OMG! This place is exactly as good as described. Totally worth all 5 stars. If you enjoy good food you will be truly impressed with the Firefly Grill. The building is the cool, the service terrific and the food amazing.
So fun! Perfectly swag, rustic, and sharp trendy atmosphere. Lovely grounds and open-concept. Classy industrial yet inviting & relaxed decor. Plush patio furniture to lounge on while you wait, or eat outside on the porch on the patio couches. Don't forget to ask for fish food so you can feed the huge catfish and goldfish from the pier over the gorgeous, quiet fountained pond. Oh, and order the House-Made Lavender&Lemon soda. To-die for.
(5)
Angela M.
This restaurant is the second most Eco friendly restaurant in the nation. Great prices, fresh ingredients and amazing service! Best restaurant in 90 miles! The Firefly is comparable to some of the finest restaurants I have eaten at in Seattle, New York and Chicago. The food: The goat cheese, portobello brick oven pizza was the best pizza I have EVER eaten. That's a bold comment considering I have pizza every time I travel. The crust was crispy yet doughy, airy and flaky. They brushed it with a seasoning and garlic. The goat cheese and portobello complimented each other beautifully. Paired it with a glass of Merlot. AMAZING! The scallop risotto was seared seasoned to perfection, and flaky in the middle. The peas in the risotto popped and the risotto was al dente. The PEI (Prince Edward island) mussels were hands down the best my friend had had. I tasted the sauce which was creamy with a zing of horseradish. Served with freshly baked French bread to dip in the sauce. The service: Outstanding sums it up! Upon entering the hostess was on the phone and got another employees attention to greet us. We sat outside overlooking the lake. We had Adam bring us water, he introduced himself as the hits who would be assisting the waitress and proceeded to tell us our waitresses name which was Kelly. Kelly informed us in detail about the specials and let us know their seafood was shipped in multiple times a week. It was fresh. We explained that we live on the Gulf of Mexico and have high standards when it comes to seafood. She was right! It was outstanding! Beautiful scenery inside and out! Very comfortable and relaxing atmosphere! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Frank C.
Excellent food for both dinner and brunch. What can I say? There is nothing really to see in Effingham, but we come here just to go to Firefly Grill. And when we do, we normally stay the night at a nearby hotel so we can have dinner on Saturday night followed by brunch the next morning. Food is excellent. Amazing cocktail list. Excellent wine list. We had a bottle of Saint Emillion. Stuffed Zucchini Flowers is easily their best appetizer. We had the filet Mignon wrapped in a puff pastry with Boursin and bacon. Wow! Love coming here and leaving so stuffed I feel like exploding. Great kids menu. Only complaint is silverware size for the kids. Their silverware is huge and consequently the kids ages 4 - 10 were constantly dropping them. Tip...bring your own from home.
(5)
Ashley K.
Service was great. Food is fresh. Stop by for lunch while driving through the area. Shared a margarita pizza and house salad with the white balsamic vinigerette. Delicious with all fresh ingredients. Desert looked really good too, but we were too full. I would definitely recommend eating here if you're near the area or just driving through.
(5)
Scott V.
Traveling through Effingham looking for something different to try and we found it. The food had a great taste but the portions were ridiculously small for the price. After spending $70.00 for two to eat I wouldn't expect to be starving 2 hours later. The place was very clean and a great environment to eat in. Our waitress seemed to be more interested in her friends sitting a couple of booths down as opposed to taking care of us, but the others working that day picked up her slack. Not sure that we'll be going back but overall it was a decent and new experience for us and that is what we were after.
(3)
Kevin K.
Firefly Grill is definitely a must if you're in the area - or can be in the area. Were I to live anywhere within a hundred miles I'd go at least twice a week, probably more. There is much to recommend it though there are a few inexplicable issues. What works: all the most important things. Nicely designed and comfortable spaces set in their perennial and herb/vegetable gardens; attentive staff from the moment one arrives at the door through seating and service; a (mostly) well thought out menu with (mostly) reasonable prices considering the skill in the kitchen; well prepared, well presented plates. What doesn't work: the wine list, a menu item or two, some pricing. At first glance the wine list looks good. This turns out to be obviously false upon closer inspection. At least 20-25% of the list shouldn't be there (on their list or anyone else's) at all. (Covey Run Riesling? Seriously? No German Riesling? One Oregon Pinot Noir - and a vastly lesser one? Where are the good Zins? I could go on - and on.) There is a wholly unsatisfying by-the-glass list (not much here worth ordering - I couldn't find one satisfactory red - and it's badly priced, too high (considering the wines) and there is no value here at all. Worse, there is no value in getting an 8-ounce pour over a 5-ounce. They're priced exactly (or so closely as to be tantamount) the same. On a good note, most of the better wines on the list are priced well by the bottle. It's unfortunate that the list overall appears to contain more better wines than it does, and none of the better wines are available by the glass. The house salad (that should be representative of the "house", especially at this time of year, considering the gardens just outside the door) is uninspired and insipid, nary an herb in it(!), with pedestrian romaine and scant vegetables. At the very least it would benefit from salt (and a pepper mill served alongside - or offered - would gave been welcome) but I was so looking forward to the herbs I had just walked past on my way in. Inexplicable. As stated above, there is much to recommend. Try the soups, the stuffed squash blossoms (currently on the menu but probably not for long as they're so seasonal), the meatballs (a bit overpriced and the Wagyu is overkill) that are delicious, any of the vegetable sides, the pizzas, the grilled meats and fish - virtually the entire rest of the menu. I look forward to returning the next time I'm passing through. For those of you passing anywhere near, GO - even if you have to detour a bit.
(4)
Kelly C.
This is a must when in Effingham - absolutely wonderful! Unique offerings as well as standard fare. Many items are grown right on the grounds. The fried green tomatoes were grown in the garden out back and topped with local sweet corn - amazing! Beautiful restaurant, helpful and pleasant staff. The steak burger was very, very good. The waffle dessert is a little bit messy but worth it!
(5)
Erin F.
Our second visit was just as amazing. Their classic burger with a fried egg on top was hands-down the best burger I've ever had. Awesome!
(5)
Joshua C.
I ate dinner here last night, and I must say this is now my favorite restaurant. I had the center cut sirloin and my sweetie had the King Salmon. Worth every single penny. Very attentive staff and pretty good wine list.
(5)
Jacob S.
I was here on a Monday evening, not that busy some business dinners but for sure not crowded. The restaurant Design & Ambiance was great loved it! Staff was awesome BUT... The food was lacking. Don't get me wrong it was prepared great and presentation was excellent but it was boring. I had the duck two way & my wife had the Sea bass & they both were very bland. It was very safe. Granted it's located in Effingham, il which is not know for its upscale dinning & for the area it's the best, but if you are going to charge Chicago Prices for your food, you better be able to serve food that wows you. I feel like they are okay with providing food that's really good, but not great.
(3)
Mindy H.
Perfect place to celebrate my 55th last night. Love the laid back atmosphere and feeding the fish from the dock while waiting on our table. We knew it was going to be fabulous when we pulled up and saw the gardens of herbs and veggies. The decor is rustic chic. Service was outstanding. Food was to die for. I had the lobster pot pie and bread pudding for dessert. My hubby had the waygu steak. Delicious. My only regret is that we don't live close enough to frequent this place.
(5)
Janeen M.
This place is great! Very cute and clean inside. Close to the highway. Great food, fast and friendly service. Family friendly. And an awesome, clean changing table in the bathroom (we have twin 3 month olds)
(5)
Jewells N.
So, what is this awesome "farm to market" restaurant doing in Effingham, IL ? Really well run, great service, good food. We were totally surprised how good it was. Relaxing atmosphere, service was spot on and food was fresh and good. We went by accident - on our way from Port A tx to MI - it was in town we were going to eat in; thanks to Yelp for the heads up! We had the wood fired pizza - really good; exactly what a wood fired should taste like. We had 2 salads and the pizza - just right for lunch. I had the garden and wife had the Caesar - both were good, Caesar was better. One interesting things was the tables were all made of boos blocks - which are made in Effingham. Worth the stop and if they were in "big city" would be huge hit.
(4)
Julie L.
Business trip took us to Effingham as it does a few times a year. Tucked away off the main drag in Effingham, IL, this restaurant is top notch. Party of two tried the fillet and scallops with risotto. Both were absolutely delicious. Fillet was so tender and the scallops/risotto had a flavor that was out of this world. Our bill was about $150 which included a bottle of wine. Waitress was awesome not only in the service she provided, but with the suggestions she had for us. There are other options should you not want to spend a lot. Burgers were priced at approximately $15 and the menu also offered pizza options. This will absolutely be a stop for us each time our travels bring us to Effingham!
(5)
Janet A.
Everything was beautifully done and food delicious; husband got the halibut [small portion but delicious] and I got the Montana Mignon; again, small portions but really tasty. The smaller portions meant we felt comfortable getting dessert! Shared the brownie sundae which was a large brownie with 6 toppings - wonderful! service was good, loved the "swing" music. A bit pricey but you get what you pay for
(5)
Bruce R.
Went for lunch on a Saturday just as it opened. Cant say enough good things about the service. Out of the gate the staff seemed eager to please, extremely knowledgeable on their dishes and happy to answer any question we might have. I am an appetizer freak and found the selections very interesting (go for the Chinese steamed buns). My only regret was the amount of grease in the calamari. It was delicious but the grease left my wife with an upset stomach (I blamed her for eating too much) but retracted that comment when I got my entree of fried green tomatoes. Breading was as hard as I have ever had a breading and yet was soaked with grease. I felt my stomach churning at the half piece point. Ate one piece and stopped. The remainder of our table was satisfied with their choice. Exception was the breading on the fish and chips fish. Fish itself was great, breading again too much oil. Rib eye steak sandwich was fantastic as was the Ruben. All in all I will definitely go back. I will be a little more careful on my selections.
(3)
Bill L.
When you are traveling from Los Angeles to Boston by car with two dogs, you don't expect to have a meal you'll never forget. We stopped in Effingham, Illinois ( staying at the Fairfield Inn & Suites---great place and Andrea at the front desk is a GEM!), and I asked Andrea for a real restaurant without drive thru service. My partner and I were beat and we deserved a reward for days of journey. Andrea recommended the Firefly Grill. But as we only had shirts and shorts ( nice though) I had her call to make sure it was okay. Sure, come on over...we'll have a table all set. After a quick shower and shave, we went over to discover this oasis. It's tucked in far behind the Starbucks in this beautiful meadow..with a small pond. Impeccably landscaped with native flowers etc. and a vegetable and herb garden attached to the restaurant. SERIOUSLY? In Effingham, Il? The restaurant itself is in the style of a San Francisco version of a roadhouse with wood, glass, steel, and stone. The staff is incredible. They were so welcoming and pleasant and seated us almost instantly. We were in shock. The shock continued as we ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes( Yup---right from their garden outside!). Amazing. Lexie was our server and she was funny, friendly, and Johnny on the spot. I ordered the Ny. Strip and my partner ordered the scallop risotto and each of us had a salad ( me-caesar, him-capriso). With each bite, we stared at each other in absolute amazement. My partner blurted out, " I don't want this meal to end!" The owner Christie ( hope I got the spelling right) came over and we had to crow about what an amazing place this was and the EXCELLENCE of the meal. She told us she was living in San Francisco when she met her now-husband ( a chef ) and after returning to Effingham to settle a late relative's estate, she wondered aloud why there was no place to eat? You can see where this is going, right? Bim Bam Boom...FIREFLY GRILL. Los Angeles should only deserve such a restaurant. This is like a roadhouse for foodies and for anyone who truly loves a meal they deserve..THIS IS IT! I ffgrill.com DO NOT MISS THIS!!!!!
(5)
Spring Chicken Z.
Randomly found this cute place on our LA-NYC road trip. Love this place!!! Friendly staff, our waiter was very nice and helpful:). The crab thingie was very creamy and crabby, the sauce was pretty good too, but the wrapper was touch oily, maybe the oil wasn't hot enough or the temp dropped too much? The bread was very soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. The salad was very fresh, and the anchovies were pretty good. Chicken/waffle was really good! Nice thick waffle with super crispy chicken! The only suggestion would be take out the bone and use all dark meat. The mashed potato was very creamy too. O, love the pumpkin ice cream, interesting texture, thicker than regular ice cream. One thing I have to complain about is the coffee prices, much pricier than Restaurants (even the very nice ones) in LA or NY Would def go back:)
(5)
Sheri R.
Amazing amazing amazing. Visiting from Kansas City. Checked in with Yelp expecting a laundry list of fast food. Low and behold The Firefly. Based on the glowing reviews from Bill L from Angeles California I decided to book a reservation. Yes the food is $$$ for the location BUT don't get hung up on that or you will miss likely one of the meals you will have this year. YES ITS LOCAL, IF NOT GROWN ON THE PROPERTY ITSELF. The service is great, the dirty martini was awesome and so was the wine. Oh, did I mention they were getting a new pastry chef ? I can't wait to come back and try the new desserts. So what are you waiting for? Stop reading my review and make a reservation already.
(4)
Rusty S.
A great place, but first of all--how does this place only get two "$'s" in the Price Range category?? Maybe I'm the poorest Yelper on here, but we're talking $48 steaks here, folks. All the entree's, with the exception of the burger and fries, were over thirty bucks, disappointingly. So, I got the Firefly Steakhouse burger and Caesar side-salad. The bartender recommended the Caesar as they make their own croutons, dressing, and use Grano Padano parmesan cheese. The salad was very good, and had an authentic fresh garlic bite to it--very glad I ordered it. The burger was a "heart-attack" style (looked like about a 1/2-3/4 lb. patty) with bacon, carmelized onions, and a sunny-side-up fried egg on top, served on a pretzel bun with a side of seasoned fries. The burger was cooked perfectly and succeeded in placing me into a nice food coma afterwards. Nothing special about the fries but they were tasty. I liked the restaurant and bar, and would probably go back if I was in the mood for a few drinks and appetizers--the beer and liquor selection looked great.
(4)
R M.
Not quite sure why this place exists where it does, but I'm from LA and been to much "better" and much worse. This place rocked! Great attentive staff, super tastey margharita pizza, and even the salad was worth writing about. Small craft beer selection too which is an easy way to get me to add a star if all goes well. It's more than I want to pay out in bfe, but with how good everything was, food/service/ambiance, absolutely a delight. Gawd forbid I'm out this way again, but if I find myself stuck driving down 70, no questions asked, I'll stop here.
(5)
Robin B.
Firefly grill would have been near perfect if we didn't have our children with us. The service was good, the owner came over to talk to us and give the kids some food to feed the koi and catfish in the pond out back. I ordered the local burger on a pretzel roll, which I was surprised to see arrived naked. I had to ask for basic condiments like mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. I also had to pay $5.00 to change my side from fries to asparagus, which seems exorbitant to me, considering their costs are the same on the "Sides" menu. The meat was amazing, however, and I could taste a hint of Worcestershire sauce in the burger. I may borrow the pretzel roll idea for myself! My husband thoroughly enjoyed his pork loin over mashed potatoes, with caramelized onions, and the beer that the bartender recommended to pair with the pork. Our two children (who were the only children in the restaurant) had macaroni & cheese (which they did not eat), pizza (which they ate later), and split a large bowl of fruit (which they did not eat). $18.00 just for the kids' food was a good bit to throw away, but we were just coming through Effingham, and not in a position to hire a babysitter. We did not experience the (daytime-only?) popovers that the other reviewers rave about- we had some very crusty and chewy sourdough bread- real, orthodontist's dream-come-true kind of bread. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for a date, special occasion, birthday, or anniversary. Would not recommend for kids. It is comparable in price, atmosphere, and quality to Memphis' own Interim restaurant. Peaks: fresh herb and green garden right on the premises, pond with fish out back, nice views. Pits: expensive to substitute, not the most kid-friendly in the evenings.
(4)
Mit M.
This place has the best food and offering south of Chicago. A real garden/farm to table. Presentation, taste, quality all worthy of a five star restaurant. The one valued component that was failed: service. Got the order wrong, limited training and frankly a wait staff more like a Cracker Barrel. Too bad as it killed the experience If they can get this right going forward it will be 5 stars all day long. Bummer
(3)
Keith M.
Oh my Goodness!!! What an awesome find! Saw this written up in a local magazine as we were traveling through & decided to try it for dinner. Oh my oh my! We are already planning a trip back just for dinner (2 hrs from home)! Food service & ambience are all top notch
(5)
Kit S.
I stopped by for lunch at 3 pm when the restaurant was nearly empty. I asked to sit near the water view but was informed that there were no tables available even though there were many within sight. I ordered the rib eye sandwich which was excellent. The fries were to die for. But before I was even halfway done, my waiter asked me if I had room for dessert, and at 3/4 I'd the way done, the busser asked I'd she could clear my plate, and at 7/8 done, the waiter gave me my bill, "no rush." I haven't stiffed a waiter in a long long time, but the service was rude. Btw I was in and out of there in under a half hour.
(2)
Kathleen M.
We have been to Firefly Grill 4 times and we live about 3 hours away from it. What would inspire this kind of love? Fabulous food! The first time I came here I was stunned by the magnificent menu but later wondered, was it really that good? Was I just comparing it to the area? Was I so happy to stumble upon a non chain restaurant? We decided to try again last fall for brunch on our way home from St. Louis and this past weekend we stopped here for lunch on the way to Memphis and for dinner on our way home. Fabulous each and every time. Weepingly, life changing, magnificent eating. Plan your next road trip on I-57 so you can eat here. The dinners are unbelievable but pricey. However for lunch there was a 5.00 special last Thursday. That beats the price at any fast food restaurant. Firefly Grill, I love you.
(5)
Michael U.
I had heard many good things about Firefly and had the opportunity to eat there while driving from St Louis to Mattoon. Decor was nice and upscale. I ordered sea scallops and risotto and while the food was well prepared I don't feel I received much value. The entree cost $32 and I only received 2 scallops. I think that is much too expensive for what they are offering. They gave me the lame excuse that the portion is based on weight, although the patron next to me told me when he had the dish he was served 5 scallops. They have lost a customer.
(3)
Ashley S.
Pros: great setting, good local food, good service. Cons: really small portion of wine - too expensive to order two glasses -, asked for appetizers and meal all at once, but appetizer came very early. Overall, a good place to relax, especially the back porch.
(3)
Andy E.
I stopped here a few months ago during the lunch hour and was very impressed. Tonight on our way home we drove 60+ miles out of our way to come eat here. They have a fresh vegetable and herb garden the food and the setting are both fantastic.
(5)
Christina W.
I love all the fresh ingredients!!! Also, if you are brave or stupid enough to bring children the waiters and waitresses really work with them and help them stay entertained and quiet. It's a great place to unwind and have a nice date, but if you have to take the kids out (which sometimes is the only way) know that it will be okay with the great staff at Firefly.
(5)
Sue C.
Sit by the pond, u can even feed the fish - the server can give u food for fish!!! My boyfriend and I had their crab appetizer, squash blossoms app, butternut squash soup, caesar salad, Margarita pizza, and homemade ice cream (blackberry) and they were all excellent !!!! You can taste the freshness in their food and the staffs are friendly!
(5)
Nancy B.
Thank you Yelp for saving me from chain restaurant hell! The city really is at the "Crossroads of America" so every national chain is visible from the expressway. This gem is tucked back in a quiet spot and is worth finding! Outstanding food! My only complaint is that they were out of a few menu items by 8:30 pm. But that is also a good thing - it means everything is freshly prepared and they are not grabbing another pre-cooked pork chop out of the walkin cooler!
(5)
Ted C.
My sis came here a few months ago and didn't have such a good experience and it was noted enough that they sent her a gift certificate to make up for the experience. She gave it to me knowing I would be passing through and I decided to see if it lived up to the Yelp hype or if my sister's lackluster experience was more accurate. Right off the main road it's pretty easy to find just look past the huge signs advertising nothing but chains. I came in and was sat down near the front. The seating scheme is a little weird with the tables spread out all throughout the restaurant, making it weird for the servers to cover their sections. I had some questions about what to get and Larry was quick to describe items and helped me make my decision as well as being quick with the bread. I finished the bread quickly and he asked me if he brought some more would I eat it. Something about how he asked me if I wanted more bread was memorable enough that I'm noting it here. He did find it out the French onion soup took a little long to come out but it arrived shortly thereafter. My sis complained about it being too sweet but I thought it was just fine, not overpoweringly salty, not overly sweet with the cheese adding a nice, smooth texture and flavor. I ended up ordering the Montana mignon, which was basically beef wellington with boursin cheese inside and an au jus. Served medium rare, with the spreadable cheese being a nice, soft, slightly sweet addition. The whipped potatoes were just okay, just okay not much flavor. I asked Larry for a dessert suggestion with his being the banana cake. Think a Bananas foster minus the fire and adding a tasty little banana cake on the side. An easy sell but that's because it was good and well made. I may time my trips up north to make sure I swing by when Firefly is open so I can enjoy a surprising, well made meal.
(4)
S B.
Firefly Grill. A beacon of culinary awesomeness right in the middle of central IL at the cross rounds of I 57 and I 70. (Effingham). We have stopped here 4x in the last year. Each visit has been exceptional. The chef changes the menu based on what is in season and each food item is delectable. Today we had the Tuna Melt and Firefly Burger. For appetizers we had Fried Green Tomatoes with just right peppery blend of tomato tapenade - a must try. Flavored tea , deserts, drinks all are worth trying. Atmosphere is upscale but casual. Staff are friendly and work well together. Organic. Local fare. Hope you give yourself a treat and stop soon.
(5)
Alexandra L.
Lovely place. Menu changes often which is good but also sometimes disappointing because they take away things I like! Great place for a nice meal, and a lot of things are home grown which is nice. Conveniently located!
(4)
Chris S.
Great service and outstanding food. Farm to table concept done very well; we thoroughly enjoyed fried green tomatoes right from the garden. Relaxing atmosphere that nicely reflects the menu.
I think this place is tops...and I don't mean Tops Big Boy. I had a line caught ahi tuna burger with wasabi aioli and their homemade fire fries today. I would have prefered the tuna to be Medium instead of Medium Well or Well done, but I didn't specify. Aside from that, great taste, and a clever decor along with attentive, friendly staff makes this my favorite place to grab a quality meal in Effingham.
(5)
Joel F.
For a $17 burger being one of the cheapest options I would expect stellar service. We stopped here on our way home from St. Louis. We walked in the door at 8:55pm and asked the girl at the desk if they were still open. She responded with "yes" and sat us. After a 7 minute wait our server finally comes to the table and tells us the kitchen closes at 9pm, but that they would still serve us. I wish the girl had told us this, because we would have gone elsewhere. I just hate eating somewhere right as they close...I feel rushed. They did bring bread out to us and it was soft, and the sauce that came with it was different, but delicious. The butter was real too and almost melted in your mouth. As staff have walked by the tone of their voice is very snobbish almost like they're better than us. Hate to tell ya honey, but you're a hostess. Fast forward to the food. It was absolutely amazing! I ended up going with the steak burger. It was so full of flavor, and an excellent marriage of flavor. The pretzel bun was probably the best I've had. The fries were cooked to perfection. It left me wanting to try other items off the menu. I'd give the food 5 stars, but the overall score remains a 2 because I just can't get over how terrible the service was. Especially after we waited almost 10 min for a server, weren't checked on until the end of our meal, and just talked too like we were bums off the street. All while what I believe was the mgr flirted with a table of three, refilled their drinks, brought them food, and gave them 5 star service. I wasn't even thanked as I walked out.
(2)
Rebecca R.
Beautiful venue. Excellent food. Drove 2 hours for dinner and a play. We shared the fried green tomatoes and I had Columbia River Salmon. The meal was very good and the waitress was extremely knowledgable.
(5)
Brandon H.
I'm assuming the only glowing reviews for this place are from out of towners. chef tries to be too fancy and charges waaaaay too much for the area. They can't cook a steak worth a damn and their excuse is that they aren't known for steaks. They boast about their fresh seafood but how fresh can it be in Effingham IL?
(2)
Maridel S.
Always enjoy the menu choices that include regular items along with interesting additions (halibut, ravioli, cauliflower fluff--it was delicious!). The waiter was very prompt and attentive. Dinner prices are a little high for small town southern Illinois, but for the ambiance and quality you get, very appropriate for a special evening.
(5)
Randy B.
The food was amazing, but the service was not good. We walked in just before nine and were seated right away, but when Blake, our server came to our table he told us that we would have to order quickly because the kitchen was already closing. I don't like being rushed, and I certainly don't like spending that kind of money on food, no matter how good it is, when the service is in a bigger hurry to close up and go home than make sure that I'm happy. If it was too late to seat us because the kitchen was closing, they should have said so. Overall, The food was impressive, but I was really disappointed with the service and wish I hadn't spent so much money here.
(2)
Bob K.
Simply the best restaurant in the Effingham area..I eat here every time I travel to or by Effingham.
(5)
Doug B.
In a part of the world where most home town restaurants are simply remodeled homes with very little ambiance, this is one place that stands out and even outshines corporate *million dollar* establishments found in the *big cities*. This is your reason not to just drive on through Effingham.
(5)
Mark E.
Really great restaurant in a sea of chains. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the staff was extremely friendly, and the food was delicious. They have a fresh garden next to the restaurant where all the vegetables are grown. I had the mushroom and white cheese pizza. It. Was. DELICIOUS!! The fried green tomatoes were great as well. The only down side was the wait. We waited at our table a very long time to get our food. But overall, very very good.
(4)
Christine D.
Effingham is my dad's hometown so I've spent a fair amt of time here over the years. Never expected to come down from Chicago to meet my Dad and uncle for the big annual church picnic and find a place like Firefly grill. Totally agree with all the reviews who see this restaurant being wildly successful in the 'big' city. In fact, I am still wondering how this place makes in in a town like Effingham, which admittedly is not in as bad of shape as other small town rural areas but still... Setting terrific, kids wildly entertained by feeding fish, food superb. Fried green tomatoes were crunchy but not greasy like other reviewer's experience. Kids loved homemade sodas. husband had halibut special which was really unique and I had fettucine with a sort of beef ragout sauce that was delicious. Only lacking the final star as my husband's dish had a small errant hair in it. I'm sure this was total anomoly. we did not make a big deal as our kids would have all been in an uproar and the whole evening would have been spent discussing it.... :) something to look forward to for the next visit - or maybe worth a detour on our way t/f st. louis.
(4)
Steve A.
First time eating here. Took a client to lunch and I had the steak sandwich with a house salad. The steak was Allen Bros. and was excellent. Very tender with caramelized onions on a fresh French bread roll. Salad was very fresh with homemade Ranch dressing which was great. My client had the pork shank plate which he said was terrific. He also had apple bread pudding for dessert. Everything was fresh and much was homemade. Really enjoyed the food and found the lunch atmosphere great for business meal.
(5)
Carl B.
Great food at a reasonable price. This is a refreshing break from all the fast food at this exit. There are fish to feed in the lake off the back balcony and fresh produce from the neighboring farm. I would eat here weekly if it was in my neighborhood. Fantastic.
(5)
Sabrina D.
The Firefly is an absolutely outstanding venue for excellent food and a great non-rushed dining experience. The service was excellent as well as the various menu items. The brownie or the bread pudding were a perfect end to the evening.
(5)
Keith H.
After 1000 miles of the tedious and tallow menu items of the likes of McDonalds, Denneys & Cracker Barrel, a suicide bomber had issued a fatwa on my digestive metabolism. As Lady Luck looked kindly upon me for I stopped in Effingham for the night and Firefly Grill surfaced on the Yelp search. . Oh! To experience humanity again at Firefly Grill after the tyranny of interstate 70, rejuvenated my spirit to trudge onward through the usual suspects of IS 70, namely tasteless, colorful processed foodstuffs. A higher end restaurant with staff pleasing to look at, menu items pleasing to taste, wholesome and satisfying. One minor criticism, provide a wine list with the menu.
(5)
Nick T.
Found this gem after checking in to my hotel room surrounded by depressing chain restaurants. Awesome building inside and out. Had the butternut squash soup and the Montana filet and can't say enough. Service was great and I look forward to my next layover in Effingham.
(5)
Leslie S.
Excellent! Awesome atmosphere! Highly recommend starting out with onion rings! Can't go wrong with anything on the menu, Great brunch selection. Something for everyone!! :)
(5)
Cindy D.
After seeing the Firefly Grill on the Delicious Destinations list we decided to stop by on our way home from St. Louis. The food and service were excellent. The service had the quality of a city but with the friendliness of a small town. We had the pizza, which was excellent. The raspberry soda was wonderful. I hope to go back during the day in the summer or fall because I understand it has a nice view.
(5)
Robby T.
Two star rating for the following: 1. Reservations were made 1 day in advance for a specific time and location within the restaurant. 2. We were seated 20 min late in the incorrect location 3. Our table was given to a different party who made reservations the day of for a later time. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth. 4. To add insult to injury; the aforementioned group was waited on and served first. 5. I received my food just now. The crisp southern fried miller chicken was very good. 6. Party size should not determine priority, but the quality of customer. Thank you.
(2)
Don S.
SEVERELY OVERPRICED!! , I don't mind paying good money for good meals. But they are very orve priced and under portioned. We ordered the Shellfish Tower for 75$ , got 4 pcs of Shrimp, 1 Crab leg, 1 a handful of mussels, and 1/4 lobster tail. So the lobster was about 2 bites. Nice place, nice service, But the tower was a total ripoff. I give it a 2 and the server a nice tip. I guess they just dont have any competition in Effingham.
(2)
Chuck R.
Wow! What an amazing find off the interstate. Way beyond typical roadstop food, in fact, the restaurant could easily be in any major metropolitan city. The food was amazing AND it's locally grown too. Just expect to pay for top quality food and service, the place ain't cheap!
(5)
Jeff C.
We had another great experience as always our waitress was fantastic the appetizer and pizza errific. Thank you firefly
(5)
Jay H.
This restaurant really is this good. As a Chicago city resident, I was very skeptical. But the quality of the ingredients, the skill of execution, the warm service, the cool interior, and above all, the creativity of the preparation won me over. Big time. We ordered a pork shank with red curry coconut sauce over lentils and a chicken with Korean BBQ sauce over udon noodles. 5 star flavor, 4.5 star execution. Onion rings were the best $5 I have ever spent. The prices are in line with quality and preparation. Also, wine list is well chosen anf fairly priced. A terrific place, especially if you branch out beyond steaks and burgers.
(5)
Kaaren F.
Outstanding food and service. On easter We were driving home to Chicago from New Orleans and stopped in effingham. It was toward the end of their service for the night , and there were just a few tables still seated. Yet, We were met with warmth and the service and food were far far above what I would have expected. This could be a top restaurant in Chicago.
(5)
Val T.
Seriously local food with flair. Today's special: stuffed squash blossoms from their own zucchini plants in the restaurant's garden. Margherita pizza with tomatoes and basil from their garden. Out in the middle of nowhere, IL but RIGHT off the highway and so much better than all the nearby chains. Service good.
(4)
Jeanne G.
Great food and service. Little pricey but worth it. Best calamari ever. We had pork and scallops. Delicious
(5)
J F.
Excellent service and Great food! We had such a great experience here that we had to call over the floor manager and tell them a positive compliment. I rarely if ever do that and felt that they needed to know that my experience was excellent.
(5)
A.j. H.
Had the pretzel chicken sandwich with Brie , it was refreshing in a town like Effingham where flavors tend to be two dimensional. Firefly grill has yet to disappoint, I just forget it's an option sometimes! Go there for lunch it's affordable and you gotta love the atmosphere.
(5)
Jenna W.
The very best place to have a nice lunch or dinner meal within a 60 mile radius. It's even better than some restaurants I've been to in bigger cities. I am so happy it's so close to home. I have never had a bad meal here. Very classy, good place!!!
(5)
Carl M.
They serve up one delicious caprese salad with heirloom tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella. The tomatoes and basil came from their garden.
(5)
Christopher G.
trying to plan someplace decent to eat between Indianapolis and Columbia Missouri (our stop for the night) . ..well this is really the only interesting restaurant between Terre Haute (decent enough Thai next to the interstate) and St. Louis. So we stopped here and were pretty please with the experience. The restaurant is beautiful, and sits on a coy/goldfish pond. The staff were especially friendly, giving my son plenty of bread to feed the goldfish/catfish. The food was decent, not the best Pannini but the pizza was rock solid (not new England quality, but definitely beat Indianapolis quality). Overall - a good stop, and definitely worth it versus stooping at McDonald are some other nondescript fast food joint.
(4)
Missy L.
I would give this 5 stars, but my waitress seemed a bit stiff. She could have been having an off night, though...I'm just saying it did diminish my 5 star experience that I was expecting. Beyond that, the food was amazing. I had the wild mushroom pizza, which had a zillion wonderful flavors, all which exploded in my mouth bite after bite. There were too many flavors to identify, but the combination of sweet, tangy, salty and "wild" were all present. The ambiance can't be beat. Feels like Chicago or New York. I'll definitely be coming back, and bringing a date or a group to sit outside and enjoy the fire pit and lake view.
(4)
Rachel S.
Came here for lunch with a friend and it was my first time in the restaurant. I believe we were the only patrons in the whole restaurant and had anywhere to choose to sit. We decided to sit outside on the patio and got the opportunity to feed their enormously huge, seven year old catfish and koi. Unbelievable! The service was wonderful and the food was great. I had the chicken sandwich on pretzel bread and the garlic French fries. Outstanding and I think I could have just eaten the fries... They were wonderful! The total bill for two lunches (no alcohol) was $27. I looked at dinner prices and they seemed a little expensive. That's e only reason I knocked it down a star. Hope to return to try other dishes.
(4)
Christie B.
This is a hidden gem that is right off the 70 freeway in Effingham. If you venture a tiny bit further than the typical McDonald's and Starbucks that clutter the freeway exit, you'll find yourself in an open space with a gorgeous restaurant that looks like it's been transplanted from Napa Valley. This is a fantastic place that serves food made from locally sourced ingredients. I've eaten there twice now, and both meals have been excellent, from beginning to end. The waitstaff is friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere of the restaurant is superb. Add to that the fact that the menu is reasonably priced, and I'm a devoted fan.
(5)
Anne B.
I ate lunch with friends. There is a wonderful private room and great service. Ordered poor boy shrimp sandwich. Delicious!
(5)
Matthew S.
I went in the first night thinking I would have a solid 4-star experience for dinner. It was 3 stars at best. I thought I would give it a second try, again, 3 stars at best. Here's the skinny: Night 1: Ambiance 4-5 stars, service 4 stars, food 1-2 stars. The homemade bread that comes out before the meal is good. The beer selection is decent as they have just under 8-10 beers on tap and around 20 bottled varieties to choose from. I ordered the citrus salad for the main course. The waitress talked me into adding chicken to it. Bad decision. The salad was great. Homemade dressing and very well done, but the chicken was at least 3 days old, dried out and almost as hard as the croutons. I ordered their "famous" bread pudding for desert. Not sure if it really qualifies as bread pudding. It was tasty, but be ready to fork over some cash for something you could probably eat in one bite. The ice cream "scoop" is about the size of a golf ball at best. I was pretty grumpy. You just don't tease and toy with my emotions like that! Unacceptable by Midwestern standards my friends. Maybe it has something to do with the Fiscal Cliff and budget cuts?? :-) Night 2: Ambiance again 4-5 stars, service 2 stars, food 3 stars. I ordered the roasted chicken with a cream sauce, asparagus and yellow foot mushrooms. Very tasty on the whole, but they just missed the mark of having something excellent going because they over salted the chicken quite a bit. I ordered their house side salad, this was fantastic. They even threw some goat cheese crumbles on there for me which was awesome. Service was sub-par. Our waiter really didn't know the first thing about beer although he pretended to and he didn't check on us very much. It also took 15+ minutes to get a check, our credit cards lying out on the edge of the table as a subtle hint that we're ready to peace out man! They weren't that busy. If they tighten up some loose ends with service and food quality they will have a great thing going here. I would say that if their prices were lower, I would give them another shot, but at $45 after a 18% tip for an entree, side salad and 2 beers, I'd probably try out another local establishment next time I'm in town for business.
(3)
Sam H.
Great restaurant for a small city chain restaurant area.excellent ingredients well prepared. Small fancy portions, high quality. Definitely 3 $signs.
(5)
Matt T.
Huh? Where am I? Driving from St Louis to Indianapolis and stopped for dinner. This is an AMAZING restaurant that would stand out in any large city. The menu is beautiful, the decor welcoming and warm. The food was outstanding. I can not imagine making this drive and not stopping here again. Had a salad, a pasta dish and a glass of wine for $40. Was almost licking the bowl...simply delicious. UPDATE: Came back the next night...yup, it's that good. Had a fish dish and a glass of wine for $31. Simply wonderful establishment. Service was prompt and pleasant, no complaints from me about anything at all. If I lived in Effingham, I'd be here once a week, no joke. Looking forward to my next drive to Indy already.
(5)
Cherie O.
Really?? (insert McKayla Maroney is not impressed). I really wanted to like this place. Everyone raves about this place. But it being out in Central IL shouldn't change anyone's standards. Neither should the fact that they reiterate that everything is locally resourced or that they fly their fish in a couple of times a week should automatically bump it up. I think this place is a 2.5 star kind of place...it would have been three stars, but for some things that kinda left a bad taste in my mouth. It's a very pretty place. I wouldn't say it's warm because I don't think glass and metal are very warm...but it's a striking place. Some of the reviews make it seem like it's in the middle of nowhere...not really. It's down the street from a Nike outlet. I dragged a couple of colleagues here because there was going to be a group dinner and I had really wanted to try firefly. There were about 20 of us and we had the area behind the bar that's mostly curtained off. The first thing I noticed when we entered was that it was LOUD because of the acoustics and it was only a little over half full. So we tell the hostess that we're here for the group dinner and she waves us towards the back of the bar. I don't know if she thought we knew where we were going, but there was no attempt to even bring us back there. Even better yet, she waved towards the left side of the bar, towards this conglomerate of people (not with our group dinner) which ended up kinda funny because if we had headed that direction, we would have to have fought past that group only to be blocked from entering from that side because there was a screen projector on the other side. So there were three waiters, who all haphazardly ended up working the table. Some of us got drink menus; some of us didn't. Same thing for the actual menu and specials. I realize that there is a lot of confusion when people are arriving at different times resulting in drinks being taken out of order, but when serving the drinks, shouldn't they be done in that order? My colleague had to wait awhile for her pumpkin martini (which was done well) while other people who had ordered martinis and other drinks after her got theirs before she did. On the plus side, they do have Schlafly! So people started ordering starters and I'm not sure what happened, but they never brought out my other friend her Maine Lobster Stew. I felt like they were confused about who ordered what (because of the arrival times and random seats we were choosing) because there was some walking back and forth before plate placement, but there was never an extra plate of stew wandering about. As I was really really enjoying MY Maine Lobster Stew, I felt like I had to speak up for her because it really was very good and there was no head waiter in sight checking up on everyone to make sure that everyone had gotten what they ordered. So ten minutes later, her stew comes out, and it is COLD. WHAT? How do you not have a plate for her and then have it come out cold?! She took two bites and couldn't finish it because it was that cold. I'm still very confused about this. To make it more interesting, I guess this inconsistency is also across the board because it does come with this rustic bread, but some people had super burnt pieces of it compared to my creamy, buttery piece. (and again, really? Serving a burnt piece of bread?) We order the entrees in seated order and the same confusion happens about who is ordering what. I can only guess that it's either because a different person brings out the plates or that they were bringing out the same entree at a time to cause that confusion. Don't shoot yourselves in the foot, guys. I had ordered the seared Hawaiian Ahi Tuna with soba noodles, roasted Korean shiitake mushrooms, and asparagus. It was okay. I think it would have been really good on its own, save for that awful Americanized fusion super salty teriyaki sauce that was at the bottom of the plate. I felt it basically ruined the tuna. Dessert for me was the seasonal house special which was the bread pudding and their own peanut butter ice cream. That was pretty good; I'd order it again. The peanut butter ice cream really tasted like a grainier cold version of peanut butter, and I know some purists would take some offense at it, but honestly, ice cream is ice cream to me, and I liked it. Not going to have dreams about it, but it's solid. I think they have a lot of really good ideas. I think their resourcing and creativity is definitely there. But execution falls flat on so many levels. Dinner was just a disappointment.
(2)
John B.
This restaurant is such a surprise, you may never know the regret you'd feel, if you knew what you missed.
(5)
Craig D.
I don't normally pay attention to whether or not the food is organic, but Firefly has opened my eyes. Their farm/garden to table food has brought me around. I had fried green tomatoes...fresh from their onsite garden...and the scallop with Risoto entree. Everything was perfectly cooked and spiced...and very fresh. Don't get me wrong, I'll still go right after some meat healthily infused with antibiotics and growth hormones, but I will keep my eye out for any place serving farm to table fresh food and I will absolutely stop by the Firefly Grill whenever I'm in town.
(5)
Hannah G.
Holy mother of god. What a gem in the middle of nowhere! My boyfriend and I stopped here on our way through IL, and we were so pleased and impressed! The ambiance is amazing, spacious and modern. The entire staff is friendly and professional, the servers help one another out and work cooperatively even though your table will have a single server assigned to it. The food is spectacular! Modern American with and emphasis on seasonal, sustainable, fresh and organic. The restaurant even has it's own garden! Definitely stop in!
(5)
William C.
Halibut with vegetables and butternut squash ravioli. The fish was ok in taste but it was cooked perfectly. The sauce with it really was great. The ravioli were outstanding. My wife really liked the scallops with risotto was cooked right and very tasty. Neither serving was very large but we felt they were enough and left room for desert. Both deserts were very very good. Small in portion but great in taste. I had the triple chocolate and she had the best banana cake. The staff was very good. The provided good service and were very knowledgable about the food and its preparation.
(5)
L R.
Wonderful food and very cool atmosphere. Love the garden outside where alot of the ingredients originate. Had the fried green tomatoes which were fabulous!! The salmon was also very very good. We stayed locally at the Hampton and were traveling from NJ to Denver. So glad to have stopped in Effingham. Wish I could have given 5 stars but the service was not that great. Willing to overlook that to say we will definitely be back.
(4)
Andrea A.
Delicious! If you are looking for quality food, check this place out. It's a little pricey, but definitely worth a visit. It was surprising to find this gem in such a rural area. I would recommend the Firefly as a place where everyone can find something to eat (even picky eaters and folks with food allergies).
(5)
JS E.
A pleasant surprise. Incredible service and friendly staff. The food was well prepared and perfectly seasoned. We look forward to a return trip, especially in the summer time.
(4)
Clifford S.
We had dinner here on our way to Kansas City and it was one of the best meals of the summer. No, I have not had a few beers and yes, it is in Effingham. I don't know why it's there either. I had scallops and squash blossom appetizer and pie - all outstanding. We are planning a fall trip to St. Louis and one of the goals is to somehow stop here either on the way down or back. Yes, it is that good.
(5)
Nic N.
Don't miss this countryside jewel nestled near the 'cross roads' of southern Illinois. Great local flavor meets rural chick at Firefly. I have a client in Effingham and make frequent trips from Chicago as a result. In my opinion this spot certainly holds its own among even some of the most highly rated restaurants in Chica-go-go, but the best part is that they include a lot of locally grown food. Even the dining tables were made in Effingham, nice work on supporting the local economy! On my last visit we started with a caprese salad and then moved on to the grilled truffle duck egg sandwich - Lake meadow Farm's ducks eggs, white truffle, white balsamic dressed greens on house-made Challah bread (this was lunch time). Food was great...filling, but not too heavy so we could go about our day. Unfortunately I don't remember what I had for dinner there on my last visit (months ago), but I do know that it was just as good, if not an even better experience, if that is even possible. Sit on the back deck and enjoy the view of the fountain in the large pond or dine inside and check out the great decor. The building looks like it was constructed in salvaged barn wood and even the parking lot is stylishly landscaped so these guys get an A+ for building an excellent establishment all around. Oh...and if you like beer and wine you won't be disappointed. It absolutely has to have the best selection in Effingham...hands down.
Great place and never would have expected to find this type of quality hidden here. What a delicious meal we had. The ambiance and food were excellent and it would have received 5 stars if the service would have matched the obvious attention to detail in the food. Meals ranges from a $5 bar burger to about $44 for the lamb chop. I had the Reuben and it was delicious, served with fries which were also excellent for $10. Even though I don't live here I will stop here on future travels for sure.
(4)
Brad P.
really nice atmosphere, terribly friendly staff, the building is impressive, the menu is fun, the beer and wine selection would not disappoint the most spoiled diners (being one) and an amazingly well executed plate of food (my date thinks maybe the best shes EVER had) made this surprise in the middle of nowhere a true treat on a Los Angeles to Indianapolis cross country drive that was actually full of great meals... but this was the true gem of our trip! Would definitely go WAY out of my way to dine there again!
(5)
Michael C.
Amanda is the highlight of firefly grill. I typically do not give glowing reviews about restaurants that have par food but Amanda made my entire experience more than excellent hospitality wise. Whether she is on the floor or behind the bar make sure you at least introduce yourself and she will see to it that the night of restaurant experience is worth you stopping in effingham. The steak worth stopping for although I hoped the taste would have been better for the price. Although it was cooked perfectly. I'm looking forward to stopping back through for the seabass instead. I would however.. Scratch that. I will be stopping again just to talk to Amanda again over a drink. That is a certainty.
(4)
Susan S.
