the burger. There's only one on the menu, the Classic Burger. I removed the butter lettuce as the bitterness of butter lettuce ruins a burger. The tomato and red onion had to go as well as, well, yuck. I kept the poblano aioli along with the aged white cheddar and added bacon. The aioli was the key. It really added a nice flavor with a little kick at the end. The burger was well made and juicy and nicely prepared and the fries were decent enough. However, in my humble opinion, fries should be hand cut. If not, you're making the diner think they are frozen, thawed, and then fried. Hand cut makes you think that they freshly cut the fries that day. These were not hand cut. They were okay. I know I'm talking more about fries at the moment, but let's not dwell. The burger was good. Beyond good. I have a burger club and we rate burgers on a 0-5. This was a solid 4.0. I would of liked to come here when the weather was a little warmer and sat outside on the deck to look at the water - the views were stunning. And I'd get this burger and a caesar salad again. A solid outing. However, with so many places in and around Seattle and me not being a fish/seafood lover, I'd skip this place (although good) and try something more my speed. read more

Booked a reservation for 3 people at 5:15pm for a Saturday and requested a window seat. It being a sunny Saturday and Mother's Day weekend, the parking lot was very busy but we were able to snag a parking spot. We were greeted and seated quickly next to the window. The cafe upstairs looked rather busy, but the boathouse wasn't full until later into the evening. We ordered the Manila clams, Brussels sprouts, calamari and little gem salad off the happy hour menu. The portions were happy hour size but fine for 3 people. The salad was overdressed. We also the ordered crab cakes and the steak for entrees. The prices were as expected for a finer dining restaurant, but I've had better calamari elsewhere with a larger portion for hh. Staff was kind and attentive. There's also a free bread basket. Cute for date night or another occasion, but I wouldn't say that I would be excited to come back. read more

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Great views all day and night long but the food ranks as SUB PAR! RAYS BOATHOUSE is a Ballard " OLD SCHOOL " institution. Shades of the 70's and it shows. Now with all the quality chefs in Seattle maybe it's time to modernize your cuisine to reflect 2022.... It's obvious you'll all wanna hang onto the past but damn you've taken it to an all new level. You've got the location to be a rock star eatery but maybe a remodel plus menu overhaul. I dined for Thanksgiving and it was the single worst unforgiving thanksgiving I've eaten in my life. Ok Turkey but not moist, soggy stuffing made Frank and unhappy camper... I'm sure the derelicts at the homeless shelter received a better Turkey dinner than me.... Come for cocktail and 70's fashion but avoid the food.... On a side note the service was good and the seals swimming around was entertaining. ciao bella ! read more

Ray's Boathouse - Thanksgiving 2022 - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went to Ray's for a birthday celebration and they've made it so special! The food was excellent, fish was prepared perfectly and the drinks were Right On! Will definitely go back again! read more

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Ray's is in the most beautiful waterfront location, perfect at sunset to watch the boats and otters and the service was not only amazing, but the fish and all seafoods are so fresh, you should be prepared for it melting in your mouth. It is a bit pricey, but only if drinks are ordered as my guest ordered lots of drinks and they have a large selection. The vegan Braised Delicata Squash farro, butternut squash, squash-coconut milk emulsion, with red veined sorrel was definitely amazing. They have average $50 meals, like for Applewood Grilled Wild Alaskan King Salmon with garlic whipped potatoes, sautéed spinach and mushrooms, Dijon mustard velouté, with chives but honestly, a night there is fun and for lower prices, go upstairs to the cafe that on a warm day you will be outside overlooking the water but in the winter, the boathouse rocks. I would have not spent $200 if I was there with my family or beloved but the alcohol the friend ordered definitely escalates prices and I am not a drinker but if you take out anyone, remember high prices of drinks. The atmosphere, was old school vibes and very elegant, and friendly. I would go back but just for the cafe' and a lower priced brunch or dinner level. The location is A+++. read more

Love Ray's. I grew up coming here with my grandparents. 70s - present with the exception the late 80s when the fire happened - and now love to bring my son. Great food, service, and view. Sablefish is always good - great salads. Heat lamps on the cafe deck and watching the boats and sunset - just great. read more

Food and service were great! Just have to go back before sunset to really appreciate the beautiful view

Been a long time since I've eaten at Ray's. Went for our anniversary this year and everything - the service, views and food were all top notch. Halibut was excellent as was the carrot risotto. Rays is in our special occasion rotation! read more

Great place...go during happy hour...4-6 pm daily. Both food and drinks on the happy hour menu. We were able to sit anywhere and receive the HH prices. I went in Dec...during the summer you can sit outside overlooking the water. I visited this restaurant twice during my stay in Ballard. My family members are STILL talking about how great the clam chowder is! 1 star deduction for the high pricing for average food. read more

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Went to Ray's for a get together with out of town guests and it's fitting given the setting and menu prices. Ray's boathouse is right on the water with views that compliment it, even at night, inside or out with its larger windows. This visit was inside however. The menu is of course primarily seafood with its kitchen chefs and staffed proudly printed on the menu. Started with the burrata and broccolini appetizer. Good quality Buratta, broccolini was sizable but the dish was a bit cold. Had "Rhu the day" tequila cocktail which had some umph which was good. For entree I got the Alaskan king salmon - come with whipped mashed potatoes and asparagus. Topped with Dill beurre blanc which I believe is the sauce. It was quite good. Salmon was seared just right and the asparagus had a nice roasted taste. Potatoes were alright. If you want to join your love of water views with a seafood meal, Ray's will do it. I'd say it's for sure a place for special occasions - date, family gathering, celebration. For reference 1 entree, 1 app and 1 drink can easily take you into the $$$ range. The quality and service seems to support it so if that all sounds good. Rays has it. read more

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Ray's Boathouse was a great experience! A friend recommended their margaritas, and we tried the black cherry one--it was dangerously good! It was my first time there, and I'd love to return to explore more of the menu. Service was good. We sat by the window with a view of the Puget Sound, which added to the lovely ambience. I can only imagine how stunning it must be at night! read more

Upstairs in the Cafe: Definitely a tourist trap, like every restaurant sited anywhere on the water, anywhere. Over priced, skimpy cheeseburger and skimpy portion of french fries., No lettuce or tomato for the burger. No follow up by server after food was brought to the table. Cold hostess, no smile, no personality, possibly a HS student who needed some kind of a summer job. Server negated my feed back when I brought it to my attention that my food could have been better. Sub-par experience, I won't be returning. read more

Good atmosphere, beautiful views and had a great server! I had the lingcod special which was delicious. wine selection was a bit overpriced for what's offered per glass but overall enjoyed and will be back on a sunny day. read more

On our last visit to Seattle we had a fabulous time dining at Ray's Boatyard beautifully located on the water! Party of 5 and I will list all the fabulous and highly recommend dishes: clams, mussels, crab cakes, tostado, halibut, sockeye copper spinach salad, albacore, brussels and calamari. We arrived during happy hour and were able to take advantage of HH prices. We all loved our dishes and highly recommend Ray's Boatyard! Next trip to Seattle we will return and promise to take photos! read more