Frisco Eats

Chef opens restaurant in one of downtown Frisco's coolest buildings

Fine fare coming to Frisco.

Courtesy photo

While food is important, location also matters, and Didi's Downtown aims to have it both. This new restaurant is opening in mid-December in the heart of historic downtown Frisco at 7210 W. Main St., in one of the oldest homes in the city.

Didi's will serve scratch-made food, with an emphasis on hospitality, family-friendly environment, live music, and a dedication to its hometown Frisco.

Owner Scott Hoffner is a chef with a long and impressive resume, ranging from a golf resort in Montana to serving as private chef for celebrities such as Tyson Chandler. He's worked at notable restaurants such as TJ's Seafood and J Macklin's Grill in Coppell, and also helped restaurateur Ed Bailey launch his Bailey's Prime Plus steakhouse chain, now closed.

Currently residing with his family in Frisco, Hoffner wanted to open a neighborhood place.

"I opened a creperie in 2011 and it has remained my dream to have my own place," he says. "I'm one mile away from the restaurant. I can ride my bike there. My kids' schools are close by. It just seemed like a great opportunity."

He's going into what used to be a bar-restaurant called Stan's Main Street, which left the space in late August.

"It's the third oldest house in Frisco, it was built in 1912," Hoffner says. "It's a cool, funky joint and there's no other patio like it around. It also has its own parking lot which customers love, right in the heart of the Rail District, which is rare."

To honor that, he commissioned a quirky mural on the side of the building featuring a 36-foot-long train. But the mural is a double-take, because it looks as if a dad and his two kids are painting the train, when they are actually part of the mural.

The menu will have a little bit of everything, from blackened tuna to salads to smothered cheese fries.

Texican chicken sounds good: It's a fried chicken breast topped with salsa verde and pickled jalapenos served with elote and sourdough bread. There are half a dozen burgers and another half-dozen sandwiches, including a patty melt and a Philly cheesesteak.

"We're doing dishes that I know people love: hummus, catfish, burgers, and tacos, with more creative nightly specials," Hoffner says.

There'll also be an 8-foot smoker for weekend projects like a whole hog. Prices will range from $6 to $22.

"We're definitely going to be Frisco- and family-centric," he says. "I just want to make people happy and offer great hospitality."

openings

Coffee buzz

Suburban fave Lemma Coffee brews first Dallas cafe in high-profile spot

Photo courtesy of Lemma Coffee Co.

Lemma Coffee Co. is opening in Mockingbird Station.

After building a following in the Dallas 'burbs, Lemma Coffee Co. is finally opening inside the city limits: The specialty coffee chain will debut its first Dallas location at Mockingbird Station in mid-September.

Lemma will take over the former Starbucks space at 5331 Mockingbird Ln., Ste. 150, bringing its high-quality coffee to the area's busy mix of residents, office workers, shoppers, and nearby university students. Owner Daniel Baum revealed the new shop's location in an Instagram reel on Saturday, August 1.

Baum, a former photographer, founded Lemma Coffee Co. in 2017, initially serving coffee at the Denton County Farmers Market. After opening its first brick-and-mortar shop in Carrollton, the company added locations in Frisco in 2020 and downtown Plano in 2022.

“For us, it is exciting to have a shop within Dallas and show the work we have put in over the past nine years,” says Baum, who grew up in Dallas.

The Denim Danger is one of Lemma's popular specialty drinks.Photo courtesy of Lemma Coffee Co.

Lemma focuses on premium coffee, with a menu featuring classic espresso drinks alongside specialty beverages made with house-made syrups. Highlights include:

Citrusgoth Latte: Charcoal, chocolate, and citrus.
Denim Danger: Blueberry syrup, maple, and brown sugar.
The Great Bambino: Cold brew s’mores (inspired by the movie The Sandlot).
The Bees’ Knees: Latte with vanilla, honey, and lavender.
Seasonal Coffee Tonic: Espresso, lychee puree, fresh orange and lime, and citrus bitters.

The company has also expanded its matcha offerings to include drinks such as the Matcha Tropic with coconut cream and banana syrup, Strawberry Matcha, and Ube Matcha.

For food, Lemma partners with local Montecito Bakery. The menu typically includes butter and chocolate croissants, almond loaves, dulce de leche cruffins, avocado toast, sandwiches, and hoagies.

While the beverage menu remains consistent across its locations, Lemma designs each shop to fit its neighborhood. The 1,300-square-foot Mockingbird Station location will feature several single-person tables, plenty of natural light, and limited bar seating for guests who want to watch the baristas while working or studying.

“People will be able to grab what they need and get back to the hustle, and if they want to stay, we will accommodate them in our space,” Baum says.

In addition to its cafés, Lemma operates a roasting facility in Coppell that supplies its own shops and wholesale customers across North Texas, including DFW Common Good, Oak Cliff Bread, Brewed, Seventh Day, and Local Good.

The company prides itself on responsible sourcing, direct-impact relationships with farmers, and a meticulous roasting process. To highlight traceability, every bag of retail coffee sold in-store features the name of the farm, allowing customers to pinpoint the origin of their beans.

“We have a quiet but loyal customer base — our core customers come in, buy our coffee, and take bags home to brew,” Baum says. “It is a dream for us to bring our shop into the city and continue to grow.”

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