Catching up with Wolfgang Puck
Legendary chef talks shop, Spago’s relocation in 2018
In the world of food, there are household names, and then there is Wolfgang Puck, whose name is literally in your household—on cans of soup, frozen entrées and every type of cooking gear imaginable. In Las Vegas, the name is still one of the biggest in the restaurant world. His hospitality company operates six restaurants on the Strip and in Summerlin, including the iconic Spago, which is is moving from the Forum Shops at Caesars to Bellagio in 2018. I caught up with the legendary chef to find out all about the big move.
Why did it seem like the right time to relocate Spago from Forum Shops to Bellagio?
A lot of people came to us over the years and said, “Why don’t you put Spago in my hotel?
“After 25 years we felt it was time to reinvent ourselves, much like we did in LA, and enjoy a change of scenery. We have a longstanding relationship with MGM Resorts International, with restaurants in MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, so when the opportunity presented itself to put a Spago in Bellagio, everything just felt right.
Two of the biggest developments in the history of the city’s restaurant scene are the opening of Spago and the opening of Bellagio, which set the trend of having an elite collection of fine dining restaurants at each Strip resort.
When we were in early talks about Spago at Bellagio, I said that same thing. Spago was credited for having introduced Las Vegas to fine dining, and Bellagio is credited with setting the trend. We should be there! Between Bellagio’s central location on the Strip, our partners creating a new home for us with a direct view of the world-famous fountains, and indoor and outdoor seating, it is a