A couple of years back, my partner and I stumbled upon Raya to celebrate our anniversary, and since then, it has become a cherished spot for us. Whether it's a leisurely Sunday by the ocean or catching the breathtaking sunset, Raya never fails to impress with its ambiance. However, while the service during our anniversary visit was exceptional, subsequent visits didn't quite meet the same standard, and we missed the waiter who made our first experience memorable. Nonetheless, the food remains consistently fantastic, and the drinks are expertly crafted, striking a perfect balance every time. Overall, Raya's picturesque setting and delectable offerings make it a must-visit despite occasional service hiccups.
Paula Healthy
A wonderful evening of food, love & wine!Our server was terrific, the view ?????, Bronzino was delicate and delish. My hubby had the Jidori Chicken (grown in California) which had a char on the outside and very moist on the inside!A romantic evening to remember!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheese Rolls
Sathish A Gajaraju
Excellent service. Great view of the ocean. Delicious food.Parking: Expensive to park. $30 for a couple of hours. Validation is for $15 only
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Cake
leila k
Food flavor was amazing. They recently change the menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason Scheirer
White chicks will use any excuse they can get to wear a sari
UchennaC
It was a great experience overall, I got the warmest welcome from the staff. They attended to my every need and were intuitive to my other needs I did not verbalize. I wanted to take a picture of my special day but was too shy to ask. The wait staff offered to help me take a picture. I appreciated the thought to detail. I felt very welcome, the drive was well worth it!
We had a lovely evening celebrating a birthday! Mary, our server, was exceptional. She made great recommendations for our group of four. The salmon was beautifully displayed and delicious. New York strip was spot on and the sea bass, shrimp and mussels dish was good. Most importantly, the view of the sunset over Catalina Island was spectacular!
RLTF
We celebrated our wedding anniversary by having dinner at Raya! We really enjoyed it. Our waitress was really nice and attentive. The food was very good. My husband and I come here to celebrate and they never disappoint. Although, this year. We weren't able to get seated by the window because of a Valentine's Dinner set special. My husband and I like the freedom of ordering and sharing the food that we feel like having the day off. Don't really care for set menus. Nevertheless, we still were able to enjoy a little of the view of the sunset from the back table we were sat at.
TomM
Made a reservation for my wife and I on Valentines Day. Got there about 10 minutes early. Checked in with the host. Several other couples checked in after us. About 20 minutes later I checked back and was told still waiting for an open table. Meanwhile, all couples after us had been seated. Went in the bar to grab a drink and informed the host that we would be in the bar. After another 25 minutes and a round of drink my wife went back to the host and asked about our reservation, was asked if we had a reservation and told no table yet. When my wife informed him we had a reservation that is now close to an hour past, he asked our name and looking puzzled, he said he had a table for us. Obviously he forgot about us. Service from that point forward was good and food was as well, just poorly executed at the host desk!!
Masa Toyota
The view is nice, the taste is average. The service is quite good, with well-trained and experienced front desk staff who make you feel welcome. There are a few staff members who are rough, but it can't be helped because they are young staff members with only 4-5 years of experience.
The food was outstanding! The atmosphere was delightful, with just the right amount of background noise. Our main waitress was fantastic; she took the time to explain every item on the menu to us. However, my only concern was that she seemed preoccupied with a couple at another table, resulting in long waits before she returned to check on us. Nonetheless, the other staff members were absolutely amazing!
ToddS
The food was incredible. The flavors blended well, and the presentation was artistic. Each dish gave layers upon layers of flavors. Will I return? I'm trying to schedule a dinner there now. Thank you, Raya.
Tess R
Wonderful. Great service, excellent food. Highly recommend for special occasions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
CatherineO
Excellent service from Dean. Branzino was delicious. Overpriced and for the cost, dinner should come with a complimentary bread basket - especially to soak up the sauce from the Mariscos dish. It was an elegant dinner that we greatly enjoyed ?
harlsmits
All the staff were very friendly and efficient. The wine selection was good. I enjoyed the steak but would have liked a bit more veggies on the plate. The pineapple corn cake dessert is amazing. Everyone should get that.
