Posted on

Valentine’s Decadence at Ray’s!

Enjoy a stunning Valentine’s dinner on the waterfront!

Ray’s first floor Boathouse will offer a delicious three-course menu featuring Dungeness Crab, Filet Mignon, Lobster, King Salmon and a rich chocolate dessert February 10-14 for $70 per person (excluding tax and gratuity).

Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made online. The Boathouse will serve its regular menu alongside the special three-course and is open for dinner daily from 5-9 p.m. (last seating at 9 p.m.).

Boathouse 3-Course Valentine’s Menu

Appetizer (choice of one)

Baby Beet Salad whipped goat cheese, watercress, blood orange, crispy beet chips

Citrus Carpaccio with Dungeness Crab & Avocado, citrus vinaigrette, arugula, candied pine nuts, Fresno chili curls

Entrée (choice of one)

4oz Double R Ranch Filet Mignon & Butter Poached ½ Lobster Tail, garlic whipped potatoes, seared broccolini, sauce bordelaise

Crispy Skin King Salmon melted leeks, duck fat potato, roasted tomato relish

Dessert

Chocolate-Raspberry Mousse

Ray’s Café

Marvel at the beautiful water and mountain views while enjoying Valentine’s specials February 10-14 at Ray’s Cafe! The Café’s full menu will be available in addition to the specials from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (last seating at 9 p.m.). Café reservations are only accepted on Tuesday, February 14 online and are strongly recommended.

Cafe Specials

Appetizer: Coriander crusted Ahi Tuna quinoa tabbouleh, cilantro mint vinaigrette

Entrée: Grilled Wagyu Sirloin and ½ Lobster Tail garlic whipped potatoes, roasted baby carrots, salsa verde

Dessert: Triple Chocolate Cake layers of chocolate cake and whipped chocolate ganache, chocolate sauce

We look forward to celebrating with you soon!

Posted on

Shellfest Returns January 6-31!

Join us for Shellfest Friday, January 6-31, 2023 and try an array of delicious new shellfish dishes created by our Executive Chef Kevin Murray and team!

We’re highlighting Dungeness Crab on our Shellfest menu with one dish representing a classic preparation from Ray’s history and the other a new dish created by Chef Kevin.

Shellfest Menu 2023

  • Oysters on the Half Shell GFred wine mignonette $4 each, 3 for $12,  6 for $22
      • Royal Miyagi – British Columbia, CAN smooth textured meats with a mild brininess and kiwi-like finish
      • Samish Pearl – Samish Bay, WA full firm meat relinquishes delicate cucumber notes and a crisp salty brine
  • Baked Oyster Rockefeller butter, parsley, bread crumbs, herbs $5 each
  • Chilled Peel & Eat Prawns GFOld Bay dusted, butter sauce, piquillo aïoli $22
  • Penn Cove Mussels GFsteamed in a spicy tomato broth $20
  • Manila Clams GFTom Kha, Thai basil, scallion, chili oil $20
  • Sautéed Prawns GFGarlic herb butter, charred lemon $21
  • Seared Yucatan Octopus Chorizo bean purée, ancho chili aioli, crispy potato, red radish, cilantro $26

Ray’s 50th Anniversary Celebration!

January Feature: Dungeness Crab

  • Black Pepper Crab Steamed gai lan, garlic, scallion, jasmine rice. Small (4oz) $30 or Large (8oz) $56 (classic Ray’s dish)
  • Crab & Avocado Salad GFJicama, winter citrus, arugula, citrus vinaigrette, candied pine nuts $28 (new dish from Chef Kevin)

Items subject to change throughout the month without notice. Menu is available for lunch and dinner daily.

This limited menu ends January 31, 2023 so make sure to enjoy it while it lasts!

Posted on

Cafe Lunch Served on our First Floor thru February 9

Ray’s Cafe will be undergoing maintenance now through Thursday, February 9 and will be closed during this time.

Our Cafe lunch menu will be available daily from 11:30am-3pm in our first floor Boathouse during this time. For dinner we’ll offer our regular Boathouse menu with the addition of some Café favorites including our Burger, True Cod Fish & Chips, and Seared Oregon Albacore Cobb Salad.

Our limited time Shellfest menu will be available for both lunch and dinner.

Hours of operation January 2-February 9:
Lunch – 11:30am-3pm (last seating at 3pm)
Dinner – 5-9pm (last seating at 9pm)
Happy Hour will not be offered during this time and we will be closed from 3-5pm.

Lunch is walk-ins only. Please reserve Boathouse dinner online here.

Thank you for your patience during this time!

Posted on

Kicking Off 50 Years of Ray’s!

June 23, 2023 will mark 50 incredible years of service at Ray’s Boathouse.

It’s an understatement to say that a lot has happened in Seattle over the past 50 years as our community grew into its own as a destination full of great things to do for visitors from all over the world, including sport fishing.

