Ray's In the City
Fine dining restaurant · Atlanta
240 Peachtree St, Atlanta, GA 30303
Highlights
Upscale seafood, prime cuts, extensive wine list, live jazz
Upscale seafood, prime cuts, extensive wine list, live jazz
"The Downtown Atlanta dining scene can look a little post-apocalyptic (we doubt The Walking Dead needed CGI). But walk into Ray’s In The City for lunch or dinner, and you’ll find every seat filled, from the bar to the rear dining room. That’s because this great Southern seafood restaurant is a decades-old, dependable go-to for local suits and business tourists who’ve been given company clearance to expense a couple hundred on a meal. Get the hot seafood platter, which comes with Ray’s signature tasty barbecue shrimp, and finish your meal with the gooey lemon butter cake (one of our favorite desserts in the city)." - nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard
"For business tourists who’ve been given company clearance to expense a couple hundred on a meal, turn to Ray’s in the City—a great Southern seafood spot and faithful go-to. There are half-circle leather booths by the sceney bar and a dark, multisection dining room that feels like a place where a fictional crime boss would have secret meetings in the far back. But at Ray’s, it just fills up with loud firm partners maxing out their per diem on Cobb salads topped with chilled lobster and hot seafood platters with tasty barbecue shrimp that should make up for the off-work hours spent with annoying colleagues." - demarco williams, juli horsford, nina reeder
"Ray’s in the City is a great Southern seafood spot and a faithful go-to for Downtown suits and business tourists who’ve been given company clearance to expense a couple hundred on a meal. There are half-circle leather booths by the sceney bar and a dark, multisection dining room that feels like a place where a fictional crime boss would have secret meetings in the far back. But at Ray’s, it just fills up with loud firm partners maxing out their per diem on cobb salads topped with chilled lobster and hot seafood platters with tasty BBQ shrimp that should make up for the off-work hours spent with annoying colleagues. Food Rundown photo credit: Cameren Rogers Artisanal Bread Basket Like free parking, complimentary bread service is no longer an expectation in the city. But since the restaurant sources bread made daily from Smyrna’s Grateful Bread bakery, we’ll happily shell out the $7 for the assortment of soft pretzels, sweet raisin bread, crispy lavash, and warm focaccia. video credit: Cameren Rogers Hot Seafood Platter This hot seafood platter has likely been the fondest memory during prom dates, anniversaries, and business lunches at Ray’s. The oysters rockefeller are a little bland and often soupy, but the entire platter is still a great way to kick off dinner with crab cakes that don’t cheat you with extra breading, crispy calamari, and plump chargrilled shrimp in a tangy buttery BBQ sauce. photo credit: Cameren Rogers Lemon Butter Cake This is a denser version of the St. Louis gooey butter cake, topped with ice cream and blueberry compote. The lemon flavor is subtle, but you’ll voice no complaints when you’re scooping up the last bite. photo credit: Cameren Rogers Charleston She Crab Soup She crab soup had a moment in Atlanta around the early 2000s, when it was on every menu. Ray’s has been there all along with one of the city’s meatier, more flavorful versions. Blackened Redfish Pontchartrain While you can get almost any staple fish filet in the usual preparations, Ray’s shines when they lean southern, like with this tasty fish and grits signature. The cheddar jalapeño grits are excellent on their own, but then they’re topped with a very well-seasoned redfish filet, lots of sweet crabmeat, and a savory Cajun butter sauce." - Nina Reeder
"After 40 years, the founder of Ray’s Restaurants sold the establishments to Kennesaw-based TEI Hospitality (including Ray’s on the River in Sandy Springs, Ray’s at Killer Creek in Alpharetta, and Ray’s in the City in downtown Atlanta). With the restaurants under new ownership now, they are still delivering the same atmosphere and food. Rays in the City is close to the Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena, offering lunch and dinner in the heart of Downtown. Look for classic steak dinners, oysters, burgers, and seafood platters on this extensive menu. Reservations recommended. Dress code." - Beth McKibben
"Ray’s in the City is serving a family-style feast of Thanksgiving favorites, including herb-roasted turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, and apple cobbler, for $85 per person. Call for reservations." - Eater Staff
