Our family always goes to Ray's On the River restaurant to celebrate the special occasions, like birthdays, Christmas dinners, and just because. We always enjoy the food quality, and the service. But unfortunately not this time.. we made a reservation for our Christmas dinner on December 24 at 6:30 PM. The restaurant was overbooked, and we had to wait a long time to be seated. Our table was in the private tiny little room that was cramped in with people, and we've been sitting back to back with the next table behind us in less than 12 inches distance. The service was very hectic, our waitress forgot to bring my drink. I usually order my Bronzino, and it usually comes as the whole fish stuffed with crab, delicious.. this time it came just a overcooked fillet on top of some disgusting vegetables that I put aside and obviously didn't eat. My son-in-law's steak was raw, and we had to send it back, and his drink was too much watered down. My daughter's red snapper was overcooked. My 9 yo grandson's filet mignon came too pink definitely not medium well. Our waitress forgot to bring the spoons for our side dishes, and we've been waiting for a while. Unfortunately this whole experience was very not what we usually get at this restaurant. One of the managers, Ryan, came to our table to apologize and to offer free desserts. But obviously it wouldn't compensate for the whole Christmas dinner experience that we expected but have not received at this time. read more

Ray's On the River - Entrance area, my Grandson, and I waiting to be seated - Seafood Near Me - Sandy Springs, Georgia

Just left this place--if you can even call it a restaurant--and let me tell you, it was a total catastrophe. I've been to the best restaurants, I know the best chefs, and this was a low-rated disaster from start to finish. The Food: A Total Disaster First of all, the Grouper. It was overcooked. Tough! Like a shoe! You couldn't eat it if you tried. And the Brussels sprouts? They didn't just cook them, they burned them. They were black, charred, very bitter. A complete kitchen failure. They charge you these massive, "luxury" prices--the highest prices I've ever seen--for food that belongs in the trash. It's a total rip-off! The "View" and the Service They promised me a "spectacular view." Instead, what do I see? Construction. Cranes, dirt, ugly orange cones everywhere. It was a mess! You're looking at a construction site while eating burnt vegetables. Very un-classy. The Service: Just average. Very "middle-of-the-road." No energy, no speed. They didn't even know who they were serving! The Prices: They're skyrocketing! It's food inflation like you wouldn't believe. You need a small loan just to order an appetizer. The Atmosphere: Noisy, dusty, and very, very sad. The Final Verdict This place is failing. It's a disaster zone with a menu. They're taking people's money and giving them burnt sprouts and a view of a bulldozer. We need to do much better than this, believe me. "Overpriced, overcooked, and a view of a construction site. A total embarrassment! Don't go!" read more

Ray's was good 10-20 years ago. We used to get a high quality basket of bread that came with the meal. A year ago, even though they charged $7 for the bread basket, it was pretty good. Now we pay for the bread (Nana's yeast rolls) but whose Nana makes bread that Golden Corral would be embarrassed to serve? We do not intend to go back despite the view. Not worth it. There are plenty of other options in the city. read more

Great restaurant Will come back weekly Loved it both for lunch and dinner Love the river view read more

From the valet who were pleasant and well mannered to the ambiance which was beautiful as we requested to sit with a view of the water. The drinks were not watered down and the food was spectacular. Our waiter was polite and funny which is always welcomed and the manager or hostess walked around constantly stopping at tables and engaging in conversation. 5 star read more

