The Legacy, Appleton - Friday February 2, 2018

This particular Friday we had plans to meet our good friends, Judy and Gabe, for dinner and chose the Legacy on the north side of Appleton.    We went early to avoid the typical Friday night wait and arrived about 5:15.  We put our name in with the hostess, received a number and menus and secured a table in the barroom. 

The bar was lively and pleasant, although it lacked some of the unique décor of several of the more rural supper clubs.  No animals or fish adorned the walls.   The veteran bar-tender wore a tie and would have fit perfectly behind any Supper Club bar in the 70’s.   He was friendly and efficient.  We ordered what is now becoming the “usual”, 2 brandy old fashioned sweets with olives.  Our friends joined us in the barroom for a cocktail and good conversation.   Our drinks were fine, but not anything special.

  

The barroom was quickly becoming busy and the hostess said we could go to our table whenever we were ready.   Judy and Paul ordered haddock, broiled and deep fried, respectively.  Gabe ordered a steak, ribeye I think, and I went with the perch.  The fish was good, with Paul giving the deep fried haddock high marks.  Gabe said his steak was a good quality cut and prepared to the medium rare he ordered, but it was not very flavorful.    We were excited to see potato pancakes on the menu, a favorite of ours when prepared right.  They were assembled the old fashioned way and might have been good, but unfortunately they were not cooked through.  That was a bit of a disappointment.  We did not say anything to the waitress about the potato pancakes.  Looking back, I wish we had. 

Overall the food was just at the acceptable level, but the service was good.  Our waitress, Trish, was friendly and told us that she and many of the wait staff were long-timers.  We were not rushed at all to leave after we had finished our dinner and were visiting at the table.  Gabe chatted with the owner of 22 years, or perhaps more accurately described as the owner’s husband.  He made it clear he pretty much spends his time on the customer side of the bar while his wife handles the business. 

With Judy’s encouragement, we did this time partake in a Grasshopper after dinner.  Our veteran bar-tender did not disappoint.   What a great idea!