A new independently-owned restaurant in west Plano serves as a beacon against the blight of chains. Called Eddie's Diner, it's from husband-and-wife Bekim and Lydia Miftari, who are winning over the locals with their doting service and great-quality food.

Located at 4709 Parker Rd., at the corner of Preston Road, Eddie's is open for breakfast and lunch daily, with a menu of omelets, benedicts, burgers, panini, and their signature "skillets," like a breakfast version of a "bowl," in which you get hash browns, eggs, and a combination of items such as sausage, peppers, and cheese.

The Miftaris are from Chicago, where Lydia's father was a successful restaurateur from whom she learned the ropes.

"I was fortunate enough to learn this business from the best - my father," she says. "I learned the ins and outs of a good old-fashioned family-run restaurant."

They aspire to be a place where young families can create memories to cherish like the ones they had growing up; where professionals can grab a bite, take a break, and recoup; where friends can meet over dessert and coffee to catch up; where older patrons can count on getting good food and "coffee that's always hot."

Bekim does the cooking while Lydia runs the front of the house with a true sense of hospitality.

In addition to basic egg dishes, they do a breakfast monte cristo sandwich, migas, Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, waffles, four kinds of French toast including challah and banana nutella, and cinnamon roll pancakes.

Breakfast is served all day. They have five kinds of toast including rye, whole wheat, and a gluten-free bread.

Lunch includes sandwiches such as a turkey club croissant and a Reuben; paninis such as chicken ranch; salads including a Cobb and a Greek; and entrees including CFS, chicken-fried chicken, and chicken strips.

They came to the Dallas area because Lydia's brother lives here and has a restaurant called the Frisco Diner, which he opened in 2016. Lydia came down to help him open it, and with family here, they decided to move to the area. They took over the spot that used to be 55 Degrees Wine Bar, which took months to convert into a restaurant.

"But we wanted to be in an established area that's in a real neighborhood," Lydia says. "I have a family, we wanted to be part of the community."

The family includes a namesake: "My son Eddie, that's who we named the restaurant for," she says. "He helps out on weekends when he’s not doing his sports."