Ray's SportsHouse: first look at the new Soulard bar

The Mizzou-themed restaurant is in the old Llywelyn's Pub space

The former home of Llywelyn’s Pub at 1732 S. Ninth St. in Soulard is now Ray’s SportsHouse, a Mizzou-themed bar and restaurant that has experienced great fanfare since opening at the tail end of summer. 

Owned and operated by Corbin Ray, a third-generation Mizzou alum, with the help of his mom Allie Ray, who led the development of the food menu, the new spot in Soulard has had lines of people waiting at the door to get in before they even open on game days. With 44 TVs dispersed throughout the large space, Ray’s has every commercial package needed to ensure any sporting game of your choice can be viewed there.

“We emulate Farout Field [at Mizzou], and the guests are always doing the chants and cheers you would hear at a football game at Mizzou,” Corbin Ray explained. “Countless people come up and say it feels like they’re back in Columbia, this feels like they’re back in college again.”

The food menu, which was conceptualized in collaboration with a team of talented chefs from around town, features elevated bar classics with a twist. Highlights include street corn bruschetta, seared tuna tostadas, chicken wings, potato skins, a few salads, plus some sandwiches and wraps. There’s also a nice selection of beer, both bottled and on draft, plus a lengthy cocktail list of approachable offerings. 

“When Corbin came up with this concept, we knew we would build it around the bar, but it needed to have a strong food program. We could’ve done traditional bar food, but we decided to make sure we didn’t serve traditional bar food. Yes, you’ll see chicken wings, et cetera, but every element is elevated. We worked with a team of chefs to elevate to a degree where the ingredients are different from what you’ll find at most sports bars, like from different parts of the world.” 

One special example of the elevated fare is the Billionaire Bacon, which sparkles with a generous coating of shimmering edible gold dust and can be ordered on its own and is also served with the smash burger. “Black and gold are the Mizzou colors, so we wanted that to be evident in everything from our food menu and decor to the little touches like the napkins and silverware,” Allie Ray said.

The space is just over 7,800 square feet with about 180 to 190 seats on the first floor, which boasts two bars in separate rooms. The upstairs area will become a private events space with its own bar after a renovation is complete in the next month or so.

Ray’s SportsHouse is open from 4 p.m. to midnight Monday, 11 a.m. to midnight Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday, aside from Mizzou game days when the establishment opens an hour or two prior to kickoff.