Bridgehead Café in Antioch is easy to miss when you drive by, but the family-owned restaurant has been in business for 26 years – and going strong. “The reason a lot of people eat here is because they feel comfortable,” said Murray Sexton, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Heather. The Sextons, along with Manager Lusanne Bough and a loyal staff, pride themselves on being personally connected to their customers and their community.

“We’re friends with everybody,” said Heather. “We as a business have really grown and become a part of the community.” Regulars are greeted by name and are likely to be asked about their families, their health and recent life events. Owners and servers alike are happy to chat with patrons, and always eager to get to know newcomers. The restaurant reserves a special wall on which families of military service men and women can post photos of their loved ones overseas.

“Our people are real,” Heather said. “They actually care.” This personal connection brings patrons back through multiple generations. One regular customer used to come to the café with her grandmother every Sunday, and now brings her own children. Another patron stops by a few times a day for coffee. Murray’s first-ever customer still comes in seven days a week to dine and socialize with the staff.

The décor is another of Bridgehead Café’s attractions. Designed in cozy browns and reds, the comfortable ambiance is given a country feel by the cattle harnesses, tools, wind chimes and pictures that adorn the walls. “I just like the country look,” said Murray. He once toyed with the idea of modernizing the café’s appearance, but changed his mind when customers objected.

Then, of course, there’s the food. Featuring home-style cooking, Bridgehead’s menu offers everything from all-day breakfast to all-you-can-eat dinners. The popular Biscuits and Gravy, made from scratch every day, can be ordered with bacon or sausage for $5.19, or by themselves for $3.79. Murray’s Chicken Fried Steak, topped with mushrooms, grilled onions and brown gravy and served with sides, is in high demand at dinner time.

On Saturdays and Sundays, diners can enjoy All You Can Eat Fried Chicken for $12.99. Other all-you-can-eat specials include tacos, ravioli, fish or clams, plus veal or chicken parmesan. Heather said the quality of the all-you-can-eat dishes is the same as the regular menu items (“Murray won’t compromise on that!”) For dessert, diners can top off with a slice of homemade pie for $3.95, or a host of other sweets including banana splits.

“We’re trying to keep that comfort, community style,” said Heather. “It’s so important.” The Bridgehead Café way has worked for 26 years, and Murray and Heather look forward to many more. No doubt their customers do, too.

Bridgehead Café, located at 2415 E. 18th St. in Antioch, is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesdays through Sundays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call 925-757-4774.