When Monica Barajas and Jennifer Hamilton decided they wanted to open a café in downtown Brentwood, they wanted their restaurant to be like a home away from home. And after more than a month in operation, MJ’s Downtown Café and Bakery is just that – luring lots of locals into its homey ambiance.

“Business has been good,” Hamilton said. “It’s actually been more than we expected, but it’s been a great learning experience. We are finding things we’d like to improve on so we can keep getting better and better. The word-of-mouth support from customers has been great and we’re meeting new customers all the time. Things are going great, especially since this is our first restaurant.”

While the cheerful atmosphere and spacious dining area makes MJ’s the perfect place to enjoy a meal or just sit back and relax with a cup of coffee, Barajas said it’s the quality service that keeps people coming back for more.

“We thought downtown Brentwood was in need of a place that served healthy home-cooked meals,” Barajas said. “And that’s what we bring to the table. We offer first-rate, top-quality service in a family setting. Almost everything we serve is homemade, and we offer the freshest ingredients. We want you to feel like you’re having dinner at home with family and friends.”

MJ’s menu offers such an eclectic variety of dishes that it takes some diners a while to figure out what to order. But customer consensus suggests it’s worth the effort.

MJ’s offers various takes on classic breakfast staples. Omelets, for example, are served more than 20 ways. If you want to stick to a classic concoction, try the Denver Omelet loaded with ham, bell pepper and onion. If you’re feeling more adventurous, order the Relleno, which features green chilies, jack cheese and sour cream topped with a Spanish sauce. Or try the Italian, filled with Italian sausage, roasted peppers, provolone cheese and pesto.

When it comes to pancakes, you can get a standard plate of buttermilk pancakes or treat your taste buds to strawberry, chocolate or blueberry pancakes. If you’re feeling bold, try the banana pecan waffle topped with homemade vanilla whipped cream.

If you can’t make it to breakfast, don’t worry. MJ’s is open for lunch, too, serving sandwiches, salads and burgers. Sit down to enjoy the Santa Fe chicken sandwich, which features a charbroiled chicken breast topped with green chili, pepper jack cheese, avocado, tomato and lettuce in a toasted roll and spread with a spicy mayo. Over on the burger menu you’ll find your standard hamburger and cheeseburger, but add a little spice to your midday meal with The Hotty, a burger with guacamole, jalapeños, pepper jack cheese and red onion piled onto a fresh-ground Angus chuck patty. If that’s too much for your palate, you can always side with a classic chicken Caesa or a Crab Louis salad.

MJ’s offers a specialized menu for their youngest patrons. Breakfast includes oatmeal, eggs, or Mickey Mouse pancakes, while over on the lunch menu, kids can enjoy grilled cheese, spaghetti or a quesadilla, among other options.

“We want to offer a diverse menu so that families can come in, and everyone gets what they want,” Hamilton said. “It may be lunch time but your kids want breakfast. No problem. We offer breakfast all day, so you can order your sandwich, while your kids are enjoying an omelet or chocolate chip pancakes. We want to give you options so that everyone is able to sit down together to enjoy a meal.”

MJ’s Downtown Café and Bakery, located at 655 First St. in Brentwood, is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information or to place a to-go order, call 925-684-7242.