Legends Spanish Restaurant

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

I have eaten at Legends Restaurant many times over the years but have never written a review. We booked there for Valentine's Day this year and enjoyed the night so much that I thought it was time to say how good it was.

The menu for the night was the Tapas Degustation, which was excellent, plenty of choice of tapas available. We had a great time and the food was great. I hadn't realised pre booking that they had moved back upstairs. The restaurant is re-furbed and looks really nice. The only disappointment on the night was the weather as it meant the new terrace was not open, this meant that those tables needed to be seated inside but the staff managed this well.

It was a really busy night but the staff were as friendly and professional as ever. Fabulous night and I am now looking forward to going back for a Wednesday Ribs night.

Feb 16, 2012 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

I was really surprised to see some of the comments and felt the need to post my own review. I recently had my 30th birthday at Legends and it was fantastic. We had the banquet (we choose our tapas without any issue) and had so much food we couldn't eat it all. Everyone in our group of 20 thought the food was fantastic and the Sangria went down a treat and was the perfect compliment.

The desserts were amazing, I haven't had better Flan or Churros in Australia!
The ambience was also amazing, I think they have moved since the end of last year and new upstairs venue is very festive. On top of everything the service was fast and attentive.

All in all it was a great evening and would happily go back.

Feb 15, 2012 

5.5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  4     

I have never written a review before, however, after the uncertainty I had about whether or not to eat here I feel I need to, for others unsure. Went here for dinner with my parents and husband and ordered the banquet #2. This was not the same as the menu provided on their website and we did not get a choice of tapas as promised on their site. Instead we were forced to have their set menu and a choice of the paella, this part was not clear on their in house menu and caused some confusion.

The tapas came out pretty quick but it was small amount for four people. The paella was alright but all together the meal only just satisfied us. The sangria was a major disappointment for me, it tasted like it was a store bought variety. There was minimal fruit and tasted of too much soda and the insult was the 1.25 litre jog cost $25! We weren’t impressed.

To their credit the service was quite quick while we were eating. The setting was nice as we were at the window. Once we had finished eating, however, the service was slow and we had to flag down a waiter to order coffee. We left disappointed.

All up, the restaurant is ok but not worth what you pay for. I was conflicted over trying this place, I wish I had gone somewhere else.

Nov 22, 2011 

1.3 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

I don't usually give such poor scores but this place well and truly deserves it. Despite our party of three being the only people in the restaurant, we couldn't get served. After complaining and waiting another 45 minutes, we managed to obtain some terrible tapas. At that point we had had enough, paid half of the bill and left. The smarmy waiter who took our payment even dared to suggest the restaurant was busy and that we were rude! Do yourself and Canberra a favour and don't go here.

Jul 13, 2011 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Picked this place at random whilst walking through Manuka on a Friday night. The place had a really good buzz as soon as we walked through the door. There were a few larger parties on and the bar was quite full which added to the atmosphere.

We ended up grabbing a table to share some tapas and sangria. Even though the Restaurant was quite full, our food was still out within 15 minutes and they were amazing. We ordered 3 tapas each and shared everything, our favorites in particular were the Eye Fillet and Chicken Tenderloins, but we loved everything.
Sangria was great as well.

Will definitely be back and we're organising a birthday party there as well.
Great job guys.

Apr 29, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Finally a southern European restaurant in canberra that serves authentic food. The sangria was lovely as was the paella and tapas. Looking forward to going back to try the zarzuela. Great and professional service accompanied the good food from an older gentleman that seemed like the owner. Cost was reasonable especially in comparison to many of the new spanish/tapas restaurants popping up across the country... particularly in sydney and melbourne. Highly recommended for anyone looking to try something a bit different.

Apr 23, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

My partner and I happened to walk into this restaurant randomly one Friday night for dinner. We hadn't made a booking but the staff were very happy to slot us in. We were asked to wait in the bar until a table became available which we were happy to do, we both had a margarita and waited by the open window looking out onto the street. Although the place was busy, to our surprise we were seated within ten minutes.

