The Dining Table: Legacy Sports Bar & Grill is becoming a winner in Lincoln

My third column in this series was about The 12 Wine Bar & Kitchen, located in the 12 Bridges shopping center. The "12" was originally Race Day Cycle & Multisport, but owner Marc Sanders realized the concept needed a pivot when he couldn't get bicycles due to supply-chain issues during COVID. Lemons to lemonade and voila, The 12 Wine Bar & Kitchen slowly but surely morphed into a local libation and food hangout. All things eventually come to an end, and Sanders positioned the (now a full-fledged restaurant/bar) facility for sale, and he hoped it would stay "local." Enter the new owners and local residents, Mario Pereira and Brett Shaffer, longtime friends who believed Lincoln REALLY needed a true sports bar. As both told me, they wanted a place for friends to gather for a fun time, enhanced by a common love of sports. As of this writing, Legacy is still in opening mode, which means they have the essentials in place and are fine-tuning the menu and operations. The restaurant has great potential, with its full glass frontage and the patio area adjacent to Siino's patio. One significant benefit is the completion of the kitchen, initiated by Sanders shortly before the sale of the business. It adds flexibility to the cooking potential and, since it's an open-space concept, it adds to the vibe. Seven new, large-screen TVs have been added to The 12's existing complement of screens, so it's sports everywhere. The restaurant can seat 75 guests inside and another 50 guests on the covered patio. They've already started a Trivia Night, and there's a rumor about a Karaoke Night. Taste test The food? Think American pub food. Burgers, hot dogs, wings, salads and lots of side dishes. Asked about his favorites, Shaffer mentioned the margarita flatbread, and I can attest to a beautiful, and delicious, creation. With the new kitchen, chicken wings can now be fried as well as baked. At a recent lunch at Legacy, I sampled the bacon & blue cheeseburger, with a side of French fries. The burger came out just as ordered, cuddled in a brioche bun. The blue cheese dressing was enhanced with real blue cheese crumbles and the fries were terrific. Pereira told me they order a higher-quality French fry, and it's quite noticeable. Legacy is not a tap room with many craft beers but has a large selection of well-known mainstream beers on tap and in bottles. There's also a nice selection of wines. Both types of libations are reasonably priced. Verdict This place is a winner on several levels. It's bright and airy, has ambience and a friendly vibe, the food is excellent, and they've hit the casual dining price points. Shaffer and Pereira wanted a hangout place, and they're creating one. Legacy is located at 825 Twelve Bridges Dr., Ste 70, in Lincoln. It's open seven days a week from 10 or 11 a.m., and last call is 9, 10 or 11 p.m. (check legacysportsbarandgrill.com for details). Phone: 916-409-5455