Legume

I’ve been here twice so far, and both times I left incredibly satisfied. The first time was in the summer, the second in the winter so each time the menu was completely different to reflect what was in season.
Both times, we had really great service. I usually like to ask my server what they recommend, and their staff seems very knowledgeable about what their chefs are serving. The same goes for cocktails! The second time I went, I had the Bartender’s Choice or whatever, where you basically pick a liquor and leave it up to the bartender.
They are great at letting their fresh ingredients shine. When I went in the summer, one of the best parts of my meal was just my side of carrots and some other vegetables. In the winter, I had an incredible blood orange salad. That’s not to say that the entrees are great. I am usually not too adventurous with meat– I mostly stick to chicken or fish at restaurants– but I decided to try their lamb. I’m so glad I did– it was fall-​apart tender and very flavorful (if not a bit salty.) Finally, their desserts are wonderful as well. I’ve gotten their pavlova both times, with different fruit toppings depending on the time of year. In the summer, my husband got some homemade ice cream that had chunks of their leftover cherry pie from the night before– to die for!
I will definitely come back here– although with the price point, I’ll keep it to a special occasion.

legume is perfection. I went there for New Year’s Eve two years ago and the service as well as food was great. Their unique dishes really make Legume something special. From their appetizers, to their main plates and desserts, I truly believe their is not a bad plate in the house

Legume is possibly my favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh. My husband took me here for my birthday this year and not one dish we ordered disappointed us. The menu at Legume changes daily so anything I mention in this review may never be featured again, who knows. With a constantly changing menu, it really goes to show that their ingredients are fresh. The atmosphere is nice — intimate and romantic, but it’s also rather simple. No hip modern décor that you’d find at other fancy restaurants in Pittsburgh. In fact, it reminded me of an old banquet hall that they spruced up a tad and turned it into a restaurant. Onto the food. OH MY GOD, I was in heaven. I ordered a corn soup with corn fritters to start. This soup is the best soup I’ve had. The soup was sweet, but it had a drizzle of chili oil, giving it some spice. And the corn fritters gave it texture and crunch. The entrees we ordered were also out of this world. He ordered a roasted chicken dish and I ordered a steak dish. They were quite simple in the description of ingredients, but Legume perfected them. How? I don’t know and I wish I did! Perhaps it’s the simplicity in it all and its about the technique in the preparation, not the glitz and glam of fancy ingredients. The chicken and steak were so moist and buttery. The desserts were, again, out of this world. He ordered a chocolate dish and I ordered a cardamom crème brûlée. They were rich, but oh so simple. I really enjoy the simplistic approach Legume takes on its atmosphere, as well as its food. It goes to show that you don’t need all the frills for a successful dining experience.

We came into town for the Garth Brooks concert and used Unilocal to find this great little gem.
We had reservations for lunch and had a great server by the name of Ben
We enjoyed everything we ordered. We started with the Kimchee soup, hot, flavorful and filling and the Duck pork pâté (how can you say no any of these items let alone as a combined item). Brit had the beer blue cheese salad and I inhaled the Duck leg confit.
If I ever find myself in Pittsburgh, I know where I’ll be for at least one of my meals.

This was the first meal in quite some time where I felt my money was well spent. The space is just lovely; a warm mix of modern and rustic that makes for a very cozy vibe. The staff is very causal both in dress and speech, which I much prefer. They were clearly knowledgable and well-​trained. When good food is prepared and served by skilled people, there is no need for stuffiness.
We had the raclette and bluefish pâté to start, both were delicious and perfectly balanced. My husband had the sweet potato ravioli and I had the grilled escarole salad. Beautiful on both accounts. For dessert we had the gingerbread with poached pear. It was bursting with flavor and my tongue was tingling just the right amount! Really lovely meal, served by lovely people, in a lovely space. Go!

