Contest: Does your love story involve Ray’s? We want to hear it!

Does your love story involve Ray’s Boathouse, Cafe or Catering? Tell us and win dinner for two on Valentine’s weekend!

Maybe you met while working at Seattle’s most iconic waterfront restaurant, had your first date with us, got engaged, or married at Ray’s — or your parents or grandparents did?

We want to hear it!

Share your story on Instagram or Facebook from January 15-31, 2026 and  be entered to win dinner for two at Ray’s 1st floor Boathouse on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026!

No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents 21+. Ray’s employees are not eligible. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.

Full contest details below. Cheers to love and cheers to Raymances!

 

Ray’s Boathouse & Café Raymance Contest Official Rules

Contest Period
January 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM PST through January 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.

Sponsor
Ray’s Boathouse & Café (“Ray’s”), Seattle, WA.

Eligibility
This contest is open to legal residents of the United States who are 21 years of age or older at the time of entry. Current Ray’s employees (including Boathouse, Café, Catering) are not eligible to win.

How to Enter
During the contest period, eligible participants must:

1. Post a photo on their Instagram feed featuring themselves and their partner (or their parents/grandparents).
2. Include a caption sharing how their love story is connected to Ray’s (meeting, engagement, dates, marriage, etc.).
3. Tag @raysboathouse in the caption and/or photo.
4. Ensure their Instagram and/or Facebook account and post are set to public.

Bonus Entry
Participants may receive one (1) additional entry by sharing their post to Instagram and/or Facebook stories and tagging @raysboathouse. Limit 3 (3) entries per person.

If you share your post on both Instagram and Facebook and tag @raysboathouse in each, that will count as two (2) entries.

Prize
One (1) winner will receive a romantic 3-course dinner for two (2) with wine pairings from the Ray’s team, on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Ray’s first-floor Boathouse dining room. Winner will choose 3-courses from our Valentine’s menu available that weekend only. Prize is non-transferable and not redeemable for cash. Ray’s covers 3-course dinner, wine pairings, taxes and gratuity.

Winner Selection & Notification
The winner will be randomly selected by an automated program. The winner will be notified via Instagram direct message by February 2, 2026, and must respond within 72 hours to claim the prize. Or another winner will be selected.

Instagram Disclaimer
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram. By entering, participants release Instagram from any responsibility related to this contest and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.

Publicity Release
By entering, participants grant Ray’s the right to use submitted photos, captions, and Instagram handles for marketing and promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.

General Conditions
Ray’s reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not comply with these rules or to cancel or modify the contest if necessary. All decisions are final.

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 [email protected] 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.

Ray’s Dad Joke Contest: Enter to win June 1-10!

We love a good cringe-worthy dad joke and we bet you do too! So send us your best PG-rated joke and you could win dinner for 4 at Ray’s Cafe! 

How to Enter:

  • Shoot a quick video of you telling us your favorite PG-rated dad joke (60 seconds or less).
  • Email it to [email protected] by Sunday, June 10, 2018.
  • From Monday, June 11-Friday, June 15 at 6 p.m. P.S.T. we’ll put them to a public vote via our blog and social media, and award 2 winners on Father’s Day Sunday, June 17, 2018!

Or just join us at Ray’s on Father’s Day for steak, crab legs, local beer and more! Make your reservations for the Café at 206.782.0094 or online; or in the Boathouse at 206.789.3770 or online today!

 

Official “Ray’s Dad Joke” Contest Rules

Prize

  • We will award two winners. One will be chosen via social media poll on social media and our blog by random public vote and the video with the most total poll votes will win. And another winner will be chosen as a Ray’s management team favorite.  Winner will be announced on Father’s Day Sunday, June 17, 2018  via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and contacted via email.
  • Winners will enjoy dinner for 4 at Ray’s Cafe in the form of a gift certificate valued at $200.00, valid for one year from date awarded.