Daughter loves Firefly and Daughter needed some TLC, so we scheduled a little ladies' lunch on a Saturday afternoon. And a lovely little lunch we had. As always, the ambiance of FF grill is sublime---its look is one of my all time favorites. Daughter's too. She loves the oversized, sepia-toned wedding photos of the owners that grace the walls. Daughter described her lunch as "summertime in a sandwich." After one try-bite, I concurred. The roasted chicken/basil/mozz/pesto panini was a delectable balance of crunchy, gooey, savory, and smokey sensations. 5 stars. The fries were perfection---nice and hot (cold fries stink) and nicely seasoned. And the $8.50 price point was spot on. My lunch---a little on the meh side. I ordered the Spinach salad with strawberry balsamic dressing, vanilla almonds, and about 4 interesting warm goat cheese croquettes, about the size of an old fashioned gumball or an embryonic tater tot. The price was either $8.50 or $9.50. The abundance of spinach was great and would have satisfied even the hungriest Popeye. However, the co-stars, so to speak, did not support the quantity of spinach served. I found myself rationing the teeny bits of cheese and almonds to help me make it to the finish line with the greens. As often happens at FF, the staff was super smiley and welcoming but hard to summon when needed. Drink orders took over five minutes to place and just about as long to deliver. Iced tea refills took awhile, too. I saw some verbal and nonverbal communication going on between the hostess and various waitstaff regarding our beverages, but no one seemed to have clear ownership of our table. Nor did anyone stop by after the hopper brought our meals to ascertain if all was okay or if we needed anything else---which we did. I had expected the salad to have some kind of carb alongside, a bun, a cracker, etc. In the past, FF served bread on a board or popovers. I couldn't catch my server's attention---I think she was busy with a baby shower--but the hostess eventually explained that bread service was available, for a buck. Two probs---first of all, that didn't happen when I ate lunch at FF Grill in April. In fact, that time, our group of four was served up some tasty popovers even though people ordered bread-centric entrees like pizzas and rock shrimp po'boys. Secondly, why isn't this upcharge mentioned on the menu or offered when ordering? FF has been promoting lunch specials diligently--which is nice. But, the lunch menu seems to have shrunken in size and grown in price point over the last few years. And the foo-foo factor has increased as well. I miss the salad/pizza special....and the complimentary bread, and the greater number of choices. You know I'll be back---the pluses outweigh the minuses---one major plus being location, location, location.
(4)
Michael K.
3rd time here in last couple of weeks on my way back and forth to Indy from STL. It is an oasis of great food with real care towards the ingredients. This is as good as you find in any major market. Be sure to try the tiramisu!
(5)
Dan K.
Very nice. Maybe the nicest restaurant in Effingham. Pricy but very good food. I would definitely come here again.
(4)
Mike A.
We stopped here on our drive to Detroit from Dallas. Simply amazing food and atmosphere! High recommendation in my book!
(5)
Gary K.
This place is outstanding! The service and food were great, and the location is perfect. Close to the hotel we were staying at, and all the other shops, restaurants, etc.; but Firefly Grill clearly stood out. I had a teriyaki flank steak and it was amazing! It was so tender. The potatoes were great too. The nice thing was that even though it's a nice restaurant they still had a reasonable kids menu too. I only wish they had a restaurant like this in Clarksville, TN. I'd go here all the time.
(5)
Scott C.
Great little establishment. Friendly service and it looks like a great place to be in the warmer months.
(4)
Eric W.
Owners are a TOTAL Class Act. Next time through Effingham will definitely stop in again.
(4)
Kay A.
I love the idea of Firefly Grill. It's like a fairy tale when you walk in. The menu is imaginative and inviting. The atmosphere is magical. But, sadly, I wasn't able to really eat much there. I have dairy, soy, and gluten allergies and so need to be very careful with what I eat. They have a so-called gluten-free menu, but it's not actually a gluten free menu. It's a list of dishes for which you can request that items to be taken out and it turns out they offer no substitutions. So, I ordered the burger without the cheese, bun, or fries. I asked if the server if he could give me some extra lettuce and tomatoes since I couldn't have the bun or the fries, and they said no. This really shocked me. In pretty much any restaurant of this calibre the chef would be embarrassed to send a plate out with a hamburger patty on it and nothing else. Don't get me wrong, I understand that it's not the restaurant's fault that I have these allergies, but I went here with such high hopes--especially because I called ahead and asked if they had a gluten free menu and they said yes. It certainly can't cost them extra make a bed of lettuce leaves and place the bun on top of it, with two or three slices of tomatoes. Especially since they're charging for the bun and the fries, but not actually serving them. In the end, the patty was fine, but nothing special. I'll probably go here again, because that's how special the atmosphere is, but I'll make sure to eat dinner before I go and then just have the side salad and wine. So, if you're one of those sorry folks with the gluten-dairy-soy problem don't bother coming here for the food. All you'll be able to eat is a piece of meat, and absolutely nothing else. Which is too bad, since the chef seems to have a great imagination and excellent execution.
(2)
Jon T.
Romantic devil that I am I took Ms T to Effingham for St Valentine's Day dinner and a visit to the Boos Block's outlet store. She can never say I don't take her to exciting places. I searched for places to eat in Effingham and found the Fire Fly Grill. This is a surprisingly sophisticated place to find out here and offered a lot of promise. We made reservations on Open Table and being Valentine's, it was a good thing. The place was packed and I suspect normally reservations are a good idea. They have put a lot of effort into the ideas behind the restaurant. It looks like a barn or something but inside the menu is upscale and (I think) pricy for Effingham. They make a big deal about being green and local but I am cynical about this. While well intended I'm sure, it is really mostly about marketing. Let's face it, it sells. What really matters is how good the food is. The Fire Fly Grill missed the mark especially considering the price. Remind me never to tell a waiter that this is our first time there. I made that mistake and we listened to the sermon on green and local and then the specials from Jordan. It was a bit condescending assuming we did not know anything about the ingredients rather than letting us ask when we needed information. We ordered two glasses of wine (marked up very well). We started with Crab and Lobster Rangoon which was really very good. Ms T ordered scallops on risotto and I ordered pheasant on papardelle. The scallops were seared properly but were gritty. We could not decide if it was in the scallops or was from the grill. They tasted good to her, but the grit was off-putting. The risotto was poorly executed, flavorless and underdone, not al dente, but rather al crunchy, while the matrix was very pasty, an odd combination. My local pheasant was OK. It was seared and then finished in the oven. It had good herbal flavors on a crispy skin, but the serving was tiny. One pheasant wing and breast is about four bites. I grew up eating wild pheasant in Iowa and this farm raised, tame bird had virtually no flavor of its own. My bed of papardelle was fine and the dish was executed well. It was just short on poultry serving size and pheasant flavor. This is a surprisingly sophisticated restaurant for the surroundings. But we had to ask again for our wine or it never would have arrived. The wines were served too warm. Ms T's white was not chilled and my pinot noir was room temperature. The room was about 80 degrees and a PN should be served cellar temperature. This was over $50 per person, (one appetizer, no desserts) which is OK, but I expect much better execution.
(2)
Bob W.
If you are heading up HY 57 to Chicago, stop in Effingham for a gem of a restaurant: FIREFLY GRILL. Lunch or dinner it is OUTSTANDING! Best place we have been to in several years. It is a great find & must stop. Food offered is a wide range and cooked just right. Fish & beef offerings are wonderful. Bread is killer and is the french oinion soup. Very clean place with great service on a small pond. A little expensive but worth every penny. GO AND ENJOY!
(5)
Patrick R.
We stop at Firefly Grill on every trip to STL from INDY. You can always count on the Firefly to have a couple fish specials since their fish is flown in fresh a couple times a week. The specials are always paired perfectly by the chef. I realize that this is Effingham, which is in the middle of the country, and most people are traveling through and are looking to pay McDonalds prices for a 5 star meal, buck-up people, it is well worth it!!
(5)
Angela C.
Just left this restaurant. Excellent! It seemed a little pricey, but I'm willing to pay extra for good food. I ordered the Halibut which came with a tomato and cucumber salad. Ordered the risotto on the side just because I love risotto. Had the crab purses for an appetizer. Had the peach shortcake for desert. Everything was superb. The service was also excellent. I am just sorry I don't live here and was just driving through. Well i went here for sunday brunch and was disappointed in the service and the food so had to downgrade and say dont go on sunday
(4)
Tommy B.
mic experience right off of 57. To say that I was surprised by the caliber of the kitchen, the creativity of the dishes and the lovely & aesthetic feel of the room, it would be a huge understatement. If you are a weary traveler desperate for some respite from the road, Firefly is a glorious reward for your car-tired body & eyes. Firefly is a real restaurant for real foodies. Thereare straight ahead burgers, fries etc. for those who want it steady & delicious, and if you want something a little more varied, go deeper in the menu or try the daily specials. The wine list is thoughtful & informed. The bar is unbelievably cool. If you are traveling on 57, this is a must stop kind of place. Firefly is a culinary gem. I gave them the 5th star for two reasons. 1- some of the dishes really are that amazing 2- the element of surprise - they must care so much to deliver such an incredible experience in Southern Illinois.
(5)
Joya H.
What a wonderful surprise on our drive from Texas to Michigan! The restaurant itself is beautiful. Add the enclosed patio overlooking kids feeding fish on the pond and deer in the field at sunset, was a nice touch, wow! The house salad and bread with fresh garlic and oil were delicious. My husband and I both ordered off the chef's specials. He had a pork shank, fall off the bone tender, perfectly seasoned, and with an excellent presentation. I had the Alaskan Halibut, which was cooked perfectly and served with squash grown on the premises. Thank you Yelpers for such a terrific find. We won't pass by without stopping again.
(5)
Dan C.
Great restaurant. Wish it was close to home. Corn Chowder was probably the best soup we ever had.
(5)
Greg J.
wow! In the middle of no-where; Effingham , Illinois, more known for truck stops then great food, is a real gem I cant say enough about the place. I travel weekly all over the US with an expense account to wine and dine clients and came across this restaurant last year. After 5 impressive visits, I have got to tell everyone to go. Its a bit expensive for the area, but I can guarantee a great meal. They use a lot of local grown items according to the menu so the meals change in the season. Try this one and you can thank me later..
(5)
Jeff H.
Ok, no doubt this place gets a 5* rating. This was an INCREDIBLY pleasant surprise considering I was stuck in Effingham for the night. Given past stays in Southern Illinois (see my reviews of Mount Vernon) I was pretty sure that Effingham would be a culinary wasteland of Applebees, TGI Fridays, Buffalo Wild Wings and other standard highway exit chain restaurants. And if I hadn't checked Yelp, I would have never found this option, because it is sort of out in the middle of a field, though not far from the highway. Just in an area all by itself. But what a find it was.... Driving over, I wasn't sure I had turned the right way. I was driving out into the dark away from the rest of the highway exit buildings... but then just another half mile or so along, I saw the building. Though it was dark outside, the building is all glass and timber with a tin roof. Very warm looking inside with big high ceilings and a country setting with fields all around. Very inviting as you are driving up. Went inside and found an inviting, open space with tables in the middle, a bar at one end and the kitchen at the other. Took a spot at the bar and reviewed the menu which was amazing. From the decor to the menu filled with locally sourced items and creative food combinations, this place would fit in perfectly in Sonoma or Napa. And of all places it is in Effingham, Illinois! There were tons of interesting things on the menu, but I just had the wild mushroom soup (local mushrooms), the 5 oz filet and a side of grilled asparagus. As opposed to most midwestern meals, this was about quality, not quantity so it was refreshing to get good food with reasonable portion sizes. All food was done perfectly and I finished with the bread pudding with caramel sauce and pumpkin ice cream. I'm guessing many people would be pissed off at the relatively tiny size of the dessert, but it was perfect. Great flavors in a size that doesn't add 1000 calories to your meal. I can't recommend this place highly enough if you ever find yourself in Effingham. Great decor and warmth, great menu, friendly service and I would imagine great pastoral scenery if you are there for lunch or in the early evening when it is still light out.
(5)
D M.
Good, clean - but a little expensive for what you get. I'd say these were comparable to Times Square prices for steaks... And burgers. Kids had a blast the waitstaff made sure of that. Did I say the place was clean? Well it was and very worth the trip, even though we had to sell our car to afford it. Thought the popovers were a nice touch.
(4)
John F.
Expensive but worth it-it's a monopoly without a competitor here. Extensive, overpriced wine list; Rombauer chardonnay was $10 more than at the Cottage Place in Flagstaff. Good service. Very, very noisy. My lobster stew was quite good, with plenty of lobster. Wedge salad was huge, and very tasty. We'll return. Entrees are steep.
(4)
Levent T.
Rule of thumb: Any reviews that mention how wonderful this place is because they are comparing it to what one may find in Effingham...deduct one star for that review. Now I say this *not* to be pretentious, but, because I almost gave them a Whoohoo! for the same reason. The restaurant and atmosphere is stylish, hip and welcoming. The staff extremely attentive, attractive and friendly. The food is pricey but the quality + service + facility = the damages. Side salad was fresh and enough for two to share. The scallop risotto was tasty and the cut I had for my seared tuna was one of the largest I've ever received table side, however, for $30+ it better, right? The tuna was cooked perfectly to my request of near sashimi style and the asparagus still had some crunch. My only complaint was that the sauce it came with was too sweet and that the noodles were a step above ramen. Still I would so go back to dine when in the area.
(4)
Drew G.
The staff is very rude. My sister and I stopped here on a road trip after seeing the billboard. The hostess who sat us was rude. We waited 20 minutes for a server. No one stopped at our table. There were plenty of servers walking by or talking at the bar or host-stand. We eventually got up and left. It was extremely insulting. Pretentious, rude, cold. Save your time and go somewhere else.
(1)
Kevin M.
Eat here. Now! If you are within driving distance, get in your car and get over here.
(5)
Dane K.
In a sea of TGIF's and Cracker Barrel nastiness, Firefly is a bit of a hidden gem featuring local more sustainable cuisine. I've only "carried out" twice but for carry out it's a good option if you're passing Effingham on i57 / i70, they're about two blocks off of exit 160. It's a better carry out option for lunch than dinner, as their dinner menu is decisively more upscale. At lunch there are a wide range of sandwiches/salads, at dinner the entrees range $14-30, averaging somewhere in the middle (and there are some steaks that are a bit more $ I think). Their prices on sandwiches are pretty reasonable. On my last visit it was "dinner" and it was carry out and I was driving, so I needed a sandwich... And the only real sandwich on the menu was a burger, which I didn't really want but the alternative was going to a Hardees drive through. Actually it was a burger with gruyere and a side of fresh green beans... $10. It was one of the best burgers I've had in a long time, and perfect for the road. It turned out to be a really great decision. I forgot to specify condiments so it didn't really have any ketchup/mustard/mayo or anything, but it didn't need it. I don't know what the juicy goodness was flavored with, but it was pretty awesome. I did ask for avocado, but it appears this wasn't heard as I wasn't charged for it nor was it on my burger. My other visit I had a chicken caesar wrap. It was good, the wrap kind of absorbed all of the dressing though. They have house made chips that are pretty tasty too. I used to think this was kind of a hidden gem but now they have billboards, and every time I pass the highway the billboards seem to get bigger. Good for them I guess. The building they're in is absolutely beautiful! It reminds me of some modern meets barn wineries I've been to. A can't miss if you're eating in Effingham. Accepts reservations and they're on Opentable.
(5)
Sally L.
We loved this restaurant and would recommend to any and everyone!! The food was delicious and the service fast and friendly. I had one of their hamburgers and it was to die for along with the garlic French fries..
(5)
Becky S.
Absolutely love this place! Ate here last August for the first time, and again last night. The second time was even better than the first! Last night I had a greek salad and the red Margherita pizza. The produce was so fresh, it was hard to believe it hadn't just been picked from their garden! I had the Tiramisu for dessert - one of the best I've ever had.
(5)
amy c.
this place is like an oasis in the midst of crap for food central - the usual mcD, BK, LJS, etc. Its not right on the road with those god awful tacky neon signs blinding you while you're trying to drive at night. Its down a long road in a barn or "remodeled" barn really. Reclaimed wood, veg garden - all the makings of a tree huggers wet dream. they also use those compostable/recyclable take out containers (yay extra points!) The interior is nice - more of the spare, rustic feel with the owners black and white wedding pictures everywhere - apparently they had new england lobster bake yum yum. Its one big open space with a long bar towards that back and some more tables behind the bar that are a little more cozy I guess. crab rangoon - I don't really know what this food is, its def not asian. I've never had it before but basically its cream cheese folded inside a twisted pastry square and deep fried. no crab involved. not disgusting but not good either. flatbreads - so tasty, esp the california one with avocado. sometimes too much cheese to the point that its overwhelming but I can't blame them for catering to their audience. this is the midwest i suppose. crab and avocado salad - fishy. ew. serves me right (serves me wrong, actually) for ordering seafood this far from the coasts. seriously, could you be any farther from the oceans? pork chop - locally raised (yay!) and the size of your head and your mama's head combined. HUGEE. simple. well cooked. great steaks. There is a private room here for like 12 ppl i think. the light fixture is made of antlers. Welcomes to the midwest.
A gem. Better than a lot of places in Chicago. 5 stars on food and cocktail presentation.
(5)
Laura S.
Visited two weekends in a row. The building was beautiful and service was good.
(4)
Kathy S.
My first review but I wanted to warn people about this restaurant. If you enjoy paying too much for skimpy portions and rude service this is the restaurant for you. The atmosphere is far from romantic, we laughed when they seated us, reminded us of a kiddy table in the middle of a cafeteria. I love a nice Chardonnay, they just had one by the glass so I ordered it, it was $10.00 for a small glass, it was poor quality and I mentioned it to the waitress, her comment was, "what do you expect when you order a house wine." My husband had the steak, he could not believe how small it was, came with runny bland mashed potatoes. The bread was excellent, so for $100.00 we had some good bread and had the pleasure of being insulted by our waitress. This restaurant challenges you to tell the king he has no clothes.
(1)
Kelly J.
I have stopped here several times while traveling and I have made the 60 mile trip from my home to eat here and it has always been excellent. Service has always been great and anytime that I have had any question about the menu, the servers immediately know everything about the dish. I will travel an hour away to eat here many times in the future!
(5)
Tonya A.
I get that this fine dining experience is a diamond in the rough for the area, however, I think it is over-hyped. Warning, if you believe all the hype you will be sorely disappointed. The food was okay, nothing great. We had the red sauce pizza (wouldn't want it again), shells and cheese (so bland), crab cakes (2 for $22, would get those again as nothing else on the menu sounded appetizing), garlic fries (nice and hot- two thumbs up). The service was ok, our server knew we were going to the evening show and we were still rushed to get our ticket, pay and arrive on time for the show. I liked that were served water from a tall bottle and were able to keep it at the table. The dinning room is one large open room and very noisy with club music playing from the bar area. I would not recommend this as a date place at all, not cozy for an intimate dining experience. Side note - If you are looking for a fine dining experience like you would find in the city, well this is probably your place.
(2)
Dawn H.
My fiance and I decided to have a relaxing weekend at his parents' lakehouse in Effingham this weekend, and after watching several hours of college football, we were hungry. We did a Yelp search, saw this place had great ratings, and decided to hit it up. The food breakdown: 1) onion rings (more like straws, good heaping full, 3 stars) 2) popcorn coconut shrimp (the coconut foam and breading they serve with this dish are disgusting, 0-1 stars) 3) crab rangoon (more slimy cream cheese than crab, 2 stars) 4) meatballs (the absolute best part of the meal, 4 stars) 5) brownie sundae (meh, 3 stars) So why the 2 star rating? The service was awful. It took 10 minutes after finishing our water glasses until they were refilled. They served our appetizers without the accompanying sauces, and it took 10 minutes to flag down the server to bring this to her attention. It was 15 minutes between the appetizer order and the entree order. No, the restaurant wasn't bustling (it was only halfway full). No, there wasn't a shortage of servers that night. We could never figure out what all the delays were about. Summary: average food, slow service
(2)
Ken J.
So, to say that I was pleased to find a restaurant with the sort of look and feel that I'd come to expect in venues in much larger locales, would be an understatement. I read the reviews and was quite excited to try it, but it didn't quite live up to expectations. First the good: The place looks the part -- open, airy, modern and rustic, you know, exposed wood everywhere but all flat surfaces covered with something shiny be it aluminum, stainless, or glass, and those nifty hanging halogen lamps. The ceiling is natural, not drop, and I'd imagine the place could get loud, but we were there on a Thursday and it was fine. The wine/beer selection is adequate in that they have something for everyone but having more wines available by the glass wouldn't kill them, so that was somewhat limited. The menu is truly impressive and the selections are world class: Mostly local, organic, and artisanal meats and produce, with listings on the menu of the source of each, and most of the produce seems to come from their own garden/farm. Very cool. So you can easily see how I was excited. I ordered the braised pork shank (a special) and the client got a pork loin chop (regularly on the menu). Now, I've had pork shank before and it should be one of the most flavorful of meats, so to find that mind was bland and uninspiring was very disappointing. It was as though the chef had completely forgotten about the existence of salt (or any other seasoning for that matter). It came served on a bed of whipped potatoes (also bland and unseasoned) with a side of brussels sprouts which I typically perceive as an abomination unto God. However, these were served with bacon (everything, especially brussels sprouts, is better with bacon) and they were actually, GASP, good. I'd initially asked our waitress if I could swap them out and she said yes, but she'd have to charge me for an extra side. WTF?! But back to this in a moment. The shank was perfectly cooked, but lacked any flavor except the natural pork -- maybe that was the intent, but I hardly think so. I'd tried to order something like a small tossed salad, but it doesn't exist, and the server didn't volunteer to have the kitchen make me one and charge me for an additional side. Bad. The client enjoyed her pork chop and said it was excellent. And it looked it: Large, moist, thick, and juicy all the way through. I believe it came with local fall veggies and those too looked good and fresh. So, back the whole "gotta charge you for substitution" thing. Look folks, there is NO reason, ZERO, not to allow substitutions. It doesn't cost you money. And for the prices you charge, which, by the way, are equivalent to Chicago prices, you can certainly afford to make the switch. This really sticks in my proverbial craw: If you're going to charge those prices, then I expect an equivalent level of service. And I didn't get it. I'll be back, but I'm hoping it's better next time. And that the chef remembers where he put the salt.
(3)
Peter P.
This is the real deal. Creative cooking by people who care. Beautiful room, interesting menu, competent staff - Firefly is awesome. There is no place I have found in downstate Illinois that is its equal. We drive 60 miles to dine here, and it is worth it.
(5)
The P.
Solid, not amazing. The boar bangers and mash were quite nice. The desserts, however, were overly sweet and unbalanced.
(3)
Guy I.
Wow. I haven't looked at every review here but I bet many of them that are written by out-of-towners wonder just how this restaurant survives and thrives in Effingham, IL. Coming from the west suburbs of Chicago I doubt a fantastic restaurant like this would attract the clientele in my area. There must be some things about Effingham I don't know. But I do know that I sure wish I had this gem closer to my home. Upon my arrival I was thrilled-maybe stunned-when I saw their drink menu. Singapore Sling? Classic rum drinks? If I could even get a drink named Singapore Sling in Chicago, which I can't, I'm sure I'd find it to be kool-aid and vodka. Their version was absolutely 100% accurate to the original. (Need I say again, IN EFFINGHAM IL!) I was with a wedding party with a set menu. The salads and main courses were as great as I would have expected. Overall I was just blown away to find a place like this in Effingham. Sounds crazy, but we're going to plan another trip back to the area simply to dine at this restaurant again. Fantastic place.
(5)
Nina U.
What an amazing place nestled in a little nook. Firewood is stacked out front. Sit on the front porch, off a little lake in the screened in back porch, or at a nice table inside with light dinner music, where are we? Effingham? no way. It feels like I'm sitting outside on the bayou. Don't think I would wear shorts but also don't think they would care if you did. Started with some light fresh fried green tomatoes and for this type of food, it's definitely listed at reasonable prices. Pisco sour was light and too easy to drink. Yum. I'll have another please. The Thai Beef Curry was also interesting and good but with my delicious cocktails I think I would go with something different next time to pair better with my drinks that I just couldn't part with. Try the coconut creme brulee with pistachios, whipped cream and a little scoop of mango sorbet. Quite delectable. Some times the best places are where you least expect them.
(5)
Beth J.
Everything about this place deserves a five. We had lunch specials. Butternut squash soup was great, as well as the French onion soup. I had a spinach salad with grilled chicken. The chicken was great. Tender and moist. Hubby had steak burger on pretzel bun. The bread was awesome. The waitress was nice and attentive. We were traveling thru Effingham to Nashville. I am so glad we found this place. Thank you yelp!!
(5)
Jim K.
This was our first visit to Firefly Grill and we went to celebrate our anniversary. The busy part of Ave of Mid America seems to go in the opposite direction from the restaurant, so having the name on the roof was a help in locating it. We had reservations and were seated immediately. The servers all seem to have been trained to assist one another. We asked for a minute before we ordered and a second server asked if there was a problem that he might assist. My wife and I are constantly watching the amounts of food we eat, so we shared an appetizer of about 2 1/2 doz. PEI muscles. We also shared a wedge if lettuce salad with a wonderful blue cheese and bacon dressing. We ordered a 15 oz prime quality filet, medium. It was cooked to perfection. Service was attentive, but not overbearing. The prices were commensurate with the quality of the food and service. Atmosphere was lacking. Tables seemed small for two couples. It also has a very high ceiling which lacks any effort of noise abatement. We live an hour and a half away and that's a long drive for dinner, but I'll find another reason to go back.
(4)
Katie M.
First trip the food was fantastic. Second time around was not so hot. Started with the tomato, mozz, and basil salad. The tomatoes, touted as "heirloom", were under ripe and tasted no better than your average grocery store grape tomato. Basil leaves were left whole and managed to overpower each bite. $6 for a half order, aka 5 bite salad, is severely overpriced. The chicken with white asparagus risotto was over the top rich. It was screaming for acid. The fried duck egg and pancetta pinwheel were just unnecessary. The skin was perfectly crisp and could have been tasty but heavy handedness with sea salt left parts of the dish inedible. Greatly dissappointed on my second trip.
(2)
Sara D.
I've enjoyed reading the other reviews for Firefly, many people commenting how this restaurant is in the middle of nowhere. Sheesh, people, this is a farming community! People want local produce and products, alas, here it is! Are we not worthy of a restaurant to showcase local agriculture? :) This is a delicious and innovative restaurant. I've been to Firefly many times over the past couple of years- the menu is seasonal and changes fairly often. Some things that stand out from previous meals: pork chops, steaks, and crab cakes...the brick oven pizzas are also tasty, although I can't remember specifically which ones I have tasted. The decor is very modern, with a high ceiling and open bar in the mid-back of the restaurant. The only criticism would be that sometimes the restaurant can get super loud. And by all means, if you are in the Effingham area, get off the interstate and main roads. There are some local wineries, cool countryside, and nice people to see.
(5)
bobbi n.
Growing up in the area, Effingham was where we went if we wanted to see a movie or visit a McDonalds or go to Wal-Mart. Effingham's mall's anchor store was a Rural King. I remember when we were excited that Effingham got a TGI Fridays....but we couldn't complain, because in reality, Effingham was the "big city" and much much much more exciting than where we were coming from. Needless to say, there was definitely nothing like the Firefly Grill when I lived there. Not that it would have mattered, because the greatness of this restaurant would have been lost on my teenage palette. I'm just happy that it's here now and that my parents seem intent on bringing my husband and there every time we come to visit. As Ben Folds implies in his song about the town, Effingham is place that you drive past while trying to get somewhere else. With the gigantic white cross, it's hard to miss, but with more truck stops per capita then I have seen anywhere else in my travels, it's easy to pass up. But if you find yourself driving through Effingham on I-57 or I-70, it's really worth a visit to this restaurant, especially considering that your most refined option for more than an hour in any direction is a Hardee's. The best meal that I've had there was a sweet corn lobster bisque (photo posted) although the tuna was a very close second. It was without a doubt, the best bisque i've ever had....okay, it was the only bisque I'd ever had, but it was "I am now a girl that gets lobster bisque cravings" good. If you didn't know, they actually have a garden out back and grow their own vegetables. The waiter let me know that the sweet corn in that dish was picked that day. Delish! Although it's located in the most unlikely of places (specifically behind an athletic shoe store - take a left at the steak 'n shake), it's definitely worth the stop. Hopefully it's a sign of more to come from this town.
(5)
Sharon P.
My boyfriend and I decided to try Firefly because it was reviewed highly on Yelp as one of the more upscale restaurants in Effingham, Illinois- a town home to mostly fast food-type places. The building itself was very impressive as we approached it. The interior was also well-designed and it looked like we were going to have a great meal. Then the hostess seated us at the worst table in the whole place- a table where there shouldn't have even been a table. And the worst part was that there were several good tables open and available (at least 7 to 10) that looked lovely. It was pretty rude. Our food was only half decent- nothing special. We expected something a lot better for our $22 entrees (lobster pot pie). Our waiter was very nice- hence the one star. The seating really pissed me off. Applebee's would have been better value and less disappointing.
(1)
Fred J.
The fish really is fresh, and the preparations are excellent. It may be the only place to eat in Effingham that's high end, but you could eat there three nights a week and be happy. Great pizzas, steaks, and unusual fish preparations. And a damn fine hamburger too!
(4)
Jessica O.
I am a country girl at heart. Born and raised in the North Shore of Chicago, I still go weak in the knees at the sight of BBQ or sweet corn, etc. When my sweetheart drove me down to the middle of nowhere on my birthday and we got off the expressway to see Steak and Shakes and Ruby Tuesdays all around I was not expecting to get a flippin' gourmet meal. This place is beyond words cute and chic. It looks like a rehauled pole barn complete with tin roof, but the atmosphere from the hella-high ceilings and the menu is great. They grow some of their own produce, bake their own breads, fly in fish fresh, and make their own salad dressings. We were sat on the beautiful little porch on their little pond in the back complete with up-lighted ambiance. We ordered the portabello mushroom which was broiled with garlic, parmesan cheese, and escargot and served with a fresh crusty baguette. Then we had the fried green tomatoes which were perfect on their own. We each ordered the New York strip steak with garden salads and I had the sweet corn which came from a farm down the street. Our server, Larry, was prompt, and perfectly attentive to each detail and recommended the banana cake with cream cheese frosting and home-made banana ice-cream. This meal cannot be replicated... it was amazing, and it might be worth the drive down to Effingham. :0)
(5)
Jim P.
I am from Effingham and this is the first time back to Fire Fly in 6 months due to the cost. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they have dropped their prices. More food was included with the main dish too. It would great if they would add a salad too. The drink prices are comparable to any travel city. Getting better and more likely to come back more frequently. Thanks Niall and Kristie.
(3)
Denise S.
Today while I was on business in Effingham, IL I stopped by for lunch and dinner at the FireFly. It is a beautifully decorated restaurant. The old wood that runs throughout the outside and inside is really lovely. At lunch we were seated out on the covered porch. We overlooked the pond with the koi etc. swimming close by. I selected the bowl of Butternut squash soup with crème fresch and crisped sage. It was nice and creamy but really lacked flavor from either the broth base and or maybe some salt. Next I opted for the Effingham burger. The burger was nice but nothing that would warrant a return for. Now the French fries parmesan, lemon, garlic were extraordinary. Loved them. The service was fine and the place was filled with several customers. Due to business I had to stay overnight and opted to try FireFly for dinner. I decided to sit at the galley bar in the kitchen. Figured I would not take up a table for more customers. It took entirely too long for someone to come and wait on me. Finally someone came with menu. I started with the tuna sushi roll. It was good but you could barely find the tuna. Then I ordered the special lobster with pappadella and lobster broth. Let's say it's less than stellar. Now I know I am in Effingham so I was pleasantly surprised that I had something more to choose from than the cracker barrel. The pasta was just bland and missing flavor. I asked for additional parmesan just to get it some flavor. No salt offered on table. I ordered a side of Brussels sprouts which were probably the best thing I had. Someone flavored them so no need to add anything. I then order an espresso which was lukewarm and the brioche pear bread pudding was good as well. The ice-cream scoop of pumpkin was pretty good. The atmosphere was beautiful so I would come back and try the wood fired pizzas that looked really good.
(3)
Heidy C.
the manager contacted me after reading the review and was kind enough to offer a gift certificate which i accepted. it was extremely nice of him and showed that he really cares about the experience that the guest experiences. I would go back and try it again when i'm in the area
(3)
Angela J.
Effingham... I'm effing amazed. I was shocked to find this place when driving through the area. A beautiful place with lots of great local food and fresh seafood. We had fish soup, burgers, Bolognese, and stroganoff, which were all delicious. A bit pricey, but not out of line with what you get. I will certainly be stopping back next time I'm around!
(4)
Dan N.
I've been here about 6-8 times over the past year or so, and Firefly Grill has become one of my favorite restaurants over that time. The menu changes with the season, the food is fresh (seafood flown in overnight, meat from local farms, produce from their own garden), and the restaurant is a cool place to eat (on a lake, relaxing atmosphere). For Central IL, the seafood is second to none--always a wide variety and always really good. I would definitely recommend the seafood or something from the "special considerations" portion of their menu--I've had a steak here once, it was fine, but you are better of going with one of the more "unique" options. I've never had any apps here, but they look incredible. If you go to Firefly Grill, take this advice: --Sit at the bar --If Mike is bartending, ask him what's good tonight --Follow his advice and enjoy your meal --If you get a salad (or firefly onion rings) they have housemade honey mustard and housemade blue cheese--both are amazing!
(5)
David K.
Very funny story how I came upon this restaurant. I was on a road-trip and saw a billboard sign on I-70 that said "Firefly Grill". First, I thought it would be a typical Midwest BBQ place, but boy was I wrong. This restaurant is tucked away from the highway and the main street, in an oasis of its own. It was just by chance I came to this restaurant and I'm extremely happy that I did. The restaurant is an organic based restaurant with their own garden. The ambiance is incredible. Firefly Grill has a deck and pond in the back side, and a fire-pit on the porch. I ordered Braised Kurobuta Pork Shank and it was excellent. It was so well cooked that the meat just pulled right off the bone. The pork came on a bed of split peas and roasted kale (grown from their garden). The service was great also. The hostess and the waiter were hospitable. The restaurant closes at 8pm on Sundays. However, I arrived about 8:30pm and they were still willing to serve me. I would definitely recommend this place to anybody who would love a hidden gem.
(4)
Ken H.
This is a gem in the town. Great food. great people. great vibe. I was in town for 5 days, and I ate every meal here, except for 1 dinner. They don't serve breakfast, or I'd be there, too. It's that good. It's simple American food. But very nicely done with fresh and very good ingredients. I had tuna burger, fish taco, fish and chips, pork shank, coq au vin, lava cake, chocolate moulin rouge, banana cake, spicy wings... Pretty much everything is very good. Most of them are not complicated, but I love the simply delicious quality food that they provide dish in and dish out. I also love the fact that they change menu almost weekly based on the fresh ingredients they get. I had too many dishes to grade dish by dish. Here's some highlight: Deserts I had were all great. Like Great. If you are remotely a dessert person. give them a shot. It's worth it. All the seafood I had were very fresh. I also like how the chef let the food shine without over season them. Pork shank was vey tasty. Very juicy and flavorful. My kind of food. This is a restaurant that will be love in anywhere of the country. If you are around the town. stop by this place and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Sydney H.
Literally one of the best meals I've ever eaten. I ate here in passing on a roadtrip, and will never forget! The service was impeccable and the atmosphere to die for. I wish I could go here all the time!!!
(5)
Kevin J.
You can definitely tell this place is choosy about their ingredients. Everything was very very fresh, very nice atmosphere lakeside, well decorated inside. Maybe a little pricy but pricy for quality is worth it. Could see this place being featured on the Food Network, I think it was of that quality. Regularly go through this area and has definitely earned our business.
(5)
Ellen E.
My fiance decided to take me to Firefly for my birthday this evening. We made the trip down to Effingham from Champaign given that we had heard that they serve excellent food and boast an accomodating staff at Firefly Grille. The server, can't recall his name, immediately wished me a Happy Birthday, and explained some of the entrees. We ordered cocktails and shortly after they arrived the server came to take our order. I asked my fiance what he was having and he said the sea bass, so I proceeded to order something different than that so that in case one of us wasn't pleased, we could switch. Told the server no thanks on salads, which somehow was interpreted as my fiance saying he wasn't eating at all. My entree came out a reasonable time after, but as a former server, I was confused as to why the food runner placed my meal at the center of the table. TWENTY MINUTES later someone finally stopped by and asked if I wanted my untouched meal boxed up. When we said we were still waiting for our other entree our server came by to tell us he misunderstood and that it was on its way. My plate of food continued to sit there and finally another 25 minutes later the server came and took my plate. We had to be back in Champaign so at this point we had to just tell him we needed both plates boxed up. Such a different experience than expected, we had planned on wonderful meals followed by dessert. Instead we sat at the restaurant for over an hour to eat bread, and have to wait until we drove the hour and a half home to eat $35 meals reheated. (spoiler alert: seafood is terrible after being cooked twice) The server did end up not charging us for the sea bass, so in the end this far from spectacular experience cost us over 150 miles of travel and $58 (68 with tip) My birthday wish=I wish I could take back this complete waste of a night.
(1)
Jeremy S.
This place I love to go to when traveling. It has a wonder full setting off the interstate, easy to get to but well hidden. It's not your normal meal. They have a great menu of fresh food, and always a special on the blackboard. In my many trips to this place, I have never had a disappointment. The wait staff is both knowledgeable and courteous. They love your feedback on the meal. I had the "island girl" pizza. Jen had the "best Ruben I ever ate" ... The cranberry tamale with caramel was a savory sweet treat to end the meal with!
(5)
Paul J.
Every trip to Firefly Grill has been an experience to remember. The servers are always extremely friendly and happy to offer information about the dishes. My partner and I always plan on spending the entire evening here - starting with an appetizer or two, moving on to the entree, and then sharing one of their incredible desserts. The decor is sleek and modern. More ambient lighting would be a nice touch, and might make the space feel more intimate. It can be loud and crowded at times... But those are just minor quibbles - I've never had such wonderful, unique, freshly-prepared food outside of Chicago. It's a rare treat to have perfectly cooked buttery scallops served over risotto - and, in Effingham?! (I mean no offense to the people of Effingham!) One of the best!!
(5)
Roy D.
Service tonight was very poor. Sat on the outdoor patio, very nice, but had to go get a service person to take a drink order which never came. Errors were made on drinks, salads and entrees, they could not even clear the table properly, trading dirty dishes with our entree dishes. Very poor
(1)
David M.
I have to give FF only 4 stars because I was only there for lunch, and could not imbide....their beer / wine selection looked good but the proof is in the pudding...or the pint, as the case may be I was very impressed...for Effingham but this place would be a success (and much more expensive) in Chi-town.... I had the grilled scallops and pea risotto...very very good....along a well spiced but not overspiced chicken tortilla soup....excellent... my lunch partner had the chicken pot pie (hey, she's from Springfield, cut her some slack...) which she said was also excellent... Would like come back some evening (yeah, I know, on my way to........) and sample the beer list... but that is for a future time.... bottom line....wonderful....way to go Effingham....
(4)
Melanie F.
What a great find while traveling through Illinois thanks to Yelp! Great atmosphere and food! The ribeye could've used a little more flavor to it but everyone else had wonderful meals! Really enjoyed the swordfish.
(5)
Kathy S.
Very cool place...slow service...a little pricey. Server was awkward....
(3)
XO K.
It's been awhile since i have eaten at Firefly Grill, but every time I have had the pleasure of dining there, the experience has been nothing short of fantastic. The food is unbelievably good, especially given the town itself and how "out of the way" it is. That said, this place could flourish in Chicago, if the owners were so inclined.
(5)
Thom E.
This place is much more than expected! In season, they grow much of their own produce. Everything made from scratch, including buns, hot sauce, and fries.
(4)
Natalie W.
I only hope a broken down car is not the reason I return to firefly grill. When you pull up (even in the dead of winter) the landscaping is lovely !! You can't really see the pond in the dark but i imagine dinner on the patio with that view is awesome. Then you go inside and the decor is a modern rustic but very polished. Very pretty. Then they bring the bread ...... OMG .... Delicious.... Warm .... Goodness We started with a spinich salad with almonds and a goat cheese croquette. I mean they had me at goat cheese but to make it a little fried ball of yum was even better. Then we both had a steak. My NY strip was cooked perfectly ( hubbys was a smidge under the medium he ordered but he said it was great) and had a ton of flavor. Sides of penne & cheese and asparagus were simple but very well done !!! Dessert was banana cake (after reading other yelpers talk about it) with banana ice cream and it was effing fantastic. Our server was attentive without being in your face. The cocktail menu looked amazing (too bad we had to drive back to stl) ... So who wants to volunteer to be my designated driver for my next visit ??? My reason for only 4 stars is that it's 90 miles away ..... So if you have to break down on the side of the interstate. .. My advice is pick Effingham !!
(4)
John E.
All I can say is WOW. Not sure why this place is out in the middle of nowhere but you really should stop by if you're anywhere nearby. Very very good restaurant. I only wish we could have stayed for dinner but we were driving through and had an amazing lunch!
(5)
Dave J.
Unbelievable food! An oasis of top notch food amidst a plethora of truck stops and fast food franchises! My wife and I stopped here on a road trip between Carbondale and Chicago. It's a bit tricky to find, but you'll be glad you did! Nice contemporary decor, with a full bar. Friendly staff, but a bit inexperienced. What is going on in the kitchen is pure magic. I had a cheeseburger with bacon, one of the best ever! Instead of fries, I asked for a substitute of roasted fingerling potatoes, and I'm so glad I did. My wife ordered the half chicken, locally produced on an Amish farm, and it was fantastic as well. What really impressed me was...the corn risotto, which came as a side with the chicken. WOW! Unbelievably delicious! There's steaks, fish, chicken, and pork on the menu. I highly recommend this place. You wouldn't think a restaurant of this quality and sophistication would be located off an interstate highway with all the truck stops, and fast food places around. I'm glad it's here and I'll be back, for sure!
(5)
Cami R.
First off let me say I am not a food snob. I have a love for good food and price is not a restriction if the food warrants it. Also let me say that both of us have worked in the service industry and always give service peeps the benefit of the doubt. That said I was glad to see Dawn B.'s review of only two stars. We came in from St louis and the reviews here seemed outstanding so we gave it a whirl. Wish I could say better.. 5 stars for decor- beautiful inside and out 5 stars for bread- (outstanding, don't know if they make it or not) 5 stars for wine- good suggestion from the bar (not our server) 3 stars for apps- Live Pei Mussels 2 stars for salads- Crab and Baby Spinach 2 stars for our meals (servers suggestions) Cedar Plank Salmon with Jalapeno Pesto and Brown Rice $28 for tasteless fish and rice the pesto was good. Montana Mignon cooked well that's it folks! 1 star for sides- broccoli undercooked and absurd portion size 1 star for seating- the table barely fit our plates much less drinks 0 stars for service- I wish I had her name, you name it she stunk at it! Not to beat a dead horse but she came to our table exactly 3 times, order, main dish, check please! She didn't take our drink order, bring us our app or salads, didn't fill our water glasses (we had to flag someone down) and she left us to sit for 20 min with dirty dishes after she dropped off the check and we were finishing our wine. She did have time tho to sit with the table of 5 next to us for a long chat after that. All of this can be yours for $140. Have to say lastly,I am a big believer in 2nd chances so we went for brunch the next day. Sat on the porch I had tuna and eggs, he had steak and eggs, and bloody Mary's. 5 stars for the view 5 stars for the service (different girl, yes!) 5 stars for the drinks- (best spicy Bloody Mary) 3 stars for the meals (again the best bread!) All in all it was worth the try and I may give dinner a go again sometime, but I would rather go to Erato in Edwardsville, illinois before we make that drive again.
(3)
Emily D.
Why are you in Effingham? Really? The only reason we even heard of it was because it was one of the only cities at this point in our drive cross-country that had an actual hotel and since we were about to fall asleep at the wheel, Effingham was out spot. If you are within 100 miles of this place you are nuts to skip it. Seriously. I took a chance and scoped out the Effingham 'yelp scene' (HA) and noticed that this place had some stellar reviews and even though I was weary, we had to try it. It was either this or another dose of Toxic Smell or some other abusive road food... The place is amazing! The restaurant is off the main drag and literally set on a farm with a pond and all. We went on a Sunday night so the place was super quiet. Our server was great and could tell we were thrilled to have some real service and awesome food. I went with the spinach salad and loved it and my boyfriend went all out and got a Cesar salad to start with fillet and mashed potatoes as his entree. Service: 5 stars! Drinks always full and people generally happy to be at work Food: 5 stars! Unreal! One of the freshest salads I have tasted-clearly fresh from the garden/farm out back Ambiance: 5 stars WOW someone dumped some major money into this beautiful barn-turned-restaurant. Impressive! We were so surprised at this place! I think we are still getting over the shock factor of finding an awesome dinner spot in fricking Effingham! If you are looking for an awesome meal that is SO far from anything in this area, come to Firefly Grill!
(5)
rick a.
The Firefly Grill is the Field of Dreams for foodies,"If you build it,they will come." Finding a place like this is like going to a singles night held in a retirement community and finding Scarlett Johansson in the mix. I don't mean to be hard on the town but I believe that the Firefly survives on the fact that people seek out this place thru word of mouth. I hope that the locals realize what a gem they have here. My wife and I had the Montana Mignon wrapped in a puff pastry with boursin, BBQ and bacon along with the oak-fired Columbia River Sturgeon with chickpeas and edamame salad, both were fantastic. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, which is always a plus. For dessert we had the banana cake with banana ice cream which was a real treat. The prices are reasonable for the quality of food. The only problem I had was that there were far more good choices on the menu then I could have anticipated. For the record I hope to find a menu that I will want to eat 50% of the items on this one I will say it is 70-75%. You must visit if you are traveling on I-57 or I-70 or within 20 miles of Effingham. I don't give out five stars easily but I will say that easily the Firefly Grill is the most worthy in an area awash is a sea of chain restaurants.
(5)
Jeremy D.
Outstanding! Great recipies, ingredients, and preparation. Some of the entrees get pricey, but other items are reasonable. We had the ceasar & spinach salads, a chicken & lentil soup, and a wood-fired pizza. Everything was supurb. An unexpected find - located a few blocks from the largest truck stop in the country!
(5)
Steve T.
This is an expensive restaurant, but I feel it's well worth the price. I had the lobster stew and the chopped salad. I thought I was eating light but ended up walking away stuffed. The staff was well-informed and courteous. I would like to return in the summer and eat outdoors overlooking the pond.
