Another outstanding experience at Ray Shanty's for our anniversary. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great atmosphere- phenomenal food and service was awesome.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We had stuffed jumbo shrimp and prime rib! read more

Ray's Shanty - Prime Rib - Seafood Near Me - Wattsville, Virginia

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Walked in and it was chaos with only a few people in front of us. There was more than one hostess and a woman who I found out later was the owner. No one greeted us. Instead, one of the three teenagers running the hostess stand, yelled out, "How many?!" After the second time, we realized she was shouting at us from across the room. When I told her "Four," she responded, "Four?!" Yes. God. Also, FTR: If you have a child who has allergies or is picky as all get and you want to bring him a sandwich to eat at the table with you so that you and your family can enjoy something other than pizza, don't come here. We looked at the kids' menu and there was nothing our son wanted so, we put our order in-- spent over $100. I went out to our car (we are traveling so we had stuff for PB+J). I grabbed him a bag of chips and a milk box and went back inside. He ate about halfway through his sandwich, and our server came to the table and said that the owner told her that we couldn't bring food in the restaurant because it was a health code violation (which it isn't-- we looked it up). Just pettiness that we brought food instead of buying a kids' meal while they had a full restaurant of people giving them business-- not suffering there that they need to be *that* kind of weird about missing out on the sale of a kids' meal to a family spending over $100. My husband ended up taking him outside to sit on a bench and finish his food while we waited for them inside. So much for eating together as a family. I will admit that, after going outside to check on my husband and son, I noticed a sign on the door that said "No Outside Food or Drinks." If it hadn't been there, I might have said something. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cherry on top was, soon after we were told we couldn't bring our son food inside, we noticed a young child wandering in and out of the kitchen. Not sure where he came from but it didn't seem in line with their commitment to their "health code." Definitely didn't look safe. No one stopped this kid even though they saw him[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Okay, about the food-- it was mediocre, at best. Hush puppies were supposed to famous good, but they were average. A bit too sweet for our liking, but improved with a smear of butter. Crab dip was tasty but very heavy with a lot of cheese. Would actually be nice if it was served with thin tortilla chips instead of pita. Crab cakes were good, but nothing exceptional. Had a decent flavor and a light batter. Minimal filler and could taste that they were made with fresh crab. Clam chowder tasted like canned vegetable soup with just a few of the tiniest, almost indistinguishable, pieces of rubbery clam inside. We also got a dozen steamed oysters. These were okay, but many of the oysters had shell broken and bits of shell that we had to pick out of the oysters. Should say, my son got water to drink and the water tasted really off. My husband tried it and agreed that it had an off-putting metallic-y taste. Honestly, the ordeal with us bringing in food for our son and having to interrupt our family meal to take him outside to eat, put a bad taste in our mouth and made it hard to enjoy our meal. Didn't help that the owner was floating around and avoiding us as if we were being shunned for our "terrible" behavior. Silliness. Best thing about our experience was our server, Vicki, who was very sweet and attentive. If you come here without the audacity to bring food for your picky kid with allergies, ask for Vicki to take care of you, and order the fried crab cakes. read more

We had stopped in the Chincoteauge park visitor's center and spoke to a couple of people - one guy recommended this spot and the reviews were very solid, so we were looking forward to it. We order the rockfish and soft shell crab platter. The rockfish was over fried making it tough and chewy which was unfortunate. The soft shell might have also been over cooked? It just was not very enjoyable. I know August is towards the end of its season but I thought it would still be decent. Hushpuppies were great - the highlight. Fries were not my favorite and the side salad was nothing special. There were two girls at the front desk. One was nice, the other had an attitude for some reason. When I called I was trying to ask for recommendations - she was honest and said she doesn't eat seafood but maybe not the best place for her to be working then. All in all disappointing. read more