A couple of years back, my partner and I stumbled upon Raya to celebrate our anniversary, and since then, it has become a cherished spot for us. Whether it's a leisurely Sunday by the ocean or catching the breathtaking sunset, Raya never fails to impress with its ambiance. However, while the service during our anniversary visit was exceptional, subsequent visits didn't quite meet the same standard, and we missed the waiter who made our first experience memorable. Nonetheless, the food remains consistently fantastic, and the drinks are expertly crafted, striking a perfect balance every time. Overall, Raya's picturesque setting and delectable offerings make it a must-visit despite occasional service hiccups.
A wonderful evening of food, love & wine!Our server was terrific, the view ?????, Bronzino was delicate and delish. My hubby had the Jidori Chicken (grown in California) which had a char on the outside and very moist on the inside!A romantic evening to remember!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheese Rolls
Excellent service. Great view of the ocean. Delicious food.Parking: Expensive to park. $30 for a couple of hours. Validation is for $15 only
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Cake
Food flavor was amazing. They recently change the menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
White chicks will use any excuse they can get to wear a sari
It was a great experience overall, I got the warmest welcome from the staff. They attended to my every need and were intuitive to my other needs I did not verbalize. I wanted to take a picture of my special day but was too shy to ask. The wait staff offered to help me take a picture. I appreciated the thought to detail. I felt very welcome, the drive was well worth it!
We had a lovely evening celebrating a birthday! Mary, our server, was exceptional. She made great recommendations for our group of four. The salmon was beautifully displayed and delicious. New York strip was spot on and the sea bass, shrimp and mussels dish was good. Most importantly, the view of the sunset over Catalina Island was spectacular!
We celebrated our wedding anniversary by having dinner at Raya! We really enjoyed it. Our waitress was really nice and attentive. The food was very good. My husband and I come here to celebrate and they never disappoint. Although, this year. We weren't able to get seated by the window because of a Valentine's Dinner set special. My husband and I like the freedom of ordering and sharing the food that we feel like having the day off. Don't really care for set menus. Nevertheless, we still were able to enjoy a little of the view of the sunset from the back table we were sat at.
Made a reservation for my wife and I on Valentines Day. Got there about 10 minutes early. Checked in with the host. Several other couples checked in after us. About 20 minutes later I checked back and was told still waiting for an open table. Meanwhile, all couples after us had been seated. Went in the bar to grab a drink and informed the host that we would be in the bar. After another 25 minutes and a round of drink my wife went back to the host and asked about our reservation, was asked if we had a reservation and told no table yet. When my wife informed him we had a reservation that is now close to an hour past, he asked our name and looking puzzled, he said he had a table for us. Obviously he forgot about us. Service from that point forward was good and food was as well, just poorly executed at the host desk!!
The view is nice, the taste is average. The service is quite good, with well-trained and experienced front desk staff who make you feel welcome. There are a few staff members who are rough, but it can't be helped because they are young staff members with only 4-5 years of experience.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
The food was outstanding! The atmosphere was delightful, with just the right amount of background noise. Our main waitress was fantastic; she took the time to explain every item on the menu to us. However, my only concern was that she seemed preoccupied with a couple at another table, resulting in long waits before she returned to check on us. Nonetheless, the other staff members were absolutely amazing!
The food was incredible. The flavors blended well, and the presentation was artistic. Each dish gave layers upon layers of flavors. Will I return? I'm trying to schedule a dinner there now. Thank you, Raya.
Wonderful. Great service, excellent food. Highly recommend for special occasions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent service from Dean. Branzino was delicious. Overpriced and for the cost, dinner should come with a complimentary bread basket - especially to soak up the sauce from the Mariscos dish. It was an elegant dinner that we greatly enjoyed ?
All the staff were very friendly and efficient. The wine selection was good. I enjoyed the steak but would have liked a bit more veggies on the plate. The pineapple corn cake dessert is amazing. Everyone should get that.