Fine Print

  • Winner will be voted by an online public poll, and one will be selected by the Ray’s management team.
  • No minimum purchase amount is necessary to participate.
  • Entries are limited to one per person.
  • Start date: Friday, June 1, 2018.
  • End date: Sunday, June 10, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. P.S.T.; entries made after this date will not be valid.
  • Winner must claim prize within 48 hours of being contacted by Ray’s via social media and/or email. Or prize will be void and will be awarded to the second place winner.
  • Employees of Ray Boathouse, Inc. and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
  • Entrants must be at least 18 years of age.
  • By claiming a prize, the winners consent to Ray’s use of their names and image/likeness including photography and video in future Ray’s marketing and advertising without compensation or further approval. Further, by accepting a prize, the winner agrees not to assert any claims and to release Ray’s, from any and all liabilities, injuries or damages sustained in connection with the award or use of the prize.
  • Winners are solely responsible for reporting winnings and paying all applicable taxes.
  • The odds of winning will be two out of the total number of eligible responses submitted.
  • Grand Prize:
    • Winners will enjoy dinner for 4 at Ray’s Cafe in the form of a gift certificate valued at $200.00, valid for one year from date awarded.
    • Cannot be used on Ray’s merchandise or in combination with any other offer. 
  • Menu items subject to change based on availability.

General Conditions

  • Void where prohibited / restricted by law.
  • All federal, state and local laws apply.
  • Paying and reporting taxes (if any) are the winner’s sole responsibility.
  • Prizes may not be substituted, transferred, redeemed or exchanged for cash, except at the sole discretion of Ray’s.
  • Ray’s is not responsible for illegible, damaged, lost, late or misdirected entries.
  • All submissions become property of Ray’s.
  • Ray’s reserves the right to refuse all prizes to any client who in their sole determination abuses their right to participate or violates the rules.
  • Should the winning submission be determined to be untrue or false in any way, the winner must be responsible for any and all real costs associated with grand prize or another winner may be picked at the discretion of Ray’s management.

These are the official contest rules of the “Ray’s Dad Joke” contest. These rules may be subject to change without notice.

Announcing our Guest Favorite Menu Nov. 15-21

Ray's Salmon w:Onion Marmalade

Drumroll please! After sorting through your emails, tweets, comments and survey answers, we are pleased to present our Guest Favorite Menu! This 3-course menu showcases your all-time favorite Ray’s appetizer, entrees and dessert from our 44-year history.

This limited-time menu will be offered a la carte in the Boathouse and Cafe from Wednesday, November 15 until Tuesday, November 21, as part of our “Win Dinner for a Year at Ray’s” contest. Use your Loyalty Card each time you dine until November 21 at 9 pm to be entered to win “Dinner for a Year at Ray’s.” Don’t have a Loyalty Card? Sign up for free today!

To make a reservation for the Cafe call 206.782.0094 or visit online, or the Boathouse at 206.789.3770 or visit online.

Appetizer: Mediterranean mussels, Taylor Shellfish Farms mussels, Thai red curry, coconut milk broth  $15

Cafe Entrée: Grilled Wild Northwest King Salmon with Yukon Gold potatoes, broccolini, Kalamata olives, fennel, black kale, lemon, capers $36

Boathouse EntréeApplewood Grilled Wild King Salmon with sweet onion marmalade, fennel dusted cauliflower, baby carrots, grilled King Oyster mushrooms, pepitas (pictured) $45

Dessert: Scharffen Berger Chocolate Indulgence with Chambord Sabayon $9

Win Dinner for a Year at Ray’s Nov. 1-21!

Ray's Fire Boat Cropped

This November, as we look forward to 2018 and turning 45, we want to pause for a moment to celebrate the past, present and future of Ray’s, with you our beloved guests.

From November 1-21 enjoy three weeks of special menus that throwback to memorable moments and eras in our history. It will conclude with the drawing of a very special prize… Dinner for a Year at Ray’s for one lucky guest!

But first we want to hear from you!

Help us create a special 3-course menu of your favorite Ray’s dishes during the final week. Describe for us your most memorable Ray’s appetizer, entrée and dessert dishes from a recent experience (one in each category) or get out your copy of Ray’s cookbook, “Seafood Secrets of the Pacific Northwest” and tell us which appetizer, entrée and dessert is your favorite by Friday, November 3 at 11:59pm. Then our Executive Chef Paul Duncan will recreate a 3-course menu made up of the top item in each category, available in the Café and Boathouse Wednesday, November 15-Tuesday, November 21.

Tell us your top choices on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, email us at [email protected], or fill out a quick online poll. Don’t have a cookbook? Don’t worry we have some gently used copies available for purchase at the Café.

How to Win Dinner for a Year at Ray’s:

  • Starting Wednesday, November 1, 2017 and ending at dinner service on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 each time you dine at the Café or our first floor Boathouse and use your Loyalty Card you will be automatically entered to win dinner for a year at Ray’s Café and Boathouse.
  • The more times you dine the more chances you have to win.
  • On Wednesday, November 22 we will put all of the entries into a drawing and choose a winner at random.
  • Don’t have a Loyalty Card sign up here and start entering to win today!

