Great , plaese don't go

   BethanyBilly - 12/29/2008

Thought I'd check the reviews of my favorite restaurant while waiting for the new Ray's to open in the Courthouse Metro area any day now. I'm so glad to see all the whiners give bad reviews - means less of a wait for all of us who used to go to Morton's, Ruth's Chris, etc. and paid more than twice as much for inferior food! The steak is so superior here and we've always been treated with good service and respect - maybe because we've always treated the staff with respect! Please stay away!!!

Service with a Suck...

   DarkWaterz29 - 09/22/2008

Sure...the steak tastes like what a $30.00 steak generally tastes like..but is it worth waiting around for? Definitely not. Combine that with rude wait staff and you have a combination that no one but the most die hard of locals will tolerate. Seriously...go to Outback or something and save yourself some time.

Best Value you can get on a plate!

   Dougwsmth - 07/19/2008

I enjoy Ray's time and time again. The staff works magic from balancing supply and demand. This is not a Fine Dinning Sit and be Served Place, this is a destination for those who know the difference between enjoyment of the best ingredients and preparation without buzzes and fanfare, and those seeking to be entertained by a food based establishment.
The place is so small and the demand is so high there is not a great deal of socialization between the staff and customers. No hand holding while "our friend can't find parking" so we want to sit and wait.(No problem there is a bench out front) but your table space will go to the complete party behind you. Supply and Demand it works. I say go early have a drink next door gather your group and send someone to get a table time. But be prepared for the best meat in the area bar none, you will go back.

Great food HORRIBLE SERVICE!

   PITRAUNH - 07/02/2008

Friends and I went to Ray's on Saturday to enjoy a wonderful steak. The food was fabulous after waiting an hour, but the service was horrible. The hostess walks around like she is the queen of the world and mocks clients after she seats them. We had a fun time watching her act like a fool. The waitstaff was also quick to get you to leave by telling us we could recork our wine and drink it at home. Also the busboy was quick to pick up my plate five time before I told him, I would let him know when I was done eating. How annoying is all I have to say. If you want a restaurant were you can enjoy your $30 steak and a few bottles of wine Rays Steak might not be the atmosphere you are looking for.

Great Steak. but lousy service

   Sansu5525 - 06/11/2008

Overall, if you are looking for a great piece of steak, whether it be a NY Strip, filet, etc - this is the place to go. But do not expect to be wined and dined by the atmosphere, and certainly not by the staff. The hostesses are very snobby and short with customers and the wait staff are also short and a tad rude. I understand that the place gets busy and staff could get overwhelmed, but please - customer service should be a priority. Having been a waiter for 10 years, service is important to me. With that said, great darn steak period! Ray should improve his staff, but in the end, folks keep going back for the great food. Again, just do not expect good service, so tip accordingly. Cheers.

   Doba123 - 06/10/2008

I forgot something in my review

   Quiettitleffxva - 05/16/2008

Yikes. One of my biggest letdowns was the terrible attitudes of the wait staff, from hostess to servers. They are doing you a favor waiting on you. Morton's and other steakhouses are glad to have our business and treat patrons with courtesy and respect. The restaurant is in a strip mall in Arlington, not NYC or Paris. It presumes a lot and doesn't deliver.

Good food, horrible experience

   mseribus75 - 03/03/2008

Ray’s has good steaks at very reasonable prices, but if you’re looking for a pleasant and enjoyable dining experience, you may want to look elsewhere. Most other reviews provide ample feedback on the food (which is good…be sure to try the crab bisque if you decide to go), so I’ll just cover the elements that had a negative impact on my time at Ray’s.

Expect to fight through the crowd waiting at the door to add your name to the waiting list, and don’t be surprised when the shockingly rude and condescending hostesses are irritated that they have to interact with you. Technically, the restaurant “doesn’t take reservations,” but seating times for the day are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Most people arrive hours before and request specific dining times (not a reservation?), so if you just show up when you’re ready to eat, you’re likely to wait two hours (three to four hours on a Friday or Saturday) before getting a table. Parking, ambiance and décor are non-existent, and although your food will come out very quickly (really, you’ll be surprised), you are expected (and reminded) to eat quickly and make room for waiting patrons.

For those who don't know Rays

   wrlygrld - 05/20/2007

The first time I visited Rays I waited an hour and a half for the table. The restaurant was packed so I did not question the wait. My friends and I were offered a drink while we waited, of course we said yes! Long story short we had an amazing experience and now go regularly. For those who complain about the prompt and efficient service, the wait, the way the menu is presented... The servers can tell you what you need to know about all of the steaks, the sides that are offered are listed on the menu, and who really wants to fill up on bread and nuts when the steaks come out so fast and oohh so perfect every time? My friends and I now make it a point to go as often as we can. Rays is very small with a high demand, of course they should request a table not to linger upon paying their check. They are always on a wait and because we enjoy the enviroment we don't mind. All in all if you would like to be seated at a table where you wait 45 min for your food, and then the service staff won't leave you to enjoy the company of your guest, hey Ruth Chris is the place for you.
P.S. Rays is located in a strip mall with a few other good restaurants not next to a laundromat!

lousy place to eat

   gabeuhr - 05/02/2007

for the amount of money and the wait, I expect friendlier help.