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Gibsonia's Cala Lily Cafe is a delightful and delicious journey with European flair. It's easy to drive by the Cala Lily Cafe along Route 8 and not even know it's there. It's unassumingly tucked in the corner of a tiny shopping plaza with a handcrafted furniture store and a hobby shop. But inside the Cala Lily, formerly the Cheers bar, you feel as if you've stepped into a European cafe. The narrow entry gives way to a pleasant dining room and a bar tucked off to the side. The wrought-iron decor is simple but elegant, and great care was taken to soften the harshness of the drop ceiling. Our meal began with the Jumbo Lump Crab and Buffalo Mozzarella Hoelzel ($15) and the Cajun Shrimp and Beef Tenderloin Tips ($11).
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Both were delicious. The crab dish was served on toasted olive foccacia and came smothered in huge lumps of crab. The shrimp and tenderloin appetizer had a zesty Cajun flavor, but was not overwhelmingly hot. The roasted sweet peppers helped soften any spicy blow.
The menu offers a variety of entrees. The Pumpkin Tortellini ($21) was a favorite at our table. The sweet tortellini was served with jumbo lump crab, marinated tomatoes and leeks in a rich Alfredo sauce.
The Filet Mignon ($28) was ordered medium, but came to the table more medium rare. That aside, the cabernet sauvignon sauce and mushrooms, along with the garlic and red beet mashed potatoes, made a satisfying dish.
The Poulet Meuniere a la Francais ($24) is chicken prepared with jumbo lump crab and Roquefort cheese. The cheese was a bit overpowering, but the dish had a pleasant blending of flavors overall.
The Chicken and Duck Breast Fontinella ($21) with pink pepper, mushrooms and cheeses was tangy and tender. The poultry was cooked just right, and both were juicy and full of flavor.
For dessert, we tried the Key Lime Cheesecake ($5) and
the Kentucky Derby ($5). The cheesecake was predictable,
but very good. The Derby was a rich dessert complete with
bourbon, walnuts and chocolate. It's much heavier than
the cheesecake, but well worth the calories.
If you're a woman and calories are on your mind, try
Cala Lily on Mondays and Tuesdays for "Girls Night
Out." If there are at least three women in your
party, you can request the special "Girls Night
Out" menu, which features lighter fare. The cafe
also features live jazz on Thursdays by jazz guitarist
Frank Bell.
Despite its humble location, the Cala Lily Cafe offers a respite from the Route 8 traffic and a relaxing atmosphere to unwind and enjoy a delicious dinner.