Darna Mediterranean Eatery — Restaurant in Plano

In a word, the experience of eating at Darna is "delight."

While visiting the area, my wife, toddler, and infant and I ate at Darna's something like 4-5 times in the course of a week. After eating there the first time, spending money elsewhere seemed silly. We even went out of our way to bring family and friends by; it's just that good!

Our diet omits gluten and dairy, so finding places to eat is hard. At Darna, the manager assured us when we arrived that our restrictions would be honored. We were delighted when the waiters, manager, and chef discussed our asks and modified recipes every single time we came. We were able to have more different menu items here than most anywhere else we eat.

The food itself was second to none, easily comparable to some of the finest restaurants I've ever eaten in. The chefs' at Darna do incredible work. We enjoyed sitting at the kitchenside table a few times, seeing the actual wood logs being piled on to the grills.

By dish Lamb shank: cooked perfectly to the bone. Even the cartilage came off easily. The seasoning permeated deeply into the meat, which was soft and flavorful. The portions was outstanding, and the rice perfectly cooked.

Paella: without hesitation, the best I have had anywhere. Fresh seafood (without the seafood smell), perfectly done risotto, the commonly heavy dish sat lightly.

Kafta Kabob: Perfectly grilled, balanced, rich lamb, beautifully garnished.

Chicken Picatta: I had no idea that chicken breast could be this soft and flavorful. Perfect amount of wood-cooked flavor. The potatoes it comes with are very unique as well.

Mediterranean Salad w/ Salmon (lunch): As with the chicken, I was awed by the amount of flavor and quality packed into the salmon. The salad itself was fresh, balanced, unique, with a perfect amount of evenly-distributed dressing. I have never been so satisfied with a salad.

Lamb chops: the definition of this dish done right is Darna's rendition of lamb chops. I asked that the chef cook it to the doneness he felt was most appropriate, and his judgement was on point. Between this, the kafta, and the shank, each were a unique take on lamb, but this one stands out as my personal favorite between them.

Falafel: authentic, light, fluffy, flavorful

Hummus: making hummus light is an art; Darna's chefs are artists. I enjoyed the hummus as a side first, then as the base of the chicken bowl at lunch. It was outstanding and should satisfy anyone with a passion for this dish.

Next, I would comment on the service. Without exception, the waiting staff presented as paragons of their profession. They knew the menu superlatively well, were prompt, shared delightful personalities, and best of all were clearly extremely passionate about the food at Darna. I had the privilege of meeting the manager and owner as well, both of whom were welcoming to my family. The whole staff puts on a show, a proper, high-star restaurant style service that exceeds to even the most demanding expectations.

Finally, I must comment specifically on the chefs. They greeted us with smiles, and rose with enthusiasm to the challenge of tailoring dishes to our dietary needs. We met Josue most often, and I know him in particular to have been extremely scrupulous in preparing food for our family, double-checking anything sent to our table for allergens. Apart from this, he is an artist of a caliber rarely seen. From the presentation of his plating to his judgement on the doneness of meat, everything he does in the kitchen portrays skill. I was blown away by the quality of the dishes he made us, especially since he had to change several of them substantially to meet our needs; we would not have known they were not the original recipes. Everything he sent to our table has become the ideal standard for how my wife and I think of those dishes. It was an honor to experience his work.

Summarily, eating at Darna has been a uniquely delightful experience across all elements that make a restaurant great. Darna well earns my highest unreserved recommendation;...

Darna is awesome. Hands down the best roll out of a new restaurant I have ever seen. These people were prepared and they are serious about providing an excellent experience to each and every guest. The food is Mediterranean style but a wide well balanced menu ensures there is something for just about anyone to enjoy. The drinks are made with care, and the food. I just cannot say enough about the food. I chose the harissa turkey stack sandwich and it was the best sandwich I have eaten in years. (Sorry mom) The service is extremely professional and you will not be just a number, your every need will be catered to and you will share a sense of excitement with the staff because Darna has raised the bar for the traditional Mediterranean dining experience and it IS exciting! Sit inside and enjoy the cool air while watching the professionals prepare all the great dishes they serve, or sit on the outdoor patio, enjoy a drink or desert while watching the hustle and bustle that IS Legacy West. After eating stroll over to the indoor market and purchase from a wide variety of take home items. The prices are extremely reasonable in fact I was shocked my bill was so low especially after dining in other Legacy West eateries that are much pricier. All around Darna is a great place for a romantic date or a quiet family lunch. If you stop at Darna prepare for a new experience - you will not be rushed and you will be pleasantly surprised as the servers make you feel at home and ensure your food is perfect, and that your experience is superb. Darna is also a great place to bring a business partner or rep from out of town. They will be impressed with your selection and it wont break the expense fund. I give Darna an A+ for service A+ for the quality preparation A+ for the diverse menu A+ for the location A+ for the quality ingredients And finally an A+++ for the overall experience. Well done guys you have created the best Mediterranean dining experience in the whole state of Texas, perhaps the best Mediterranean dining experience this side of the Atlantic!! I cannot wait to dine at Darna again, I am so impressed I may come...

Upon arriving at the restaurant, I was excited to try out a new dining spot in the area and to catch up with friends. However, the atmosphere quickly shifted when I approached the hostess stand to check in for our reservation. Despite the restaurant having several available tables, the hostess seemed hesitant and mentioned that they were busy, which struck me as odd.

As she checked for available tables, she started probing about our plans for the evening, asking whether we intended to have a full dinner or just drinks and dessert. It felt as though she was trying to gauge our value as customers before seating us, which was quite off-putting.

Even after explaining that it was our first time at the restaurant and we were looking forward to trying out the menu, the hostess seemed hesitant to accommodate us unless we were committed to ordering a full meal. This made me feel unwelcome and uncomfortable, especially considering my background in the restaurant industry.

Despite not getting the chance to experience the food or service firsthand, the initial encounter left such a sour taste that I decided to take my business elsewhere. It's a shame because I was genuinely looking forward to trying out the restaurant, but the unwelcoming atmosphere and questionable service made it clear that our experience there wouldn't be enjoyable.

In the end, we found a Turkish restaurant across the street where we were warmly welcomed and treated to excellent service. The food, drinks, and dessert were all fantastic, reaffirming our decision to seek out a more hospitable dining...