Beautiful Setting;Great Service,but

This is the 3rd or 4th time I go to Lily Mae's. I live in the neighbourhood and am delighted to have such a sweet little gem in he hood. But the mains are always served cold. I'll probably keeping going back, but do hope that the mains can get more attention some day.

Excellent Breakfast

My wife and I both had th Blueberry Pancakes. The are made with ricotta cheese which makes them very light - not heavy and pasty like most pancakes. And ther are topped with lots of fresh blueberrys and maple syrup. The had many other items on the menu, but we had a short stay in Vancouver so we could'nt return.

Quaint spot with good food for evening meal

We ventured in Gastown for supper. Lily Mae has a warm rustic decor. Service was fine not slow as previous stated. We had French Onion soup with a dark caramelize colour and taste. Moule and frites. Fries come atop the mussels which is a creative presentation of the light crispy fries atop the dark mussels, but the fries too soon... more

great brunch

Small venue with great decor & ambiance. Food was unbelievable particularly the chorizo hash, home made fries and delicious ricotta blueberry pancakes!

We liked it

Our first time at this restaurant. Just found it by wandering through OpenTable. The pork belly was very good. The oules and frites were ... OK. The mussels were good and there were a lot of them. Unlike a few places I have been, every mussel had opened. (It is scary when a chef misses dead mussels and serves them.) But, the frites were served on top of the mussels. This is odd: one of the... more

Good Food, Slow Service, Bad Management

We were at Lily Mae's recently, but did not have an enjoyable experience. The food was very slow, and it took us three hours (plus) to complete a simple dinner because the restaurant seemed to be feeding individuals at the table, instead of everyone at the table. One person's appetizer would arrive, then twenty minutes later, someone else's appetizer would... more

Great place

Just drove into Vancouver looking for a place to eat came across this brilliant restaurant the service is brilliant the food magnificent.

Love that brunch!

Extremely tasty brunch. Best eggs benedict I have had here in Vancouver. And I eat a lot of eggs benedict!

It was ok

I was enticed by other reviews to try Lily Mae's. Had mussels and fries which were quite strong but tasty, with yummy mayo. Melon and prosciutto salad was unremarkable. Peach pie for dessert was mostly pastry. Side of carmelized onions was literally two bites worth. Attentive service. Fabulous building in historic Gastown. It was a bit of a meh. Might have to return to give it a second chance.

great place for total dining experience . The service was friendly and attentive without being intrusive . Small but interesting menu . Portions could have been a bit bigger but overall a wonderful experience

Pleasant interior, skimpy portions

This restaurant has a very charming interior with 2 or 3 tables outside. The Earl Grey Martini is certainly worth trying and the menu favours French inspired dishes. I usually prefer smaller portions to bigger ones but what we were served here was la cuisine minuscule. 6 oysters for 8 Dollars is ok but that the Boeuf Bourguignon of my... more

Great food

The good was great, ambiance wonderful. Service a bit slow but we are American so we like quick service. Portions were small, but once again, we are American! I really enjoyed the place, would recommend.

Always a fantastic meal @ Lily Maes

We always look forward to a great night a Lily Maes and once again they did not dissapointed. Great menu and service. One of a Gastown's true neighbourhood gems. Thanks!!!

Lily Mae's in Gastown

Lily Mae's is a funky, small bistro with great decor and nice energy. The night we were there the service was slow (I think they must have been short handed). We ordered a dozen oysters to start and after waiting about half an hour the owner informed us that they were out of oysters and offered to go down the street and get some. The oysters were slow in coming but very fresh and good. A... more

Delicious food

This restaurant is really cute in the trendy Gastown area. Lots of great bars in the surrounding area. It is small, has both upstairs and downstairs sections. Reservations would be well advised, especially on weekends. Good menu choices, yummy food and prices very reasonable. Depending on hunger, think possible 2 starters, instead of starter then main course. Good, solid portions.... more

Okay

Had never been here before and decided to come for brunch. We thought the food was nothing special and would probably not return. The service was awful - they didn't seem to care even though they weren't busy and this restaurant is very small. For an excellent brunch I will continue to go to Yew. This is supposed to be... more

Very Nice restaurant

Service was friendly, food was delicious. I'd say food came out a little slow, but it was worth the wait. The whole restaurant is just very well staged. It's a beautiful mix of delicate plates with rustic brick walls.

French inspired gem of gastown

We've been here two Mother's Day in a row now because the food, service and ambiance are so perfect for a special brunch with family. The staff are friendly, the food is always delicious and the French bistro style is cute and quaint. I will definitely be going there more often.

Mom's night out

The ambience is very feminine and perfect for a ladies night. Drink list was unique and a hit. Appetizers were delicious but no one was that impressed with their main dish. Server wasn't friendly and didn't know anything about the menu. A friendlier server would have made a huge difference. Possibly she was just helping out for the night. Manager was nice and came by our table. Brunch would... more

Lily Mae's is making great food

I am a foodie and an ex-chef and not often surprised. Lily Mae's food quality was of a level I haven't seen in many restaurants lately. We had an amazing meal and great service. I am looking forward to return for a lunch or dinner and see if they can continue the good work. FYI their hollandaise is the best in Vancouver (and I would know!) and their brunch put all the restaurants in Yaletown to... more

Very good except...

