One of the things I like most about Wildfish Seafood Grille in Newport Beach is its seasonal menu. (I say it’s just one thing because there’s so much to like – the drinks, the ambience, the patio.)
   
So when the seasons change, I’m always curious to find out what the chef has in store for the months ahead. And Arturo Briones has developed a spectacular lineup of in-season seafood this fall. It’s a crab-lover’s dream: soft-shell crab, king crab, Florida stone crab. You’ll also find Alaskan halibut and Nantucket scallops on the menu. A couple of important notes to remember, though: 1) Early fall marks the end of the season for soft-shell crab, so you’d better hurry if you want to
indulge. And 2) I love what Briones does with halibut, and so do a lot of other people – it’s a house favorite.
   
Here’s another one of my favorite things about dining at Wildfish: You can choose whatever side dish you want to go with your entrée, including Briones’ Truffled Macaroni and Cheese – the perfect fall comfort food. (Other favorites from past visits: the asparagus spears, seasoned and cooked to just the right crispness; and the sugar snap peas with garlic and sesame.)
   
And if that isn’t enough to get you there this fall, the restaurant’s new Wildfish Rewards Gold Member program ought to do it. Dine at Wildfish, and you can get back 10 percent for every $50 you spend. (You’ve got to register for the program, though. Go to eddiev.com for more on that.)
   
Oh, and here’s one more great thing about dining at Wildfish this fall: The weather is still spectacular, but much of the tourist crowd is gone. We locals have our haunts back, and the patio at Wildfish beckons.


Wildfish Seafood Grille
eddiev.com
• 130 Bison Ave., Newport Beach, 949.720.9925
• Hours: Bar, 4 p.m. daily; dining room, Sunday, 4 to 10 p.m.; Monday through Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m.