I have heard so many good things about this restaurant at its new Oakland location. We had been to Regent Square and we were looking forward to the new improved and larger restaurant. The food was good– very good, but for the price point, I was somehow disappointed-(we paid $ 100 for two, getting only 2entrees, 2 wines by the glass, no apps, no salads, no soups, no sides or desserts or coffee).
The entrees– I got the swordfish, which was excellent, with a wonderful savory sauce. The look of the serving dish was weird– a bowl with a blue rim that looked like a soup bowl that came from a cafeteria. The gentleman sitting 12 inches away had the same swordfish served in a slightly larger, more elegant white dish. I didn’t think this was a good sign, but it did remind me of the old Regent Square style of dishes. My husband got the steak and liked it but wished it was warmer, or the plate hotter. This was probably the biggest infraction of all. Perhaps we should have said something about it at the time, but the opportunity did not arise.
The atmosphere and décor are lovely. Elegant lighting, iron decorative sconces, carved tables, and multiple rooms. This place has a European feel, and a huge improvement over the tiny digs of the RS version. The noise was not a factor but there were distractions. Maybe it was the location of our table (close proximity to kitchen door and Bar entrance) and the way I felt squeezed in with all the senior citizens and possibly because it was my 56^th birthday, I am now relegated to the not cool section of the trendy restaurants. We had made a reservation and the restaurant was not particularly crowded. What a difference a patron’s experience can be with a different set of circumstances!
I really was looking forward to the experience but I can’t say for sure when I will return.

I keep coming back. It never disapoints. Today I had a wonderful, colorful salad with picked chicken, beets, broccoli, radishes hard boiled eggs, potatoes and south American yokon root. I had goat cheese and red pepper jelly, to start. Taking most of the salad home.

Legume is great. The food and desserts that I’ve had were all to die for. Such a gem in the middle of dumpy Oakland. Their cocktails are all AMAZING and the bartenders are very jovial if you sit at the bar in butterjoint.
My only complaint is that butterjoint can get unbearably crowded sometimes. I wouldn’t come here with more than a group of 4.

I am on the fence here.
I feel profiled. Why? My GF and I were riding our bikes around PGH being tourists and had just finished a the Carnegie Art Museum and said hey let’s check out Legume. It was 5 and we looked a little bikey and the restaurant was empty.
We were seated in the worst seats in the restaurant. By the bathrooms and the kitchen and the walk way from the kitchen to the bar.
Yes, it was on me to bring it to their attention to move us. But, since I have been here I have noticed my pro active Chicago attitude puts people off.
Anyway, the restaurant remained empty after we went through the vegetarian tasting for two and the great desert.
But we sat there with the noise and this empty restaurant and thought, what the f***.
Everyone was very nice, I guess, but that whole first impression you guys put on us? And we talked about this when we left? Made us think, wow, way to make people feel welcome.
The food was great. The attitude? Which is just as important, not so great.

Wow. What a fun night! Chris took me out for a real nice birthday dinner (finally a nice dinner when we first had off). We have never been to Legume and I have been mentioning it so why not!
There is parking, even if there is a fee. I wish that we could have parked closer since I am wearing a walking boot (broken foot). But I let that go!
The menu was simple but still a lot to think about. I will have to say thank you to our waiter for providing some really good feedback and putting up with our questions.
Nice things to share: We picked the grass-​fed beef tartare with traditional garnishes. Apparently my first choice of the Pickle Platter with Aioli was a problem for Chris. I found it odd that in the eight (!!) years together I never noticed that he doesn’t eat pickled food. Which led to an interesting pickle conversation at dinner. BTW, I love pickled food… I have never had tartare prepared like this. It came out on a plate like a smushed hamburger with the garnishes all around the sides of the hamburger and then an egg yolk in the middle. The bread came on the side in a basket. I was a little shocked by that display. I mean it looked good but it looked weird. Chris dug in first. I then put aside my weird feelings and made myself a little bread slice with the tartare on the top. Yum. It was great. I still think that the egg put it over the top but we ate it and it was great.
Entrees: I ordered the 10oz lamb leg steak with Carolina gold rice, Hakurei turnips and a husk cherry chutney. OMG. So good. Seriously I cannot talk about how good this dish was. First, the turnips were amazing. I was apprehensive about the turnips but these were adorable, mini, and had an amazing flavor. The lamb steak was cooked to perfection with the chutney on the top it was amazing. The flavor of the steak combined with the chutney. WOW. The rice was interesting. It was in smaller pellets, more like quinoa than rice. But still was nice. I would have like to have something green or another color on the plate but the dish was great.
Chris ordered the braised chicken paprikash with hand cut noodles, broccoli, chives, and crème fraîche. Yummy. I took a few bites. The chicken was thigh meat. Which is interesting because Chris does not like thigh meat. (This I do know.) He said it tasted really good and was happy with his dish. The bites that I tasted were really good. The fresh pasta I think was the star of the dish. It was so fresh and great tasting. The broccoli were only a few bunches and were just ok. Nothing that special. The sauce was also good, but not above and beyond. Still the dish was good.
Dessert: Lemon verbana panna cotta with concord grape sauce and a short bread cookie. I ATE ALL OF IT. Seriously, Chris did not even get one bite. I mean he also did not want any so I got to eat it all. The concord grape sauce was sweet and tangy. The panna cotta was flavorful and not too sweet. Yum.
We had a great experience and I am happy that we finally went! I loved the food. I do not know if we will make it a routine but still the food was good enough to go. I suggest everyone should at least go once to try it.

