The MVP Tenderloin at Legends Sports Cafe

210 N. Belt Highway, 232-6448

"It comes on thick-cut jalapeno cornbread that is just spicy enough to keep you wanting more. It is quite possibly the greatest tenderloin ever created."

- Kyle Clizer, St. Joseph

Legends is a sports bar with more than 30 TV screens, a full bar and plenty of room to spread out. But it's also a great place to eat - something that many people don't realize, says manager Bill Geske.

"It's really not a 'bar' until after 10 p.m.," he explains. Unlike some establishments that focus more on drink than food, Legends makes almost everything fresh from the ranch salad dressing to breading the tenderloins.

They also have award-winning (from the Missouri Pork Association this year) tenderloin sandwiches, but what makes them stand out from all the others in town is they are served on jalapeno cornbread. It adds more texture to the sandwich, Geske says, and tastes great grilled with melted hot pepper cheese. The cornbread/cheese combo also tastes good with the polish sausage sandwiches. "Porkies" is another popular option, which are mini tenderloin sandwiches. Legends also has a different lunch special every day for $4.95.

You won't have to worry about a place to sit. Legends has some serious space, with the ability to seat 90 to 100 people on the main floor and 100 to 120 in the "loft," which also is used on Friday and Saturday evenings for music and dancing. And if the weather is nice, they have a wrap-around deck.

Although Legend's is located right off the Belt, some people don't realize it's there, Geske says. That's because it's connected to the bowling alley and the entrance is around back.

The kitchen at Legends is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and until 9 p.m. on Sundays.