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Visited Ray's on the River for lunch today. It had been at least a couple of decades since I was here. We thought lunch would be less formal and cheaper and we were in the neighborhood so we stopped for lunch. On the good side, once we were seated service was exceptional. We had the prime dip sandwich and the comeback burger and both were excellent. And it was a good value. Two of us for lunch and including tip we were out the door for less than $50. Not bad for a spectacular Atlanta eatery. On the bad side. Well the signs are posted saying "business casual dress required." But it was a Saturday at lunch. I was wearing slacks and a Hawaiian vacation shirt and my wife was wearing jeans. I thought we looked ok. The greater at Ray's did not. With a half dozen parties seated in the mostly empty restaurant she was able, after extensive searching on her tablet, to find a suitable table. We had a view of the river and like I said service was great. But we were on the complete other side of the restaurant and well away from all other patrons. Hey we were not denied service just moved out of the way. I didn't really realize it was how we were dressed until another couple came in, dressed more like us, and they were seated next to us. Both or our parties well away from the other patrons. I don't think it was a racial thing because we are white and the other couple was black. I think it was because we didn't meet the dress code. Also disappointing to me was the lack of menu. The lunch menu is much smaller and I would believe cheaper than the dinner menu. But there were very few choices. No entrees that were not seafood. Just a few sandwich options. I know it's lunch, but it is also Ray's. My expectations were a bit higher. I am going to give them a 4 star just because the waitstaff was first class all the way, attentive, quick, responsive. I wish I remembered the gentleman's name because he deserves special recognition. The greeter at the door was snobby, but we were dressed below the dress code. If it was just her I may have gone 2 stars. But the food, service, and value were all first rate so I am going 4 stars. read more

Stop, do not go to this restaurant if you're the wrong demographic!! Rays has completely turned ghetto with the clientele so loud and obnoxious you won't enjoy your meal. The ownership has changed and the upscale vibe in atmosphere and food quality has dropped considerably since the old days. Lots of restaurants to choose from thank goodness!!!! read more

What an experience! We arrived around 7:10pm to check-in, and were told we should head to the bar because they couldn't seat us until it was closer to our 7:30pm reservation. At the bar we were served quickly and the bartenders were nice and joined us in our anniversary celebration. Everything tasted delicious. I highly recommend the hot seafood platter because it is out of this world. The only thing I didn't think was cooked well on it was the calamari. I'd had better calamari at the Ray's downtown. It's definitely worth the money for the group. The grilled halibut with scallops and asparagus was so light, yet filling. We ordered quite a few sides but the asparagus and the Brussel sprouts were the best above the creamed spinach. The petit filet was cooked to a perfect medium rare and tasted absolutely excellent. The chef knew what they were doing! Your bill may be $350 at the end of the night; however, the meal will have been delicious. read more

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I can honestly say this was one of the best dining experiences I've had in Atlanta. Parking: I believe it's complimentary valet only but there may be self parking too Atmosphere: upscale, riverfront, steakhouse vibes. Definitely check the dress code! The interior is very bright and open with incredible views to the river. The patio is just so lovely with a little garden. Staff: everyone we encountered was totally incredible! We felt taken care of without being crowded. Felt so upscale! Drinks: wine list was great! Food: alright here we go y'all. My partner and I split everything and I highly recommend that! Bread basket - worth it. We couldn't get a picture because it was gone so fast. It's not your average bread service with flavorful seeded crackers, raisin bread, and sourdough. Tuna poke (I think that's what it was called!) - oh my LANTA this was delicious. I don't think I've had tuna wish rice puffs before but it was a harmonious textural balance and totally let the tuna shine. Absolutely delicious. The wedge - sooooo delicious - wedge salads are just intrinsically good but their dressing was definitely homemade and the bacon shined bright. They even split it in half for us to share. Chefs kiss! Del monico ribeye Oscar style - I recognize that this is the height of luxury. The Oscar style is crab, a cream sauce, and asparagus. It was. Decadent. The steak itself was so incredible but with this add just put it into another category. Every bite was better than the last. Because we had split everything this was a perfect portion to split. Crème brulee - we were totttttally full after the steak but it was my birthday and they kindly brought this over but we ate it all up. Fresh, great berries, and a delicious way to end the meal. Price: this is definitely an indulgent meal. We were celebrating but it was steep. So worth every penny though!!! I hope I get the opportunity to go back! read more

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visited here to celebrate my birthday! I decided on brunch rather than dinner. I didn't get any pictures of my food I had the crabcakes 9/10 and the challah french toast 9/10. The aesthetic was pleasing, it was clean, and the space was open. Ahmad was my server and he was really good. **However, I have some cons; I arrived 5 minutes before my reservation, and I still had to wait a few minutes before I was seated, it was literally empty so i wasn't sure why the delay. Also, normally when you're celebrating a birthday or anything at a restaurant, they bring some type of dessert AND have a sign at the table that you're sitting celebrating whatever the occasion is! (I also saw pictures on yelp so im not making this up) unfortunately, I didn't have any of that, which is weird because usually any restaurant will celebrate you! the lighting was a little too dim for my liking, especially because it was noon. On the bright side, I was able to sit at a booth that gave me a great view of the river. Oh! in the bathroom was really clean.!! read more

