Wolfgang Puck dishes out details on new Charlotte Pizza Bar

Pioneering Chef Wolfgang Puck talked to wsoctv.com about his new restaurant WOLFGANG PUCK PIZZA|BAR which is now open in Phillips Place.

Why did you choose Charlotte for your first "Pizza Bar"?

"We have been here already before and you know sometimes it's luck and sometimes it's to meet the right people. I knew someone here who suggested that it would be a good place to start out. Also, it's a little bit more realistic. When we open an L.A. restaurant it's always crazy and everybody knows us, so it's different."

How is this restaurant different from your others?

"It's a new concept and we want to see how it will fit into what we do. You know it's our first time doing this style restaurant so we might change a few little things here and there but I think all and all we wanted to create a restaurant which feels comfortable to everybody. We don't want to create a restaurant which is so hip that only the young people like it. We wanted to have a restaurant where we focus on the food and the service."

Part of your WELL (Wolfgang's Eat, Live, Love) philosophy includes partnering with local farmers in order to ensure fresh ingredients. Will you continue this here in Charlotte?

"Since 1982 I have done this, and at first I never really told anybody because I thought it was so normal. I went to the farm to pick up vegetables and eventually the farmer's son would come to my first restaurant, Spago, every Sunday with his van full of vegetables. If you keep the farmers happy, they will continue to grow. We are using lots of local farms in our dishes here and you can view them all on our website. Obviously it's a lot easier for us to get fresh produce places like here and California, but if you are somewhere like Minneapolis with tough winters it's a lot harder. I am actually going to the Farmers Market here in Charlotte tomorrow morning to see what you have here. I always seem to find amazing things at the Farmers Market"

What can people find on the Pizza Bar menu?

"Well pizza, of course. We actually perfected the new pizza crust for this restaurant. This is the first crust where the specialty dough takes nine days to make. It really gives it a different texture, flavor, and look. The restaurant also serves soups, salads, pastas, sandwiches and more. We also have an extensive beer, wine, and cocktail list."

How do you feel about the DNC coming to Charlotte in September? Did you consider this at all when picking the location for this restaurant?

"I know one thing for sure, I don't want to give the DNC any credit for this. I think it's a great thing for Charlotte and it will give the city great exposure both nationally and internationally. However, I don't think it will affect our restaurant."

What do you think of the Charlotte food scene?

"I don't really know a lot about it and I don't know a lot of the local chefs. I always enjoy going to Price's Chicken Coop. I should really ask you because I would like to learn where the interesting places to go are and where the young chefs are."

Even though you haven't spent a lot of time here, what would you is your favorite thing about Charlotte?

"My favorite thing was when I attended Charlotte Shout. You know this big food event that got the whole city and I think like thousands of people coming downtown. I think that's probably the best thing I've seen so far in Charlotte. And hopefully the Carolina Panthers are going to win this season!"


WOLFGANG PUCK PIZZA|BAR is open Monday – Thursday from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. and Friday – Saturday from 5 p.m. – midnight. Sunday family-style dinners will begin in early July and lunch will start in August.

For more information or to make reservations, visit www.wolfgangpuck.com/PB or call 704.295.0101.

WSOC