Ray's Shanty

Reviews & Tips

• 0

  This was an.... Interesting place! Very casual and laid back. We had the shrimp platter special on Sunday. It's steamed shrimp with Old Bay seasoning on top (shells on) with a side (I got a baked potato and my husband got fries), coleslaw and hush puppies as an appetizer. The food was good.  Didn't eat the coleslaw because its not my thing. Hush puppies were yummy! Baked potato was good. Only food downside was that I wanted to order a garden salad as my side, which was an option on the menu, but they were out of salad when we were there.
  Service was friendly and good. Owner sat at the bar drinking and chatting with customers. Very friendly! A very local, laid back place which was a nice change of pace from a typical restaurant.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 08.12.13 Opal L.

  • Report
• 0

  Steamed shrimp and hush puppies were fabulous. Went twice in two days and will definitely be back.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 07.11.13 Becca H.

  • Report
• 0

  Seriously so happy this place exist, the service is phenomenal!
  
  My family and I were about halfway to our destination of OBX and we decided to stop so I looked on my handy yelp app and this place popped up. It was Sunday so the special was one pound of large steamed (heads on or heads off) shrimp. We got the heads off and they were perfectly seasoned fresh shrimp and it was more than enough to eat. Since we were wondering what the heads on tasted like, our waitress kindly brought us each a heads on shrimp to try and guess what? They were even better! So rich and flavorful. I wish there were places near me that served shrimp like that.  
  
  If you catch yourself in the area make sure to try the steamed head on shrimp. They're delicious! Also good to note they have take out and a Fish Market on site.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 05.30.13 Jennifer L.

  • Report
• 0

  The exterior is nothing to write home about but the service,food and cleanliness is.  I travel for a living and eat out a ton. The shrimp was fresh and very tasty. The service was wonderful.  The owners knew and spoke to the customers like old buddies. The staff and waiters constantly washed their hands and inspected the silverware before wrapping it. When I'm back in the east bank area I will be back!

  Review Source:

  Posted on 05.02.13 Marty B.

  • Report
• 0

  This place was good.  Nothing special but good.  We had wanted to go to Don's on Chincoteague, but the power went out on the main street on the island due to a bad storm, so everyone raced to Rays.  There was a bit of a wait due to the unusual crowd, but it only took 25 minutes for them to seat the two of us.  Our server was very friendly, brought us beers very quickly, and the food was very good if very simply prepared.  The french fries were great, you could tell they were cut fresh then and there.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 08.27.12 Greg S.

  • Report
• 0

  So good. Great service. Best hush puppies that have ever graced my lips. Best hush puppies that have every graced anyones lips. period.
  
  Really nice generous salad comes with every meal. Cole slaw is to die for. Great iced tea, plenty of refills.
  
  I had blackened tuna, it was cooked EXACTLY the way I asked and with a smile to boot.
  
  Boyfriend ordered the scallops and I thought they were gross but no offense to the scallop...all scallops are gross. Bf and dad thought they were scrumptious. Crab cakes were to notch and dad loved his tuna sandwich.
  
  Perfect! Do not miss this place if you're in the area.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 07.20.12 Carrie S.

  • Report
• 0

  Friendly service and nice nautical casual atmosphere. Good food.  The shrimp was excellent and lives up to the rave reviews.  Fresh crispy coleslaw, and addictive hush puppies delicately seasoned with onion.  Burger and salad were standard fare.  Can't go wrong with a shaker of Old Bay on every table along with the salt and pepper.  At lunchtime the dining room was about half full with what appeared to be primarily locals.  Not too noisy, not too quiet.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 06.02.12 Salty M.

  • Report
• 0

  We had a large table and had the opportunity to experience a number of meals.  Steamed and broiled shrimp over rice.... excellent!  Fish... all WAY overcooked and dry.  Service was slow... poor refills, waiting about 15 mins before being greeted by a server.  Crab cakes were deep fried, dry, and uninspiring.
  