Ray's On the River - Seafood Near Me - Sandy Springs, Georgia

Food and service is top notch! Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or just having a good meal, Rays still has that relaxed atmosphere and service. The buffet has gotten a bit pricey but so has everything. read more

Ray's is always a win! We had a nice mommy daughter outing this afternoon at Ray's and they were very hospitable as always. Our waiter Giovanni was extremely pleasant and efficient! Great service, great food what more can you ask for! I am forever a Ray's fan favorite! Don't miss out! Check them out today!! read more

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For Valentine's Day, I took my girlfriend to Ray's on the River for a special dinner. Im not sure if they have self parking, given that we had valet park our car so come prepared. I made the reservation a month in advance, but unfortunately, I wasn't informed about what we encountered that evening. Given the holiday, they were running behind schedule. Our reservation was at 8:30 PM, but we didn't get seated until 9:05 PM. While waiting, we sat at the bar and had a drink. I ordered the "Out of Office" ($16), which was made with Bacardi, Ocho Rum Floater, Orgeat, Pineapple, and Lime--a solid, well-balanced drink. Once seated, we realized we were on a fixed menu, something I was not informed about when making the reservation. This would have definitely impacted my decision to dine here, but since we were already there, we decided to make the most of it. The fixed menu was priced at $120 per guest and included warm Parker House rolls for the table, two appetizer choices, an entrée, and dessert. The selections were somewhat limited--2-3 choices for appetizers and 7 choices for entrées. For my first appetizer, I went with the Crispy Fried Lobster Tail, followed by Ray's Classic Seafood Gumbo. My entrée was the Braised Short Ribs with whipped potatoes and crispy onions, and for dessert, I chose the Red Velvet Cake. Each dish arrived hot and fresh, spaced about 8-10 minutes apart. The food was delicious, but my biggest issue was the portion sizes. The fried lobster was good, but it was just one tail, so I wasn't expecting a large portion. However, the gumbo was served in an extremely small bowl, which was disappointing despite the great flavor. The braised short ribs, on the other hand, were fantastic--tender, flavorful, and paired well with the mashed potatoes and crispy onions. While I understand that Ray's is an elegant restaurant where portions might not be massive, I felt some dishes could have been more generous. Overall, the experience was superb. The live music added to the romantic ambiance, setting the perfect tone for a memorable Valentine's dinner. While the fixed menu experience had its downsides, I'll definitely return in the future to try their regular menu. read more

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This restaurant is on par with what you would expect for a fine dining experience. Nothing stood out for the good or the bad. I'm sure Summer is this restaurant's prime season (being on the river), and so it doesn't shine when going at night in the winter. I can't say I necessarily have to return. The servers were practiced and perfunctory. I didn't leave with that exuberance that a great restaurant experience can instill. I would say this restaurant is good for business, but go elsewhere for your special occasions. read more

Ray's on the River is one of Atlanta's best seafood restaurants. The variety of their menu will make anyone, including the beefeaters, happy, but you should come here for the seafood, the ambiance, and the view of the Chattahoochee just across the river from the once infamous Riverbend apartments. Our waiter, Jeremy, was a real pro. Knew his stuff, knew the menu and was helpful and kind. He took a great experience and made it even better. My group of four started with the shrimp and calamari and then ordered Lobster tails, halibut, sea bass and blackened fish as our main courses. We all were happy with our choices and each thought we had ordered the best dish on the menu. Everything was that good. The land on the river on which Ray's sits was already zoned commercial when President Jimmy Carter turned a large swath of land along the Chattahoochee River near Atlanta into national parkland or Ray's would not be there today. So on this night, on the day of Jimmy Carter's funeral at the Carter Center, we raised a glass to Jimmy Carter and I was glad this slice of the Chattahoochee slipped out Jimmy Carter's and the federal government's grasp. Ray's is a national treasure in its own right and while the national park closes its gates on the public at sundown, Ray's just gets started welcoming guests to enjoy the river views. read more

Everything about the experience was good. I thought the service was good and the food was great.