In the late 1950s Ray Lichtenberger felt that Harbor Island was getting too congested so he decided to move his fishing boat rental business to sleepy little Ballard. After a few iterations of a fishing boat rental store that started to sell more food than bait, a restaurant was born. In 1973 it became Ray’s Boathouse and the rest is history. History that was built by so many hardworking people both employed by Ray’s directly and the people who caught, raised, grew, brewed, distilled, and vinified the great products we have had the luxury to work with.

There is an undeniable humanity to providing hospitality for our guests, team, and suppliers. When it is done right it leaves a lasting impression that becomes ‘who you are’. Most of us have seen restaurants sprout up that scramble to find an identity and a theme and are tasked with figuring out who they are and/or what they want to be. Our tenure has allowed us the one simple thing: Be Ray’s. Evolve, stay current, change, win some, lose a few, but never stop being Ray’s.

I believe I speak for the Ray’s leadership that has served this endeavor before me and with me: little of our identity would be possible without the kindness of our loyal guests and the (very) hardworking team members we have had by our side since our brand was born. It’s difficult to express gratitude of this scope.

Our mission continues to be that the people we hire for the next 50 years (and beyond) understand what we have created and that they should always ‘Be Ray’s’ with every guest, team member, and purveyor.

Thank you to every person who has helped us thus far and here’s to another 50 years.

With gratitude,
Douglas Zellers
Ray’s Co-owner & General Manager

 

Photo by Halley Sunwold

Posted on

New Year’s Eve Dining at Ray’s!

Finish 2022 with an incredible dinner on the water! Join us at Ray’s on New Year’s Eve in our first floor Boathouse or upstairs Cafe, pop some bubbles and enjoy fresh local seafood.

Both venues will offer regular menus along with elegant specials prepared by our Executive Chef Kevin Murray and team, available only on Saturday, December 31.

Reservations are strongly encouraged for all parties on New Year’s Eve and can be made online for the Cafe here and Boathouse here.

Boathouse reservations: 5pm (first seating) to 9pm (last seating). Cafe reservations: 11:30am (first seating) to 8pm (last seating).

Boathouse Specials

Double R Ranch Grilled Tomahawk Steak (serves two) $150
garlic whipped potatoes, seared broccolini, braised cippolini onions, bordelaise sauce
Filet Mignon & Dungeness Crab Cake $78 
8 oz Double R Ranch tenderloin, garlic whipped potatoes, haricot vert, bearnaise sauce
Smoked Ikura and house made potato chips $20
house smoked ikura, thick cut potato chips, crème fraiche, chives

Cafe Specials
Whole Fried Rockfish $36
garlic herb butter, charred lemon, crispy potatoes, green salad with winter citruses
Filet Mignon and Dungeness Crab Cakes $78/$62
8oz/4oz Double R Ranch tenderloin, garlic whipped potatoes, haricot vert, béarnaise sauce

Rays will be open on New Year’s Day Sunday, January 1, 2023 with regular business hours.

Posted on

New Fall Dishes at Ray’s Boathouse & Cafe!

Fall has arrived and our Executive Chef Kevin Murray, along with Ray’s talented culinary team, has created a cozy line up of delicious new dishes!

Try them all in our first floor Boathouse or upstairs Cafe. while you sip on Fall cocktails and take in the views. Dine inside or on our covered and heated Cafe patio.

Reserve a table in the Boathouse online here. Cafe is walk-ins only. See you soon!

Boathouse
House Smoked Sablefish rapini, quinoa, miso glaze, chili-lime cucumbers, cilantro (GF)

Pan Seared Sea Scallops creamy polenta, braised kale, pancetta vinaigrette, Grana Padano, toasted pecans (GF)

Cafe
Pacific Manila Clams house-smoked bacon, leek, garlic, shallot, apple cider, cream, butter (GF)

Chicory Salad Belgian endive, Treviso, bleu cheese crumbles, sliced pears, candied walnut, balsamic vinaigrette (GF)

Grilled Wild Alaskan King Salmon maitake mushrooms, sautéed leeks, fried Yukon potatoes, whole grain mustard beurre blanc

Pan Seared Sea Scallops porcini dusted sea scallops, lentils Du Puy, house smoked bacon lardon, mirepoix, fennel cream (GF)

Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut chorizo, white bean and kale stew, lemon gremolata (GF)

Wagyu Sirloin Steak Frites Snake River Farms American Wagyu, shoestring fries, garlic aïoli, port demi-glace

Grilled Double R Ranch Ribeye seared Brussels sprouts, braised cippolini onions, garlic whipped potatoes, port demi-glace (GF)

Posted on

Reserve Christmas Eve & Day Dining 2022!

We look forward to celebrating with you and yours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

Our first floor Boathouse will offer a special 3-course holiday menu both days while our upstairs Cafe will have regular menu offerings on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day will offer our Café menu along with seasonally inspired a la carte specials.

Reservations are strongly encouraged for all parties on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and can be made online for the Cafe here and Boathouse here.