(5)
Leah B.
NOT wheelchair friendly!!! Saturday morning we made a reservation for 4 people for 6:30P and stated one of us would be in a wheelchair - they advised no problem. We called a second time around 5P reminding them we would have someone in a wheelchair - they advised they had the note down and it would not be a problem. We arrive 5 minutes early and all the front desk staff looked really surprised and utterly confused. First they led us straight to the patio, but the wheelchair would not fit down the aisle, so they had us double back to the front desk. Then had us go all the way to the very back of the restaurant and to the other side of the floor and then didn't even have a table ready for us. So, not only was EVERYONE in the restaurant staring at us as we wheeled by, we clogged up the servers passageway because we were standing in the middle of the dining room waiting for our table to be ready. With literally EVERYONE staring because we were paraded first around the front of the restaurant and then all the way to the back and along the back wall, EVERYONE got a good look at us. It was MORIFYING!!! Finally we are seated and my chair was further in the aisle because of where our wheelchaired guest sat - after 10 minutes of the servers and customers walking behind me pushing into my chair and brushing against the back of my head, I got up and moved the table adjacent our's back against the wall as far as it would go in order to make the aisle wider - I explained this to our waitress and received no "I'm sorry" ... "We should have been better prepared for your arrival" ... NOTHING! Here's a quick breakdown of what we ordered: Lobster Stew special - was a flavorless watered down creamy broth with raw shallots and a few pieces of lobster, hardly a "stew". Halibut with ratatouille - fish was perfectly cooked, but for $34, not good enough for the price. The ratatouille was a joke at about 3 bites. Salmon risotto - HORRIBLE. Salmon was totaly overcooked and dry. Risotto was undercooked, mealy and tasteless. Ceasar Salad - tasted like the dressing was out of a jar and some of the greens were a little brown. Sea bass w/noodles - this dish was excellent, but the portion was tiny for the price tag Here's the most unpleasant part ... during coffee at the end of our meal, 2 out of the 4 of us spent the next few hours sitting on the toilet if you catch my drift - we both ate the Lobster "stew". In closing - if you like to be made a spectacle of because of your disability, and losing your expensive dinner to the porcelain god within an hour of your dinner, this is the place for you.
(1)
Mark E.
Truly stunning to find such a nice restaurant in Effinghan, Illinois. Firefly Grill has every characteristic of a "big city" modern restaurant, in an out of the way location. The decor is modern and presentation, menu, and employees give you the feel of a hip, big time bistro. Being that the restaurant is in a small town, the prices are incredibly fair, especially when you consider the quality of the meals. Our table had a variety of things on the menu, including appetizers like spring rolls, crab rangoon, and amazing onion strings. Our brunch entrees included pizzas, different burgers, and some off the menu Sunday Brunch items. Everything was well prepared, looked great, and served with flair. Firefly Grill is a rare gem in a world of highway-friendly chain restaurants, and, while maybe not worth the trip to Effingham unless you are already going there, well worth seeking out if you're anywhere in the area.
(4)
Teve' U.
compared to local places, lets just say its very EXPENSIVE expect $8-10 for a glass of wine, at the bar they had a special $5 malbec (very nice) salad $12, entree $20-35 food was very good.. 5/5 (maybe even 6/5), i had the strip steak-- yummy yummy yummy & mashed potato with and herbs 22 million/5 nice atmosphere 5-/5, vaulted wood ceiling, nice b/w photos, lots of glass (++++ just great) honestly if your going for a 5 star place, need to spend more time with the staff --hmmm yeah welllllllllll uh-no (need i say more) out door seating (very nice), they have a lake out back and a fire pit and yes, this is the place i picked for my birthday
(4)
Joe L.
If this restaurant was in Chicago, it would be in my top 10 restaurants to go to on a regular basis. I've eaten and drank here over 10 times so far and the quality of the food, service, and drinks are amazing. One Tuesday night, I ordered a salmon and on Wednesday (I think), they have sushi lunch available. So I think I happened to get the sushi grade Salmon on Tuesday and I ordered it medium rare. I don't think anyone ever asks, but I tried it and it was the best salmon I have ever had in my entire life! Another night, I found conversations with the bartender and he recommended a few to taste. Because of his recommendation and their selection of single malt scotches, I found my favorite... Scapa. Overall, this place is consistent and the staff are friendly and welcoming.
(5)
Suzanne W.
I also want to know why this place is in Effingham!? What a great restaurant! Traveling through from St. Louis to Indianapolis and we stopped for dinner. Ended up grabbing a hotel room, so we could enjoy the wine and atmosphere! Steaks were some of the best I've had. Hopefully they expand to another city because more people should be enjoying this place!
(5)
Dfros T.
Had a great Valentines Day, 8 course dinner. Service was good, food was great, date was beautiful!
(5)
lesiel l.
Okay eating for a passing tourist. Pleasant atmosphere and the drinks were perfect! We had the stuffed zucchini blossoms and they were very good. I enjoyed my steak but my husband had the halibut with risotto and he felt that the fish was over done and the risotto wasn't good. At over $100 for dinner, there should be no complaints. But then again, who in their right mind orders fish from Alaska in the middle of the plains? Seems like the place was full of locals and lots of people eating the $14 hamburgers! Wait staffed rushed dishes off of table...not leisurely dinning in a very attractive space.
(3)
Helene R.
Driving across country, avoiding all the bad stuff close to interstate70, willing to stretch out within 20 min. or so ....kept on finding gems ! One must believe it is there, yes:' Firefly Grill a blessing, Go!
(5)
Violet L.
On our initial visit to Firefly Grill, my husband called it "a hidden gem in the middle of rural Illinois." We have dined at more 5 star restaurants all over the US than I can count so this was high praise. The first thing we noticed is how beautiful the building looks at night.The ambiance is soothing, the food is exceptional and the waitstaff are top notch. Even sitting at the bar to eat is a wonderful experience. The bartender was attentive and interesting to chat with. On a humorous side note (from our last visit in Oct. 2012), the friendly and funny waiter had the same name as our dog. I'm originally from Illinois so when we take the trip from Houston to visit our grandchild and other family members, we always set up a reservation. My only complaint? This eatery is in another state. ;)
(5)
Curt E.
Met some friends here for a late lunch on Saturday. The restaurant was quite impressive inside with an open kitchen, the well stocked bar, and the Boos block tables for every party. I will say that our service was top notch as the young lady taking care of us kept our glasses full and needs attended to. Those were the high points of the place in my opinion. For the food, my wife was going to order the fish and chips but they claimed to be out of fish (on a Saturday @ 1?) so she went with a cheese pizza which she said was decent but in my opinion was so so. I'm not a fan of the St. Louis Provo on pizza but that's just me. I got the "oak fired tacos" with skirt steak carne asada topped with spicy slaw, salsa verde, salsa rojo, and queso blanco. Sounds decent and flavorful, but was far from that unfortunately. The steak ( what little there was) was not freshly grilled and had zero flavor and an odd texture taboot. I've had/made skirt steak before but never that dry, tender and tasteless. Note to cooks, salt, pepper, and a dash of cumin could do wonders. There was nothing spicy about the slaw and I had trouble determining where my salsas had gone (tasteless as well). I was served three tacos in sufficiently greasy corn tortillas to really (channeling Emeril) "Kick it up a notch" . This was served with my choice of bean salad or fries- I got the "Kennebec fries" (Whatever those are) which had some sort of salt on them and maybe chopped parsley? Nothing special- and damn I hate 1/2 full cups of ketchup, bring it to the table if people need it if you think it looks tacky sitting there all the time, wth? The place as a whole is very "local, local,local " with their ingredients which I could care less if my steak dropped a deuce within 20 mi. of where I'm consuming it's flesh, but that's just me. If it puts people in the seats then so be it. I do question ( as I was gazing at that nights carnivorous fare) how they could justify $45 for a 14oz strip steak for dinner - better be the best steak I had ever, or will ever have tasted. It just all seemed a bit costly for Effingham?..Chicago sure, but Effingham? Overall I'd say blandness got the best of us at the firefly grill today, but maybe I'll try it again some evening and see how great a $45, or $35 rather (I'm a fan of Ribeyes personally) steak tastes. But then again, I don't know if it would be worth the drive....
(2)
Steve R.
Loved the atmosphere, service, and food. Lunch was great, even with a crowd!
(5)
Vicki M.
We have eaten here before; this is not my first review. Today the food was fantastic, as usual. I had the butternut squash soup, it was SOOO good, so creamy and what a great rich flavor! It was accompanied by a large, crusty, delicious dinner roll. Then I had the softshell crab sandwich, the pretzel bun is great, and the crab and dressing were so tasty I am getting hungry again just thinking about it. My husband had the Effingham burger and he was VERY happy with it as well. We did have a little service bobble - they forgot my soup. I wondered why they didn't bring it when they served my husband his salad, but I didn't say anything, just waited. When the main meal was served I asked where it was, well they had somehow managed to forget about it. So they brought it and said we wouldn't be charged for it. Other than that, great meal! We ate on the enclosed back porch which I like. The main dining room did have a pretty heavy cooking odor so I was glad to be in the fresher air.
(5)
Jason D.
Delicious! Loved the taste and range of flavors available, from the guilty pleasure fresh cut fried onion rings appetizer with homemade honey mustard, to the delicious fresh Dungeness crab cakes, and the awesome "chocolate peanut butter cup" dessert, everything was wonderful. Also loved the atmosphere and friendly, attentive service! Well worth the 65 min. drive from Champaign!
(5)
Joe V.
Great place, although on the opposite side of Keller rd. it shows it's located on one side.. but in fact its misleading.. as a lot of places are that I have found in my travels and researching them on any map.
(4)
Michelle G.
If you happen to be driving through this area I demand that you stop. Pull over right now as a matter of fact. My boyfriend and I were looking for a quick dinner and after reading these reviews changed our mind and I am beyond glad that we did. The only reason I did not give this place five stars is due to service. Our server managed to walk all around and never actually look at us as we waited to order for what seemed like forever. We even had to ask the manager to call him over. Luckily the food was worth it. We had the farm raised chicken quesedillas as an appetizer, oh so yummy though the dips were a tad too spicy for my taste. My boyfriend order the pretzel bun burger with bacon and dang it was delicious. The bacon alone was worth the order. It being a cold night I decided on a special of lobster pot pie with a flaky puff pastry on top. It was mouth watering deliciousness. I give this kitchen an immense amount of credit for pumping out a menu of such variety and savory options. My pot pie was like an uber thick lobster bisque with huge chunks of Maine lobster and seasoned to perfection. With much reluctance due to my full belly we still had to order desert. An apple pie flaky goodness with a scoop of spiced like ice cream that could not have tasted better. It doesn't make any sense why this place is in Effingham but I am grateful to whomever decided to open it. It is just a quick stop off the highway and down a small road that makes you feel like you have gone the wrong way before you see the large structure that is firefly grill. The old wooden beams and giant bulbs hanging over head in neat little rows lends a comfortable atmosphere to the location that keeps the kitchen smell rising. Honestly, stop here, just make it a priority when driving or make it a little adventure if you live in St. Louis or near by. Oh so worthy.
(4)
Samantha R.
YUMMMY! Fresh food, all in season picks, great service, delicous taste. I had a great private dinner here & I can't wait to go back, especially because the menu changes. Read the other reviews if you want details. Everything you eat here is quite tip top amazing. It reminds me of the restaurants back in San Francisco but even better because their local is their own backyard basically. The apple cider martini is now my favorite Fall cocktail!
(5)
Meerkat H.
---- just to follow up: the actual owner of this restaurant emailed me to apologize for the behavior of the server and promised that this would never happen again.... maybe one day we'll be able to return to eat their great food!
(4)
Sissie P.
We were on a road trip and going to stay in Effingham, so I used YELP to find a good place to eat. THis is the FIRST bad place we've been that had good Yelp ratings! Made me think about my son noting that the owners and help sometimes try to game the system. I ordered the Sechuan pork, requesting it extra spicey -- and it was a very salty, very bland Teriyaki sauce -- didn't remotely resemble Sechuan. Guess I should have expected that when the waiter recommended mashed potatoes as a side to go wiith it! I had the asparagus instead, and it was not tender.That same waiter, when I said this isn't Sechuan at all, said "well, it's a kinda mild Sechuan." Oxymoron. My husband had a chicken dish that was stringy, and also terribly over-salted. This places charges like it is serves gourmet food, but the food was substandard, the wine list pathetic and the desserts like the Cheesecake Factory -- f resh ingredients can indeed be ruined. Next time we'll just totally bypass Effingham. We had much better meals at the Irish Pub in Batavia the night before and at the Picadilly in Wichita the next night.
(2)
David C.
I always dread going to effingham for my business seminars. But i always look forward to eating at Firefly.
(3)
Joe O.
Amazing. Everything everyone got was just amazing.
(5)
Ashley M.
We were taking a long Christmas drive from central Texas to Northern Michigan and used Yelp to help us find something to eat along the way. Chicago was too far and yelp brought us to the Firefly Grill in Effingham. There was NOTHING else that came up in Effingham and we were apprehensive at first, but even pulling up to it made us feel better. It's well designed, and the food is really good!! Someone I was with had their cream of mushroom soup and really liked it, and the pasta bolognese was good, but HUGE! Very cute atmosphre and food I would eat even if it was in my own hometown?? Eat here!!!
(4)
Dan M.
I'm realllllllly disappointed right now. I'm in Effingham for work, and let's just say there are not a lot of quality restaurants in the area. In fact... it appears that Firefly is the only one. Lots of chain, TGI Friday, etc.... but not just a solid quality dining place. On to the review... Food: Right now, this would be a 1-star, on the food. For starters, I ordered a Caesar salad. High on presentation, low on taste. Not bad, just not nearly as good as it looked. For my entree, I ordered the "Montana Fillet", essentially a fillet wrapped in bacon, inside of a pastry. I was told it was going to be Medium-Rare to Medium. I'm a Medium Rare guy, so I had no issues with this. I received the steak/pastry and cut into it. It was quite red (not more than 1% pink on the edges and cool to the touch. Maybe my steak-done-ness-meter is off, but I would consider this rare to blue. Much much closer to rare than the medium rare. (( I was so concerned about the my perception of the doneness, that I came immediately back to the hotel to check the intertubes for steak doneness levels.)) I decided to mention that it was a bit on the rare side, as I realy wanted to have a nice meal. I've been eating fast food for the week and am sick of it. No issues sending it back, they didn't disagree (not sure any waiter/waitress would). So then I get my second one... and it's worse than the first. This was no contest rare. Red cool center, with very little (almost none) color outside of red. At this point, I could have shut my mouth and ate it.... as rare steaks aren't deadly (right?)... but I didn't. He came over and asked if it was better. "Yeaaaaahhhh.... it's actually worse than before". At this point, I just wanted to eat some food. I told him not to worry about it, and that I would power through it. They explained that the pastry aspect makes it difficult to cook to medium, without burning the outside pastry. The cook (from Firefly) next to me, mentioned that they normally cook them a bit before adding the pastry aspect. This makes me think it shouldn't be too difficult to cook the steak to medium-rare, throw on the pastry... then bake to medium... Hell, even medium-well. Had it come out overcooked, I wouldn't have had the gall to say anything. But nope... it was more rare than before. So ate some of the edges, the asparagus, and the potatoes. I did want to like this place. So I tried a dessert that sounded good. Banana cake something or other. The cake was dry, the banana ice-cream was off a bit (cant describe how... just off). I kept my mouth shut on this... even though they were afraid to ask how it was. :-) So, from a food perspective.... ugh. What a nightmare. I'll go back to try to give it another shot. I'll stick to something very simple.... say a steak, or a roasted chicken. I'm holding out a bit of hope, as everyone else seems to love this. From a positive perspective, and the only reason I am willing to go back (and give this place any stars) was the service. I was seated promptly at the bar (my choosing). The bartender was attentive and poured a proper drink (not too strong, not too light). There was nothing but willingness to help from the Bartender, the manager, as well as the cook (off-duty) at the bar with me. Everyone seemed genuinely concerned. They did also offer to comp my steak, as I was unhappy with it. From a service perspective, I would give this place 5 stars. **.
(2)
Nick B.
This place has it all figured out. Amazing atmosphere, artistic building, great service, food was perfect, and portions were large. We had the burger, Reuben, trout, and steak panini. No one was disappointed. The Hummus app was huge! Definitely stop here!!
(5)
Amie C.
First of all it must be said that I tried for weeks to get ahold of an event coordinator to plan a party or at least find out about planning. I wanted to have my moms surprise 50th birthday party here. I left several messages, only receiving one call back from them. Finally i just made a regular reservation for 15. Boo to them for not raking in more dough by having a real "event", oh well. Once we get there for the party I discover they have placed our party in the area behind the bar and it was perfect! We were secluded without being stuffed into a room. Loved it. Our service was excellent. Wish I could remember the young chaps name. He even hung out to chat with my dad which is no small feat because he is a talker....to anyone. I had 2 yummy glasses of red sangria and they packed a slight punch! Thank goodness for the awesome bread/rolls and butter that came out before dinner....they were pretty darn awesome! I ordered a cup of tortilla soup and some sort of pork dish, perhaps szechuan pork. The soup was pretty great as was my entree but for the prices....no way! Now, don't get me wrong, I live in Chicago so I'm used to paying top dollar for fancy shmancy restaurants (hah when I can afford it and only very rarely) but c'mon Effingham! YOU ARE NOT CHICAGO! This place did look like it was a transplant out of the suburbs (I would say city but it was more farmish and well...Chicago isn't). Great service Great atompshere Great for giant groups I would go back for lunch and hope the prices are cheaper! haha I ordered 2 sangrias, a cup of soup, a medium priced entree and a dessert and my bill was just under $50. Sure they did figure in 18% because we had more than 8 people.....but you get the picture. ***word to the wise....the szechuan (hopefully that's what i ordered) pork was awesome and the sauce made me want to drink it from the plate (I didn't, I was surrounded by 5 of my classy aunts!) but it must have been tooooooo rich for my tummy because the end result was not a good one....be careful! haha
(4)
Sarah P.
Definitely 5 star worthy. And, what an unexpected find just a few blocks away from truck-stop, chain restaurant haven of Effingham. The Effingham steak burger was delicious! So good, in fact, that I told my husband, meh, it was just ok, until I was finished so that I wouldn't have to share. If you didn't catch it, by the way, you could call their burger the Effing - hamburger...get it? :) Service was great, attentive when we needed it, but not pesky. Hubby had the boar bangers and mash and said they were good, but I didn't want a bite because, again, why would I want anything besides the burger??? The fries were yummy and our toddler ate his mac and cheese, which he is notoriously picky about. For all you parents, from the outside, and the menu, I would never have thought this place kid friendly, but the staff was very accommodating, they had highchairs, and a kids menu, and it was a great overall experience. Great atmosphere. I really hope this place stays in business. I was surprised to be able to walk in at 6:30 on a Friday evening with no wait. We will be by every time we are in the area.
(5)
beth w.
The Firefly Grill has become a welcomed stop on the way to my parent's in Indiana. We have called ahead and had a snack ready for us to swing in, eat, and get back on the road. We have also met as this is about our half-way point between St. Louis and Indiana. I have had the pizza a couple times, which comes with a ceasar salad. My sister had the fish tacos, which were basically the fish and chips in a tortilla. I suggest to lighten the batter on the fish tacos...panko maybe. My sister's boyfriend had the duck fat french fries...decadent and delicious by their account. The setting is fantastic. Service is very good. I know it's a weird critique but the silverware looked dirty and we sent back several pieces.
(4)
Jan N.
Love Firefly Grill! Like others have said, it is an unexpected surprise in Effingham! Don't let the Nike outlet deter you. On my most recent visit I finished my yummy meal with even more yummy lavender sorbet with shortbread. Delish! My husband (a BBQ guy) had an apple, applewood and Brie cheese pizza and enjoyed it, too.
(5)
Jack M.
Great heirloom tomato salad, hummus app and proscuitto wrapped halibut. Wife's wood roasted chicken was great. She had corn chowder, which was probably the most mediocre item we had. As always, great seasonal beers on tap. I had an Oktoberfest and wife had a pumpkin. Larry's service was great too, as always.
(4)
Daniel C.
Perfect timing for lunch on our trip from Chicago to Memphis! I saw this place online, and was sold on the Muffelatta panini, unfortunately, that was no longer available. We had a brief wait for our server, but it wasn't that long. I, instead, ordered the Angus Roast Beef panini with Brie. It normally comes with a horseradish sauce, but I'm not keen on horseradish, and they were happy to oblige my request for garlic aioli in lieu of it. My wife ordered the reuben panini, and enjoyed it very much. The aesthetic of the place was amazing- kind of a barn that has been redone in a modern, yet rustic look with old wood that had been reclaimed. Modern bathrooms, and nice style accents througout. The bar had massive plaid curtains behind it that separated the main room from banquets, and there were beautiful sunroom and patio seating areas overlooking the countryside and a quaint pond with fountains. I'd love to come back for dinner sometime if we pass through Effingham at night! We'll definitely make this a regular stop on our trips down south! Hidden gem!
(4)
jim v.
I had the pleasure of eating at FF for a wedding reception. The food was OUTSTANDING as was the service and ambiance....it brings the sophistication of a "big city" restaurant to Central Illinois. Definitely worth the trip!
(5)
Wan T.
Ya know I wanted to be a tough grader and not hand out 5 stars just willy nilly. But this was great. I had the Schezwan pork. I ate at the bar and the bar tender told me that this is the #1 seller to the staff - and I'd say with good reason. Mighty tasty. Nice casual atmosphere. Good looking open floor plan. The patio seating looks like it would be nice too.
(5)
Paul G.
World-class meal, in a place I'd never expected to find it. Look, i'll admit i'm a bit of a 'foodie' - I travel (a LOT) on business and have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the country, in every major city. So imagine my surprise to find this gem of a restaurant in Effingham, of all places. The specials were all unique, interesting and amazing (we were a party of eight, so we tried most of them). In fact, the entire menu (with an emphasis on local and fresh) sounded interesting and delicious. Better-than-average wine list, great decor, fantastic service. The unanimous verdict from our group: worth coming back to Effingham, just to eat again at the Firefly Grill.
(5)
Tracy H.
I live 30 miles away and wish I went to Firefly more. I have never had a bad meal here. Local food, green design and culinary skill make for an extraordinary experience each time. There's more to central IL than meets the eye, and this represents it.
(5)
Brian and Adrienne L.
We stopped for lunch on our long road trip home. The food was very good. The quesadillas were fresh (a lite pickling of the peppers was a nice touch). The fresh baked bread was amazing, crispy on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside. The turkey blt was good, but a bit messy to eat. The roast pork tenderloin special was enjoyable (though slightly overdone). It had a nice spice and the fresh creamed spinach was excellent (could've eaten twice as much). The only downfall was the homemade potato chips and pomme frites were both fried for too long and under seasoned. Service was good and very accomodating, as we had our four month old with us. We look forward to stopping here again on our next trip to Missouri.
(4)
Laura H.
We make frequent trips from Indianapolis to St. Louis, and had seen the billboards but only remarked upon them because Firefly is the best television show of all time. Then I read a blog about hidden dining gems, and this place ranked highly, so we decided to check it out. I can't believe this incredible restaurant is tucked away in a little town otherwise remarkable for a giant torture device made of metal siding. The entire place is stunning. It sits on a lake, so sit by the windows and watch massive, lovely carp swim around. We saw some folks feeding them, which all seemed to enjoy. The service is top-notch. The food is RIDICULOUS. I had trouble deciding, there were so many things I wanted to try, so I'll look forward to going back for more. We had a steamed bun apiece for appetizer, pork and shrimp, both delicious. I had the crab eggs benedict, which was unreal. We will ALWAYS stop here now.
(5)
Sherri B.
Great service wonderful atmosphere and amazing food with fresh ingredients from there own garden. Seafood Steaks and even a brick oven pizza.
(5)
Mark F.
Niles Campbell is one of the 10 best restauranteurs in America. Wow what a find for someone traveling on 70. I'm glad I turned around at the last exit to come back to this place. Awesome staff, decor and gourmet food. World class chef. The Montana Mignon is something special! ...Ok I'm back here again adding to this review and I asked Niles to pick all of my drinks and food this visit. Wow!!! What an experience!!! I literally came here an Hour out of my way to cleanse my palette of a bad experience at "the most famous steak house in the world" Peter Lugars and Niles' 16 oz New York strip is a 99 and ironically puts all the New York steak houses I've been to to shame!!!
(5)
Eleni B.
Went here on a whim and as tourist felt extended out of place. I have numerous tattoos on my arm and I was wearing a tank top from old navy and shorts, while the rest of the lunch crowd was in golf attire and sun dresses. Menu is simple and prices are fair. My mother and I split a pizza which takes about 20 minutes to make but they warn you on the menu. The table to preset before you get there and they give you water right off the bat. Restaurant is extremely nice and I would come again! Food was great and music was low key. The staff was always cleaning or busy, meaning everyone had a purpose and not standing around.
(4)
Dave C.
Was passing through on my way back from St. Louis and stopped to have diner. It's actually pretty close to the highway but tucked back behind the main strip. First, the building is pretty neat. There was a wait so we decided to sit at the bar but would have loved to tried to get a table outside. The food was excellent. I had the Chicken in a Bag and thought it was very good. Certainly something I would get again. I don't live in the area otherwise I would be back to this place often. The prices are a bit high but not over the top. If this place was located in Indy then the prices would be right in line with what I would expect. The other really cool thing about this place is the fresh ingredients. They have their own garden that surrounds the building. You could see all the herbs and vegetables they were growing. That was a really cool thing to see. When they say farm to table, they really mean it. I highly recommend trying Firefly if you are in the area.
(5)
Faith R.
This place is AMAZING! It is beautifully tucked into a sea of wildflowers and overlooking a serene lake complete with fountain and extra large Koi fish. There are so many seating options from inside the restaurant area to an enclosed porch overlooking the lake to outdoor patios complete with comfy couches and chairs. The staff is friendly and helpful. The service is quick and accurate. My daughter and I stopped here on our way to Indianapolis. I had the Shrimp Poor Boy and she had the Applewood Chicken Sandwich. Both came in a pretzel bun with fries. The chicken sandwich had apples and brie on the sandwich. Everything was delicious! The restaurant is immaculate and the owners grow the food on the menu. I will make a point to stop here any time I am in the area. I do not have a negative thing to say! Perfect!
(5)
Johanna B.
One of the best dining experiences that my husband and I have had! We stayed at the Hampton Inn nearby so we were able to walk about 5 minute walk to restaurant. We started with Alaskan King crab purses-wonderful! My Montana mignon was fabulous and my husband's ribeye was the best he's ever had! Great atmosphere and service!
(5)
Benjamin S.
Firefly Grill is my absolute favorite spot in Central Illinois. If I could afford to eat here each week of my life, it would be done. However, let's talk about the food. Fantastic and always fresh- the use of their own ingredients makes it even better. The service is excellent and I am never disappointed. This is one of the things I will miss when I move away from the area.
(5)
Arlene A.
We were traveling on I-70 and found this place on Yelp. What a find! Firefly is a beautiful building in a bucolic setting, only a mile or two from I-70 and right down the street from the Hampton Inn. The meal was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. Great, friendly service. I enjoyed the delicious rolls, crusty and a little salty on top, but tender and tangy in the center. The butter was just the right consistency for spreading and especially fresh tasting. We ordered the morels with two dipping sauces, crabcakes with garlic fries, and a fish dish. Everything was terrific, and I used the fries to sop up the last of the sauce from my fish. Expensive, but oh so worth it!
(5)
Amanda B.
I wish it was in Indianapolis. it's gorgeous and everything tastes amazing. As soon as we walked in, the smell let me know that we'd made a good choice. The hostess was also our waitress, and she was exceptionally friendly and welcoming. We started with the crab purses, which basically is a fancy Rangoon-and by fancy, I mean way above average. I had the ribeye sandwich and my husband had the steak burger. they were both delicious (we switched halfway through to get to try more). My only regrets are that we didn't go there for dinner or during summer, because there's a duck dish with my name on it, and the place must be amazing in summer. They apparently even have a dog park near the porch, so owners can have a nice meal while their puppy-children play. Indianapolis restauranteurs pay attention-this is what Hoosiers need!!!! You just can't go wrong.
(5)
R.J. V.
This place was amazing. If you happen to be in the area ( and aren't broke) be sure to stop by and check it out. The food was amazing. The atmosphere was both swanky and rustic. And the staff were courteous and friendly. For an appetizer we had the flash fried morels which are basically a rare mushroom that is hard to find and grow. I didn't quite find their taste too inspiring to me, though they were unique and well made. Others I know who have tried them can't get enough. So I recommend trying them for a unique local delicacy experience. For the main course we tried the filet mignon wrapped in a pastry and their chicken and waffles entree. The mignon was delicious and its flavor was sealed in using that flaky crust. The chicken and waffles were outstanding. The chicken was cooked perfectly (crispy, yet almost falling off the bone) and the waffles were buttered with syrup. They both sat in a dish of country gravy which really pulled them together. Simply for this meal would I seek to return for more. And finally the staff were friendly and were kind enough to seat us on the porch overlooking the lake (from which we could see tons of fish including some huge koi). You may need to gain a reservation on busier nights but the night we went they seated us right away. I can't express how much I truly enjoyed my time there. My only negative comment is the price...it can get a bit extreme. However, I think once you are there you will agree it's worth it. A great place for a celebration or for impressing that significant other.
(5)
Dawn B.
Stopped here on way back home from a road trip and had dinner. We used Yelp to locate a great restaurant and the reviews did not disappoint. This restaurant, from the food, to the service, to the ambience and cleanliness is OUTSTANDING and unique. Just wished we lived closer and could come more often!
(5)
Rick D.
Nice setting! Friendly servers and upbeat atmosphere! For the menu tonite we tried the Baked Feta and Fire Fly Fillet Mignon (most reassembled a beef Wellington). For the money you cannot do better than this for flavor and dining experience! The appetizer and main plate are delicious beyond expectations. Overall I would have to say this place is a must try for any one visiting Effingham Illinois! If you do visit try to get cayla as your server. What an incredibly friendly server who is happy too provide information on menu items to restaurant history! Five stars from this Diner!
(5)
Heather M.
I realize the prices are a little higher there then some places, but the food is absolutely exceptional! Worth the drive from anywhere and conveniently located off of the interstate. Great place for parties, Business meetings, celebrations and weddings of an upper scale quality. They allow private music, photographers and cakes which is rare in this type of venue. Also, they have private spaces including an enclosed heated porch and a wine room that is super elegant. They raise their own garden which they glean as many ingredients as possible out of. Events coordinator Megan is fantastic and will help you through every detail. The kids can't even feed the massive quantities of golden carp in the Pond that the restaurant is situated on. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Breanna N.
My boyfriend and I stopped in here after a dirt bike race in Casey. We were so happy that we did! The food and drinks here were hands down the best we've ever had. I got the ribeye and he got the halibut. Everything was cooked perfectly and to order. There is an amazing difference in taste when all of the ingredients are fresh. The butter compote they put on the steak was AMAZING! As well as the potatoes. Wow! My boyfriends halibut was out of this world, I've never had a piece of fish that tasted so good! We also got the fried squash flowers as an appetizer, there were delicious something I've always wanted to try but never able too mainly because there aren't many restaurants at all that have access to a fresh garden and I don't! Haha. And we also got the mushroom soup! Amazing! Handmade sodas, I got the lemon lavender and he got the blackberry so good! And finally for dessert we got the molten chocolate cake which is made to order and obviously from scratch! It's a perfect portion to end your dinner. The pricing is not that outrageous at all, you pay for what you get and it is top quality food, service and presentation. All the food is prepared when ordered with no subpar quality ingredients. Plus how cool that you can eat then go feed the fish walk around their garden and pond?! Very very awesome restaurant. I don't have one bad thing to say about it. We will be back every time we go to Casey!
(5)
Les D.
Just keeps getting better. Don't need much of an excuse to come here. Tried the fried chicken in a bag. Wouldn't normally be my first choice, but what the hey. Definitely worth it. Gourmet in every bite. Beautiful side salad. Wife's French onion was perfect. Expectations keep getting higher. Keep it up, Firefly.
(5)
Sue ann P.
This is not a two dollar sign restaurant. It is more of a three to four dollar sign restaurant. That being said this was a great experience. The inside and outside are very tastefully decorated. The wine list while not easily recognized had some very good choices. We had the squash blossoms as an appetizer and they were wonderful! My husband had ribeye steak, mashed potatoes and green beans. I had fried chicken, corn vichyssoise, mozzarella (made at the restaurant) , thinly sliced radish and basil. Everything was beyond perfect! You could really tell this is a farm to table restaurant in how fresh and vibrant the flavors were! I would definitely eat here again and again!
(5)
Nate T.
A very nice meal. The wife had the crab cakes and I had the pork loin. I wish they would turn down the music a bit, since it is all hard surfaces, the noise level is a bit loud (not unbearable), but that might be the only thing I could complain about.
(5)
Peter M.
This is one of those farm-to-fork places and is casual-upscale. Stopped while passing through - we had an appetizer, my daughter had the white pizza, I had a traditional pizza, she had a drink and I had a couple microbrews. I had a side of veggies from their garden as well. We both had the strawberry shortcake dessert, which had about two or three subtle flavors in it that really complemented the strawberries very well. The food was delicious and the drinks were good as well. The service was appropriately attentive. For all of the above, we got out of there for $80, pre-gratuity. It's not an inexpensive place, but you do get good value for your money.
(5)
Ana D.
Mediocre food and atrocious service. Very discriminatory! Probably a great place for those who don't live in big cities or with great culinary venues in their town, but absolutely horrid place for the way the staff behaves here and for the poor customer experience. The food might be deemed high quality and unique, catering to varied palates and excellent tastebuds, but we actually felt the food didn't quite do justice to the ingredients, the seasonings were all over the place, sauces were too heavy and... But what left a bitter taste in our mouths was the treatment we received at this place. When we walked in, the maitre'd/hostess was at her desk but instead of welcoming us, she walked away without a word to go chat with another waiter, then come back only belligerently seat us. She actually deliberately made us wait! When we asked if the enclosed porch seating in the back was air conditioned (it was 97 deg outside and we were traveling across the country to get back to our cooler climate and home), she gave a very rude and sarcastic yes, and plopped down the menus upon seating us. We were tired and hungry, since there were not many options in this little town, we decided that the food will make up for the hostess' behavior and so shrugged it off. But oh no, the waiter was the same - he rolled his eyes when my child asked him a query about the menu, and he huffed away upon taking our orders. We dug into the food that was eventually served, but the waiter never once came by to enquire if all was well with the food, nor ask if we needed anything, or even to top off our water. We couldn't even catch his attention despite trying to flag him down multiple times so that we could get our check, pay and leave. Finally I went up to the manager, who upon hearing all the aforementioned, asked me what he expected me to do?!?! I answered that I don't want anyone else to be treated in this day and age, the way we were treated. There should be zero tolerance for such discriminatory behavior. There should be staff training on cultural and ethnic diversity and the element of being cordial, friendly yet professional and always serve the customer if you are going to be in this hospitality business! So long story short, if you are non-white, stay away from this place!
(1)
Anthony D.
This place is upscale and kind of expensive. It's very gourmet. All of the ingredients are fresh and almost all of the dishes are like something you'd see on Food Network. Not exactly my kind of scene, but the bangers n mash that I had was pretty good. The service was very friendly. The bread was a little nasty as it was nothing but really cruncy bread with an intense amount of garlic and salty butter. All in all, a decent meal, but you're paying a lot for presentation and environment. If that's your thing, then have at it.
I took a trip down to Southern Illinois for work and was told by several of my foodie friends that Firefly was worth a visit. I was warmly welcomed right from the start, and everyone (from my server to other people who walked by) was really friendly and pleasant. I started with the pomegranate iced tea and it was fine; it probably could've used a bit more sweetener but I was too lazy to add it, so there you go. I had the spring flatbread with morel mushrooms and, seriously, I wish there were some way of capturing the smell. It was amazing! And what's better is that it tasted just as good. I highly recommend it. For dessert I had the strawberry shortcake, and though I loved the presentation I didn't think the dessert tasted quite as good as it looked. In all, I had a really great meal and would happily go back next time I'm near the area.
(4)
Evanne J.
Absolutely a gem of a restaurant - From the food to the service to the decor ! The beautiful wood ceilings and simple but elegant lighting add to the excitement and anticipation when you take a look at the menu. Farm fresh locally grown vegetables , foraged mushrooms and fiddleheads, hand-raised pork and beef, homemade ice cream, lava cake...! We had a delicious meal- my pork chop was absolutely perfectly tender, spiced to perfection . Check out the filet mignon wrapped in a buttery flakey crust, or the oak-fired swordfish- or anything else on the menu. The servers were friendly and helpful,and the entire experience was a special treat for all of us! Check it out !
(5)
Dena S.
Wonderful find kind of out in the middle of no where! Very chic inside bar and restaurant. Probably should be a little more dressed up than we were but they accommodated us anyway. Great food and bar options. Would definitely return when in the area! Bummed we don't live closer.
(5)
Nick S.
Wow! What a diamond in the rough! This place is an absolute dream! A restaurant with their own farm and the food reflects the meticulous care they took to set up the restaurant concept. The wedge salad with home grown tomatoes was fabulous, my halibut with porcini mushroom ravioli was to die for. The other dishes I sampled were the fried chicken over corn vichyssoise and that made me question my already great decision to get the halibut. The real surprise came with the best burger I've ever tasted. I eat a lot of great burgers, but I still crave this one. If I'm ever anywhere near Effingham again, I won't hesitate to stop and have another absolutely perfect dinner!
(5)
Talulah M.
I had started to think my memory of this place from 9 months prior was clouded by road weariness and extreme hunger, but...we went back and it was just as wonderful! This time, we both had filet. HEAVENLY! Cooked to perfection. I uploaded a photo. I don't remember the appetizer but it was great, I don't remember the desserts but they were great. My only complaint is that we live so far away from this magical place.
(5)
Sara Jane G.
Delicious! Fresh ingredients grown on the grounds! Great staff and amazing food! Large menu with a wide selection of food as well as price. The burgers are seriously amazing!
(5)
Gina R.
WT-EFF!? This place is an ah-ha-mazing little gem in the middle of nowhere! My first bite, and I thought what the eff?! Where did this place come from. We were driving from St. Louis to Indiana, and on the hunt for something delicious. Found it. We had their burgers and chicken sandwiches, and I don't know if I was just really hungry (doubtful) but this place is one of the best places I have had a burger. I mean delicious! The place it self is adorable ... so well lit, nice ambiance, and just cute, modern, trendy! They have a lake with catfish that you can feed, which makes waiting for your food so much more fun. They are hungry little fish and put on quite the show. This was a pit stop for us, but I would seriously consider making the drive just for lunch again! SO GOOD!
(5)
Ruth T.
Wow. This is a must stop if you're in the area. We stopped around 3:30 and had "lunch." We started with the Chinese steamed buns. One pork. One shrimp. We liked the pork one the best. Then I got the fish and chips which was really fresh cod and awesome fries. Hubby got the steak sandwich. Split a tiramisu. All said and done it was $60 with sodas and minus the tip. Was it worth it? Yes! It was an "off-time" so we were able to sit right by the water. Quite a place and wonderful food!!
(5)
Sharon M.
This place was surprisingly wonderful. The best food I've had in awhile. Service was great and food was amazing. Got the halibut and the Montana mignon! Superb!
(5)
Bill J.
Met family at Effingham and Lonnie pick this and We were very thankful he did. We had a pizza, shrimp poor boy, burger, Reuben and meatloaf sandwich. Neat place and very clean, Great place to eat
(5)
Jake A.
Firefly Burger is the way to go! A few items have an Indianapolis theme like the smoking goose sausage and traders point milk. Also all the vegetables are grown in the fields behind the restaurant. Will be back for sure!
(5)
Azile Y.
Woah... I don't know what they put in the whipped butter that comes with the bread but it is WONDERFUL! Slightly sweet, with a hint of garlic. French onion soup special was terrific as well.
(5)
Elizabeth W.
Overall great attitude from the person on the phone to the staff. I Mathew guy who asks unique requests like" can I park my airstream overnight if I stay out of the way" I have a dog and they are very pet friendly /outdoor patio has many different zones with a relaxing feel to all of them. Beer selection is solid ! Food - unique tweaks to Americana that feels comfortable and packs the wow factor ! The sources are paired perfectly. Saturday afternoon on the porch With a beer and a burger on a pretzel bun - sauced up and blanketed with cheese . This is a review from a non red meat guy that can't resist this burger. Bona petite ! @epicdetour
(5)
Andrew W.
Effingham, Illinois, I owe you an apology. I've now stopped twice to eat at the Firefly Grill. Fellow I-70 travelers, take heed. This delightfully designed restaurant pairs a mostly upscale, eclectic American menu with a lovely, take-a-date setting. I can, somehow, recommend both the pizza (with a superb, obviously fresh tomato sauce) and the pork bao. Whatever you think about the kind of restaurant that serves both simply doesn't apply here. (I do not, however, recommend the standard burger, which comes out like a fancy Big Mac. Very good, if that's your thing, but it's not mine.) Before you go, check out the library-set private table, the herb garden, and the wonderful koi pond out back. As I sat on the deck with my girlfriend after hours, a waiter came out to talk to us. We thought he was going to tell us the restaurant had closed. Instead he offered to take our picture against the pond, and then he give us food to feed the fish. Completely, irrepressibly charming. Five stars.
(5)
Normajean G.
We dined here while staying in the area on our way home from St. Louis. I need to eat gluten free, and there were choices. The food we had (pork chop) was excellent, and the corn side dish was delicious. The only thing on the menu that was $$, in our opinion, was the pizza. There were no gluten free pizzas, so I could not choose that. The beef filet was $55, and the main course menu items were $25 plus. Salads are extra. Hamburgers are $16.50. The online menu here does not reflect those prices. I would definitely rate it a $$$ at the very least.
(4)
Sara Jane W.
Awesome find in the middle of the Midwest!! Food selections are great, atmosphere is trendy and open, the pond in the back makes a great backdrop. Chef and server customized a dish for my dietary limitations...gluten and cheese free. I will be back!
(5)
Melissa H.
Love the atmosphere, the food, and the pond! Great date place!
(4)
Jon L.
My son and I were traveling through the area on our way back to Georgia. Stopped in town for the night and did a Yelp search for places to eat. This popped up so we decided to try it Boy, were we ever pleasantly surprised. Starting with our waiter, Jordan, the whole experience was amazing. You can taste the difference in the fact that everything is locally sourced, or grown in their own garden. The filet we both had is from the prime of the prime beef. The best we've ever eaten. It is pricey, but well worth it if you want to give yourself a treat! It was my sons 1st time trying a filet cut. His face after the 1st bite was priceless! We came in right at 8p, not realizing they closed at 9(we left about 930ish). And no one seemed bothered by the fact that we were keeping them there. Jordan was very knowledgable about the food and history of the place. You could tell he cared. That's rare today in the food industry. So if you are EVER in the Effington, IL. area, stop in and give them a try. You won't be disappointed.
Awesome food!! Had shrimp, Southern fried chicken... And awesome onion soup! They also have awesome fish and drinks!
(5)
Lucas B.
Love this place!
(5)
C M.
Exceptional in every way! Don't miss this little gem of Illinois. The food is excellently prepared, mostly from locally sourced farms, including their own vegetable and herb garden. The waitstaff is pleasant and knowledgable. The location is idyllic, on a reed-lined pond full of koi and other fish. And they let the kids feed the fish from the deck. Quite entertaining. The wagyu beef meatball starter was perfectly presented in an escargot plate. The meatballs were super flavorful and tender, sitting in a bath of marinara, and covered in hot, stringy, melty cheese. The bread and butter! Crunchy on the outside, light and airy on the inside, the rolls arrive with a light waft of garlic and are topped with sea salt flakes. I chose from their Father's Day special menu. The lobster pot pie was stunningly good. The crust was to die for and the filling was full of lobster. My wife had a pizza that had bacon, ham, sausage, sage, and other delicious toppings. The crust was flaky, puffy, and carried the aroma of the wood fired oven.
(5)
Deborah B.
Delicious food and premier service. I had the steak burger. Beef was so flavorful, French fries were crisp and tasty, even the bun was delicious. SO had salmon - wild caught flown in daily. He's a fisherman and quite Picky about the fish he eats and he said it was out of this world. From the specials menu so may not always be available. Salads were good but the entrees were what gives this Place 5 stars. Shout out to Kelly who made the experience ever more enjoyable with her menu suggestions, pleasant conversation, and unobtrusive/always there when you need her service. Not easy to find but its right off Rte 70. Take a left at the light by the Starbucks and drive to the end of that road.
(5)
Leigh W.
Very well done restaurant. Farm to table is impressive when pulled off well. Inside is comfortable & patio dining is available. Friendly staff & wait staff knew exactly how to describe the entrees and when asked for recommendations our waiter was quick to offer suggestions with a description of the item & how it stands out above other items he even asked our tastes & that was impressive. Menu was very nice & loaded will a lovely selection of steak, seafood & other mouth watering items. We ordered several items to get the experience of the menu since I came here specifically to write a review, it's a hobby & I know my food. French Onion Soup was delicious, Fried Green tomatoes where as well as the shrimp cocktail with homemade cocktail sauce, shrimp where more prawns than shrimp with their size, very nice. Special treat morel mushrooms which when dipped in the dill ranch where very good even if I prefer them not to be battered in corn meal. The Montana mignon was their take on a beef Wellington which was nice in the puff pastry with whipped potatoes & asparagus at $26 it was more $$$ instead of $$ the filet was probably 4oz & meat temperature was perfect. Highly recommend the swordfish it was delicious, served on what was suppose to be a crab risotto however there was no crab & risotto was a tad over cooked. I would defiantly try another steak prob going with the larger filet or the swordfish. Defiantly feel this restaurant excels at fish. Inside decor is relaxing & cocktails are on point. Not a place for children unless you want to spend the money but beautiful place for couples, events, special occasions, girls night, treating your guy to a steak, Etc. nothing else like this unless you head towards St. Louis.