  Honestly, I got the crab cakes and could not finish them because I would rather eat the side salad.  Please respect the reviews here as heed my folly.  Get the broiled or steamed shrimp and dispense with the rest.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 05.28.12 Christian S.

  • Report
• 0

  We had a very nice visit out to the shore on Assateague, toured Chincoteague and headed back to Richmond.  We timed it for lunch at Ray's Shanty.  Ms T and Aunt Annie started with Crab Soup.  This was a heavy, tasteless and pasty abomination.  The complaint to the server was handled well.  She admitted that the kitchen management was pushing the servers to sell it and that it had been around a while.  As pasty as it was, I suspect it was never really any good.  She took it off the bill.
  
  We all had fried seafood of one form or another so here is my report.  The oysters had a good briny flavor, making them plenty salty.  They had more batter than they needed, but otherwise were decent.  The shrimp had good flavor and a light coating.  It was over fried making it a little tough.  The scallops were medium rare with a light batter and very good fresh flavor.  These were the best prepared of the three.
  
  The slaw was finely ground, needed salt and was very mild and tame.  It was finely ground and could have used a splash of vinegar.  The hushpuppies were painfully oniony and unpleasant as a result.  I just can't give more than two stars.  The seafood was just OK with each item needing a little help.  Execution of the cooking here is not well done or thought out.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 01.05.12 Jon T.

  • Report
• 0

  We had the 4 item seafood sampler to go, cause we were pinched for time. Soft shell crab, fried scallops, fried shrimp and fried oysters. Scallops and shrimps were top notch. SS crab and oysters ok. Hush puppies more tasty than other places. Crab chowder was very good too. We were early so the food came quick and the young lady was very nice. Overall, we liked what we ordered.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 08.18.11 Chris Y.

  • Report
• 0

  Get a pound of large steamed shrimp. I did (didn't want fries) They are amazing - perfectly cooked and seasoned. My family ate about 1/2 lb off of my dish and I still had plenty.
  Kids meals were good - fried shrimp was lightly breaded (nice) and my daughter loved them. We can't comment on the hush puppies but perhaps you should ask if the menu says they come with your meal and you don't get them.
  Overall it was an excellent value.
  Totally worth the small detour we took off of Route 13 on our way way to Fenwick Island from Williamsburg. Thank you Amber (for very attentive, patient and friendly service)!

  Review Source:

  Posted on 08.13.11 N p.

  • Report
• 0

  The food isn't fancy, but it's good!
  
  I really don't know much about seafood, but I thought all of the food was prepared well. I had the clam chowder (Manhattan style) and Crabcake sandwich. The crabcake was just a crabcake on a bun, but it was really tasty. I also don't know much about hush-puppies, but the ones served at Ray's are delicious! I ate quite a few.
  
  If you're in the neighborhood, I'd definitely recommend Ray's. Good seafood for a reasonable price.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 07.14.11 Becky M.

  • Report
• 0

  Ray's Shanty is a qualified 4*.
  
  *The asterisk is that you must order the large steamed shrimp. Details to come.
  
  You can get a free sample of the all you can eat shrimp, and they were good, but thought AUCE was going to be too much.  Ended up getting a combo plate of 1/3 lb large shrimp, a soft shell crab, and a crab cake, with sides; and an order of hush puppies and the fried mushrooms appetizer.  
  
  The large shrimp were fantastic!  If you come here, you must order shrimp.  The french fries were good, the hush puppies were okay. The crab cake and soft shell were just meh. Wouldn't order the fried mushrooms again.  Other tables had fried fish that looked huge and good if you're into that kind of thing.
  
  So in retrospective, a perfect meal at Ray's would be to order 1 pound of large shrimp.  The cost is less than the AUCE, the quality better, and let's be honest 1 pound for 1 person is a good ratio. Probably wouldn't come back to order anything else, but if you need to escape from Chincoteague and want some shrimp, Ray's is your place.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 06.03.11 Ryan M.

  • Report
• 0

  We started off with the crab dip...which was PHENOMENAL!!!!  Absolutely delicious!  It was definitely memorable.  The Hubs ordered the AYCE steamed shrimp which was ample and cooked superbly.  I got the fried scallops that were so sweet and cooked well.  The service was great too.  All-in-all a good visit.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 01.12.11 Tanya L.

