The Wildemount offers quality food in a pleasant setting

Dede Biles, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

Jan. 24—Based on the intro on its Facebook page, The Wildemount is "a fine dining establishment that offers a friendly atmosphere."

The new restaurant opened officially Jan. 20 at 200 Park Ave. S.W. in downtown Aiken.

And according to Michael Stern, who writes the "Taste of the Town" column for the Aiken Standard and has dined there, The Wildemount lives up to its billing as an unpretentious eatery.

"The service is very friendly," Stern said. "It's not the least bit snobby."

Employees wear blue jeans and are eager to please.

"They are really nice and seem to be happy doing their job," Stern said. "It's a welcoming restaurant. It's a pleasant place to be."

As for the food, it's similar to The Wildemount's ambience, in Stern's opinion.

"It's easy to like," he said.

The options on the menu include Sicilian-Style Salmon, Coffee-Rubbed Strip Steak, Shrimp Alfredo, Chicken Piccata and a Thai-Tuna Burger.

There also are appetizers such as Spinach-Artichoke Dip and Blackened Shrimp, salads and a few desserts: Triple-Cheese Cheesecake, Red Wine Poached Pears and Cranberry-Orange Pavlovas.

The dishes are "high quality" and "are all done well," Stern said. "It's vaguely familiar food, sometimes with a creative twist here and there."

Samuel O'Lone, who owns The Wildemount, could not be reached for comment.

But according to the eatery's website, he is from New Hampshire, has "always had a passion for food service" and has "visited Aiken for many winters when his sisters brought their horses to town."

During those visits, O'Lone "fell in love with Aiken," and "when given the opportunity to open a restaurant in Aiken, he jumped at the opportunity," the website says.

The Wildemount's operating hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Its location is the former site of the Solo Vino Wine Parlor, which opened in 2019 and closed for good last summer.

For more information about The Wildemount, call 803-262-5269 or visit the-wildemount.constantcontactsites.com.