(4)
J R.
Went mid-day for a lunch. I'd say their price range is more $$$ than the $$ posted. The value was there, it was just unexpectedly expensive. Beautiful location, we sat on the porch area, enclosed on a sunny day it was wonderful. Wasn't prepared to pay the high prices for a lunch so had the pizza. Was very good, wonderful crust and creative topping. They had a chocolate souffle for dessert, had to try it. Was worth every penny. A personal size souffle with whipped cream on the side and blackberry ice cream, softened. It took me a good long time to eat it, not because it was so big, but rather because it was worth savoring every mouthful. Service was prompt, a bit excessively inquisitive but perhaps at a crossroads town that's how you do it.
(4)
Mark E.
Best Salmon meal I have ever had. Priced more than most, and certainly more that the $$ rating on Yelp, but worth every penny. Employees love the place and food ... so what not to LOVE especially when love as good as this.
(5)
Michelle S.
What a hidden gem!!! ALWAYS make a point to stop here when traveling through! NEVER a bad meal EVER!!!! Tonight it was dungeness crab purses with a sweet and spicy sour sauce, pork shanks, and Dungeness crab cakes with the most perfectly cooked and seasoned green beans ever. And the focaccia....... Go! You WILL NOT be disappointed.
(5)
Marissa C.
Never disappointed! The chef/owner Niall is good at what he does. The menu is creative and delicious. Nothing else like it in central Illinois. Fresh veggies from the garden drive the menu. I look forward to the pumpkin ice cream coming back. It would be nice if they have a mailing list of when the menu changes because I like trying new things there!
(5)
Patrick B.
This is a great place hidden away in the middle of no where. I have been here 20+ times and the service, food and beer selection is fantastic. Customer took me here 3-5 years ago and I keep coming back. Prices are fair for outstanding food. If your looking for a low price - go to a fast food place. If you want excellent food and a nice break while traveling through the area - go here. Just found the lunch special today for $5 for a hamburger with garlic fries. This place also has fresh morel mushrooms in season.
(5)
Christine A.
We stumbled on this through yelp while traveling. What a wonderful surprise!! This yet again proves our theory that chef run restaurants are successful because of the chefs passion , and it shows. We had the medeterrian appetizer platter. Best focaccia . I had the seabass with risotto-wonderful. My husband has the pork tenderloin. It was delicious. Wine was delicious. Too bad it was dark. I bet the view of the water was wonderful. Will be back when we travel through the area. Chef said hello and he was very nice. Proud of his restaurant, wife who helps run the restaurant & his staff. Andrew did a great job as our server.
(5)
Susan S.
I generally enjoy Firefly, but I was so disappointed with today's Mothers Day brunch. $26 for bread, a shot of a granola parfait, an omelet and potatoes. I could easily have made this at home. Shame on you for excessive pride, Firefly.
(1)
Vanessa T.
Talk about out of place. When I step into Firefly I feel as if I have been transported somewhere urban and hip and forget I am in the middle of nowheresville Illinois.Firefly is extremely convienient for me as I stay 1/4 mile down the street at the Hampton Inn. The chef is as creative and talented as any that you would find in Manhattan. You must get the Chinese steamed buns as an appetizer. I get these every time I am here. The most recent time I visited, I ordered the Firefly steak burger and fried wontons along with the buns. I gobbled everything up and left feeling as I always do, like I ate too much but it was soooo worth it. The atmosphere is fancy but casual as you will see some truck drivers stopping in during their drive probably to order something unique for a change. The furniture and fixtures are classy and modern. I have never eaten on the patio but if you do, you will be able to dine among the beautiful fountain and garden they have created out back. The kitchen is also an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare your food right in front of your eyes. There is also a bar that is semi private as it is blocked by a piece of non-see through glass. The wine list is extensive but the beer list is minimal. Still, they do offer several craft beers which is a nice change from your typical bar beer offerings. If you only eat in one place in Effingham, let it be this place. Unless of course you prefer to eat that the Buffalo Wild Wings down the street or some other overly commercialized local eatary.
(5)
Paul R.
The food was wonderful, but please look out for the substitution policy on the menu. It's there, and small print - small enough that no one can see it. I was able to get a manager to reverse the charges, but I'm frustrated that I had to ask in the first place. It's worth eating here but buyer beware.
(4)
Kathie C.
The 2 $$ were very misleading. The prices are higher than that. Not much you can get for less than $18 and most things are much more. But it did look wonderful. We also stopped in without a reservation. Not a good idea on a Saturday night! But we did get to sit at the counter and watch the cooks and the food going out. We opted for some pizza, as it was one of the few choices under $20. It is a very nice place, but too rich for our blood.
(3)
Shelli A.
This a wonderful little hidden gem in Effingham IL. The food was very good but the service was extremely beyond our expectations. We had a very long day and stopped in Effingham for the night and although they were completely booked for the evening, they made special accommodations for us to enjoy a very nice dinner even with 2 kids. The kids got to go outside and feed the fish while my husband and I got to enjoy an adult beverage. I highly recommend this location to anyone looking for a great meal when passing through Effingham. Thank you
(5)
William D.
Firefly Grill is destination dining in Southern Illinois. This eco-friendly farm-to-table roadhouse features fresh and delicious seasonal fare. Chef Niall's menu and execution are worthy of Chicago, so Firefly is a surprising find indeed for Effingham, Illinois. I don't begrudge Kristie and Niall Campbell charging big city prices in small town Illinois. Obviously their product is in strong demand. If the prices get too high, people will stop coming. With that said, Firefly Grill is definitely a "$$$" restaurant. (I think Yelp has it wrongly categorized as "$$".) The only way to dine at Firefly for less than $30/plate is to have no apps, no alcohol, and no dessert. Though their gourmet burgers, fries, and fried chicken are delicious, I aspire to someday be able to afford some other dishes and drinks. If you are a foodie and you find yourself on I-70 between St. Louis and Indianapolis, stop for dinner at Firefly! Feed the catfish from the dock, stroll in the vegetable garden, and enjoy a first class meal in a pastoral environment. You won't regret it.
(5)
Heidi R.
Having never driven through this part of Illinois before, we were at a loss for a decent restaurant at which to dine until we came across Firefly Grill. Wow. Being from Chicago, we've dined at many an amazing restaurant, and this place could easily compete! Squash blossoms were to die for, filet was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and for someone who doesn't typically like fried food, the fried chicken in vichyssoise sauce was delicious. My 7 year olds ate everything up too (something for this and all restaurants to consider, please stop dumbing down kids menus! They're little people with real taste buds, enough with the chicken strips and cheese pasta, they can and should be eating real food!). Atmosphere and design was beautiful, very clean kitchen and facilities. It's been a rainy summer, so even though their gardens weren't producing that well, they source from a local farmer so still very fresh. If only we lived closer than 4 hours away!
(5)
Lorna J.
Enjoyed the Firefly Grill. Food was good and I loved sitting out by the Koi pond.
(4)
Charlotte L.
Stopped by on our way to Kansas. Sat out on the porch and had a beautiful view. The weather was perfect. Food was fresh and delicious. The fried green tomatoes were great, I haven't had anything like them before. Our waitress and the other staff were attentive and prompt. It was a great place to stop!
(5)
Mary P.
Food was quite excellent, albeit a little on the expensive side. The dish I had was a puff pastry with an very tender filet inside. I loved the mashed potatoes, but the side of asparagus left me underwhelmed. Considering the rest of the meal was quite good, that surprised me. I also had a cocktail with pear juice that was quite delicious.
(4)
Patrick M.
Yelp comes through! This place is super awesome atmosphere. Sat at the bar and had a firefly Steak Burger with Jamie. I won't add a picture because there are a hundred of them on here. It was yummy. Definitely coming back for more. Hopefully I can try something different.
(4)
L R.
Wonderful food and very cool atmosphere. Love the garden outside where alot of the ingredients originate. Had the fried green tomatoes which were fabulous!! The salmon was also very very good. We stayed locally at the Hampton and were traveling from NJ to Denver. So glad to have stopped in Effingham. Wish I could have given 5 stars but the service was not that great. Willing to overlook that to say we will definitely be back.
(4)
Andrea A.
Delicious! If you are looking for quality food, check this place out. It's a little pricey, but definitely worth a visit. It was surprising to find this gem in such a rural area. I would recommend the Firefly as a place where everyone can find something to eat (even picky eaters and folks with food allergies).
(5)
JS E.
A pleasant surprise. Incredible service and friendly staff. The food was well prepared and perfectly seasoned. We look forward to a return trip, especially in the summer time.
(4)
Clifford S.
We had dinner here on our way to Kansas City and it was one of the best meals of the summer. No, I have not had a few beers and yes, it is in Effingham. I don't know why it's there either. I had scallops and squash blossom appetizer and pie - all outstanding. We are planning a fall trip to St. Louis and one of the goals is to somehow stop here either on the way down or back. Yes, it is that good.
(5)
Nic N.
Don't miss this countryside jewel nestled near the 'cross roads' of southern Illinois. Great local flavor meets rural chick at Firefly. I have a client in Effingham and make frequent trips from Chicago as a result. In my opinion this spot certainly holds its own among even some of the most highly rated restaurants in Chica-go-go, but the best part is that they include a lot of locally grown food. Even the dining tables were made in Effingham, nice work on supporting the local economy! On my last visit we started with a caprese salad and then moved on to the grilled truffle duck egg sandwich - Lake meadow Farm's ducks eggs, white truffle, white balsamic dressed greens on house-made Challah bread (this was lunch time). Food was great...filling, but not too heavy so we could go about our day. Unfortunately I don't remember what I had for dinner there on my last visit (months ago), but I do know that it was just as good, if not an even better experience, if that is even possible. Sit on the back deck and enjoy the view of the fountain in the large pond or dine inside and check out the great decor. The building looks like it was constructed in salvaged barn wood and even the parking lot is stylishly landscaped so these guys get an A+ for building an excellent establishment all around. Oh...and if you like beer and wine you won't be disappointed. It absolutely has to have the best selection in Effingham...hands down.
Great place and never would have expected to find this type of quality hidden here. What a delicious meal we had. The ambiance and food were excellent and it would have received 5 stars if the service would have matched the obvious attention to detail in the food. Meals ranges from a $5 bar burger to about $44 for the lamb chop. I had the Reuben and it was delicious, served with fries which were also excellent for $10. Even though I don't live here I will stop here on future travels for sure.
(4)
Brad P.
really nice atmosphere, terribly friendly staff, the building is impressive, the menu is fun, the beer and wine selection would not disappoint the most spoiled diners (being one) and an amazingly well executed plate of food (my date thinks maybe the best shes EVER had) made this surprise in the middle of nowhere a true treat on a Los Angeles to Indianapolis cross country drive that was actually full of great meals... but this was the true gem of our trip! Would definitely go WAY out of my way to dine there again!
(5)
Michael C.
Amanda is the highlight of firefly grill. I typically do not give glowing reviews about restaurants that have par food but Amanda made my entire experience more than excellent hospitality wise. Whether she is on the floor or behind the bar make sure you at least introduce yourself and she will see to it that the night of restaurant experience is worth you stopping in effingham. The steak worth stopping for although I hoped the taste would have been better for the price. Although it was cooked perfectly. I'm looking forward to stopping back through for the seabass instead. I would however.. Scratch that. I will be stopping again just to talk to Amanda again over a drink. That is a certainty.
(4)
Gary K.
This place is outstanding! The service and food were great, and the location is perfect. Close to the hotel we were staying at, and all the other shops, restaurants, etc.; but Firefly Grill clearly stood out. I had a teriyaki flank steak and it was amazing! It was so tender. The potatoes were great too. The nice thing was that even though it's a nice restaurant they still had a reasonable kids menu too. I only wish they had a restaurant like this in Clarksville, TN. I'd go here all the time.
(5)
Scott C.
Great little establishment. Friendly service and it looks like a great place to be in the warmer months.
(4)
Eric W.
Owners are a TOTAL Class Act. Next time through Effingham will definitely stop in again.
(4)
Susan S.
Daughter loves Firefly and Daughter needed some TLC, so we scheduled a little ladies' lunch on a Saturday afternoon. And a lovely little lunch we had. As always, the ambiance of FF grill is sublime---its look is one of my all time favorites. Daughter's too. She loves the oversized, sepia-toned wedding photos of the owners that grace the walls. Daughter described her lunch as "summertime in a sandwich." After one try-bite, I concurred. The roasted chicken/basil/mozz/pesto panini was a delectable balance of crunchy, gooey, savory, and smokey sensations. 5 stars. The fries were perfection---nice and hot (cold fries stink) and nicely seasoned. And the $8.50 price point was spot on. My lunch---a little on the meh side. I ordered the Spinach salad with strawberry balsamic dressing, vanilla almonds, and about 4 interesting warm goat cheese croquettes, about the size of an old fashioned gumball or an embryonic tater tot. The price was either $8.50 or $9.50. The abundance of spinach was great and would have satisfied even the hungriest Popeye. However, the co-stars, so to speak, did not support the quantity of spinach served. I found myself rationing the teeny bits of cheese and almonds to help me make it to the finish line with the greens. As often happens at FF, the staff was super smiley and welcoming but hard to summon when needed. Drink orders took over five minutes to place and just about as long to deliver. Iced tea refills took awhile, too. I saw some verbal and nonverbal communication going on between the hostess and various waitstaff regarding our beverages, but no one seemed to have clear ownership of our table. Nor did anyone stop by after the hopper brought our meals to ascertain if all was okay or if we needed anything else---which we did. I had expected the salad to have some kind of carb alongside, a bun, a cracker, etc. In the past, FF served bread on a board or popovers. I couldn't catch my server's attention---I think she was busy with a baby shower--but the hostess eventually explained that bread service was available, for a buck. Two probs---first of all, that didn't happen when I ate lunch at FF Grill in April. In fact, that time, our group of four was served up some tasty popovers even though people ordered bread-centric entrees like pizzas and rock shrimp po'boys. Secondly, why isn't this upcharge mentioned on the menu or offered when ordering? FF has been promoting lunch specials diligently--which is nice. But, the lunch menu seems to have shrunken in size and grown in price point over the last few years. And the foo-foo factor has increased as well. I miss the salad/pizza special....and the complimentary bread, and the greater number of choices. You know I'll be back---the pluses outweigh the minuses---one major plus being location, location, location.
(4)
Michael K.
3rd time here in last couple of weeks on my way back and forth to Indy from STL. It is an oasis of great food with real care towards the ingredients. This is as good as you find in any major market. Be sure to try the tiramisu!
(5)
Dan K.
Very nice. Maybe the nicest restaurant in Effingham. Pricy but very good food. I would definitely come here again.
(4)
Mike A.
We stopped here on our drive to Detroit from Dallas. Simply amazing food and atmosphere! High recommendation in my book!
(5)
Jon T.
Romantic devil that I am I took Ms T to Effingham for St Valentine's Day dinner and a visit to the Boos Block's outlet store. She can never say I don't take her to exciting places. I searched for places to eat in Effingham and found the Fire Fly Grill. This is a surprisingly sophisticated place to find out here and offered a lot of promise. We made reservations on Open Table and being Valentine's, it was a good thing. The place was packed and I suspect normally reservations are a good idea. They have put a lot of effort into the ideas behind the restaurant. It looks like a barn or something but inside the menu is upscale and (I think) pricy for Effingham. They make a big deal about being green and local but I am cynical about this. While well intended I'm sure, it is really mostly about marketing. Let's face it, it sells. What really matters is how good the food is. The Fire Fly Grill missed the mark especially considering the price. Remind me never to tell a waiter that this is our first time there. I made that mistake and we listened to the sermon on green and local and then the specials from Jordan. It was a bit condescending assuming we did not know anything about the ingredients rather than letting us ask when we needed information. We ordered two glasses of wine (marked up very well). We started with Crab and Lobster Rangoon which was really very good. Ms T ordered scallops on risotto and I ordered pheasant on papardelle. The scallops were seared properly but were gritty. We could not decide if it was in the scallops or was from the grill. They tasted good to her, but the grit was off-putting. The risotto was poorly executed, flavorless and underdone, not al dente, but rather al crunchy, while the matrix was very pasty, an odd combination. My local pheasant was OK. It was seared and then finished in the oven. It had good herbal flavors on a crispy skin, but the serving was tiny. One pheasant wing and breast is about four bites. I grew up eating wild pheasant in Iowa and this farm raised, tame bird had virtually no flavor of its own. My bed of papardelle was fine and the dish was executed well. It was just short on poultry serving size and pheasant flavor. This is a surprisingly sophisticated restaurant for the surroundings. But we had to ask again for our wine or it never would have arrived. The wines were served too warm. Ms T's white was not chilled and my pinot noir was room temperature. The room was about 80 degrees and a PN should be served cellar temperature. This was over $50 per person, (one appetizer, no desserts) which is OK, but I expect much better execution.
(2)
Angela M.
This restaurant is the second most Eco friendly restaurant in the nation. Great prices, fresh ingredients and amazing service! Best restaurant in 90 miles! The Firefly is comparable to some of the finest restaurants I have eaten at in Seattle, New York and Chicago. The food: The goat cheese, portobello brick oven pizza was the best pizza I have EVER eaten. That's a bold comment considering I have pizza every time I travel. The crust was crispy yet doughy, airy and flaky. They brushed it with a seasoning and garlic. The goat cheese and portobello complimented each other beautifully. Paired it with a glass of Merlot. AMAZING! The scallop risotto was seared seasoned to perfection, and flaky in the middle. The peas in the risotto popped and the risotto was al dente. The PEI (Prince Edward island) mussels were hands down the best my friend had had. I tasted the sauce which was creamy with a zing of horseradish. Served with freshly baked French bread to dip in the sauce. The service: Outstanding sums it up! Upon entering the hostess was on the phone and got another employees attention to greet us. We sat outside overlooking the lake. We had Adam bring us water, he introduced himself as the hits who would be assisting the waitress and proceeded to tell us our waitresses name which was Kelly. Kelly informed us in detail about the specials and let us know their seafood was shipped in multiple times a week. It was fresh. We explained that we live on the Gulf of Mexico and have high standards when it comes to seafood. She was right! It was outstanding! Beautiful scenery inside and out! Very comfortable and relaxing atmosphere! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Frank C.
Excellent food for both dinner and brunch. What can I say? There is nothing really to see in Effingham, but we come here just to go to Firefly Grill. And when we do, we normally stay the night at a nearby hotel so we can have dinner on Saturday night followed by brunch the next morning. Food is excellent. Amazing cocktail list. Excellent wine list. We had a bottle of Saint Emillion. Stuffed Zucchini Flowers is easily their best appetizer. We had the filet Mignon wrapped in a puff pastry with Boursin and bacon. Wow! Love coming here and leaving so stuffed I feel like exploding. Great kids menu. Only complaint is silverware size for the kids. Their silverware is huge and consequently the kids ages 4 - 10 were constantly dropping them. Tip...bring your own from home.
(5)
Nate T.
A very nice meal. The wife had the crab cakes and I had the pork loin. I wish they would turn down the music a bit, since it is all hard surfaces, the noise level is a bit loud (not unbearable), but that might be the only thing I could complain about.
(5)
Peter M.
This is one of those farm-to-fork places and is casual-upscale. Stopped while passing through - we had an appetizer, my daughter had the white pizza, I had a traditional pizza, she had a drink and I had a couple microbrews. I had a side of veggies from their garden as well. We both had the strawberry shortcake dessert, which had about two or three subtle flavors in it that really complemented the strawberries very well. The food was delicious and the drinks were good as well. The service was appropriately attentive. For all of the above, we got out of there for $80, pre-gratuity. It's not an inexpensive place, but you do get good value for your money.
(5)
Kevin K.
Firefly Grill is definitely a must if you're in the area - or can be in the area. Were I to live anywhere within a hundred miles I'd go at least twice a week, probably more. There is much to recommend it though there are a few inexplicable issues. What works: all the most important things. Nicely designed and comfortable spaces set in their perennial and herb/vegetable gardens; attentive staff from the moment one arrives at the door through seating and service; a (mostly) well thought out menu with (mostly) reasonable prices considering the skill in the kitchen; well prepared, well presented plates. What doesn't work: the wine list, a menu item or two, some pricing. At first glance the wine list looks good. This turns out to be obviously false upon closer inspection. At least 20-25% of the list shouldn't be there (on their list or anyone else's) at all. (Covey Run Riesling? Seriously? No German Riesling? One Oregon Pinot Noir - and a vastly lesser one? Where are the good Zins? I could go on - and on.) There is a wholly unsatisfying by-the-glass list (not much here worth ordering - I couldn't find one satisfactory red - and it's badly priced, too high (considering the wines) and there is no value here at all. Worse, there is no value in getting an 8-ounce pour over a 5-ounce. They're priced exactly (or so closely as to be tantamount) the same. On a good note, most of the better wines on the list are priced well by the bottle. It's unfortunate that the list overall appears to contain more better wines than it does, and none of the better wines are available by the glass. The house salad (that should be representative of the "house", especially at this time of year, considering the gardens just outside the door) is uninspired and insipid, nary an herb in it(!), with pedestrian romaine and scant vegetables. At the very least it would benefit from salt (and a pepper mill served alongside - or offered - would gave been welcome) but I was so looking forward to the herbs I had just walked past on my way in. Inexplicable. As stated above, there is much to recommend. Try the soups, the stuffed squash blossoms (currently on the menu but probably not for long as they're so seasonal), the meatballs (a bit overpriced and the Wagyu is overkill) that are delicious, any of the vegetable sides, the pizzas, the grilled meats and fish - virtually the entire rest of the menu. I look forward to returning the next time I'm passing through. For those of you passing anywhere near, GO - even if you have to detour a bit.
(4)
Kelly C.
This is a must when in Effingham - absolutely wonderful! Unique offerings as well as standard fare. Many items are grown right on the grounds. The fried green tomatoes were grown in the garden out back and topped with local sweet corn - amazing! Beautiful restaurant, helpful and pleasant staff. The steak burger was very, very good. The waffle dessert is a little bit messy but worth it!
(5)
Michelle C.
So fun! Perfectly swag, rustic, and sharp trendy atmosphere. Lovely grounds and open-concept. Classy industrial yet inviting & relaxed decor. Plush patio furniture to lounge on while you wait, or eat outside on the porch on the patio couches. Don't forget to ask for fish food so you can feed the huge catfish and goldfish from the pier over the gorgeous, quiet fountained pond. Oh, and order the House-Made Lavender&Lemon soda. To-die for.
(5)
Laura H.
We make frequent trips from Indianapolis to St. Louis, and had seen the billboards but only remarked upon them because Firefly is the best television show of all time. Then I read a blog about hidden dining gems, and this place ranked highly, so we decided to check it out. I can't believe this incredible restaurant is tucked away in a little town otherwise remarkable for a giant torture device made of metal siding. The entire place is stunning. It sits on a lake, so sit by the windows and watch massive, lovely carp swim around. We saw some folks feeding them, which all seemed to enjoy. The service is top-notch. The food is RIDICULOUS. I had trouble deciding, there were so many things I wanted to try, so I'll look forward to going back for more. We had a steamed bun apiece for appetizer, pork and shrimp, both delicious. I had the crab eggs benedict, which was unreal. We will ALWAYS stop here now.
(5)
Sherri B.
Great service wonderful atmosphere and amazing food with fresh ingredients from there own garden. Seafood Steaks and even a brick oven pizza.
(5)
Mark F.
Niles Campbell is one of the 10 best restauranteurs in America. Wow what a find for someone traveling on 70. I'm glad I turned around at the last exit to come back to this place. Awesome staff, decor and gourmet food. World class chef. The Montana Mignon is something special! ...Ok I'm back here again adding to this review and I asked Niles to pick all of my drinks and food this visit. Wow!!! What an experience!!! I literally came here an Hour out of my way to cleanse my palette of a bad experience at "the most famous steak house in the world" Peter Lugars and Niles' 16 oz New York strip is a 99 and ironically puts all the New York steak houses I've been to to shame!!!
(5)
Eleni B.
Went here on a whim and as tourist felt extended out of place. I have numerous tattoos on my arm and I was wearing a tank top from old navy and shorts, while the rest of the lunch crowd was in golf attire and sun dresses. Menu is simple and prices are fair. My mother and I split a pizza which takes about 20 minutes to make but they warn you on the menu. The table to preset before you get there and they give you water right off the bat. Restaurant is extremely nice and I would come again! Food was great and music was low key. The staff was always cleaning or busy, meaning everyone had a purpose and not standing around.
(4)
Dave C.
Was passing through on my way back from St. Louis and stopped to have diner. It's actually pretty close to the highway but tucked back behind the main strip. First, the building is pretty neat. There was a wait so we decided to sit at the bar but would have loved to tried to get a table outside. The food was excellent. I had the Chicken in a Bag and thought it was very good. Certainly something I would get again. I don't live in the area otherwise I would be back to this place often. The prices are a bit high but not over the top. If this place was located in Indy then the prices would be right in line with what I would expect. The other really cool thing about this place is the fresh ingredients. They have their own garden that surrounds the building. You could see all the herbs and vegetables they were growing. That was a really cool thing to see. When they say farm to table, they really mean it. I highly recommend trying Firefly if you are in the area.
(5)
Faith R.
This place is AMAZING! It is beautifully tucked into a sea of wildflowers and overlooking a serene lake complete with fountain and extra large Koi fish. There are so many seating options from inside the restaurant area to an enclosed porch overlooking the lake to outdoor patios complete with comfy couches and chairs. The staff is friendly and helpful. The service is quick and accurate. My daughter and I stopped here on our way to Indianapolis. I had the Shrimp Poor Boy and she had the Applewood Chicken Sandwich. Both came in a pretzel bun with fries. The chicken sandwich had apples and brie on the sandwich. Everything was delicious! The restaurant is immaculate and the owners grow the food on the menu. I will make a point to stop here any time I am in the area. I do not have a negative thing to say! Perfect!
(5)
Johanna B.
One of the best dining experiences that my husband and I have had! We stayed at the Hampton Inn nearby so we were able to walk about 5 minute walk to restaurant. We started with Alaskan King crab purses-wonderful! My Montana mignon was fabulous and my husband's ribeye was the best he's ever had! Great atmosphere and service!
(5)
Benjamin S.
Firefly Grill is my absolute favorite spot in Central Illinois. If I could afford to eat here each week of my life, it would be done. However, let's talk about the food. Fantastic and always fresh- the use of their own ingredients makes it even better. The service is excellent and I am never disappointed. This is one of the things I will miss when I move away from the area.
(5)
Arlene A.
We were traveling on I-70 and found this place on Yelp. What a find! Firefly is a beautiful building in a bucolic setting, only a mile or two from I-70 and right down the street from the Hampton Inn. The meal was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. Great, friendly service. I enjoyed the delicious rolls, crusty and a little salty on top, but tender and tangy in the center. The butter was just the right consistency for spreading and especially fresh tasting. We ordered the morels with two dipping sauces, crabcakes with garlic fries, and a fish dish. Everything was terrific, and I used the fries to sop up the last of the sauce from my fish. Expensive, but oh so worth it!
(5)
Amanda B.
I wish it was in Indianapolis. it's gorgeous and everything tastes amazing. As soon as we walked in, the smell let me know that we'd made a good choice. The hostess was also our waitress, and she was exceptionally friendly and welcoming. We started with the crab purses, which basically is a fancy Rangoon-and by fancy, I mean way above average. I had the ribeye sandwich and my husband had the steak burger. they were both delicious (we switched halfway through to get to try more). My only regrets are that we didn't go there for dinner or during summer, because there's a duck dish with my name on it, and the place must be amazing in summer. They apparently even have a dog park near the porch, so owners can have a nice meal while their puppy-children play. Indianapolis restauranteurs pay attention-this is what Hoosiers need!!!! You just can't go wrong.
(5)
R.J. V.
This place was amazing. If you happen to be in the area ( and aren't broke) be sure to stop by and check it out. The food was amazing. The atmosphere was both swanky and rustic. And the staff were courteous and friendly. For an appetizer we had the flash fried morels which are basically a rare mushroom that is hard to find and grow. I didn't quite find their taste too inspiring to me, though they were unique and well made. Others I know who have tried them can't get enough. So I recommend trying them for a unique local delicacy experience. For the main course we tried the filet mignon wrapped in a pastry and their chicken and waffles entree. The mignon was delicious and its flavor was sealed in using that flaky crust. The chicken and waffles were outstanding. The chicken was cooked perfectly (crispy, yet almost falling off the bone) and the waffles were buttered with syrup. They both sat in a dish of country gravy which really pulled them together. Simply for this meal would I seek to return for more. And finally the staff were friendly and were kind enough to seat us on the porch overlooking the lake (from which we could see tons of fish including some huge koi). You may need to gain a reservation on busier nights but the night we went they seated us right away. I can't express how much I truly enjoyed my time there. My only negative comment is the price...it can get a bit extreme. However, I think once you are there you will agree it's worth it. A great place for a celebration or for impressing that significant other.
(5)
Dawn B.
Stopped here on way back home from a road trip and had dinner. We used Yelp to locate a great restaurant and the reviews did not disappoint. This restaurant, from the food, to the service, to the ambience and cleanliness is OUTSTANDING and unique. Just wished we lived closer and could come more often!
(5)
Rick D.
Nice setting! Friendly servers and upbeat atmosphere! For the menu tonite we tried the Baked Feta and Fire Fly Fillet Mignon (most reassembled a beef Wellington). For the money you cannot do better than this for flavor and dining experience! The appetizer and main plate are delicious beyond expectations. Overall I would have to say this place is a must try for any one visiting Effingham Illinois! If you do visit try to get cayla as your server. What an incredibly friendly server who is happy too provide information on menu items to restaurant history! Five stars from this Diner!
(5)
Heather M.
I realize the prices are a little higher there then some places, but the food is absolutely exceptional! Worth the drive from anywhere and conveniently located off of the interstate. Great place for parties, Business meetings, celebrations and weddings of an upper scale quality. They allow private music, photographers and cakes which is rare in this type of venue. Also, they have private spaces including an enclosed heated porch and a wine room that is super elegant. They raise their own garden which they glean as many ingredients as possible out of. Events coordinator Megan is fantastic and will help you through every detail. The kids can't even feed the massive quantities of golden carp in the Pond that the restaurant is situated on. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Breanna N.
My boyfriend and I stopped in here after a dirt bike race in Casey. We were so happy that we did! The food and drinks here were hands down the best we've ever had. I got the ribeye and he got the halibut. Everything was cooked perfectly and to order. There is an amazing difference in taste when all of the ingredients are fresh. The butter compote they put on the steak was AMAZING! As well as the potatoes. Wow! My boyfriends halibut was out of this world, I've never had a piece of fish that tasted so good! We also got the fried squash flowers as an appetizer, there were delicious something I've always wanted to try but never able too mainly because there aren't many restaurants at all that have access to a fresh garden and I don't! Haha. And we also got the mushroom soup! Amazing! Handmade sodas, I got the lemon lavender and he got the blackberry so good! And finally for dessert we got the molten chocolate cake which is made to order and obviously from scratch! It's a perfect portion to end your dinner. The pricing is not that outrageous at all, you pay for what you get and it is top quality food, service and presentation. All the food is prepared when ordered with no subpar quality ingredients. Plus how cool that you can eat then go feed the fish walk around their garden and pond?! Very very awesome restaurant. I don't have one bad thing to say about it. We will be back every time we go to Casey!
(5)
Les D.
Just keeps getting better. Don't need much of an excuse to come here. Tried the fried chicken in a bag. Wouldn't normally be my first choice, but what the hey. Definitely worth it. Gourmet in every bite. Beautiful side salad. Wife's French onion was perfect. Expectations keep getting higher. Keep it up, Firefly.
(5)
Sue ann P.
This is not a two dollar sign restaurant. It is more of a three to four dollar sign restaurant. That being said this was a great experience. The inside and outside are very tastefully decorated. The wine list while not easily recognized had some very good choices. We had the squash blossoms as an appetizer and they were wonderful! My husband had ribeye steak, mashed potatoes and green beans. I had fried chicken, corn vichyssoise, mozzarella (made at the restaurant) , thinly sliced radish and basil. Everything was beyond perfect! You could really tell this is a farm to table restaurant in how fresh and vibrant the flavors were! I would definitely eat here again and again!
(5)
Joe W.
OMG! This place is exactly as good as described. Totally worth all 5 stars. If you enjoy good food you will be truly impressed with the Firefly Grill. The building is the cool, the service terrific and the food amazing.
Mediocre food and atrocious service. Very discriminatory! Probably a great place for those who don't live in big cities or with great culinary venues in their town, but absolutely horrid place for the way the staff behaves here and for the poor customer experience. The food might be deemed high quality and unique, catering to varied palates and excellent tastebuds, but we actually felt the food didn't quite do justice to the ingredients, the seasonings were all over the place, sauces were too heavy and... But what left a bitter taste in our mouths was the treatment we received at this place. When we walked in, the maitre'd/hostess was at her desk but instead of welcoming us, she walked away without a word to go chat with another waiter, then come back only belligerently seat us. She actually deliberately made us wait! When we asked if the enclosed porch seating in the back was air conditioned (it was 97 deg outside and we were traveling across the country to get back to our cooler climate and home), she gave a very rude and sarcastic yes, and plopped down the menus upon seating us. We were tired and hungry, since there were not many options in this little town, we decided that the food will make up for the hostess' behavior and so shrugged it off. But oh no, the waiter was the same - he rolled his eyes when my child asked him a query about the menu, and he huffed away upon taking our orders. We dug into the food that was eventually served, but the waiter never once came by to enquire if all was well with the food, nor ask if we needed anything, or even to top off our water. We couldn't even catch his attention despite trying to flag him down multiple times so that we could get our check, pay and leave. Finally I went up to the manager, who upon hearing all the aforementioned, asked me what he expected me to do?!?! I answered that I don't want anyone else to be treated in this day and age, the way we were treated. There should be zero tolerance for such discriminatory behavior. There should be staff training on cultural and ethnic diversity and the element of being cordial, friendly yet professional and always serve the customer if you are going to be in this hospitality business! So long story short, if you are non-white, stay away from this place!
(1)
Anthony D.
This place is upscale and kind of expensive. It's very gourmet. All of the ingredients are fresh and almost all of the dishes are like something you'd see on Food Network. Not exactly my kind of scene, but the bangers n mash that I had was pretty good. The service was very friendly. The bread was a little nasty as it was nothing but really cruncy bread with an intense amount of garlic and salty butter. All in all, a decent meal, but you're paying a lot for presentation and environment. If that's your thing, then have at it.
I took a trip down to Southern Illinois for work and was told by several of my foodie friends that Firefly was worth a visit. I was warmly welcomed right from the start, and everyone (from my server to other people who walked by) was really friendly and pleasant. I started with the pomegranate iced tea and it was fine; it probably could've used a bit more sweetener but I was too lazy to add it, so there you go. I had the spring flatbread with morel mushrooms and, seriously, I wish there were some way of capturing the smell. It was amazing! And what's better is that it tasted just as good. I highly recommend it. For dessert I had the strawberry shortcake, and though I loved the presentation I didn't think the dessert tasted quite as good as it looked. In all, I had a really great meal and would happily go back next time I'm near the area.
(4)
Evanne J.
Absolutely a gem of a restaurant - From the food to the service to the decor ! The beautiful wood ceilings and simple but elegant lighting add to the excitement and anticipation when you take a look at the menu. Farm fresh locally grown vegetables , foraged mushrooms and fiddleheads, hand-raised pork and beef, homemade ice cream, lava cake...! We had a delicious meal- my pork chop was absolutely perfectly tender, spiced to perfection . Check out the filet mignon wrapped in a buttery flakey crust, or the oak-fired swordfish- or anything else on the menu. The servers were friendly and helpful,and the entire experience was a special treat for all of us! Check it out !
(5)
Dena S.
Wonderful find kind of out in the middle of no where! Very chic inside bar and restaurant. Probably should be a little more dressed up than we were but they accommodated us anyway. Great food and bar options. Would definitely return when in the area! Bummed we don't live closer.
(5)
Nick S.
Wow! What a diamond in the rough! This place is an absolute dream! A restaurant with their own farm and the food reflects the meticulous care they took to set up the restaurant concept. The wedge salad with home grown tomatoes was fabulous, my halibut with porcini mushroom ravioli was to die for. The other dishes I sampled were the fried chicken over corn vichyssoise and that made me question my already great decision to get the halibut. The real surprise came with the best burger I've ever tasted. I eat a lot of great burgers, but I still crave this one. If I'm ever anywhere near Effingham again, I won't hesitate to stop and have another absolutely perfect dinner!
(5)
Talulah M.
I had started to think my memory of this place from 9 months prior was clouded by road weariness and extreme hunger, but...we went back and it was just as wonderful! This time, we both had filet. HEAVENLY! Cooked to perfection. I uploaded a photo. I don't remember the appetizer but it was great, I don't remember the desserts but they were great. My only complaint is that we live so far away from this magical place.
(5)
Sara Jane G.
Delicious! Fresh ingredients grown on the grounds! Great staff and amazing food! Large menu with a wide selection of food as well as price. The burgers are seriously amazing!
(5)
Gina R.
WT-EFF!? This place is an ah-ha-mazing little gem in the middle of nowhere! My first bite, and I thought what the eff?! Where did this place come from. We were driving from St. Louis to Indiana, and on the hunt for something delicious. Found it. We had their burgers and chicken sandwiches, and I don't know if I was just really hungry (doubtful) but this place is one of the best places I have had a burger. I mean delicious! The place it self is adorable ... so well lit, nice ambiance, and just cute, modern, trendy! They have a lake with catfish that you can feed, which makes waiting for your food so much more fun. They are hungry little fish and put on quite the show. This was a pit stop for us, but I would seriously consider making the drive just for lunch again! SO GOOD!
(5)
Ruth T.
Wow. This is a must stop if you're in the area. We stopped around 3:30 and had "lunch." We started with the Chinese steamed buns. One pork. One shrimp. We liked the pork one the best. Then I got the fish and chips which was really fresh cod and awesome fries. Hubby got the steak sandwich. Split a tiramisu. All said and done it was $60 with sodas and minus the tip. Was it worth it? Yes! It was an "off-time" so we were able to sit right by the water. Quite a place and wonderful food!!
(5)
Sharon M.
This place was surprisingly wonderful. The best food I've had in awhile. Service was great and food was amazing. Got the halibut and the Montana mignon! Superb!
(5)
Bill J.
Met family at Effingham and Lonnie pick this and We were very thankful he did. We had a pizza, shrimp poor boy, burger, Reuben and meatloaf sandwich. Neat place and very clean, Great place to eat
(5)
Jake A.
Firefly Burger is the way to go! A few items have an Indianapolis theme like the smoking goose sausage and traders point milk. Also all the vegetables are grown in the fields behind the restaurant. Will be back for sure!
(5)
Azile Y.
Woah... I don't know what they put in the whipped butter that comes with the bread but it is WONDERFUL! Slightly sweet, with a hint of garlic. French onion soup special was terrific as well.
(5)
Elizabeth W.
Overall great attitude from the person on the phone to the staff. I Mathew guy who asks unique requests like" can I park my airstream overnight if I stay out of the way" I have a dog and they are very pet friendly /outdoor patio has many different zones with a relaxing feel to all of them. Beer selection is solid ! Food - unique tweaks to Americana that feels comfortable and packs the wow factor ! The sources are paired perfectly. Saturday afternoon on the porch With a beer and a burger on a pretzel bun - sauced up and blanketed with cheese . This is a review from a non red meat guy that can't resist this burger. Bona petite ! @epicdetour
(5)
Andrew W.
Effingham, Illinois, I owe you an apology. I've now stopped twice to eat at the Firefly Grill. Fellow I-70 travelers, take heed. This delightfully designed restaurant pairs a mostly upscale, eclectic American menu with a lovely, take-a-date setting. I can, somehow, recommend both the pizza (with a superb, obviously fresh tomato sauce) and the pork bao. Whatever you think about the kind of restaurant that serves both simply doesn't apply here. (I do not, however, recommend the standard burger, which comes out like a fancy Big Mac. Very good, if that's your thing, but it's not mine.) Before you go, check out the library-set private table, the herb garden, and the wonderful koi pond out back. As I sat on the deck with my girlfriend after hours, a waiter came out to talk to us. We thought he was going to tell us the restaurant had closed. Instead he offered to take our picture against the pond, and then he give us food to feed the fish. Completely, irrepressibly charming. Five stars.
(5)
Normajean G.
We dined here while staying in the area on our way home from St. Louis. I need to eat gluten free, and there were choices. The food we had (pork chop) was excellent, and the corn side dish was delicious. The only thing on the menu that was $$, in our opinion, was the pizza. There were no gluten free pizzas, so I could not choose that. The beef filet was $55, and the main course menu items were $25 plus. Salads are extra. Hamburgers are $16.50. The online menu here does not reflect those prices. I would definitely rate it a $$$ at the very least.
(4)
Sara Jane W.
Awesome find in the middle of the Midwest!! Food selections are great, atmosphere is trendy and open, the pond in the back makes a great backdrop. Chef and server customized a dish for my dietary limitations...gluten and cheese free. I will be back!
(5)
Melissa H.
Love the atmosphere, the food, and the pond! Great date place!
(4)
Jon L.
My son and I were traveling through the area on our way back to Georgia. Stopped in town for the night and did a Yelp search for places to eat. This popped up so we decided to try it Boy, were we ever pleasantly surprised. Starting with our waiter, Jordan, the whole experience was amazing. You can taste the difference in the fact that everything is locally sourced, or grown in their own garden. The filet we both had is from the prime of the prime beef. The best we've ever eaten. It is pricey, but well worth it if you want to give yourself a treat! It was my sons 1st time trying a filet cut. His face after the 1st bite was priceless! We came in right at 8p, not realizing they closed at 9(we left about 930ish). And no one seemed bothered by the fact that we were keeping them there. Jordan was very knowledgable about the food and history of the place. You could tell he cared. That's rare today in the food industry. So if you are EVER in the Effington, IL. area, stop in and give them a try. You won't be disappointed.
Awesome food!! Had shrimp, Southern fried chicken... And awesome onion soup! They also have awesome fish and drinks!
(5)
Lucas B.
Love this place!
(5)
C M.
Exceptional in every way! Don't miss this little gem of Illinois. The food is excellently prepared, mostly from locally sourced farms, including their own vegetable and herb garden. The waitstaff is pleasant and knowledgable. The location is idyllic, on a reed-lined pond full of koi and other fish. And they let the kids feed the fish from the deck. Quite entertaining. The wagyu beef meatball starter was perfectly presented in an escargot plate. The meatballs were super flavorful and tender, sitting in a bath of marinara, and covered in hot, stringy, melty cheese. The bread and butter! Crunchy on the outside, light and airy on the inside, the rolls arrive with a light waft of garlic and are topped with sea salt flakes. I chose from their Father's Day special menu. The lobster pot pie was stunningly good. The crust was to die for and the filling was full of lobster. My wife had a pizza that had bacon, ham, sausage, sage, and other delicious toppings. The crust was flaky, puffy, and carried the aroma of the wood fired oven.
(5)
Deborah B.
Delicious food and premier service. I had the steak burger. Beef was so flavorful, French fries were crisp and tasty, even the bun was delicious. SO had salmon - wild caught flown in daily. He's a fisherman and quite Picky about the fish he eats and he said it was out of this world. From the specials menu so may not always be available. Salads were good but the entrees were what gives this Place 5 stars. Shout out to Kelly who made the experience ever more enjoyable with her menu suggestions, pleasant conversation, and unobtrusive/always there when you need her service. Not easy to find but its right off Rte 70. Take a left at the light by the Starbucks and drive to the end of that road.
(5)
Leigh W.
Very well done restaurant. Farm to table is impressive when pulled off well. Inside is comfortable & patio dining is available. Friendly staff & wait staff knew exactly how to describe the entrees and when asked for recommendations our waiter was quick to offer suggestions with a description of the item & how it stands out above other items he even asked our tastes & that was impressive. Menu was very nice & loaded will a lovely selection of steak, seafood & other mouth watering items. We ordered several items to get the experience of the menu since I came here specifically to write a review, it's a hobby & I know my food. French Onion Soup was delicious, Fried Green tomatoes where as well as the shrimp cocktail with homemade cocktail sauce, shrimp where more prawns than shrimp with their size, very nice. Special treat morel mushrooms which when dipped in the dill ranch where very good even if I prefer them not to be battered in corn meal. The Montana mignon was their take on a beef Wellington which was nice in the puff pastry with whipped potatoes & asparagus at $26 it was more $$$ instead of $$ the filet was probably 4oz & meat temperature was perfect. Highly recommend the swordfish it was delicious, served on what was suppose to be a crab risotto however there was no crab & risotto was a tad over cooked. I would defiantly try another steak prob going with the larger filet or the swordfish. Defiantly feel this restaurant excels at fish. Inside decor is relaxing & cocktails are on point. Not a place for children unless you want to spend the money but beautiful place for couples, events, special occasions, girls night, treating your guy to a steak, Etc. nothing else like this unless you head towards St. Louis.
(4)
J R.
Went mid-day for a lunch. I'd say their price range is more $$$ than the $$ posted. The value was there, it was just unexpectedly expensive. Beautiful location, we sat on the porch area, enclosed on a sunny day it was wonderful. Wasn't prepared to pay the high prices for a lunch so had the pizza. Was very good, wonderful crust and creative topping. They had a chocolate souffle for dessert, had to try it. Was worth every penny. A personal size souffle with whipped cream on the side and blackberry ice cream, softened. It took me a good long time to eat it, not because it was so big, but rather because it was worth savoring every mouthful. Service was prompt, a bit excessively inquisitive but perhaps at a crossroads town that's how you do it.
(4)
Mark E.
Best Salmon meal I have ever had. Priced more than most, and certainly more that the $$ rating on Yelp, but worth every penny. Employees love the place and food ... so what not to LOVE especially when love as good as this.
