Lao Ocean — Restaurant in Gulf Breeze

TL;DR: (Perfect. Didn't try the sushi yet but I will update when I do. When they ask if you want it spicy they mean spicy in adherence to Laotian norm which to many with sensitive taste buds could be perceived as very extreme. So take it down a notch if that describes you. Please support this establishment.) This place was suggested to me via Google and was on my to-go list for a couple months. It's relatively out of the way for someone who lives in the Pensacola/Cantonment area so I kept setting it off. I love Southeast Asian cuisine as much as anyone could and have had the privilege to travel there and eat their cuisine first hand, both in metropolitan areas and rural country sides. There have been a lot of Thai and Vietnamese restaurants popping up lately and I'm always excited. Is this place gonna pull it off this time? Every time it's been mediocre to outright appalling for me and an even larger disappointment for my wife who was born and raised in Thailand and was exposed to the varied dishes the area and connecting regions have to offer. Plus my in laws are phenomenal cooks, as is the wife. I ordered the Lao papaya salad, with a side of sticky rice, Lao sausage and Lao crispy rice salad to give em' a test run. Papaya salad being one of my wife's favorites she had the privilege of tasting first.... then consuming the rest of it. I ate the Lao sausage and we split the Lao crispy rice. Southeast Asian food is typically a balance or combination spice, sour, salty, sweet, herby and for some dishes bitter components. The herbs used, normally lemongrass, cilantro, culantro and mint set the aromatic tone. When you get a proper dish your initial impression is via the bright, herbal fragrance. It's unmistakable and the best foreshadowing of the gastrointestinal bliss you're about to ingest. Lao Ocean hit every ball out of the park. It was phenomenal and puts every other Southeast Asian restaurant in Pensacola and surrounding areas to absolute shame. Yes, I've been to all of them. It's tucked away in the furthest corner of an L shaped plaza barely visible from Gulf Breeze Parkway in Gulf Beeze which isn't particularly convenient for most people to go to for the sole purpose of eating. If you're a foodie, check it out. If you're curious please try to check it out but if you're passing by just stop by, you won't regret it. If they ever decide to relocate (don't expand and sacrifice quality control, please) they would do terrific in certain areas of Pensacola, the competition in that field honestly doesn't stand a chance. To summarize we have a clear winner in the category, a place that deserves your attention...

We are gulf breeze locals and used to come here ALOT. My wife works at Baptist hospital and they get lunch there a lot as well. I’m not sure what’s happening but this place is going down hill fast. The last 3 times have not went smooth and this last time blew it for me. To the point I didn’t even get it ordered and paid for before we had to cancel and leave. They tried to sneak in a double meet charge for a combo meal. Making the 2 meals (drunken noodle and pad Thai) $58. Mind you that is food only. No drinks or apps. I caught it as I went to pay. 3 workers come to try to fix it. They finally void it to start over so the price is right after admitting fault for trying to charge me double protein. This time they ring it up manually and instead of it showing the normal price with +$8 to add beef. They just change the base price to $24 and $26 per meal making it almost the same price just not showing the up charge. At this point I realized they were trying to pull one over on me thinking I wasn’t going to notice that the price was technically the same just typed up different. I will not pay over $50 for 2 meals with no drink or no sides nor will I support a local business that is trying to take advantage of the people that keep them in business. I own local business’ as well and I would not expect people to use my services if I was out to take...

Definitely 5 stars. If you're looking for a fine-dining experience, this probably isn't the right place. But that doesn't mean it's run-down; it's just a very casual atmosphere. You order your food at the cash register and then they'll bring the food to your table. And they bring a lot of food. The portion sizes are more than enough, and they're always delicious. Keep in mind though, that this is a Laos restaurant, which, while similar, is not the same as a Thai restaurant. That means that the dishes typically seen as Thai will be a little different than you're used to (although, they still have popular Thai options like Thai Iced Tea). All in all, this is a casual restaurant with great, large meal options.

One last note: my taste for spice is high, and if you're like me you'll want a spicy meal. In my experience, even the highest spice level isn't as spicy as I would want it. But this is of course more personal preference...