A really nice place, a great place to walk, the oysters are REALLY great, but I was mainly there for the experience, it's a nice place to relax to. read more

Food was great, the area was pretty nice. Service was very good thanks to Daniel for making our night.

Andrew took excellent care of us on our 25th wedding anniversary! From the wine pairings to the entree selection and dessert recommendation, Andrew's knowledge and direction did not disappoint! My first time dining at this location was amazing. read more

Ray's On the River - Butter Rolls were soft and delicious. - Seafood Near Me - Sandy Springs, Georgia

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I wish I could rate this a 3.5 because it was really a mixed experience! Frankly, service on the covered patio on the main level was terrible. We didn't get appetizers until an hour in, and by that point our entree order still hadn't been taken. I will start off the food review by saying the Ahi Tuna Poke appetizer was the best part of the whole night. Came with a few shrimp crackers, or you could just eat the tuna straight off the plate with a fork. There was SO MUCH of it and it all sat on top of some fresh avocado. A must have. Next, I was convinced by the waiter to get the Seafood Platter instead of the Scallops + ordering a side of potatoes because the platter came with scallops, potatoes, + a few other things. However, I wish I hadn't gone along with this recommendation because I got less scallops than I was told (he told me I'd still get 3 scallops, but there was 2), I didn't touch the crab cake, and the salmon was SUPER overcooked. But by the time we finally got the entrees (almost 2 hours into our reservation) I didn't even bother sending the salmon back because the service had been absurdly slow the whole night. Otherwise, my partner noted that the shrimp and grits was excellent! We also had a lovely bottle of wine (Joliesse). read more

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On a preview trip ahead of a temporary move to Atlanta and it happened to be an anniversary, so we wanted to celebrate. At the last minute I changed from another restaurant to Ray's on the River and what a great move that turned out to be! The service and atmosphere was divine. Our server, Ryan, was phenomenal with a great attitude, great suggestions, and very accommodating to any/all of our requests being newbies. He even went outside with us to take a great picture with the river as the backdrop. The Maytag Martini and the Fig Old Fashion was a delight as was the wines to follow with dinner! The Crispy Calamari was tender as it should be. My Filet and my wife's shrimp/scallops were delicious, and the Corn Creme Brulee cannot be missed! So decadent and so good! While we were splurging on food, we finished everything off with a Creme Brule and a Ray's Signature Praline Basket, both divine! We spent time talking with one of the managers, Bryson, who was so helpful in giving us some tips and tricks on the Atlanta area given our pending move. Yes, while not part of the food/dining experience, when combined with Ryan's service, it all show's Ray's commitment to the customer. Guess who's going to Ray's again when we get to Atlanta! And there are two other locations to experience! read more

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Seafood was excellent! Very crispy and lightly breaded calamari and shrimp, very well seasoned shrimp and grits and redfish pontchartrain. Service was delightfully kind and informative. The view of the river was amazing!! read more

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Five stars for setting, ambiance, and service. Three stars for what I kindly describe as meh food. We ordered a dozen east coast and west cost oysters at $4 per - 2 were decidedly bad and the rest were passable or good. They were presented with the mild theatrics of having dry ice create an "ice cloud" over the oysters - I say, spare that and get the east coast oysters from a better locale. My lobster roll while replete with claw meat, was somehow bland and unrememberable. Even with that bland taste - at $41 I'd actually say that it was a very good value simply based on the volume of the lobster. My wife did enjoy the grouper and brussel sprouts. Would I go back to Ray's? Yes it's a unique and beautiful location (despite being next to I-285). Would I tell anyone to go there for the drinks or food? No. read more

This was supposed to be an appreciation post for Ray's chocolate brownie, but beware. Looks can be deceiving. Beneath the scoops of vanilla bean ice cream and caramel sauce is the toughest, old brownie I have ever tasted. One bite and we knew it was inedible. Our kind waitress quickly offered us another dessert, but we declined. We finished the ice cream and left the rest. Without any mention, the restaurant removed the charge for dessert, thankfully and rightfully. Lately, I haven't splurged as much on desserts, so this was disappointing. However, mistakes happen and Im satisfied this one was acknowledged and owned, which is a testament to the great customer service. I'll be back, but I'm skipping the brownie sundae. read more

