How many times have you come out of a movie, play, dance event or lecture late at night, hungry with no place to go? Next time this happens to you, remember The Wild Goose. They’re on the far east end of town at 2365 Ashland St. next to the I-5 interchange, and well worth the short drive. They’re open everyday from 6am – midnight, so whenever hunger strikes, they’re ready to satisfy.
The friendly staff awaits you with the choice of a dozen seats along the counter, a handful of tables, and numerous cozy booths. On my last visit I shared the restaurant with a younger couple whispering in a corner, some friends having a girl’s night out, a pair of ranchers, and two families with kids. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed. You’re welcome to take your time here, and with a wide ranging menu the Wild Goose offers up something for everyone.
Breakfast is served from 6am-2pm and I’m told that its the busiest time of the day. They serve eggs, pancakes, french toast, omelets and various scrambles. If breakfast just isn’t complete without a Bloody Mary or Mimosa on the side, this is your place! Prices for breakfast range from $5-13.
Lunch rolls out at 11am and this is the menu you can order from all the way to closing time. It offers 10 varieties of salads, a few soups, chili, hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, chicken and fish tacos, and the perennial chicken fried steak. They have numerous versions of Boca burgers for the vegetarian crowd. Lunch menu prices range from $5-13.
Dinner is served from 5pm-11pm with the last hour of the night reverting back to the lunch menu. Your choices for dinner include 4 pasta dishes including smoked salmon linguine and chicken piccata, 3 steaks, pork tenderloin, chicken, salmon, oysters, scallops, and prawn dishes. All entrees are served with soup or salad, sauteed veggies, and a hot sourdough roll baked locally by La Baguette. In fact, the menu proclaims that “Whenever possible, we use local and northwest products”. They make good on that claim throughout their offerings. Daily dinner specials include items such as blackened red snapper and seafood pot pie. Dinner prices range from $14-20.
The Wild Goose serves up 8 creative appetizers including roast garlic and brie, beer-battered prawns, and house-smoked salmon mousse. They have a substantial wine list, numerous bottled and on-tap beers, and an inventive bevy of specialty drinks with names like “Nutty Irishman” and “Hot Buttered Hazelnut”. Not to be missed are the homemade dessert standards along with another handful of daily dessert specials. They even blend up a choice of fresh fruit smoothies if that’s your pleasure!
For dinner I ordered the petite flatiron steak. The soup of the day was creamy chicken tarragon with rice. It was delicious! A large serving of their many homemade soups makes an excellent late night snack or a meal in itself for the less-than-famished. The steak arrived cooked just as requested. The sauteed veggies were perfectly prepared retaining plenty of crunchiness, and the garlic mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy; no potato skin shards here! I topped it off with a slice of apple crumb pie and a hot buttered hazelnut drink that inspired visions of family gatherings, cabins in the woods, and roaring fireplaces.
So, the next time you’re wondering where to go for a change of pace (a slower one), or its late at night and most other restaurants have already shuttered their doors, the folks at The Wild Goose are ready to serve. Take a road trip (of the mind) to a place where the food is fresh and the folks are friendly. The Wild Goose – comfort food at its finest!
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