Ray's Boathouse traces back to 1939, when Ray Lichtenberger moved his boat rental and bait house to its current spot on Shilshole Bay and later added a coffee house. Russ Wohlers, Earl Lasher, and Duke Moscrip bought the property in 1973 and turned it into a full seafood restaurant, with Elizabeth Gingrich and, later, Jack Sikma joining the ownership group. A 1987 fire destroyed the building, and it was rebuilt on the same waterfront perch.
The restaurant now runs as two floors: a first-floor Boathouse serving small plates, shareable dishes, and classic mains in a more formal dining room, and an upstairs Café with a simpler menu of fish and chips, oysters, clam chowder, and PNW salmon. Both look out over Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
Ray's wine program was named a James Beard Foundation Outstanding Wine Program finalist four times, in 1991, 1993, 1994, and 1995. Regulars often point to the view of the water and mountains as the main draw, with seafood quality described as inconsistent from visit to visit.
The restaurant now runs as two floors: a first-floor Boathouse serving small plates, shareable dishes, and classic mains in a more formal dining room, and an upstairs Café with a simpler menu of fish and chips, oysters, clam chowder, and PNW salmon. Both look out over Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
Ray's wine program was named a James Beard Foundation Outstanding Wine Program finalist four times, in 1991, 1993, 1994, and 1995. Regulars often point to the view of the water and mountains as the main draw, with seafood quality described as inconsistent from visit to visit.