Admittedly, I’m not a huge red meat eater. On the odd occasion I don’t mind, even enjoy a good burger or steak. Otherwise I tend to steer clear in favor of less meat-centric options. However I was drawn in when I first heard about Ray’s the Steaks. It’s an establishment that focuses on nothing but the quality of meat with none of the fancy décor or outrageous prices common to many steak houses. Something told me that if I was to ever find some red meat worth enjoying, it would be here.
I visited Ray’s the Steaks on a Saturday night, with some family visiting from out of town. Ray’s is now taking reservations in its new location, although I would recommend making them well in advance. For my party of 5, 9:30 PM was all I could get when calling the Wednesday prior.
We were seated promptly in the plain, but inviting dining room. Although the walls are bare and the table settings kept to a minimum, the atmosphere is warm and relaxing. This is likely because Ray’s is constantly buzzing with people, happy to be one of the lucky ones to have scored a table in the popular joint.
Our server brought us spicy cashews and squares of warm rosemary bread to nibble on while we browsed the menu. Neither were a knock-out, but I won’t complain about free food! The wine list offered a nice array of bottles and glasses, at impressively low prices. The bottle of red we selected was an excellent wine and an absolute steal for the price.
For the main, I ordered a fillet in bleu cheese sauce. The steak was cooked just as I had ordered and the sauce was a fantastic compliment. Alongside our steaks, we were given creamed spinach, garlic mash and regular mashed potatoes. The spinach, with a note of nutmeg was the stand-out for me – I think our whole table agreed we could have done with another dish!
The meal was certainly filling, but I couldn’t call my visit to Ray’s complete without trying some of the key lime pie I’ve heard so much about. We ordered one for the table, which came alongside some strawberries and whip cream. The pie was tangy and refreshing and the crust buttery and delicious. The strawberries were also excellent – deep red and sweet.
Just when I thought we were done, our server delivered little bites of peanut butter chocolate fudge for our table to enjoy. A man after my own heart!
Nuts, bread, wine, steak, spinach, potatoes and pie, Ray’s the Steaks delivered again and again. The service was friendly and efficient without being overbearing and the prices can’t be beat. For me though, I would have been just as happy with a plate of that amazing fudge. I guess you can’t call me a red-meat convert just yet!
