Fellow food blogger Diana’s recent post about the Wildside Grill in Tofino inspired me to do a post about my past experience there. So, in today’s throwback post, I’ll be doing a brief review about the delicious eats at the Wildside Grill.
Credit: Abi B
Tofino Getaway
Back in March 2011, I traveled to Tofino for the first time on a short getaway with a few friends. I remember that I had researched top eats in Tofino and at that time Tacofino was one of the recommended eateries. Unfortunately, when we went to Tacofino’s stand, we learned that they were actually closed for the winter. As a result, we decided to try out Wildside Grill to appease our fish and chip cravings.
Fresh Off the Boat
Wildside Grill is essentially a roadside diner with a walk up window. On their menu are fish and chips, burgers, sandwiches, poutine and more. It is owned and operated by two commercial fisherman, Jeff Mikus and chef Jesse Blake. Their goal is to offer the freshest seafood straight from the boat and onto the plate. The salmon, shrimp, and prawns are caught from their own boat. Otherwise, they source from local suppliers for chicken, beef, lingcod to name a few.
I like their outdoor seating setup with picnic tables under a covered area. It appears that a lot of drift wood was used to build this dining area. I felt like the vibe really fit with the surf culture in Tofino.
Credit: Abi B
Credit: Abi B
On my visit, I ordered three fish tacos for $13 which consisted of ling cod with cheese, lettuce, avocado, fresh salsa, cilantro, green onion, and chipolte mayo. A quick check of the website shows that the prices have not changed for the tacos 5 years since my visit. The batter was wonderfully light and crispy while the cod was flaky, moist and tender.
Credit: Abi B
Overall Impression of Wildside Grill
Great little road side diner with lots of outdoor seating. The tacos I tried were wonderfully delicious and I am eager to try out their other eats next time I visit Tofino. Rating: 4/5
Website: http://www.wildsidegrill.com/