Wolf Want Meat: Wolfgang Puck Steakhouse

By JULIETTE ROSSANT Surprise, surprise, Wolfgang Puck is finally getting into the steak business. According to The Los Angeles Business Journal, the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group (WPFD) will be opening a steak house in no less than the Regent Beverly Wilshire on Wilshire at Rodeo, replacing the Dining Room in mid-September 2005. I spoke to Tom Kaplan, who heads WPFD, to get the inside scoop. He confirmed that Richard Meier & Partners Architects LLP, who designed Los Angeles' Getty Museum and Jean-George Vongerichten's 66 in New York, has been hired as architect. Kaplan, himself a one-time architecture student, has known Meier for years through family members. During the constructions of the Getty Center, Meier frequented Spago Hollywood and became well acquainted with Wolf and Barbara Lazaroff. "When the opportunity came up to do a steakhouse I suggested Richard," said Kaplan. "I don't believe anyone has ever combined a world renowned architect, one of the best hoteliers, and one of the best restaurateurs in the world, all in one project." According to Kaplan, Meier plans to juxtapose the ornate architecture of the hotel with a minimalist design for the restaurant. Kaplan explained, "It makes sense to choose Richard Meier because his minimalist design goes well with a steakhouse concept: a white plate with a piece of meat on it." Wolfgang Puck and Lee Hefter are still in the early stage of planning their menu, but Kaplan said they are going to focus on innovative service and side dishes, and serious fish dishes -- usually just an afterthought at most steakhouses, added Kaplan. The Beverly Wilshire is managed by the Four Seasons, which is already working with Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining in Hawaii, with their highly successful Spago Maui at the Four Seasons Resort Maui, opened in December 2001. In fact, the general manager of the Hawaii property was recently transferred to the Beverly Wilshire. Though there are four or five other steakhouses in the vicinity of Wolf's new steakhouse, and Spago Beverly Hills is nearby, Kaplan said his team isn't worried about competition or about taking customers from Spago. "Our first duty is to the guests of the 400-room hotel, and the restaurant only has 100 seats. If anything, should hotel guests want a different restaurant on their second night in town, we can send them to Spago." Previous articles Wolfgang Puck Inaugurates Washington Wolfgang Puck Returns to Indiana Coffee Puck: Heats in Your Hands Fly With Wolfgang Puck Express And Now Puck Paints, Two! Wolf Wines & Dines, or Puck's Party Euro Puck Puck in a Box Wolfgang Puck Examines the Examiner