(5)
Michelle S.
What a hidden gem!!! ALWAYS make a point to stop here when traveling through! NEVER a bad meal EVER!!!! Tonight it was dungeness crab purses with a sweet and spicy sour sauce, pork shanks, and Dungeness crab cakes with the most perfectly cooked and seasoned green beans ever. And the focaccia....... Go! You WILL NOT be disappointed.
(5)
Marissa C.
Never disappointed! The chef/owner Niall is good at what he does. The menu is creative and delicious. Nothing else like it in central Illinois. Fresh veggies from the garden drive the menu. I look forward to the pumpkin ice cream coming back. It would be nice if they have a mailing list of when the menu changes because I like trying new things there!
(5)
Patrick B.
This is a great place hidden away in the middle of no where. I have been here 20+ times and the service, food and beer selection is fantastic. Customer took me here 3-5 years ago and I keep coming back. Prices are fair for outstanding food. If your looking for a low price - go to a fast food place. If you want excellent food and a nice break while traveling through the area - go here. Just found the lunch special today for $5 for a hamburger with garlic fries. This place also has fresh morel mushrooms in season.
(5)
Christine A.
We stumbled on this through yelp while traveling. What a wonderful surprise!! This yet again proves our theory that chef run restaurants are successful because of the chefs passion , and it shows. We had the medeterrian appetizer platter. Best focaccia . I had the seabass with risotto-wonderful. My husband has the pork tenderloin. It was delicious. Wine was delicious. Too bad it was dark. I bet the view of the water was wonderful. Will be back when we travel through the area. Chef said hello and he was very nice. Proud of his restaurant, wife who helps run the restaurant & his staff. Andrew did a great job as our server.
(5)
Susan S.
I generally enjoy Firefly, but I was so disappointed with today's Mothers Day brunch. $26 for bread, a shot of a granola parfait, an omelet and potatoes. I could easily have made this at home. Shame on you for excessive pride, Firefly.
(1)
Vanessa T.
Talk about out of place. When I step into Firefly I feel as if I have been transported somewhere urban and hip and forget I am in the middle of nowheresville Illinois.Firefly is extremely convienient for me as I stay 1/4 mile down the street at the Hampton Inn. The chef is as creative and talented as any that you would find in Manhattan. You must get the Chinese steamed buns as an appetizer. I get these every time I am here. The most recent time I visited, I ordered the Firefly steak burger and fried wontons along with the buns. I gobbled everything up and left feeling as I always do, like I ate too much but it was soooo worth it. The atmosphere is fancy but casual as you will see some truck drivers stopping in during their drive probably to order something unique for a change. The furniture and fixtures are classy and modern. I have never eaten on the patio but if you do, you will be able to dine among the beautiful fountain and garden they have created out back. The kitchen is also an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare your food right in front of your eyes. There is also a bar that is semi private as it is blocked by a piece of non-see through glass. The wine list is extensive but the beer list is minimal. Still, they do offer several craft beers which is a nice change from your typical bar beer offerings. If you only eat in one place in Effingham, let it be this place. Unless of course you prefer to eat that the Buffalo Wild Wings down the street or some other overly commercialized local eatary.
(5)
Paul R.
The food was wonderful, but please look out for the substitution policy on the menu. It's there, and small print - small enough that no one can see it. I was able to get a manager to reverse the charges, but I'm frustrated that I had to ask in the first place. It's worth eating here but buyer beware.
(4)
Kathie C.
The 2 $$ were very misleading. The prices are higher than that. Not much you can get for less than $18 and most things are much more. But it did look wonderful. We also stopped in without a reservation. Not a good idea on a Saturday night! But we did get to sit at the counter and watch the cooks and the food going out. We opted for some pizza, as it was one of the few choices under $20. It is a very nice place, but too rich for our blood.
(3)
Shelli A.
This a wonderful little hidden gem in Effingham IL. The food was very good but the service was extremely beyond our expectations. We had a very long day and stopped in Effingham for the night and although they were completely booked for the evening, they made special accommodations for us to enjoy a very nice dinner even with 2 kids. The kids got to go outside and feed the fish while my husband and I got to enjoy an adult beverage. I highly recommend this location to anyone looking for a great meal when passing through Effingham. Thank you
(5)
William D.
Firefly Grill is destination dining in Southern Illinois. This eco-friendly farm-to-table roadhouse features fresh and delicious seasonal fare. Chef Niall's menu and execution are worthy of Chicago, so Firefly is a surprising find indeed for Effingham, Illinois. I don't begrudge Kristie and Niall Campbell charging big city prices in small town Illinois. Obviously their product is in strong demand. If the prices get too high, people will stop coming. With that said, Firefly Grill is definitely a "$$$" restaurant. (I think Yelp has it wrongly categorized as "$$".) The only way to dine at Firefly for less than $30/plate is to have no apps, no alcohol, and no dessert. Though their gourmet burgers, fries, and fried chicken are delicious, I aspire to someday be able to afford some other dishes and drinks. If you are a foodie and you find yourself on I-70 between St. Louis and Indianapolis, stop for dinner at Firefly! Feed the catfish from the dock, stroll in the vegetable garden, and enjoy a first class meal in a pastoral environment. You won't regret it.
(5)
Heidi R.
Having never driven through this part of Illinois before, we were at a loss for a decent restaurant at which to dine until we came across Firefly Grill. Wow. Being from Chicago, we've dined at many an amazing restaurant, and this place could easily compete! Squash blossoms were to die for, filet was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and for someone who doesn't typically like fried food, the fried chicken in vichyssoise sauce was delicious. My 7 year olds ate everything up too (something for this and all restaurants to consider, please stop dumbing down kids menus! They're little people with real taste buds, enough with the chicken strips and cheese pasta, they can and should be eating real food!). Atmosphere and design was beautiful, very clean kitchen and facilities. It's been a rainy summer, so even though their gardens weren't producing that well, they source from a local farmer so still very fresh. If only we lived closer than 4 hours away!
(5)
Lorna J.
Enjoyed the Firefly Grill. Food was good and I loved sitting out by the Koi pond.
(4)
Charlotte L.
Stopped by on our way to Kansas. Sat out on the porch and had a beautiful view. The weather was perfect. Food was fresh and delicious. The fried green tomatoes were great, I haven't had anything like them before. Our waitress and the other staff were attentive and prompt. It was a great place to stop!
(5)
Mary P.
Food was quite excellent, albeit a little on the expensive side. The dish I had was a puff pastry with an very tender filet inside. I loved the mashed potatoes, but the side of asparagus left me underwhelmed. Considering the rest of the meal was quite good, that surprised me. I also had a cocktail with pear juice that was quite delicious.
(4)
Patrick M.
Yelp comes through! This place is super awesome atmosphere. Sat at the bar and had a firefly Steak Burger with Jamie. I won't add a picture because there are a hundred of them on here. It was yummy. Definitely coming back for more. Hopefully I can try something different.
(4)
Jacob S.
I was here on a Monday evening, not that busy some business dinners but for sure not crowded. The restaurant Design & Ambiance was great loved it! Staff was awesome BUT... The food was lacking. Don't get me wrong it was prepared great and presentation was excellent but it was boring. I had the duck two way & my wife had the Sea bass & they both were very bland. It was very safe. Granted it's located in Effingham, il which is not know for its upscale dinning & for the area it's the best, but if you are going to charge Chicago Prices for your food, you better be able to serve food that wows you. I feel like they are okay with providing food that's really good, but not great.
(3)
Mindy H.
Perfect place to celebrate my 55th last night. Love the laid back atmosphere and feeding the fish from the dock while waiting on our table. We knew it was going to be fabulous when we pulled up and saw the gardens of herbs and veggies. The decor is rustic chic. Service was outstanding. Food was to die for. I had the lobster pot pie and bread pudding for dessert. My hubby had the waygu steak. Delicious. My only regret is that we don't live close enough to frequent this place.
(5)
Janeen M.
This place is great! Very cute and clean inside. Close to the highway. Great food, fast and friendly service. Family friendly. And an awesome, clean changing table in the bathroom (we have twin 3 month olds)
(5)
Jewells N.
So, what is this awesome "farm to market" restaurant doing in Effingham, IL ? Really well run, great service, good food. We were totally surprised how good it was. Relaxing atmosphere, service was spot on and food was fresh and good. We went by accident - on our way from Port A tx to MI - it was in town we were going to eat in; thanks to Yelp for the heads up! We had the wood fired pizza - really good; exactly what a wood fired should taste like. We had 2 salads and the pizza - just right for lunch. I had the garden and wife had the Caesar - both were good, Caesar was better. One interesting things was the tables were all made of boos blocks - which are made in Effingham. Worth the stop and if they were in "big city" would be huge hit.
(4)
Julie L.
Business trip took us to Effingham as it does a few times a year. Tucked away off the main drag in Effingham, IL, this restaurant is top notch. Party of two tried the fillet and scallops with risotto. Both were absolutely delicious. Fillet was so tender and the scallops/risotto had a flavor that was out of this world. Our bill was about $150 which included a bottle of wine. Waitress was awesome not only in the service she provided, but with the suggestions she had for us. There are other options should you not want to spend a lot. Burgers were priced at approximately $15 and the menu also offered pizza options. This will absolutely be a stop for us each time our travels bring us to Effingham!
(5)
Janet A.
Everything was beautifully done and food delicious; husband got the halibut [small portion but delicious] and I got the Montana Mignon; again, small portions but really tasty. The smaller portions meant we felt comfortable getting dessert! Shared the brownie sundae which was a large brownie with 6 toppings - wonderful! service was good, loved the "swing" music. A bit pricey but you get what you pay for
(5)
Ashley K.
Service was great. Food is fresh. Stop by for lunch while driving through the area. Shared a margarita pizza and house salad with the white balsamic vinigerette. Delicious with all fresh ingredients. Desert looked really good too, but we were too full. I would definitely recommend eating here if you're near the area or just driving through.
(5)
Scott V.
Traveling through Effingham looking for something different to try and we found it. The food had a great taste but the portions were ridiculously small for the price. After spending $70.00 for two to eat I wouldn't expect to be starving 2 hours later. The place was very clean and a great environment to eat in. Our waitress seemed to be more interested in her friends sitting a couple of booths down as opposed to taking care of us, but the others working that day picked up her slack. Not sure that we'll be going back but overall it was a decent and new experience for us and that is what we were after.
(3)
Erin F.
Our second visit was just as amazing. Their classic burger with a fried egg on top was hands-down the best burger I've ever had. Awesome!
(5)
Joshua C.
I ate dinner here last night, and I must say this is now my favorite restaurant. I had the center cut sirloin and my sweetie had the King Salmon. Worth every single penny. Very attentive staff and pretty good wine list.
(5)
Bruce R.
Went for lunch on a Saturday just as it opened. Cant say enough good things about the service. Out of the gate the staff seemed eager to please, extremely knowledgeable on their dishes and happy to answer any question we might have. I am an appetizer freak and found the selections very interesting (go for the Chinese steamed buns). My only regret was the amount of grease in the calamari. It was delicious but the grease left my wife with an upset stomach (I blamed her for eating too much) but retracted that comment when I got my entree of fried green tomatoes. Breading was as hard as I have ever had a breading and yet was soaked with grease. I felt my stomach churning at the half piece point. Ate one piece and stopped. The remainder of our table was satisfied with their choice. Exception was the breading on the fish and chips fish. Fish itself was great, breading again too much oil. Rib eye steak sandwich was fantastic as was the Ruben. All in all I will definitely go back. I will be a little more careful on my selections.
(3)
Mit M.
This place has the best food and offering south of Chicago. A real garden/farm to table. Presentation, taste, quality all worthy of a five star restaurant. The one valued component that was failed: service. Got the order wrong, limited training and frankly a wait staff more like a Cracker Barrel. Too bad as it killed the experience If they can get this right going forward it will be 5 stars all day long. Bummer
(3)
Keith M.
Oh my Goodness!!! What an awesome find! Saw this written up in a local magazine as we were traveling through & decided to try it for dinner. Oh my oh my! We are already planning a trip back just for dinner (2 hrs from home)! Food service & ambience are all top notch
(5)
Bill L.
When you are traveling from Los Angeles to Boston by car with two dogs, you don't expect to have a meal you'll never forget. We stopped in Effingham, Illinois ( staying at the Fairfield Inn & Suites---great place and Andrea at the front desk is a GEM!), and I asked Andrea for a real restaurant without drive thru service. My partner and I were beat and we deserved a reward for days of journey. Andrea recommended the Firefly Grill. But as we only had shirts and shorts ( nice though) I had her call to make sure it was okay. Sure, come on over...we'll have a table all set. After a quick shower and shave, we went over to discover this oasis. It's tucked in far behind the Starbucks in this beautiful meadow..with a small pond. Impeccably landscaped with native flowers etc. and a vegetable and herb garden attached to the restaurant. SERIOUSLY? In Effingham, Il? The restaurant itself is in the style of a San Francisco version of a roadhouse with wood, glass, steel, and stone. The staff is incredible. They were so welcoming and pleasant and seated us almost instantly. We were in shock. The shock continued as we ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes( Yup---right from their garden outside!). Amazing. Lexie was our server and she was funny, friendly, and Johnny on the spot. I ordered the Ny. Strip and my partner ordered the scallop risotto and each of us had a salad ( me-caesar, him-capriso). With each bite, we stared at each other in absolute amazement. My partner blurted out, " I don't want this meal to end!" The owner Christie ( hope I got the spelling right) came over and we had to crow about what an amazing place this was and the EXCELLENCE of the meal. She told us she was living in San Francisco when she met her now-husband ( a chef ) and after returning to Effingham to settle a late relative's estate, she wondered aloud why there was no place to eat? You can see where this is going, right? Bim Bam Boom...FIREFLY GRILL. Los Angeles should only deserve such a restaurant. This is like a roadhouse for foodies and for anyone who truly loves a meal they deserve..THIS IS IT! I ffgrill.com DO NOT MISS THIS!!!!!
(5)
Spring Chicken Z.
Randomly found this cute place on our LA-NYC road trip. Love this place!!! Friendly staff, our waiter was very nice and helpful:). The crab thingie was very creamy and crabby, the sauce was pretty good too, but the wrapper was touch oily, maybe the oil wasn't hot enough or the temp dropped too much? The bread was very soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. The salad was very fresh, and the anchovies were pretty good. Chicken/waffle was really good! Nice thick waffle with super crispy chicken! The only suggestion would be take out the bone and use all dark meat. The mashed potato was very creamy too. O, love the pumpkin ice cream, interesting texture, thicker than regular ice cream. One thing I have to complain about is the coffee prices, much pricier than Restaurants (even the very nice ones) in LA or NY Would def go back:)
(5)
Sheri R.
Amazing amazing amazing. Visiting from Kansas City. Checked in with Yelp expecting a laundry list of fast food. Low and behold The Firefly. Based on the glowing reviews from Bill L from Angeles California I decided to book a reservation. Yes the food is $$$ for the location BUT don't get hung up on that or you will miss likely one of the meals you will have this year. YES ITS LOCAL, IF NOT GROWN ON THE PROPERTY ITSELF. The service is great, the dirty martini was awesome and so was the wine. Oh, did I mention they were getting a new pastry chef ? I can't wait to come back and try the new desserts. So what are you waiting for? Stop reading my review and make a reservation already.
(4)
Rusty S.
A great place, but first of all--how does this place only get two "$'s" in the Price Range category?? Maybe I'm the poorest Yelper on here, but we're talking $48 steaks here, folks. All the entree's, with the exception of the burger and fries, were over thirty bucks, disappointingly. So, I got the Firefly Steakhouse burger and Caesar side-salad. The bartender recommended the Caesar as they make their own croutons, dressing, and use Grano Padano parmesan cheese. The salad was very good, and had an authentic fresh garlic bite to it--very glad I ordered it. The burger was a "heart-attack" style (looked like about a 1/2-3/4 lb. patty) with bacon, carmelized onions, and a sunny-side-up fried egg on top, served on a pretzel bun with a side of seasoned fries. The burger was cooked perfectly and succeeded in placing me into a nice food coma afterwards. Nothing special about the fries but they were tasty. I liked the restaurant and bar, and would probably go back if I was in the mood for a few drinks and appetizers--the beer and liquor selection looked great.
(4)
Robin B.
Firefly grill would have been near perfect if we didn't have our children with us. The service was good, the owner came over to talk to us and give the kids some food to feed the koi and catfish in the pond out back. I ordered the local burger on a pretzel roll, which I was surprised to see arrived naked. I had to ask for basic condiments like mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. I also had to pay $5.00 to change my side from fries to asparagus, which seems exorbitant to me, considering their costs are the same on the "Sides" menu. The meat was amazing, however, and I could taste a hint of Worcestershire sauce in the burger. I may borrow the pretzel roll idea for myself! My husband thoroughly enjoyed his pork loin over mashed potatoes, with caramelized onions, and the beer that the bartender recommended to pair with the pork. Our two children (who were the only children in the restaurant) had macaroni & cheese (which they did not eat), pizza (which they ate later), and split a large bowl of fruit (which they did not eat). $18.00 just for the kids' food was a good bit to throw away, but we were just coming through Effingham, and not in a position to hire a babysitter. We did not experience the (daytime-only?) popovers that the other reviewers rave about- we had some very crusty and chewy sourdough bread- real, orthodontist's dream-come-true kind of bread. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for a date, special occasion, birthday, or anniversary. Would not recommend for kids. It is comparable in price, atmosphere, and quality to Memphis' own Interim restaurant. Peaks: fresh herb and green garden right on the premises, pond with fish out back, nice views. Pits: expensive to substitute, not the most kid-friendly in the evenings.
(4)
Kit S.
I stopped by for lunch at 3 pm when the restaurant was nearly empty. I asked to sit near the water view but was informed that there were no tables available even though there were many within sight. I ordered the rib eye sandwich which was excellent. The fries were to die for. But before I was even halfway done, my waiter asked me if I had room for dessert, and at 3/4 I'd the way done, the busser asked I'd she could clear my plate, and at 7/8 done, the waiter gave me my bill, "no rush." I haven't stiffed a waiter in a long long time, but the service was rude. Btw I was in and out of there in under a half hour.
(2)
Kathleen M.
We have been to Firefly Grill 4 times and we live about 3 hours away from it. What would inspire this kind of love? Fabulous food! The first time I came here I was stunned by the magnificent menu but later wondered, was it really that good? Was I just comparing it to the area? Was I so happy to stumble upon a non chain restaurant? We decided to try again last fall for brunch on our way home from St. Louis and this past weekend we stopped here for lunch on the way to Memphis and for dinner on our way home. Fabulous each and every time. Weepingly, life changing, magnificent eating. Plan your next road trip on I-57 so you can eat here. The dinners are unbelievable but pricey. However for lunch there was a 5.00 special last Thursday. That beats the price at any fast food restaurant. Firefly Grill, I love you.
(5)
Michael U.
I had heard many good things about Firefly and had the opportunity to eat there while driving from St Louis to Mattoon. Decor was nice and upscale. I ordered sea scallops and risotto and while the food was well prepared I don't feel I received much value. The entree cost $32 and I only received 2 scallops. I think that is much too expensive for what they are offering. They gave me the lame excuse that the portion is based on weight, although the patron next to me told me when he had the dish he was served 5 scallops. They have lost a customer.
(3)
Bob W.
If you are heading up HY 57 to Chicago, stop in Effingham for a gem of a restaurant: FIREFLY GRILL. Lunch or dinner it is OUTSTANDING! Best place we have been to in several years. It is a great find & must stop. Food offered is a wide range and cooked just right. Fish & beef offerings are wonderful. Bread is killer and is the french oinion soup. Very clean place with great service on a small pond. A little expensive but worth every penny. GO AND ENJOY!
(5)
Harpreet C.
A gem. Better than a lot of places in Chicago. 5 stars on food and cocktail presentation.
(5)
Laura S.
Visited two weekends in a row. The building was beautiful and service was good.
(4)
Kay A.
I love the idea of Firefly Grill. It's like a fairy tale when you walk in. The menu is imaginative and inviting. The atmosphere is magical. But, sadly, I wasn't able to really eat much there. I have dairy, soy, and gluten allergies and so need to be very careful with what I eat. They have a so-called gluten-free menu, but it's not actually a gluten free menu. It's a list of dishes for which you can request that items to be taken out and it turns out they offer no substitutions. So, I ordered the burger without the cheese, bun, or fries. I asked if the server if he could give me some extra lettuce and tomatoes since I couldn't have the bun or the fries, and they said no. This really shocked me. In pretty much any restaurant of this calibre the chef would be embarrassed to send a plate out with a hamburger patty on it and nothing else. Don't get me wrong, I understand that it's not the restaurant's fault that I have these allergies, but I went here with such high hopes--especially because I called ahead and asked if they had a gluten free menu and they said yes. It certainly can't cost them extra make a bed of lettuce leaves and place the bun on top of it, with two or three slices of tomatoes. Especially since they're charging for the bun and the fries, but not actually serving them. In the end, the patty was fine, but nothing special. I'll probably go here again, because that's how special the atmosphere is, but I'll make sure to eat dinner before I go and then just have the side salad and wine. So, if you're one of those sorry folks with the gluten-dairy-soy problem don't bother coming here for the food. All you'll be able to eat is a piece of meat, and absolutely nothing else. Which is too bad, since the chef seems to have a great imagination and excellent execution.
(2)
Patrick R.
We stop at Firefly Grill on every trip to STL from INDY. You can always count on the Firefly to have a couple fish specials since their fish is flown in fresh a couple times a week. The specials are always paired perfectly by the chef. I realize that this is Effingham, which is in the middle of the country, and most people are traveling through and are looking to pay McDonalds prices for a 5 star meal, buck-up people, it is well worth it!!
(5)
Angela C.
Just left this restaurant. Excellent! It seemed a little pricey, but I'm willing to pay extra for good food. I ordered the Halibut which came with a tomato and cucumber salad. Ordered the risotto on the side just because I love risotto. Had the crab purses for an appetizer. Had the peach shortcake for desert. Everything was superb. The service was also excellent. I am just sorry I don't live here and was just driving through. Well i went here for sunday brunch and was disappointed in the service and the food so had to downgrade and say dont go on sunday
(4)
Leslie S.
Excellent! Awesome atmosphere! Highly recommend starting out with onion rings! Can't go wrong with anything on the menu, Great brunch selection. Something for everyone!! :)
(5)
Cindy D.
After seeing the Firefly Grill on the Delicious Destinations list we decided to stop by on our way home from St. Louis. The food and service were excellent. The service had the quality of a city but with the friendliness of a small town. We had the pizza, which was excellent. The raspberry soda was wonderful. I hope to go back during the day in the summer or fall because I understand it has a nice view.
(5)
Tommy B.
mic experience right off of 57. To say that I was surprised by the caliber of the kitchen, the creativity of the dishes and the lovely & aesthetic feel of the room, it would be a huge understatement. If you are a weary traveler desperate for some respite from the road, Firefly is a glorious reward for your car-tired body & eyes. Firefly is a real restaurant for real foodies. Thereare straight ahead burgers, fries etc. for those who want it steady & delicious, and if you want something a little more varied, go deeper in the menu or try the daily specials. The wine list is thoughtful & informed. The bar is unbelievably cool. If you are traveling on 57, this is a must stop kind of place. Firefly is a culinary gem. I gave them the 5th star for two reasons. 1- some of the dishes really are that amazing 2- the element of surprise - they must care so much to deliver such an incredible experience in Southern Illinois.
(5)
Joya H.
What a wonderful surprise on our drive from Texas to Michigan! The restaurant itself is beautiful. Add the enclosed patio overlooking kids feeding fish on the pond and deer in the field at sunset, was a nice touch, wow! The house salad and bread with fresh garlic and oil were delicious. My husband and I both ordered off the chef's specials. He had a pork shank, fall off the bone tender, perfectly seasoned, and with an excellent presentation. I had the Alaskan Halibut, which was cooked perfectly and served with squash grown on the premises. Thank you Yelpers for such a terrific find. We won't pass by without stopping again.
(5)
Levent T.
Rule of thumb: Any reviews that mention how wonderful this place is because they are comparing it to what one may find in Effingham...deduct one star for that review. Now I say this *not* to be pretentious, but, because I almost gave them a Whoohoo! for the same reason. The restaurant and atmosphere is stylish, hip and welcoming. The staff extremely attentive, attractive and friendly. The food is pricey but the quality + service + facility = the damages. Side salad was fresh and enough for two to share. The scallop risotto was tasty and the cut I had for my seared tuna was one of the largest I've ever received table side, however, for $30+ it better, right? The tuna was cooked perfectly to my request of near sashimi style and the asparagus still had some crunch. My only complaint was that the sauce it came with was too sweet and that the noodles were a step above ramen. Still I would so go back to dine when in the area.
(4)
Drew G.
The staff is very rude. My sister and I stopped here on a road trip after seeing the billboard. The hostess who sat us was rude. We waited 20 minutes for a server. No one stopped at our table. There were plenty of servers walking by or talking at the bar or host-stand. We eventually got up and left. It was extremely insulting. Pretentious, rude, cold. Save your time and go somewhere else.
(1)
Kevin M.
Eat here. Now! If you are within driving distance, get in your car and get over here.
(5)
Jeff H.
Ok, no doubt this place gets a 5* rating. This was an INCREDIBLY pleasant surprise considering I was stuck in Effingham for the night. Given past stays in Southern Illinois (see my reviews of Mount Vernon) I was pretty sure that Effingham would be a culinary wasteland of Applebees, TGI Fridays, Buffalo Wild Wings and other standard highway exit chain restaurants. And if I hadn't checked Yelp, I would have never found this option, because it is sort of out in the middle of a field, though not far from the highway. Just in an area all by itself. But what a find it was.... Driving over, I wasn't sure I had turned the right way. I was driving out into the dark away from the rest of the highway exit buildings... but then just another half mile or so along, I saw the building. Though it was dark outside, the building is all glass and timber with a tin roof. Very warm looking inside with big high ceilings and a country setting with fields all around. Very inviting as you are driving up. Went inside and found an inviting, open space with tables in the middle, a bar at one end and the kitchen at the other. Took a spot at the bar and reviewed the menu which was amazing. From the decor to the menu filled with locally sourced items and creative food combinations, this place would fit in perfectly in Sonoma or Napa. And of all places it is in Effingham, Illinois! There were tons of interesting things on the menu, but I just had the wild mushroom soup (local mushrooms), the 5 oz filet and a side of grilled asparagus. As opposed to most midwestern meals, this was about quality, not quantity so it was refreshing to get good food with reasonable portion sizes. All food was done perfectly and I finished with the bread pudding with caramel sauce and pumpkin ice cream. I'm guessing many people would be pissed off at the relatively tiny size of the dessert, but it was perfect. Great flavors in a size that doesn't add 1000 calories to your meal. I can't recommend this place highly enough if you ever find yourself in Effingham. Great decor and warmth, great menu, friendly service and I would imagine great pastoral scenery if you are there for lunch or in the early evening when it is still light out.
(5)
D M.
Good, clean - but a little expensive for what you get. I'd say these were comparable to Times Square prices for steaks... And burgers. Kids had a blast the waitstaff made sure of that. Did I say the place was clean? Well it was and very worth the trip, even though we had to sell our car to afford it. Thought the popovers were a nice touch.
(4)
John F.
Expensive but worth it-it's a monopoly without a competitor here. Extensive, overpriced wine list; Rombauer chardonnay was $10 more than at the Cottage Place in Flagstaff. Good service. Very, very noisy. My lobster stew was quite good, with plenty of lobster. Wedge salad was huge, and very tasty. We'll return. Entrees are steep.
(4)
Dane K.
In a sea of TGIF's and Cracker Barrel nastiness, Firefly is a bit of a hidden gem featuring local more sustainable cuisine. I've only "carried out" twice but for carry out it's a good option if you're passing Effingham on i57 / i70, they're about two blocks off of exit 160. It's a better carry out option for lunch than dinner, as their dinner menu is decisively more upscale. At lunch there are a wide range of sandwiches/salads, at dinner the entrees range $14-30, averaging somewhere in the middle (and there are some steaks that are a bit more $ I think). Their prices on sandwiches are pretty reasonable. On my last visit it was "dinner" and it was carry out and I was driving, so I needed a sandwich... And the only real sandwich on the menu was a burger, which I didn't really want but the alternative was going to a Hardees drive through. Actually it was a burger with gruyere and a side of fresh green beans... $10. It was one of the best burgers I've had in a long time, and perfect for the road. It turned out to be a really great decision. I forgot to specify condiments so it didn't really have any ketchup/mustard/mayo or anything, but it didn't need it. I don't know what the juicy goodness was flavored with, but it was pretty awesome. I did ask for avocado, but it appears this wasn't heard as I wasn't charged for it nor was it on my burger. My other visit I had a chicken caesar wrap. It was good, the wrap kind of absorbed all of the dressing though. They have house made chips that are pretty tasty too. I used to think this was kind of a hidden gem but now they have billboards, and every time I pass the highway the billboards seem to get bigger. Good for them I guess. The building they're in is absolutely beautiful! It reminds me of some modern meets barn wineries I've been to. A can't miss if you're eating in Effingham. Accepts reservations and they're on Opentable.
(5)
Dan C.
Great restaurant. Wish it was close to home. Corn Chowder was probably the best soup we ever had.
(5)
Greg J.
wow! In the middle of no-where; Effingham , Illinois, more known for truck stops then great food, is a real gem I cant say enough about the place. I travel weekly all over the US with an expense account to wine and dine clients and came across this restaurant last year. After 5 impressive visits, I have got to tell everyone to go. Its a bit expensive for the area, but I can guarantee a great meal. They use a lot of local grown items according to the menu so the meals change in the season. Try this one and you can thank me later..
(5)
Sally L.
We loved this restaurant and would recommend to any and everyone!! The food was delicious and the service fast and friendly. I had one of their hamburgers and it was to die for along with the garlic French fries..
(5)
Becky S.
Absolutely love this place! Ate here last August for the first time, and again last night. The second time was even better than the first! Last night I had a greek salad and the red Margherita pizza. The produce was so fresh, it was hard to believe it hadn't just been picked from their garden! I had the Tiramisu for dessert - one of the best I've ever had.
(5)
amy c.
this place is like an oasis in the midst of crap for food central - the usual mcD, BK, LJS, etc. Its not right on the road with those god awful tacky neon signs blinding you while you're trying to drive at night. Its down a long road in a barn or "remodeled" barn really. Reclaimed wood, veg garden - all the makings of a tree huggers wet dream. they also use those compostable/recyclable take out containers (yay extra points!) The interior is nice - more of the spare, rustic feel with the owners black and white wedding pictures everywhere - apparently they had new england lobster bake yum yum. Its one big open space with a long bar towards that back and some more tables behind the bar that are a little more cozy I guess. crab rangoon - I don't really know what this food is, its def not asian. I've never had it before but basically its cream cheese folded inside a twisted pastry square and deep fried. no crab involved. not disgusting but not good either. flatbreads - so tasty, esp the california one with avocado. sometimes too much cheese to the point that its overwhelming but I can't blame them for catering to their audience. this is the midwest i suppose. crab and avocado salad - fishy. ew. serves me right (serves me wrong, actually) for ordering seafood this far from the coasts. seriously, could you be any farther from the oceans? pork chop - locally raised (yay!) and the size of your head and your mama's head combined. HUGEE. simple. well cooked. great steaks. There is a private room here for like 12 ppl i think. the light fixture is made of antlers. Welcomes to the midwest.
My first review but I wanted to warn people about this restaurant. If you enjoy paying too much for skimpy portions and rude service this is the restaurant for you. The atmosphere is far from romantic, we laughed when they seated us, reminded us of a kiddy table in the middle of a cafeteria. I love a nice Chardonnay, they just had one by the glass so I ordered it, it was $10.00 for a small glass, it was poor quality and I mentioned it to the waitress, her comment was, "what do you expect when you order a house wine." My husband had the steak, he could not believe how small it was, came with runny bland mashed potatoes. The bread was excellent, so for $100.00 we had some good bread and had the pleasure of being insulted by our waitress. This restaurant challenges you to tell the king he has no clothes.
(1)
Kelly J.
I have stopped here several times while traveling and I have made the 60 mile trip from my home to eat here and it has always been excellent. Service has always been great and anytime that I have had any question about the menu, the servers immediately know everything about the dish. I will travel an hour away to eat here many times in the future!
(5)
Tonya A.
I get that this fine dining experience is a diamond in the rough for the area, however, I think it is over-hyped. Warning, if you believe all the hype you will be sorely disappointed. The food was okay, nothing great. We had the red sauce pizza (wouldn't want it again), shells and cheese (so bland), crab cakes (2 for $22, would get those again as nothing else on the menu sounded appetizing), garlic fries (nice and hot- two thumbs up). The service was ok, our server knew we were going to the evening show and we were still rushed to get our ticket, pay and arrive on time for the show. I liked that were served water from a tall bottle and were able to keep it at the table. The dinning room is one large open room and very noisy with club music playing from the bar area. I would not recommend this as a date place at all, not cozy for an intimate dining experience. Side note - If you are looking for a fine dining experience like you would find in the city, well this is probably your place.
(2)
Dawn H.
My fiance and I decided to have a relaxing weekend at his parents' lakehouse in Effingham this weekend, and after watching several hours of college football, we were hungry. We did a Yelp search, saw this place had great ratings, and decided to hit it up. The food breakdown: 1) onion rings (more like straws, good heaping full, 3 stars) 2) popcorn coconut shrimp (the coconut foam and breading they serve with this dish are disgusting, 0-1 stars) 3) crab rangoon (more slimy cream cheese than crab, 2 stars) 4) meatballs (the absolute best part of the meal, 4 stars) 5) brownie sundae (meh, 3 stars) So why the 2 star rating? The service was awful. It took 10 minutes after finishing our water glasses until they were refilled. They served our appetizers without the accompanying sauces, and it took 10 minutes to flag down the server to bring this to her attention. It was 15 minutes between the appetizer order and the entree order. No, the restaurant wasn't bustling (it was only halfway full). No, there wasn't a shortage of servers that night. We could never figure out what all the delays were about. Summary: average food, slow service
(2)
XO K.
It's been awhile since i have eaten at Firefly Grill, but every time I have had the pleasure of dining there, the experience has been nothing short of fantastic. The food is unbelievably good, especially given the town itself and how "out of the way" it is. That said, this place could flourish in Chicago, if the owners were so inclined.
(5)
Thom E.
This place is much more than expected! In season, they grow much of their own produce. Everything made from scratch, including buns, hot sauce, and fries.
(4)
Mark E.
Really great restaurant in a sea of chains. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the staff was extremely friendly, and the food was delicious. They have a fresh garden next to the restaurant where all the vegetables are grown. I had the mushroom and white cheese pizza. It. Was. DELICIOUS!! The fried green tomatoes were great as well. The only down side was the wait. We waited at our table a very long time to get our food. But overall, very very good.
(4)
Ken J.
So, to say that I was pleased to find a restaurant with the sort of look and feel that I'd come to expect in venues in much larger locales, would be an understatement. I read the reviews and was quite excited to try it, but it didn't quite live up to expectations. First the good: The place looks the part -- open, airy, modern and rustic, you know, exposed wood everywhere but all flat surfaces covered with something shiny be it aluminum, stainless, or glass, and those nifty hanging halogen lamps. The ceiling is natural, not drop, and I'd imagine the place could get loud, but we were there on a Thursday and it was fine. The wine/beer selection is adequate in that they have something for everyone but having more wines available by the glass wouldn't kill them, so that was somewhat limited. The menu is truly impressive and the selections are world class: Mostly local, organic, and artisanal meats and produce, with listings on the menu of the source of each, and most of the produce seems to come from their own garden/farm. Very cool. So you can easily see how I was excited. I ordered the braised pork shank (a special) and the client got a pork loin chop (regularly on the menu). Now, I've had pork shank before and it should be one of the most flavorful of meats, so to find that mind was bland and uninspiring was very disappointing. It was as though the chef had completely forgotten about the existence of salt (or any other seasoning for that matter). It came served on a bed of whipped potatoes (also bland and unseasoned) with a side of brussels sprouts which I typically perceive as an abomination unto God. However, these were served with bacon (everything, especially brussels sprouts, is better with bacon) and they were actually, GASP, good. I'd initially asked our waitress if I could swap them out and she said yes, but she'd have to charge me for an extra side. WTF?! But back to this in a moment. The shank was perfectly cooked, but lacked any flavor except the natural pork -- maybe that was the intent, but I hardly think so. I'd tried to order something like a small tossed salad, but it doesn't exist, and the server didn't volunteer to have the kitchen make me one and charge me for an additional side. Bad. The client enjoyed her pork chop and said it was excellent. And it looked it: Large, moist, thick, and juicy all the way through. I believe it came with local fall veggies and those too looked good and fresh. So, back the whole "gotta charge you for substitution" thing. Look folks, there is NO reason, ZERO, not to allow substitutions. It doesn't cost you money. And for the prices you charge, which, by the way, are equivalent to Chicago prices, you can certainly afford to make the switch. This really sticks in my proverbial craw: If you're going to charge those prices, then I expect an equivalent level of service. And I didn't get it. I'll be back, but I'm hoping it's better next time. And that the chef remembers where he put the salt.
(3)
Melanie F.
What a great find while traveling through Illinois thanks to Yelp! Great atmosphere and food! The ribeye could've used a little more flavor to it but everyone else had wonderful meals! Really enjoyed the swordfish.
(5)
Kathy S.
Very cool place...slow service...a little pricey. Server was awkward....
(3)
Guy I.
Wow. I haven't looked at every review here but I bet many of them that are written by out-of-towners wonder just how this restaurant survives and thrives in Effingham, IL. Coming from the west suburbs of Chicago I doubt a fantastic restaurant like this would attract the clientele in my area. There must be some things about Effingham I don't know. But I do know that I sure wish I had this gem closer to my home. Upon my arrival I was thrilled-maybe stunned-when I saw their drink menu. Singapore Sling? Classic rum drinks? If I could even get a drink named Singapore Sling in Chicago, which I can't, I'm sure I'd find it to be kool-aid and vodka. Their version was absolutely 100% accurate to the original. (Need I say again, IN EFFINGHAM IL!) I was with a wedding party with a set menu. The salads and main courses were as great as I would have expected. Overall I was just blown away to find a place like this in Effingham. Sounds crazy, but we're going to plan another trip back to the area simply to dine at this restaurant again. Fantastic place.
(5)
Nina U.
What an amazing place nestled in a little nook. Firewood is stacked out front. Sit on the front porch, off a little lake in the screened in back porch, or at a nice table inside with light dinner music, where are we? Effingham? no way. It feels like I'm sitting outside on the bayou. Don't think I would wear shorts but also don't think they would care if you did. Started with some light fresh fried green tomatoes and for this type of food, it's definitely listed at reasonable prices. Pisco sour was light and too easy to drink. Yum. I'll have another please. The Thai Beef Curry was also interesting and good but with my delicious cocktails I think I would go with something different next time to pair better with my drinks that I just couldn't part with. Try the coconut creme brulee with pistachios, whipped cream and a little scoop of mango sorbet. Quite delectable. Some times the best places are where you least expect them.
(5)
Beth J.
Everything about this place deserves a five. We had lunch specials. Butternut squash soup was great, as well as the French onion soup. I had a spinach salad with grilled chicken. The chicken was great. Tender and moist. Hubby had steak burger on pretzel bun. The bread was awesome. The waitress was nice and attentive. We were traveling thru Effingham to Nashville. I am so glad we found this place. Thank you yelp!!
(5)
Jim K.
This was our first visit to Firefly Grill and we went to celebrate our anniversary. The busy part of Ave of Mid America seems to go in the opposite direction from the restaurant, so having the name on the roof was a help in locating it. We had reservations and were seated immediately. The servers all seem to have been trained to assist one another. We asked for a minute before we ordered and a second server asked if there was a problem that he might assist. My wife and I are constantly watching the amounts of food we eat, so we shared an appetizer of about 2 1/2 doz. PEI muscles. We also shared a wedge if lettuce salad with a wonderful blue cheese and bacon dressing. We ordered a 15 oz prime quality filet, medium. It was cooked to perfection. Service was attentive, but not overbearing. The prices were commensurate with the quality of the food and service. Atmosphere was lacking. Tables seemed small for two couples. It also has a very high ceiling which lacks any effort of noise abatement. We live an hour and a half away and that's a long drive for dinner, but I'll find another reason to go back.
(4)
Katie M.
First trip the food was fantastic. Second time around was not so hot. Started with the tomato, mozz, and basil salad. The tomatoes, touted as "heirloom", were under ripe and tasted no better than your average grocery store grape tomato. Basil leaves were left whole and managed to overpower each bite. $6 for a half order, aka 5 bite salad, is severely overpriced. The chicken with white asparagus risotto was over the top rich. It was screaming for acid. The fried duck egg and pancetta pinwheel were just unnecessary. The skin was perfectly crisp and could have been tasty but heavy handedness with sea salt left parts of the dish inedible. Greatly dissappointed on my second trip.
(2)
Sara D.
I've enjoyed reading the other reviews for Firefly, many people commenting how this restaurant is in the middle of nowhere. Sheesh, people, this is a farming community! People want local produce and products, alas, here it is! Are we not worthy of a restaurant to showcase local agriculture? :) This is a delicious and innovative restaurant. I've been to Firefly many times over the past couple of years- the menu is seasonal and changes fairly often. Some things that stand out from previous meals: pork chops, steaks, and crab cakes...the brick oven pizzas are also tasty, although I can't remember specifically which ones I have tasted. The decor is very modern, with a high ceiling and open bar in the mid-back of the restaurant. The only criticism would be that sometimes the restaurant can get super loud. And by all means, if you are in the Effingham area, get off the interstate and main roads. There are some local wineries, cool countryside, and nice people to see.
(5)
bobbi n.
Growing up in the area, Effingham was where we went if we wanted to see a movie or visit a McDonalds or go to Wal-Mart. Effingham's mall's anchor store was a Rural King. I remember when we were excited that Effingham got a TGI Fridays....but we couldn't complain, because in reality, Effingham was the "big city" and much much much more exciting than where we were coming from. Needless to say, there was definitely nothing like the Firefly Grill when I lived there. Not that it would have mattered, because the greatness of this restaurant would have been lost on my teenage palette. I'm just happy that it's here now and that my parents seem intent on bringing my husband and there every time we come to visit. As Ben Folds implies in his song about the town, Effingham is place that you drive past while trying to get somewhere else. With the gigantic white cross, it's hard to miss, but with more truck stops per capita then I have seen anywhere else in my travels, it's easy to pass up. But if you find yourself driving through Effingham on I-57 or I-70, it's really worth a visit to this restaurant, especially considering that your most refined option for more than an hour in any direction is a Hardee's. The best meal that I've had there was a sweet corn lobster bisque (photo posted) although the tuna was a very close second. It was without a doubt, the best bisque i've ever had....okay, it was the only bisque I'd ever had, but it was "I am now a girl that gets lobster bisque cravings" good. If you didn't know, they actually have a garden out back and grow their own vegetables. The waiter let me know that the sweet corn in that dish was picked that day. Delish! Although it's located in the most unlikely of places (specifically behind an athletic shoe store - take a left at the steak 'n shake), it's definitely worth the stop. Hopefully it's a sign of more to come from this town.
(5)
Sharon P.
My boyfriend and I decided to try Firefly because it was reviewed highly on Yelp as one of the more upscale restaurants in Effingham, Illinois- a town home to mostly fast food-type places. The building itself was very impressive as we approached it. The interior was also well-designed and it looked like we were going to have a great meal. Then the hostess seated us at the worst table in the whole place- a table where there shouldn't have even been a table. And the worst part was that there were several good tables open and available (at least 7 to 10) that looked lovely. It was pretty rude. Our food was only half decent- nothing special. We expected something a lot better for our $22 entrees (lobster pot pie). Our waiter was very nice- hence the one star. The seating really pissed me off. Applebee's would have been better value and less disappointing.
(1)
Fred J.
The fish really is fresh, and the preparations are excellent. It may be the only place to eat in Effingham that's high end, but you could eat there three nights a week and be happy. Great pizzas, steaks, and unusual fish preparations. And a damn fine hamburger too!
(4)
Jessica O.
I am a country girl at heart. Born and raised in the North Shore of Chicago, I still go weak in the knees at the sight of BBQ or sweet corn, etc. When my sweetheart drove me down to the middle of nowhere on my birthday and we got off the expressway to see Steak and Shakes and Ruby Tuesdays all around I was not expecting to get a flippin' gourmet meal. This place is beyond words cute and chic. It looks like a rehauled pole barn complete with tin roof, but the atmosphere from the hella-high ceilings and the menu is great. They grow some of their own produce, bake their own breads, fly in fish fresh, and make their own salad dressings. We were sat on the beautiful little porch on their little pond in the back complete with up-lighted ambiance. We ordered the portabello mushroom which was broiled with garlic, parmesan cheese, and escargot and served with a fresh crusty baguette. Then we had the fried green tomatoes which were perfect on their own. We each ordered the New York strip steak with garden salads and I had the sweet corn which came from a farm down the street. Our server, Larry, was prompt, and perfectly attentive to each detail and recommended the banana cake with cream cheese frosting and home-made banana ice-cream. This meal cannot be replicated... it was amazing, and it might be worth the drive down to Effingham. :0)
(5)
Jim P.
I am from Effingham and this is the first time back to Fire Fly in 6 months due to the cost. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they have dropped their prices. More food was included with the main dish too. It would great if they would add a salad too. The drink prices are comparable to any travel city. Getting better and more likely to come back more frequently. Thanks Niall and Kristie.
(3)
Denise S.
