Darna Market. Where Santorini meets Dallas.

There is a new spot in Plano and you need to know about it.

I like my bubble. I live an easy distance from a variety of dining options in Uptown, Dallas.  Why leave?

When I learned about the opening of Darna Market at Legacy West in Plano, an authentic Mediterranean eatery, I knew we had to go and not just because I love Mediterranean cuisine– Darna sources premium ingredients, making key staples, like dough and hummus, in house. The key to my heart.

While it may not have been the trip to Europe I was hoping for this summer, the experience did not disappoint. 

Darna means “our house” in Arabic and that is certainly the feeling you get when you are warmly greeted at the door. 

There is an elevated energy about the space. Everything from the floor tiling, to the vivacious pops of color has an authentic, yet “good vibes only” feel to it. 

As someone that has yet to travel the world, I felt like I had been transported to a space that was thousands of miles away.

The 6,200 square foot space felt much larger than I expected, but in a way that invites you to explore, not feel lost in the shuffle. Despite the fact that my husband and I were both hungry and excited to try the food, we acted like excited little kids, unable to sit down to order before embarking on our own solo adventures. 

“An explosion of colors, patterns, smells and sounds will blend varied cultures and traditions will make you feel like you just stepped off a plane in Santorini.”

Darna Market

Although I tend to lean towards a “plant-based + keto” lifestyle, I was captivated by the beautiful indulgent desserts showcased behind sparkling glass and the fragrant pizza coming straight out of the pizza oven. The market also offers authentic Mediterranean groceries, like olives and lamb, as well as cheeses and freshly made hummus, dips and “to-go” items. 

The market offers “Spanish meat boards, European cheeses, French pastries, Italian and Turkish flatbreads, Greek souvlaki, Moroccan spices, and Lebanese mezze.”

Darna Market

Our server was excellent. You could tell he wanted to give us the experience we hoped for and the food absolutely did not disappoint. 

Everything in the kitchen is made from scratch. The pita was pillowy, soft and fluffy and smelled and tasted like it had just popped out of the oven (according to my husband). 

I ordered a glass of wine and the roasted golden and red beet salad with a citrus vinaigrette and creamy goat cheese. It was so excellent that I almost ordered another salad as my dessert. 

I skipped the additional salad and “settled” for the chocolate flourless cake, which I had been eyeing since we walked in. I am not one to eat dessert. I prefer savory to sweet. But I felt validated knowing that each dessert was made in their own kitchen. I only intended to have a few bites of the cake, but each bite melted in my mouth like the most buttery rich and decadent piece of fudge I had ever experienced. It magically vanished from the plate.

My husband ordered two slices of freshly baked pizza. We both come from states where the bread is divine (New Jersey and Illinois)– “Dallas just doesn’t do dough right,” my husband always explains. Until… Darna. Whatever Darna Market is doing to make their pita and pizza into fluffy pillows of heaven, should be trademarked. 

Darna also has a full bar, and chic and European cafe tables throughout. As my husband said, “If this place was closer, I’d be here daily.” 

Pop inside. Stay for a snack and beverage, or a meal.

Regardless, you are sure to forget that you are in Dallas, in the best of ways.

^{Created in 2019 by Yaser Khalaf, Darna is the celebration of the shops, cafés, street vendors, and bazaars that are such a major attraction in the Mediterranean.}