I ordered a the assorted bread basket, Cesar salad and shrimp and grits. The server was friendly and the food was delicious. The shrimp and grits were flavorful and perfectly seasoned. The bread was warm and tasty as well. I thoroughly enjoy this restaurant and will be back! read more

Ray's On the River - Shrimp & Grits - Seafood Near Me - Sandy Springs, Georgia

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I have meant to do a review in November, we came for the Thanksgiving Day buffet, which I was very disappointed in the meal, it was not as tasty as usual, and for the cost, So therefore I will not be back, this made my finally decision, after I had your seafood platter which was over priced on the amount of food on the platter. And my last thing on not returning, your service on waiters are not attentive as before, after understanding that you are sharing there tips with others that are taking care of our table on a credit tip only, ,I will say you have good ambiance. So therefore with this I will no longer return, Not happy customer Beverly Brinkley read more

I used to genuinely love this place, but my recent visit was extremely disappointing. The food was absolutely unacceptable and lacked any real flavor. I ordered a Caesar salad that arrived looking old and brown, and the she-crab soup was just mediocre at best. The branzino was overly greasy, with oil pooling on the plate, and had no seasoning whatsoever. I even ordered my favorite dessert, hoping it would redeem the experience unfortunately, it made things worse. It was unpleasant and overloaded with jam that tasted more appropriate for a sandwich than a dessert purée. I was told that they have new ownership... I believe that is where the downfall started. Overall, this was a horrible experience and a complete waste of money. I will not be returning, nor will I recommend this restaurant as I have in the past. read more

Looking to having a fancy dining experience, Rays on the River is definitely a great choice! The ambiance is amazing as it is sitting next to a bed of water with a beautiful scenery. The quality of the food at Rays is AMAZING! The only reason why I am giving it 4 starts and not 5 is because I do wish the Lobster Mac & Cheese was a little cheesier (that is just my personal liking but I'm sure to the average person, this may be the perfect amount of cheese). In addition, my boyfriend's steak was slightly overcooked at first. However, the waiter and chef was very accommodating and understanding and re-cooked it to his liking! The lobster tails were *muah* Chefs Kiss! They were so fresh & flavorful I think we had great service! I believe our servers name was Mike and he was very knowledgeable of the menu and each food and drink item. Even the servers who were in training did a great job. Parking was a breeze. There were plenty of spots for self parking and an option to valet! Overall, would 100% recommend Rays read more

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Everything from the service to the food to the ambiance is an 11/10! Always try to sit near the river or in the lounge when they have a live musician! read more

They have complimentary valet which is very nice since the parking lot is so small. The place is very nice and the staff were amazing. Our server, was very nice and helped us with the wine menu. We were on business trips and they were able to split our bill up with an electronic device. It was very easy to pay and pass. The view of the river was amazing. The bread basket was good though, it seemed a little sparse. The steaks were great, highly recommend the bone marrow butter. The sweet potato mashed potatoes with marshmallows and pecans was good, but very sweet. I dislike creamed spinach but theirs was really good and I had more than a taste. The drinks were good, our table liked the old fashions the best. The chocolate martini wasn't great even after they remade it. Overall, I'd totally come back. read more

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We dined at rays in the city for New Year's Eve and they had a 4 course prix fix menu and it was worth every penny. For only $115 per person we had a shrimp cocktail for an appetizer, your choice of soup or salad, your choice of entree and a dessert. There was a large selection of entrees to choose from. We ordered the Charleston she crab soup and the seafood gumbo. Both were flavorful, but neither was hot (more warm). We opted for the 22 oz bone in ribeye and the the grilled sea bass. The sea bass was perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection. It was topped with capers and micro greens and accompanied with sautéed spinach and mushrooms. The ribeye was ordered medium and came with a compound butter whipped potatoes and mushrooms. Our server (Kevin) was superb and was on top of everything. He was even able to secure me one of the last remaining slices of coconut cake. We were full and had to get the desserts to go. read more

