When Athar Dar and his son Mehran Dar took over ownership and management of Mama Pita Mediterranean Grill in March, they had no plans to make wholesale changes to the Lebanese-inspired menu. The restaurant located at the Shops at Legacy in Plano had for almost a decade been well-known in the area for its fast-casual approach to Mediterranean food. When the Dar family moved to North Texas they brought industry expertise from operating restaurant franchises in Connecticut. After two or three visits to Mama Pita, they found it an intriguing option. “We were just looking for a good restaurant, a fancy restaurant that could get the job done,” said Mehran, who manages the restaurant during late shifts. “I don’t think we were going to find anything better than this. You can see it yourself—it’s at the Shops at Legacy. It’s a beautiful spot itself, and then if you come inside … it’s a good place to sit and eat.” The Dars did not want to change the menu or food offerings when they took over, Mehran said. The Lebanese fast-casual options were already popular, and the Dar family had not previously owned a Mediterranean restaurant. For years the restaurant has offered a simple selection of pita wraps, plates, bowls and salads, with meat options that include chicken, kafta sausage, steak and lamb. Customers can select from a variety of vegetables and sauces to create their own combination at the counter. The Dar family moved from Connecticut in part to escape the cold weather and in part to take advantage of cheaper housing costs in North Texas, Mehran said. After taking over ownership of Mama Pita this year, Mehran said, they turned their attention to improving the customer service experience—something that was a high priority for them at previous restaurants they owned. Mama Pita Mediterranean Grill 5800 Legacy Drive, Ste. C6, Plano 972-403-1609 www.facebook.com/mamapita