This place is amazing! Definitely will be coming back. The cheese curds are like eating a garlic cheddar biscuit, they are so good! The shrimp basket was a typical fried shrimp basket, delicious fries. The steamed shrimp were great, easy to peel. The bread pudding was the proverbial icing on the cake!! Melissa was a very friendly waitress. The atmosphere was layed back quiet and peaceful, also had clean restrooms. We will definitely come back, we have been missing out. Perfect hole in the w read more

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First off friendly service and location is on the water. It was relaxing and food is bar food at its finest.

Rays has been around a long time and it looks it. But don't let that stop you. They have an amazing water view. The menu has a children's menu that is reasonable. In season they serve Maryland Blue Crabs locally caught. They have a great crab cake as well. Appetizers deep fried and a favorite is the Jalapeño Poppers, fried Mushrooms, Green Beans. There soups and stews and full of veggies and the Crab Soup is excellent. Their baskets are my go to and the Seafood Combo gives you a little of every thing. Their cold plates Tuna and Shrimp salads are very good served with the works. Highly recommend. read more

Nice place to go, but they need to hire more help. Waitress was so nice and the only one. They had a good crowd waited an hour to get appetizers read more

We loved our dinner at Ray's Pier. The service was so kind and friendly. I enjoyed my veggie crab soup. My son ordered the fish sandwich which was also tasty. All the sandwiches and baskets came with plenty of sauce. A friend ordered the crab balls which looked really good, although I didn't try it. I really liked the fries. My favorite country music was playing at the bar. The view of the river is spectacular! It is a wonderful place for all to relax and eat! read more

Ray's Pier - Veggie crab soup - Seafood Near Me - Benedict, Maryland

Amazing family owned crab spot! So good! Friendly, old school and low key! Food is delicious. Crab cakes are as flavorful and fresh as they can get! I will go again! read more

Great place awesome crabs and crab balls are huge! Never had a bad meal it's in Benedict MD directly on the water all tables face the view /water! Prices are very reasonable 6 huge crab balls with fries $20 crabs are fat heavy and seasoned to perfection only $65 a dozen they are mixed males large to medium great Sunday drive! read more

Ray's Pier - Yummy crabs!! - Seafood Near Me - Benedict, Maryland

I am so used to places like this in Florida. Not to much to look at but man, the view was amazing. The server was nice and friendly and the food was great as well. Served in baskets. No parking lot to speak of which is fine. Bar in the from which is huge and restaurant in the back. Restrooms were clean. read more

Dope! This place is dope! The fries are fantastic. The view is chill. Don't ask for a po'boy sammich, they might just make it! And by make it, I mean Funk Yeah! read more

Ray's Pier - Sammich, fries, drink, ketchup, and a view - Seafood Near Me - Benedict, Maryland

I don't know why so many people recommend the food here on this app. It is seriously not good. Most of it just tastes like frozen seafood that has been fried. And the fish is not tasty at all. read more

It's old and just a bit funky...just like I like 'me! Beautiful view, good food, definitely worth the visit. Crab cakes were great and the beer was cold...nice surprise from an out of the way place! read more

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Good food! Eats like a local dive. Good chowder, my parents liked the fried combo platter. Not fancy, but cold coors light, and good seafood. read more

The people here are very nice and laid back. The view is impeccable. It's easy to find with plenty of parking. There is only service inside (with large windows and a water view). However, we ate at the picnic table outside with our dogs instead of bringing the food back to our campground. The seafood was delicious and well priced. I loved the softshell crab sandwich. Ray's and Benedict feel a bit like stepping back to simpler times. read more

Ray's is great! The food is always made fresh and the staff is wonderful. The burgers and crabcakes are awesome and the beer is served in frozen mugs. All of this on top of a great view of the water. read more

Food is ok not good for kids they also let ppl have pets with the outside seating and smoke an isn't a good place for a family dinner

