WildFin American Grill — Restaurant in Tacoma

I like Wildfin American Grill, especially the one on Ruston Way in Tacoma, Washington. As soon as my wife and I walked into the restaurant the staff greeted us. I asked if there was a wait, but the young lady up front wasn’t sure. She asked the manager, who came over to tell her to check with another young lady at the front, and said, “She could tell you.” Both young ladies looked up the seating chart, and we got seated right away.

The only thing is I asked for the booth seating, she said, “Oh, that’s not available, we try to keep it to one side.” About 20 minutes later, she seated a couple in the same booth seating she couldn't seat us.

Daniel, our server was good. He greeted us and took our orders.

Appetizers: We ordered the steamer clams and the calamari for appetizers. The clams were delicious, but a bit overkill with chopped jarred garlic. It's almost the same amount of garlic as the sauce. While eating the clams my wife bit a piece of gravel, which shook her teeth. The calamari is cut into big chunks (thick), but it's good, especially with the dipping sauce.

Main Course: I ordered the Ribeye Steak and my wife ordered the Peppercorn Steak. Both are medium rare and plated beautifully! My steak looks good, but my wife’s peppercorn steak looks partially burnt.

I try to slice a couple of pieces of the ribeye steak it barely cuts due to the dull steak knife, but I'm able to wiggle through to get a couple of pieces. I gave the first slice to my wife, and the second she bit into it she said, “I tasted gas.” She almost spit it back out. But, “I told her it's okay.” Then I took a bite of my piece it's exactly as she described. The steak the whole plate smelled and tasted like gasoline. She tried to eat one of her peppercorn steaks it tasted the same. I keep telling her it's okay, while I've been eating my steak and the green beans also tasted like gasoline. There were customers around us so we tried to keep it down. Our server was busy and didn't get time to come around so I, especially continued eating while my wife stopped after eating her first slice of the peppercorn steak and salad. I kept eating almost half knowing it smelled and tasted like gasoline. We then asked for our check. Daniel asked if we wanted the box for the leftovers. We thought about taking it at first. Rinse it off and recook. But, then we decided not to take it. We told Daniel about the tastes and smells of the food. He went back and talked to the cooks and as well as the manager. They told him that it may have been the butter they put on that made it flame up. I told him, “No, it was not the butter.”

Having to cook (steak grilling), and eat at various places I know what butter tastes like. With 24+ Million of you Viewers out there, let me describe how this tastes. It's like when we start up a grill, especially one with the charcoal you squirt a bit of gasoline to make it flame up. Instead of waiting for the gasoline to burn off, the steaks were put on the grill right away. Therefore, it absorbs the gas from the grill. I don't know how much and how many times it got sprayed on there. Both steaks got absorbed by the gasoline including the vegetables. The french fries were good though. It was nice and crispy. I did not taste it on my fingerling potatoes either. That tells you the fries and potatoes were not a part of the grill cooking.

Anyway, five things were ordered the bill came to $145. After the initial complaint to Daniel, I noticed he shared this info with the manager. He came back and knocked off $22. After we told him that we were not taking anything to go, he talked to the manager (again), and took the peppercorn off the check completely. I said to Daniel, “I'm sorry, I don't mind paying the whole bill we already ate some.” But, he noticed my wife only had a slice of her steak and left everything on her plate. He also apologized. We paid for four items, tipped 20%, and took off. The total bill came to $120.

I wish the cooks were honest and able to correct the mistake. So, the restaurant gets...

My visit to WildFin American Grill was an absolute delight, offering a perfect blend of exquisite cuisine, impeccable service, and a welcoming ambience. Located in a vibrant setting, this restaurant truly stood out as a memorable dining destination.

To start with the food, we indulged in their grilled seasonal salmon and prawn scampi. The grilled salmon was a highlight, cooked to perfection with a tantalizing smoky flavor and accompanied by seasonal vegetables. The freshness of the fish and the expert preparation showcased the kitchen's skillful execution. The prawn scampi was equally impressive—plump, succulent prawns bathed in a flavorful garlic butter sauce served over a bed of al dente pasta. Each bite was a burst of delicious flavors that left us wanting more.

The service at WildFin was outstanding. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and offered excellent recommendations. The staff ensured our dining experience was seamless, from promptly taking our order to checking in on us throughout the meal. Their professionalism and friendliness added to the overall enjoyment of our evening.

The ambience at WildFin was inviting and lively. The restaurant boasted a modern yet cozy atmosphere, with tasteful decor and ambient lighting. The comfortable seating and spacious layout allowed for a relaxed and enjoyable dining experience. Whether you're looking for a casual meal with friends or a special occasion dinner, the ambiance at WildFin sets the perfect tone.

Let's not forget about the drinks—each sip was a delight. The bar menu offered a fantastic selection of cocktails, wines, and craft beers. We paired our meal with a refreshing local white wine that complemented the seafood dishes beautifully. The attention to detail in the drink selection further enhanced our dining experience.

In summary, WildFin American Grill surpassed expectations on all fronts. From the delectable dishes like the grilled salmon and prawn scampi to the exceptional service and inviting ambience, this restaurant delivers a memorable dining experience. I would highly recommend WildFin to anyone seeking outstanding American cuisine served with warmth and flair. I look forward to returning to explore more of their menu and enjoy another delightful evening at this wonderful...

My wife and I made reservations over a week in advance and were seated as far from the ocean views as we could be. We ordered the calamari and rosemary potato bread for starters. The bread was good and fresh but not sliced all the way through which caused a struggle with a steak knife. Not ideal if you’re wearing anything with sleeves. The calamari was overcooked and dry. Our starters were nowhere near finished when entrees were delivered. We had to poor our own wine from the bottle we ordered.

My wife ordered a filet mignon that was delivered and looked like a tiny ribeye. Certainly not like any filet mignon I’ve ever seen. We sent the steak back and were told it was indeed a filet and were asked if we still wanted a new steak. It had already gone cold while finishing our appetizers and waiting for our server’s attention (we had to flag down a bus boy).

They brought another and insisted that we were asking for a “center cut” filet and that this was a tenderloin filet. I’ve ordered many filets and never seen one like this. Quite frankly, you can’t call something a filet mignon if it’s not, so just call it something else. The manager brought its replacement to our table along with an unwelcome predatory attitude, insisting that my wife cut into it while she watched, which was obviously irrelevant to the issue we complained about. It had a nice sear and was the proper temperature but hadn’t rested and my wife’s plate was swamped with blood. My salmon was ordered medium rare (as the chef suggested) but came overcooked—gray on the bottom and white fat coming out of the sides—dry as a bone.

We paid over $200 for dinner and it was intended to be a celebration. It’s a great location, but not our first poor experience, and their second/third chance did not go well. I can’t recommend Wildfin. In sum, it’s not a nice restaurant although it pretends to be. For the price, you’re much better off with others in the Tacoma area, including some incredible dive bars. The server was nice, so we were polite and offered constructive criticism but we don’t feel the need to go back, unfortunately. We wish them the best of luck and hope that our...