Where to eat when in... Scottsdale

An emergency physician is all smiles at an après-golf happy hour

by DR ALEX CHAN • August 2011

Wildfish Seafood Grille in Scottsdale, Arizona is a lively, hip restaurant where you can make a meal out of the appetizers, especially when they’re discounted during happy hour. We discovered this place after a few local Phoenicians recommended it, while we were all waiting for a table at another restaurant. The happy-hour crowd was a youthful one, but it also included budget-savvy snowbirds. After a long day on one of Phoenix’s golf courses, an early supper was a great idea. The Maine lobster bisque was wonderful, with chunks of real lobster added in. The crispy cashew calamari was a pleasant surprise; it wasn’t your typical fried calamari rings, but rather tender slices of breaded calamari mixed with a large bowl of julienned vegetables, cashews and crispy rice noodles, all with a slight spicy kick. The seared Pacific ahi tuna was also nicely done served with shiitake mushrooms and soba noodles in a light broth. If you like raw oysters, this particular week’s offering included Gulf oysters at US$0.50 a piece. We also had the choice of several salads, including a delightful goat cheese and wild mushroom salad and a salad of Fuji apples, baby lettuce and candied walnuts. However, our favourite appetizer was the wild fish all-lump crab cake. Unlike other crab cakes we’ve tried, this one had real crabmeat and didn't contain fillers -- and it wasn’t deep-fried. At half price during happy hour, this was the best buy of the evening. If their appetizer menu is any example of their dinner menu, we're certain it’s worth a venture back for a larger meal, albeit at full price. Dr Alex Chan is an emergency physician from Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Wildfish Seafood Grille Waterfront
7135 East Camelback Road, Suite 130
Scottsdale, AZ
tel: 480-994-4040
wildfishseafoodgrille.com

Happy-hour appetizers from US$5 to US$13. Texas Gulf oysters US$0.75 each.

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