For more than a decade, Jasper’s Gourmet Backyard Cuisine has weathered the changes of a fast-paced industry in a rapidly changing area of Plano.

As construction cranes erect new office towers and competitors open in droves across the tollway from the Shops at Legacy restaurant, Jasper’s Director of Operations Chris Gangi said he believes the restaurant has the broad-appeal menu and upscale dining environment to differentiate itself from its new competition.

“We wanted an upscale way of serving your everyday rotisserie grill foods that you would get at any backyard party or an event,” Gangi said. “The creativity has always been there, but our heritage items have been the same, and that’s what people come here for—our heritage items that are tried and true to what we do.”

Those heritage favorites include the pork tenderloin served on top of Texas peach barbecue sauce and a Comanche buffalo meatball appetizer.

The restaurant’s most frequently ordered item, though, is the plate of slow-smoked baby back ribs served with ancho barbecue sauce and a creamy baked-potato salad.

“Everything’s made from scratch,” said Chris Short, Jasper’s executive chef. “I think we’re here for the people who like backyard cuisine but don’t want to do it themselves. Not everybody wants to roast a prime rib over an open fire nightly—if you want the prime rib.”

The restaurant has recently updated its menu with seasonal menu items, some of which are sourced from the Gulf of Mexico, and plans to continue to rotate in new season items several times a year.

Like many of the Legacy area’s restaurants, Jasper’s maintains an upscale ambience. The price point, however, is more of a middle ground between upscale steakhouse and casual chain.

Appetizers range from $6 to $17—more expensive if restaurant-goers order the wood-fired oyster plate with garlic herb butter and Parmesan cheese. Most entrees range in price from $24 to $40.

One of the restaurant’s goals, Gangi said, is to use quality ingredients “without being pretentious.”

Jasper’s Gourmet Backyard Cuisine
7161 Bishop Road, Plano
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thu.; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.
www.jaspersplano.com