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Ray’s Restaurant and Lounge

Lauren Glendenning

Ray’s is a breath of fresh air because it doesn’t feature the standard mountain steakhouse wildlife and log cabin decor. The place is hip and swanky, with contemporary tables and chairs. The lounge area, located near the windows just as you walk through the front doors, is a happening place for early evening cocktails and appetizers. Leave the day’s stress at the door, order one of Ray’s specialty martinis and enjoy the social atmosphere and some tasty food. In the summertime, the west-facing patio allows the sun to shine for as long as possible.

The steaks at Ray’s are definitely some of the menu’s hottest offerings, but don’t overlook other selections. The appetizer menu has a nice variety of both upscale creative dishes and standard bar food staples. The duck enchiladas are tender and smoky, and the scallops with a creamy caviar truffle sauce melt in your mouth. A crisp crabcake accompanied by a spicy remoulade sauce kick starts your appetite, as does the warm goat cheese salad, which is light and great for summer.

“I try to always have a seasonal salad on the menu,” says Dan Solsbery, executive chef. A panko-crusted trout dish in a champagne cream sauce was so popular that guests kept asking for it when the chef took it off the menu, so it’s back and selling like crazy. Solsbery says it has definitely become one of the restaurant’s signature dishes, but the steaks on the menu are “definitely our best asset,” he says. Juicy, flavorful and cooked to perfection, the steaks at Ray’s are some of the best quality steaks in the valley, he says.



Ray’s has built itself a reputation for its libations. An extensive martini menu features exotic concoctions with fruit infused vodkas and liqueurs. Want a little pick-me-up? Try the espresso martini, a blend of Stoli Vanilla vodka, espresso, Creme de Cacao and Kahlua, or the chocolate raspberry martini, made with Chambord, Creme de cacao and Stoli Raspberry vodka ” both are perfect with dessert or as dessert. Ray’s has also begun featuring glass wines each night that pair with the nightly dinner specials. The special wines-by-the-glass are typically only available by the bottle, so the nightly wine special is an inexpensive way to taste some of the restaurant’s finer wine selections.

Ray’s Restaurant and Lounge 56 Edwards Village Blvd. Edwards 970.926.7480


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