RAY’S BOATHOUSE
Enjoy our Boathouse 3-course holiday menu on Christmas Eve and Day with options of soup or salad, choice of entrée, and dessert for $70 per person (beverages, tax and gratuity not included). On Christmas Eve we will also serve our regular menu and on Christmas Day we will serve a limited menu alongside the 3-course option. Children’s menu is available both evenings.

Boathouse reservations are available from 2pm (first seating) to 8pm (last seating) online. Boathouse bar will be open with the same offerings for guests ages 21 and over. No reservations taken.

Starters
Celery Root Soup Granny smith apples, fried sage (GF)
Chicories Salad Treviso, endive, bosc pear, blue cheese, candied walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette (GF)
Smoked Salmon Rillettes Pickled shallot-parsley salad, grilled baguette (DF)

Entrees
Grilled King Salmon Sunchoke puree, marble potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, beurre rouge (GF)
Prime Rib of Beef Spice rubbed, garlic whipped potatoes, seared brussels sprouts, demi-glace (GF)
Seared Duck Confit Leg Lentils du puy, mirepoix, fennel cream, braised pearl onions (GF)
Creamy Mushroom Polenta Mixed mushroom ragout, braised kale, goat cheese, pomegranate (GF)

Dessert
Eggnog Mascarpone Chocolate Mousse Cake
Cranberry-Pear Tartlet
Olympic Mountain Ice Cream/Sorbet

RAY’S CAFE
Cafe reservations are available from 11:30am (first seating) to 8pm (last seating) on Christmas Eve and 12:30pm (first seating) to 8pm (last seating) on Christmas Day. Reserve online here.

Full children’s menu is available. Cafe Bar will be open with the same hours and menu with no reservations needed, ages 21 and over only.

Café Christmas Day Specials

Celery Root Soup Granny smith apples, fried sage (GF)

Prime Rib of Beef Spiced rubbed, garlic whipped potatoes, seared broccolini, port demi-glace (GF)

Seared Confit Duck Leg Fingerling potatoes, roasted root vegetables, sauteed mushrooms, sauce chasseur

Seasonally Inspired Dessert

Christmas guidelines:
*All reservations are for inside tables only.
*We cannot accommodate window seating requests.
*Walk ins are only accepted for our bar top seating (ages 21 and over).
*Sorry, no promotional discounts available. Loyalty cards accepted and encouraged!

Posted on

Contest! Share your Ray’s Swag & Win!

Ray’s Boathouse turns 50 on June 23, 2023! We have so many fun plans in store for you next year as we hit this landmark in our history.

But first, we’re asking for your help in gathering Ray’s swag from the last 50 years! 

Please share photos of any Ray’s branded items on Instagram or Facebook (making sure to tag @raysboathouse) or email images to rays@rays.com by Wednesday, November 30 at 8pm PST to be entered to win a $100 gift card to Ray’s Boathouse and a 50th anniversary swag package!

Swag items include but are not limited to:

  • Clothing – t shirts, sweatshirts, etc.
  • Hats
  • Sunglasses
  • Matchboxes
  • Napkins
  • Glassware
  • Postcards
  • Menus
  • And more!

We can’t wait to see all the amazing items!!

 Contest Rules

  • Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
  • Must submit items to Ray’s by Wednesday, November 30 at 8pm PST to be considered to win.
  • Ray’s will announce the top three submitted swag items on Wednesday, December 7 on its Instagram and Facebook pages. We will then ask followers to vote on their favorite swag item. The item with the most votes will win a $100 Ray’s gift card.
  • Winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 14 via Ray’s social media pages and the winner will be contacted by Ray’s to claim their prize.
Posted on

Winter Wedding Special!

Say “I do” this Winter at Ray’s! Enjoy special offers and pricing when you book your wedding at Ray’s Northwest Room January-March 2023!

Offers include:

-10% off photo, floral and DJ services when you book with Emma Lee Photography, Bond in Bloom and/or Puget Sound DJ.
-Ray’s will waive your ceremony fee for weddings of 65 people or fewer, a $600-800 value*

Our stunning waterfront & mountain views make the perfect backdrop rain or shine!

Contact us at rayscatering@rays.com or 206-789-6309 to learn more & book your date!

*Subject to availability, inquire for dates.

Photo by Emma Lee Photography (top) and Kaitlyn Montanaro (bottom).

Posted on

Holiday Parties at Ray’s!

It’s almost holiday party season at Ray’s Northwest Room and we can’t wait to celebrate with you and yours!

Dates are going fast and we recommend contacting us today to inquire about availability from our Catering team!

Then we’ll help plan your festive event at our gorgeous waterfront venue with everything from delicious menus prepared by our Culinary Team, to seasonal cocktails and desserts.

Remember that events can be booked for breakfast/brunch, lunch, receptions or dinners! Whatever best fits your vision, we can execute.

Contact Ray’s Catering to book your event today at rayscatering@rays.com or 206.789.6309.