The food is delicious and very fresh. We have enjoyed the seafood and the salad. The view is very nice.

Disclaimer: I got married at Ray's (the event space on the north side), so it will forever have a special place in my heart. However, this review is of Ray's Boathouse (the downstairs portion), and I'll try to remain as unbiased as possible. First, if you're coming on the weekend or at prime dinner time, I'd recommend making a reservation. (FYI- you can't make reservations for Ray's Cafe upstairs, and the menu is not the same.) Downstairs is not always crowded, but it can get pretty crowded during the dinner rush, especially during the summers. My husband and I always order the Sake Kasu Sablefish, usually with a few starters, occasionally with another entrée if we aren't feeling the appetizers that day. I don't quite remember the details of how the sablefish cooked, but it melts in your mouth and has amazing flavors. They vary the accompaniments for many entrees- I assume depending on the season. They're usually amazing for the sablefish dish, as the rice and veggies are typically seasoned and have a ton of flavor. Sadly, it's fallen short this summer. It seemed like plain brown rice with some bland daikon last week, BUT the fish is still 100% worth it. Other standout dishes are the crab cakes, clams, mussels, and halibut. Parking can get tight, and it's a bit pricey. However, you can't really beat the views at Ray's. Also, the service is great, and the seafood is excellent. I'm not a fan of their specialty cocktails, but they make a solid Manhattan. They also have a nice selection of bourbons. read more

Ray's welcomes you to the shore with the promise of fresh fish and a warm atmosphere. We bypassed the cozy, nautical interior of the restaurant for the outside patio. We were supplied with blankets and heaters to keep us warm while we gazed off the balcony at the Puget Sound. I had a fairly watery cider to start, but at least it wasn't too sweet. We ordered calamari as a starter but unfortunately it didn't arrive until after the entrees. I had the salmon with potatoes and asparagus, and they did not disappoint. The salmon was flaky, buttery, and perfectly crusted and the sides were delicious. Others had my table had the sablefish (which they absolutely loved) and the fish and chips. Overall, wonderful atmosphere with delicious food. Aside from the steep prices, we had a wonderful experience and would definitely go again. read more

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

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Great food, service, and ambience. The clam chowder is excellent. Oysters are delicious. The Tanner crab legs are to die for. The seasonal sorbet is worth the visit all on its own. Crème brûlée, yum. Pass on the bread. read more

We visited Ray's Boathouse for an anniversary celebration and the food was excellent and the ambiance really nice for a waterside special meal. We started off with the Alaska Spot Prawns for a started, which were fresh and really tender, served in a spicy harissa butter sauce with jalapeño. For our mains, we had a perfectly cooked ribeye steak with broccolini and mashed potatoes and a tasty king salmon filet. The salmon was a bit over cooked and dry inside, but was packed with flavor. The service was excellent, friendly and helpful. The setting is definitely a classic Ballard/Seattle vibe, set right on the water with an old boathouse or even steakhouse feel. Really good experience and would recommend for a nice seafood-centric dinner. read more

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I'm not the one to write negative reviews but damn did this place suck. My boyfriend and I had gone to celebrate an anniversary and opted to sit in the more casual dinning area. After we sat down we waited around 20 minutes before someone even came up to us to check on us or give us water. There was an older couple that was seated right next to us (after us) that our server tended to with much closer attention. Maybe it was the fact that my boyfriend and I looked younger but our server literally did not care about us whatsoever :( Just a very disappointing experience -- waiter really made us feel less than. Also, regarding the food -- we both got the wagyu steak with fries and it arrived cold and soggy. For the price we paid, the food was not worth it. However, the view was nice! It got pretty chilly after a while so make sure to bundle up! read more

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The view is stunning. The food is delicious and well-prepared. The ambience is refreshing on Saturday afternoon. read more

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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. read more

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This is a very popular place. We celebrated our 30th anniversary there on the recommendation of friends. Although the food and service were fine, they certainly didn't make us feel special. I'd told them about the anniversary, but they didn't give us a table by the window, nor did they do anything like give us a celebratory dessert. Would I recommend Ray's Boathouse? Probably, but there are some other great waterside restaurants in Seattle. read more

Ray's Boathouse - View from the restaurant. - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Think it's my second time since covid to dine here last was a wonderful lunch with a friend last summer. Came here with friends last night. Was great to catch up with them. I had the Bitter Frenchmen a refreshing gin cocktail- Empress gin, Campari, lemon, Scrappy's Grapefruit bitters, topped with sparkling rosé. I had the kale apple salad, one crab cake and a cup of the pesole which was off of the specials menu. Everything was wonderful the pesole was packed with all sorts of ingredients I liked the tortilla and line on the side for taste and texture. The kale salad with a single crab cake was a perfect light dinner. Staff was friendly and tables were well spaced. read more

