Cafe Lily

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. Pros: Nice ambience Cons: Overpriced for what you get more

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. Pros: Great food and wonderful service Cons: Parking can be a bit tricky more

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.) more

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

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! Pros: food, service, ambience, wine list Cons: haven't found any yet more

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... Pros: Friendly Bartenders; Excellent Wines Cons: Expensive more

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! Pros: Food, vibe, food, wine list, food Cons: A drive if you live in Atlanta, but worth it! more

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! Pros: value, food, wine list Cons: none to speak of more

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. more

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. Pros: food, service, atmosphere. more

My husband and I like to go out to eat for the whole experience, not just the food itself. But let me first-off state that the food at Cafe Lily is divine, absolutely delicious, and totally drives the cafe into one of the best places in the ATL food-wise. But their attitude left much to be desired. When I made the reservation (for 8 pm) they said the table was already reserved for 9:30 and did I think we could be out in an hour and a half? I said, ""yes,"" and thought that was the end of it. But when they seated us at our table they reminded us that we had to be out by 9:30! How's that for a romantic evening? ""By the way, much more important people are going to be sitting where you are at 9:30, so you better get out."" Then, we arrived at 8:03 (would have been earlier but finding a parking space is a nightmare) and stood for several minutes while 3 couples came in after us and got seated immdiately! I assumed they were royalty from another country, of COURSE. The dining room is very pretty and romantic, and we had a nice meal, but when we were done (by 9:00 pm, well before we were due to get booted) we waited for a full 20 minutes before our bill even came. Not even water in front of us on the table, completely trapped with no way to pay up and leave. Just ruined it for us. And the crux of it all is that the food is DELICIOUS. My husband had the lamb, and I had the butternut squash ravioli, and they were both superb. They have no reason to be so tacky in all other areas. Anyway, I will go back just because the food is so darn good, but I will likely try it on, say, a Tuesday so that maybe they won't be expecting the Queen of Sheba to sit at my table precisely an hour and a half after I get there. Pros: The FOOD is SO good. Cons: Server & hostess attitude, no parking more

We made a reservation for a Saturday night and were seated immediately upon arriving, which I always appreciate b/c not everywhere in ATL will honor your reservation like that. My only qualm was that we got a bad table where we could see the kitchen/prep area. The dining room is quite charming, and I would have liked to been more a part of it as it had a great, lively ambiance. The food did make up for it. We had the cheese fondue appetizer, it was very good and the portion was enough to feed more than just 2 ppl. I ordered the salmon entree and it was perfectly cooked and very flavorful. My husband had the lamb and he loved it. The wine list is extensive and had great variety. Our waiter was a bit snotty, he seemed bored of us as soon as we didn't order a whole bottle of wine, but overall it was a very good experience and I would recommend the restaurant to anyone. (Just don't get the table near the kitchen!) Pros: Prompt seating, FOOD! Cons: Parking lot is small, all tables are not equal more

First of all we do not live in Decatur City(Square). But for the past three days, this President's Birthday Weekend, we might as well have. Today was our third dining trip to Decatur. And we've been wanting to try Cafe Lily for some time. We did not have reservations, but arrived early, and were seated almost immediately. How refreshing to not be in another corporate clone destination. This place had a true Bistro vibe. The menu was creative Mediterrainean, and was wonderful starting with the Cheese Fondu. We both had the grilled Greek Steak rubbed with Olive Oil and fresh herbs. Terrific. The wine list offered items, we rarely see outside traditional Greek menus. And service was oh so nice. And the owner paid a personal visit to our table, which made the occasion more special. Escape from the ordinary, and into a true Bistro! Pros: Creative Romantic Mediterrainean Bistro! Personable Owner! more

My boyfriend and I celebrated our four year anniversary here. It was very romantic. It gets busy and gets fairly tight, so make sure you make reservations. It's not your typical mediterranean restaurant. More of a fine dine, not your belly dancers and loud music type place. We tried to get the ""blue room"" that another reviewer mentioned, but it was already taken. I had the lamb, and my boyfriend had the steak (which was to die for). The food was delicious and worth the money. The portions are huge, but very tastey. My only compliant is that we made reservations and still had to wait a while before getting seated, and there isn't much waiting room in the restaurant if the bar is full. Overall, I liked the place and would go back. Pros: Steak, Ambience, Service Cons: Wait time, Can Get Fairly Packed more

I signed up for Citysearch specifically to praise this restaurant. My boyfriend took me here for my birthday and the whole meal was perfect. The bread was great, and we ordered the cheese fondue appetizer, which I couldn't stop eating. Our waitress overheard us talking during dinner about whether or not we wanted dessert, and when my boyfriend told me to choose because it was my birthday, she brought us a lemon souffle-like desert with a sparkler in it (we weren't actually trying to get free dessert, she was just very attentive - without hovering). Overall, the food was excellent, our waitress and all of the staff were very friendly and helpful, the atmosphere was great (the tucked us into a romantic nook) - everything was perfect! I can't wait to go back. Pros: price, food, service more

The food is great, and the owners couldn't be nicer. Every time I'm there, the owner and chef (his son?), are out and about greeting their patrons. Food is always good. LOVE IT. Best in Decatur. more

Absolutely fabulous. Wine selection, service, food and even deserts were awesome. This is best restaurant in Decatur for sure. I will be their regular because I really really appreciate what they do. I am tired of factory looking mediocre and so called restaurant icons"" offer in this city. They need to come to this restaurant and see how to cook and serve to people and make them happy. Cafe Lilly's is another proof that best restaurants are owner operated. Pros: food, service, wine more

I found out about this place after my girlfriend (GF) lied to me about going out with this dude to this place. However, I decided to try it myself. So me and the new GF go and have a blast. Food was good and service was too. Since this review I have been there several times solo and the single scene is cool too. Glad I found out about it, it has become a favorite for me and the GF! Pros: Great little place in Decatur Cons: Might run into the old girlfriend more

I've been to Cafe Lily a number of times and I believe it is the best restaurant in Atlanta. I am a frequent traveler/restaurant goer and this is the gold standard. The service is exceptional, and the food is consistantly amazing. If you want a romantic evening or a quick casual small meal, this is the place! The small plates/appetisers are incredible. (the BEST crab cake, the BEST muscles in tomato sauce, the BEST calamari) Whether you're in the mood for red meat (the rib eye, filet and pinchitos/lamb) or fish (crab stuffed tilapia, salmon) the entrees are ALWAYS cooked perfectly, and are consistantly delicious. The wine list is very good and the owner Angelo will help you pick something you'll like, whether you're a beginner or a wine lover. Pros: Excellent Food, Excellent service, Excellent wine Cons: not very kid friendly more

I had the special giant delicious crabcake with avacado and orange as an appetizer. It was big enough almost to have been a meal, and full of actual crab, not breadcrumbs. The melt-in-your mouth lamp pinchitos with haricort verte and Japanese sweet white potatos were outstanding, and the wine (Monterey Crosspoint Pinot Noir) was a perfect complement to the meal. The co-owner Angelo made us feel as though we were transported into a gentler time. He not only went out of his way to make sure that we were pleased with the meal, but also sat down with us and shared a glass. He also introduced us to the charming chef and co-owner (and son!) Anthony. We were made to feel very special and welcome. Outstanding meal, great company. Kudos. Pros: Great dishes, Welcoming atmosphere, Responsive service Cons: Parking more