WildFin American Grill’s Early Dinner Deal

If you’re looking for a dining deal, try the Early Dinner menu at WildFin American Grill in Farmington. Some restaurants offer an “early bird special” to bring in diners during the pre-dinner rush. After discovering WildFin’s Early Dinner menu, I’ve taken advantage of it several times in the past six months, and I’ve seen a few friends and neighbors there who also know a good deal when they eat one.

The Early Dinner menu isn’t posted on the WildFin website; I guess it’s one of those best-kept secret things. Every day from 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m., you can choose 3 courses for $33 from a pre-set menu. When you get to the restaurant, just ask for the Early Dinner menu. Although I’ve not tried the Riverton WildFin, I called and was told that it also offers a similar early-bird menu as well.

If you love wild-caught, sustainable seafood, this is a great value for the price. (For more about WildFin and its regular menu, check here.)

First, let’s talk about the appetizer choices that I, or those I was dining with, have tried. The wild-caught garlic prawns are sauteed and tossed in a creamy sauce. I’ve had them accompanied with asparagus one night; artichoke hearts and sauteed cherry tomatoes another night.

I’d say this appetizer (regular price, $17.50) is large enough to be an entree. The prawns were plump and meaty, and the garlic sauce is so good you’ll appreciate the soft croutons cubes to soak it up. And, you still might be tempted to lick your plate.

In other starter choices, I’ve had the Superfood Salad and the Harvest Salad, which to me were pretty similar. They use chopped greens, seasonal veggies, diced sweet potato, topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds. It’s a very hearty and healthy salad.

You can also choose the rich, creamy seafood chowder as a starter. It’s loaded with chunks of salmon and white fish.

Other Early Dinner starter choices are Simply The Best Calamari, with jalapeno lime aoili; or Rosemary Potato Bread with the luscious fig butter that one of my friends has raved about.

On to the entrees. I usually choose the Alaskan sockeye salmon, because — wild Alaska salmon! You can get it grilled, or the “seasonal preparation,” both are delicious. There are always small white and purple-ish “marble” potatoes. But because WildFin is into seasonal produce, the other veggies vary depending on the time of year. Last week, it was tender asparagus and grape tomatoes.

When I ordered the “seasonal preparation” in winter, the salmon was perched on brussels sprouts and diced sweet potatoes.

Another time in December, it came with broccoli and grape tomatoes.

I’ve also had the salmon with carrots and fresh green beans. It was a beautiful springtime preparation, although I would have preferred the carrots to be a little more tender. When carrots are served whole, I like them soft enough to easily cut into them without them rolling around the plate. I know other people like them more crisp-tender, though.

On another night, I chose the Oregon coast Dover sole. This white fish has a milder flavor than the salmon, and it comes with a parmesan-pumpkin seed crust. Although it’s not the colorful presentation of the salmon, I liked the chewy farro risotto, sitting underneath the seafood, studded with mushrooms. (Farro is a wheat-family grain, so avoid it if you have a gluten allergy.) As you can see, the Dover sole portions were pretty generous.

On a recent WildFin visit, my friend Ruth ordered the All In Fish & Chips. The beer-battered fish pieces came with a cup of seafood chowder, a pike of crispy fries, and an apple cabbage slaw with just the right touch of tangy sweetness.

Other entree choices are: Peppercorn Crusted Steak, the Wildfin House Burger, and the Seared Ahi Salad.

There are two dessert choices in the early dinner menu: Butterscotch pudding brûlée with its glass-like layer of caramelized sugar on top. It’s rich and creamy, and there’s a mound of whipped cream on the side to make it even more decadent.

The second choice is cinnamon-and-anise sugar-covered donuts, with a maple bourbon glaze. The mini-donuts are great for sharing in a group, but oh, that butterscotch brulee!

To give you an idea of the savings with the Early Bird Dinner, the above-mentioned entrees on their own are around $25 to $42. The appetizers are $7 to $17.50, and the desserts are $10.95. So, you’re spending $33 for a meal that could have cost you $50-70. And you’ll probably take home leftovers for the next day’s lunch.

This Early Dinner Menu has been going for several months, and there’s not guarantee it will continue for any length of time. So get it while you can! And don’t be surprised if you see me there….again.