I have many memories linked with Café Lily, some with a group of friends, some with a best friend or two, some with family, and even some that were special, a first date (the date was terrible, but the food was good) and my sister's congratulatory doctoral dunch. But no matter the occassion, celebraing or commeserating, the food, the service, and the atmosphere are always the same. The quality of both food and service at Café Lily over the past five years that I've been going have been excellent AND consistant. Occasionally, the menu will slightly change, but they do have a care in making sure that the "classics" remain on the menu. I mean, where would I be without the succluent and savory Pinchitos accompanied by the decadent white sweet potatoes that perfectly balance the flavors of sweet and salty? And may I just say that the best grilled cheese sandwhich that I ever had in my entire life didn't come from childhood, but from Café Lily--the buttered crunchiness of the bread, the sharpness of the cheese, the hot and gooey innard balanced by the cold and firm tomato, married with the background of bread... The hummus and olives, light yet rich, aromatic yet clean and pleasing to the pallate. And let's not talk about desserts. I've been introduced to them all, liked them at first meeting, and tried to make my conversation with them last as long as possible, but verily I agree that all good things come to an end. As to the café that is served, there is only one thing to say: it's real. Café Lily is not my favorite restaraunt in Atlanta, but it is one of those places that you call up a friend and say, "we haven't been to Café Lily in a while...want to go?" None of my people have ever turned down that proposal.

I've been eating at this restaurant since it opened a few years ago and have never had a bad or boring meal. Nice decor, continental cuisine, friendly service, and a sophisticated wine list make it a great place to take the family or business dates.