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