Each week we will feature a different multi-course menu with nods to our past, try all of them and get entered to win each time!

Here’s what’s in store:

November 1-7: Guest Chef, Ray’s Founding Partner Russ Wohlers

The man who put Ray’s on the map with his simple approach to cooking the best local seafood, is back in the kitchen cooking up some of his favorite original Ray’s recipes:

  • Appetizer: Teriyaki Salmon
  • Entrée: Grilled Ling Cod with Black Lentil-Chanterelle Ragout
  • Dessert: Mum Mum’s Apple Pie

November 8-14: James Beard House Dinner

In 1992 Ray’s cooked a very special dinner at the James Beard House in New York City. For this week only, we are recreating that dinner in the Café and Boathouse for you to enjoy in full or choose courses a la carte:

  • Appetizer: Ray’s Dungeness Crab Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper-Lemon Aioli
  • Appetizer: Assorted Northwest Oysters on the Half Shell with Champagne Mignonette
  • Entrée: Chatham Straits Black Cod in Sake Kasu with Sesame-Rice Cake and Wasabi-Ginger Emulsion
  • Entrée: Crisp Butter Lettuce with Raspberry-Thyme Vinaigrette and Vanilla-Scented Alaskan Spot Prawns
  • Dessert: Scharffen Berger Chocolate Indulgence with Chambord Sabayon

November 15-21: You Choose the Menu!

Experience your favorite Ray’s recipes in a 3-course menu that you, our guests created!

We will be tallying up votes from your emails, social media comments and our online poll, to determine which appetizers, entrées and dessert to serve. The top item with the most votes for appetizer, entrée, and dessert will make up the menu. We will announce this guest favorite menu via social media before it begins.

Good luck to all, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

 

 

Official “Dinner for a Year at Ray’s” Contest Rules

How to Enter

  • Use your Ray’s Loyalty Card each time you dine from November 1- 21, 2017 and be entered to win dinner for a year at Ray’s. Each time you use your Loyalty Card your name will be entered in to the drawing to win dinner for a year at Ray’s, good in the Café and Boathouse.
  • Must have a Loyalty Card with a valid phone number to enter. Sign up here or at Ray’s Café or Boathouse.
  • One entry per day per venue (Café and Boathouse) will be counted towards the contest.
  • No minimum purchase amount is necessary to participate.

Prize

  • One winner will be drawn at random on Wednesday, November 22 to win Dinner for a Year at Ray’s, valid through November 30, 2018. We will announce the winner via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and contact them via phone.

Fine Print

  • Winner will be selected at random.
  • Entries are limited to one per day per venue (Café and Boathouse). You will be entered each time you dine during this period and use your Ray’s Loyalty Card.
  • Start date: Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. P.S.T.; entries made prior to this will not be valid.
  • End date: Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. P.S.T.; entries made after this date will not be valid.
  • Winner must claim prize within 48 hours of being contacted by Ray’s via social media, email and/or phone. Or we will draw again.
  • Employees of Ray Boathouse, Inc. and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
  • Entrants must be at least 18 years of age.
  • By claiming a prize, the winners consent to Ray’s use of their names and image/likeness including photography and video in future Ray’s marketing and advertising without compensation or further approval. Further, by accepting a prize, the winner agrees not to assert any claims and to release Ray’s, from any and all liabilities, injuries or damages sustained in connection with the award or use of the prize.
  • Winners are solely responsible for reporting winnings and paying all applicable taxes.
  • The odds of winning will be one out of the total number of eligible responses submitted.
  • Grand Prize:
    • $2,600 gift card to use toward “Dinner for a Year at Ray’s.” Valid in the Café and Boathouse through November 30, 2018. Equates to $50 per week for 52 weeks.
    • Cannot be used on Ray’s merchandise or in combination with any other offer. 
  • Menu items subject to change based on availability.