The ambience was beautiful, the beef bourguignon was amazing. Our server was super nice and really took good care of us. The only bad thing was that the food took a really long time to serve. I understand food is not served in microwave speed but it took at least one hour for the food to be served to us. And we were there at 5:45pm, early specifically because we wanted to avoid the rush hour.... more

Go to Lily Mae's!

it's adorable and delicious, and the ambience and service are lovely.

An Amazing Find

We visisted Vancouver with friends after a skiing trip to Whistler. We walked out the first evening looking for somewhere to eat and we found Lily Mae's!! An amazing find the welcome was warm the food was excellent the atmosphere comfortable and easy. Our host, because that is how we felt, like being in someone's home, was attentive but not... more

Great friendly little bistro

We went to Lily Mae with two local friends who have used the restaurant before , and it certainly did not disappoint. We were taken up to the mezzanine floor so we kept nice and warm on a freezing night. The owner recommended a bison stew and persuaded us to upgrade our wine to a lovely Cabernet sauvignon from Okanagan... more

We went during dine out, first of all we went since it was not on the dine out website and thought we could order off the regular menu, when we arrived we had no choice but the set menu. We ordered soup then beef bourguignon, it was basically the same thing but the 2nd with meat, I thought you couldn't go wrong with desert, I left it. Not impressed, this was our 3rd time here, the times before... more

Good food

We had the dine out Vancouver menu along with the suggested wines and enjoyed the experience very much. Dessert was not as good as the entree. Great location and quaint atmosphere.

Truly Charming

We found this restaurant by accident and went in even though it was empty and were so pleased we did. With charming decor, intimate atmosphere and a perfect host. We sat upstairs and it was like being in your own special dining room. Then the food arrived and wow! Absolutely delicious ,the bison bourguignon was out of this world and... more

I little gem hiding in Gas Town

My friend and I were looking for a place to celebrate my Birthday for dinner while we were in Vancouver and after walking all over the place in Gas Town and Yale Town we decided on Lily Mae's. From the moment you walk in you know that this is a special place and that you have a found a great... more

A little gem of a restaurant

We absolutely loved this little gem in Gastown. It fits beautifully into the neighbourhood and is warm and welcoming inside with a lovely decor and exposed brick walls. We were a little surprised to find that it wasn't very busy on a Friday night but the owners made us feel welcome and comfortable right away. The service was friendly and... more

Amazing Food, Great atmosphere

A few friends and I were at Lily Mae's last night for dinner and we had a fantastic time. Our waiter was funny and tentative, the atmosphere was great and lively.
On top of all that, the food was beautifully arranged, with nice sized portions, and the taste was heavenly, delicious and all around exquisite. We had asked to meet... more

Perfect lunchtime treat

A perfect stop for a little lunchtime sanctuary. The service was impeccable. The food was delicious. Small and perfectly formed.

50th birthday felt better than expected

I've followed the journey of Lily Mae's vacariously through Facebook. I live in Gastown and remember when Lily's wasn't Lily Mae's and was seriously stoked to see what the space reincarnated into. What a beautiful, well lit surprise!!! Not only is this restaurant a gorgeous little gem with all of it's antiques and genteel vibe, but the food.... the FOOD!!!!... more

Prettiest restaurant in vancouver

I LOVE the warm French feel the second you walk in.
Adorable loft. Perfect fixtures and art pieces. Plateware.... Perfect.
Food was wonderful. Strawberry dessert was to die for.
Adorable Australian server who matched the non stuffy atmosphere.
Just an amazing way to celebrate our friends birthday.
Cozy. Unique. Tasty. Warm. Friendly.
Can't wait to go back and try the... more

What a wonderful surprise

after getting tattoos just down the street we were hungry and thirsty. we asked someone at the tattoo place to recommend something close by and she immediately told us about Lily Maes. It sounded like just what we were looking for. When we got there we noticed that we were 15 mins early for dinner but the owner was sitting... more

Jewel of Gastown

Lily Mae's Cafe has been my absolute favorite ever since my friends and I discovered it one evening for dessert. They served us apple bacon pie with ice cream and in house special source. Raw hot chocolate drink. Delicious and satisfying!!
We have been back for brunch, lunch and dinner endless times - always walk out of the restaurant happy!!... more

Clarification on the situation below

I would like to clarify that never at any point in the night did anyone ever make explicit remarks to the owner, Armand's sexual orientation. That is a blatant lie and needs to be clarified. Everyone involved in this situation spoke their mind and was forthcoming with Armand about the lack of customer service. Armand could have handled himself in... more

Owner called us

Good food and atmosphere- terrible booking mix up from'Open Table' and were threatened to be charged $55 p/person that didn't show when the reservation was wrong. Proceeded to go downhill from there and although our server was fantastic, when we left we told the owner we would not be coming back. In front of his other patrons he said sarcastically... more

