Emmett Niland

Emmett Niland

June 29, 2018

Emmett has been a proud resident of Ballard his entire life. His restaurant career began unofficially as a six-year old at his parents’ restaurant in Magnolia where he would “help seat people” by aimlessly wandering through the dining room with a handful of menus with a trail of trusting guests behind him until he eventually picked a table at random. In the 90s both of his parents worked at Ray’s making him a second generation Ray’s employee.

Since then he’s improved his skills in hospitality by working at a variety of restaurants in Seattle before starting at Ray’s in 2014. He loves to be challenged and has a passion for creative problem-solving that he gets to exercise every day, both at work and in his personal life. After earning his certification as a sommelier, Emmett has played a key role in leading the wine education program at Ray’s, mentoring members of the team as they navigated the Court of Master Sommeliers.

When not at Ray’s he’s proud to spend his time as an assistant varsity baseball coach at his alma mater, Ballard High School. In his free time you’ll likely find him eating and drinking at his favorite Seattle restaurants, at a concert for a local band, on a kayak in the Puget Sound, or at a baseball field both as a coach and lifelong Mariner fan.

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Waterfront Dining in Seattle, February 13–15, 2026! Celebrate love this Valentine’s Day weekend with unforgettable waterfront dining at Ray’s Boathouse & Café. From Friday through Sunday, February 13–15, 2026, our iconic Seattle restaurant invites you to enjoy thoughtfully crafted menus, warm hospitality, and sweeping water views that set the stage for a truly romantic experience. …

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Winter is oyster season at Ray’s Boathouse! There’s a reason seafood lovers wait all year for winter oyster season. The icy winter waters of the Pacific Northwest produce plumper oysters that are richer in flavor, with a clean, briny flavor that makes them ideal for slurping by the dozen. And there’s no better place to …

6049 Seaview Avenue NW
Seattle, WA 98107-2690

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Ray’s Boathouse elevates local, sustainable seafood with global flavors and Northwest inspiration nightly.

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Classic seafood dishes with seasonal preparations in our upstairs Café overlooking Puget Sound.

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