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You're paying for the view. Came here last night and couldn't have had a worse seafood meal. "Full" order of calamari ($18) is maybe a half-order anywhere else. Shrimp in the shrimp cocktail ($24) were not fresh. Clam chowder bowl was below average (Pike Place was way better and even Ivar's was better). Fish and Chips (in-laws split an order) were average. Scallops (4) were small and prepared OK. Nothing special. Crab cakes were tiny. Shrinkflation x paying for the view = I'm sure you'll get better seafood for better prices than this place. read more

We hadn't dined at Ray's for years but we read the reviews and decided to take our grandson and his girlfriend. The food, service and view were outstanding. Memorable dinner! read more

Attended a birthday party at Ray's in the Northwest room. Vaccine records were required for attendance. They had an outdoor space enclosed with a tent and heaters. The space was elegantly decorated. Hors'duerves were tasty and dinner was very good, buffet style. Although here for an event, I would return on my own as the food and service were very good. read more

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

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Get here early! Make a reservation for 5 to get a table by the window. Amazing views, service by our server Nico and delicious food and wine. I couldn't recommend this place more and can't wait to try the cafe before I leave. This is truly a staple to locals and would recommend if you are visiting. read more

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Will not be coming back. Very expensive for subpar food. They split our clam chowder and it was served on plates. Barely any chowder and since it was so shallow it came out cold, $10. $52 ribeye came out burnt and with a ton of fat. $50 salmon was dried and must've been frozen/not fresh. Carrots and potato under them were bland and could've been cooked a bit longer. $5 per baked oyster Rockefellers - they were so small and was covered in what tasted like minced vegetables? To cover the shell completely. Manila clams were great portion wise. Could use more flavor and lemon. Really wish we didn't spend $200 here. Service was good. Just waited super long for the bill. We don't know where our waitress went. read more

Ray's Boathouse - Grilled Wild NW King Salmon - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We recently had a memorial dinner at Ray's in their private party space and every part of the experience was above and beyond exceptional. I say that having been responsible for a fair number of these- Bottom-line Ray's delivered, from our events manager , Hannah to the woman who managed the dinning room staff. Perfect service, not intrusive or stuffy - 100% on point. And our guests loved the food and the bar did a similarly great job. I put this together on short-notice for a dear friend who died unexpectedly and I am currently in Portland so doing remote. Hannah did a wonderful job getting this event put together- her suggestions were on-point and her responsiveness greatly lowered my stress level. Made a perfect night for everyone - not the happiest time but a really good event and people left with smiles. Bottom-line, use Ray's - professional team that knows how to deliver! And, I don't know how they do it but the weather also delivered, we had a lovely sunset. read more

They were able to accommodate a large group. Food was amazing and the service was great. Views of the water were very nice. Outside seating was available read more

Tonight proves again why Ray's Boathouse is the consistently best restaurant in Seattle. The views are unparalleled in the city, and while the menu may not be trendy or innovative, the food is classic and always excellent. Service is elegant, warm, and anticipates your needs. We ate at the classy bar tonight. Noah's mixology skills were both on view and evident. My Vodka-Negroni mixed with a touch of--------, I'm not giving his secret recipe away, was delicious. Besides his consummate bartender skills, Noah helped us with our food order, and provided European, white glove service. Hospitality permeates the entire establishment, and Ray's is constantly raising its game. Our usual server John stopped by, just to say hello and wish us well. That kind of welcome makes any diner feel special. While the demographic skews older at Rays, it makes me scream out to the denizens of young people spending their dot com money at the supposed trendy joints in Capital Hill, "Come to Ray's and learn what elegance and class are all about. You'll never go back! read more

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What a delight to have lunch with friends and this beautiful and sunny restaurant with a fantastic view of the Sound! For a place as busy as Ray's, I was amazed at the kitchen's quick turnaround on appetizers and entrees. Everything was delicious and I loved the calamari (especially with a generous squeeze of lemon), the crab dip and cheese, and my glorious shrimp and scallop salad. The citrus vinaigrette was perfect and they smoked the scallops, which made me actually enjoy them for once. Ray's is great for locals and tourists (like me) and loved taking in the views on the dock after food. Can't wait to return! read more

Penn cove mussels! Irish coffee! Service... 10+ Did I mention the views. None better, service.. 10 read more

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Everything was excellent, from the food and service to the view. I will definitely come back when we visit here again. read more

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Everything about this place was excellent! Service, Food, ambiance!!! We had late reservations and accommodated us until the end

This is my fifth time at the restaurant and always it's a great experience. Service: excellent Food: excellent Wine selection: excellent View: beautiful I always look forward to going to this restaurant. It's a special date night for us. read more

