Ms. Lily’s Cafe in Townsend, TN offers up “Southern Cuisine for the Dicriminating Taste”. Those are their own words, and they more than live up to them. They have some of the best sandwich offerings on the Peaceful Side of the Smokies, especially if Reubens are the taste you’re looking for.
Perusing the menu, Ms. Lily’s sandwich portion starts out with the black & blue, which is delicious, and the Hillbilly Philly – a sandwich, either steak or chicken and smothered in peppers, onions & cheese on hoagie, which sounds delicious and could be the reason no one is reading right now. If you’re on the way to Ms. Lily’s already we don’t blame. We were really close. We’ll see if we can make it down the rest of the menu.
Ham and cheese, a tuna melt, and the aforementioned reuben follow those before you come to something called a “Toadstool”. This sandwich is made up of marinated portabella mushroom with peppers, onions & provolone cheese on a sun-dried tomato focaccia. Geez, this post is getting hard to stay focused on the further down the menu you travel.
Rumbling stomach be darned, BLT’s and burgers follow and bow you’re at the BBQ portion of the show. Between the Smokin’ Pig, Yard Bird Sandwich, Mountain Man, and The Dude, you’re beginning to think you’ve stumbled upon an eclectic collection of music and film rather than south smoked barbeque with all the fixin’s. The Pig is pulled pork – easy enough, the Yard Bird is BBQ’d chicken, Mountain Man is a beef brisket sandwich, and The Dude is smoked turkey. Reading deeper into the descriptions, you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Left up to us, we’d probably go the brisket route first, but that’s just us.
Local favorites include fish and grits, a tomato sandwich, and their own quesadilla…. An interesting selection if you make it past the BBQ, but delicious none the less.
Salads and a kids menu can be found further on down the menu and Ms. Lily’s serves a selection of premium beers for the thirsty hiker out there.
Don’t let us forget the deserts now. Between the Italian Creme Cake, Chocolate Ganache Torte, Coconut Creme Pie, Fudge Brownie Sundae, Apple Pie, and Key Lime Pie, we have no way to advise anyone on which delectable desert to choose. That’s a problem you’ll have to solve. We’re sure you’ll come up with an answer.
Next time you’re in Townsend, visit Ms. Lily’s Cafe and leave knowing that your taste in southern fare just got a little bit more distinguished.
Ms. Lily’s Cafe
122 Depot Street
Townsend, Tennessee
865-448-1924