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Ray's Haus
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants German Coffee & Tea, German [Edit]
5599 Fenwick StreetHalifax, NS B3H 1R2
(902) 405-8303
- Attire:
- Casual
3 reviews for Ray's Haus
3 reviews in English
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Review from Kim H.
7/25/2011 1 photo
I visited Ray's on a Saturday morning around 11am, not sure if they would even be open (could not find any hours for them online, including on their facebook page - I wrote on their wall asking but no one got back to me - NOTE to businesses - don't use social media if you're not going to USE it, know what I mean?)
*endrant*
Anyway, the entrance to Ray's looks a little weird - you have to walk up a cement ramp, which makes you feel like you are heading into a parking garage, and the cement patio area outside looks a tad messy with various pieces of furniture and wood strewn around. This was disappointing, because the patio area is huge and (I think) has great potential. The way it is now, the potential is being wasted. I was pleasantly surprised when we entered, however, as the inside looked much better. The decor has a warm and cozy feeling to it - one corner with a couple of couches looked like a particularly great place to sit and read with a coffee.
The place was deserted and we were momentarily confused, but someone soon appeared and apologized. He was very friendly and took our orders promptly. We had a coupon for waffles and drinks so that's what we had, but I think if I were ordering directly from the menu I would have some trouble. Things are written on poster board pieces pasted over the counter, and I hate to be mean but it was not very professional looking. The writing was small and hard to read - I realize professionally made signs are expensive, but what about a chalkboard?I know I am nitpicking, but with today's readily available technology, I really don't understand why businesses use handwritten signs. It just does not look professional. Type something up! It doesn't have to be pretty! Just readable and clear.
The waffles we had were...not bad. The presentation was good (see attached photo), and the whipped cream with bits of chocolate sauce on the side added a nice sweetness. They were nothing to write home about, but not bad either. I think they were a bit thick/tough for me because I felt full after only one. Not sure if that is due to the batter or the way they were made. It also felt more like dessert than breakfast, and I think given the time of day I was looking more for the latter. He was making something for another customer as we were leaving that smelled really good and omelette-like, so if I went back I think I would order something like that. Maybe it would hit the spot better.
My coffee, however, was quite good and had a very intriguing name - Highlander Grogg. I was impressed that they had their own House Blend. It's funny because most of what I have heard about the place that is negative concerns their waffles and most of the good stuff I have heard concerns their coffee, so I think if they changed their focus to their coffee they might get better reviews (?) I definitely see this place more as a coffee shop/gathering place, and might even do well with a license (similar to the Wired Monk). I'm not a business-owner, but that's just the "vibe" I have regarding positive changes that could be made to the experience.
The whole experience was...nice, but kind of lackluster. The guy was really friendly and we felt welcome, but there was something missing in the food department. Now, this place just opened a few months ago and I always like to cut new places some slack because they often have issues with various things until they get the "kinks" worked out. I will try Ray's again in the future and hope that they have polished up a bit. -
Review from Mickey M.
Halifax, NS
7/3/2011
I purchased a TeamBuy coupon which was for waffles with fruit and a coffee beverage for two. I ordered a latte and my friend ordered a cappacino for our meals and I added bacon and I paid for this additional item.
The latte and cappacino were very good however the waffles were bland and the strawberries had obviously been frozen and were disgusting. The waffles came without the bacon and the server said I would get it shortly - about 20 to 25 minutes went by and no bacon. I could not eat the waffles and strawberries and at this point, did not want the bacon either. I assumed they had forgotten about it but when I went up to get a refund on it, they were cooking it and apologized as they had to thaw it out first. They gave me a refund for the bacon.
The decor is kind of confusing - big couches and tables of heavy wood - they all seem to big for the space.
I wouild return for coffee but not for their food. -
Review from David H.
Halifax, NS
3/30/2011
After Gingerbread Haus, yet another "German" café in the area. "Ray's haus" recently opened on the ground floor of Fenwick Place, replacing the Mediterranean restaurant that used to be there.
(Smart-ass note: nouns are capitalized in German, hence it should be "Ray's Haus" rather than "Ray's haus". Well actually it should be "Rays Haus", since the possessive doesn't have an apostrophe in German.)
I was curious about their pastries since that's what I miss the most here. Unfortunately, I was not really satisfied. The puff pastry was bland, and the filling very North American. Not even close to the real thing. The salesperson told me that he would put them into the microwave since that would make them taste best. I won't be able to tell that to anyone back home since they would get a heart attack because they'd have to laugh too much. The price was very Canadian too: $2.59 plus HST, i.e. 1.7 times to 2.5 times as expensive as back home. (Yes, I'm not kidding. They'd have to cost $1 to $1.55 plus HST here to cost the same as back home. All the good stuff is SO much more expensive in Canada.) I don't understand why anyone would want to pay $2.98 incl. HST for boring North American pastries that are not any better than the ones that Sobeys sells next door.
So overall, you can pass on the pastries. Maybe the coffee is better, or the sandwiches, or the bread, or the meals. But the pastries are definitely better at Gingerbread Haus (at pretty much the same price). But really, they are so much better in Austria or in Germany -- and so much cheaper too.