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Recently visited with family in town. The service was very good. I was a little disappointed with the waitresses lack of knowledge on the wines. We asked for a sweet wine and her recommendation was not good. I don't expect them to know the whole wine list but if your not sure call over the wine expert, which happened after we sent back the first glass. The food was all good. My only issue was the steak was a bit under seasoned and the broccolini with it was almost raw. Crab cakes where good just did not have a huge flavor of crab I would expect. I am guessing that due to shortages it was not fresh. But for a restaurant of this quality I would expect if they can not provide fresh they should take it off the menu. read more

I ate lunch at Ray's Boathouse a year or so ago. I got the salmon, garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. It was fabulous and reasonably priced. I went back a couple of days ago. I ordered the exact same thing. It was $51 which is absolutely ridiculous for lunch. I ordered it anyway, as a treat. The serving size was considerably smaller, didn't taste as good and, was considerably more expensive. I also didn't find the service that great. There is no way I will go back. read more

Very nice seafood, fresh and well cooked. The sea view is nice, and the inner vibe is cozy and relaxing. Will come again. read more

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Very enjoyable. View while hazy was pretty. Location can't be beat. Fish and chips were crunchy and good. Calamari was delicious , smaller size squid were very good. read more

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We came here on a Saturday night and was able to get seated for a table of 6 after 30-40 minutes. For those who want to seat downstairs, they have reservations that require more formal-attire. As for upstairs where we were, it is first come first serve. The view is beautiful and we came right at sunset, highly recommend! Penn Cove Manilla Clams $22: Bacon miso broth, pickled serrano peppers, daikon, herbs, baguette.These clams were delicious! I think the broth was perfect and the portion was plenty. Penn Cove Mussels $20: White wine, Uli's hot Italian sausage, Rainier butter, herbs, baguette. I personally like this one most! The mussels were perfectly cooked and the flavor was incredible. The baguette dipped in the broth definitely hit the spot. Clam Chowder: I really wanted this since we were in Seattle and I hadn't gone to Pike's Place Chowder. Needless to say, this was perfect to the cold breeze as we were sitting outside. Grilled Wild Alaskan King Salmon $52: Carrots, carrot puree, kin oyster mushrooms, Yukon gold potatoes, butter, white wine, herbs. This salmon tasted nothing like the salmon that I am used to eating in California. It is so much more fresh and completely tasted like a different fish. The price is on the higher end, so I would recommend sharing multiple dishes with the table to try different things. Seared Wild Alaskan Halibut $52: Celery root puree, squash, maitake mushroom, beurre blanc, chives. This was one of the dishes that was ordered at the table and they thought it did not taste as good as before. Their fish is still very fresh, but portions are just smaller. Ray's Pacific Northwest Sablefish $50: Applewood Grilled Sake Kasu - garlic friend brown rice, Shiitake mushroom, seared bok choy, scallions, pickled cararots, honey soy glaze. I personally really liked the sablefish and it is a must get! This reminded me of my favorite fish, seabass, and it had a sweet marinade with it. Definitely need to try it! Overall, it was nice to try and we really enjoyed the appetizers. The view was perfect for a nice dinner with family. I would recommend it to be a place to try and visit. read more

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Excellent service. Every time. The staff is professional. Everything runs like a well oiled machine. Perfection. read more

Ray's Boathouse - Yummy House-Made buttered rum - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Excellent service, food, and by far a spectacular view. Nothing like watching a sunset over the mountains while watching seals swim by

Always fun upstairs at Rays! Love watching the sunset with my handsome boyfriend while drinking wine and eating bread. Service is always great and food is definitely fresh. Love the atmosphere and fun patio setting. Im never disappointed in my food selection or wine choices, they have so many WA wines to choose from. Fun HH's with friends, Romantic sunsets, lots of patio seating and vegan choices available read more

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

Came here for Sunday brunch. It wasn't very busy and we ended up sitting outside. It has a nice view of the water and you can see people on their boats and paddle boarding. They even ask if you want sun or shade. They have heat lamps but warning it was still pretty cold in the shade with heat lamps. They do offer blankets if you ask for them. The service was just alright. It wasn't overly friendly or anything special. For the price point of the meal, I would have expected a little more. We kept having to ask for everything and the waitress didn't come by to check on us often enough unless it was to bring food. For starters we did the half dozen oysters. We did the mix of the two kinds of the day. One was very briney and had a sea taste. The other was more sweet and not oceany. We were kind of surprised at the size of these oysters. They're pretty small. Most of the meat were actually smaller than a clam. Next we shared a clam chowder. This was yummy. It was loaded with bits instead of hunks of clams and potatoes. The consistency was not as thick as some places. You couldn't stand a spoon up inside of it. But the flavor was very good overall. This doesn't come with any bread or crackers. We had to ask for the crackers. My main course was steak frites. This was a hearty portion. The fries are crispy and delicious. The steak was cooked perfectly and tender. The salad was fresh too and not too over dressed. Only complaint was the peppercorn steak sauce. It was too over powering. It completely took over the taste of the steak. It reminds me of the Chinese style LKK black peppercorn sauce in a jar. Overall this is a great place to go for a fancier $$$ brunch. Great spot for an occasion or to take people from out of town. But nothing on the menu wowed me enough to eat here again without an occasion. read more

