Legends Grille in East Windsor prides itself on being a very down to earth family restaurant where the Krakowski family wants you to feel like you are eating at home. The large menu includes American specialties such as steaks, chops, and burgers, as well as classic Italian and Greek favorites and seafood.
Family members concoct your favorite drinks at the bar, grill your steaks over open flames in the kitchen, serve everything themselves, and ensure that customers have the experience they expect and deserve.
“All of our customers are friendly,” John Krakowski, Jr., says. “I know people who have become friends after eating here and talking to the folks at the next table. The next time they come in, instead of being two parties of two, they will return as a party of four.”
Legends Grille, now in its eighth year, was the natural outgrowth of the personal chef business run by John Krakowski Sr. and his son, John Jr. They dreamed of a larger operation where the elder Krakowski could employ his lifelong love of cooking while sharing his skills with his son who now runs the restaurant on a daily basis. Kelly Krakowski keeps the food flowing to customers.
“It was just a passion. Dad grew up loving to cook and I learned through him. Before the restaurant, we had a personal chef business and it was going well,” Krakowski said proudly.
Lamb is a specialty of Legends Grille, prepared as Porterhouse loin chops or as a whole rack and served with a choice of several sauces. Lamb also shows up in a burger, as well as in a classic lamb souvlaki wrapped in a pita and accented with grilled tomatoes and onions, and dressed with tzatziki.
Shrimp graces the starter menu in char-grilled, pan-seared, and coconut-crusted presentations, as well Siciliano style with pasta, and as entrees with sauces or glazes. Salmon, tilapia, mussels, crab cakes, and stuffed lobster tail round out the seafood entrees with the extremely popular char-grilled octopus and fried calamari anchoring the starter menu.
Sauteed duck breast, served with an orange, cranberry, and almond sauce brings repeat customers to Legends Grille with its accompaniment of duck skin cracklins prepared in house. Steaks include Filet Mignon, Black Angus Ribeye, and a bone-in Kansas City Strip, all cooked over open flame. Chicken wings are a big seller at Legends, prepared at least six different ways.
Pork and chicken entrees are freshly prepared in several ways. For those who crave adventure and something different, there is a Mixed Grill with lamb chops, steak, and shrimp, as well as a Lover’s Nest for Two with lamb chops, shrimp, steak, and lobster tail.
“We have specials every week,” Krakowski said. “We do things that look good to us, and we switch things around based on the season. Recently, we’ve done Asian-style rib tips and chicken empanadas.”
The staff at Legends Grille is sensitive to dietary needs and will work with customers to accommodate special diets when possible and will adjust dishes as needed.
Legends Grille, 460 Route 33, East Windsor. Open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. 609-443-5565. www.legendsgrille.com
