Legacy Records

"Legacy Records is surrounded by Penn Station, Times Square, and Port Authority. And while neon-heavy chain restaurants set the bar pretty low in that area, we’d recommend this place no matter where it was located. It’s from the people behind Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones, so you can expect tasty Italian food, as well as one of our favorite duck dishes in the city. The opulent space has a big horseshoe bar that looks like it belongs on a futuristic cruise ship that probably also has the ability to fly, and you’ll probably be surrounded by people who work somewhat nearby." - matt tervooren

"What It Is: A new restaurant in Hudson Yards from the team behind two of our favorite restaurants Perfect For: Date Night, Special Occasions Legacy Records is the new restaurant in Hudson Yards from the people behind Pasquale Jones and Charlie Bird, two places we really like. And it turns out that this place is great as well. We came for dinner recently and ate everything from tuna belly and prosciutto to some duck pasta and a piece of ribeye. We also finished our meal with some cones of gelato - and, like everything else, they were very good. The service was also great, and it’s an impressive space with high ceilings, a horseshoe bar, and a few alcoves that are perfect for groups. There’s also free candy in the bathroom. So if you have something semi-special to celebrate, make a reservation now - because they’re going to be tough to get. The Verdict: Top-notch food, great service, and an impressive space. Pricey, but worth it. We’ve added it to the Hit List." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg, chris stang, matt tervooren

"When you were young and you knew your multiplication tables, people clapped for you. But now that you have a bank account and fewer favorite dinosaurs, people just expect you to be impressive on a daily basis. Such is life as an adult - and, if Legacy Records were a person, it would probably relate. Legacy Records is the latest place from the people behind Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones, two of our favorite restaurants in the city. Unlike those downtown spots, however, this place is in a fancy new condo building in Hudson Yards, a neighborhood that’s about one RoboCop away from feeling dystopian. The restaurant itself is huge and expensive-looking, and, much like a fully-grown person with a job and a phone bill, it inspires certain expectations. As long as you’re willing to spend some money, however, Legacy Records will easily meet them. The menu here is similar to what you’ll find at Charlie Bird and other places that want to be like Charlie Bird, which is to say: pasta, crudo, duck, and steak. If that sounds boring, that’s because it usually is - but when the formula is this well-executed, it’s hard to complain. The roasted duck is one of the best dishes made from that bird in the city, the pastas are more complex than what you’ll find at most Italian restaurants, and the crudo sampler will make you feel like you’re at a dinner party hosted by Poseidon. It comes with five different types of raw seafood like scallop and tuna belly, and it’s one of the better ways to spend $25 on yourself. photo credit: Teddy Wolff As for the space, it’s opulent. The floors are a mix of tile and hardwood, there’s a horseshoe bar that looks like it belongs on a 100-foot yacht, and the tables are all topped with leather - which, apparently, is something that you can do with tables. The ceilings are also so high it’ll make you want to Google the cost of vertical real estate, and the green-and-gold color scheme has a vaguely country-club-designed-by-Wes-Anderson feel to it. Despite all of this, however, Legacy Records isn’t quiet or stuffy. The service is friendly, the old-school hip hop soundtrack is louder than you expect from a place where you can buy a magnum of vintage Krug, and the host won’t check to see what kind of shoes you’re wearing. And, in that sense, this place has retained a lot of the DNA of its downtown predecessors. The only real difference is: it isn’t as small or charming, and all the little extras like the excellent wine list feel less surprising. Essentially, Legacy Records is the grown-up version of a cool downtown restaurant - but, fortunately, it’s still capable of surpassing expectations. Food Rundown Bread We would rarely tell you to spend valuable carb calories on bread instead of pasta in a place like this, but Legacy bakes their own baguettes and seeded loaves in house, and they’re amazing. Crudo Tasting You can order the crudos individually, but that isn’t really the way to go. Get the tasting. It’s $25 per person, and it’s basically a little omakase involving things like tuna belly, razor clams, and hamachi. This is some of the best food that you’ll eat here, and it’s worth a trip on its own. Prosciutto A large plate of prosciutto with some horseradish grated on top. If you like prosciutto, there’s zero chance you’ll regret ordering this - and, with a side of the bread, you can make a DIY sandwich that you can then show to your neighbors. Pigeon If you’re serving pigeon in New York City, you should at least call it squab. It’s the considerate thing to do. That said, this is some good-tasting bird. We probably wouldn’t order it again, but that’s mostly because we see a lot of pigeons in our daily lives, and we’d rather not complicate the relationship. Raviolo Raviolo is, apparently, the singular of ravioli. So it makes sense that this is one large piece of pasta, stuffed with a smoky mix of peas and parmesan. It won’t fill you up, but it’s a great dish to start with. Cavatelli Despite the lamb sauce, this cavatelli is light and fresh, with a little mint mixed in. The lamb itself sort of tastes like cheeseburger, but hopefully you consider that a perk. Split an order with someone. Ribeye There’s nothing revolutionary about this ribeye, but there also doesn’t need to be. It’s just a medium rare piece of beef with sautéed greens, and it’s both very good and one of the more substantial options on the menu. Duck For Two This duck has been “lacquered” with honey, which is a thing that we only thought was done to waterbed frames in the 1980’s (a bachelor pad staple for any aspiring Tom Selleck). That lacquering process results in a dark, caramelized, dry-aged whole duck, presented to you table-side and then taken back to the kitchen to be de-breasted and served. It’s a rich, excellent thing to eat." - Bryan Kim

"When it first opened, Legacy Records was the most compelling reason to visit Hudson Yards. And it still is, actually. But it’s no longer that one new spot everyone near the copy machine is talking about (assuming your office has a copy machine), which means you have a far better chance of getting in. This is a special-feeling place, and it’s perfect for when you want to sit in a big room with gold accents and a good soundtrack, so plan a celebratory dinner here here when you forgot to reserve something a month in advance. And get the whole duck." - bryan kim, hillary reinsberg

"Going to Legacy Records for a team dinner is how you tell the world that your company is cool, and also maybe moving to Hudson Yards soon. This place has the feel of a country club designed by Wes Anderson, without being too quiet or stuffy to count as a celebration. There’s a good chance your group won’t be the only team there—kind of like Zogsports, but instead of playing competitive kickball, you’ll be sitting at dueling tables eating things like pasta, duck, and crudos. (If you want to definitively one-up those other teams, just book a private room.) " - Neha Talreja, Bryan Kim, Hannah Albertine