Great steakhouse DC or VA

[roxie]

Afew years back y'all gave me a great steakhouse recommendation in VA near DC. My sister and business associates ate there and loved it. Neither she nor I can remember the name.
She is returning on a business trip and would love to take customers there again.

Help, please.

[ktmoomau]

I too love Ray's- not just because they have great steak, and I think they do, but their crab soup is so good, and their wine selection and price is just great.

[Fracis]

JR's Stockyards Inn. It is right at the Tysons Corner mall, near Crate and Barrell. I had been passing by it for years, and on a lark, my wife and I stopped in. It was fantastic. the steaks are big, juicy and perfectly prepared. There is a really solid and reasonably priced, though somewhat limited, wine list. Sides are good, and the bread is fantastic. The crackers on the table when you arrive are unncessary, but a homey touch. The prices are far better than many of the chains. Discovering this hidden gem gave me a new addition to add to my Palm, Mortons, Cap Grille, BLT circuit.

[admaneats]

ray's is a good stanby and so consistent!

[MikeR]

Ray's The Steaks is the default recommendation for steak on this board. It's moved from where it was a couple of years ago, so it might not look familiar (it's prettier now) but the steaks are as good as ever. It's even possible to make a reservation. Call [phone] for reservations, location, and parking info - there's a parking garage across the street and a block down that's free after business hours, and it's a short walk from the Court House Metro station.

[foodtrip]

Ray's the Steaks in Arlington.

[DaveSit]

I am befuddled by the many recommendations of Ray's the Steaks in Courthouse. Having been there twice, I can tell you that it is a very mediocre restaurant. When it moved from the cozy little place in that little strip mall in Clarendon to this big restaurant in the current location, the steaks have gone seriously downhill. Last time I went, my NY strip was so lean and dry and it was almost inedible. My wife's filet mignon was tough as rubber. How you could make a filet mignon taste like rubber is beyond me. Dinner for two and a bottle of cheap wine came to $100 plus tips. It is one of most disappointing and over-rated restaurants in this area.

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Ray's The Steaks
2300 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

[DanielK]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I hope you just had an uncharacteristically bad meal.

I've been going to Ray's since a few months after it opened, probably go to either Arlington or Silver Spring nearly every month. And in all that time, I've never had a steak that was anything short of great.

I used to travel a lot for work years ago, and have been to many great steakhouses over the years. Not only do I think that Ray's holds up to some of the best steaks in the country, it's probably no more than half the price of the big guys.

[Steve]

Hi Dave;

Do you still go to Spice and Rice Thai?

I've been to the Ray's in Silver Spring more times than Arlington, despite the the fact that I live in Arlington. Last time I was there I had a great sliced steak dish. Don't know if it is a regular feature of the menu, though. Crab bisque is also tremendous.

I went once to the old Arlington location. My wife and I were underwhelmed, so I know it's possible.

[Dennis S]

Expectations can be dangerous...