The Old Man and The Sea restaurant

My husband spent our anniversary night violently ill from our dinner at Old Man and the Sea. When booking we were assured by resort staff (Aruba Ocean Villas) that celiacs could be accommodated, but the kitchen is clueless and careless about preparing gluten free food. The staff and waiters were all well intentioned and kind, but communication with the kitchen was totally unclear, and staff don’t have basic knowledge or understanding about allergens, never mind cross-contamination. They’re not knowledgeable about ingredients, and after 3 meals we learned that so much of what is being served is not prepared fresh in-house that the kitchen can’t modify or safely prepare even something simple like hash browns for breakfast. The overall quality of the ingredients was very low - everything from eggs to the sweet potato purée seemed like it had been defrosted or squeezed out of a tube - we’re pretty sure the “catch of the day” was frozen because it was the same catch every day…

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Poor

Other Characteristics

• Good vegetarian options
• Offers outdoor seating
• Reservations recommended