Back to school looks different this year for almost every family and educator. Parents and caretakers are becoming educators and teachers face the challenges of not being able to educate in person.
To spread a little back-to-school cheer this September, Ray’s is offering a gift card special: for every $100 you spend on Ray’s gift cards you will receive a complimentary $20 Ray’s gift card now through September 30, 2020!
Buy a $100 gift card for those who are making this new way of schooling possible and keep the $20 for yourself (or gift it to anyone who needs a pick-me-up)!
Our Woodford Reserve whiskey barrel has arrived from Louisville, Kentucky filled with our custom-blended Private Selection No.1 Bourbon! Purchase it now by the 1-liter bottle via *Toast or in-person for $60. You can also sip it in a cocktail with our Private Selection Perfect Manhattan available now in the Café
Woodford Reserve Ray’s Private Selection No. 1 – $60
One-liter bottle
Proof: 90.4 (45.2% ABV)
Nose: Orange peel, leather, cherry-soaked oak, fruitcake. Alcohol is present but in balance.
Palette: Honey graham crackers, caramel, toffee.
Finish: Long, rich and decadent.
Private Selection Perfect Manhattan – $16
Woodford Reserve ‘Ray’s Private Selection No.1’ bourbon, Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth, Dolin dry vermouth, Angostura bitters, served up with a house-made brandied cherry.
How Our Custom Whiskey Got Here
Our GM and Co-Owner Doug Zellers, Ray’s Wine Director Chip Croteau and Manager Emmett Niland visited the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Louisville in late winter 2020 to taste and hand-select the blends to create Ray’s own custom bourbon.
Traveling from downtown Louisville took them through picturesque country landscapes complete with horse farms and beautiful scenery. Upon arrival, the team was greeted with incredible hospitality from Brown Forman and the team at Woodford Reserve. They were taken on an exhilarating tour of the grounds, admiring the historic landmark that has been making and aging whiskey since 1812.
After a tour of the grounds, distillery and rickhouses where the barrels live while they age, they began the tasting and selection process.
Woodford Reserve whiskey is crafted from a grain recipe of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. This recipe balances the sweetness of corn with the spice of rye, and the nuttiness of malt to build the base for an incredibly flavorful bourbon!
They started the tasting with four different single-barrel samples, all pulled directly from the barrel with proofs ranging from 130-140! After the tasting, they chose their least favorite of the four and eliminated it.
Woodford’s master taster then created three blends; each blend comprised of two barrels. Our team blind-tasted the samples of these three blends and chose the favorite. The ultimate decision was meant-to-be as it happened to be the blend compromised of the two best-liked single barrels from the initial tasting of four. Thus, Ray’s Woodford Reserve Private Selection No. 1 Bourbon was born!
It was a dream come true for our team to create a custom bourbon and age it in a personalized Ray’s barrel! Each barrel matures at its own rate, so this is a truly unique whiskey unlike any other.
Purchase a bottle for home or gifting or enjoy a cocktail at Ray’s of this limited-time bourbon, available while supplies last!
*Please note that per Washington State law you must purchase food when you order bottles of liquor or cocktails to-go.
It’s that time of year! Our upstairs Café deck is bathed in sunshine and offers gorgeous views of Shilshole Bay and the Olympic Mountains, plus colorful summer sunsets! Soak up some vitamin d while enjoying your favorite fresh seafood dishes, Ballard beers, and daily Happy Hour specials.
The Café is serving up Ray’s favorites like True Cod Fish & Chips, Ahi Poke, Dungeness Crab Cakes, Oysters on the Half Shelland more with summer specials like Wild Alaskan King Salmon with sweet corn puree, Farm Lettuce Salad with seasonal berries, Zucchini Feta Cakes, and more. Sip chilled Washington wine, ice cold beer, or a Black Cherry Margarita while you take in the fresh air and spectacular views!
Daily Happy Hour from 4-6pm brings drink specials like Bad Jimmy’s Brewing ‘Bad Light’ Golden Ale, Negronis, Moscow Mules, Margaritas and more. Dishes include Caesar Salad, Crispy Calamari, Tuna Poke, Manila Clams, Penn Cove Mussels and more all at special Happy Hour pricing!
We’re now accepting walk-ins only for parties of five people or less and we kindly ask that you wear your mask at all times when not seated at your table eating and drinking. All of our tables on the deck and indoors are spaced 6ft apart and we are practicing social distancing in all areas of the restaurant.
The Cafe is open seven days a week! Joins us Sunday-Thursday from 11:30am-9pm and Friday and Saturday from 11:30am-10pm. We’ll see you soon!
Seattle’s best seafood restaurant offers Happy Hour in our upstairs Cafe Monday through Thursday from 4-6pm!! Enjoy fresh seafood, cocktails, wine and beer all at special Happy Hour pricing while you take in gorgeous waterfront and mountain views!
Ballard’s best happy hour is a must-try for you and your crew, and we look forward to seeing you today!
Ray’s Cafe Happy Hour Menu
Monday – Thursday 4pm – 6pm
(no substitutions)
Beer & Wine
Bad Jimmy’s Brewing Bad Light 4
Rotating Red or White Wine 7
Wells
Mixed Drinks 7
Martini 10
Manhattan 10
Negroni 10
Relax with us on our Café and Boathouse decks all summer long! Soak in the sun and the gorgeous views as you enjoy our fresh, local seafood menus of Dungeness crab, clams, mussels, wild salmon and perfectly grilled steaks… plus ice-cold Ballard beers, chilled Rosé and cocktails!