Horrible Service

A group of my friends had a girl's night last night and decided to dine at this restaurant. From the moment we walked in to the time we left the service was absolutely horrible. My friend was pulled from our table by the owner so he could scold her for one person not showing up in our party. She kindly... more

Warm & cozy with delicious food

Recently ate at Lily Mae's and enjoyed wonderful service, a superb meal and we left feeling that our custom was value and appreciated. The owner Armand was a delightful host and he and his staff created a warm and welcoming ambiance. The aromas wafting throughout the restaurant made me want to order one of very thing on the menu. I... more

Charming

Lovely little spot for a special dinner. Upon our arrival, we were greeted very warmly by the owner who personally escorted us to our table and made sure we were comfortable.
The waiter came promptly to take our orders. We were there early enough for the tasting menu and the waiter explained the different courses to us to help us... more

Very personal dining

This is a small restaurant, a dozen tables. it's slightly outside the noisy part of Gastown, so we sat outside and enjoyed a quiet dinner. You get to meet the owner and get a description and history of the dishes, a behind the scenes story. Good wine, we trusted the owner suggestion who opened a bottle for two glasses because... more

Gem in the historic Gastown

We ate again at Lily Mae's last night and had one of the best meals ever. This is a wonderful restaurant I'd gladly recommend to anyone who's looking for a cozy fine-dining experience in Gastown.

Quality service along with a quality Meal

We have made this one our brunch spots and continue to do so because of the quality meal and the attentive service. Great location in Gastown good way to spend a Sunny afternoon.

Hidden Gem

We discovered Lily Mae's while strolling in Gastown. It is tastefully decorated, quaint and intimate, with excellent service and food. The menu selection is small but sufficiently varied, with menu items priced moderately. The tables on the second floor provide a view of the restaurant below and the street scene.

Fantastic food

Talk about a surprise..This place was another impromptu stop while in Vancouver..We were a bit hesitant at first because it looked a little pretentious at first..The restaurant reminded me of a cross between a b & b and European cafe. But, I couldn't have been more wrong. The chef actually came out to meet with us in order to get... more

A quaint lovely spot

After a long day of travel, this place was recommended by a local shopkeeper. It's a small cafe. We sat upstairs. The service was excellent and the food perfectly prepared. The owner warmly welcomed us.

Nice little find

We came across this just by chance, its a very small shabby chic style bistro serving only a hand full of things but dont let that put you off, everything is made to perfection and the waitress is so nice nothing was too small/big a problem- we need this kind of service in the uk.

Funky atmosphere, Delicious food

Just a tiny storefront but lots of flavor. Not run of the mill by any means. I had rack of lamb with mint and strawberry sauce. My husband had chicken roulard. Both delicious with a nice compliment of fresh vegetables and potatoes. Our only complaint was we were too full to sample dessert selection.

Darling French-style Bistro

Small size, but with big views off the street scene through the giant windows. Seating was prompt and cordial. The menu is on the smaller side, but there is something here for everyone. The scallop app was so good; seared perfectly with a nice crust and an oh so delicious sauce. A side of poutine was probably too much, but... more

Cozy, quaint and french comfort food

Cute lil family run restaurant with comfort food of a Parisienne style great service, food was mediocre and a tad bit pricey for the quality. Great venue for a first date:). Likely go back, but not for another 6mos as the menu is very limited.

Amazing comfort food and great atmosphere

Lily Mae's is the perfect little neighbourhood gem tucked away in Gastown. The restaurant has a wonderful rustic and comfortable atmosphere. The menu is small but has a good selection of french comfort food and most importantly everything on it looks amazing! We will certainly be back!

French comfort food - delicious and not too "fussy or saucy

A great find in the up and coming gastro district which is Gastown.
A smaller but varied menu with excellent appies around the $10 mark (try the pear salad!) delicious entrees in the $16-18 mark and even dessert was fab.
Wines were small but good selection with no bottle over $41! We started with a yummy bottle of champagne for... more

Great food and cosy atmosphere

Lily Mae’s is a great little restaurant in the middle of Gastown. Super attentive service, nice décor and friendly atmosphere made my visit an outstanding dining experience. I started out with their soup of the day (tomato basil) followed by the main course which was the waiter’s recommendation their flagship beef bourguignon and I must say that it was a... more

Great food, fabulous prices

On a stopover in Vancouver we visited with our daughter and her husband who took us to Lily Mae's for supper. What a fantastic experience that was from our friendly hosts Armand and JJ greeting us warmly to the delightful ambiance not to mention the food which was absolutely delicious. We opted for the set price three course meal which... more

A cozy experience

A couple of friends of mine (lets call them Lily and Myrtle) had this crazy idea to open a restaurant a while back. They found the ideal location in Gas Town just around the corner from where they live. (think extra storage) I had the privilege of seeing Lily Mae's in her infancy and let me tell you it was... more