Cafe Lily

Doesn't Recommend

jkotler

Joined 4 years ago

Disappointing. I had a horrendously early evening meeting and needed to eat at the ghastly hour of 5:30 to stave off starvation. I was driving through Decatur en route, and thought about Cafe Lily--mainly because they used to have great fettucine al fredo (no longer on the menu, alas). Can't fault the service (heck, I was the only person in the place at that hour), but I paid over $28 for one glass of wine and two large (true, very large) meatballs on linguine--which were edible, but nothing very yummy. I think I could have opted at that hour for a free salad or something, but even had I, it wouldn't have made up for the quality of the entree.

Won't be back.

Recommends

Louie1

Joined 4 years ago

Can't wait to go back. My wife and I visited Cafe Lily for the first time over the weekend. We were both impressed with the quality of the food and the great service. Our server, Mitchel, was fabulous and very attentive.

My wife ordered the Ravioli di Zucca (with butternut squash) and I had the Ornithenia Souvlakia (chicken with roasted potatoes, peppers and onions); both dishes were wonderful and the dessert was even better. The restaurant also has a delightful ambiance that was perfectly suited for a romantic evening on the town. I highly recommend Cafe Lily and look forward to our next visit.

Doesn't Recommend

EmoryDevil

Joined 4 years ago

Unpleasant Surprises. I was quite disappointed by my Valentines Day experience. First, while I understand having a different menu for the special day, no mention of such was made on the website, so I was annoyed to arrive only to find all the cheaper options had been removed or re-priced. (Seafood-vol-vent is listed on the website menu as a lighter entree at $15, I was charged over $20 for what was a small enough portion that I dont think it was a different dish.)

Additionally, at a place as nice as this, and for the prices charged, I dont think its too much to expect my shrimp to be competently de-veined.

Recommends

butterflynorman

Joined 5 years ago

Highly Recommend. Excellent Food and wonderful atmosphere. Great place for a romantic date. I recommend the lamb with mint.

Recommends

decaturfam

Joined 5 years ago

best restaurant in Decatur. Cafe Lily gets it right EVERY time we go there. The food is delicious, and the service is prompt, polite and they don't rush you through your meal. The bar is great too, and is a great place to eat your dinner if you don't have a reservation. They have a nice wine list, and will offer samplings if you are not sure what to order. Everything about this place is great and we love going there!

Recommends

pashman

Joined 5 years ago

Sit at the bar!. I am writing this review for all you red wine drinkers out there. My wife and I love this place, mainly because of the excellent zinfandel wines! We like sitting at the bar so much that we don't even bother trying to get a table any more. We just stroll in and tell the hostess we want to eat at the bar. Our preference is the bar in the main dining area but the bar actually wraps around into the next room and you can sit there too if you want a little more privacy. The bartenders are extremely nice and very willing to help you figure out exactly which zinfandel is right for you (even if that means three or four free samples). I didn't read all the reviews but I'm sure many have noted that Cafe Lily has one of the largest selections of zinfandels in the Atlanta area. Personally, my favorite is the Frog's Leap but it all depends on your tastes. By all means, if you don't like zins, there are plenty of other red and white wine options to choose from. Wine drinkers will appreciate that the bartenders are very generous with their pours and will sometimes even top off your glass if they are near the bottom of the bottle! This is a very good thing...

All the food is great but my favorite dish by far is the scallop risotto. Regarding price, it isn't cheap but you get what you paid for...give the bar a shot! You won't be disappointed...

Recommends

olafatl

Joined 6 years ago

Sweet little restaurant, Stellar food. A definite favorite. Food strikes a balance between familiar and artful. Service is top-notch and the vibe can't be beat. Worth the drive to Decatur!

Recommends

alwayseating

Joined 7 years ago

very good food, great prices. We have been to Cafe Lily twice and will keep going back for more. The food is very good, portions are tremendous, and the service is very good as well. We haven?t had a bad bite yet. The daily specials are always interesting, but you?ll be sure to find something from the main menu which has plenty of choices. The wine list is great and if you love Zin, they have a substantial Zinfandel list. Right in the heart of Decatur, you can?t go wrong, and on nice nights the outdoor seating is quite inviting. Go, you?ll love it!

Recommends

kareenand

Joined 7 years ago

Always great food and casual atmosphere. Since we have moved to Decatur last year, we have eaten here probably 20 times and the dishes are consistently great and the staff has been excellent! The patio area is remarkably serene and pleasant, seeing that it is on a busy street. I recommend CL to anyone that loves great Italian food.

Recommends

highheelshoeshopper

Joined 7 years ago

Why do we even go to other restaurants?. Seriously, my husband and I love this place, we have never had a bad meal here. The atmosphere is great, the food is fantastic, and we always get great service. I love that I never feel rushed to give up my table.