Today while I was on business in Effingham, IL I stopped by for lunch and dinner at the FireFly. It is a beautifully decorated restaurant. The old wood that runs throughout the outside and inside is really lovely. At lunch we were seated out on the covered porch. We overlooked the pond with the koi etc. swimming close by. I selected the bowl of Butternut squash soup with crème fresch and crisped sage. It was nice and creamy but really lacked flavor from either the broth base and or maybe some salt. Next I opted for the Effingham burger. The burger was nice but nothing that would warrant a return for. Now the French fries parmesan, lemon, garlic were extraordinary. Loved them. The service was fine and the place was filled with several customers. Due to business I had to stay overnight and opted to try FireFly for dinner. I decided to sit at the galley bar in the kitchen. Figured I would not take up a table for more customers. It took entirely too long for someone to come and wait on me. Finally someone came with menu. I started with the tuna sushi roll. It was good but you could barely find the tuna. Then I ordered the special lobster with pappadella and lobster broth. Let's say it's less than stellar. Now I know I am in Effingham so I was pleasantly surprised that I had something more to choose from than the cracker barrel. The pasta was just bland and missing flavor. I asked for additional parmesan just to get it some flavor. No salt offered on table. I ordered a side of Brussels sprouts which were probably the best thing I had. Someone flavored them so no need to add anything. I then order an espresso which was lukewarm and the brioche pear bread pudding was good as well. The ice-cream scoop of pumpkin was pretty good. The atmosphere was beautiful so I would come back and try the wood fired pizzas that looked really good.
(3)
Heidy C.
the manager contacted me after reading the review and was kind enough to offer a gift certificate which i accepted. it was extremely nice of him and showed that he really cares about the experience that the guest experiences. I would go back and try it again when i'm in the area
(3)
Angela J.
Effingham... I'm effing amazed. I was shocked to find this place when driving through the area. A beautiful place with lots of great local food and fresh seafood. We had fish soup, burgers, Bolognese, and stroganoff, which were all delicious. A bit pricey, but not out of line with what you get. I will certainly be stopping back next time I'm around!
(4)
Dan N.
I've been here about 6-8 times over the past year or so, and Firefly Grill has become one of my favorite restaurants over that time. The menu changes with the season, the food is fresh (seafood flown in overnight, meat from local farms, produce from their own garden), and the restaurant is a cool place to eat (on a lake, relaxing atmosphere). For Central IL, the seafood is second to none--always a wide variety and always really good. I would definitely recommend the seafood or something from the "special considerations" portion of their menu--I've had a steak here once, it was fine, but you are better of going with one of the more "unique" options. I've never had any apps here, but they look incredible. If you go to Firefly Grill, take this advice: --Sit at the bar --If Mike is bartending, ask him what's good tonight --Follow his advice and enjoy your meal --If you get a salad (or firefly onion rings) they have housemade honey mustard and housemade blue cheese--both are amazing!
(5)
David K.
Very funny story how I came upon this restaurant. I was on a road-trip and saw a billboard sign on I-70 that said "Firefly Grill". First, I thought it would be a typical Midwest BBQ place, but boy was I wrong. This restaurant is tucked away from the highway and the main street, in an oasis of its own. It was just by chance I came to this restaurant and I'm extremely happy that I did. The restaurant is an organic based restaurant with their own garden. The ambiance is incredible. Firefly Grill has a deck and pond in the back side, and a fire-pit on the porch. I ordered Braised Kurobuta Pork Shank and it was excellent. It was so well cooked that the meat just pulled right off the bone. The pork came on a bed of split peas and roasted kale (grown from their garden). The service was great also. The hostess and the waiter were hospitable. The restaurant closes at 8pm on Sundays. However, I arrived about 8:30pm and they were still willing to serve me. I would definitely recommend this place to anybody who would love a hidden gem.
(4)
Ken H.
This is a gem in the town. Great food. great people. great vibe. I was in town for 5 days, and I ate every meal here, except for 1 dinner. They don't serve breakfast, or I'd be there, too. It's that good. It's simple American food. But very nicely done with fresh and very good ingredients. I had tuna burger, fish taco, fish and chips, pork shank, coq au vin, lava cake, chocolate moulin rouge, banana cake, spicy wings... Pretty much everything is very good. Most of them are not complicated, but I love the simply delicious quality food that they provide dish in and dish out. I also love the fact that they change menu almost weekly based on the fresh ingredients they get. I had too many dishes to grade dish by dish. Here's some highlight: Deserts I had were all great. Like Great. If you are remotely a dessert person. give them a shot. It's worth it. All the seafood I had were very fresh. I also like how the chef let the food shine without over season them. Pork shank was vey tasty. Very juicy and flavorful. My kind of food. This is a restaurant that will be love in anywhere of the country. If you are around the town. stop by this place and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Peter P.
This is the real deal. Creative cooking by people who care. Beautiful room, interesting menu, competent staff - Firefly is awesome. There is no place I have found in downstate Illinois that is its equal. We drive 60 miles to dine here, and it is worth it.
(5)
The P.
Solid, not amazing. The boar bangers and mash were quite nice. The desserts, however, were overly sweet and unbalanced.
(3)
David M.
I have to give FF only 4 stars because I was only there for lunch, and could not imbide....their beer / wine selection looked good but the proof is in the pudding...or the pint, as the case may be I was very impressed...for Effingham but this place would be a success (and much more expensive) in Chi-town.... I had the grilled scallops and pea risotto...very very good....along a well spiced but not overspiced chicken tortilla soup....excellent... my lunch partner had the chicken pot pie (hey, she's from Springfield, cut her some slack...) which she said was also excellent... Would like come back some evening (yeah, I know, on my way to........) and sample the beer list... but that is for a future time.... bottom line....wonderful....way to go Effingham....
(4)
Ellen E.
My fiance decided to take me to Firefly for my birthday this evening. We made the trip down to Effingham from Champaign given that we had heard that they serve excellent food and boast an accomodating staff at Firefly Grille. The server, can't recall his name, immediately wished me a Happy Birthday, and explained some of the entrees. We ordered cocktails and shortly after they arrived the server came to take our order. I asked my fiance what he was having and he said the sea bass, so I proceeded to order something different than that so that in case one of us wasn't pleased, we could switch. Told the server no thanks on salads, which somehow was interpreted as my fiance saying he wasn't eating at all. My entree came out a reasonable time after, but as a former server, I was confused as to why the food runner placed my meal at the center of the table. TWENTY MINUTES later someone finally stopped by and asked if I wanted my untouched meal boxed up. When we said we were still waiting for our other entree our server came by to tell us he misunderstood and that it was on its way. My plate of food continued to sit there and finally another 25 minutes later the server came and took my plate. We had to be back in Champaign so at this point we had to just tell him we needed both plates boxed up. Such a different experience than expected, we had planned on wonderful meals followed by dessert. Instead we sat at the restaurant for over an hour to eat bread, and have to wait until we drove the hour and a half home to eat $35 meals reheated. (spoiler alert: seafood is terrible after being cooked twice) The server did end up not charging us for the sea bass, so in the end this far from spectacular experience cost us over 150 miles of travel and $58 (68 with tip) My birthday wish=I wish I could take back this complete waste of a night.
(1)
Jeremy S.
This place I love to go to when traveling. It has a wonder full setting off the interstate, easy to get to but well hidden. It's not your normal meal. They have a great menu of fresh food, and always a special on the blackboard. In my many trips to this place, I have never had a disappointment. The wait staff is both knowledgeable and courteous. They love your feedback on the meal. I had the "island girl" pizza. Jen had the "best Ruben I ever ate" ... The cranberry tamale with caramel was a savory sweet treat to end the meal with!
(5)
Paul J.
Every trip to Firefly Grill has been an experience to remember. The servers are always extremely friendly and happy to offer information about the dishes. My partner and I always plan on spending the entire evening here - starting with an appetizer or two, moving on to the entree, and then sharing one of their incredible desserts. The decor is sleek and modern. More ambient lighting would be a nice touch, and might make the space feel more intimate. It can be loud and crowded at times... But those are just minor quibbles - I've never had such wonderful, unique, freshly-prepared food outside of Chicago. It's a rare treat to have perfectly cooked buttery scallops served over risotto - and, in Effingham?! (I mean no offense to the people of Effingham!) One of the best!!
(5)
Roy D.
Service tonight was very poor. Sat on the outdoor patio, very nice, but had to go get a service person to take a drink order which never came. Errors were made on drinks, salads and entrees, they could not even clear the table properly, trading dirty dishes with our entree dishes. Very poor
(1)
Natalie W.
I only hope a broken down car is not the reason I return to firefly grill. When you pull up (even in the dead of winter) the landscaping is lovely !! You can't really see the pond in the dark but i imagine dinner on the patio with that view is awesome. Then you go inside and the decor is a modern rustic but very polished. Very pretty. Then they bring the bread ...... OMG .... Delicious.... Warm .... Goodness We started with a spinich salad with almonds and a goat cheese croquette. I mean they had me at goat cheese but to make it a little fried ball of yum was even better. Then we both had a steak. My NY strip was cooked perfectly ( hubbys was a smidge under the medium he ordered but he said it was great) and had a ton of flavor. Sides of penne & cheese and asparagus were simple but very well done !!! Dessert was banana cake (after reading other yelpers talk about it) with banana ice cream and it was effing fantastic. Our server was attentive without being in your face. The cocktail menu looked amazing (too bad we had to drive back to stl) ... So who wants to volunteer to be my designated driver for my next visit ??? My reason for only 4 stars is that it's 90 miles away ..... So if you have to break down on the side of the interstate. .. My advice is pick Effingham !!
(4)
John E.
All I can say is WOW. Not sure why this place is out in the middle of nowhere but you really should stop by if you're anywhere nearby. Very very good restaurant. I only wish we could have stayed for dinner but we were driving through and had an amazing lunch!
(5)
Dave J.
Unbelievable food! An oasis of top notch food amidst a plethora of truck stops and fast food franchises! My wife and I stopped here on a road trip between Carbondale and Chicago. It's a bit tricky to find, but you'll be glad you did! Nice contemporary decor, with a full bar. Friendly staff, but a bit inexperienced. What is going on in the kitchen is pure magic. I had a cheeseburger with bacon, one of the best ever! Instead of fries, I asked for a substitute of roasted fingerling potatoes, and I'm so glad I did. My wife ordered the half chicken, locally produced on an Amish farm, and it was fantastic as well. What really impressed me was...the corn risotto, which came as a side with the chicken. WOW! Unbelievably delicious! There's steaks, fish, chicken, and pork on the menu. I highly recommend this place. You wouldn't think a restaurant of this quality and sophistication would be located off an interstate highway with all the truck stops, and fast food places around. I'm glad it's here and I'll be back, for sure!
(5)
Jason D.
Delicious! Loved the taste and range of flavors available, from the guilty pleasure fresh cut fried onion rings appetizer with homemade honey mustard, to the delicious fresh Dungeness crab cakes, and the awesome "chocolate peanut butter cup" dessert, everything was wonderful. Also loved the atmosphere and friendly, attentive service! Well worth the 65 min. drive from Champaign!
(5)
Joe V.
Great place, although on the opposite side of Keller rd. it shows it's located on one side.. but in fact its misleading.. as a lot of places are that I have found in my travels and researching them on any map.
(4)
Cami R.
First off let me say I am not a food snob. I have a love for good food and price is not a restriction if the food warrants it. Also let me say that both of us have worked in the service industry and always give service peeps the benefit of the doubt. That said I was glad to see Dawn B.'s review of only two stars. We came in from St louis and the reviews here seemed outstanding so we gave it a whirl. Wish I could say better.. 5 stars for decor- beautiful inside and out 5 stars for bread- (outstanding, don't know if they make it or not) 5 stars for wine- good suggestion from the bar (not our server) 3 stars for apps- Live Pei Mussels 2 stars for salads- Crab and Baby Spinach 2 stars for our meals (servers suggestions) Cedar Plank Salmon with Jalapeno Pesto and Brown Rice $28 for tasteless fish and rice the pesto was good. Montana Mignon cooked well that's it folks! 1 star for sides- broccoli undercooked and absurd portion size 1 star for seating- the table barely fit our plates much less drinks 0 stars for service- I wish I had her name, you name it she stunk at it! Not to beat a dead horse but she came to our table exactly 3 times, order, main dish, check please! She didn't take our drink order, bring us our app or salads, didn't fill our water glasses (we had to flag someone down) and she left us to sit for 20 min with dirty dishes after she dropped off the check and we were finishing our wine. She did have time tho to sit with the table of 5 next to us for a long chat after that. All of this can be yours for $140. Have to say lastly,I am a big believer in 2nd chances so we went for brunch the next day. Sat on the porch I had tuna and eggs, he had steak and eggs, and bloody Mary's. 5 stars for the view 5 stars for the service (different girl, yes!) 5 stars for the drinks- (best spicy Bloody Mary) 3 stars for the meals (again the best bread!) All in all it was worth the try and I may give dinner a go again sometime, but I would rather go to Erato in Edwardsville, illinois before we make that drive again.
(3)
Emily D.
Why are you in Effingham? Really? The only reason we even heard of it was because it was one of the only cities at this point in our drive cross-country that had an actual hotel and since we were about to fall asleep at the wheel, Effingham was out spot. If you are within 100 miles of this place you are nuts to skip it. Seriously. I took a chance and scoped out the Effingham 'yelp scene' (HA) and noticed that this place had some stellar reviews and even though I was weary, we had to try it. It was either this or another dose of Toxic Smell or some other abusive road food... The place is amazing! The restaurant is off the main drag and literally set on a farm with a pond and all. We went on a Sunday night so the place was super quiet. Our server was great and could tell we were thrilled to have some real service and awesome food. I went with the spinach salad and loved it and my boyfriend went all out and got a Cesar salad to start with fillet and mashed potatoes as his entree. Service: 5 stars! Drinks always full and people generally happy to be at work Food: 5 stars! Unreal! One of the freshest salads I have tasted-clearly fresh from the garden/farm out back Ambiance: 5 stars WOW someone dumped some major money into this beautiful barn-turned-restaurant. Impressive! We were so surprised at this place! I think we are still getting over the shock factor of finding an awesome dinner spot in fricking Effingham! If you are looking for an awesome meal that is SO far from anything in this area, come to Firefly Grill!
(5)
Leah B.
NOT wheelchair friendly!!! Saturday morning we made a reservation for 4 people for 6:30P and stated one of us would be in a wheelchair - they advised no problem. We called a second time around 5P reminding them we would have someone in a wheelchair - they advised they had the note down and it would not be a problem. We arrive 5 minutes early and all the front desk staff looked really surprised and utterly confused. First they led us straight to the patio, but the wheelchair would not fit down the aisle, so they had us double back to the front desk. Then had us go all the way to the very back of the restaurant and to the other side of the floor and then didn't even have a table ready for us. So, not only was EVERYONE in the restaurant staring at us as we wheeled by, we clogged up the servers passageway because we were standing in the middle of the dining room waiting for our table to be ready. With literally EVERYONE staring because we were paraded first around the front of the restaurant and then all the way to the back and along the back wall, EVERYONE got a good look at us. It was MORIFYING!!! Finally we are seated and my chair was further in the aisle because of where our wheelchaired guest sat - after 10 minutes of the servers and customers walking behind me pushing into my chair and brushing against the back of my head, I got up and moved the table adjacent our's back against the wall as far as it would go in order to make the aisle wider - I explained this to our waitress and received no "I'm sorry" ... "We should have been better prepared for your arrival" ... NOTHING! Here's a quick breakdown of what we ordered: Lobster Stew special - was a flavorless watered down creamy broth with raw shallots and a few pieces of lobster, hardly a "stew". Halibut with ratatouille - fish was perfectly cooked, but for $34, not good enough for the price. The ratatouille was a joke at about 3 bites. Salmon risotto - HORRIBLE. Salmon was totaly overcooked and dry. Risotto was undercooked, mealy and tasteless. Ceasar Salad - tasted like the dressing was out of a jar and some of the greens were a little brown. Sea bass w/noodles - this dish was excellent, but the portion was tiny for the price tag Here's the most unpleasant part ... during coffee at the end of our meal, 2 out of the 4 of us spent the next few hours sitting on the toilet if you catch my drift - we both ate the Lobster "stew". In closing - if you like to be made a spectacle of because of your disability, and losing your expensive dinner to the porcelain god within an hour of your dinner, this is the place for you.
(1)
Mark E.
Truly stunning to find such a nice restaurant in Effinghan, Illinois. Firefly Grill has every characteristic of a "big city" modern restaurant, in an out of the way location. The decor is modern and presentation, menu, and employees give you the feel of a hip, big time bistro. Being that the restaurant is in a small town, the prices are incredibly fair, especially when you consider the quality of the meals. Our table had a variety of things on the menu, including appetizers like spring rolls, crab rangoon, and amazing onion strings. Our brunch entrees included pizzas, different burgers, and some off the menu Sunday Brunch items. Everything was well prepared, looked great, and served with flair. Firefly Grill is a rare gem in a world of highway-friendly chain restaurants, and, while maybe not worth the trip to Effingham unless you are already going there, well worth seeking out if you're anywhere in the area.
(4)
rick a.
The Firefly Grill is the Field of Dreams for foodies,"If you build it,they will come." Finding a place like this is like going to a singles night held in a retirement community and finding Scarlett Johansson in the mix. I don't mean to be hard on the town but I believe that the Firefly survives on the fact that people seek out this place thru word of mouth. I hope that the locals realize what a gem they have here. My wife and I had the Montana Mignon wrapped in a puff pastry with boursin, BBQ and bacon along with the oak-fired Columbia River Sturgeon with chickpeas and edamame salad, both were fantastic. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, which is always a plus. For dessert we had the banana cake with banana ice cream which was a real treat. The prices are reasonable for the quality of food. The only problem I had was that there were far more good choices on the menu then I could have anticipated. For the record I hope to find a menu that I will want to eat 50% of the items on this one I will say it is 70-75%. You must visit if you are traveling on I-57 or I-70 or within 20 miles of Effingham. I don't give out five stars easily but I will say that easily the Firefly Grill is the most worthy in an area awash is a sea of chain restaurants.
(5)
Jeremy D.
Outstanding! Great recipies, ingredients, and preparation. Some of the entrees get pricey, but other items are reasonable. We had the ceasar & spinach salads, a chicken & lentil soup, and a wood-fired pizza. Everything was supurb. An unexpected find - located a few blocks from the largest truck stop in the country!
(5)
Steve T.
This is an expensive restaurant, but I feel it's well worth the price. I had the lobster stew and the chopped salad. I thought I was eating light but ended up walking away stuffed. The staff was well-informed and courteous. I would like to return in the summer and eat outdoors overlooking the pond.
(5)
Sydney H.
Literally one of the best meals I've ever eaten. I ate here in passing on a roadtrip, and will never forget! The service was impeccable and the atmosphere to die for. I wish I could go here all the time!!!
(5)
Kevin J.
You can definitely tell this place is choosy about their ingredients. Everything was very very fresh, very nice atmosphere lakeside, well decorated inside. Maybe a little pricy but pricy for quality is worth it. Could see this place being featured on the Food Network, I think it was of that quality. Regularly go through this area and has definitely earned our business.
(5)
Teve' U.
compared to local places, lets just say its very EXPENSIVE expect $8-10 for a glass of wine, at the bar they had a special $5 malbec (very nice) salad $12, entree $20-35 food was very good.. 5/5 (maybe even 6/5), i had the strip steak-- yummy yummy yummy & mashed potato with and herbs 22 million/5 nice atmosphere 5-/5, vaulted wood ceiling, nice b/w photos, lots of glass (++++ just great) honestly if your going for a 5 star place, need to spend more time with the staff --hmmm yeah welllllllllll uh-no (need i say more) out door seating (very nice), they have a lake out back and a fire pit and yes, this is the place i picked for my birthday
(4)
Joe L.
If this restaurant was in Chicago, it would be in my top 10 restaurants to go to on a regular basis. I've eaten and drank here over 10 times so far and the quality of the food, service, and drinks are amazing. One Tuesday night, I ordered a salmon and on Wednesday (I think), they have sushi lunch available. So I think I happened to get the sushi grade Salmon on Tuesday and I ordered it medium rare. I don't think anyone ever asks, but I tried it and it was the best salmon I have ever had in my entire life! Another night, I found conversations with the bartender and he recommended a few to taste. Because of his recommendation and their selection of single malt scotches, I found my favorite... Scapa. Overall, this place is consistent and the staff are friendly and welcoming.
(5)
Suzanne W.
I also want to know why this place is in Effingham!? What a great restaurant! Traveling through from St. Louis to Indianapolis and we stopped for dinner. Ended up grabbing a hotel room, so we could enjoy the wine and atmosphere! Steaks were some of the best I've had. Hopefully they expand to another city because more people should be enjoying this place!
(5)
Dfros T.
Had a great Valentines Day, 8 course dinner. Service was good, food was great, date was beautiful!
(5)
lesiel l.
Okay eating for a passing tourist. Pleasant atmosphere and the drinks were perfect! We had the stuffed zucchini blossoms and they were very good. I enjoyed my steak but my husband had the halibut with risotto and he felt that the fish was over done and the risotto wasn't good. At over $100 for dinner, there should be no complaints. But then again, who in their right mind orders fish from Alaska in the middle of the plains? Seems like the place was full of locals and lots of people eating the $14 hamburgers! Wait staffed rushed dishes off of table...not leisurely dinning in a very attractive space.
(3)
Helene R.
Driving across country, avoiding all the bad stuff close to interstate70, willing to stretch out within 20 min. or so ....kept on finding gems ! One must believe it is there, yes:' Firefly Grill a blessing, Go!
(5)
Violet L.
On our initial visit to Firefly Grill, my husband called it "a hidden gem in the middle of rural Illinois." We have dined at more 5 star restaurants all over the US than I can count so this was high praise. The first thing we noticed is how beautiful the building looks at night.The ambiance is soothing, the food is exceptional and the waitstaff are top notch. Even sitting at the bar to eat is a wonderful experience. The bartender was attentive and interesting to chat with. On a humorous side note (from our last visit in Oct. 2012), the friendly and funny waiter had the same name as our dog. I'm originally from Illinois so when we take the trip from Houston to visit our grandchild and other family members, we always set up a reservation. My only complaint? This eatery is in another state. ;)
(5)
Curt E.
Met some friends here for a late lunch on Saturday. The restaurant was quite impressive inside with an open kitchen, the well stocked bar, and the Boos block tables for every party. I will say that our service was top notch as the young lady taking care of us kept our glasses full and needs attended to. Those were the high points of the place in my opinion. For the food, my wife was going to order the fish and chips but they claimed to be out of fish (on a Saturday @ 1?) so she went with a cheese pizza which she said was decent but in my opinion was so so. I'm not a fan of the St. Louis Provo on pizza but that's just me. I got the "oak fired tacos" with skirt steak carne asada topped with spicy slaw, salsa verde, salsa rojo, and queso blanco. Sounds decent and flavorful, but was far from that unfortunately. The steak ( what little there was) was not freshly grilled and had zero flavor and an odd texture taboot. I've had/made skirt steak before but never that dry, tender and tasteless. Note to cooks, salt, pepper, and a dash of cumin could do wonders. There was nothing spicy about the slaw and I had trouble determining where my salsas had gone (tasteless as well). I was served three tacos in sufficiently greasy corn tortillas to really (channeling Emeril) "Kick it up a notch" . This was served with my choice of bean salad or fries- I got the "Kennebec fries" (Whatever those are) which had some sort of salt on them and maybe chopped parsley? Nothing special- and damn I hate 1/2 full cups of ketchup, bring it to the table if people need it if you think it looks tacky sitting there all the time, wth? The place as a whole is very "local, local,local " with their ingredients which I could care less if my steak dropped a deuce within 20 mi. of where I'm consuming it's flesh, but that's just me. If it puts people in the seats then so be it. I do question ( as I was gazing at that nights carnivorous fare) how they could justify $45 for a 14oz strip steak for dinner - better be the best steak I had ever, or will ever have tasted. It just all seemed a bit costly for Effingham?..Chicago sure, but Effingham? Overall I'd say blandness got the best of us at the firefly grill today, but maybe I'll try it again some evening and see how great a $45, or $35 rather (I'm a fan of Ribeyes personally) steak tastes. But then again, I don't know if it would be worth the drive....
(2)
Steve R.
Loved the atmosphere, service, and food. Lunch was great, even with a crowd!
(5)
Vicki M.
We have eaten here before; this is not my first review. Today the food was fantastic, as usual. I had the butternut squash soup, it was SOOO good, so creamy and what a great rich flavor! It was accompanied by a large, crusty, delicious dinner roll. Then I had the softshell crab sandwich, the pretzel bun is great, and the crab and dressing were so tasty I am getting hungry again just thinking about it. My husband had the Effingham burger and he was VERY happy with it as well. We did have a little service bobble - they forgot my soup. I wondered why they didn't bring it when they served my husband his salad, but I didn't say anything, just waited. When the main meal was served I asked where it was, well they had somehow managed to forget about it. So they brought it and said we wouldn't be charged for it. Other than that, great meal! We ate on the enclosed back porch which I like. The main dining room did have a pretty heavy cooking odor so I was glad to be in the fresher air.
(5)
Michelle G.
If you happen to be driving through this area I demand that you stop. Pull over right now as a matter of fact. My boyfriend and I were looking for a quick dinner and after reading these reviews changed our mind and I am beyond glad that we did. The only reason I did not give this place five stars is due to service. Our server managed to walk all around and never actually look at us as we waited to order for what seemed like forever. We even had to ask the manager to call him over. Luckily the food was worth it. We had the farm raised chicken quesedillas as an appetizer, oh so yummy though the dips were a tad too spicy for my taste. My boyfriend order the pretzel bun burger with bacon and dang it was delicious. The bacon alone was worth the order. It being a cold night I decided on a special of lobster pot pie with a flaky puff pastry on top. It was mouth watering deliciousness. I give this kitchen an immense amount of credit for pumping out a menu of such variety and savory options. My pot pie was like an uber thick lobster bisque with huge chunks of Maine lobster and seasoned to perfection. With much reluctance due to my full belly we still had to order desert. An apple pie flaky goodness with a scoop of spiced like ice cream that could not have tasted better. It doesn't make any sense why this place is in Effingham but I am grateful to whomever decided to open it. It is just a quick stop off the highway and down a small road that makes you feel like you have gone the wrong way before you see the large structure that is firefly grill. The old wooden beams and giant bulbs hanging over head in neat little rows lends a comfortable atmosphere to the location that keeps the kitchen smell rising. Honestly, stop here, just make it a priority when driving or make it a little adventure if you live in St. Louis or near by. Oh so worthy.
(4)
Samantha R.
YUMMMY! Fresh food, all in season picks, great service, delicous taste. I had a great private dinner here & I can't wait to go back, especially because the menu changes. Read the other reviews if you want details. Everything you eat here is quite tip top amazing. It reminds me of the restaurants back in San Francisco but even better because their local is their own backyard basically. The apple cider martini is now my favorite Fall cocktail!
(5)
Meerkat H.
---- just to follow up: the actual owner of this restaurant emailed me to apologize for the behavior of the server and promised that this would never happen again.... maybe one day we'll be able to return to eat their great food!
(4)
David C.
I always dread going to effingham for my business seminars. But i always look forward to eating at Firefly.
(3)
Joe O.
Amazing. Everything everyone got was just amazing.
(5)
Sissie P.
We were on a road trip and going to stay in Effingham, so I used YELP to find a good place to eat. THis is the FIRST bad place we've been that had good Yelp ratings! Made me think about my son noting that the owners and help sometimes try to game the system. I ordered the Sechuan pork, requesting it extra spicey -- and it was a very salty, very bland Teriyaki sauce -- didn't remotely resemble Sechuan. Guess I should have expected that when the waiter recommended mashed potatoes as a side to go wiith it! I had the asparagus instead, and it was not tender.That same waiter, when I said this isn't Sechuan at all, said "well, it's a kinda mild Sechuan." Oxymoron. My husband had a chicken dish that was stringy, and also terribly over-salted. This places charges like it is serves gourmet food, but the food was substandard, the wine list pathetic and the desserts like the Cheesecake Factory -- f resh ingredients can indeed be ruined. Next time we'll just totally bypass Effingham. We had much better meals at the Irish Pub in Batavia the night before and at the Picadilly in Wichita the next night.
(2)
Ashley M.
We were taking a long Christmas drive from central Texas to Northern Michigan and used Yelp to help us find something to eat along the way. Chicago was too far and yelp brought us to the Firefly Grill in Effingham. There was NOTHING else that came up in Effingham and we were apprehensive at first, but even pulling up to it made us feel better. It's well designed, and the food is really good!! Someone I was with had their cream of mushroom soup and really liked it, and the pasta bolognese was good, but HUGE! Very cute atmosphre and food I would eat even if it was in my own hometown?? Eat here!!!
(4)
beth w.
The Firefly Grill has become a welcomed stop on the way to my parent's in Indiana. We have called ahead and had a snack ready for us to swing in, eat, and get back on the road. We have also met as this is about our half-way point between St. Louis and Indiana. I have had the pizza a couple times, which comes with a ceasar salad. My sister had the fish tacos, which were basically the fish and chips in a tortilla. I suggest to lighten the batter on the fish tacos...panko maybe. My sister's boyfriend had the duck fat french fries...decadent and delicious by their account. The setting is fantastic. Service is very good. I know it's a weird critique but the silverware looked dirty and we sent back several pieces.
(4)
Jan N.
Love Firefly Grill! Like others have said, it is an unexpected surprise in Effingham! Don't let the Nike outlet deter you. On my most recent visit I finished my yummy meal with even more yummy lavender sorbet with shortbread. Delish! My husband (a BBQ guy) had an apple, applewood and Brie cheese pizza and enjoyed it, too.
(5)
Jack M.
Great heirloom tomato salad, hummus app and proscuitto wrapped halibut. Wife's wood roasted chicken was great. She had corn chowder, which was probably the most mediocre item we had. As always, great seasonal beers on tap. I had an Oktoberfest and wife had a pumpkin. Larry's service was great too, as always.
(4)
Dan M.
I'm realllllllly disappointed right now. I'm in Effingham for work, and let's just say there are not a lot of quality restaurants in the area. In fact... it appears that Firefly is the only one. Lots of chain, TGI Friday, etc.... but not just a solid quality dining place. On to the review... Food: Right now, this would be a 1-star, on the food. For starters, I ordered a Caesar salad. High on presentation, low on taste. Not bad, just not nearly as good as it looked. For my entree, I ordered the "Montana Fillet", essentially a fillet wrapped in bacon, inside of a pastry. I was told it was going to be Medium-Rare to Medium. I'm a Medium Rare guy, so I had no issues with this. I received the steak/pastry and cut into it. It was quite red (not more than 1% pink on the edges and cool to the touch. Maybe my steak-done-ness-meter is off, but I would consider this rare to blue. Much much closer to rare than the medium rare. (( I was so concerned about the my perception of the doneness, that I came immediately back to the hotel to check the intertubes for steak doneness levels.)) I decided to mention that it was a bit on the rare side, as I realy wanted to have a nice meal. I've been eating fast food for the week and am sick of it. No issues sending it back, they didn't disagree (not sure any waiter/waitress would). So then I get my second one... and it's worse than the first. This was no contest rare. Red cool center, with very little (almost none) color outside of red. At this point, I could have shut my mouth and ate it.... as rare steaks aren't deadly (right?)... but I didn't. He came over and asked if it was better. "Yeaaaaahhhh.... it's actually worse than before". At this point, I just wanted to eat some food. I told him not to worry about it, and that I would power through it. They explained that the pastry aspect makes it difficult to cook to medium, without burning the outside pastry. The cook (from Firefly) next to me, mentioned that they normally cook them a bit before adding the pastry aspect. This makes me think it shouldn't be too difficult to cook the steak to medium-rare, throw on the pastry... then bake to medium... Hell, even medium-well. Had it come out overcooked, I wouldn't have had the gall to say anything. But nope... it was more rare than before. So ate some of the edges, the asparagus, and the potatoes. I did want to like this place. So I tried a dessert that sounded good. Banana cake something or other. The cake was dry, the banana ice-cream was off a bit (cant describe how... just off). I kept my mouth shut on this... even though they were afraid to ask how it was. :-) So, from a food perspective.... ugh. What a nightmare. I'll go back to try to give it another shot. I'll stick to something very simple.... say a steak, or a roasted chicken. I'm holding out a bit of hope, as everyone else seems to love this. From a positive perspective, and the only reason I am willing to go back (and give this place any stars) was the service. I was seated promptly at the bar (my choosing). The bartender was attentive and poured a proper drink (not too strong, not too light). There was nothing but willingness to help from the Bartender, the manager, as well as the cook (off-duty) at the bar with me. Everyone seemed genuinely concerned. They did also offer to comp my steak, as I was unhappy with it. From a service perspective, I would give this place 5 stars. **.
(2)
Nick B.
This place has it all figured out. Amazing atmosphere, artistic building, great service, food was perfect, and portions were large. We had the burger, Reuben, trout, and steak panini. No one was disappointed. The Hummus app was huge! Definitely stop here!!
(5)
Amie C.
First of all it must be said that I tried for weeks to get ahold of an event coordinator to plan a party or at least find out about planning. I wanted to have my moms surprise 50th birthday party here. I left several messages, only receiving one call back from them. Finally i just made a regular reservation for 15. Boo to them for not raking in more dough by having a real "event", oh well. Once we get there for the party I discover they have placed our party in the area behind the bar and it was perfect! We were secluded without being stuffed into a room. Loved it. Our service was excellent. Wish I could remember the young chaps name. He even hung out to chat with my dad which is no small feat because he is a talker....to anyone. I had 2 yummy glasses of red sangria and they packed a slight punch! Thank goodness for the awesome bread/rolls and butter that came out before dinner....they were pretty darn awesome! I ordered a cup of tortilla soup and some sort of pork dish, perhaps szechuan pork. The soup was pretty great as was my entree but for the prices....no way! Now, don't get me wrong, I live in Chicago so I'm used to paying top dollar for fancy shmancy restaurants (hah when I can afford it and only very rarely) but c'mon Effingham! YOU ARE NOT CHICAGO! This place did look like it was a transplant out of the suburbs (I would say city but it was more farmish and well...Chicago isn't). Great service Great atompshere Great for giant groups I would go back for lunch and hope the prices are cheaper! haha I ordered 2 sangrias, a cup of soup, a medium priced entree and a dessert and my bill was just under $50. Sure they did figure in 18% because we had more than 8 people.....but you get the picture. ***word to the wise....the szechuan (hopefully that's what i ordered) pork was awesome and the sauce made me want to drink it from the plate (I didn't, I was surrounded by 5 of my classy aunts!) but it must have been tooooooo rich for my tummy because the end result was not a good one....be careful! haha
(4)
Sarah P.
Definitely 5 star worthy. And, what an unexpected find just a few blocks away from truck-stop, chain restaurant haven of Effingham. The Effingham steak burger was delicious! So good, in fact, that I told my husband, meh, it was just ok, until I was finished so that I wouldn't have to share. If you didn't catch it, by the way, you could call their burger the Effing - hamburger...get it? :) Service was great, attentive when we needed it, but not pesky. Hubby had the boar bangers and mash and said they were good, but I didn't want a bite because, again, why would I want anything besides the burger??? The fries were yummy and our toddler ate his mac and cheese, which he is notoriously picky about. For all you parents, from the outside, and the menu, I would never have thought this place kid friendly, but the staff was very accommodating, they had highchairs, and a kids menu, and it was a great overall experience. Great atmosphere. I really hope this place stays in business. I was surprised to be able to walk in at 6:30 on a Friday evening with no wait. We will be by every time we are in the area.
(5)
Daniel C.
Perfect timing for lunch on our trip from Chicago to Memphis! I saw this place online, and was sold on the Muffelatta panini, unfortunately, that was no longer available. We had a brief wait for our server, but it wasn't that long. I, instead, ordered the Angus Roast Beef panini with Brie. It normally comes with a horseradish sauce, but I'm not keen on horseradish, and they were happy to oblige my request for garlic aioli in lieu of it. My wife ordered the reuben panini, and enjoyed it very much. The aesthetic of the place was amazing- kind of a barn that has been redone in a modern, yet rustic look with old wood that had been reclaimed. Modern bathrooms, and nice style accents througout. The bar had massive plaid curtains behind it that separated the main room from banquets, and there were beautiful sunroom and patio seating areas overlooking the countryside and a quaint pond with fountains. I'd love to come back for dinner sometime if we pass through Effingham at night! We'll definitely make this a regular stop on our trips down south! Hidden gem!
(4)
jim v.
I had the pleasure of eating at FF for a wedding reception. The food was OUTSTANDING as was the service and ambiance....it brings the sophistication of a "big city" restaurant to Central Illinois. Definitely worth the trip!
(5)
Wan T.
Ya know I wanted to be a tough grader and not hand out 5 stars just willy nilly. But this was great. I had the Schezwan pork. I ate at the bar and the bar tender told me that this is the #1 seller to the staff - and I'd say with good reason. Mighty tasty. Nice casual atmosphere. Good looking open floor plan. The patio seating looks like it would be nice too.
(5)
Paul G.
World-class meal, in a place I'd never expected to find it. Look, i'll admit i'm a bit of a 'foodie' - I travel (a LOT) on business and have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the country, in every major city. So imagine my surprise to find this gem of a restaurant in Effingham, of all places. The specials were all unique, interesting and amazing (we were a party of eight, so we tried most of them). In fact, the entire menu (with an emphasis on local and fresh) sounded interesting and delicious. Better-than-average wine list, great decor, fantastic service. The unanimous verdict from our group: worth coming back to Effingham, just to eat again at the Firefly Grill.
(5)
Tracy H.
I live 30 miles away and wish I went to Firefly more. I have never had a bad meal here. Local food, green design and culinary skill make for an extraordinary experience each time. There's more to central IL than meets the eye, and this represents it.
(5)
Bob K.
Simply the best restaurant in the Effingham area..I eat here every time I travel to or by Effingham.
(5)
Doug B.
In a part of the world where most home town restaurants are simply remodeled homes with very little ambiance, this is one place that stands out and even outshines corporate *million dollar* establishments found in the *big cities*. This is your reason not to just drive on through Effingham.
(5)
Brian and Adrienne L.
We stopped for lunch on our long road trip home. The food was very good. The quesadillas were fresh (a lite pickling of the peppers was a nice touch). The fresh baked bread was amazing, crispy on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside. The turkey blt was good, but a bit messy to eat. The roast pork tenderloin special was enjoyable (though slightly overdone). It had a nice spice and the fresh creamed spinach was excellent (could've eaten twice as much). The only downfall was the homemade potato chips and pomme frites were both fried for too long and under seasoned. Service was good and very accomodating, as we had our four month old with us. We look forward to stopping here again on our next trip to Missouri.
(4)
Ashley S.
Pros: great setting, good local food, good service. Cons: really small portion of wine - too expensive to order two glasses -, asked for appetizers and meal all at once, but appetizer came very early. Overall, a good place to relax, especially the back porch.
(3)
Andy E.
I stopped here a few months ago during the lunch hour and was very impressed. Tonight on our way home we drove 60+ miles out of our way to come eat here. They have a fresh vegetable and herb garden the food and the setting are both fantastic.
(5)
Christina W.
I love all the fresh ingredients!!! Also, if you are brave or stupid enough to bring children the waiters and waitresses really work with them and help them stay entertained and quiet. It's a great place to unwind and have a nice date, but if you have to take the kids out (which sometimes is the only way) know that it will be okay with the great staff at Firefly.
(5)
R M.
Not quite sure why this place exists where it does, but I'm from LA and been to much "better" and much worse. This place rocked! Great attentive staff, super tastey margharita pizza, and even the salad was worth writing about. Small craft beer selection too which is an easy way to get me to add a star if all goes well. It's more than I want to pay out in bfe, but with how good everything was, food/service/ambiance, absolutely a delight. Gawd forbid I'm out this way again, but if I find myself stuck driving down 70, no questions asked, I'll stop here.
(5)
Sue C.
Sit by the pond, u can even feed the fish - the server can give u food for fish!!! My boyfriend and I had their crab appetizer, squash blossoms app, butternut squash soup, caesar salad, Margarita pizza, and homemade ice cream (blackberry) and they were all excellent !!!! You can taste the freshness in their food and the staffs are friendly!
(5)
Nancy B.
Thank you Yelp for saving me from chain restaurant hell! The city really is at the "Crossroads of America" so every national chain is visible from the expressway. This gem is tucked back in a quiet spot and is worth finding! Outstanding food! My only complaint is that they were out of a few menu items by 8:30 pm. But that is also a good thing - it means everything is freshly prepared and they are not grabbing another pre-cooked pork chop out of the walkin cooler!
(5)
Ted C.
My sis came here a few months ago and didn't have such a good experience and it was noted enough that they sent her a gift certificate to make up for the experience. She gave it to me knowing I would be passing through and I decided to see if it lived up to the Yelp hype or if my sister's lackluster experience was more accurate. Right off the main road it's pretty easy to find just look past the huge signs advertising nothing but chains. I came in and was sat down near the front. The seating scheme is a little weird with the tables spread out all throughout the restaurant, making it weird for the servers to cover their sections. I had some questions about what to get and Larry was quick to describe items and helped me make my decision as well as being quick with the bread. I finished the bread quickly and he asked me if he brought some more would I eat it. Something about how he asked me if I wanted more bread was memorable enough that I'm noting it here. He did find it out the French onion soup took a little long to come out but it arrived shortly thereafter. My sis complained about it being too sweet but I thought it was just fine, not overpoweringly salty, not overly sweet with the cheese adding a nice, smooth texture and flavor. I ended up ordering the Montana mignon, which was basically beef wellington with boursin cheese inside and an au jus. Served medium rare, with the spreadable cheese being a nice, soft, slightly sweet addition. The whipped potatoes were just okay, just okay not much flavor. I asked Larry for a dessert suggestion with his being the banana cake. Think a Bananas foster minus the fire and adding a tasty little banana cake on the side. An easy sell but that's because it was good and well made. I may time my trips up north to make sure I swing by when Firefly is open so I can enjoy a surprising, well made meal.
(4)
S B.
Firefly Grill. A beacon of culinary awesomeness right in the middle of central IL at the cross rounds of I 57 and I 70. (Effingham). We have stopped here 4x in the last year. Each visit has been exceptional. The chef changes the menu based on what is in season and each food item is delectable. Today we had the Tuna Melt and Firefly Burger. For appetizers we had Fried Green Tomatoes with just right peppery blend of tomato tapenade - a must try. Flavored tea , deserts, drinks all are worth trying. Atmosphere is upscale but casual. Staff are friendly and work well together. Organic. Local fare. Hope you give yourself a treat and stop soon.
(5)
Alexandra L.
Lovely place. Menu changes often which is good but also sometimes disappointing because they take away things I like! Great place for a nice meal, and a lot of things are home grown which is nice. Conveniently located!
(4)
Chris S.
Great service and outstanding food. Farm to table concept done very well; we thoroughly enjoyed fried green tomatoes right from the garden. Relaxing atmosphere that nicely reflects the menu.
I think this place is tops...and I don't mean Tops Big Boy. I had a line caught ahi tuna burger with wasabi aioli and their homemade fire fries today. I would have prefered the tuna to be Medium instead of Medium Well or Well done, but I didn't specify. Aside from that, great taste, and a clever decor along with attentive, friendly staff makes this my favorite place to grab a quality meal in Effingham.
(5)
Joel F.
For a $17 burger being one of the cheapest options I would expect stellar service. We stopped here on our way home from St. Louis. We walked in the door at 8:55pm and asked the girl at the desk if they were still open. She responded with "yes" and sat us. After a 7 minute wait our server finally comes to the table and tells us the kitchen closes at 9pm, but that they would still serve us. I wish the girl had told us this, because we would have gone elsewhere. I just hate eating somewhere right as they close...I feel rushed. They did bring bread out to us and it was soft, and the sauce that came with it was different, but delicious. The butter was real too and almost melted in your mouth. As staff have walked by the tone of their voice is very snobbish almost like they're better than us. Hate to tell ya honey, but you're a hostess. Fast forward to the food. It was absolutely amazing! I ended up going with the steak burger. It was so full of flavor, and an excellent marriage of flavor. The pretzel bun was probably the best I've had. The fries were cooked to perfection. It left me wanting to try other items off the menu. I'd give the food 5 stars, but the overall score remains a 2 because I just can't get over how terrible the service was. Especially after we waited almost 10 min for a server, weren't checked on until the end of our meal, and just talked too like we were bums off the street. All while what I believe was the mgr flirted with a table of three, refilled their drinks, brought them food, and gave them 5 star service. I wasn't even thanked as I walked out.
(2)
Rebecca R.
Beautiful venue. Excellent food. Drove 2 hours for dinner and a play. We shared the fried green tomatoes and I had Columbia River Salmon. The meal was very good and the waitress was extremely knowledgable.
(5)
Brandon H.
I'm assuming the only glowing reviews for this place are from out of towners. chef tries to be too fancy and charges waaaaay too much for the area. They can't cook a steak worth a damn and their excuse is that they aren't known for steaks. They boast about their fresh seafood but how fresh can it be in Effingham IL?
(2)
Maridel S.
Always enjoy the menu choices that include regular items along with interesting additions (halibut, ravioli, cauliflower fluff--it was delicious!). The waiter was very prompt and attentive. Dinner prices are a little high for small town southern Illinois, but for the ambiance and quality you get, very appropriate for a special evening.
(5)
Randy B.
The food was amazing, but the service was not good. We walked in just before nine and were seated right away, but when Blake, our server came to our table he told us that we would have to order quickly because the kitchen was already closing. I don't like being rushed, and I certainly don't like spending that kind of money on food, no matter how good it is, when the service is in a bigger hurry to close up and go home than make sure that I'm happy. If it was too late to seat us because the kitchen was closing, they should have said so. Overall, The food was impressive, but I was really disappointed with the service and wish I hadn't spent so much money here.
(2)
Christine D.
