"Seattle is surrounded by extremely pretty water, and yet the general population is so occupied with work, life, and wondering why we didn’t get a light rail system until 2009 that they don’t look at it all that much. Pull up to Ray’s and change that. This Ballard waterfront spot is an undeniable staple, particularly for sitting upstairs on the balcony deck, inhaling sea mist, and eating crab cakes on repeat until a Labor Day trip to Ocean Shores sounds good. In a city full of mediocre seafood restaurants with waterside views, Ray’s raises the bar. Even if the free Grand Central rolls are sometimes stale." - aimee rizzo