Dee-​Lee-​shush.
Everything. EVERYTHING… Was so good!
We were a party of five which enables us to try various dishes and was pleased with every single dish evidenced by all clean plates, scraped to the last yummy bite.
So many people have given detailed rave reviews! Could I add any more? My only contribution at this point would be to post as many pictures as I can. Since I am of the opinion «a picture is worth a thousand words» ;)

We came here with another couple for their 5^th anniversary. We decided on the tasting menu (one of us got the vegetarian option per our waiter’s recommendation, just for a little variety). Everything was outstanding. Flavors were perfectly balanced, presentation was beautiful.
Honestly I think the stand out for me ended up being the chocolate truffle cake. I loved my other courses, but that cake was just the epitome of what I want a chocolate dessert to be!
Our waiter, Tate, was fantastic! He was very attentive and knowledgeable, as well as fun.
We saw the advertisement for Cheap Date Night (three-​course meal at $ 50 per couple the first Wednesday of every month) and would love to come back for that!

Cheap date night once again was an outstanding success!
Chilled borsht soup app with sour cream and dill
Grill chicken breast with veggies and potatoes
And flourless chocolate cake with fresh whipped cream!
Plus a cold Rouge amber ale!
My lovely bride had the gemelli pasta for her entrée which was some of the best pasta I’ve ever tasted and the lavender panna cotta with cherry reduction sauce and a lemon shortbread cookie! All for $ 50!!!
First Wednesday of the month! Don’t miss it

Contrary to what its name would lead you to believe, Legume is not vegetarian friendly at all. It is an upscale pseudo-​farm-​to-​table kind of place, with a nice drink selection but typically 1 vegetarian option on the menu any given day. I’ve had to eat here for work events on several occasions, and it’s always easy to choose what I’m going to order (haha)
That said, the veg food I have eaten here had been solid. Not insanely good, but definitely well-​thought out.

I’ve been here for lunch several times and it was fine, just fine. Service is excellent, as is the atmosphere, but the food is just okay, it doesn’t blow my skirt up. Recently for dinner I had their pork ravioli, which was hearty and well-​proportioned, but flavor-​wise just okay. My husband had their sausage bonanza, ordered in part for the name, and found it well-​cooked, filling, but not amazing and for the price we were expecting more.
I’d go back for lunch, especially when in the mood for a proper sit-​down affair, but I don’t think I’d go back for dinner. I’ve been for drinks next door at the Butterjoint, which is always fun and as I wrote above the service and atmosphere are attentive and unique without trying too hard.

A calm lunch experience that started with an extremely gracious host and continued with my low-​key server, both accommodating my every whim. Rustic neutral vibe in the décor, bright wood and yellow paint, large windows for natural daylight. Legume feels equal parts waking up from a warm summer mid-​afternoon nap and enjoying a gust of wind on the deck of a sailboat. RE-​LAXING. In fact, the whole meal glided effortlessly, my small-​plates arriving only 8 minutes after ordering.
Crunch! Great bread’s offset by fridge-​temp butter. Stole a glance of my neighbor’s food. Crunch! «Those hard boiled eggs are perfect mustard yellow middle, no green ring.» Went instead with…
Goat cheese pepper crostini — buttery crostini’s well-​toasted, jelly a shade sweet and in need of more bite. Healthy dab of goat cheese at room temp
Pork duck pistachio pâté — soft profile with only moderate salt and no old/​gamey note, just freshness. Spicy grain mustard provides plenty the bite the crostini’s needed, and the quality pork adds some good salt and character.
Tallow fries — ridiculouslt cheap for this much food. The aioli needs more character and spice and has too slushy/​goopy of a texture bordering on congealing gravy. but the fries themselves maintain a nice crispness given the shoe string thinness. let’s call it 85% crispy.
Nothing exceptional but all very pleasing. Definitely one of the most consistent near UPitt and CMU

A few points for this evening’s dinner that bump my rating DOWN:
1) Quail should always be cooked well done, and if it isn’t, there should be a little compensation on the bill. Very disappointing.
2) Banana chocolate chunk cake is a lot like something I can make at home. Don’t serve it at Legume.
3) If you are given the option of having a goat kidney on your escarole salad, say NO. It will be undercooked – rubbery, actually.
We were not as pleased this evening as usual, and no compensation on the bill was offered (I believe our server’s name was Jason). Hope that it’s better next time!

