I have eaten at the WPC in LAX Terminal 2, and agree that it is just average. My question is what is the difference between his cafe and a Wolfgang Puck Grille? A Grille is opening this fall at the new MGM Casino here in Detroit. I am much more interested in the two Michael Mina restaurants going in there instead, but am still curious.

Prepare to be underwhelmed if you go to a WPG.

On Earth, in Los Angeles/Santa Monica/Beverly Hills - Spago (esp. the tasting menu), Cut, and Chinois on Main are all excellent restaurants. I agree the rest of the chain-type stuff is pretty lousy & if I were him, I'd be embarrassed to have my name on them. Although, I'm sure the revenue from them is hard to walk away from. But he should.

The difference in the airport locations is that the employees are all HMS Host or some other contractor. The food is prepared by cooks that are not at the same skill level as WP Cafes owned by Wolfgang Puck and parent company Compass Group. In all fairness, I see the same thing happen with other concepts in airports run by contractors.

The preparation methods for gourmet food doesn't always work when you try to do it assembly line/fool proof style.

My complaint here (one example) is that if you try a Chinois Chicken Salad at an airport location, the proportion of ingredients in the salad is wacked which makes is taste different. Especially when the salads are DRENCHED in dressing.

Go to a WP "company" cafe or even the Express locations in some of the Gelson's and the food is fresher and made to what the standards should be.

Despite that, it is always packed - especially during the evenings.

Absolutely!

Probably lots of first timers that THINK it will be good

Lack of other choices, perhaps?

Whatever you may expect, franchised airport and mall food should be mediocre, there. no other way. This being said (by one of those arrogant French, you know...) the real WP restaurants such as Chinois on Main in Santa Monica are extremely good, inventive and service is nice. I have no idea about the 2 or 3 WP in Las Vegas, possibly overpriced, flashy and mediocre so as not to fall out of the local line.

T2 @ LAX habituee (Thanks, AirCanada!) ~ I can attribute the popularity of the place to dismal choices in T2 (alluded to already).

Trattoria del Lupo @ Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas several years ago ~ remarkably mediocre.

Sorry the OP's experience was found wanting... but thanks for sharing it with this community.

I'd rather dine at the nearby Burger King instead. Or head up to the NZ lounge.

Have also been to the South Coast Plaza WP - in addition to the ordinary at best food I'm surprised that no one has complained about the noisy, cramped environs. I have to believe that if it wasn't for name recognition this restaurant would have closed long ago. The Puck's 5 mi south in Irvine Spectrum is better but that's not saying much