Ray's pier has all the delicious food at a killer price right on the water. This is one of those places that has been there since the beginning of time. The owner is a no-nonsense kinda guy slinging fried food with fervor. My wife and I ordered an amalgamation of appetizers, and the seafood special. The seafood special was the star of the show. Fried oysters, clams, scallops, and fresh fish were deliciously breaded for a nice crunch. Overall we quite enjoyed our dinner at Ray's pier. It's important to level-set expectations though - this is a neighborhood focused, downscale, bar/restaurant. For what it is, it's great! read more

Seafood and fried food are decent, options are fine, atmosphere is y'all divey casual with old-school county regulars very clearly passing through the doors each week to share steamed crabs and a banana split. There is a bar area, an area for some small groups, and mostly long tables and classic church-function chairs that have seen their share of crab shells and NattyBoh. Ray's is one of those places where, if you grew up with it, it's Maryland comfort food with a no-frills dining room that needs no more than a beer and a bushel. But if you are an outsider, you could be put off by the grimeyness of the place at first glance. If you get past that, you'll do fine with just about anything on the menu, and steamed crabs are reliably good and usually competitively priced. Their fried seafood is a different kind of fried that what people generally expect from "golden brown" - perhaps it's more of a cornmeal coating rather than a classic batter fry. This gives a crispier, crumbier texture but not the fish-n-chips kind of batter many envision for fried seafood. With a prime location on the waterfront, Ray's would do well with some covered outdoor seating on its ample lawn area. It is strange that there *isn't* outdoor seating when they are in such a perfect spot for it. And outdoors on the river would be especially lovely because inside is nothing to yelp about. Fact is, the place needs a good cleaning, from top to bottom to windows to seating. But now that you know that, you know to just bring a sanitizer wipe for the chairs, and pop in for some seafood anyway. It may be exactly the funky, in-the-rough place you want to go for a brew and a crab chowder. I would give 3.5 stars, but since Yelp doesn't do half-stars, I am rounding slightly up for a longtime, non-chain, mom and pop seafood dive on the water. A clean-up and outdoor seating would instantly add a solid 4th star to this local favorite, but then it might also lose some of the very hole-in-the-wall hangouty-ness that makes Ray's, Ray's. read more

Ray's Pier - Ray's ladies' room takes that whole "women always use the restroom together" thing to a literal level. Howdy, neighbor! Didja get crabs? - Seafood Near Me - Benedict, Maryland

The new chicken sandwich, hasn't made it on the menu yet but it was it worth it. The way they seasoned it reminded of a more tender Chick-fil-a sandwich. I would definitely order it again and do recommend. read more

Ray's Pier - Fried chicken sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Benedict, Maryland

The food was good. The portions were extremely generous. We ordered the hush puppies and they were perfect. Then we both got the seafood basket. You can't do better for the money. It had clams, oysters, shrimp, scallops and fish. It was served with fries. My husband and I are both big eaters but after the generous portion of hush puppies, we could have and should have split one basket. I'll agree with some of the other reviews that the place wasn't the cleanest and that they are missing an opportunity by not having outdoor seating. Also, I wish they had more draft beer selections but we compromised and got bottles. All in all, it was good food and a good experience. Great view! read more

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The owner is an ass hole. He hung up on me twice when I call to find out if they use vegetable (soybean oil) which my sister-in-law is allergic to. Need a negative star option. read more

A low-key neighborhood waterfront (Patuxent River) bar and restaurant, Ray's is one of those places that feels comfortable, where the beer is cold, the seafood is fresh, and everyone is friendly. The prices are very reasonable too. It gets 5 stars for what it is - a totally authentic southern MD waterfront spot, where you can arrive by boat (tie up at pier) or by car in Benedict, wear your shorts and t-shirt, and not get overcharged. Kudos to Ray and his staff. We will definitely be back! read more

Ray is a great guy, food is always good and comes out quick. Always a pleasure stopping in for a bite

It is off the beaten path tucked away next to a marina. It is rustic, the windows are dirty, plenty of country music but the food and the price works. We started with the hush puppies and got crabs. Polite service and superb quality food. This place belongs on Diners, Dumps and Dives, try it and you will see why. read more

Walked in and walked out. No hard crabs. Couldn't get past the fried greasy food smell anyway which also explains the "No grilled or broiled seafood". Exactly.... you can't grill or broil prefried frozen seafood. read more

I love the food here!! Place could use some work but I like the vibe, the sweet waitresses, & the food omg

Rays has best crabs ever!!! Heavy brown bottom river crabs. Southern Maryland's hidden seafood dive bar. Oysters on point. Super casual.

