Laguna Niguel Man Skips Revolution, Makes New Life -- and Pizza -- in U.S.

Originally posted at 4:13 p.m.

In 1978, a young Bizhan Atooni came to the United States from Iran to attend college. He had big plans to return to work in the television or movie industry.

But then the Iranian Revolution got in the way, and Atooni found himself separated from his entire family.

“I had no choice but to stay,” he said. “I couldn’t get any money from home, from my parents. Everybody is still there. I’m by myself.”

Atooni, his wife, Narges, and 9-year-old son, Arya, are recent transplants from Houston to Laguna Niguel. They recently opened a cafe in San Juan Capistrano. 

Now a proud American citizen, Atooni is no stranger to the restaurant world. He’s basically worked his way from the kitchen to owner since college. Without great command of English at the time, Atooni went to work in Houston-area restaurants, and eventually bought himself a franchise there, Pizza Inn. In the end, though, pepperoni and the traditional pizzas just weren’t his thing.

He longed to open his own pizzeria to serve gourmet pizzas. Thus, in 2008, Pappa King Pizza opened.

While the online reviews are positive, it seems most restaurant-goers loved Atooni the most.

“Good pizza and good sandwiches! They owner is a great guy! I go in regularly and we have great talks! Good food for the price!,” says a review from 2010.

But California – a little bit of the Hollywood lure – has always been his dream. In 2012, he sold Pappa  King and prepared to move west.

“The beautiful people of California, the weather – we love this, especially Orange County. It was the dream for my family,” he said.

Café Cesar is at 27221 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. The number is (949) 481-2990. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Article edited to correctly identify family members.