As a single man in my early 40s, who is out-and-about on the Strip more often than not, I find myself eating at Spago a half-dozen times or more, each month.

That said, I have no kids, I love to eat, and more often than not, when I dine,  I’m sporting a navy blazer.

But what about my friends with kids, and all the stuff that goes with that (school, after-school activities, play-dates, birthday parties, etc.), who have neither the time nor the inclination to schlep their respective broods to the Strip?  Time is an issue, and so is quality.

After shepherding-in the era of the Celebrity Chef on the Strip, Wolfgang Puck, and his partners in Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, have not only got their thumb on the pulse of Las Vegas, but – in many cases – have had children and moved to the ‘burbs, themselves.  So, it only made sense that sooner or later, they’d answer the cries of the other parents they’d run into at school functions, who said things like “We just love Spago/CUT/Postrio, but they’re the only reason we go to the Strip,” or “Since we had the kids, our lives are all about convenience!”

So, when WPFDG decided to open their first off-Strip Las Vegas venue, it was deliberately branded as a Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill.  Why?  Because you don’t wear Lululemon and UGGs to Spago (and if you do, you’re a blight on my world and should be drawn-and-quartered); while at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, comfort is what it’s about.  Comfort, and damn good food that will be enjoyed by the whole family.

Recently, I stopped in, for lunch, and it was a scene.  Friends were there, with their families (all on their best behavior), suggesting different dishes to me, as I made my way to the patio, where my friend, Cathy, and I enjoyed a long lunch (seriously, we were there for four hours, chatting, eating, drinking, eating, gossiping, and yes, eating some more.

We started with the Truffled Potato Chips (with Maytag bleu cheese fondue), and the Potato Leek Pizza (with sweet garlic, goat cheese, and crispy guanciale).  If you’ve ever eaten at a Wolfgang Puck restaurant, you know his chefs know their way around a pizza oven.

As entrées, we had the Mesquite-Grilled Burger (with aged cheddar, caramelized red onion, and bacon aioli), and the Whole Rotisserie Free-Range Chicken.  The burger was good, and didn’t fall apart on the way home; while the chicken was incredible!  Finally, we went halfsies on the Monkey Bread (cinnamon brioche with toffee and cream cheese sauces) and the Brownie Sundae (with Bourbon pecan ice cream and whipped cream).

I should mention that the restaurant is lovely, and the patio – well, we sat out there from 1:30-5:30pm, and even after the sun went down, were comfy.  Not too shabby for an evening in November.  Sometimes you’ve just gotta love Las Vegas!

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill
Downtown Summerlin
Click HERE for info and reservations

Get into it!