Seward, Chinooks vs. Ray's Waterfront

[morebeaches]

I have posted this before, but it was before the 2009 season had really started. Now that folks have had the chance to try them out this year I will ask again. We will be a group of 10 finishing up a long day. We will have taken the train from Anchorage to Seward, jumped right on board to do the 6 hr Kenai Fiords National Park tour, then checked into the Holiday Inn express. This will be our pre-cruise dinner before departing the next day. So with all this in mind, would you suggest Ray's Waterfront of Chinooks for dinner?

[morebeaches]

I did see a positive comment on Chinooks on another thread, but would like to hear from others

[JerseyJaguar]

I didn't eat at Ray's so I can't compare, but I found the staff very nice at Chinook's and the food was good. I got the cajun salmon.

[seansmother]

We ate at both (my DH and 10 year old DS and I). The locals all recommended Chinooks -- said Ray's was too pricey and not worth the money. We found exactly the opposite. The menu at Chinooks is VERY limited. My meal was just okay (halibut cheeks in white wine sauce over linguini); my husband did love his dish (halibut stuffed with crab/cream cheese stuffing). It was very pricey. Good people. Ray's on the other hand, had a much more extensive menu, great food, we ALL loved our dinners and we spent less there for better food; it's a nice view, and bigger restaurant. We thought maybe the locals don't like Ray's for other reasons so recommend Chinooks? Not sure, but especially for a party of 10 -- I would go with Ray's, you will all be able to find something on the menu, I can't say that about Chinook's.

[surfgram]

We had a nice meal at Ray's in June. We walked to the restaurant after our Kenai Fjords boat tour . Arrived about 6p. Some other folks did the same. Food and service were good and I thought the prices were not out of line. As the other poster said, they have an extensive menu and there is a kid's menu. There was a large family party with kids (about 10 to 12 people) next to us and they had a window table set up for them.

[morebeaches]

thanks for the input....it sounds like a tough call....anyone else?

[sheshells]

Our captain with Alaska Heritage tours recommended chinooks so we did that... it was very good, but about the same price as Rays. I'd say it has less atmosphere than what I saw at Ray's. All seafood is expensive no matter where you go. you can't get much for less than $25/entree anywhere. We got a plate and split it. we were getting on a cruise soon and could eat all the seafood we wanted for a whole week!

[morebeaches]

Anybody else?

[Jana White]

We prefer the atmosphere and food in Ray's.

[abstractcruise]

Went to Seward June. We asked people in town where to get the best seafood, everyone suggested Rays. We got a table with a view of the harbor, go early or make reservations(if they accept them) for a window table. I got the wood planked salmon and it was very good. I would recommend Ray's.

[morebeaches]

Thanks everyone...last time I posted this, Chinooks got the nod, in Trip Advisor it's Rays, now I'm leaning towards Ray's

[morebeaches]

Well some more folks should be back by now and have their input

[want-to-cruise]

I don't want to highjack your thread, but I have read that the Beaches Hotel is in the same area as Ray's and that it has good food. Has anyone eaten there?

[want-to-cruise]

I still have a mistake. It is the Breeze Inn on North Harbor Street.