Ray's on the River
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**update! I was able to make contact with Sarah, a manager, the next day at Ray’s. She apologized extensively and reassured me the experience of my parents is not what they strive for and took a detailed account of what happened. She then had her manager call my parents personally and he invited them back for a “redo”. My parents went yesterday and had the experience of a lifetime. It was perfect weather, they were seated riverside near butterfly bushes where my mom was in her GLORY. They had a waiter vs a bartender (not that their bartender wasn’t great the last time- he did his best) but having a waiter who could help them navigate the menu and make suggestions and just, attend to them was fantastic! The manager came over and spoke with them. They couldn’t say enough positive things about this experience. This. This is what we’ve always heard about Rays. This is the experience my sister and I wanted them to have to celebrate their anniversary. Thank you, Rays, for making this “right” and for standing behind your reputation and service. ❤️ Original review: My sister and I purchased a gift card for my parents to go and enjoy a dinner by the river to celebrate their 40th anniversary. We were so excited for them to go today...only to be met with significant regret and total and complete disappointment. Upon their arrival, the hostess (at 1:45pm on a Tuesday) asked if they had a reservation. They did not, but the restaurant was nearly empty. The waitress frowned, VISIBLY frowned, and said "well- this is what I have available". The options shared were only bar seating. My mom asked about the river and the waitress simply said they could try to find a seat at the bar or at a booth at the bar. There was next to no one in the entire restaurant...my parents are older and have no idea how to make an online reservation...and they were seated, for their 200.00, 40th anniversary dinner in the middle of the day on a Tuesday...at the bar. If we wanted them to eat a steak in the dark we'd have sent them to Outback or Texas roadhouse. The allure of Ray's is the quality, the river, and the service...but not today. My mom ordered a steak but their steaks do not come with any sides (though my dad's seafood meal came with a side?). It wasn't even plated very nicely. The waiter did offer them a dessert once realizing it was their anniversary, but at that point...the experience was ruined. I called today immediately after speaking with my mom and dad, to speak with a manager, and was told after 5 minutes of holding that "the manager was in a meeting and another would be in any moment and would call me back within the hour". That was at 3:30pm...and it is now 6:40pm and no one has called me back. I suspect there won't be a return call. I will try again tomorrow. Beware- if you are considering purchasing a gift card for a family member, friend, client, or are suggesting this experience for someone who has never been...consider just about anywhere else.
R PoR Po
00
Upon visiting Ray's for an anniversary dinner, I encountered an alarming disparity in the service provided. As patrons seeking a serene dining experience, my partner and I opted for the outdoor patio setting. However, our initial enthusiasm was rapidly tempered by our designated server, Sam. Dressed in a blue polo and presenting an initially affable exterior, Sam's subsequent interaction betrayed any semblance of hospitality. As first-time diners, our natural curiosity towards the menu prompted a few inquiries. Rather than assisting, Sam responded with an overtly aggressive "ANYTHING ELSE?!", setting a rather disconcerting tone for the evening. This unprovoked impatience manifested not once, but twice. As we retained our menus post-ordering — contemplating potential additional dishes — we were once again met with the same brusque inquiry. The incongruence between Sam's seemingly placid demeanor and her confrontational delivery was unsettling. Her body language — tense and almost frenetic — further amplified our discomfort. Contrastingly, our interactions with the manager, either Bryant or Bryan, highlighted the caliber of service one would expect at such an establishment. His professionalism only accentuated the jarring nature of Sam's behavior. While I'm traditionally reserved in my criticisms, extending understanding to service professionals, this experience was an unfortunate exception. Having ordered approximately $180 worth of cuisine, the unjustified disdain from a single staff member seriously marred our overall impression of Ray's. Despite its storied 40-year legacy, an establishment's reputation hinges significantly on its frontline staff. Both my partner and I can attest to the aforementioned discrepancies in service. Notably, my Google review history is predominantly positive, underscoring the gravity of this singularly negative experience. Ray's, for the foreseeable future, will not be receiving my patronage. The continuity of its long-standing legacy may be jeopardized if such service persists.
