The customer experience is prioritized at every level, food, service, and atmosphere. You can hear the people at your table, bonus! Cafe Lily is a Decatur classic where we, and our friends, have been repeat customers over the years. We'll be back.
Virginia
We had the MOST outstanding service. I wish I could remember our waiter's name. He went over and above to make sure we knew all the specials and how to order enough but not too much food since we were off to an event. All four of us were quite happy with our meal, although two people said the crab cake was not quite what they had hoped. My meal of goat cheese ravioli was spectacular and we all enjoyed the grilled bread. No time for drinks or dessert on this visit but the meals were wonderful!
Mary
Food was wonderful, flavorful, and arrived well presented and timely. Waitress was knowledgeable about the menu options and, when asked, made some suggestions that were perfect.
Jonathan
Cafe Lily is consistently excellent in all respects: food, ambiance and great staff attitude. It's our go-to place for our evenings out in Decatur.
Joanne
The food was pretty good, nothing spectacular. It's categorized as a Mediterranean restaurant, however most dishes are Italian. The ambience is ok, needs some updating, not very current. I know this seems trivial, however the bathrooms were awful, dirty and soooo dated!! Our server Christian was spectacular!! Friendly, accommodating and willing to please, loved him:))
Steve
We have probably eaten at Cafe Lily several dozen times over the years, this was the first time everything wasn't excellent. We always get their calamari appetizer -yesterday ordered two. The portions did not present as even, did not come to the table sizzling as it had in the past and the usual "buttery flavor" (even though there is no butter) was lacking. Crab cake disappointed and the fish was not cooked uniformly. Our server Christian was extremely pleasant. We will try Cafe Lily again sometime, hoping this was just an off night.
Lai
Nestled in the heart of Decatur, GA, Cafe Lily continues to prove why it's a beloved staple in the community. Our party of 8 gathered there to celebrate a birthday, and from the moment we arrived, the evening felt special. The server greeted us with warmth and professionalism, setting the tone for a relaxed and enjoyable dinner. Wine was poured with care, and the service throughout was attentive without being intrusive. We sampled a variety of dishes--fresh salads, pillowy ravioli, perfectly cooked salmon, and comforting chicken parmigiana. Each plate arrived hot and flavorful, meeting (and in some cases exceeding) our expectations. The salmon, in particular, was a standout: flaky and well seasoned. Cafe Lily isn't just a restaurant-it's a reliable gathering place that has earned its reputation over the years.
Joe
We used to come here nearly monthly and moved away, came back and tried it and unfortunately it was disappointing. Tuna appetizer was overdone, my dinner (Chicken Parm) came out room temperature and wife's dinner was underwhelming (Scallops and Risoto)...just not worth the drive anymore and understand it's under new management/ownership since we used to dine there.
Michele
The ambiance at Cafe Lily matches their terrific menu and excellent service. Great place for meeting up with friends or colleagues. I highly recommend to anyone who loves delicious fresh food and a stress free environment. Cafe Lily is high on my list!
Piper
We visited Café Lily for a special Father's Day lunch and unfortunately, the experience was a major letdown. While the food itself was good, the service completely ruined the occasion. Our reservation was confirmed for 2:45 PM via OpenTable, which makes no sense considering they shut down the kitchen and bar at 3:00. Why even offer a reservation time you can't honor full service properly? As soon as we arrived, the staff rushed us to order, creating an uncomfortable and pressured atmosphere. We tried to order more drinks, only to be told the bartender was already gone and wouldn't return until 5:00. That's beyond frustrating for any restaurant. If the kitchen and bar shut down at 3:00 PM, the last reservation should be no later than 1:00 PM—period. The staff's attitude was dismissive and unprofessional, making it clear they were ready to clock out and not interested in creating a positive guest experience. Bottom line: the food was solid, but the service was so poorly managed that we won't be back. One-time experience—unfortunately.
Always, always a pleasure dining here. My family and friends have been frequenting this establishment for 20 years and every milestone celebration, every holiday, every let's-catch-up dinner has been more than enjoyable. I can count on Cafe Lily to never disappoint. Thanks for making Father's Day/birthday recognition brunch 2025 amazing—and also working with our party of 8 to be seated indoors instead of outdoors. As an aside, thanks for also providing GF options as well as having staff knowledgeable enough to know to inquire if I had Celiac/allergy or if just a preference. It was additionally refreshing to see staff knowledgeable enough to know what options were GF or not.
Pat
Cafe Lily does not disappoint. The food and service are excellent. The staff makes sure everything is satisfactory. Reasonable prices and many menu choices. We have been dining at Cafe Lily for many years both brunch and dinner. Located in the heart of Decatur.
Janice
We were headed to a show at Eddie's Attic and decided to grab dinner here first. It was absolutely delicious and the service was great too. We'll definitely be doing this again in the future.
Julie
It hurts my heart to give Cafe Lily less than 5 stars. This has been a favorite place for our family for special occasions for years. (I remember when their location was a jewelry store...) While other members of my family have varied their culinary experiences, I always (and I mean ALWAYS) order the Pinchitos. This dish is (has been) a melt-in-your-mouth combination of lamb, potatoes, and green beans. So, I was so looking forward to our night out with friends -- we were the ones to suggest going to Cafe Lily. I suppose that partly because my expectations were so high, I was so very disappointed. The manager came out to apologize and comped the table dessert. However, I know it will be quite some time before I try Cafe Lily again :-(
Anne
Great dinner in a lively atmosphere! Every dish was delicious and presented by staff who care about the food and service, and they made sure we had everything we needed. Katie, one of the Lily owners, came by to talk with us and check on our table. We had gambas, falafel, pinchitos and salmon. All were terrific!
