Ray’s has established itself as a family friendly lunch option, an electrifying nightlife destination, and a dedicated sports entertainment venue. It hosts events including Texas Hold ’Em poker, live music inside and on the patio, pool tournaments, bike nights, and NTN buzz time trivia tournaments. There’s something going on every night from cornhole tournaments to Texas hold ’em. Be sure to check their website to keep up! Free Wi-Fi and valet parking. Smoking restaurant, with non-smoking section available. 21 & up.
As seen in The Metro Pulse Restaurant Guide
If you can’t find some way to have fun at Ray’s, you probably aren’t trying very hard. The bar, restaurant, and a year-round, climate-controlled patio feature bands most evenings and a DJ without a doubt. They’ve got ladies nights, every pay-per-view sporting package that’s broadcast in Knoxville—Vol football to boxing—and corn hole tournaments.
More cerebral? Don’t despair. Ray’s has free Wi-Fi, electronic NTN trivia and live trivia tournaments, and football bingo (how well you do depends on how the televised games go) on Mondays. You win prizes, sure, but entry is free. For the sophisticate, Ray’s Wine Bar offers great selection and a comfy section of the restaurant to sip from—and no one’s gonna notice if you slip over to the other side of the restaurant for a few minutes to watch wrestling.
While you’re pursuing these pastimes, don’t forget to eat. Ray’s full-scale menu includes items like Asian Shrimp Skewers and pretzels if you’re a nibbler, all the way up to bountiful Surf and Turf for Two, burgers, pizzas and calzones, and Chicken Pecan Salad and such if you want to eat well, but light. At lunch, express options get your food on the table in 15 minutes or fewer, but the whole menu’s available in lunch-size portions, too. They can handle large parties and offer both reservations and call-ahead seating.
And if you’ve been out having fun somewhere else, there’s still a reason to stop by Ray’s late-ish: they serve a full menu until 2 a.m., and late-night breakfast of breakfast pizzas and a signature Skeeter Platter, complete with eggs and biscuits. Fun and filling.
| Locally Owned | Wifi | Patio | Live Music | Accepts Reservations | Party Room (20+) |
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| Kids Menu | Delivers | Buffet | Waterfront | Vegetarian Dishes | Vegan Dishes |
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| Happy Hour | Hard Liquor | Dance Floor | Live Music | Karaoke | Glow Sticks |
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| Darts | Foosball | Pool Tables | Shuffleboard | Trivia Night | Outdoor Seating |
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| Day | Opens | Closes |
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| Sunday | 11 a.m. | 3 a.m. |
| Monday | 11 a.m. | 3 a.m. |
| Tuesday | 11 a.m. | 3 a.m. |
| Wednesday | 11 a.m. | 3 a.m. |
| Thursday | 11 a.m. | 3 a.m. |
| Friday | 11 a.m. | 3 a.m. |
| Saturday | 11 a.m. | 3 a.m. |
| Day | Business Hours |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. |
| Monday | 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. |
| Tuesday | 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. |
| Wednesday | 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. |
| Thursday | 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. |
| Friday | 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. |
| Saturday | 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. |
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Comments » 4
baradvice writes:
Bad food score! Bad service!
tnjohnny writes:
I must first say that the only reason that I tried this place is because I had a 50% off coupon; huge mistake. We went at dinner time on friday and the dining room was empty. This is a place for smokers to hang out around the bar and patio; mostly people over forty. My husband and I are non-smokers so it was unpleasant even though we sat in a non-smoking section. A waitress was smoking at a service station fifteen feet away from us which I thought was very inconsiderate. The hostess gave us a bar food menu and did not even give us a full menu until I requested it. I ordered crabs cake that were more like cakes with a hint of crab. The goopy cinnimon apples were straight out of a can. The onion rings were still doughy; very under cooked. My husband ordered beef filet tips (no mention of them being marinated on the menu). The tips were marinated (over powering garlic) beyond recognition; it could have been sirlon for all he could tell. I am sure that the tips were setting in the frige for a while by the level of marinade penitration. The waitress was seldom to be seen but that was expected since we were the only people in the dining room. Aweful experience! I should have refused to pay. One last thing, Ray's received a score of 69 from the Health Dept! That is a failing grade. Unfortunately, I did not think to check it out before eating there.
KnoxvilleVol writes:
I don't normally write reviews but I read the one above from tnjohnny and could not disagree with it more. I have always enjoyed the food and atmosphere at Ray's and even at Kingston Alley before. Having worked in the restaurant industry previously, I have noticed that 50%-off customers often complain more and tip less. I can personally vouch for the Chicken Philly Sandwich and the Hamburgers. I think they are the best in town. The portions are huge and the food has always been hot and fresh.
I noticed that the person above who had such an unpleasant experience also wrote a review of the Taste of Tai which she found more favorable. If "exotic" food and "tofu" are your thing, then maybe Ray's is not your type of restaurant. Frankly I don't like "exotic" food or "tofu" and I would probably not like the Taste of Tai. I am smart enough not to go there.
To everyone reading this, Ray's is a fun place with a great patio and good hot food. If you like hamburgers, pizza, and sandwiches you will love this place. Don't take the advice of someone who clips coupons...
JasonDB writes:
I ate here a few nights ago on "Texas Hold'em" night. The hostess put myself and my date in the poker section with several other tables that were there only to eat. Two servers were responsible for about 50-60 people and the service showed. Our server was distracted and didn't bring us the correct drinks, took 15 minutes to greet us, and then informed us that Ray's was, "Out of draft beer." No big deal, right? Well, we got four bottles of domestic beer and our drink tab was almost $15. RIDICULOUS. I have eaten here before and do have a base for comparison. The service is always bad, but not usually this bad. The food was good with exception of being overpriced and small portions (especially for a bar). To give you an idea: 4 domestic beers, 2 appetizers, and a half-priced pizza put our tab at $45. Not horrendous, but service was bad, really bad.
I would not recommend Ray's unless you are going when drinks and food are discounted.
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