Bob NguyenBob Nguyen
00
My complete goodness!!!! I cannot press 5-stars hard enough. The Mike/Bryant combination is a must-have when being sat at your table. The view was a great, the walk on the premises was the nicest thing to do while waiting for your food, but the service was second to NONE!!! I simply choose to go with whatever recommendation they gave and their direction was on point! When reserving a space, I will only for them! You will not be disappointed in this trip!!!!! Update: Turns out you could be disappointed I've been a repeat customer at Rays on the River. I've never been dress coded or treated differently. Today I brought my family who flew in from New Jersey, we were wearing floral shirts and jeans. Nothing new. The blond woman at the front desk said nothing when we walked in. Once we initiated conversation, after being looked up and down. She told us it would just be a moment. Then, she said let us seat you, and tried to put us in a corner away from the river. We asked to be in our usual spot down by the river. She said that's for lunch reservations only. Then when we inquired about the reservation for lunch, she stated there was a 'dresscode' for sitting there. Once again, we've never were told about dresscode and never were treated differently. But then I asked about making a reservation for dinner, she insisted on stating that it was about dresscode. I reiterate my question about a reservation. She still would not try to get us to have a reservation for dinner. Upon calling the manager, all they stated was that the worker was not supposed to say that or treat us this way. However, the manager still did not try to get us a reservation... do they not want us to eat there?? (This is directed towards the worker who will inevitably read this review)... When someone asks a direct question, you do not bypass it with your own interpretation of something so direct. You answer their question and then put the answer you would like at the latter end of it. Please make that understood.
Mister OMister O
00
I would probably give this restaurant a 3, and here is why: Pros: The restaurant had a great ambiance and overall vibe The view of the river was very cozy and relaxing, making you feel like you're in a secluded area far from the city The wine selections were good, and we thoroughly enjoyed the Whitehaven, savignon blanc 2023. Hot hand towels were served at the end of our meal, which helped maintain the upscale experience Cons: Tomahawk steak was undercooked. We always ordered Med rare, and we were served Rare. This wouldn't have been too much of a problem. However, after taking the first bite, the center was still cold, which was very unsettling. When brought to the attention of our waiter, he stated that is always how their med rare comes. He did take the steak back and put it on the grill for longer. When it came back, it was perfectly slightly red in the middle AND warm. The steak was about 230, so I feel like I shouldn't have even had to send it back. No comps were given either for the inconvenience. The desserts were a little underwhelming. We ordered 2 different ones. I would go somewhere else after if you want a dessert. We parked our own car because we got there early enough to not need valet. I think we accidentally parked in a valet spot, so the first valet guy we saw told us not to worry about it that he would take our keys and put a tag on our car. He told us not to worry that it was complimentary. As we were leaving, it was a different valet guy. When getting in the car, he asked, "Where is my tip?". We told him that the other valet informed us that it would be complimentary as we parked our own car. I felt that the way he asked was very rude. He then yelled at the other valet in front of us. Which was very unprofessional. He told him that he was not supposed to tell people that it's complimentary. He is supposed to say it's tips only. After looking at the website for confirmation, the valet is listed as 'complimentary'.
Harley RainwaterHarley Rainwater
00
I have been to plenty of finer dining establishments in ATL and I don’t recommend this place. I had high expectations for Ray’s on the River as I’ve been to Ray’s in the City and had a good experience. We took my mom here for Mother’s Day dinner, and was not satisfied. The parking is easy - you can either self park, or there is complimentary valet (it seems like valet is preferred). Once you go in, don’t expect to be seated promptly. We had a reservation, but still had to wait. And it seems like from other reviews, that’s a common issue here. Next, the drinks are yummy and some of the dishes were good, but I don’t think the quality/taste of the food is justified for the price they’re charging here. There are other restaurants out there that are similar, and far better for a better price (try any of the South City Kitchen establishments). They even have a Springer Farms Chicken dish that seems like a knockoff from South City Kitchen’s. Finally, the service was the biggest issue here. Our server was Murphy, and he just seemed like he didn’t want to be there. It gets quite noisy in the restaurant, and he could hardly hear us. He didn’t even bring us the food, and he NEVER checked in on us. Even when we tried to wave him down, it seemed like he would pretend not to see. We asked for the check and a takeout box, and he didn’t bring it - another server brought it to us, which is confusing. To this point, gratuity is automatically charged - which explains why he didn’t feel like he needed to provide good service. For this kind of establishment, you would expect better. To conclude, I would not recommend this place for any occasion. I will not be going back to any Ray’s establishments and will be discouraging anyone from coming here - for a similar type of food and better service and more modern ambience, try South City Kitchen. Ray’s is outdated and tries too hard to be “fine dining” and needs to be left behind.
