Emma Lou's Cafe & Vintage Boutique

This was my first venture to this location since it became Emma Lou's instead of the Butterfly Garden.  I was surprised at the name change but pleased to see that not much has changed otherwise.  

A group and I gathered here to celebrate an upcoming wedding and were able to sit in the private party room in the back.  In addition to a room that is cozy but spacious, we also had our own bathroom tucked back in the corner, complete with a yummy-smelling sugar hand scrub.  

The meal was perfect, as usual.  Diners could choose between a tuscan tomato and a roasted red pepper bisque as soup.  I went out on a limb and got the roasted red pepper bisque, thinking it would be creamier and more filling.  It was delicious!  Tangy without the bite that red peppers sometimes have, creamy texture and parmesan cheese in the bottom of the bowl kept me satisfied.  

The second course was salad and half a sandwich.  The sandwich was a chicken salad with just enough mayo for the perfect texture, and not so much that it seemed greasy or took away from the flavor of the chicken, celery and grapes.  The salad had a homemade dressing and was served with a tiny pitcher on each plate so we could dress our own salad -- how ingenious!  Everything washed down nicely with a tropical tea, highly recommended with a packet of Splenda if you go.  

I actually skipped dessert the day I was there but I can imagine it would be just as delicious as the rest of the meal was.  The setting was perfect for a girly wedding brunch and Emma Lou did not disappoint with her cooking!

I had long been meaning to sit down at Emma Lou's, and finally upon doing so this weekend, I regretted that it had taken me so long. As another reviewer called it, it is indeed 'dainty' on the inside but certainly that is part of the appeal to its chief constituency. I acknowledge that I'm not the target audience for the decor, but even as an outsider, I can tell it's very nice, a lovely, clean and comforting establishment. If you're looking to plan a wedding or baby shower or just a girl looking to have a 'girly' lunch, this should sit high upon your list of options.
Now let's talk about the food. I loved everything I ate and all of what my fiance had as well. The chai was a wonderful, sweet start and worth every bit the price so don't doubt it, just do it. We each had the 10 dollar half salad, half sandwich combos, myself a tasty ham and brie while my fiance had benedictine. I'll tell you, I don't even care for benedictine and I probably could have eaten a half sandwich of it, the stuff here is so good. And do not fear leaving with your appetite intact, the portions here were far more than we had anticipated and we both whiled away the remainder of the day hovering just above a food coma, watching Downton Abbey, and for my part at least, silently considering what to order the next time I head to Emma Lou's.

Emma Lou's has been a yearly tradition for a close friend of mine and myself for years (since it was the Butterfly Garden). We like the cute, cozy aesthetic, friendly staff and boutique to poke around while we wait for a table (or each other to show up).

Mostly though, we come for the warm, frothy and whipped-cream topped spiced chai, which warms up even the coldest January day. We've been known to order a second to go. They also have a steller line up of soups, salads and sandwiches, and their $9 combo lunch is a perfect way to enjoy a couple at once. Right now I'm big on their tuscan tomato soup with the warm ham and brie sandwich. The daily dessert is almost always a delight, though we passed on a most recent visit.

Easy going lunch spot in the heart of the Highlands, and within walking distance to Baxter Avenue Movie Theater, in case you're in the market for a pre-show bite.