Wish there were a negative rating for this bar and the Karaoke that takes place there. Â It's not the bar that's so bad, except that it's just so freakin' small and the bartenders are rude and your lucky if you can even get past the attitude to get a drink.
I just wish they'd stick to live bands or juke box instead of that crappy Karaoke. Â It's awful. Â The Karaoke girl running the show is ridiculous at best, I was actually trying to find her business on here to complain about the crappy sound, lousy equipment and her drunken behavior but instead decided this was the only place to post my complaint.
Karaoke is supposed to be fun for everyone, not just your regulars and if you are going to boast your business can you at least act professional instead of like a midget whore?
The only good thing I can say is that the Karaoke did have a good selection of songs and the bar was within walking or stumbling distance from my friends house.
Other than that, next time I'll get a cab and go somewhere with a lot more class.
Peace out.
drink prices are reasonable. Bartenders attitude and quality of service varies from poor to excellent (depending on  which one is working). Place is is too small and with the new set up worse then ever when they are busy. Not my favorite bar but it is walking distance from home. I am a fan by default. lol
Review Source:Never going back to Rays again. Went on a Saturday night with a few friends and the place was pretty busy. They had one bar tender working and at first I felt bad her, busy bar and some old folks at the end of the bar kept calling her over and having her make drinks for them (they may have been the owners, not sure). If they were they should have been behind the bar to help her, we waited for 20 minutes for her to take our orders.
When the bartender finally got to us, attitude galore! I told her what me and my friends wanted so that they wouldn't have to wait longer then we had already. She repeatedly demands for our ID's as were handing them to her, then she starts asking who each drink is for (and not because she wants hand us our drinks, this is an interrogation!). We tell her and she says "If I see you pass your drinks off to anyone else, we're coming after you and you're outta here."
Seriously lady? WTF, just give me my (flat tasting) Lagunitas that I've been waiting for nearly 30 minutes to get, just so I can drink it and get the hell out of this crap hole! Then, she asks another customer what they want and pours our beers at the same time, (I had no issues with this until...) she hands him his and takes his money while mine is still sitting on the mat. She then pours a mixed drink hands it to someone else as she is pouring my friends soda, then she reaches in the fridge for our 2 PBRs and finally we have OUR drinks! Â
There are plenty of other bars in Martinez to populate, go there. Stay away from Rays.
This place was terrible. Went there for karaoke on Thursday. The bartenders pointedly ignored me for at least 15 minutes before asking me if I wanted something. I got my first drink, then sang a song. The bartenders were so busy whipping one patron with a riding crop for his birthday and squeezing another patrons bare breasts in front of everyone that I waited for another 20 minutes without any service. The gentleman sitting next to me was kind enough to get their attention to alert them that I would like another drink, and he was promptly flipped off by one bartender and ignored by the other. When I finally was served, I bought two just so I wouldn't have to deal with them anymore!! Â Although the karaoke DJ was nice, it's still not enough to convince me to return. I'm not against sadism or lesbians in consenting adults, but when I go to a bar, I expect the workers will serve me before I get sober enough to be appalled at their behavior!
Review Source:I've been going to Ray's with the same friends for years. Always good people on both sides of the counter and a relaxing environment. But TODAY, this fine establishment heard about the fundraising I'm doing to save my friend's sick dog, and not only made a generous donation but they actually challenged other downtown businesses to do the same and began collecting donations on their behalf. How cool is that!? Dog people drinkon at Ray's Lounge! <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gofundme.com%2Fsaving-googers&s=ede4605adb931bc3b9efa4bd82ed66470458539c3d6045a14a2ba3973bef4c81" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.gofundme.com/…</a>
Review Source:I love when people bash  others publicly and have no idea what there talking about, take the post from MARIE N. who doesn't have a clue about anything or anyone. i only frequent bars for music i dont drink so she is talking publicly about someone doing drugs whatever alcohol is a drug you find all kinds in bars every where, all im interested in is music and being served sodas or drinks i buy people with out a wait. Thats rays for the other bar she is talking about its so good it went out of business lol. Martinez is a great little town like walnut creek 25 years ago and Rays is good times.
Review Source:I love this place!! It is my home away from home...the bartenders are all amazing and it is so much fun on Thursday nights for karaoke, also a great place to just hang out and have a drink. I love the ability to walk in any time of day and just have a laid back low key place to enjoy a drink. The owners are the most amazing and kind hearted people I have ever known. You may call it a dive bar but if you take a few to have a chat with some of us regulars you will find that we are all average everyday people that usually have a smile on our face and are willing to chat.