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This place is a gem! Best seafood I've had in a long time. This wasn't too far off the main road and is definitely worth the trip. Probably only 5 minutes off the route. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's homey inside and I love the decor with various sea and fishing themed items hanging - kind'of reminds me of the way a Cracker Barrel looks.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We were seated immediately at about 6pm and greeted quickly by the sweet, Diana who took really good care of us. Pleasant the entire meal and quick with any refills or requests we had. It was lobster night but we chose to go with several things so we could try a bunch from the menu since we didn't know when we'd be back again. They had tons of daily specials on a board when you entered and I chose to go with the fresh Halibut platter with a side salad. We did a half pound of steamed shrimp, bacon wrapped scallops and a side of fries as well. Hush puppies were big and crispy, a bit too greasy for me, but they were a nice few bites to take the edge off while we waited. Served with butter. The shrimp were large and fresh - we were told fresh from North Carolina and I believe it. Some of the best steamed shrimp I've had. My husband absolutely devoured them. My halibut was grilled and was simple, fresh, and high quality. Really good cut of fresh fish and excellent size and flavor. It was around $34 for the entree. Not cheap, but delicious! Bacon wrapped scallops were good - they could've been cooked a few minutes longer to make the bacon crispy as it was a tad undercooked/soft but still good quality and flavor on everything. All in all - solid meal with good service in a charming local spot. We discussed it after leaving and decided this is going to be our go to when driving the Eastern shore from now on. read more

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Amazing food and service! You can't go wrong with lobster night! Don't get me started on the shrimp trawler!

Worst food I've had in a while. I selected a combo with fried flounder & boiled shrimp with fries, coleslaw and hush puppies. The flounder & fries was horrible. It was cooked in what tasted like week old oil and burnt badly. I would have returned the complete meal but had driven too far out of town and didn't have the time to return it. Word to the wise ..... check you carry out before leaving! read more

The rock fish and soft shell crab were good. I like my fries crispier. The service was excellent.

Food is good. Watch prices. My husband ordered two crab cakes. I ordered peel shrimp. His was $38.96 (not worth that) and mine was $18.95. A good waiter would have suggested the pick two where I could get 6 steamed shrimp and a crab cake and he would get the same, each at $24.95. On pick two you can't get two of the same. Hush puppies are delicious but a bit oily. Neptune soup tastes fishy and not very creamy. On the way out saw a woman with a to go container asking for a bag. They said they didn't have one. But there were plenty in the dining room. They could have walked the few steps to get her one. Limited dessert choices so we skipped dessert. Will try again but ask prices first. read more

Ray's Shanty - Hush puppies - Seafood Near Me - Wattsville, Virginia

Came here because I read that it was a great place to eat. We started with the crabby fries. They were "ok" at best. Small plate with not a lot of crab cheese and soggy fries. I ordered the combo shrimp/scallops on linguini. Noodles had no seasoning or bitter or anything. The scallops very very under seasoned as well as the shrimp. My son had the hamburger. Came out with the buns literally saturated and wet. Got a new bun. Son said it was ok but not that good. Rest of my family split the 2lbs of shrimp. Just needed to dredge it in old bay. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere was great and the service was fantastic.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The amount of food was amazing and everything was cooked well. Just had no flavor at all. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Very Costal Town vibe with a local setting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Interesting seaside decor throughout.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience was family with low noise.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We came in on a Sunday right around 1230 and the crowd was elderly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

We were excited to try this place out especially since some locals recommended it, but it wasn't our vibe. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place (at least where we were seated near the bar) needs a facelift.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was good and food came out quick, but we were hoping for more fresh things and a vast majority of the menu is fried. The food was fine. Probably the best thing we had was the crab cake and hushpuppies. They were both really good. We wouldn't go back though. read more

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We have been dining in, and purchasing fresh seafood from Ray and Laura for over 25 years, you can't go wrong with this choice!!! Highly recommend!!! read more

I've been coming to Ray's for years, back in the days of the old building and all you can eat shrimp. It always holds a sentimental place because it was our last meal on family vacations as a kid. The building has changed since then, but the seafood is still fresh and amazing. There's always a wait for a table, but once seated you are taken care of quickly. I am always amazed at the service in a busy place like this. On most nights you can even get to see Ray strolling around and visiting. Ray's Shanty always has been and always will be on my "must visit" list. read more