We had a really delightful meal the day before Valentine’s day. We got seated early at 5pm, and the service was great and the food was delicious!
We started off with the blue cheese egg tart on salad (it had a fancy name can’t remember now) on top of some beets and greens. Served just warm, the tart itself was melt-​in-​your-​mouth delicious and complemented the salad well.
I ordered a fish dish which was amazing. It was a white fish (bass or tilefish?) served with this really nice tangy sauce which made it incredible. It was the perfect flavor combination that made each bite burst with flavor. It had some roasted veggies on the side. My husband got their beef dish and I thought the sauce it came with also made the dish amazing. They know how to make unique, savory sauces to perfectly complement the meats, and all the meats were cooked just right!
I thought the dessert was just OK. I think it was cardamom ice cream served on top of rice, but the rice was not that great.
Overall, a great dining experience. I would definitely come back and eat another meal!

SETTING
I walk by Legume every single day on my way to and from school. Located in a busy part of Oakland, the exterior of this restaurant looks small and unassuming, but once inside, I realized how big Legume actually is! Clean and warm ambiance. There is also a conference room setup for dinner meetings.
FOOD
Wow! Let me say it again for emphasis – Wow. I’m kicking myself for not checking Legume out sooner. Since I live so close, I figured I could stop by anytime. True, but I just denied myself extremely delicious and well-​made food for god knows how long. Well, better late than never!
Entrée: Pork Shoulder with Spätzle, Beer Braised Sauerkraut, Apples, Horseradish, Dill.
They might as well have not given me a fork! The pork shoulder was THAT tender. I don’t think I’ve ever had such soft pork before. With a gentle poke, I was able to break the meat. I felt so powerful! I mean, I’ve been working out, but… I’m going to give Legume the credit here! Accompanied with Spatzle (noodles), the dish had some carbs to go with the protein. The Sauerkraut and dill added extra flavor. While the warm apple slices seemed random at first, the sweetness rounded out the rest of the entrée very well.
Side: Thinking that this entrée was mostly protein, I got a side of Tallow Fries with Aioli to balance out my protein-​heavy meal. Potatoes are vegetables, right? :). Pretty good, but to be honest it was quite salty. Probably will skip this side next time.
Dessert: Poached Pear-​Frangipane Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream and Whipped Cream. Never had frangipane before, but the name sounded fancy (if Frangipane was a person, she would be Topanga’s best friend. «Boy Meets World» was such a great show!). Frangipane did not disappoint… Mmmm so good! The description was pretty spot on: a pear tart with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Can I have another?
SERVICE
Very professional and attentive. The servers (even the ones who served the drinks but did not take our order) all knew a bit about the menu offerings. They helped give us suggestions and our party was more than satisfied. Although it did not feel slow, the dinner itself did take a while. Credit to the good pacing of bringing out the food; it felt like we did not have long waits at any point. I would suggest budgeting 1.5−2 hours for dinner, in case you need to go anywhere after.
IMPRESSIONS
No doubt, I’m coming back again! Such a great dining experience and the food was beautifully done. No, this is not a fancy place that serves mini portions fit for a mouse. This is a fancy place that serves regular (my stomach thanks you!) sized portions fit for a person who wants a special dinner done right. On the expensive side, but well worth it for the quality AND quantity. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

Not since my trip to Spoon last year have I been so pleasantly surprised. Legume surpassed all expectations and I cannot wait to return for more.
After browsing the menu, we realized that the tasting menu would be the best and most creative option for us. Our waiter, Tate, suggested that we choose the vegetarian and omnivore option in order to experience more of the menu. Obviously we agreed.
To start we both were served the Vermont raclette plate which was amazing melted cheese and pickled vegetables. Incredibly savory yet had a bite of the brine.
For the second course I received a grilled escarole salad and Rich enjoyed the butternut squash soup. Both were flavorful and consumed in their entirety.
Our main courses were the most impressive — perfectly cooked scallops in a balsamic reduction or a cheese tart with tomatoes and lentils. I truly cannot express how delicious each dish tasted. All I know is that I haven’t had scallops that tasty since I left New England 5 years ago. Wow!
To end the night, Tate brought a pumpkin cake with vanilla ice cream and pota crème… pot de la crème? I don’t know exactly what it was called but it was heavenly! Carmel and creamy and savory… I felt like it was doing pirouettes on my taste buds. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to our meal.
Thank you to Tate and Legume for a magnificent evening. I will be back soon, looking for more surprises.