Review Source:I guess there's some kind of issue that the Ray's Lounge people have with the New Management at "Tthe Station"? 1-block down. Something about management having to get rid of some bartender friend caught doing drugs on the job or something (Ray's lounge regulars they think the person should have had more chances..lol). I dunno, everyone here seems imbred, but it works with the divey atmosphere. I'm sure the person works at Ray's now, probably a better fit. Whatever, read to the bottom for comparisons :D
We were bored on a THURSDAY NIGHT. We LOVE to people watch and we found the PERFECT SPOT. This is most def a dive bar. Without exception, we ALWAYS see plenty of train wrecks. This night was no different, it was Karaoke night. We arrived after 9pm, so everyone was good and drunk.
We ordered vodka crans that were heavy on the vodka. I was disappointed when I saw that they use "Toca Vodka", that's the stuff is probably the cheapest possible vodka and I've never seen it used anywhere else. Where do they even get that crap? But hey, for $4... it's part of the experience right? We drank several. They were cheap and looked to be poured heavy on vodka, but after 3 each... we weren't even buzzed :(
After about 45 minutes, we looked at each other, polished off our drinks and left. We were hoping for some drunken fights, homeless visitors, etc... we saw that. As well as some really drunk (obviously regulars) singing their hearts out. Good times.
PS When you think things are getting kinds rowdy, grab your belongs. Otherwise, some drunk-azz will likely fall on you and spill drinks all over your stuff. Happens all the time :P Â Â
***ALSO, we found that "Tthe Station" (with 2 T's) is under NEW MANAGEMENT is IS OFF THE HOOK on a THURSDAY NIGHT and is just at the end of the block. We found it on accident one night, when we followed the music :D Live DJ plays all requests, DANCE floor, drinks are WAY BETTER (for the same prices). GO HERE when you're done people watching, they have FOOD TOO!
We're a bit picky about our pubs. We like low-key dives, and are especially fond of those that come with heavy handed barkeeps. This one delivers on both counts.
The regulars couldn't be bothered with a couple newcomers, but they all seemed well-hammered and may not have even noticed us. The bartender was cool and made sure we were taken care of all night.
I seldom write a review, especially a negative one, but let this be the first. After spending an eventful night in Walnut Creek, I decided to give it a go once again after several months to visit Ray's lounge downtown Martinez. As before, I was greated by the same bartender "it's slow, I'm cranky, I'm closed!". Same scenario as at least twice before. Will I try again in another 2-3 months, not likely and this is a shame since I have been a patron of Rays almost 20 years since 1993. In general, things may appear to be slow, however just down the freeway in Walnut Creek that same evening was practically a block party. Goes to show you that yes, a single person can turn a fun evening destination spot into a ghost town, which is very unfortunate for business's like the KJ team that try's to add value to the evening and especially the locals that once had a decent place to hang out after a hard day's work. Will the owners read this or even care, are they concerned about the business decline or is Ray's just simply a tax write-off? Perhaps those who like the old West can visit downtown Martinez, but be cautious of the tumbleweeds.
Review Source:Ray's Lounge is Martinez's answer to Boston's Cheers!
Back when I was going to "that OTHER bar", friends and I would take so-called "field trips" down to Ray's. I always noticed that the staff was friendly and attentive. After a few far-between visits, the owners were saying "hello" to me, greeting me by name, like I was a regular. However, back then, it wasn't the "cool" place to go.
BOY, WAS I WRONG!
Once Ray's took on karaoke and quite a few more awesome bartenders, I started going more and more frequently.
To sum up this love letter for my favorite hometown bar, let me just say that my times there have included immeasurable laughter, at least one new friend per night, my PROM-themed 25th birthday party (thanks, B & L again for all your help and letting me use the place!), an amazing Canadian band (just last week!), and SO much more.
If you're looking for a place to kick back (on a couch next to a fireplace) with an amazing drink (try a local concoction, or your stand-by), listen to some tunes (open mic, karaoke, great jukebox), and get away from the world (no windows, dim lights)..... then Ray's Lounge is DEFINITELY your place to go!
I am definitely a fan. My sister and I wanted to do a random pub crawl in downtown MTZ (we grew up in these parts) and ducked in here...we were the youngest by about thirty years, but after the initial odd glance, were old friends with everyone at the bar. Friendly staff, jukebox, surprisingly clean bathrooms. I'd go back!
Review Source:I was completely blind sided with how coooool this place is!
We have been invited here in the past by some people and never wanted to go because we were admittedly scared of most of the bars in Martinez.
I love this place!
Big fireplace, big comfy couches and many chairs in the lounge area.
A big nice bar. Fast, friendly bar tenders. Its just a relaxing cozy spot to come and have a drink.
We will be back, oh yes, we will be back.
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