Ocean Bleu Seafoods at Gino's — Restaurant in Newport

I've live on the coast for thirty years, and just started coming here because I moved nearby. First couple times were amazing, the chowder was exceptional. Not this time. I'm a queer individual, visibly so. We come in, the young server takes a look at us and glares, looking at me as if I were a piece of roadkill that just walked into her restaurant. She silently guides us to our table, I ask her for diet pepsi. She says "Oh we don't have-" and just starts to walk off. I say "Uh, yeah, you do, I've been here before" She glares again, walks off, comes back with our sodas like ten minutes later, even though everyone in the restaurant is already sat down with their food and it's the dead season on the coast for tourism. We look over the menu happily, figure out what we want within five minutes and...begin waiting. About twenty minutes go by, everyone in the restaurant is fed and seated but us. Another young server comes up to the table "Can I get you anything else?" I say "We haven't ordered..." and she disappears to get our...waiter? When we had a waitress before. We're about to get up and leave after another 20 minutes has passed, we're giving them a chance at this point because they've been so nice in the past. Finally, a man comes out and takes our order, I mention that we'd been waiting a bit and ask if there's an issue, he apologizes and offers a free bowl of chowder, even bringing it in about five minutes. Not thinking, I take a bite and it tastes...old. Like, really old. My partner politely eats a bit more of it, but the entrees we order come out right away. Without even enough time to cook them. Not thinking, I take a few bites. I got the salmon pesto, one piece was properly cooked, the rest were crispy on the outside and completely raw on the inside. They hadn't cooked it. At this point, I stop eating and begin to feel immediately queasy. I look over to my partner's plate, and his calamari looks...wet. He's taken a few bites, but whispers to me "It's not cooked" I look up, and begin to notice that restaurant staff has taken over the seating area around us, and are glaring. At this point, I got up, we paid, and didn't tip (which I've never done before). Went home, partner got sick and fell asleep, I puked for over an hour. I had loved this restaurant up until this point, so I almost feel bad saying something, but the way I was treated here made me feel both unsafe as a queer person and also incredibly ill. As I've said, I've lived here for thirty years and know the restaurants to go to and the restaurants to avoid...this one, avoid at all costs. NEVER COME HERE IF...

*The response from owner is dishonest, evasive and untrue. My "furry animal" is a service animal and not a pet. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses that serve the public must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas where the public is normally allowed to go – including the indoor dining room. Anyone with a disability should be treated equally and no different than those who are without a service animal. The table my children and I sat at was far from being the only table available. There were many tables available which is why a waitress offered to move us closer to the patio. I have no problem with sitting outdoor/patio but the waiter who helped us was incredibly rude and lacked any service skills. But thankyou to the waitress who checked on us! She was very kind to my children and i.

I had my service animal with me and my two children. One of the staff immediately told me to remove my dog from the premises. She was wearing her service animal tags. When the host told the other staff member that it was a service animal he rudely stated, "sit her outside on the patio!" The entire restaurant heard the situation. It was embarrassing to be treated as if myself and my service animal who assists me for my disabilities are nuisances. To top if off, I was never led to a table. The man who had been extremely rude set our table up in the very back corner of the patio where a hose was leaking everywhere on the pavement and it was furthest away from all of the other tables. My dog wouldn't sit for me and water was entering my shoes. I also had a brace on my foot due to an injury and water was getting on it. My older daughter sensed how rude he was as well which was truly disappointing.

There was a lady there who asked if we would like to move closer. At first I was so upset that I said no, but since my dog was uncomfortable and would not sit in running water, I took her up on the offer. My dog is a golden retreiver service animal and well trained. My dog also was working. I'll never forget the woman who was kind and sweet and I would have loved to have her as my waitress. We have been here before and I was excited to go there again but I think this pretty much sealed the deal for not going back.

It is illegal to discriminate against someone with a disability and with a service animal. To be treated any different than those who are not disabled is wrong and unprofessional. It also goes...

Unlike some restaurants which on your first time are really good and then disappoint everyone on the second visit like some restaurants on the coast have done this VK season, Ocean Bleu is a shining star. Don’t know if it’s a family owned/run business, but you are immediately treated with warmth, respect, and appreciation for coming in. This was the way it was on the last 2 visits, which were a year apart. Although it looks a bit dodgy as opposed to the attempted upscale or more modern decors, it is very clean and has an unpretentious atmospheric. This makes one immediately comfortable. The menu items are enticing with all of your normally desired selections. But they excel in taste & proportion size. My group on two different occasions singled out the fish stew, the fish and chips, and the clam chowder. The berry cobbler is enough for you to auction off your firstborn. It’s served hot with a large amount of ice cream. Truly these things are incredible. Even the salads were amazing. I would also highly recommend the Bloody Caesar with a loaded garnish which is routine. The waitstaff who were young, worked very diligently to provide excellent service. This has not been my culinary experience with many restaurants along the coast who’ve struggled with staffing shortages including here in Newport. Can’t determine if the reason is a feeling of entitlement or if it’s a lack of training, concern for job appreciation, or just having a really bad day. This restaurant absolutely is a must for me and those whom I bring. It stands out as few do over the long haul. It was the best food, service, and experience we’ve enjoyed here. It just continues to make me proud to know this kind of business...