Some of the best seafood I've had in years. No water view but who cares with seafood this fresh and perfectly cooked! I want to go back to Chincoteague just to eat at Ray's again! read more

This place never disappoints if you like seafood. Their troller. (2 pounds of steamed-shrimp.) is great. The weight staff is extremely friendly and the service is spot on. My favorite spot on the Peninsula read more

I couldn't wait to try Ray's because of all the great reviews so went there for my birthday. The hushpuppies were not what I expected. I was raised in the south and they are not like southern hushpuppies. They were big and greasy and they give you butter with them instead of tartar sauce. The shrimp were big and really good. I got a baked potato and it was kind of wimpy. My daughter got a crabcake sandwich and she said it didn't even have sauce on it. Just a broiled crab slapped between two pieces of bread. Probably won't go back. I prefer Steamer's. It wasn't terrible--just diappointing. read more

If you go to Chincoteague you have to stop at Ray's. We've been going here for 30 years and have never been disappointed.

Great food. Cooked perfectly. Service was awesome also. Enjoyed the experience, we highly recommend.

Great seafood broiled or fried. Appetizers delish. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Atmosphere a little dark and noisy inside[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], but great service all around. read more

Friendly service. Tasty fish in good variety. Overpriced. Oily Hush Puppies and fries. Fish not cooked through.

Solid 3-to-4. Not a lot of sit-down choices in the area and this is one of them. The a/c in the dining room is fantastic and full blast, supported by several ceiling fans. But the hourlong Friday 6 pm wait in the lobby is very hot. The food is...fine. We all had fried things and they were decent. Their cocktail sauce is perfect. The Old-Bay -type seasoning on the table is really really good, especially on the fried flounder which was huge but tasteless (well...it's flounder so...). The French fries were just terrible...wet, mushy, and wiggly. Even our kids would not eat them...left huge piles of them on their plates. They were out of the mushroom appetizer; understandable because they were slammed on a Fri night during pony auction weekend. But there was no excuse for the heavy greasy overfried tasteless hush puppies. At least they were free and something to eat while we waited 40 mins for dinner. Too busy for the waitstaff to pay much attention to us but waitress was friendly and efficient. The decor is "duck hunting lodge" which we thought was cool. We would come back for sure, but only right at opening time, and with managed expectations. read more

One of the best meals I have ever had! Seafood was fresh, delicious and plentiful! Excellent!!!! read more

Great service and food, you can eat in or order your choice of seafood to take home to cook. It's only open certain days of the week so call ahead. read more

Wow! Rays gives huge portions and has a ton of variety. There is always a wait which speaks volumes. Their crab cakes are meaty and delicious. The inside is festive and the decor fits in perfectly for the shore. read more

Food was okay, service was okay, expensive, long wait, very crowded not much room between tables, very loud environment, parking was weird, probably won't go back, I wasn't supper impressed. read more

Ray's Shanty - Dinner - Seafood Near Me - Wattsville, Virginia

Ate here for a family dinner on a Saturday night. It was busy, but we didn't have to wait too long. I really dug the decor. Lots of wood and nautical stuff. There is a small gift shop in the lobby. Everyone else in the family seemed satisfied with their flounder, shrimp, and crabcakes. He got tuna, which is unusual for him, but seemed to really love it. I had broiled sea scallops, which were good but gritty. My baked potato was a bit sad, I wish I had sent it back like my cousin had for a fresh one. The hushpuppies were tasty and huge. No onion or corn bits, just like I prefer. We'll be back next time we visit, but I will make sure to only get scallops when they are in season. read more

The biggest tuna steak I have ever seen. The food was very good and quick, and very reasonable in price. I was very packed and service took a few. If I come back this way will eat here again. read more

Ray's Shanty - Here is a picture of wife's tuna steak. - Seafood Near Me - Wattsville, Virginia

The place is packed, all the time for a good reason. The seafood is great! Their parking is adequate. While their waiting area is terrible. Customers end up standing on top of each other as people try and go, while blocking the restroom area. read more