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Too pricy Food is so bland Crab cake taste more flour How come you charge so expensive It's not my cake! Won't be back read more

Ray's could be great, but the food was 'okay'. I was here for a holiday work party. It was too dark to enjoy the view, but I can imagine a nice summer evening would be a great time for a visit. The service was great, attentive but not obnoxious. My issue is the price for the food. I had the salmon, it was cooked to perfection, but boring. For $46 I should be wowed. I just had a salmon dish at a restaurant in Edmonds. It was $39 and three days later, I'm still talking about it with my foodie friends. I also had the creme brulee for dessert. Again, it was good but nothing to tempt me back. Would I return? Maybe? It wasn't awful, but for what I would spend, I'm more likely to go elsewhere. I know it is closing for some renovation, if there is a menu overhaul I might be tempted to return. read more

Their actions made myself and my 95% people of color family feel uncomfortable with their treatment and unprofessionalism. I emailed the general manager and was dismissed with "thank you for sharing your feedback." Then threatened to post the notes from our wedding if I didn't remove my review. Also, threatening to contact their legal team. The staff including the general manager were unprofessional. Doug posting notes that were based on guesses, opinions and lies with no evidence. For example, the changing table being accusation of using it for drugs... could it have been that one of the groomsman needed a dry surface for his bag, when he was changing out of his tux? The catering manager accused my 70 year old uncle of assaulting her, even though he has never been violent in his life & out of 80 guests, there was no witness. Then they said we were unruly the entire time, but didn't close the bar for 3.5 hours. Then said I stomped out a sparkler that his employee forcefully removed from my hand and my husband's and stopped out, himself. Then said they found coke residue on the metal toilet cover in the bathroom with no proof that it came from us or proof it was actually coke. Then the cook at the restaurant that had to be at least 50-100 ft away, somehow knows what people are smoking. When my guests (at 6pm) were told they could not consume alcohol from outside the venue they stopped drinking at the establishment. the only liquor they offered was over priced and bottom shelf. We were drinking Don Julio 1942, in the closed Elliot's parking lot where their coordinator Hannah directed us When they didn't bring out my $750 of dessert without being prompted and then did not replenish the dessert without being prompted, they offered no remedy. This is what we get with our $10,000. I would recommended anyone who identifies as a person of color and anyone who is an ally to never visit this establishment. I am sure he will repost the notes. & I challenge you to think what person, who works in customer service would attack your character based on a review? He requested I remove my entire post, not just what he perceived to be an accusation, which I want to reiterate is not, it's a feeling. I could be the villain in this story, but what do I have to gain or lose besides a couple of minutes of my time and the anxiety that comes with someone who has never met me attacking me and my family? read more

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Breath taking views, phenomenal service, and one of the freshest and tastiest Alaskan Salmons I have ever had in my entire life! If you love seafood, and lovely views I highly recommend this restaurant in Seattle. Great for a romantic dinner on the waterfront. read more

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Ray's is a must go for seafood in Seattle! The view was just absolutely amazing. I was staring at the water the whole time while munching, trying to take it all in and enjoy the moment! The sablefish was super tender and just melted in my mouth. My picture doesn't do it justice Another one that I really liked was the fried oysters. It actually went really well with the pork belly, and their juice blended with each other creating a new kind of flavor. Had a great time from before to after sunset! read more

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

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For the prices, I was disappointed with the experience and the food. I would say it's about a 2.5, but went on the lower side because I would expect better for the price. For the positive: the sable fish was absolutely delicious. However, it was served with unseasoned jasmine rice and bok choy. No sauce, salt, or anything. My partner got the halibut and while it did have a sayid with some flavor, the fish itself was dry. The clam chowder starter was fine, but not good. Drinks were also fine. Overall, for the money you can find much better food in Seattle. read more

Nice restaurant with friendly, helpful staff. We went on a stormy night which made it all the more fun!!

We came here for an event with more than 200 people. The servers were incredibly knowledgeable about the ingredients (I have a food allergy) and so friendly. There was a smaller inside area but everyone was outside for the incredible views of the water. The crab cakes, meatballs with Thai peanut, flat bread pizza, mini burgers, mini chicken sandwiches, zucchini fritters and mini grilled cheese sandwiches were all incredible! I look forward to returning! read more