Effingham is my dad's hometown so I've spent a fair amt of time here over the years. Never expected to come down from Chicago to meet my Dad and uncle for the big annual church picnic and find a place like Firefly grill. Totally agree with all the reviews who see this restaurant being wildly successful in the 'big' city. In fact, I am still wondering how this place makes in in a town like Effingham, which admittedly is not in as bad of shape as other small town rural areas but still... Setting terrific, kids wildly entertained by feeding fish, food superb. Fried green tomatoes were crunchy but not greasy like other reviewer's experience. Kids loved homemade sodas. husband had halibut special which was really unique and I had fettucine with a sort of beef ragout sauce that was delicious. Only lacking the final star as my husband's dish had a small errant hair in it. I'm sure this was total anomoly. we did not make a big deal as our kids would have all been in an uproar and the whole evening would have been spent discussing it.... :) something to look forward to for the next visit - or maybe worth a detour on our way t/f st. louis.
(4)
Steve A.
First time eating here. Took a client to lunch and I had the steak sandwich with a house salad. The steak was Allen Bros. and was excellent. Very tender with caramelized onions on a fresh French bread roll. Salad was very fresh with homemade Ranch dressing which was great. My client had the pork shank plate which he said was terrific. He also had apple bread pudding for dessert. Everything was fresh and much was homemade. Really enjoyed the food and found the lunch atmosphere great for business meal.
(5)
Carl B.
Great food at a reasonable price. This is a refreshing break from all the fast food at this exit. There are fish to feed in the lake off the back balcony and fresh produce from the neighboring farm. I would eat here weekly if it was in my neighborhood. Fantastic.
(5)
Sabrina D.
The Firefly is an absolutely outstanding venue for excellent food and a great non-rushed dining experience. The service was excellent as well as the various menu items. The brownie or the bread pudding were a perfect end to the evening.
(5)
Keith H.
After 1000 miles of the tedious and tallow menu items of the likes of McDonalds, Denneys & Cracker Barrel, a suicide bomber had issued a fatwa on my digestive metabolism. As Lady Luck looked kindly upon me for I stopped in Effingham for the night and Firefly Grill surfaced on the Yelp search. . Oh! To experience humanity again at Firefly Grill after the tyranny of interstate 70, rejuvenated my spirit to trudge onward through the usual suspects of IS 70, namely tasteless, colorful processed foodstuffs. A higher end restaurant with staff pleasing to look at, menu items pleasing to taste, wholesome and satisfying. One minor criticism, provide a wine list with the menu.
(5)
Nick T.
Found this gem after checking in to my hotel room surrounded by depressing chain restaurants. Awesome building inside and out. Had the butternut squash soup and the Montana filet and can't say enough. Service was great and I look forward to my next layover in Effingham.
(5)
Robby T.
Two star rating for the following: 1. Reservations were made 1 day in advance for a specific time and location within the restaurant. 2. We were seated 20 min late in the incorrect location 3. Our table was given to a different party who made reservations the day of for a later time. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth. 4. To add insult to injury; the aforementioned group was waited on and served first. 5. I received my food just now. The crisp southern fried miller chicken was very good. 6. Party size should not determine priority, but the quality of customer. Thank you.
(2)
Don S.
SEVERELY OVERPRICED!! , I don't mind paying good money for good meals. But they are very orve priced and under portioned. We ordered the Shellfish Tower for 75$ , got 4 pcs of Shrimp, 1 Crab leg, 1 a handful of mussels, and 1/4 lobster tail. So the lobster was about 2 bites. Nice place, nice service, But the tower was a total ripoff. I give it a 2 and the server a nice tip. I guess they just dont have any competition in Effingham.
(2)
Chuck R.
Wow! What an amazing find off the interstate. Way beyond typical roadstop food, in fact, the restaurant could easily be in any major metropolitan city. The food was amazing AND it's locally grown too. Just expect to pay for top quality food and service, the place ain't cheap!
(5)
Jeff C.
We had another great experience as always our waitress was fantastic the appetizer and pizza errific. Thank you firefly
(5)
Jay H.
This restaurant really is this good. As a Chicago city resident, I was very skeptical. But the quality of the ingredients, the skill of execution, the warm service, the cool interior, and above all, the creativity of the preparation won me over. Big time. We ordered a pork shank with red curry coconut sauce over lentils and a chicken with Korean BBQ sauce over udon noodles. 5 star flavor, 4.5 star execution. Onion rings were the best $5 I have ever spent. The prices are in line with quality and preparation. Also, wine list is well chosen anf fairly priced. A terrific place, especially if you branch out beyond steaks and burgers.
(5)
Kaaren F.
Outstanding food and service. On easter We were driving home to Chicago from New Orleans and stopped in effingham. It was toward the end of their service for the night , and there were just a few tables still seated. Yet, We were met with warmth and the service and food were far far above what I would have expected. This could be a top restaurant in Chicago.
(5)
Val T.
Seriously local food with flair. Today's special: stuffed squash blossoms from their own zucchini plants in the restaurant's garden. Margherita pizza with tomatoes and basil from their garden. Out in the middle of nowhere, IL but RIGHT off the highway and so much better than all the nearby chains. Service good.
(4)
Jeanne G.
Great food and service. Little pricey but worth it. Best calamari ever. We had pork and scallops. Delicious
(5)
J F.
Excellent service and Great food! We had such a great experience here that we had to call over the floor manager and tell them a positive compliment. I rarely if ever do that and felt that they needed to know that my experience was excellent.
(5)
A.j. H.
Had the pretzel chicken sandwich with Brie , it was refreshing in a town like Effingham where flavors tend to be two dimensional. Firefly grill has yet to disappoint, I just forget it's an option sometimes! Go there for lunch it's affordable and you gotta love the atmosphere.
(5)
Jenna W.
The very best place to have a nice lunch or dinner meal within a 60 mile radius. It's even better than some restaurants I've been to in bigger cities. I am so happy it's so close to home. I have never had a bad meal here. Very classy, good place!!!
(5)
Carl M.
They serve up one delicious caprese salad with heirloom tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella. The tomatoes and basil came from their garden.
(5)
Christopher G.
trying to plan someplace decent to eat between Indianapolis and Columbia Missouri (our stop for the night) . ..well this is really the only interesting restaurant between Terre Haute (decent enough Thai next to the interstate) and St. Louis. So we stopped here and were pretty please with the experience. The restaurant is beautiful, and sits on a coy/goldfish pond. The staff were especially friendly, giving my son plenty of bread to feed the goldfish/catfish. The food was decent, not the best Pannini but the pizza was rock solid (not new England quality, but definitely beat Indianapolis quality). Overall - a good stop, and definitely worth it versus stooping at McDonald are some other nondescript fast food joint.
(4)
Missy L.
I would give this 5 stars, but my waitress seemed a bit stiff. She could have been having an off night, though...I'm just saying it did diminish my 5 star experience that I was expecting. Beyond that, the food was amazing. I had the wild mushroom pizza, which had a zillion wonderful flavors, all which exploded in my mouth bite after bite. There were too many flavors to identify, but the combination of sweet, tangy, salty and "wild" were all present. The ambiance can't be beat. Feels like Chicago or New York. I'll definitely be coming back, and bringing a date or a group to sit outside and enjoy the fire pit and lake view.
(4)
Rachel S.
Came here for lunch with a friend and it was my first time in the restaurant. I believe we were the only patrons in the whole restaurant and had anywhere to choose to sit. We decided to sit outside on the patio and got the opportunity to feed their enormously huge, seven year old catfish and koi. Unbelievable! The service was wonderful and the food was great. I had the chicken sandwich on pretzel bread and the garlic French fries. Outstanding and I think I could have just eaten the fries... They were wonderful! The total bill for two lunches (no alcohol) was $27. I looked at dinner prices and they seemed a little expensive. That's e only reason I knocked it down a star. Hope to return to try other dishes.
(4)
Christie B.
This is a hidden gem that is right off the 70 freeway in Effingham. If you venture a tiny bit further than the typical McDonald's and Starbucks that clutter the freeway exit, you'll find yourself in an open space with a gorgeous restaurant that looks like it's been transplanted from Napa Valley. This is a fantastic place that serves food made from locally sourced ingredients. I've eaten there twice now, and both meals have been excellent, from beginning to end. The waitstaff is friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere of the restaurant is superb. Add to that the fact that the menu is reasonably priced, and I'm a devoted fan.
(5)
Matthew S.
I went in the first night thinking I would have a solid 4-star experience for dinner. It was 3 stars at best. I thought I would give it a second try, again, 3 stars at best. Here's the skinny: Night 1: Ambiance 4-5 stars, service 4 stars, food 1-2 stars. The homemade bread that comes out before the meal is good. The beer selection is decent as they have just under 8-10 beers on tap and around 20 bottled varieties to choose from. I ordered the citrus salad for the main course. The waitress talked me into adding chicken to it. Bad decision. The salad was great. Homemade dressing and very well done, but the chicken was at least 3 days old, dried out and almost as hard as the croutons. I ordered their "famous" bread pudding for desert. Not sure if it really qualifies as bread pudding. It was tasty, but be ready to fork over some cash for something you could probably eat in one bite. The ice cream "scoop" is about the size of a golf ball at best. I was pretty grumpy. You just don't tease and toy with my emotions like that! Unacceptable by Midwestern standards my friends. Maybe it has something to do with the Fiscal Cliff and budget cuts?? :-) Night 2: Ambiance again 4-5 stars, service 2 stars, food 3 stars. I ordered the roasted chicken with a cream sauce, asparagus and yellow foot mushrooms. Very tasty on the whole, but they just missed the mark of having something excellent going because they over salted the chicken quite a bit. I ordered their house side salad, this was fantastic. They even threw some goat cheese crumbles on there for me which was awesome. Service was sub-par. Our waiter really didn't know the first thing about beer although he pretended to and he didn't check on us very much. It also took 15+ minutes to get a check, our credit cards lying out on the edge of the table as a subtle hint that we're ready to peace out man! They weren't that busy. If they tighten up some loose ends with service and food quality they will have a great thing going here. I would say that if their prices were lower, I would give them another shot, but at $45 after a 18% tip for an entree, side salad and 2 beers, I'd probably try out another local establishment next time I'm in town for business.
(3)
Sam H.
Great restaurant for a small city chain restaurant area.excellent ingredients well prepared. Small fancy portions, high quality. Definitely 3 $signs.
(5)
Matt T.
Huh? Where am I? Driving from St Louis to Indianapolis and stopped for dinner. This is an AMAZING restaurant that would stand out in any large city. The menu is beautiful, the decor welcoming and warm. The food was outstanding. I can not imagine making this drive and not stopping here again. Had a salad, a pasta dish and a glass of wine for $40. Was almost licking the bowl...simply delicious. UPDATE: Came back the next night...yup, it's that good. Had a fish dish and a glass of wine for $31. Simply wonderful establishment. Service was prompt and pleasant, no complaints from me about anything at all. If I lived in Effingham, I'd be here once a week, no joke. Looking forward to my next drive to Indy already.
(5)
Cherie O.
Really?? (insert McKayla Maroney is not impressed). I really wanted to like this place. Everyone raves about this place. But it being out in Central IL shouldn't change anyone's standards. Neither should the fact that they reiterate that everything is locally resourced or that they fly their fish in a couple of times a week should automatically bump it up. I think this place is a 2.5 star kind of place...it would have been three stars, but for some things that kinda left a bad taste in my mouth. It's a very pretty place. I wouldn't say it's warm because I don't think glass and metal are very warm...but it's a striking place. Some of the reviews make it seem like it's in the middle of nowhere...not really. It's down the street from a Nike outlet. I dragged a couple of colleagues here because there was going to be a group dinner and I had really wanted to try firefly. There were about 20 of us and we had the area behind the bar that's mostly curtained off. The first thing I noticed when we entered was that it was LOUD because of the acoustics and it was only a little over half full. So we tell the hostess that we're here for the group dinner and she waves us towards the back of the bar. I don't know if she thought we knew where we were going, but there was no attempt to even bring us back there. Even better yet, she waved towards the left side of the bar, towards this conglomerate of people (not with our group dinner) which ended up kinda funny because if we had headed that direction, we would have to have fought past that group only to be blocked from entering from that side because there was a screen projector on the other side. So there were three waiters, who all haphazardly ended up working the table. Some of us got drink menus; some of us didn't. Same thing for the actual menu and specials. I realize that there is a lot of confusion when people are arriving at different times resulting in drinks being taken out of order, but when serving the drinks, shouldn't they be done in that order? My colleague had to wait awhile for her pumpkin martini (which was done well) while other people who had ordered martinis and other drinks after her got theirs before she did. On the plus side, they do have Schlafly! So people started ordering starters and I'm not sure what happened, but they never brought out my other friend her Maine Lobster Stew. I felt like they were confused about who ordered what (because of the arrival times and random seats we were choosing) because there was some walking back and forth before plate placement, but there was never an extra plate of stew wandering about. As I was really really enjoying MY Maine Lobster Stew, I felt like I had to speak up for her because it really was very good and there was no head waiter in sight checking up on everyone to make sure that everyone had gotten what they ordered. So ten minutes later, her stew comes out, and it is COLD. WHAT? How do you not have a plate for her and then have it come out cold?! She took two bites and couldn't finish it because it was that cold. I'm still very confused about this. To make it more interesting, I guess this inconsistency is also across the board because it does come with this rustic bread, but some people had super burnt pieces of it compared to my creamy, buttery piece. (and again, really? Serving a burnt piece of bread?) We order the entrees in seated order and the same confusion happens about who is ordering what. I can only guess that it's either because a different person brings out the plates or that they were bringing out the same entree at a time to cause that confusion. Don't shoot yourselves in the foot, guys. I had ordered the seared Hawaiian Ahi Tuna with soba noodles, roasted Korean shiitake mushrooms, and asparagus. It was okay. I think it would have been really good on its own, save for that awful Americanized fusion super salty teriyaki sauce that was at the bottom of the plate. I felt it basically ruined the tuna. Dessert for me was the seasonal house special which was the bread pudding and their own peanut butter ice cream. That was pretty good; I'd order it again. The peanut butter ice cream really tasted like a grainier cold version of peanut butter, and I know some purists would take some offense at it, but honestly, ice cream is ice cream to me, and I liked it. Not going to have dreams about it, but it's solid. I think they have a lot of really good ideas. I think their resourcing and creativity is definitely there. But execution falls flat on so many levels. Dinner was just a disappointment.
(2)
John B.
This restaurant is such a surprise, you may never know the regret you'd feel, if you knew what you missed.
(5)
Anne B.
I ate lunch with friends. There is a wonderful private room and great service. Ordered poor boy shrimp sandwich. Delicious!
(5)
Craig D.
I don't normally pay attention to whether or not the food is organic, but Firefly has opened my eyes. Their farm/garden to table food has brought me around. I had fried green tomatoes...fresh from their onsite garden...and the scallop with Risoto entree. Everything was perfectly cooked and spiced...and very fresh. Don't get me wrong, I'll still go right after some meat healthily infused with antibiotics and growth hormones, but I will keep my eye out for any place serving farm to table fresh food and I will absolutely stop by the Firefly Grill whenever I'm in town.
(5)
Hannah G.
Holy mother of god. What a gem in the middle of nowhere! My boyfriend and I stopped here on our way through IL, and we were so pleased and impressed! The ambiance is amazing, spacious and modern. The entire staff is friendly and professional, the servers help one another out and work cooperatively even though your table will have a single server assigned to it. The food is spectacular! Modern American with and emphasis on seasonal, sustainable, fresh and organic. The restaurant even has it's own garden! Definitely stop in!
(5)
William C.
Halibut with vegetables and butternut squash ravioli. The fish was ok in taste but it was cooked perfectly. The sauce with it really was great. The ravioli were outstanding. My wife really liked the scallops with risotto was cooked right and very tasty. Neither serving was very large but we felt they were enough and left room for desert. Both deserts were very very good. Small in portion but great in taste. I had the triple chocolate and she had the best banana cake. The staff was very good. The provided good service and were very knowledgable about the food and its preparation.
(5)
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Address :1810 Ave of Mid-America
Effingham, IL, 62401
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Joe W.
OMG! This place is exactly as good as described. Totally worth all 5 stars. If you enjoy good food you will be truly impressed with the Firefly Grill. The building is the cool, the service terrific and the food amazing.
(5)Sean M.
Classy, yet approachable elegance. Everything is top notch quality. Their California entrées are exceptional! I truly love their authentic fish tacos! The wait staff are genuinely caring and attentive. Always a great experience!
(5)Michelle C.
So fun! Perfectly swag, rustic, and sharp trendy atmosphere. Lovely grounds and open-concept. Classy industrial yet inviting & relaxed decor. Plush patio furniture to lounge on while you wait, or eat outside on the porch on the patio couches. Don't forget to ask for fish food so you can feed the huge catfish and goldfish from the pier over the gorgeous, quiet fountained pond. Oh, and order the House-Made Lavender&Lemon soda. To-die for.
(5)Angela M.
This restaurant is the second most Eco friendly restaurant in the nation. Great prices, fresh ingredients and amazing service! Best restaurant in 90 miles! The Firefly is comparable to some of the finest restaurants I have eaten at in Seattle, New York and Chicago. The food: The goat cheese, portobello brick oven pizza was the best pizza I have EVER eaten. That's a bold comment considering I have pizza every time I travel. The crust was crispy yet doughy, airy and flaky. They brushed it with a seasoning and garlic. The goat cheese and portobello complimented each other beautifully. Paired it with a glass of Merlot. AMAZING! The scallop risotto was seared seasoned to perfection, and flaky in the middle. The peas in the risotto popped and the risotto was al dente. The PEI (Prince Edward island) mussels were hands down the best my friend had had. I tasted the sauce which was creamy with a zing of horseradish. Served with freshly baked French bread to dip in the sauce. The service: Outstanding sums it up! Upon entering the hostess was on the phone and got another employees attention to greet us. We sat outside overlooking the lake. We had Adam bring us water, he introduced himself as the hits who would be assisting the waitress and proceeded to tell us our waitresses name which was Kelly. Kelly informed us in detail about the specials and let us know their seafood was shipped in multiple times a week. It was fresh. We explained that we live on the Gulf of Mexico and have high standards when it comes to seafood. She was right! It was outstanding! Beautiful scenery inside and out! Very comfortable and relaxing atmosphere! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Frank C.
Excellent food for both dinner and brunch. What can I say? There is nothing really to see in Effingham, but we come here just to go to Firefly Grill. And when we do, we normally stay the night at a nearby hotel so we can have dinner on Saturday night followed by brunch the next morning. Food is excellent. Amazing cocktail list. Excellent wine list. We had a bottle of Saint Emillion. Stuffed Zucchini Flowers is easily their best appetizer. We had the filet Mignon wrapped in a puff pastry with Boursin and bacon. Wow! Love coming here and leaving so stuffed I feel like exploding. Great kids menu. Only complaint is silverware size for the kids. Their silverware is huge and consequently the kids ages 4 - 10 were constantly dropping them. Tip...bring your own from home.
(5)Ashley K.
Service was great. Food is fresh. Stop by for lunch while driving through the area. Shared a margarita pizza and house salad with the white balsamic vinigerette. Delicious with all fresh ingredients. Desert looked really good too, but we were too full. I would definitely recommend eating here if you're near the area or just driving through.
(5)Scott V.
Traveling through Effingham looking for something different to try and we found it. The food had a great taste but the portions were ridiculously small for the price. After spending $70.00 for two to eat I wouldn't expect to be starving 2 hours later. The place was very clean and a great environment to eat in. Our waitress seemed to be more interested in her friends sitting a couple of booths down as opposed to taking care of us, but the others working that day picked up her slack. Not sure that we'll be going back but overall it was a decent and new experience for us and that is what we were after.
(3)Kevin K.
Firefly Grill is definitely a must if you're in the area - or can be in the area. Were I to live anywhere within a hundred miles I'd go at least twice a week, probably more. There is much to recommend it though there are a few inexplicable issues. What works: all the most important things. Nicely designed and comfortable spaces set in their perennial and herb/vegetable gardens; attentive staff from the moment one arrives at the door through seating and service; a (mostly) well thought out menu with (mostly) reasonable prices considering the skill in the kitchen; well prepared, well presented plates. What doesn't work: the wine list, a menu item or two, some pricing. At first glance the wine list looks good. This turns out to be obviously false upon closer inspection. At least 20-25% of the list shouldn't be there (on their list or anyone else's) at all. (Covey Run Riesling? Seriously? No German Riesling? One Oregon Pinot Noir - and a vastly lesser one? Where are the good Zins? I could go on - and on.) There is a wholly unsatisfying by-the-glass list (not much here worth ordering - I couldn't find one satisfactory red - and it's badly priced, too high (considering the wines) and there is no value here at all. Worse, there is no value in getting an 8-ounce pour over a 5-ounce. They're priced exactly (or so closely as to be tantamount) the same. On a good note, most of the better wines on the list are priced well by the bottle. It's unfortunate that the list overall appears to contain more better wines than it does, and none of the better wines are available by the glass. The house salad (that should be representative of the "house", especially at this time of year, considering the gardens just outside the door) is uninspired and insipid, nary an herb in it(!), with pedestrian romaine and scant vegetables. At the very least it would benefit from salt (and a pepper mill served alongside - or offered - would gave been welcome) but I was so looking forward to the herbs I had just walked past on my way in. Inexplicable. As stated above, there is much to recommend. Try the soups, the stuffed squash blossoms (currently on the menu but probably not for long as they're so seasonal), the meatballs (a bit overpriced and the Wagyu is overkill) that are delicious, any of the vegetable sides, the pizzas, the grilled meats and fish - virtually the entire rest of the menu. I look forward to returning the next time I'm passing through. For those of you passing anywhere near, GO - even if you have to detour a bit.
(4)Kelly C.
This is a must when in Effingham - absolutely wonderful! Unique offerings as well as standard fare. Many items are grown right on the grounds. The fried green tomatoes were grown in the garden out back and topped with local sweet corn - amazing! Beautiful restaurant, helpful and pleasant staff. The steak burger was very, very good. The waffle dessert is a little bit messy but worth it!
(5)Erin F.
Our second visit was just as amazing. Their classic burger with a fried egg on top was hands-down the best burger I've ever had. Awesome!
(5)Joshua C.
I ate dinner here last night, and I must say this is now my favorite restaurant. I had the center cut sirloin and my sweetie had the King Salmon. Worth every single penny. Very attentive staff and pretty good wine list.
(5)Jacob S.
I was here on a Monday evening, not that busy some business dinners but for sure not crowded. The restaurant Design & Ambiance was great loved it! Staff was awesome BUT... The food was lacking. Don't get me wrong it was prepared great and presentation was excellent but it was boring. I had the duck two way & my wife had the Sea bass & they both were very bland. It was very safe. Granted it's located in Effingham, il which is not know for its upscale dinning & for the area it's the best, but if you are going to charge Chicago Prices for your food, you better be able to serve food that wows you. I feel like they are okay with providing food that's really good, but not great.
(3)Mindy H.
Perfect place to celebrate my 55th last night. Love the laid back atmosphere and feeding the fish from the dock while waiting on our table. We knew it was going to be fabulous when we pulled up and saw the gardens of herbs and veggies. The decor is rustic chic. Service was outstanding. Food was to die for. I had the lobster pot pie and bread pudding for dessert. My hubby had the waygu steak. Delicious. My only regret is that we don't live close enough to frequent this place.
(5)Janeen M.
This place is great! Very cute and clean inside. Close to the highway. Great food, fast and friendly service. Family friendly. And an awesome, clean changing table in the bathroom (we have twin 3 month olds)
(5)Jewells N.
So, what is this awesome "farm to market" restaurant doing in Effingham, IL ? Really well run, great service, good food. We were totally surprised how good it was. Relaxing atmosphere, service was spot on and food was fresh and good. We went by accident - on our way from Port A tx to MI - it was in town we were going to eat in; thanks to Yelp for the heads up! We had the wood fired pizza - really good; exactly what a wood fired should taste like. We had 2 salads and the pizza - just right for lunch. I had the garden and wife had the Caesar - both were good, Caesar was better. One interesting things was the tables were all made of boos blocks - which are made in Effingham. Worth the stop and if they were in "big city" would be huge hit.
(4)Julie L.
Business trip took us to Effingham as it does a few times a year. Tucked away off the main drag in Effingham, IL, this restaurant is top notch. Party of two tried the fillet and scallops with risotto. Both were absolutely delicious. Fillet was so tender and the scallops/risotto had a flavor that was out of this world. Our bill was about $150 which included a bottle of wine. Waitress was awesome not only in the service she provided, but with the suggestions she had for us. There are other options should you not want to spend a lot. Burgers were priced at approximately $15 and the menu also offered pizza options. This will absolutely be a stop for us each time our travels bring us to Effingham!
(5)Janet A.
Everything was beautifully done and food delicious; husband got the halibut [small portion but delicious] and I got the Montana Mignon; again, small portions but really tasty. The smaller portions meant we felt comfortable getting dessert! Shared the brownie sundae which was a large brownie with 6 toppings - wonderful! service was good, loved the "swing" music. A bit pricey but you get what you pay for
(5)Bruce R.
Went for lunch on a Saturday just as it opened. Cant say enough good things about the service. Out of the gate the staff seemed eager to please, extremely knowledgeable on their dishes and happy to answer any question we might have. I am an appetizer freak and found the selections very interesting (go for the Chinese steamed buns). My only regret was the amount of grease in the calamari. It was delicious but the grease left my wife with an upset stomach (I blamed her for eating too much) but retracted that comment when I got my entree of fried green tomatoes. Breading was as hard as I have ever had a breading and yet was soaked with grease. I felt my stomach churning at the half piece point. Ate one piece and stopped. The remainder of our table was satisfied with their choice. Exception was the breading on the fish and chips fish. Fish itself was great, breading again too much oil. Rib eye steak sandwich was fantastic as was the Ruben. All in all I will definitely go back. I will be a little more careful on my selections.
(3)Bill L.
When you are traveling from Los Angeles to Boston by car with two dogs, you don't expect to have a meal you'll never forget. We stopped in Effingham, Illinois ( staying at the Fairfield Inn & Suites---great place and Andrea at the front desk is a GEM!), and I asked Andrea for a real restaurant without drive thru service. My partner and I were beat and we deserved a reward for days of journey. Andrea recommended the Firefly Grill. But as we only had shirts and shorts ( nice though) I had her call to make sure it was okay. Sure, come on over...we'll have a table all set. After a quick shower and shave, we went over to discover this oasis. It's tucked in far behind the Starbucks in this beautiful meadow..with a small pond. Impeccably landscaped with native flowers etc. and a vegetable and herb garden attached to the restaurant. SERIOUSLY? In Effingham, Il? The restaurant itself is in the style of a San Francisco version of a roadhouse with wood, glass, steel, and stone. The staff is incredible. They were so welcoming and pleasant and seated us almost instantly. We were in shock. The shock continued as we ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes( Yup---right from their garden outside!). Amazing. Lexie was our server and she was funny, friendly, and Johnny on the spot. I ordered the Ny. Strip and my partner ordered the scallop risotto and each of us had a salad ( me-caesar, him-capriso). With each bite, we stared at each other in absolute amazement. My partner blurted out, " I don't want this meal to end!" The owner Christie ( hope I got the spelling right) came over and we had to crow about what an amazing place this was and the EXCELLENCE of the meal. She told us she was living in San Francisco when she met her now-husband ( a chef ) and after returning to Effingham to settle a late relative's estate, she wondered aloud why there was no place to eat? You can see where this is going, right? Bim Bam Boom...FIREFLY GRILL. Los Angeles should only deserve such a restaurant. This is like a roadhouse for foodies and for anyone who truly loves a meal they deserve..THIS IS IT! I ffgrill.com DO NOT MISS THIS!!!!!
(5)Spring Chicken Z.
Randomly found this cute place on our LA-NYC road trip. Love this place!!! Friendly staff, our waiter was very nice and helpful:). The crab thingie was very creamy and crabby, the sauce was pretty good too, but the wrapper was touch oily, maybe the oil wasn't hot enough or the temp dropped too much? The bread was very soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. The salad was very fresh, and the anchovies were pretty good. Chicken/waffle was really good! Nice thick waffle with super crispy chicken! The only suggestion would be take out the bone and use all dark meat. The mashed potato was very creamy too. O, love the pumpkin ice cream, interesting texture, thicker than regular ice cream. One thing I have to complain about is the coffee prices, much pricier than Restaurants (even the very nice ones) in LA or NY Would def go back:)
(5)Sheri R.
Amazing amazing amazing. Visiting from Kansas City. Checked in with Yelp expecting a laundry list of fast food. Low and behold The Firefly. Based on the glowing reviews from Bill L from Angeles California I decided to book a reservation. Yes the food is $$$ for the location BUT don't get hung up on that or you will miss likely one of the meals you will have this year. YES ITS LOCAL, IF NOT GROWN ON THE PROPERTY ITSELF. The service is great, the dirty martini was awesome and so was the wine. Oh, did I mention they were getting a new pastry chef ? I can't wait to come back and try the new desserts. So what are you waiting for? Stop reading my review and make a reservation already.
(4)Rusty S.
A great place, but first of all--how does this place only get two "$'s" in the Price Range category?? Maybe I'm the poorest Yelper on here, but we're talking $48 steaks here, folks. All the entree's, with the exception of the burger and fries, were over thirty bucks, disappointingly. So, I got the Firefly Steakhouse burger and Caesar side-salad. The bartender recommended the Caesar as they make their own croutons, dressing, and use Grano Padano parmesan cheese. The salad was very good, and had an authentic fresh garlic bite to it--very glad I ordered it. The burger was a "heart-attack" style (looked like about a 1/2-3/4 lb. patty) with bacon, carmelized onions, and a sunny-side-up fried egg on top, served on a pretzel bun with a side of seasoned fries. The burger was cooked perfectly and succeeded in placing me into a nice food coma afterwards. Nothing special about the fries but they were tasty. I liked the restaurant and bar, and would probably go back if I was in the mood for a few drinks and appetizers--the beer and liquor selection looked great.
(4)R M.
Not quite sure why this place exists where it does, but I'm from LA and been to much "better" and much worse. This place rocked! Great attentive staff, super tastey margharita pizza, and even the salad was worth writing about. Small craft beer selection too which is an easy way to get me to add a star if all goes well. It's more than I want to pay out in bfe, but with how good everything was, food/service/ambiance, absolutely a delight. Gawd forbid I'm out this way again, but if I find myself stuck driving down 70, no questions asked, I'll stop here.
(5)Robin B.
Firefly grill would have been near perfect if we didn't have our children with us. The service was good, the owner came over to talk to us and give the kids some food to feed the koi and catfish in the pond out back. I ordered the local burger on a pretzel roll, which I was surprised to see arrived naked. I had to ask for basic condiments like mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. I also had to pay $5.00 to change my side from fries to asparagus, which seems exorbitant to me, considering their costs are the same on the "Sides" menu. The meat was amazing, however, and I could taste a hint of Worcestershire sauce in the burger. I may borrow the pretzel roll idea for myself! My husband thoroughly enjoyed his pork loin over mashed potatoes, with caramelized onions, and the beer that the bartender recommended to pair with the pork. Our two children (who were the only children in the restaurant) had macaroni & cheese (which they did not eat), pizza (which they ate later), and split a large bowl of fruit (which they did not eat). $18.00 just for the kids' food was a good bit to throw away, but we were just coming through Effingham, and not in a position to hire a babysitter. We did not experience the (daytime-only?) popovers that the other reviewers rave about- we had some very crusty and chewy sourdough bread- real, orthodontist's dream-come-true kind of bread. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for a date, special occasion, birthday, or anniversary. Would not recommend for kids. It is comparable in price, atmosphere, and quality to Memphis' own Interim restaurant. Peaks: fresh herb and green garden right on the premises, pond with fish out back, nice views. Pits: expensive to substitute, not the most kid-friendly in the evenings.
(4)Mit M.
This place has the best food and offering south of Chicago. A real garden/farm to table. Presentation, taste, quality all worthy of a five star restaurant. The one valued component that was failed: service. Got the order wrong, limited training and frankly a wait staff more like a Cracker Barrel. Too bad as it killed the experience If they can get this right going forward it will be 5 stars all day long. Bummer
(3)Keith M.
Oh my Goodness!!! What an awesome find! Saw this written up in a local magazine as we were traveling through & decided to try it for dinner. Oh my oh my! We are already planning a trip back just for dinner (2 hrs from home)! Food service & ambience are all top notch
(5)Kit S.
I stopped by for lunch at 3 pm when the restaurant was nearly empty. I asked to sit near the water view but was informed that there were no tables available even though there were many within sight. I ordered the rib eye sandwich which was excellent. The fries were to die for. But before I was even halfway done, my waiter asked me if I had room for dessert, and at 3/4 I'd the way done, the busser asked I'd she could clear my plate, and at 7/8 done, the waiter gave me my bill, "no rush." I haven't stiffed a waiter in a long long time, but the service was rude. Btw I was in and out of there in under a half hour.
(2)Kathleen M.
We have been to Firefly Grill 4 times and we live about 3 hours away from it. What would inspire this kind of love? Fabulous food! The first time I came here I was stunned by the magnificent menu but later wondered, was it really that good? Was I just comparing it to the area? Was I so happy to stumble upon a non chain restaurant? We decided to try again last fall for brunch on our way home from St. Louis and this past weekend we stopped here for lunch on the way to Memphis and for dinner on our way home. Fabulous each and every time. Weepingly, life changing, magnificent eating. Plan your next road trip on I-57 so you can eat here. The dinners are unbelievable but pricey. However for lunch there was a 5.00 special last Thursday. That beats the price at any fast food restaurant. Firefly Grill, I love you.
(5)Michael U.
I had heard many good things about Firefly and had the opportunity to eat there while driving from St Louis to Mattoon. Decor was nice and upscale. I ordered sea scallops and risotto and while the food was well prepared I don't feel I received much value. The entree cost $32 and I only received 2 scallops. I think that is much too expensive for what they are offering. They gave me the lame excuse that the portion is based on weight, although the patron next to me told me when he had the dish he was served 5 scallops. They have lost a customer.
(3)Ashley S.
Pros: great setting, good local food, good service. Cons: really small portion of wine - too expensive to order two glasses -, asked for appetizers and meal all at once, but appetizer came very early. Overall, a good place to relax, especially the back porch.
(3)Andy E.
I stopped here a few months ago during the lunch hour and was very impressed. Tonight on our way home we drove 60+ miles out of our way to come eat here. They have a fresh vegetable and herb garden the food and the setting are both fantastic.
(5)Christina W.
I love all the fresh ingredients!!! Also, if you are brave or stupid enough to bring children the waiters and waitresses really work with them and help them stay entertained and quiet. It's a great place to unwind and have a nice date, but if you have to take the kids out (which sometimes is the only way) know that it will be okay with the great staff at Firefly.
(5)Sue C.
Sit by the pond, u can even feed the fish - the server can give u food for fish!!! My boyfriend and I had their crab appetizer, squash blossoms app, butternut squash soup, caesar salad, Margarita pizza, and homemade ice cream (blackberry) and they were all excellent !!!! You can taste the freshness in their food and the staffs are friendly!
(5)Nancy B.
Thank you Yelp for saving me from chain restaurant hell! The city really is at the "Crossroads of America" so every national chain is visible from the expressway. This gem is tucked back in a quiet spot and is worth finding! Outstanding food! My only complaint is that they were out of a few menu items by 8:30 pm. But that is also a good thing - it means everything is freshly prepared and they are not grabbing another pre-cooked pork chop out of the walkin cooler!
(5)Ted C.
My sis came here a few months ago and didn't have such a good experience and it was noted enough that they sent her a gift certificate to make up for the experience. She gave it to me knowing I would be passing through and I decided to see if it lived up to the Yelp hype or if my sister's lackluster experience was more accurate. Right off the main road it's pretty easy to find just look past the huge signs advertising nothing but chains. I came in and was sat down near the front. The seating scheme is a little weird with the tables spread out all throughout the restaurant, making it weird for the servers to cover their sections. I had some questions about what to get and Larry was quick to describe items and helped me make my decision as well as being quick with the bread. I finished the bread quickly and he asked me if he brought some more would I eat it. Something about how he asked me if I wanted more bread was memorable enough that I'm noting it here. He did find it out the French onion soup took a little long to come out but it arrived shortly thereafter. My sis complained about it being too sweet but I thought it was just fine, not overpoweringly salty, not overly sweet with the cheese adding a nice, smooth texture and flavor. I ended up ordering the Montana mignon, which was basically beef wellington with boursin cheese inside and an au jus. Served medium rare, with the spreadable cheese being a nice, soft, slightly sweet addition. The whipped potatoes were just okay, just okay not much flavor. I asked Larry for a dessert suggestion with his being the banana cake. Think a Bananas foster minus the fire and adding a tasty little banana cake on the side. An easy sell but that's because it was good and well made. I may time my trips up north to make sure I swing by when Firefly is open so I can enjoy a surprising, well made meal.
(4)S B.
Firefly Grill. A beacon of culinary awesomeness right in the middle of central IL at the cross rounds of I 57 and I 70. (Effingham). We have stopped here 4x in the last year. Each visit has been exceptional. The chef changes the menu based on what is in season and each food item is delectable. Today we had the Tuna Melt and Firefly Burger. For appetizers we had Fried Green Tomatoes with just right peppery blend of tomato tapenade - a must try. Flavored tea , deserts, drinks all are worth trying. Atmosphere is upscale but casual. Staff are friendly and work well together. Organic. Local fare. Hope you give yourself a treat and stop soon.
(5)Alexandra L.
Lovely place. Menu changes often which is good but also sometimes disappointing because they take away things I like! Great place for a nice meal, and a lot of things are home grown which is nice. Conveniently located!
(4)Chris S.
Great service and outstanding food. Farm to table concept done very well; we thoroughly enjoyed fried green tomatoes right from the garden. Relaxing atmosphere that nicely reflects the menu.
(5)Jim O.
This is my favorite restaurant in central Illinois. We live 75 minutes away and still make the trip several times a year. It's that good! Our first time dining here was a complete accident. We were driving through the area, it was getting late and we wanted a quick bite. Thankfully, my wife decided to Yelp for a place and the moment we pulled up to the building we could tell this place was special. Even though it's very near an area that couldn't be more commercial, it feels like a secluded oasis, located next to a pond in the middle of a field. You have to see it for yourself. The atmosphere was exceedingly pleasant and the menu was very impressive. It was clear there were chefs working here, not cooks. As I said earlier, it was late and I was just looking for a quick bite, so we ordered steak burgers (by the way, if you don't know the difference between a steak burger and a hamburger, you owe yourself a favor to come here and find out). I can't express how amazing that first bite was. My wife saw the look on my face and almost started laughing I was so blown away by it. Remember, it 's passed 8PM, I'm in middle of a road trip, I'm not expecting or needing a lot from my food at this point, and BAM!...the best burger I've ever had in my whole life comes out of nowhere and punches me right in the face. Kuma's Corner in Chicago no longer holds the title in my eyes, Firefly Grill in Effingham, IL is the new champ. That was the first of many trips to Firefly grill. I try to have something different every time and it's always delicious and prepared perfectly. They're a devout farm-to-fork establishment, which I will always support. The food is creative and exciting. The décor is semi-formal, but inviting. The staff is professional, but friendly. What more could you ask for? Update 3/4/2015: We took another trip to Firefly this last weekend and I just needed to rave really quick about the Strawberry Shortcake dessert. Sweet Hey-Zeus, that was delicious! We're going to keep trying different items on the menu. Each one seems to be the best version of the dish we've ever had. Update 3/7/2015: Yeah, I know, 2 weekends in a row. Well, my wife and I were at the tail-end of an audio book and the weather was nice for once, so we decided to take a leisurely jaunt down to Effingham for some Firefly. This time, I decided to really push Firefly to see if they could make something I didn't like. A Reuben sandwich. I've tried a few Reubens in my life and hated them all. I really don't like sauerkraut and the sandwich, as a whole, simply hasn't tasted good to me in the past. Well, not anymore. Turns out my hatred for Reubens was not the sandwich's fault, but merely the fault of the restaurants I've eaten them at. Holy crap, this was one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten. I won't go into to much detail suffice to say if you like Reubens, I bet Firefly's will be your favorite. The wife had the Meat Pizza for the first time, said it was great. The search for less than perfect food at Firefly continues...
(5)Christian S.
I think this place is tops...and I don't mean Tops Big Boy. I had a line caught ahi tuna burger with wasabi aioli and their homemade fire fries today. I would have prefered the tuna to be Medium instead of Medium Well or Well done, but I didn't specify. Aside from that, great taste, and a clever decor along with attentive, friendly staff makes this my favorite place to grab a quality meal in Effingham.
(5)Joel F.
For a $17 burger being one of the cheapest options I would expect stellar service. We stopped here on our way home from St. Louis. We walked in the door at 8:55pm and asked the girl at the desk if they were still open. She responded with "yes" and sat us. After a 7 minute wait our server finally comes to the table and tells us the kitchen closes at 9pm, but that they would still serve us. I wish the girl had told us this, because we would have gone elsewhere. I just hate eating somewhere right as they close...I feel rushed. They did bring bread out to us and it was soft, and the sauce that came with it was different, but delicious. The butter was real too and almost melted in your mouth. As staff have walked by the tone of their voice is very snobbish almost like they're better than us. Hate to tell ya honey, but you're a hostess. Fast forward to the food. It was absolutely amazing! I ended up going with the steak burger. It was so full of flavor, and an excellent marriage of flavor. The pretzel bun was probably the best I've had. The fries were cooked to perfection. It left me wanting to try other items off the menu. I'd give the food 5 stars, but the overall score remains a 2 because I just can't get over how terrible the service was. Especially after we waited almost 10 min for a server, weren't checked on until the end of our meal, and just talked too like we were bums off the street. All while what I believe was the mgr flirted with a table of three, refilled their drinks, brought them food, and gave them 5 star service. I wasn't even thanked as I walked out.
(2)Rebecca R.
Beautiful venue. Excellent food. Drove 2 hours for dinner and a play. We shared the fried green tomatoes and I had Columbia River Salmon. The meal was very good and the waitress was extremely knowledgable.
(5)Brandon H.
I'm assuming the only glowing reviews for this place are from out of towners. chef tries to be too fancy and charges waaaaay too much for the area. They can't cook a steak worth a damn and their excuse is that they aren't known for steaks. They boast about their fresh seafood but how fresh can it be in Effingham IL?
(2)Maridel S.
Always enjoy the menu choices that include regular items along with interesting additions (halibut, ravioli, cauliflower fluff--it was delicious!). The waiter was very prompt and attentive. Dinner prices are a little high for small town southern Illinois, but for the ambiance and quality you get, very appropriate for a special evening.
(5)Randy B.
The food was amazing, but the service was not good. We walked in just before nine and were seated right away, but when Blake, our server came to our table he told us that we would have to order quickly because the kitchen was already closing. I don't like being rushed, and I certainly don't like spending that kind of money on food, no matter how good it is, when the service is in a bigger hurry to close up and go home than make sure that I'm happy. If it was too late to seat us because the kitchen was closing, they should have said so. Overall, The food was impressive, but I was really disappointed with the service and wish I hadn't spent so much money here.
(2)Bob K.
Simply the best restaurant in the Effingham area..I eat here every time I travel to or by Effingham.
(5)Doug B.
In a part of the world where most home town restaurants are simply remodeled homes with very little ambiance, this is one place that stands out and even outshines corporate *million dollar* establishments found in the *big cities*. This is your reason not to just drive on through Effingham.
(5)Mark E.
Really great restaurant in a sea of chains. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the staff was extremely friendly, and the food was delicious. They have a fresh garden next to the restaurant where all the vegetables are grown. I had the mushroom and white cheese pizza. It. Was. DELICIOUS!! The fried green tomatoes were great as well. The only down side was the wait. We waited at our table a very long time to get our food. But overall, very very good.
(4)Christine D.
Effingham is my dad's hometown so I've spent a fair amt of time here over the years. Never expected to come down from Chicago to meet my Dad and uncle for the big annual church picnic and find a place like Firefly grill. Totally agree with all the reviews who see this restaurant being wildly successful in the 'big' city. In fact, I am still wondering how this place makes in in a town like Effingham, which admittedly is not in as bad of shape as other small town rural areas but still... Setting terrific, kids wildly entertained by feeding fish, food superb. Fried green tomatoes were crunchy but not greasy like other reviewer's experience. Kids loved homemade sodas. husband had halibut special which was really unique and I had fettucine with a sort of beef ragout sauce that was delicious. Only lacking the final star as my husband's dish had a small errant hair in it. I'm sure this was total anomoly. we did not make a big deal as our kids would have all been in an uproar and the whole evening would have been spent discussing it.... :) something to look forward to for the next visit - or maybe worth a detour on our way t/f st. louis.
(4)Steve A.
First time eating here. Took a client to lunch and I had the steak sandwich with a house salad. The steak was Allen Bros. and was excellent. Very tender with caramelized onions on a fresh French bread roll. Salad was very fresh with homemade Ranch dressing which was great. My client had the pork shank plate which he said was terrific. He also had apple bread pudding for dessert. Everything was fresh and much was homemade. Really enjoyed the food and found the lunch atmosphere great for business meal.
(5)Carl B.
Great food at a reasonable price. This is a refreshing break from all the fast food at this exit. There are fish to feed in the lake off the back balcony and fresh produce from the neighboring farm. I would eat here weekly if it was in my neighborhood. Fantastic.
(5)Sabrina D.
The Firefly is an absolutely outstanding venue for excellent food and a great non-rushed dining experience. The service was excellent as well as the various menu items. The brownie or the bread pudding were a perfect end to the evening.
(5)Keith H.
After 1000 miles of the tedious and tallow menu items of the likes of McDonalds, Denneys & Cracker Barrel, a suicide bomber had issued a fatwa on my digestive metabolism. As Lady Luck looked kindly upon me for I stopped in Effingham for the night and Firefly Grill surfaced on the Yelp search. . Oh! To experience humanity again at Firefly Grill after the tyranny of interstate 70, rejuvenated my spirit to trudge onward through the usual suspects of IS 70, namely tasteless, colorful processed foodstuffs. A higher end restaurant with staff pleasing to look at, menu items pleasing to taste, wholesome and satisfying. One minor criticism, provide a wine list with the menu.
(5)Nick T.