Here’s a peek at some of our favorite sunny-weather libations:
Bring Ray’s into your home this fall to cater Dinner Parties, Galas, School Fundraising Dinners, Cocktail Parties and special gatherings!
Our talented catering team brings you Ray’s signature service, fresh local seafood, wine from our award-winning lists, cocktails and more.
We create custom menus for breakfast, lunch or dinner events, or keep it simple with bites and bubbly. Contact our Director of Catering, Amanda and her team, to book your party today and start planning your fall events!
It’s almost time to Shell-ebrate with Shellfest returning to Ray’s Boathouse and Cafe, January 9 – 22! Chilly winter waters are perfect for harvesting pristine shellfish and you’re to partake at Ray’s in the form of specially prepared shrimp, crab, oyster dishes and much more. Prices start at just $6.
Sample Offerings (each sold separately; selections and menu items may change as we try new and exciting recipes):
-Full Pound Steamed Manila Clams with pork belly, vermouth, butter, chives
-Penn Cove Mussels Marinara with fresh basil, and angel hair pasta
-Sautéed Blackened Shrimp with onion, bourbon, butter, garlic bread
-Crispy Fried Rock Shrimp Tacos with pico de gallo, chipotle-sour cream, shredded romaine lettuce, tortilla chips, salsa
-Chilled Peel & Eat Prawns with lemon-spice poached, Louis dressing
-Half Pound Popcorn Shrimp, lightly breaded, fried golden brown, served with tartar sauce, cocktail sauce
-Dungeness Crab Bisque with sweet corn, creamy veloute
-Pan-fried, panko crusted Washington Razor Clams with saffron-shallot jam and jalapeno tartar
-Baked Half Shell Oysters, a half-dozen with Uli’s Andouille sausage, leeks, and smoked paprika-butter
-Steamed Half Pound Snow Crab Legs with drawn butter and fried potatoes
-Prawn Cocktail with classic cocktail sauce and lemon
We also offer delicious wine and cocktail suggestions for each dish. Boathouse reservations can be made at 206.789.3770 or here. Cafe reservations can be made at 206.782.0094 or here. We’ll see you soon!
No matter your party affiliation, there’s no denying that this year’s presidential election has been one for the ages! Watch history in the making and cheer on your favorite candidate with us in the Cafe on Tuesday, November 8.
Patriotic Republicans and Democrats alike are invited to watch the exciting election unfold while savoring our always fresh, always flavorful dinner menu and sipping on a cocktail or two. Enjoy options like our Ray’s Clam Chowder or Dungeness Crab Cakes that will have you in good spirits even if your candidate doesn’t come out on top.
Ray’s is celebrating shellfish season this January! Join us in the Cafe to enjoy a variety of specially prepared shrimp, crab and oyster dishes, only available January 4-31. It’s the perfect time for the novice shellfish eater to try something new, and shellfish lovers to go enjoy their favorites.
We’ll feature rotating wine and cocktail pairings for each dish, check in weekly for changing selections. Reserve here today for lunch or dinner!
Shellfest Menu:
Clam Chancellor Chorizo, sherry, smoked scallop $8/15 Mussels Wilson White wine, garlic, chili flake $8/15 Buffalo shrimp & wings Habanero sauce, blue cheese, celery $13 Rock Shrimp Tacos Crispy fried rock shrimp, Pico de gallo, chipotle-sour cream, shredded romaine lettuce, tortilla chips, salsa $14 Chilled Peel & Eat Prawns Lemon-spice poached, Louis dressing 10 Half Pound Popcorn Shrimp Lightly breaded, fried golden brown, tartar sauce, cocktail sauce $14 Ray’s clam chowder House smoked bacon, clams, cream $6/8 Washington Razor Clams Pan fried, panko crusted, saffron-shallot jam, jalapeno tartar $13 Baked Half Shell Oysters Half dozen with Uli’s Andouille sausage, leeks, smoked paprika-butter $16 Steamed Half Pound Snow Crab Legs Drawn butter, fried potatoes $19 Prawn Cocktail Classic cocktail sauce, lemon $9
Rays Signature Bloody Mary with Grilled Prawn House infused horseradish & garlic vodka, Dimitris Bloody mix, grilled & chilled prawn kebob garnish $10
Ray’s Café is participating in this month’s (RED) campaign to support the fight against global AIDS.
The EAT (RED). DRINK (RED). Save Lives. campaign runs June 1-30 and Ray’s Café will be joining hundreds of restaurants from around the country to offer (RED) specials with proceeds benefitting AIDS research and support.
Join us in the Cafe bar, dining room or deck to enjoy Ray’s (RED) Cocktail and drink for a cause all June long!
Kick off your evening or end your day with our Boathouse Happy Hour! It’s the perfect mix of Boathouse food and drinks to enjoy with friends, on a date, or with family. Join us nightly at Ray’s first floor Boathouse for Happy Hour from 5-6pm and take in the gorgeous views. It’s the best happy hour in …
