Edmond and Aida Lamce opened the burger joint last October with the hopes of bringing customers the experience of eating a home-cooked meal with family. The place is small and simple, and customers have a full view of the modest kitchen.
The couple grew up eating fresh food at their family dinner tables in Albania before moving to Plano in 2014 where they fell in love with the community.
After JC's Burger House closed its 15th Street location, the couple decided to open a burger shop to fill that void, Aida said.
They wanted to stand out from the plethora of similar restaurants, so they created a diverse menu with offerings ranging from classic cheeseburgers, to Reuben sandwiches and gyro wraps.
With help from a few employees, the Lamces handle the entire operation themselves. With almost 30 years of culinary experience Edmond crafts from scratch recipes and helms the kitchen while Aida takes care of everything from customer service to finances. This has fostered a bond with their customers that has been one of their keys to success, Aida said.
“It's not only a passion for food, but a passion to serve the best you can,” Aida said. “It's like when your home and your grandma cooks. It's that feeling.”
The other key to success is their use of fresh ingredients purchased from local markets each day.
Customers are served crisp vegetables, hand-pressed Angus beef, rye bread for sandwiches and fresh brioche buns that are softer, sweeter and richer than traditional buns. The restaurateurs also make homemade pita bread for their Mediterranean offerings, she said.
But the glue holding everything together is the love instilled in each dish and permeating through their conversations with customers, Aida said. The restaurant has given them the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings with the Plano community while serving food they are proud of, she said.
“When it comes to your own business, you do it with all your heart, you put too much effort and too much love and too much care and people are feeling that,” Aida said. “It's something I can’t put into words.”
Edmond’s Burgers & More, 2919 W. 15th St., Plano
972-612-2121. www.edmondsburgers.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Sat. 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Sun. closed
