It is very rare that you come across a restaurant that ticks every single box, a restaurant worthy of a full office recommendation the next day and somewhere that not only surprises you but pleasantly exceeds all your expectations. Legends Steakhouse at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club is that restaurant.
Now Legends has all the perfect components for a fantastic dining hotspot; A stunning location right on the creek, sophisticated clientele, expert chefs and add to this a brand new menu, incorporating a huge variety of dishes, it is hard to top.
Legends Steakhouse, as mentioned is located within the iconic white pyramid-shaped tent that you can see on the horizon of the creek when you cross over from Downtown Dubai, it’s not easily accessed and the small, narrow road leading to both the golf club and the Park Hyatt Hotel can be easily missed but once you’re inside the complex it’s pretty easy to navigate. The restaurant itself is in the actual golf house and a few minutes walk (or golf buggy ride) away from the Yacht Club and boardwalk housing well-known and popular bars such as Cielo.
Legends has recently under-gone a transformation and the once iconic restaurant is set to become even more of a Dubai ‘legend’. Pun intended.
Upon entering Legends you are whisked upstairs and past an animated fire lightbox hinting at the cuisine on offer. Everything about this restaurant is well thought out and in tune with the fantastic food it serves. From the lashings of dark wood, oversized neutral covered armchairs, glass cylinders housing energetic dancing flames, handfuls of large booths for private dining including a few which over-hang the restaurant making a great spot for a special occasion or closing a business deal, even the huge curved lamps that lean seductively over each table, lighting up the expert fare, all these components work perfectly together to create a beautifully interior designed restaurant. It’s moody, masculine and exudes luxury, it’s business dining meets romantic rendez-vous. The sweeping staircase up to the private dining gallery and intimate tables that over look the rest of the restaurant make great spots to impress a loved one. And this is only the inside.
If the weather permits, dining al fresco is equally as fantastic an experience on the large, outdoor terrace with simply stunning views out across the creek and the golf course to the left. An impressionable feature is the floating VIP table that seats up to eight people, set amidst the twinkling reflection pool. This is not a venue by halves and yet it’s remarkably quiet. Whether this is due to the slightly out-of-the way location or the misconception that eating inside a golf course venue is stuffy and pretentious is neither here nor there, the fact remains that Legends really is something special and well worth a visit, wherever you are based, hence why it has such an unrivaled reputation amongst those in the know.
Now, let’s get to the important bit; the food.
The food at Legends is amongst the very best that we have tasted in Dubai as a whole and this is quite a statement. However, it is more than worthy. It may not scream about its cuisine the way some restaurants in the region do, but it should. From start to finish the food was nothing short of perfection.
Of course, Legends is predominately a steakhouse so meat takes centre stage of the menu. The main dishes feature a fantastic selection of steaks including legendary dishes that are prepared at your table such as the carvery Chateaubriand that we tried. From Tenderloin and Ribeye beef including Angus, Organic Grass Fed and Wagyu and specials such as Tomahawk Beef, the menu is a real treat for meat lovers.
Let’s start at the beginning. The selection of starters rivals the mains and this is very rare. Unable to pick between the Crustacean Velouté, Philo Foie Gras and the Beef Tartar, I opted for the first, a swirling, creamy dish of mussel tortellini, seaweed foam and chorizo powder. It was amongst the very best of seafood starters that I’ve tasted; rich and delectable, neither too much or too little, it was simply perfection in a dish. To accompany this I opted for the 1001 Leaves, a dish of mixed green salad with vegetable shavings and truffle vinaigrette.
The main courses was served swiftly afterwards and the carvey Chateaubriand, a whopping 600g Angus Tenderloin that is for two people to share. It adds to the dining experience having the meat carved at your table. To say that your steak is cooked just-so isn’t something that many restaurants get right but with this dish your knife slid through like butter. Crispy on the edges and beautifully pink in the middle. Accompany this monster dish with a selection of sides, equally as delicious. The Carrot Purée was phenomenal and worth a try, the seasonal vegetables, garlic mashed potato and crispy, homemade French fries were all great extras that really made the meal. The combination of flavours was unlike anything tasted before and credit must be given to the expert chef at Legends that clearly takes pride in his work.
Other dishes on the menu include Roasted Pigeon served with Pumpkin purée, baby vegetables, crispy toast and spicy chocolate that’s a fantastic and brave take on an alternative dish. For seafood lovers the Maine Lobster Skewer simply must be tried. A generous serving accompanied by porcini mushrooms, spinach, gnocchi and obligatory lobster foam, a real treat for the tastebuds.
If you can still manage desert then the Chocolate and Praline Dome filled with vanilla ice cream is delicious and a little bit of sun as the hot, white chocolate sauce is poured over the top, causing it to buckle under the temperature forming a mouth-wateringly delicious chocolatey mess. A lighter option is the Blueberry sorbet which acts as a great palette cleanser served with mixed berries.
Of course, good steak require a good wine to compliment it and Legends doesn’t disappoint here either. If you’re more of a whisky and cigar man then Legend’s does this oh-so-well, in fact this venue is screaming out for you to opt for it. With a broad selection that ranges from Romeo Y Julieta No.1 Crema at a respectable AED35 to the more pricey Davidoff Millennium Blend at AED195. Talk business over a cigar and a glass of whisky with a unique whisky selection, serving anything from Glenkinchie 12-year-old single malt to a premium 18-year-old Macallan, the choice is endless.
Legends even offer a Friday brunch which is great fun for all the family. The traditional Friday afternoon brunch features atmospheric live jazz and a DJ in the evenings. Taking the form of a rather generous starter and desert buffet, diners can then take their pick from the a la carte menu. The price starts from AED 250 for a soft drinks packages and rises to AED500 with bubbly.
Legends surprised me, the views alone would have been enough but the truly excellent food at a reasonable price topped off with super smart decor and outstanding service make this a strong contender in a saturated dining scene. It is well worth a visit and is a great venue for entertaining and indeed, impressing.
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The Insider UAE 