Wolfgang Puck Cafe.....not what we expected
Dec 18, 2006 | 4:38 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Posts: 3,780
Wolfgang Puck Cafe.....not what we expected
We had lunch at the WPC (Wolfgang Puck Cafe) at South Coast Plaza (Santa Ana, California) on Saturday. We went there for three reasons:
The calamari and its curry sauce were FLAVORLESS. At the very least they were flat and seemed to have no salt (and we are usually sensitive to things being TOO salty). It just had no taste....it was so odd. Even after adding a tad of salt it was disappointing. We didn't complain or send it back because it was complimentary after all.
Then the sandwiches came. Fortunately, both the sandwiches were very tasty. But the ceasar salad dressing was so light and bland that it again was tasteless. I eat salads daily and this was so flavorless that I didn't even eat it. The fries were "OK" but again were lacking in any seasoning and my husband hardly ate any of them -- figured they weren't good enough to waste the calories!
The restaurant was really busy and we decided to not make an issue out of any of the three, but left the place very bewildered. Of ALL places to serve tasteless calamari, ceasar salad, and fries.....a WOLFGANG PUCK restaurant
OK, sure, it's not a 'full fledged' restaurant.....they do call it a CAFE, but still. If it were a no-name place we happened onto we might have just thought we picked an inferior place, but since it has his name on it, we were very surprised that such basic things were subpar.
So, anyone else have any experice with a WPC?
The calamari and its curry sauce were FLAVORLESS. At the very least they were flat and seemed to have no salt (and we are usually sensitive to things being TOO salty). It just had no taste....it was so odd. Even after adding a tad of salt it was disappointing. We didn't complain or send it back because it was complimentary after all.
Then the sandwiches came. Fortunately, both the sandwiches were very tasty. But the ceasar salad dressing was so light and bland that it again was tasteless. I eat salads daily and this was so flavorless that I didn't even eat it. The fries were "OK" but again were lacking in any seasoning and my husband hardly ate any of them -- figured they weren't good enough to waste the calories!
The restaurant was really busy and we decided to not make an issue out of any of the three, but left the place very bewildered. Of ALL places to serve tasteless calamari, ceasar salad, and fries.....a WOLFGANG PUCK restaurant
OK, sure, it's not a 'full fledged' restaurant.....they do call it a CAFE, but still. If it were a no-name place we happened onto we might have just thought we picked an inferior place, but since it has his name on it, we were very surprised that such basic things were subpar.So, anyone else have any experice with a WPC?
Dec 18, 2006 | 4:54 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,542
There used to be a WPC at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. Right before it closed, a friend and I were there for lunch. We ordered the popcorn shrimp salad and got an extra bonus -- live maggots.
The manager was horrified, but not nearly as much as we were. He gave us each his card, with a handwritten note for a free meal there anytime we wanted it. Nearly five years later, I still haven't wanted it.
The manager was horrified, but not nearly as much as we were. He gave us each his card, with a handwritten note for a free meal there anytime we wanted it. Nearly five years later, I still haven't wanted it.
Dec 18, 2006 | 5:04 pm
#3
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They really are bollocks arent they? I too had high expectations when I spied my first WP at ORD many years ago. Been badly disapointed at every one of their airport locations but I keep giving them the benefit of the doubt (silly me).
Dec 18, 2006 | 5:13 pm
#4
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Dec 28, 2006 | 6:11 am
#6
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Good review.
ALadyNCal,
Thanks for "takin' one for the team." I was thinking of going there with a few friends, simply because it is now an iDine restaurant. Having never been there, I didn't know what to expect. After hearing your review, I asked a few of my other friends that had been to other WPC's and they said it wasn't all that great either.
Guess we'll try some other iDine location.
Thanks,
Steve
Thanks for "takin' one for the team." I was thinking of going there with a few friends, simply because it is now an iDine restaurant. Having never been there, I didn't know what to expect. After hearing your review, I asked a few of my other friends that had been to other WPC's and they said it wasn't all that great either.
Guess we'll try some other iDine location.
Thanks,
Steve
Dec 28, 2006 | 9:18 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,449
I *always* avoid Europe because the food is so terrible and, amazingly, across the entire continent. 
Anyway, I've eaten at ORD & MSP airport locations. Completely underwhelming, though maybe a preferable alternative to a fast food burger. Or maybe not. My conclusion is to get nothing but pizza if I go there because everything else has been completely disappointing -- especially the burger.
Dec 28, 2006 | 1:15 pm
#10
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On what planet is a Puck restaurant considered good? He sold his soul a long time ago, and remains the most over-extended, lowest-quality-managing, most-infrequently-visiting superchef ... an order of magnitude more over-extended at Ducasse, Robuchon, Emeril and others.
A Puck name on a resto has as much to do with Puck as a YSL logo on a Chinese knockoff has to do with the former coutorier. Heck, a McDonald's has more to do with Ray Kroc than a WPC has to do with Wolfgang.
An Applebee's menu with prices doubled and a Wolfgang Puck logo is just like a K-mart jacket with a piece of paper that says "Armani" on it stapled to the lining.
A Puck name on a resto has as much to do with Puck as a YSL logo on a Chinese knockoff has to do with the former coutorier. Heck, a McDonald's has more to do with Ray Kroc than a WPC has to do with Wolfgang.
An Applebee's menu with prices doubled and a Wolfgang Puck logo is just like a K-mart jacket with a piece of paper that says "Armani" on it stapled to the lining.
Dec 28, 2006 | 1:21 pm
#11
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Actually, I've eaten at the WP in ORD a couple of times (fool me twice, shame on me) and I would prefer Applebee's.
Dec 28, 2006 | 2:06 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2004
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That was *exactly* my thought when I read the previous post. Give me Applebee's over Puck's (which I have for sometime been calling Wolfgang Puke's) anyday.
Dec 28, 2006 | 4:14 pm
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Dec 29, 2006 | 8:55 am
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