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Even the biggest culinary icons can face a kitchen nightmare.
On Thursday, January 2, Wolfgang Puck's Bar & Grill at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas found itself in hot water — and not the kind meant for cooking. A routine health inspection uncovered 42 violations, leading to a temporary shutdown that lasted through the weekend.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Southern Nevada Health District cited a range of issues, from pest control problems to potential cross-contamination risks. The closure wasn't limited to the main dining area either — it extended to the prep kitchen, butcher shop, bar, and even the exhibition kitchen. While the bar and server station escaped demerits, the rest of the operations didn't fare as well.
As explained on the district's website, "A closure takes place when an establishment has 41 or more demerits, an imminent health hazard requiring closure, or failed a "C" grade re-inspection. An establishment must remain closed until approved to operate by the health district. "
The good news? After a quick cleanup and reinspection, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill reopened on Monday, January 6, with an "A" grade, ready to welcome diners back.
Despite the temporary setback, Puck is no stranger to maintaining high standards — or setting them. The 75-year-old Austrian-born chef became a household name in the culinary world after opening his groundbreaking restaurant Spago on the Sunset Strip in 1982, less than a decade after moving to the U.S.
"Everybody came — all superstars of that time," Puck told Los Angeles Magazine last March. "People like Madonna and Michael Jackson... I still remember when Prince came — I didn't even know who he was, he was with three bodyguards!"
Fast forward to 2025, and Puck's Spago is still drawing Hollywood's elite. According to a Page Six insider, exes Kate Beckinsale and Matt Rife were spotted sharing a few kisses at the Beverly Hills location on Sunday, January 5.
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