General Conditions

  • Void where prohibited / restricted by law.
  • All federal, state and local laws apply.
  • Paying and reporting taxes (if any) are the winner’s sole responsibility.
  • Prizes may not be substituted, transferred, redeemed or exchanged for cash, except at the sole discretion of Ray’s.
  • Ray’s is not responsible for illegible, damaged, lost, late or misdirected entries.
  • All submissions become property of Ray’s.
  • Ray’s reserves the right to refuse all prizes to any client who in their sole determination abuses their right to participate or violates the rules.
  • Should the winning submission be determined to be untrue or false in any way, the winner must be responsible for any and all real costs associated with grand prize or another winner may be picked at the discretion of Ray’s management.
  • All conditions, rules, and regulations of Ray’s Loyalty Card program apply.

These are the official contest rules of the “Dinner for a Year at Ray’s” contest. These rules may be subject to change without notice.

Enter #RaysSunset Photo Contest July 14-28!

Fire Boat Wedding_4.8.16
Photo by Heather Simmonsen

Sunsets at Ray’s overlooking Shilshole Bay and the Olympic Mountains offer some of the most gorgeous and inspiring scenery in Seattle, and our guests are excellent at capturing it nightly!

From July 14-28 enter your sunset photo taken from Ray’s Cafe, Boathouse, private dining room or dock to be entered to win the grand prize:

  • Custom chef’s dinner for 4 at Ray’s Boathouse, designed by Executive Chef Paul Duncan, overlooking Shilshole Bay.
  • Exciting wine pairings from the Boathouse library curated by Boathouse Wine Director Chip Croteau.
  • Prize package of Ray’s gifts with blankets, sunglasses, hats and more!

ENTER TO WIN!
1. Take a sunset photo while at Ray’s Cafe, Boathouse, Northwest Room or dock from July 14-28, 2016.
2. Post photo to your personal Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #RaysSunset (make sure your post is public so we can see it!).
3. Photo with the most “likes” or re-Tweets by 11:59 p.m. July 28, 2016 will win!

Contest Fine Print

  • Entries must use #RaysSunset to be considered valid submissions.
  • Ray’s Cafe, Boathouse & Catering has the right to publish all photos submitted in the contest in print or online, without prior consent from owner. Ray’s will include photo credit to owner.
  • Winner will be selected based on most “likes” or re-Tweets on social media.
  • Guests can submit up to 5 photos within the two-week period on each social media channel. Profile or post must be public.
  • Start date: July 14th 2016 at 12:01 a.m. PST; entries made prior to this will not be valid.
  • End date: All entries must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. PST on July 28th, 2016 in order to be considered.
  • Photos must be taken at Ray’s from July 14-28, 2016 to be considered valid.
  • Winner must claim prize within 48 hours of being contacted by Ray’s via the social media account they used to enter, or we will choose the second place winner.
  • Enter to win anywhere in the country or world.
  • Employees of Ray Boathouse, Inc. and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
  • Ray’s reserves the right to re post pictures and entries on our social media outlets and website.
  • By claiming a prize, the winners consent to Ray’s use of their names and image/likeness including photography and video in future Ray’s marketing and advertising without compensation or further approval. Further, by accepting a prize, the winner agrees not to assert any claims and to release Ray’s, from any and all liabilities, injuries or damages sustained in connection with the award or use of the prize.
  • Winners are solely responsible for reporting winnings and paying all applicable taxes.
  • The odds of winning will be one out of the total number of eligible responses submitted.
  • Legibility: all submissions must be legible by Ray’s staff.
  • Grand Prize:
    • Custom chef’s dinner for 4 at Ray’s Boathouse designed by Executive Chef Paul Duncan, overlooking Shilshole Bay.
    • Exciting wine pairings from the Boathouse library curated by Boathouse Wine Director Chip Croteau.
    • Prize package of Ray’s gifts with blankets, sunglasses, hats and more!
    • Package is Redeemable on a mutually agreeable date between guest and Ray’s Boathouse. Not valid on holidays.

Contest General Conditions

  • Void where prohibited / restricted by law.
  • All federal, state and local laws apply.
  • Paying and reporting taxes (if any) are the winner’s sole responsibility.
  • Prizes may not be substituted, transferred, redeemed or exchanged for cash, except at the sole discretion of Ray’s.
  • Ray’s is not responsible for illegible, damaged, lost, late or misdirected entries.
  • All submissions become property of Ray’s.
  • Ray’s reserves the right to refuse all prizes to any client who in their sole determination abuses their right to participate or violates the rules.
  • Should the winning submission be determined to be untrue or false in any way, the winner must be responsible for any and all real costs associated with grand prize or another winner may be picked at the discretion of Ray’s management.

These are the official contest rules of #RaysSunset Contest. These rules may be subject to change without notice.