  • Report
• 0

  All you can eat shrimp, delicious hush puppies, good service and an open atmosphere lead to a great eating experience. You won't find better shrimp unless you go to the docks in Hatteras. I got the Sunday shrimp special which was enough shrimp to fill me up with enough room to get ice cream a little later. Great hush puppies with butter melted from the heat melts in your mouth. If you haven't tried shrimp with heads on your missing out. Ask for a free sample.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 08.22.10 Jeremy H.

  • Report
• 0

  4.5 stars.
  
  I miss the old Ray's, which burned down years ago, because you could sit outside with your metal bucket of all-you-can-eat, Old Bay steamed shrimp.  This "new" location is really nothing special in terms of decor -- the exterior looks like an airplane hangar, the interior is a big room with booths and tables.  Not too exciting.  Upstairs there's an antiques-meets-Cracker-Barrel country store, which is just so weird and incongruous to me...I always wonder if they sell anything.  In the downstairs display cases, however, are jewelry made by Ray's wife and items made by a local woodturner like ring stands and Christmas ornaments.  Way better souvenirs of your time at Ray's than a fake-antiqued "Gone Fishin'" sign to hang in your summer house.
  
  The reason you come to Ray's, however, is the shrimp.  This place *should* be called Ray's Shrimp Shanty.  Sure, the other things on the menu are good: Ray's does seafood right.  But the steamed shrimp are some of the best I've ever had, and I never make a trip to Chincoteague without at least one stop at Ray's.  All-you-can-eat if I'm feeling up to a challenge, but the shrimp typically whoop up on me.  So usually I just get the half pound platter with cole slaw and hush puppies.  Lord have mercy, that meal is special.  Hush puppies are speckled with onion, dense, and have a wonderful cornmeal flavor.  The cole slaw is crunchy, slightly sweet, not overly mayo-y, and delish.  But the plump, *perfectly* steamed, Old Bay dusted shrimp absolutely steal the show.  They are fantastic.  
  
  Too bad other reviewers haven't enjoyed their experiences here, because I've never had a bad one in all the years I've been coming.  It's a local institution, too, with the place packed wall-to-wall with friends and neighbors on weekend evenings, so you figure Ray's is doing *something* right.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 06.06.10 MacRae O.

  • Report
• 0

  Ray Twiford has been "slingin' shrimp" for as long as I can remember, and he does a fabulous job. The freshest shrimp and fish you'll find 'round these parts. Most items are fried, but some fish is offered blackened. The blackening spice he uses is wonderful...not too spicy, but tons of flavor. Many folks don't know about Ray's, as it's kind of "off the beaten path" for people vacationing on Chincoteague. But, it really is a treasure worth visiting!

  Review Source:

  Posted on 05.31.10 Laura D.

  • Report
• 0

  Spent 5 and a half years in Maine so I know good seafood.  Got here last Thursday and went to Ray's Shanty that night.  Thursday is $12.99 all you can eat shrimp.  Did it and it was fantastic.  Big, fat, and juicy.  Years ago they used a different seasoning and it was a tad spicy for a lot of folks, but now they use Old Bay so ya'll can eat all you want now.  
  The place burned down in November 2003 and was rebuilt within a year and it's much cleaner and nicer now.  I love this place and everyone from my office that comes out here for a few weeks to work on the island loves it too.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 08.29.09 Kurt B.

  • Report
• 0

  Talking to some more locals I was told to give this place a shot.  As another poster said, everybody drives past this place.  This restaurant is located about 4 miles before the island. Its on the left hand side in a green looking barn.  The locals say they have the best and freshest seafood.  So for our last dinner of the trip, we decided to go here.  I'm glad we did.
  