This is what a Maryland crab house should be. Nothing fancy but the beer is ice cold and food is good. Plus it is good value for a place right on the water. read more

The portions were large, but the food was mediocre. (Cream of crab soup, seafood platter, hush puppies) We had our two daughters with us and we probably wouldn't bring them back as the wait for our food was extremely long. I don't want to say I would NEVER come back, but it wouldn't be a priority for me. read more

First time to Rays this year. Have to say I was extremely disappointed that some items have been removed from the menu. Two of my favorites - hot turkey and hot beef sandwiches. I am hoping this is temporary and that they will be back once things resume some sort of normalcy. He has also raised the prices for many, if not all, items. Some increase is to be expected, but they have gone up substantially. Of course, the service was excellent! Carol always does a fantastic job! Will continue to go as long as they have hard crabs and keep the price for those down. read more

Amazing seafood! You get so much food for the price and it's delicious. The building is big enough to bring a group. The people who work here are super friendly and kind. read more

Good food. A classic dive by the water. Food is good and plentiful. The prices are decent. Good crabs and a full bar. A real dive atmosphere. read more

Took my Dad here for Father's Day -- he loved it. So did everyone else. Dad is an Army veteran who lives now at Charlotte Hall Veteran's Home, so finding a reasonably priced seafood restaurant is a real pleasure. The food was delicious and the waiter was nice as she could be. read more

Ray's Pier - get here by boat-- there's a pier for you to moor up to - Seafood Near Me - Benedict, Maryland

Great place... The hush puppies are very flavorful. They have crabs for a true Maryland experience! read more

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I went here on my last trip to Washington Dc. Great place to eat, down home country food. Great seafood right on the river

On Sunday at 6pm one waitress for 40 plus guests. The hushpuppies were excellent. The crabcakes and crab legs were well cooked. Although on the water it is very basic and lacks charm. Mediocre value. read more

We arrived shortly after Ray's Pier opened, and no one was there to greet us; so we sat ourselves at the bar. An old man finally came from back, and stood in front of us starring without speaking. So, I greet him instead once I notice he didn't intend on welcoming us. He kept that attitude the entire visit, seemingly annoyed that we were there. An example: I asked for a napkin, his response was "sure, even though you have one already there". He was referencing the napkin my silverware was wrapped in, which I was using to keep my silverware off the dirty countertop. We remained polite and I told him I appreciated the second napkin. He made no attempts to engage in conversation, not even about the menu. We were unwanted.... I'll never return, I suggest that minorities and anyone that hates discrimination avoid this place. The food is not even good, btw. read more

Darlene was the best waitress ever! The food was good, the atmosphere is relaxed, and if you like country, the juke box was rocking. If you're looking for a relaxed place for dinner on a Saturday night, hit Ray's Pier. read more

The server was very sweet, although she was busy doing multiple jobs. The hush puppies were perfect! My fried chicken was good, just a little dry and nothing to dip in? Husband and friend loved the seafood baskets. Definitely not a lack of food! The only thing is the dining area needs to be cleaned up. Dead crickets everywhere and the windows and screens need a really good cleaning. In the end the bread pudding was yummy and we will return! read more

1st time my wife and i had been to ray's. we had a taste for oysters. we got our fill and are happy we did. i started off with a cup of oyster stew. lots of oysters. the broth was flavorfull and hot. the oysters were not overdone. perfect. my wife was happy with the cream of crab soup. plenty of crab and very flavorfull. a good start. we both had the oyster platters. the dinner platter for me and the lunch platter for my wife. we were both very pleased. the oyster were fried to perfection. nice size and plump. ray's puts pleanty on the plate. good value for the money. darleen, our server, did a wonderfull job. she was prompt, friendly, competant. a real joy. it took us one and a half to get to ray's and it was worth it. we will be back. read more