It’s an antiques shop, it’s a grocery store, it’s an art gallery, it’s a gourmet deli — but first and foremost, Lily’s Café and Wine Bar is a really wonderful restaurant, housed in a charming converted old mansard-roofed house just north of Stonington on Route 15. Kyra Alex is the chef-owner and her irrepressible personality permeates the place. “This is my thirteenth summer here,” says Alex. “When I sold my restaurant in Ohio and moved to Deer Isle I vowed to get out of the business — but I just couldn’t seem to do it! I guess it’s in my blood (Alex’s grandfather owned a restaurant in New York), and I really love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

After a major remodel last year, which was supervised by Alex’s partner, Renée Sewall, Lily’s now sports a gracious new entrance up to a wide welcoming front porch, expanded pantry staples and deli retail spaces, new work areas, and a few more seats, outside and in.

To read more see the September 2009 issue of Down East magazine.