We were recommended to do a selection of tapas as we hadn't eaten Spanish before. They came out within fifteen minutes and all I can say oh my god! Without doubt one of the best meals we have eaten. We went with pork belly, duck, a garlic mushroom dish, scampi, eye fillets and chorizo. The flavours were incredible, each one different and each one amazing.

Service was fast and very friendly, our waiter was very informative and gave good recommendations. We are now planning a large group birthday booking soon :) Highly recommend this place. P.S. Sangria was amazing too.

Apr 07, 2011 

2 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  3      Service  3      Value  1     

My boyfriend and I ate at this restaurant last night and will never go back.
In hind site, we should have checked the reviews beforehand. After eating at Spanish restaurants for the best part of a decade, I was looking forward to my Legends experience, especially after reading the online menu.

We arrived just before 18:00 to an empty restaurant. This was not a good sign for a Saturday night. Not surprisingly, our order was taken quickly. Luckily we arrived a few minutes before 'happy hour" finished, otherwise we would have paid $25 for a jug of sangria.

We ordered 4 plates of tapas, caramelised pork, spanish meatballs, tuna and potato salad and lamb kebabs, expecting this would be more than enough to satify our hunger (especially based on a recent experience at another Spanish restaurant in Sydney).

When our food arrived, we were presented with what could only be described as a joke. Two lamb kebabs, which tasted ok, but nowhere near enough considering the cost worked out at $7.50 each. The caramelised pork was a disgrace. Two bite sized pieces of over cooked, dry meat and not even a hint of crunch to the skin.
The meatballs were, exactly that, meat rolled into a ball. No seasoning and even less taste. The tuna and potato salad was ok, but again, portion size was pathetic.

When one of the waiters asked us how everything was going we told him we were less than impressed with portion sizes and that the pork was dry. He smirked at us and walked away, then had the nerve to return and ask us if we wanted dessert. Yeah, like that was going to happen!

It saddens me to think that this is the only representation of Spanish cuisine in the Canberra area. Believe me when I say, you can do alot better. I would sugguest driving 3 hours to the Sydney cbd and going to one of the many Spanish restaurants and giving them a go. The time spent, cost of fuel and food at one of these restaurants would provide more value than this one. The only thing legendary about this place, was how much we were ripped off.

Feb 06, 2011 

2 Not Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Moving down from syd and having a south American background I kinda thought I knew what to expect from the pl although the done wasn't that bad the service was nothing but disgusting and the portion sizes we're nothing more than a bite size we ordered the buffet for 4 ppl with the paella at $45 pp. Thinking that the portion sizes would be generous when all we got was 4 tapas which the portion sizes were suitable for 1 person 2 at the most and some rice definitely not enough for 4 ppl we pretty much paid $45 for rice and a cpl of tiny pieces of meat you'd probably be better off ordering the tapas individually and as a single serving coz they'd have to be a bit more generous in the single serving or otherwise there'd be nothing on the plate, or how about just don't eat there because all they are interested in is taking your money rather than keeping the customer and wanting to come back it is way too expensive for the kind of atmosphere and food that they provide to us my personal rating would be a 2 out of 10 and the 2 is only for the food not being totally spoiled but no points for anything else.

Jan 19, 2011 

4.5 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  3     

Having dined at Legends a few years ago and being very happy with the food and service, I booked a table for dinner.

Tapas: duck breast cooked nicely and pork belly had quite a nice crunch to it, jamon iberico was presented on a bed of undressed mesclun salad which was well past it's prime.

Seafood platters for 1: Fish was well overcooked and baby octopus was cremated. Very bland, lacking that fresh, clean punch of flavour you'd expect from Spanish cuisine.

Overall a very mediocre dining experience. I just hope it was an off night for the chef, for their sake.

Oct 26, 2010