Ray's On the River - Sea bass with Sauteed Local Wild Mushrooms and sautéed spinach - Seafood Near Me - Sandy Springs, Georgia

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Food was fresh and delisious. Friday afternoon lunch, in perfect settings. Staff was super friendly and accommodating. Recommend for business, family, friends and dates. read more

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Our family visited this restaurant for brunch on a Sunday morning Mother's Day celebration. The restaurant was empty but it still took several minutes to see us. However service after that was prompt and friendly. Food was beautifully prepared, and tasty, although by the time we had filled up on the challah French toast and calamari, most of us were basically full. The decor is high-end and suitable for a special occasion. Pricing is a bit high, but not out of line for a special occasion venue. You can take a short walk along the river and the grounds are lovely. read more

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Beautiful view of the river from our table - loved walking out by the water with the kids. Service was impeccable (Bethany was lovely and knowledgeable). Our food was all great, but the absolute best thing was the Parker house rolls! read more

Went here for a post ceremony dinner with family to celebrate my partner and I's wedding. We made reservations and our table was available as soon as we got there. We got many congratulations upon entering and even more so as the service went on. A little bit of a wait on food but nothing out of ordinary for our company of 5. Portions are a regular size which may be surprising to some given the prices but the food was cooked beautifully though lacking in seasoning for my tastes, hence the 4 stars. However, the view and service were absolutely amazing. We had the pleasure of Rul serving us and I can confidently say he truly went above and beyond. We were offered complimentary drinks to celebrate, seats were in direct view of the river which was beautiful. He was very attentive and we hardly had to ask for a single thing. It had gotten quite chilly so he requested the air conditioning be turned off for a brief of time but even that made a world a difference. To top it off, at the end of our service he personally showed us a scenic spot and took our pictures in front of the river. I couldn't have asked for better service truly. So thank you Raul particularly, and all of the well mannered and hard working staff who made our dinner memorable!! read more

My friend and I reserved a table on the river for happy hour. It was a stunningly beautiful evening and the views were spectacular. The bar bites were delicious and the waitstaff were so attentive and friendly. It was probably the loveliest evening I've ever had! I had a silly accident that required first aid, totally my clumsy fault, and managers William and Sarah were incredible. I was so embarrassed but they made me feel it was okay. They were exceedingly kind and turned what could have been a miserable experience into a happy one. I can't thank them enough for the care, professionalism, and kindness they showed me, and my friends and I will make a point of coming here often, not only for the food and the view, but because of their amazing team. When a place cares this much for their customers, you can only imagine the care they put into their exceptional food! read more

First time here pre Father's Day meal. Our view of the river was amazing even though it was cloudy. The food and drinks were very goo. The noise level was good. Our waitress Rachel was amazing and her customer was exceptional.The service overall was great read more

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I had to change my reservation from 6pm to 645pm on a Thursday night. Not a problem. We arrived 15 minutes early and had to valet, since the parking lot was already full. The valet is complementary, just a tip for the valet. We were promptly seated. No views of the river, sadly. Anthony was our server. He did an amazing job. Was there when we needed him but didn't hover. Told us about the specials and offered suggestions when asked. We started with a wedge, which was excellent. We had two of their signature drinks, which were Out of the Office and Destination Wedding, both were good, but on the sweeter side. Dinner consisted of the 8oz Filet, whipped potatoes, roasted asparagus and the horseradish crusted black grouper with brussel sprouts and the most amazing horseradish sauce!!! We finished the meal off with the warm butter cake, blueberry compote and vanilla bean ice cream. Everything was excellent from start to finish. Would highly recommend and would return! read more

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One of the best date spots in Georgia! Bring your girl here if you want to impress her. Good food, great service, and an amazing backyard thats perfect for pictures. Their steak was cooked perfectly and seasoned great. read more

Ray's On the River - Seafood Near Me - Sandy Springs, Georgia

This restaurant is a hidden gem ! Such beautiful views! Amazing quality food and drinks ! Worth every penny! Staff is very welcoming as well , i will definitely be back! read more

Ray's On the River - Seafood Near Me - Sandy Springs, Georgia

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