MARGATE – Dilba’s Margate Café is a cute little place on the corner of Granville and Winchester avenues, a neighborhood find offering a relaxed and friendly atmosphere where patrons can grab something to go or sit down and enjoy a great breakfast and chat over a second cup of coffee.

Ray Dilba, the chief cook and bottle washer on a recent Monday morning, is a computer trouble-shooter-turned-chef. When his job with Cigna was outsourced in 1999, he tried the consulting route, but said it was not an easy path. He was looking to do something he enjoyed, but wasn’t sure just what that would be.

Originally from Cherry Hill, he and his wife had a home on Coolidge Avenue here, and on a bike ride one morning she noticed a for-sale sign in the window of the former Victuals Fine Dining restaurant.

The two decided to give the restaurant a go even though she would be heading back to teach at Cherry Hill East High School and he would be the one left holding the apron.

Ray Dilba’s experience with cooking was limited to making grand breakfasts for his family on weekends and holidays. The thought of jumping into the restaurant business with both feet was a little scary, but at the same time it was an exciting challenge the Dilbas were ready for.

Dilba’s son, a professional sous chef, gave his dad some good advice: Have a simple menu, and stick with what you like.

For the new owner, that meant that the Greek omelet would be the first item to make it on the menu. The omelet made with feta cheese, spinach, tomatoes, onions and black olives served up with toast and home fries is an oft-requested start to the day for customers at Dilba’s, as are omelets “made your way.”

You name it, and Dilba will gladly whip it into three eggs and pour it on the grill.

“Some of the customers’ requests we get have turned into specials,” said Dilba. “Eggs Benedict and the Margate Café Omelet with bacon, diced ham, sausage, pork roll and American cheese are both very popular.” He said the short stack pancakes are a staple at Dilba’s – a winner combined with the breakfast meat of your choice.

The lunch menu offers basics such as meatball sandwiches, BLTs, grilled cheese, along with wraps, paninis and every kind of hoagie. But there are plenty of specials, and in this friendly spot where whatever you want is what you get, Dilba will whip up any request. The signboard outside advertises construction worker specials for all the hungry guys and gals working on sites around the neighborhood.

If you are looking for fancy, Dilba’s is not the place. But if you are looking for a place to relax, enjoy a meal and feel like you are having a little something to eat with friends, then Dilba’s is the place. Its “down the Shore” feel with a deep blue tile counter and a fish-back chair at every table is inviting.

Not just for breakfast and lunch, Dilba’s opens in the evening for ice cream.

“Our Belgian waffles are to die for – a scoop of vanilla in between the warm waffle, and it’s out of this world. It’s my favorite,” the proprietor said. The ice cream is Jack and Jill.

The café is also Wi-Fi enabled and welcomes patrons and their laptops.