Diners who crave a taste of home cooking need look no further than Dad’s Cafe, the new restaurant at The Crossings shopping center in Antioch. True to its name, Dad’s Cafe is indeed run by a dad – make that two dads and their wives: Ahmed and Mitsumi Mobdy and Martin and Margarita de la Torre.

When Mobdy found the Antioch location and decided that a cafe style restaurant would be ideal, he mulled over potential names for the place. One of his original choices was Baba’s Café, but his daughter Fatima took a more logical – and whimsical – approach. Since the restaurant would be run by two dads, Fatima thought it logical to call it Dad’s Cafe.

Dad’s Cafe opened in late December, and judging by the steady stream of dine-in and take-out patrons, is doing well. “Business has been growing steadily every week,” said owner Mobdy with a smile, adding that on weekends, diners wait eagerly for a table at breakfast. “Every week’s better than the one before.”

Breakfasts come with hash browns or breakfast potatoes and choice of toast. Hungry diners can choose from American diner classics such as pancakes, omelettes and steak and eggs, or Mexican breakfast favorites such as chorizo and eggs or ranchero eggs. Lunch and dinner offerings include roasted turkey and sauteed petrale sole. For a Mexican flair, diners enjoy the carne asada plate, a tender grilled beef dish served with rice, beans, fresh guacamole, salsa and a choice of corn or flour tortillas. Dad’s Cafe also features a rotating menu of freshly made daily soups including minestrone, chicken lemon rice soup and clam chowder.

Just about everything at Dad’s, from the pasta sauces and salsa to the freshly fried tortilla chips, are made from scratch. It takes more effort, but Mobdy believes it’s worth it, especially when so many families are watching their wallets. “They don’t eat out as much anymore, thanks to the economy,” said Mobdy.” When families go out, they want it to be worth their money. And that’s what we serve: good, homemade food at affordable prices.”

A seasoned professional in the restaurant business, Mobdy has worked in restaurants since immigrating to the United States more than 30 years ago. “Everything in a restaurant, I’ve done it.” Mobdy said. Though he entertains the possibility of expanding to a second location, his goals are personal, not purely financial. What he desires most of all is to enjoy the vocation he loves and still have time to spend with his family “I just want to have a decent life.”

Dad’s Café, located at 3421 Deer Valley Road in Antioch, at the corner of Deer Valley Road and Hillcrest Avenue, is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dad’s also provides delivery service. The phone number is 925-777-0791.