  This place was packed, but we managed to get a table right away.  A few minutes after we got in, the place was full.  My wife ordered the crab cake platter and I ordered the all you can eat steamed shrimp.  While we were waiting for our food, our salads were brought out and some homemade hushpuppies were also brought out.  Man, these things were sooo darn tasty.  If I wasn't saving room for the shrimp, I would have eaten the whole basket myself.  I did eat one and part of the salad.  They way I see it those are just fillers to prevent me from eating the shrimp =)  The salad were very plain.  They were just iceberg lettuce and two slices of tomatoes.  I will say this, the tomatoes looked very fresh.  I usually don't like raw tomatoes, but theses were actually good.  Well our food arrived.  My wife said the crab cakes were good,  they were nicely spiced and there were huge chunks of crab inside.  She like it.  My shrimp came out nice and hot and seasoned with old bay.  I wasn't done with my plate, when our waitress came by and put about another pound of shrimp on my plate.  I was still going strong.  My wife and daughter were just about done with their meals, when our waitress came by and asked if I wanted another round.  There was no way I could take a full round.  I asked for just a few.  Geeze a few was like 20.  Well I finished all but two I think.  They were nicely seasoned and cooked just right.  I figure I had to get my moneys worth, the all you can eat shrimp was $24.95, so I was going to eat all I could =)
  
  The décor inside is actually pretty good, it's not fancy, but it looks like an old hunting lodge.  There are critters on the wall and nick nacks here and there.  The service was pretty good, they always came by and checked up on us.  Next time we come back, this will definitely be one of our stops.  By the way.  If you are looking for veggies, this is not the place.   From what we can tell, the only veggies here are, the salad and coleslaw.  I would call a potato a veggie.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 06.06.09 Jesse C.

  • Report
• 0

  It seems like most folks, when they are visiting Chincoteague, drive right past Ray's, instead choosing to eat all their meals on the island.  I am from the area and I wonder how they could miss it!  The fish specials are usually fresh.  I am partial to the blackened tuna although recently, the Mahi-Mahi Ray has been bringing in has been my meal of choice.  The steamed heads-on shrimp are always excellent as well (oh, it's just a shrimp head, just peel it off and get on with eating it!).
  
  My dad always teases the waitress that there is a hole in the bottom of the hushpuppy basket.  It is no exaggeration, I have never found a better hushpuppy... about golfball size, usually steaming hot, and with plenty of good seasoning.  No other seafood place I have been to can match them.  
  
  The dining room is often loud and boisterous, but never so much that you cannot hear the conversation at your table.  Open Wednesday through Sunday (closes for the winter), be prepared to wait a bit if you get there during the busy dinner time.  It's worth the wait though.  
  
  Meals are around $10-15 per person.  If you want to go where the locals eat, go to Ray's.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 05.23.09 Benjamin S.

  • Report
• 0

  After hearing so many great things about this place, we couldn't wait to try it when we were visiting from out of town.  Wow...we were underwhelmed by it all.  My wife got the fried oysters and they were way too salty.  My daughter got the kids meal fried shrimp and they were tough and tasteless.  She only ate one.  My son got chicken tenders and when I cut into them...they were raw!!  The waitress brought out a fresh batch and even doubled the number of tenders which was really nice of her because my daughter was hungry (see the fried shrimp).  I got the all you can eat steamed shrimp.  Way overcooked and poor flavor.  Have had so much better!
  
  Fortunately, the atmosphere and decor was pretty nice but other than that I wouldn't come back.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 03.09.09 Tommy L.

  • Report
• 0

  Seriously, you don't know what you are missing.  Fresh, fresh, fresh seafood.  The shrimp are always perfectly cooked and excellent.  Unless you're a Gump, you've probably never had better.  The fish is usually whatever Ray is catching on that particular day.  Fantastic hush puppies, cold beer, and believe it or not, the steaks are a perfectly prepared example of turf.  During the prime dinner hours during the summer, prepare to wait.  On weekend nights, prepare to wait.  Hell, most of the time, prepare to wait.  Believe me, the wait is worth it.  If you're on your way to Chincoteague, you can't miss it.  There is only one terrestrial path there and Ray's Shanty is sitting proudly on the side of it.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 02.14.08 Joe W.

  • Report