Tiny ChenTiny Chen
00
Beautiful upon walking in - love the blue fountain outside. We didn’t get great seats even though we booked our reservation about a month in advance- would have been nice to see the water from our table. Once we finished, we did walk outside to enjoy it. Food - two of us had the 14oz NY strip and shrimp (8/10). The steak had good flavor and tender. The sauce on the shrimp was too spicy for me and the shrimp was like warm on arrival, almost cold. The side of Brussel / cauliflower I’d rate a 4/10. Cauliflower was good but Brussels too oily and not crispy enough. Side of praline sweet potato I’d rate 5/10. I make better sweet potatoes. It had a strong flavor almost of orange juice, and it could have used more marshmallows. Our friends liked their dish - pecan ruby red trout and the jumbo lump crab cakes. Dinner doesn’t come with bread - you can pay extra for that. I think our server was new - he seemed very nervous. Kitchen didn’t seem well versed on dietary restrictions - ex when I asked if the sweet potato dish had gluten, he needed to check, then came back and said yes. I asked which ingredient(s) had gluten. He said the pecans. I asked are the pecans coated in flour? He said want sure. I asked if it just shares the same oil as other fried foods and thus had cross contamination- he said yes, the latter. This is important to explain to someone asking for gluten free, as I’m not celiac, and it’s ok if it uses the same oil. He then said the marshmallows had gluten in them, which I’ve never known a marshmallow to have gluten, so that was odd. My husband thinks he was new so cut him slack, but still, at a fine dining restaurant, the quality should be higher. We were bummer to learn this location no longer has their Sunday all you can eat brunch. Our server said only the Alpharetta location has it, this location does an ala cart style. But we won’t be driving up to Alpharetta for breakfast.
Shannon EShannon E
00
Nearby Attractions Of Ray's on the River
Extended Stay America - Atlanta - Marietta - Powers Ferry Rd.
Cochran Shoals Trail - River Loop
Cochran Shoals Unit - Interstate North
Chattahoochee NRA--Powers Island Unit
NOC Chattahoochee Outpost - Powers Island
Chattahoochee Bamboo Forest
Powers Island Trail
Beach Life Experience Skin Clinic
Bamboo Forest - Bamboo
Georgia Home Health
Extended Stay America - Atlanta - Marietta - Powers Ferry Rd.
3.6
(413)Click for details
Cochran Shoals Trail - River Loop
4.8
(282)Click for details
Cochran Shoals Unit - Interstate North
4.7
(262)Click for details
Chattahoochee NRA--Powers Island Unit
4.7
(157)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Ray's on the River
Heirloom Market BBQ
Mojave Restaurant
Chattahoochee Coffee Company - Riverside
Harry's Pizza & Subs
Heirloom Market BBQ
4.6
(1.2K)Click for details
Mojave Restaurant
4.2
(1.1K)Click for details
Chattahoochee Coffee Company - Riverside
4.4
(811)Click for details
Harry's Pizza & Subs
4.3
(522)Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
6700 Powers Ferry Rd NW, Sandy Springs, GA 30339
Map
Phone
(770) 955-1187
Call
Website
raysontheriver.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.7
(4.2K reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Elevated Southern seafood dishes are served in an intimate setting along the Chattahoochee River.
attractions: Extended Stay America - Atlanta - Marietta - Powers Ferry Rd., Cochran Shoals Trail - River Loop, Cochran Shoals Unit - Interstate North, Chattahoochee NRA--Powers Island Unit, NOC Chattahoochee Outpost - Powers Island, Chattahoochee Bamboo Forest, Powers Island Trail, Beach Life Experience Skin Clinic, Bamboo Forest - Bamboo, Georgia Home Health, restaurants: Heirloom Market BBQ, Mojave Restaurant, Chattahoochee Coffee Company - Riverside, Harry's Pizza & Subs
