Club Legato delivers good food, good music

While we know that dinner out is a treat, but sometimes we want more than just dinner. Maybe dinner and some smart music to add even more flavor to an evening experience? But because most of Santa Fe shuts down at 9 p.m., it can be a challenge to find an experience beyond a typical dinner.

One of the things I love about living in the nation’s oldest capital city is that no matter how long you have been here, there remain ample opportunities to peel back the layers of the onion to discover new places. New experiences. New people. New dishes. New memories. And new music.

A few months ago, a neighbor-turned-friend suggested we go to Club Legato for jazz music and dinner. Not knowing of this venue, I was curious, because who doesn’t love dinner with a jazz trio to set the tone for a festive and upbeat night? Music is a common language that brings people together in powerful ways.

Formerly known as La Cantina, where waiters sang for supper for more than 30 years, Club Legato opened in November 2022. When La Cantina came to a screeching halt when COVID hit, the team regrouped and decided that jazz was a perfect blend of sophistication and relaxation for locals and tourists to enjoy a musical experience combined with dinner from the La Casa Sena menu.

Located within the La Casa Sena compound where the expansive and popular patio is always full, Club Legato is somewhat obscure. It’s as if you must know where you are going to know there is a cool jazz bar hidden away in the corner. The entrance is nondescript. And those who know, know.

And now you also know about Santa Fe’s secret sanctuary for cool jazz, strong drinks and a memorable meal in a chill setting. While the setting may not reflect an upscale dining experience, the main attraction is the funky and recognizable jazz music that strikes every Wednesday through Saturday from 6-9 p.m.

Club Legato’s bar manager, Anthony Reif said, “We have a robust cocktail menu as well as a monthly list of themed cocktails and sipping spirits. It’s exciting for us to be creative and make new cocktails.” The bar theme for August is literary authors and artists, naming cocktails such as van Gogh, O’Keeffe, Hemingway and others.

While the bar is front and center, La Casa Sena’s menu is equally thoughtful and creative and offers bar food and dinner. On my first visit, we sat at the bar and enjoyed noshing on Fried Calamari ($17), Caesar Salad ($19) and a Pizza which were all satisfying enough to warrant another visit for another jazzy night out.

On the second visit, my dining companions and I zeroed in on a few sublime cocktails, but we were smitten with the Frose ($14) which Reif told me is made in-house. He said they add sugar and Tito’s vodka, so it doesn’t freeze. This is the ideal summer cocktail that promises to keep you feeling cool and refreshed all night long.

Since extreme summer heat was in play, we focused on the lighter seafood appetizers, Crab Cakes ($27) and Pulpo ($19). Though small, two Dungeness crab cakes are delicate, a nice rémoulade and pickled onions played well with the rich crab. The octopus claims to be grilled, but there was no char. And while the octopus would have been so much better charred, we had zero problems eating the tender and unctuous octopus and the accompanying potatoes with a lemon caper vinaigrette. These two appetizers were all the four of us needed to be primed and ready for the next course.

Feeling the need for something green, the Beet & Burrata Salad ($19) arrived, and it was a work of art that we dared to destroy with our utensils. Roasted yellow and red beets are artistically plated with soft burrata, grapefruit segments, thinly-sliced watermelon radishes and avocado puree with preserved lemon vinaigrette. On top of being a stunning dish, we all agreed this is a winning salad.

With 10 entrees on the menu, three being seafood centric, we ordered a little bit of everything to enjoy the full flavor of the kitchen’s capabilities. And we were impressed — both with the food and the gorgeous blue plates the food is served on. The Honey Soy Salmon ($43) features a bed of couscous with bok choy, peas and carrots, topped with pan-seared Scottish salmon and a honey-soy glaze. One of my dining companions said this reminded her of a healthy bowl.

Not surprisingly, the Branzino ($43) is a fan favorite. A delicate branzino filet is pan-seared and served with fingerling potatoes, fennel, green beans and cherry tomatoes. It is the light but tasty cauliflower sauce and the dill and lemon that brings this dish together.

Pork Ossobuco ($39) was the entree that made us all beg for a bite from the dining companion who out ordered us with this selection. What I presumed would be a heavy dish was not heavy at all. In fact, the slowly-cooked pork shank was falling off the bone tender and melt in your mouth delicious. The pork combined beautifully with a bed of orecchiette pasta tossed with cannellini beans, zucchini, spinach, bacon and green beans.

And the Ratatouille ($33) also exceeded our expectations. Typically, vegetarian meals can be a little light, but this interpretation of a layered ratatouille was equally substantive, colorful and flavorful. The accompanying tomato sauce was just what the dish needed to disappear.

Even though we were all satisfied, Reif, who is also a waiter, made sure we reached the finish line with a sweet to round out the night. The Tiramisu ($15) and Bombe ($15) were delivered and these small but mighty desserts definitely made us all smile even bigger.

As a treat, Reif brought us a sample of the Kah Añejo tequila to sip as an after-dinner drink. This expression of generosity was appreciated, and we will always remember this hospitable move that made us feel special.

If you need a night of feeling special and have been dreaming of a jazz bar where you can also enjoy dinner, Club Legato is the answer. With a weekly rotation of musicians, you can return frequently for plenty of good jazz, sips and bites in the heart of downtown Santa Fe.