Tom & Ray's Family Restaurant

I was invited by a pastor to this little friendly restaurant for breakfast. The huge pancake was a surprise. The customer service was second to none. I am so happy I got a chance to hang out and support local business.

Sunday late breakfast seated at the bar was very good. Despite a near full house, both the front and back ran well. Service was both engaging and courteous and the food was as good as anywhere; the pancakes perhaps the best around and the Luck of the Irish omelet not one you’ll come across elsewhere. Will definitely return sooner than later.

For our last two visits, we decided to let go of our carnivore appetite and dive into the sea. We had the most amazing fried fish. The catfish was to die for. From the cold Arctic waters and into the deep fryer, the cod fish kept its sweet flavor and flakiness. They were both unbelievable. Thank you Ms. Tracy, Mr. Bernie, Mr. Gary and staff.

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It has been 5 months since we first visited Tom and Ray’s and the love affair still continues. Thanks to Mr. Bernie, Ms. Tracie and their staff, we are always excited to drive the 1 hour (one-way) to their restaurant for our Friday night destination. Upon arrival to the restaurant our eyes immediately go to the Specials Board to see what delicious entrees and tantalizing desserts are being offered. If we don’t tell the waitperson what we want for dessert before ordering our entree, usually our choice is wiped off the board - meaning “gone, better luck next time”. Hence, we learned our lesson and order dessert first now. When you see the dessert menu, you can kiss your diet goodbye. The pandemic and Ms. Tracie’s desserts are not helping our waistline. Sorry doc.

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Damascus, you domesticated me today with your hospitality. We were driving in the general area when suddenly hunger hit us. Fortunately we found this hidden gem. We were given crispy potato chips with Old Bay seasoning while we waited for our food. They were crispy and delicious. For our starter, we ordered the spicy summer sausage soup. At first sip, my tastebuds exploded. The broth, vegetables and bits of sausages brought me back to the time of the Tang Dynasty, when the fireworks were created. The spices added to the soup enhanced the flavor of the soup but were not overwhelming. I never pass up meatloaf or fried chicken when offered by a restaurant. They also had another favorite of mine, Chef’s Salad. Our side dishes were mash potatoes, green beans, mac & cheese and Sky’s fries.
Let’s talk about the best fried chicken I have ever had in my life. It was light, juicy, fried to a beautiful golden brown, and crispy. What a perfection! The meat loaf with brown gravy was to die for. The Chef’s Salad was dazzling. The side dishes were delightful. Then came dessert: carrot cake. I thought I was floating on the Milky Way. It was so good I thought I was dreaming. What a beautiful way to end a meal. I would also like to point out that their portions are extremely generous. Our waitress, Samm, was delightful, polite and knew the menu. Chefs and the kitchen crew, you must love your job. It certainly shows in your food. Folks, whenever you are in this area, please stop at this restaurant for a pure delight.

We visited Tom and Ray’s for Saturday morning breakfast before a long day at work. It was the perfect way to start our day! The portions were huge and the food was yummy! We enjoyed the chicken & waffles and bigger than your face chocolate chip pancakes. It was a sleepy Saturday morning so a bit slower than we were hoping for but the tables setup outside made for a lovely morning so we didn’t mind too much!

My first time here. Ordered the corned beef hash. I took a bite and it is so good I had to snap a picture for posting this review. Seasoned just right. There are some bites with a little crunch, good texture. Potatoes are finely diced. Appropriate portion leaving me feeling satisfied but not overly full. Service is excellent! I will come back. Wonderful brunch. Thank you!