Legends is the eatery every town has, no matter how big or small. It’s the type of place you can grab a lunch beer on Friday with coworkers or watch your favorite sports team take home the win amongst strangers after work.
Everything about this place stays true to its purpose. The happy hour is generous, the décor is simple and the emphasis is on the easy atmosphere. Replicated across the country, Legends is one of Reno’s neighborhood gathering places, tucked into the corner of the Whole Foods shopping center on South Virginia Street.
Just like you know you can get a Bud Light here, you have a fair idea of the menu, too. There’s a lot to choose from: mostly simple, American dishes like salad, sandwiches, soups and wings. There’s also breakfast, so you can watch the morning football game with a breakfast sammy and a mimosa in your hand.
When it comes to the Legends menu, however, their burgers are what we come for. Delicious and juicy, cooked to perfection, these meat patties are dressed up however you like, turning out meals you may be surprised came out of such an unassuming kitchen. Don’t get us wrong, the other grub is good, too, but the burgers are what make our mouths water.
The Legendary Burger with fries is the go-to—the staple, if you will. All cheese-drenched patty, loaded with the classics (mayo, lettuce, onion, tomato and dill pickles), it’s not some out-of-the-box declaration; it’s just a really good burger made with a ½-pound of fresh, locally sourced chuck. And while the original is maybe my personal favorite, there’s plenty of room to freestyle—trade it out for a turkey or veggie patty, add avocado, sub onion rings.
If you’re looking for something bolder, the 49er burger nods to the best football team around (ok, maybe I’m biased), the same ½-pound patty loaded with melty Swiss cheese, grilled onions and Thousand Island dressing, served up on grilled sourdough and eerily reminiscent of an In ‘n’ Out item.
Trade in your Swiss cheese and dressing for teriyaki sauce and pineapple or order something spicy with the Tex Burger loaded with jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, bacon and onion rings smothered in honey barbecue sauce.
Perhaps the best part is you can find renditions of most of these bad boys styled as chicken sandwiches, too. The fried chicken is a personal favorite. Order it country style to cut down on the heat (which is still present in the pickles) and enjoy the luscious combination of fried chicken and coleslaw served on a soft bun.
Long story short, you can order anything you want at Legends and there are plenty of options to choose from, but if you never try one of their burgers, you’d be making a big mistake.