The customer experience is prioritized at every level, food, service, and atmosphere. You can hear the people at your table, bonus! Cafe Lily is a Decatur classic where we, and our friends, have been repeat customers over the years. We'll be back.
We had the MOST outstanding service. I wish I could remember our waiter's name. He went over and above to make sure we knew all the specials and how to order enough but not too much food since we were off to an event. All four of us were quite happy with our meal, although two people said the crab cake was not quite what they had hoped. My meal of goat cheese ravioli was spectacular and we all enjoyed the grilled bread. No time for drinks or dessert on this visit but the meals were wonderful!
Food was wonderful, flavorful, and arrived well presented and timely. Waitress was knowledgeable about the menu options and, when asked, made some suggestions that were perfect.
Cafe Lily is consistently excellent in all respects: food, ambiance and great staff attitude. It's our go-to place for our evenings out in Decatur.
The food was pretty good, nothing spectacular. It's categorized as a Mediterranean restaurant, however most dishes are Italian. The ambience is ok, needs some updating, not very current. I know this seems trivial, however the bathrooms were awful, dirty and soooo dated!! Our server Christian was spectacular!! Friendly, accommodating and willing to please, loved him:))
We have probably eaten at Cafe Lily several dozen times over the years, this was the first time everything wasn't excellent. We always get their calamari appetizer -yesterday ordered two. The portions did not present as even, did not come to the table sizzling as it had in the past and the usual "buttery flavor" (even though there is no butter) was lacking. Crab cake disappointed and the fish was not cooked uniformly. Our server Christian was extremely pleasant. We will try Cafe Lily again sometime, hoping this was just an off night.
Nestled in the heart of Decatur, GA, Cafe Lily continues to prove why it's a beloved staple in the community. Our party of 8 gathered there to celebrate a birthday, and from the moment we arrived, the evening felt special. The server greeted us with warmth and professionalism, setting the tone for a relaxed and enjoyable dinner. Wine was poured with care, and the service throughout was attentive without being intrusive. We sampled a variety of dishes--fresh salads, pillowy ravioli, perfectly cooked salmon, and comforting chicken parmigiana. Each plate arrived hot and flavorful, meeting (and in some cases exceeding) our expectations. The salmon, in particular, was a standout: flaky and well seasoned. Cafe Lily isn't just a restaurant-it's a reliable gathering place that has earned its reputation over the years.
We used to come here nearly monthly and moved away, came back and tried it and unfortunately it was disappointing. Tuna appetizer was overdone, my dinner (Chicken Parm) came out room temperature and wife's dinner was underwhelming (Scallops and Risoto)...just not worth the drive anymore and understand it's under new management/ownership since we used to dine there.
The ambiance at Cafe Lily matches their terrific menu and excellent service. Great place for meeting up with friends or colleagues. I highly recommend to anyone who loves delicious fresh food and a stress free environment. Cafe Lily is high on my list!
We visited Café Lily for a special Father's Day lunch and unfortunately, the experience was a major letdown. While the food itself was good, the service completely ruined the occasion. Our reservation was confirmed for 2:45 PM via OpenTable, which makes no sense considering they shut down the kitchen and bar at 3:00. Why even offer a reservation time you can't honor full service properly? As soon as we arrived, the staff rushed us to order, creating an uncomfortable and pressured atmosphere. We tried to order more drinks, only to be told the bartender was already gone and wouldn't return until 5:00. That's beyond frustrating for any restaurant. If the kitchen and bar shut down at 3:00 PM, the last reservation should be no later than 1:00 PM—period. The staff's attitude was dismissive and unprofessional, making it clear they were ready to clock out and not interested in creating a positive guest experience. Bottom line: the food was solid, but the service was so poorly managed that we won't be back. One-time experience—unfortunately.
Restaurantji Recommends
Always, always a pleasure dining here. My family and friends have been frequenting this establishment for 20 years and every milestone celebration, every holiday, every let's-catch-up dinner has been more than enjoyable. I can count on Cafe Lily to never disappoint. Thanks for making Father's Day/birthday recognition brunch 2025 amazing—and also working with our party of 8 to be seated indoors instead of outdoors. As an aside, thanks for also providing GF options as well as having staff knowledgeable enough to know to inquire if I had Celiac/allergy or if just a preference. It was additionally refreshing to see staff knowledgeable enough to know what options were GF or not.
Cafe Lily does not disappoint. The food and service are excellent. The staff makes sure everything is satisfactory. Reasonable prices and many menu choices. We have been dining at Cafe Lily for many years both brunch and dinner. Located in the heart of Decatur.
We were headed to a show at Eddie's Attic and decided to grab dinner here first. It was absolutely delicious and the service was great too. We'll definitely be doing this again in the future.
It hurts my heart to give Cafe Lily less than 5 stars. This has been a favorite place for our family for special occasions for years. (I remember when their location was a jewelry store...) While other members of my family have varied their culinary experiences, I always (and I mean ALWAYS) order the Pinchitos. This dish is (has been) a melt-in-your-mouth combination of lamb, potatoes, and green beans. So, I was so looking forward to our night out with friends -- we were the ones to suggest going to Cafe Lily. I suppose that partly because my expectations were so high, I was so very disappointed. The manager came out to apologize and comped the table dessert. However, I know it will be quite some time before I try Cafe Lily again :-(
Great dinner in a lively atmosphere! Every dish was delicious and presented by staff who care about the food and service, and they made sure we had everything we needed. Katie, one of the Lily owners, came by to talk with us and check on our table. We had gambas, falafel, pinchitos and salmon. All were terrific!
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