Slingn' Ink

SLINGIN' INK

12/01/2003

Cala Lily Cafe in Gibsonia, PA (Pittsburgh area)

While at home in Pittsburgh for the Thanksgiving holiday, we went to Cala Lily Cafe with P and R. I was really looking forward to the meal, first because I hadn't been out with P in forever, but also because I had heard Cala Lily was so good.

Despite extremely high expectations...I was not disappointed one bit.

The restaurant is small and if you didn't know it was there, tucked in a small strip mall building, you'd probably drive right past it most of the time. The interior was cozy and nice...not too fancy and not too scant. The bar, in a separate room adjoining the dining room, looked nice but I didn't make it back there.

The food was absolutely spectacular. I started with the poblano chile Relleno with spanish drunken goat cheese, and I can honestly say it was one of the best (if not the best) appetizer I've had in the Pittsburgh area. It was just spicy enough to be interesting and the drunken goat cheese was tasty and mild enough to not overpower the roasted poblano.

 

The rest of the table shared cajun seared scallops with a sweet pepper relish...also a big hit, though maybe a bit spicy for tender tongues out there.

After such great apps, could the entrees raise the bar even higher? Yes. I chose the Caribbean jerk delmonico steak with tropical fruit salsa, cooked rare of course. If you like spicy food and a great steak, this is the meal for you. It could have been spicier for my taste buds, but it was great. The mango-heavy salsa was the perfect foil for the jerk spices.

The rest of the table enjoyed fish entrees (all of which were specials): white grouper stuffed with crab, salmon with a fig sauce and some other fish (can't remember the name) with almonds. The only complaint I heard (if you can call it that) was that the fig sauce was a bit sweet, which was only a complaint because our server told us it wasn't.

By the time we were done with appetizers and entrees, I think we were all pretty full...but we would not be denied dessert! P and R shared Cala Lily's 'signature' dessert, the contents of which I can't remember, but they said it was 'okay.'

On the other hand N and I shared pumpkin cheesecake, which seemed appropriate. The generous portion didn't stand a chance. It was a great way to cap of a great night with loved ones.

I don't get back to Pittsburgh as often as I'd like, but when I do, I hope to make it to Cala Lily again. It seems that there is a coming food revolution in Pittsburgh (at least I hope there is)...and Cala Lily Cafe is leading the way.