The Cliffs Bar

1 out of 5 stars★★★★★

“Dear SeaCliff Management, I am writing to express my disappointment regarding an incident that occurred on Friday, July 30. I was quietly sitting in a corner of your bar with my service dog and my service dog in training. For approximately the first hour, there were no issues. Both dogs remained calm and well behaved. At one point, a homeless individual appeared outside the window, and my service dog in training gave a single alert bark to make me aware of the situation. Almost immediately, your bartender, Devin, approached me and instructed me to leave the establishment. I explained that I am a retired disabled United States Marine Corps veteran, that one dog is my fully trained service dog, and that the other is a service dog in training. Unfortunately, my explanation made no difference, and I was told to leave immediately. I have been a customer of your establishment since retiring from the Marine Corps in 1998, dating back to when it was Redz. Over nearly three decades, I have never experienced anything like this. My dogs are consistently well behaved, and many of your patrons regularly stop to greet them. As a disabled veteran, I left feeling singled out and discriminated against because of my service animals. Huntington Beach is home to a large veteran community, including many Marines with strong ties to Camp Pendleton. Veterans who rely on service dogs deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. I respectfully ask that you review this incident and your staff's understanding of how to appropriately interact with patrons who use service animals. After nearly 30 years as a loyal customer, I never expected to be asked to leave under these circumstances. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, Frank Lahtinen Retired United States Marine Corps Veteran”