Wildfish is a convenient happy hour stop. Photo by Barry Koltnow (Click to view more photos)

When you write a happy hour column, people make assumptions.

The first assumption they make is that you know what you’re doing. Silly people.

The second assumption is that you know inside stuff, like the location of some pretty good happy hour places.

For the last three years, I have responded to that second assumption with several recommendations, including Wildfish Seafood Grille in Newport Beach.

On my last visit, I was impressed, and I have passed along that impression to anyone who asked. And that led recently to one of those wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night panic attacks.

I had the sudden realization that I was basing that strong recommendation on a three-year-old visit, and that’s never a good idea. A lot of bad things can happen in the restaurant business in three years. For all I knew, Wildfish was now a doughnut shop.

Click here to view more photos from Wildfish

So, it was with great trepidation that I re-visited Wildfish. Well, I am happy to report that I can sleep again … for another three years.

They still offer $6 martinis and discounted appetizers during happy hour, and the food is as good as I remember.

They’ve even added Maine lobster tacos since my last visit, and they are pretty much to die for, although I wouldn’t recommend dying before you earn enough to pay for them. I’m kidding, but be forewarned that the lobster tacos are not discounted during happy hour (they’re $18 for two).

Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with the appetizers that are on the happy hour menu, from the very popular crab cakes to the mountainous calamari.

Wildfish continues its expansive happy hour schedule, with prices in effect Tuesday-Saturday, from 4-7 p.m., and Sunday and Monday, from 4 p.m. to closing.

Contact the writer: 714-796-5051, ext. 1110, or bkoltnow@ocregister.com

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