Stopped here on our way to Chincoteague. The decor inside definitely has the fishing and seashore vibes. My toddler son enjoyed the crayons and looking at the fish and shark on the paper placemats. The hush puppies were a hit - very tasty. Got the steamed shrimp platter - the shrimp were huge and juicy but just seamed to lack overall flavor despite the old bay seasoning. I did like the cocktail sauce which gave it a little more kick. The fries and cole slaw were just ok. I decided to try Smith Island cake and went for the seasonal lemon raspberry. It was too sugary sweet for me. Our waitress was lovely - I think her name was Saira. If in the area, I would consider coming back but would probably order something totally different. read more

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One of the best meals I have had! Go early or expect a wait, but the wait is worth it!! My wife and I enjoyed the steamed oysters and bacon wrapped scallops for appetizers. Scallops were sweet and perfectly cooked. Oysters were fantastic. We both had the shrimp and scallop combo over linguine as an entree and it was loaded with sweet seafood, perfectly seasoned. The food was definitely worth the wait! Give it a try!! read more

Ray's Shanty - Seafood Near Me - Wattsville, Virginia

Ray's never disappoints: the food is delicious, service is prompt and courteous and prices are reasonable for quantity and quality of food.

Been eating here for years, never disappointed. A favorite with locals. Many folks do not know, they have a grocery store next-door to restaurant. Fast service, big portions, always take home leftovers for eating next day. Our kids when visiting, always love when we take them. read more

We had the best meal of our entire vacation here. Food was fabulous; all 5 people loved what they had. I had the scallops and can't wait to go back!!! Love the hushpuppies too. Couldn't fit dessert so can't say how that was but you have to go to Ray's. Worth every penny. read more

Pick and chose when their going to have carry out. Seafood not cooked all the way . Told that they were closed 15 minutes before closing time. Old man is gone and teenagers are running things now and don't care about the customer. read more

Best seafood market in the areas. Great service makes you feel like family:) Go every week that I'm in the area.

Great place to take the family. Wonderful service. Fresh seafood Crab Cake SandwichSteamed Shrimp read more

our family has been eating here for 30 years. This will be the last time after a series of very negative experiences. The staff have been rude, unorganized, and had no idea how to handle the orders and even refused to take a phone order with 2hours left before closing. This last order had hair cooked into a hush puppy , and there was a missing side and no prime rib dipping juice. After fighting to get the order that they "had no record of" they found it and said nothing but you can pay now. We use to spend 120+ for every order, the quality of the food has deteriorated and is not worth the price. read more

Definitely worth a stop here on the way/way back from Chincoteague. This place has the best crabcakes in the region, very fresh seafood, and an authentic, local, atmosphere. Very reasonably priced, too. Ray's is a simple, hometown kind of restaurant that has great food and a local feel and vibe. The crabcakes, soft shell crab sandwich, scallops, and shrimp were all amazing. It's hard to find good (i.e. not full of bread, and fresh) crabcakes that aren't $20 each, and here you can get a crabcake sandwich for $11 or two cakes for $20. The scallops on rice were simple but fresh and full of flavor and had MANY SCALLOPS (unlike the normal plates you order that have 3 - sheesh!). One downside is that the fresh fish (drum, mahi, flounder, grouper) is only served fried -- pity, I would love to have the option of having them grilled, broiled, or blackened. Hushpuppies were nice and hot, too. That's not really my thing, but others in our party enjoyed them. Wasn't a fan of the greasy boardwalk fries, though. This is a no-frills place, so we got paper napkins, butter in packets, etc., but that's ok - you came for the seafood. Just don't come expecting the white tablecloth service. Drink selection is pretty limited (Sutter Home wine, Bud, etc), no full bar, BUT they do have Dogfish Head IPA. The only dessert - cheesecake - was decent. read more

Best scallops my BF has ever had!!! They were amazing!!! Broiled shrimp were delicious. Coleslaw is best we've had. Looking back at 5 different local seafood establishments, We agree their prices are what we consider expensive. read more

Their seafood market is always full and with the best prices around. The staff is always welcoming and ready to help. It gives a comfy feel with good ambiance. Really a great place to be. read more