Wolfgang Zwiener, via The Knife, son Peter and a press release, responds to Wolfgang Puck's lawsuit and name confusion Wolfgang's Steakhouse has caused since it opened on Canon Drive, mere steak-knife throwing distance from Puck's Spago and nearby CUT steakhouse. The press release is long (and fully contained after the jump), but the basic rebuttal is that because Wolfgang's Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener has "by Wolfgang Zwiener" prominently placed on all the signage (in fact, it's quite small compared to the Wolfgang's Steakhouse font), and it's been trademarked, Puck does not have a case. Busting through all the legalese and details, it's also noted that Zwiener and Puck's restaurants look nothing alike, and per Peter Zwiener: "My father has been universally known in the steakhouse business as Wolfgang for decades, long before Mr. Puck entered the restaurant business.” So there.
Well, apparently this town isn't big enough for two Wolfgangs. It's come to our attention that Wolfgang Puck filed a trademark infringement and unfair competition suit today in Los Angeles Superior Court against the owners and operators of Wolfgang's Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener. Zwiener, as you know, opened his New York steakhouse on Canon Drive just a few short blocks from Spago and Wolfgang Puck's steakhouse, Cut. Hilarity ensued. But it's no laughing matter to Puck. From the press release:
“People have come to me and asked why I was opening another steakhouse in Beverly Hills and whether I am going to close CUT. I tell them the new steakhouse has nothing to do with me and they stare in disbelief. The most common reaction is ‘It says Wolfgang’s Steakhouse and you are Wolfgang.’ In over thirty two years, I have never encountered such confusion expressed by my patrons and in the media. My friends have repeatedly urged that I take the steps necessary to correct the ongoing misleading impression. All of this would have been avoided had Mr. Zwiener paid more than lip-service to our 2007 agreement and actually tried to avoid confusion.”
When we called information today for the number to Wolfgang's Steakhouse on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills, the operator connected us to Mastro's. The New York importis just a few blocks from Mastro's and Spago, and people think Cut moved when their friends say, "Hey, let's check out Wolfgang's Steakhouse on Canon." The confusion isn't surprising. But surely this town is big enough for two Wolfgang's, and hopefully your wallet and gullet are big enough for the jumbo everything (shrimp or crabmeat cocktails, lobster, baked potatoes), the steaks for two, three or four, the wines. There's a nice big bar, private dining rooms, tables with perfect sightlines to see who's who, where and with whom, and as noted above, a little patio out front. But why go here instead of all the others? "The porterhouse," we're told. "Don't miss." Dinner this week only; lunch starts on Monday. (445 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, 310.385.0640)
Joining the NY-to-LA steakhouse fray is Wolfgang's Steakhouse, which, ironically, replaces the tofu emporium Umenohana in Beverly Hills. Even more ironic, it's on Canon Drive, just a few blocks from Spago, but it's not a Puck restaurant, and get it straight now: It's not Wolfgang Puck's steakhouse either. (We'll have to call Cut "Wolfie's steakhouse.") Owner Wolfgang Zwiener opened Wolfgang's Steakhouse on Park Avenue after working at New York's other venerable steakhouse Peter Luger for years. Our Eater cohorts say about Wolfgang's: "Arguably the best porterhouse steak in Manhattan. Only second to Luger in the city." The room, we hear, is reminiscent of the Tribeca location (pictured). We got a tip that Wolfgang's will open on May 1, and not only did we confirm, but we found out reservation lines are open. (445 N. Canon Dr, 310.385.0640)
· Wolfgang's Steakhouse, Not Wolfgang's Steakhouse [~ELA~]
We suppose you can never have too much steak in this town, but this New York import is having way too much fun with its new Beverly Hills location: Not only will Wolfgang's Steakhouse open in the short-lived tofu emporium Umenohana on Canon Drive, but it's just two blocks from Mastro's, next to Wolfgang Puck's Spago, which of course is just another hop and a skip from Wolfgang's steakhouse, Cut.
We can just hear the who's-on-first now: "Let's go to Wolfgang's Steakhouse in Bev Hills." "You mean Cut?" "No, Wolfgang's Steakhouse not Wolfgang's steakhouse." "Right, Cut." "Oh fuck it. Let's go to In-n-Out."
As for Wolfgang's (not Wolfie's) Steakhouse, our New York operatives say: "Arguably the best porterhouse steak in Manhattan. Only second to Luger in the city." As well it should be: Owner Wolfgang Zwiener was head waiter at Luger for years. Per the signage, Wolfgang's should open this spring; we're told April. By the look of the construction site (a sneak peek to the right) there's a lot of work to be done in that amount of time.
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Joining the NY-to-LA steakhouse fray is Wolfgang's Steakhouse, which, ironically, 
We suppose you can never have too much steak in this town, but this New York import is having way too much fun with its new Beverly Hills location: Not only will 