Found this gem after checking in to my hotel room surrounded by depressing chain restaurants. Awesome building inside and out. Had the butternut squash soup and the Montana filet and can't say enough. Service was great and I look forward to my next layover in Effingham.
(5)Leslie S.
Excellent! Awesome atmosphere! Highly recommend starting out with onion rings! Can't go wrong with anything on the menu, Great brunch selection. Something for everyone!! :)
(5)Cindy D.
After seeing the Firefly Grill on the Delicious Destinations list we decided to stop by on our way home from St. Louis. The food and service were excellent. The service had the quality of a city but with the friendliness of a small town. We had the pizza, which was excellent. The raspberry soda was wonderful. I hope to go back during the day in the summer or fall because I understand it has a nice view.
(5)Robby T.
Two star rating for the following: 1. Reservations were made 1 day in advance for a specific time and location within the restaurant. 2. We were seated 20 min late in the incorrect location 3. Our table was given to a different party who made reservations the day of for a later time. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth. 4. To add insult to injury; the aforementioned group was waited on and served first. 5. I received my food just now. The crisp southern fried miller chicken was very good. 6. Party size should not determine priority, but the quality of customer. Thank you.
(2)Don S.
SEVERELY OVERPRICED!! , I don't mind paying good money for good meals. But they are very orve priced and under portioned. We ordered the Shellfish Tower for 75$ , got 4 pcs of Shrimp, 1 Crab leg, 1 a handful of mussels, and 1/4 lobster tail. So the lobster was about 2 bites. Nice place, nice service, But the tower was a total ripoff. I give it a 2 and the server a nice tip. I guess they just dont have any competition in Effingham.
(2)Chuck R.
Wow! What an amazing find off the interstate. Way beyond typical roadstop food, in fact, the restaurant could easily be in any major metropolitan city. The food was amazing AND it's locally grown too. Just expect to pay for top quality food and service, the place ain't cheap!
(5)Jeff C.
We had another great experience as always our waitress was fantastic the appetizer and pizza errific. Thank you firefly
(5)Jay H.
This restaurant really is this good. As a Chicago city resident, I was very skeptical. But the quality of the ingredients, the skill of execution, the warm service, the cool interior, and above all, the creativity of the preparation won me over. Big time. We ordered a pork shank with red curry coconut sauce over lentils and a chicken with Korean BBQ sauce over udon noodles. 5 star flavor, 4.5 star execution. Onion rings were the best $5 I have ever spent. The prices are in line with quality and preparation. Also, wine list is well chosen anf fairly priced. A terrific place, especially if you branch out beyond steaks and burgers.
(5)Kaaren F.
Outstanding food and service. On easter We were driving home to Chicago from New Orleans and stopped in effingham. It was toward the end of their service for the night , and there were just a few tables still seated. Yet, We were met with warmth and the service and food were far far above what I would have expected. This could be a top restaurant in Chicago.
(5)Val T.
Seriously local food with flair. Today's special: stuffed squash blossoms from their own zucchini plants in the restaurant's garden. Margherita pizza with tomatoes and basil from their garden. Out in the middle of nowhere, IL but RIGHT off the highway and so much better than all the nearby chains. Service good.
(4)Jeanne G.
Great food and service. Little pricey but worth it. Best calamari ever. We had pork and scallops. Delicious
(5)J F.
Excellent service and Great food! We had such a great experience here that we had to call over the floor manager and tell them a positive compliment. I rarely if ever do that and felt that they needed to know that my experience was excellent.
(5)A.j. H.
Had the pretzel chicken sandwich with Brie , it was refreshing in a town like Effingham where flavors tend to be two dimensional. Firefly grill has yet to disappoint, I just forget it's an option sometimes! Go there for lunch it's affordable and you gotta love the atmosphere.
(5)Jenna W.
The very best place to have a nice lunch or dinner meal within a 60 mile radius. It's even better than some restaurants I've been to in bigger cities. I am so happy it's so close to home. I have never had a bad meal here. Very classy, good place!!!
(5)Carl M.
They serve up one delicious caprese salad with heirloom tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella. The tomatoes and basil came from their garden.
(5)Christopher G.
trying to plan someplace decent to eat between Indianapolis and Columbia Missouri (our stop for the night) . ..well this is really the only interesting restaurant between Terre Haute (decent enough Thai next to the interstate) and St. Louis. So we stopped here and were pretty please with the experience. The restaurant is beautiful, and sits on a coy/goldfish pond. The staff were especially friendly, giving my son plenty of bread to feed the goldfish/catfish. The food was decent, not the best Pannini but the pizza was rock solid (not new England quality, but definitely beat Indianapolis quality). Overall - a good stop, and definitely worth it versus stooping at McDonald are some other nondescript fast food joint.
(4)Missy L.
I would give this 5 stars, but my waitress seemed a bit stiff. She could have been having an off night, though...I'm just saying it did diminish my 5 star experience that I was expecting. Beyond that, the food was amazing. I had the wild mushroom pizza, which had a zillion wonderful flavors, all which exploded in my mouth bite after bite. There were too many flavors to identify, but the combination of sweet, tangy, salty and "wild" were all present. The ambiance can't be beat. Feels like Chicago or New York. I'll definitely be coming back, and bringing a date or a group to sit outside and enjoy the fire pit and lake view.
(4)Rachel S.
Came here for lunch with a friend and it was my first time in the restaurant. I believe we were the only patrons in the whole restaurant and had anywhere to choose to sit. We decided to sit outside on the patio and got the opportunity to feed their enormously huge, seven year old catfish and koi. Unbelievable! The service was wonderful and the food was great. I had the chicken sandwich on pretzel bread and the garlic French fries. Outstanding and I think I could have just eaten the fries... They were wonderful! The total bill for two lunches (no alcohol) was $27. I looked at dinner prices and they seemed a little expensive. That's e only reason I knocked it down a star. Hope to return to try other dishes.
(4)Christie B.
This is a hidden gem that is right off the 70 freeway in Effingham. If you venture a tiny bit further than the typical McDonald's and Starbucks that clutter the freeway exit, you'll find yourself in an open space with a gorgeous restaurant that looks like it's been transplanted from Napa Valley. This is a fantastic place that serves food made from locally sourced ingredients. I've eaten there twice now, and both meals have been excellent, from beginning to end. The waitstaff is friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere of the restaurant is superb. Add to that the fact that the menu is reasonably priced, and I'm a devoted fan.
(5)Anne B.
I ate lunch with friends. There is a wonderful private room and great service. Ordered poor boy shrimp sandwich. Delicious!
(5)Matthew S.
I went in the first night thinking I would have a solid 4-star experience for dinner. It was 3 stars at best. I thought I would give it a second try, again, 3 stars at best. Here's the skinny: Night 1: Ambiance 4-5 stars, service 4 stars, food 1-2 stars. The homemade bread that comes out before the meal is good. The beer selection is decent as they have just under 8-10 beers on tap and around 20 bottled varieties to choose from. I ordered the citrus salad for the main course. The waitress talked me into adding chicken to it. Bad decision. The salad was great. Homemade dressing and very well done, but the chicken was at least 3 days old, dried out and almost as hard as the croutons. I ordered their "famous" bread pudding for desert. Not sure if it really qualifies as bread pudding. It was tasty, but be ready to fork over some cash for something you could probably eat in one bite. The ice cream "scoop" is about the size of a golf ball at best. I was pretty grumpy. You just don't tease and toy with my emotions like that! Unacceptable by Midwestern standards my friends. Maybe it has something to do with the Fiscal Cliff and budget cuts?? :-) Night 2: Ambiance again 4-5 stars, service 2 stars, food 3 stars. I ordered the roasted chicken with a cream sauce, asparagus and yellow foot mushrooms. Very tasty on the whole, but they just missed the mark of having something excellent going because they over salted the chicken quite a bit. I ordered their house side salad, this was fantastic. They even threw some goat cheese crumbles on there for me which was awesome. Service was sub-par. Our waiter really didn't know the first thing about beer although he pretended to and he didn't check on us very much. It also took 15+ minutes to get a check, our credit cards lying out on the edge of the table as a subtle hint that we're ready to peace out man! They weren't that busy. If they tighten up some loose ends with service and food quality they will have a great thing going here. I would say that if their prices were lower, I would give them another shot, but at $45 after a 18% tip for an entree, side salad and 2 beers, I'd probably try out another local establishment next time I'm in town for business.
(3)Sam H.
Great restaurant for a small city chain restaurant area.excellent ingredients well prepared. Small fancy portions, high quality. Definitely 3 $signs.
(5)Matt T.
Huh? Where am I? Driving from St Louis to Indianapolis and stopped for dinner. This is an AMAZING restaurant that would stand out in any large city. The menu is beautiful, the decor welcoming and warm. The food was outstanding. I can not imagine making this drive and not stopping here again. Had a salad, a pasta dish and a glass of wine for $40. Was almost licking the bowl...simply delicious. UPDATE: Came back the next night...yup, it's that good. Had a fish dish and a glass of wine for $31. Simply wonderful establishment. Service was prompt and pleasant, no complaints from me about anything at all. If I lived in Effingham, I'd be here once a week, no joke. Looking forward to my next drive to Indy already.
(5)Cherie O.
Really?? (insert McKayla Maroney is not impressed). I really wanted to like this place. Everyone raves about this place. But it being out in Central IL shouldn't change anyone's standards. Neither should the fact that they reiterate that everything is locally resourced or that they fly their fish in a couple of times a week should automatically bump it up. I think this place is a 2.5 star kind of place...it would have been three stars, but for some things that kinda left a bad taste in my mouth. It's a very pretty place. I wouldn't say it's warm because I don't think glass and metal are very warm...but it's a striking place. Some of the reviews make it seem like it's in the middle of nowhere...not really. It's down the street from a Nike outlet. I dragged a couple of colleagues here because there was going to be a group dinner and I had really wanted to try firefly. There were about 20 of us and we had the area behind the bar that's mostly curtained off. The first thing I noticed when we entered was that it was LOUD because of the acoustics and it was only a little over half full. So we tell the hostess that we're here for the group dinner and she waves us towards the back of the bar. I don't know if she thought we knew where we were going, but there was no attempt to even bring us back there. Even better yet, she waved towards the left side of the bar, towards this conglomerate of people (not with our group dinner) which ended up kinda funny because if we had headed that direction, we would have to have fought past that group only to be blocked from entering from that side because there was a screen projector on the other side. So there were three waiters, who all haphazardly ended up working the table. Some of us got drink menus; some of us didn't. Same thing for the actual menu and specials. I realize that there is a lot of confusion when people are arriving at different times resulting in drinks being taken out of order, but when serving the drinks, shouldn't they be done in that order? My colleague had to wait awhile for her pumpkin martini (which was done well) while other people who had ordered martinis and other drinks after her got theirs before she did. On the plus side, they do have Schlafly! So people started ordering starters and I'm not sure what happened, but they never brought out my other friend her Maine Lobster Stew. I felt like they were confused about who ordered what (because of the arrival times and random seats we were choosing) because there was some walking back and forth before plate placement, but there was never an extra plate of stew wandering about. As I was really really enjoying MY Maine Lobster Stew, I felt like I had to speak up for her because it really was very good and there was no head waiter in sight checking up on everyone to make sure that everyone had gotten what they ordered. So ten minutes later, her stew comes out, and it is COLD. WHAT? How do you not have a plate for her and then have it come out cold?! She took two bites and couldn't finish it because it was that cold. I'm still very confused about this. To make it more interesting, I guess this inconsistency is also across the board because it does come with this rustic bread, but some people had super burnt pieces of it compared to my creamy, buttery piece. (and again, really? Serving a burnt piece of bread?) We order the entrees in seated order and the same confusion happens about who is ordering what. I can only guess that it's either because a different person brings out the plates or that they were bringing out the same entree at a time to cause that confusion. Don't shoot yourselves in the foot, guys. I had ordered the seared Hawaiian Ahi Tuna with soba noodles, roasted Korean shiitake mushrooms, and asparagus. It was okay. I think it would have been really good on its own, save for that awful Americanized fusion super salty teriyaki sauce that was at the bottom of the plate. I felt it basically ruined the tuna. Dessert for me was the seasonal house special which was the bread pudding and their own peanut butter ice cream. That was pretty good; I'd order it again. The peanut butter ice cream really tasted like a grainier cold version of peanut butter, and I know some purists would take some offense at it, but honestly, ice cream is ice cream to me, and I liked it. Not going to have dreams about it, but it's solid. I think they have a lot of really good ideas. I think their resourcing and creativity is definitely there. But execution falls flat on so many levels. Dinner was just a disappointment.
(2)John B.
This restaurant is such a surprise, you may never know the regret you'd feel, if you knew what you missed.
(5)Craig D.
I don't normally pay attention to whether or not the food is organic, but Firefly has opened my eyes. Their farm/garden to table food has brought me around. I had fried green tomatoes...fresh from their onsite garden...and the scallop with Risoto entree. Everything was perfectly cooked and spiced...and very fresh. Don't get me wrong, I'll still go right after some meat healthily infused with antibiotics and growth hormones, but I will keep my eye out for any place serving farm to table fresh food and I will absolutely stop by the Firefly Grill whenever I'm in town.
(5)Hannah G.
Holy mother of god. What a gem in the middle of nowhere! My boyfriend and I stopped here on our way through IL, and we were so pleased and impressed! The ambiance is amazing, spacious and modern. The entire staff is friendly and professional, the servers help one another out and work cooperatively even though your table will have a single server assigned to it. The food is spectacular! Modern American with and emphasis on seasonal, sustainable, fresh and organic. The restaurant even has it's own garden! Definitely stop in!
(5)William C.
Halibut with vegetables and butternut squash ravioli. The fish was ok in taste but it was cooked perfectly. The sauce with it really was great. The ravioli were outstanding. My wife really liked the scallops with risotto was cooked right and very tasty. Neither serving was very large but we felt they were enough and left room for desert. Both deserts were very very good. Small in portion but great in taste. I had the triple chocolate and she had the best banana cake. The staff was very good. The provided good service and were very knowledgable about the food and its preparation.
(5)L R.
Wonderful food and very cool atmosphere. Love the garden outside where alot of the ingredients originate. Had the fried green tomatoes which were fabulous!! The salmon was also very very good. We stayed locally at the Hampton and were traveling from NJ to Denver. So glad to have stopped in Effingham. Wish I could have given 5 stars but the service was not that great. Willing to overlook that to say we will definitely be back.
(4)Andrea A.
Delicious! If you are looking for quality food, check this place out. It's a little pricey, but definitely worth a visit. It was surprising to find this gem in such a rural area. I would recommend the Firefly as a place where everyone can find something to eat (even picky eaters and folks with food allergies).
(5)JS E.
A pleasant surprise. Incredible service and friendly staff. The food was well prepared and perfectly seasoned. We look forward to a return trip, especially in the summer time.
(4)Clifford S.
We had dinner here on our way to Kansas City and it was one of the best meals of the summer. No, I have not had a few beers and yes, it is in Effingham. I don't know why it's there either. I had scallops and squash blossom appetizer and pie - all outstanding. We are planning a fall trip to St. Louis and one of the goals is to somehow stop here either on the way down or back. Yes, it is that good.
(5)Nic N.
Don't miss this countryside jewel nestled near the 'cross roads' of southern Illinois. Great local flavor meets rural chick at Firefly. I have a client in Effingham and make frequent trips from Chicago as a result. In my opinion this spot certainly holds its own among even some of the most highly rated restaurants in Chica-go-go, but the best part is that they include a lot of locally grown food. Even the dining tables were made in Effingham, nice work on supporting the local economy! On my last visit we started with a caprese salad and then moved on to the grilled truffle duck egg sandwich - Lake meadow Farm's ducks eggs, white truffle, white balsamic dressed greens on house-made Challah bread (this was lunch time). Food was great...filling, but not too heavy so we could go about our day. Unfortunately I don't remember what I had for dinner there on my last visit (months ago), but I do know that it was just as good, if not an even better experience, if that is even possible. Sit on the back deck and enjoy the view of the fountain in the large pond or dine inside and check out the great decor. The building looks like it was constructed in salvaged barn wood and even the parking lot is stylishly landscaped so these guys get an A+ for building an excellent establishment all around. Oh...and if you like beer and wine you won't be disappointed. It absolutely has to have the best selection in Effingham...hands down.
(5)William S.
What a great meal! It is like an oasis in the dessert. These kind of restaurants are found in big cities like Chicago, Toronto, and Dallas. The pork rind and crispy dungeness crab purses appetizers were perfect. We both had the firefly burger. One of the best burgers we have ever eaten. The Coconut creme brûlée and peanut butter cup desserts were the topper to a fantastic meal. The Effingham area is fortunate to have this place in their town. Please support it so we can stop there next time we pass through!! Update... I was so excited about the great food I did not mention the service was equally as good!!
(5)Scott L.
Great place and never would have expected to find this type of quality hidden here. What a delicious meal we had. The ambiance and food were excellent and it would have received 5 stars if the service would have matched the obvious attention to detail in the food. Meals ranges from a $5 bar burger to about $44 for the lamb chop. I had the Reuben and it was delicious, served with fries which were also excellent for $10. Even though I don't live here I will stop here on future travels for sure.
(4)Brad P.
really nice atmosphere, terribly friendly staff, the building is impressive, the menu is fun, the beer and wine selection would not disappoint the most spoiled diners (being one) and an amazingly well executed plate of food (my date thinks maybe the best shes EVER had) made this surprise in the middle of nowhere a true treat on a Los Angeles to Indianapolis cross country drive that was actually full of great meals... but this was the true gem of our trip! Would definitely go WAY out of my way to dine there again!
(5)Michael C.
Amanda is the highlight of firefly grill. I typically do not give glowing reviews about restaurants that have par food but Amanda made my entire experience more than excellent hospitality wise. Whether she is on the floor or behind the bar make sure you at least introduce yourself and she will see to it that the night of restaurant experience is worth you stopping in effingham. The steak worth stopping for although I hoped the taste would have been better for the price. Although it was cooked perfectly. I'm looking forward to stopping back through for the seabass instead. I would however.. Scratch that. I will be stopping again just to talk to Amanda again over a drink. That is a certainty.
(4)Susan S.
Daughter loves Firefly and Daughter needed some TLC, so we scheduled a little ladies' lunch on a Saturday afternoon. And a lovely little lunch we had. As always, the ambiance of FF grill is sublime---its look is one of my all time favorites. Daughter's too. She loves the oversized, sepia-toned wedding photos of the owners that grace the walls. Daughter described her lunch as "summertime in a sandwich." After one try-bite, I concurred. The roasted chicken/basil/mozz/pesto panini was a delectable balance of crunchy, gooey, savory, and smokey sensations. 5 stars. The fries were perfection---nice and hot (cold fries stink) and nicely seasoned. And the $8.50 price point was spot on. My lunch---a little on the meh side. I ordered the Spinach salad with strawberry balsamic dressing, vanilla almonds, and about 4 interesting warm goat cheese croquettes, about the size of an old fashioned gumball or an embryonic tater tot. The price was either $8.50 or $9.50. The abundance of spinach was great and would have satisfied even the hungriest Popeye. However, the co-stars, so to speak, did not support the quantity of spinach served. I found myself rationing the teeny bits of cheese and almonds to help me make it to the finish line with the greens. As often happens at FF, the staff was super smiley and welcoming but hard to summon when needed. Drink orders took over five minutes to place and just about as long to deliver. Iced tea refills took awhile, too. I saw some verbal and nonverbal communication going on between the hostess and various waitstaff regarding our beverages, but no one seemed to have clear ownership of our table. Nor did anyone stop by after the hopper brought our meals to ascertain if all was okay or if we needed anything else---which we did. I had expected the salad to have some kind of carb alongside, a bun, a cracker, etc. In the past, FF served bread on a board or popovers. I couldn't catch my server's attention---I think she was busy with a baby shower--but the hostess eventually explained that bread service was available, for a buck. Two probs---first of all, that didn't happen when I ate lunch at FF Grill in April. In fact, that time, our group of four was served up some tasty popovers even though people ordered bread-centric entrees like pizzas and rock shrimp po'boys. Secondly, why isn't this upcharge mentioned on the menu or offered when ordering? FF has been promoting lunch specials diligently--which is nice. But, the lunch menu seems to have shrunken in size and grown in price point over the last few years. And the foo-foo factor has increased as well. I miss the salad/pizza special....and the complimentary bread, and the greater number of choices. You know I'll be back---the pluses outweigh the minuses---one major plus being location, location, location.
(4)Michael K.
3rd time here in last couple of weeks on my way back and forth to Indy from STL. It is an oasis of great food with real care towards the ingredients. This is as good as you find in any major market. Be sure to try the tiramisu!
(5)Dan K.
Very nice. Maybe the nicest restaurant in Effingham. Pricy but very good food. I would definitely come here again.
(4)Mike A.
We stopped here on our drive to Detroit from Dallas. Simply amazing food and atmosphere! High recommendation in my book!
(5)Gary K.
This place is outstanding! The service and food were great, and the location is perfect. Close to the hotel we were staying at, and all the other shops, restaurants, etc.; but Firefly Grill clearly stood out. I had a teriyaki flank steak and it was amazing! It was so tender. The potatoes were great too. The nice thing was that even though it's a nice restaurant they still had a reasonable kids menu too. I only wish they had a restaurant like this in Clarksville, TN. I'd go here all the time.
(5)Scott C.
Great little establishment. Friendly service and it looks like a great place to be in the warmer months.
(4)Eric W.
Owners are a TOTAL Class Act. Next time through Effingham will definitely stop in again.
(4)Kay A.
I love the idea of Firefly Grill. It's like a fairy tale when you walk in. The menu is imaginative and inviting. The atmosphere is magical. But, sadly, I wasn't able to really eat much there. I have dairy, soy, and gluten allergies and so need to be very careful with what I eat. They have a so-called gluten-free menu, but it's not actually a gluten free menu. It's a list of dishes for which you can request that items to be taken out and it turns out they offer no substitutions. So, I ordered the burger without the cheese, bun, or fries. I asked if the server if he could give me some extra lettuce and tomatoes since I couldn't have the bun or the fries, and they said no. This really shocked me. In pretty much any restaurant of this calibre the chef would be embarrassed to send a plate out with a hamburger patty on it and nothing else. Don't get me wrong, I understand that it's not the restaurant's fault that I have these allergies, but I went here with such high hopes--especially because I called ahead and asked if they had a gluten free menu and they said yes. It certainly can't cost them extra make a bed of lettuce leaves and place the bun on top of it, with two or three slices of tomatoes. Especially since they're charging for the bun and the fries, but not actually serving them. In the end, the patty was fine, but nothing special. I'll probably go here again, because that's how special the atmosphere is, but I'll make sure to eat dinner before I go and then just have the side salad and wine. So, if you're one of those sorry folks with the gluten-dairy-soy problem don't bother coming here for the food. All you'll be able to eat is a piece of meat, and absolutely nothing else. Which is too bad, since the chef seems to have a great imagination and excellent execution.
(2)Jon T.
Romantic devil that I am I took Ms T to Effingham for St Valentine's Day dinner and a visit to the Boos Block's outlet store. She can never say I don't take her to exciting places. I searched for places to eat in Effingham and found the Fire Fly Grill. This is a surprisingly sophisticated place to find out here and offered a lot of promise. We made reservations on Open Table and being Valentine's, it was a good thing. The place was packed and I suspect normally reservations are a good idea. They have put a lot of effort into the ideas behind the restaurant. It looks like a barn or something but inside the menu is upscale and (I think) pricy for Effingham. They make a big deal about being green and local but I am cynical about this. While well intended I'm sure, it is really mostly about marketing. Let's face it, it sells. What really matters is how good the food is. The Fire Fly Grill missed the mark especially considering the price. Remind me never to tell a waiter that this is our first time there. I made that mistake and we listened to the sermon on green and local and then the specials from Jordan. It was a bit condescending assuming we did not know anything about the ingredients rather than letting us ask when we needed information. We ordered two glasses of wine (marked up very well). We started with Crab and Lobster Rangoon which was really very good. Ms T ordered scallops on risotto and I ordered pheasant on papardelle. The scallops were seared properly but were gritty. We could not decide if it was in the scallops or was from the grill. They tasted good to her, but the grit was off-putting. The risotto was poorly executed, flavorless and underdone, not al dente, but rather al crunchy, while the matrix was very pasty, an odd combination. My local pheasant was OK. It was seared and then finished in the oven. It had good herbal flavors on a crispy skin, but the serving was tiny. One pheasant wing and breast is about four bites. I grew up eating wild pheasant in Iowa and this farm raised, tame bird had virtually no flavor of its own. My bed of papardelle was fine and the dish was executed well. It was just short on poultry serving size and pheasant flavor. This is a surprisingly sophisticated restaurant for the surroundings. But we had to ask again for our wine or it never would have arrived. The wines were served too warm. Ms T's white was not chilled and my pinot noir was room temperature. The room was about 80 degrees and a PN should be served cellar temperature. This was over $50 per person, (one appetizer, no desserts) which is OK, but I expect much better execution.
(2)Bob W.
If you are heading up HY 57 to Chicago, stop in Effingham for a gem of a restaurant: FIREFLY GRILL. Lunch or dinner it is OUTSTANDING! Best place we have been to in several years. It is a great find & must stop. Food offered is a wide range and cooked just right. Fish & beef offerings are wonderful. Bread is killer and is the french oinion soup. Very clean place with great service on a small pond. A little expensive but worth every penny. GO AND ENJOY!
(5)Patrick R.
We stop at Firefly Grill on every trip to STL from INDY. You can always count on the Firefly to have a couple fish specials since their fish is flown in fresh a couple times a week. The specials are always paired perfectly by the chef. I realize that this is Effingham, which is in the middle of the country, and most people are traveling through and are looking to pay McDonalds prices for a 5 star meal, buck-up people, it is well worth it!!
(5)Angela C.
Just left this restaurant. Excellent! It seemed a little pricey, but I'm willing to pay extra for good food. I ordered the Halibut which came with a tomato and cucumber salad. Ordered the risotto on the side just because I love risotto. Had the crab purses for an appetizer. Had the peach shortcake for desert. Everything was superb. The service was also excellent. I am just sorry I don't live here and was just driving through. Well i went here for sunday brunch and was disappointed in the service and the food so had to downgrade and say dont go on sunday
(4)Tommy B.
mic experience right off of 57. To say that I was surprised by the caliber of the kitchen, the creativity of the dishes and the lovely & aesthetic feel of the room, it would be a huge understatement. If you are a weary traveler desperate for some respite from the road, Firefly is a glorious reward for your car-tired body & eyes. Firefly is a real restaurant for real foodies. Thereare straight ahead burgers, fries etc. for those who want it steady & delicious, and if you want something a little more varied, go deeper in the menu or try the daily specials. The wine list is thoughtful & informed. The bar is unbelievably cool. If you are traveling on 57, this is a must stop kind of place. Firefly is a culinary gem. I gave them the 5th star for two reasons. 1- some of the dishes really are that amazing 2- the element of surprise - they must care so much to deliver such an incredible experience in Southern Illinois.
(5)Joya H.
What a wonderful surprise on our drive from Texas to Michigan! The restaurant itself is beautiful. Add the enclosed patio overlooking kids feeding fish on the pond and deer in the field at sunset, was a nice touch, wow! The house salad and bread with fresh garlic and oil were delicious. My husband and I both ordered off the chef's specials. He had a pork shank, fall off the bone tender, perfectly seasoned, and with an excellent presentation. I had the Alaskan Halibut, which was cooked perfectly and served with squash grown on the premises. Thank you Yelpers for such a terrific find. We won't pass by without stopping again.
(5)Dan C.
Great restaurant. Wish it was close to home. Corn Chowder was probably the best soup we ever had.
(5)Greg J.
wow! In the middle of no-where; Effingham , Illinois, more known for truck stops then great food, is a real gem I cant say enough about the place. I travel weekly all over the US with an expense account to wine and dine clients and came across this restaurant last year. After 5 impressive visits, I have got to tell everyone to go. Its a bit expensive for the area, but I can guarantee a great meal. They use a lot of local grown items according to the menu so the meals change in the season. Try this one and you can thank me later..
(5)Jeff H.
Ok, no doubt this place gets a 5* rating. This was an INCREDIBLY pleasant surprise considering I was stuck in Effingham for the night. Given past stays in Southern Illinois (see my reviews of Mount Vernon) I was pretty sure that Effingham would be a culinary wasteland of Applebees, TGI Fridays, Buffalo Wild Wings and other standard highway exit chain restaurants. And if I hadn't checked Yelp, I would have never found this option, because it is sort of out in the middle of a field, though not far from the highway. Just in an area all by itself. But what a find it was.... Driving over, I wasn't sure I had turned the right way. I was driving out into the dark away from the rest of the highway exit buildings... but then just another half mile or so along, I saw the building. Though it was dark outside, the building is all glass and timber with a tin roof. Very warm looking inside with big high ceilings and a country setting with fields all around. Very inviting as you are driving up. Went inside and found an inviting, open space with tables in the middle, a bar at one end and the kitchen at the other. Took a spot at the bar and reviewed the menu which was amazing. From the decor to the menu filled with locally sourced items and creative food combinations, this place would fit in perfectly in Sonoma or Napa. And of all places it is in Effingham, Illinois! There were tons of interesting things on the menu, but I just had the wild mushroom soup (local mushrooms), the 5 oz filet and a side of grilled asparagus. As opposed to most midwestern meals, this was about quality, not quantity so it was refreshing to get good food with reasonable portion sizes. All food was done perfectly and I finished with the bread pudding with caramel sauce and pumpkin ice cream. I'm guessing many people would be pissed off at the relatively tiny size of the dessert, but it was perfect. Great flavors in a size that doesn't add 1000 calories to your meal. I can't recommend this place highly enough if you ever find yourself in Effingham. Great decor and warmth, great menu, friendly service and I would imagine great pastoral scenery if you are there for lunch or in the early evening when it is still light out.
(5)D M.
Good, clean - but a little expensive for what you get. I'd say these were comparable to Times Square prices for steaks... And burgers. Kids had a blast the waitstaff made sure of that. Did I say the place was clean? Well it was and very worth the trip, even though we had to sell our car to afford it. Thought the popovers were a nice touch.
(4)John F.
Expensive but worth it-it's a monopoly without a competitor here. Extensive, overpriced wine list; Rombauer chardonnay was $10 more than at the Cottage Place in Flagstaff. Good service. Very, very noisy. My lobster stew was quite good, with plenty of lobster. Wedge salad was huge, and very tasty. We'll return. Entrees are steep.
(4)Levent T.
Rule of thumb: Any reviews that mention how wonderful this place is because they are comparing it to what one may find in Effingham...deduct one star for that review. Now I say this *not* to be pretentious, but, because I almost gave them a Whoohoo! for the same reason. The restaurant and atmosphere is stylish, hip and welcoming. The staff extremely attentive, attractive and friendly. The food is pricey but the quality + service + facility = the damages. Side salad was fresh and enough for two to share. The scallop risotto was tasty and the cut I had for my seared tuna was one of the largest I've ever received table side, however, for $30+ it better, right? The tuna was cooked perfectly to my request of near sashimi style and the asparagus still had some crunch. My only complaint was that the sauce it came with was too sweet and that the noodles were a step above ramen. Still I would so go back to dine when in the area.
(4)Drew G.
The staff is very rude. My sister and I stopped here on a road trip after seeing the billboard. The hostess who sat us was rude. We waited 20 minutes for a server. No one stopped at our table. There were plenty of servers walking by or talking at the bar or host-stand. We eventually got up and left. It was extremely insulting. Pretentious, rude, cold. Save your time and go somewhere else.
(1)Kevin M.
Eat here. Now! If you are within driving distance, get in your car and get over here.
(5)Dane K.
In a sea of TGIF's and Cracker Barrel nastiness, Firefly is a bit of a hidden gem featuring local more sustainable cuisine. I've only "carried out" twice but for carry out it's a good option if you're passing Effingham on i57 / i70, they're about two blocks off of exit 160. It's a better carry out option for lunch than dinner, as their dinner menu is decisively more upscale. At lunch there are a wide range of sandwiches/salads, at dinner the entrees range $14-30, averaging somewhere in the middle (and there are some steaks that are a bit more $ I think). Their prices on sandwiches are pretty reasonable. On my last visit it was "dinner" and it was carry out and I was driving, so I needed a sandwich... And the only real sandwich on the menu was a burger, which I didn't really want but the alternative was going to a Hardees drive through. Actually it was a burger with gruyere and a side of fresh green beans... $10. It was one of the best burgers I've had in a long time, and perfect for the road. It turned out to be a really great decision. I forgot to specify condiments so it didn't really have any ketchup/mustard/mayo or anything, but it didn't need it. I don't know what the juicy goodness was flavored with, but it was pretty awesome. I did ask for avocado, but it appears this wasn't heard as I wasn't charged for it nor was it on my burger. My other visit I had a chicken caesar wrap. It was good, the wrap kind of absorbed all of the dressing though. They have house made chips that are pretty tasty too. I used to think this was kind of a hidden gem but now they have billboards, and every time I pass the highway the billboards seem to get bigger. Good for them I guess. The building they're in is absolutely beautiful! It reminds me of some modern meets barn wineries I've been to. A can't miss if you're eating in Effingham. Accepts reservations and they're on Opentable.
(5)Sally L.
We loved this restaurant and would recommend to any and everyone!! The food was delicious and the service fast and friendly. I had one of their hamburgers and it was to die for along with the garlic French fries..
(5)Becky S.
Absolutely love this place! Ate here last August for the first time, and again last night. The second time was even better than the first! Last night I had a greek salad and the red Margherita pizza. The produce was so fresh, it was hard to believe it hadn't just been picked from their garden! I had the Tiramisu for dessert - one of the best I've ever had.
(5)amy c.
this place is like an oasis in the midst of crap for food central - the usual mcD, BK, LJS, etc. Its not right on the road with those god awful tacky neon signs blinding you while you're trying to drive at night. Its down a long road in a barn or "remodeled" barn really. Reclaimed wood, veg garden - all the makings of a tree huggers wet dream. they also use those compostable/recyclable take out containers (yay extra points!) The interior is nice - more of the spare, rustic feel with the owners black and white wedding pictures everywhere - apparently they had new england lobster bake yum yum. Its one big open space with a long bar towards that back and some more tables behind the bar that are a little more cozy I guess. crab rangoon - I don't really know what this food is, its def not asian. I've never had it before but basically its cream cheese folded inside a twisted pastry square and deep fried. no crab involved. not disgusting but not good either. flatbreads - so tasty, esp the california one with avocado. sometimes too much cheese to the point that its overwhelming but I can't blame them for catering to their audience. this is the midwest i suppose. crab and avocado salad - fishy. ew. serves me right (serves me wrong, actually) for ordering seafood this far from the coasts. seriously, could you be any farther from the oceans? pork chop - locally raised (yay!) and the size of your head and your mama's head combined. HUGEE. simple. well cooked. great steaks. There is a private room here for like 12 ppl i think. the light fixture is made of antlers. Welcomes to the midwest.
(4)Andrij S.
Me and my fiancée stopped by randomly on dec 30 for dinner and what a surprise!!!! Best pork shoulder I've had, presentation and combination of wild rice mmmmmm! She had a roasted chicken with the recommended mashed potatoes. Perfect combo. My fiancée even ordered a dessert, which is very rare for her and she wasn't disappointed. Nice building and very cool and different atmosphere. Not what you expect on a road trip in a smaller town at all. All around thumbs up for this place, stop in if you get the chance. It's effen great!
(5)Harpreet C.
A gem. Better than a lot of places in Chicago. 5 stars on food and cocktail presentation.
(5)Laura S.
Visited two weekends in a row. The building was beautiful and service was good.
(4)Kathy S.
My first review but I wanted to warn people about this restaurant. If you enjoy paying too much for skimpy portions and rude service this is the restaurant for you. The atmosphere is far from romantic, we laughed when they seated us, reminded us of a kiddy table in the middle of a cafeteria. I love a nice Chardonnay, they just had one by the glass so I ordered it, it was $10.00 for a small glass, it was poor quality and I mentioned it to the waitress, her comment was, "what do you expect when you order a house wine." My husband had the steak, he could not believe how small it was, came with runny bland mashed potatoes. The bread was excellent, so for $100.00 we had some good bread and had the pleasure of being insulted by our waitress. This restaurant challenges you to tell the king he has no clothes.
(1)Kelly J.
I have stopped here several times while traveling and I have made the 60 mile trip from my home to eat here and it has always been excellent. Service has always been great and anytime that I have had any question about the menu, the servers immediately know everything about the dish. I will travel an hour away to eat here many times in the future!
(5)Tonya A.
I get that this fine dining experience is a diamond in the rough for the area, however, I think it is over-hyped. Warning, if you believe all the hype you will be sorely disappointed. The food was okay, nothing great. We had the red sauce pizza (wouldn't want it again), shells and cheese (so bland), crab cakes (2 for $22, would get those again as nothing else on the menu sounded appetizing), garlic fries (nice and hot- two thumbs up). The service was ok, our server knew we were going to the evening show and we were still rushed to get our ticket, pay and arrive on time for the show. I liked that were served water from a tall bottle and were able to keep it at the table. The dinning room is one large open room and very noisy with club music playing from the bar area. I would not recommend this as a date place at all, not cozy for an intimate dining experience. Side note - If you are looking for a fine dining experience like you would find in the city, well this is probably your place.
(2)Dawn H.
My fiance and I decided to have a relaxing weekend at his parents' lakehouse in Effingham this weekend, and after watching several hours of college football, we were hungry. We did a Yelp search, saw this place had great ratings, and decided to hit it up. The food breakdown: 1) onion rings (more like straws, good heaping full, 3 stars) 2) popcorn coconut shrimp (the coconut foam and breading they serve with this dish are disgusting, 0-1 stars) 3) crab rangoon (more slimy cream cheese than crab, 2 stars) 4) meatballs (the absolute best part of the meal, 4 stars) 5) brownie sundae (meh, 3 stars) So why the 2 star rating? The service was awful. It took 10 minutes after finishing our water glasses until they were refilled. They served our appetizers without the accompanying sauces, and it took 10 minutes to flag down the server to bring this to her attention. It was 15 minutes between the appetizer order and the entree order. No, the restaurant wasn't bustling (it was only halfway full). No, there wasn't a shortage of servers that night. We could never figure out what all the delays were about. Summary: average food, slow service
(2)Ken J.
So, to say that I was pleased to find a restaurant with the sort of look and feel that I'd come to expect in venues in much larger locales, would be an understatement. I read the reviews and was quite excited to try it, but it didn't quite live up to expectations. First the good: The place looks the part -- open, airy, modern and rustic, you know, exposed wood everywhere but all flat surfaces covered with something shiny be it aluminum, stainless, or glass, and those nifty hanging halogen lamps. The ceiling is natural, not drop, and I'd imagine the place could get loud, but we were there on a Thursday and it was fine. The wine/beer selection is adequate in that they have something for everyone but having more wines available by the glass wouldn't kill them, so that was somewhat limited. The menu is truly impressive and the selections are world class: Mostly local, organic, and artisanal meats and produce, with listings on the menu of the source of each, and most of the produce seems to come from their own garden/farm. Very cool. So you can easily see how I was excited. I ordered the braised pork shank (a special) and the client got a pork loin chop (regularly on the menu). Now, I've had pork shank before and it should be one of the most flavorful of meats, so to find that mind was bland and uninspiring was very disappointing. It was as though the chef had completely forgotten about the existence of salt (or any other seasoning for that matter). It came served on a bed of whipped potatoes (also bland and unseasoned) with a side of brussels sprouts which I typically perceive as an abomination unto God. However, these were served with bacon (everything, especially brussels sprouts, is better with bacon) and they were actually, GASP, good. I'd initially asked our waitress if I could swap them out and she said yes, but she'd have to charge me for an extra side. WTF?! But back to this in a moment. The shank was perfectly cooked, but lacked any flavor except the natural pork -- maybe that was the intent, but I hardly think so. I'd tried to order something like a small tossed salad, but it doesn't exist, and the server didn't volunteer to have the kitchen make me one and charge me for an additional side. Bad. The client enjoyed her pork chop and said it was excellent. And it looked it: Large, moist, thick, and juicy all the way through. I believe it came with local fall veggies and those too looked good and fresh. So, back the whole "gotta charge you for substitution" thing. Look folks, there is NO reason, ZERO, not to allow substitutions. It doesn't cost you money. And for the prices you charge, which, by the way, are equivalent to Chicago prices, you can certainly afford to make the switch. This really sticks in my proverbial craw: If you're going to charge those prices, then I expect an equivalent level of service. And I didn't get it. I'll be back, but I'm hoping it's better next time. And that the chef remembers where he put the salt.
(3)Peter P.
This is the real deal. Creative cooking by people who care. Beautiful room, interesting menu, competent staff - Firefly is awesome. There is no place I have found in downstate Illinois that is its equal. We drive 60 miles to dine here, and it is worth it.
(5)The P.
Solid, not amazing. The boar bangers and mash were quite nice. The desserts, however, were overly sweet and unbalanced.
(3)Guy I.
Wow. I haven't looked at every review here but I bet many of them that are written by out-of-towners wonder just how this restaurant survives and thrives in Effingham, IL. Coming from the west suburbs of Chicago I doubt a fantastic restaurant like this would attract the clientele in my area. There must be some things about Effingham I don't know. But I do know that I sure wish I had this gem closer to my home. Upon my arrival I was thrilled-maybe stunned-when I saw their drink menu. Singapore Sling? Classic rum drinks? If I could even get a drink named Singapore Sling in Chicago, which I can't, I'm sure I'd find it to be kool-aid and vodka. Their version was absolutely 100% accurate to the original. (Need I say again, IN EFFINGHAM IL!) I was with a wedding party with a set menu. The salads and main courses were as great as I would have expected. Overall I was just blown away to find a place like this in Effingham. Sounds crazy, but we're going to plan another trip back to the area simply to dine at this restaurant again. Fantastic place.
(5)Nina U.
What an amazing place nestled in a little nook. Firewood is stacked out front. Sit on the front porch, off a little lake in the screened in back porch, or at a nice table inside with light dinner music, where are we? Effingham? no way. It feels like I'm sitting outside on the bayou. Don't think I would wear shorts but also don't think they would care if you did. Started with some light fresh fried green tomatoes and for this type of food, it's definitely listed at reasonable prices. Pisco sour was light and too easy to drink. Yum. I'll have another please. The Thai Beef Curry was also interesting and good but with my delicious cocktails I think I would go with something different next time to pair better with my drinks that I just couldn't part with. Try the coconut creme brulee with pistachios, whipped cream and a little scoop of mango sorbet. Quite delectable. Some times the best places are where you least expect them.
(5)Beth J.
Everything about this place deserves a five. We had lunch specials. Butternut squash soup was great, as well as the French onion soup. I had a spinach salad with grilled chicken. The chicken was great. Tender and moist. Hubby had steak burger on pretzel bun. The bread was awesome. The waitress was nice and attentive. We were traveling thru Effingham to Nashville. I am so glad we found this place. Thank you yelp!!
(5)Jim K.
This was our first visit to Firefly Grill and we went to celebrate our anniversary. The busy part of Ave of Mid America seems to go in the opposite direction from the restaurant, so having the name on the roof was a help in locating it. We had reservations and were seated immediately. The servers all seem to have been trained to assist one another. We asked for a minute before we ordered and a second server asked if there was a problem that he might assist. My wife and I are constantly watching the amounts of food we eat, so we shared an appetizer of about 2 1/2 doz. PEI muscles. We also shared a wedge if lettuce salad with a wonderful blue cheese and bacon dressing. We ordered a 15 oz prime quality filet, medium. It was cooked to perfection. Service was attentive, but not overbearing. The prices were commensurate with the quality of the food and service. Atmosphere was lacking. Tables seemed small for two couples. It also has a very high ceiling which lacks any effort of noise abatement. We live an hour and a half away and that's a long drive for dinner, but I'll find another reason to go back.
(4)Katie M.
First trip the food was fantastic. Second time around was not so hot. Started with the tomato, mozz, and basil salad. The tomatoes, touted as "heirloom", were under ripe and tasted no better than your average grocery store grape tomato. Basil leaves were left whole and managed to overpower each bite. $6 for a half order, aka 5 bite salad, is severely overpriced. The chicken with white asparagus risotto was over the top rich. It was screaming for acid. The fried duck egg and pancetta pinwheel were just unnecessary. The skin was perfectly crisp and could have been tasty but heavy handedness with sea salt left parts of the dish inedible. Greatly dissappointed on my second trip.
(2)Sara D.
I've enjoyed reading the other reviews for Firefly, many people commenting how this restaurant is in the middle of nowhere. Sheesh, people, this is a farming community! People want local produce and products, alas, here it is! Are we not worthy of a restaurant to showcase local agriculture? :) This is a delicious and innovative restaurant. I've been to Firefly many times over the past couple of years- the menu is seasonal and changes fairly often. Some things that stand out from previous meals: pork chops, steaks, and crab cakes...the brick oven pizzas are also tasty, although I can't remember specifically which ones I have tasted. The decor is very modern, with a high ceiling and open bar in the mid-back of the restaurant. The only criticism would be that sometimes the restaurant can get super loud. And by all means, if you are in the Effingham area, get off the interstate and main roads. There are some local wineries, cool countryside, and nice people to see.
(5)bobbi n.
Growing up in the area, Effingham was where we went if we wanted to see a movie or visit a McDonalds or go to Wal-Mart. Effingham's mall's anchor store was a Rural King. I remember when we were excited that Effingham got a TGI Fridays....but we couldn't complain, because in reality, Effingham was the "big city" and much much much more exciting than where we were coming from. Needless to say, there was definitely nothing like the Firefly Grill when I lived there. Not that it would have mattered, because the greatness of this restaurant would have been lost on my teenage palette. I'm just happy that it's here now and that my parents seem intent on bringing my husband and there every time we come to visit. As Ben Folds implies in his song about the town, Effingham is place that you drive past while trying to get somewhere else. With the gigantic white cross, it's hard to miss, but with more truck stops per capita then I have seen anywhere else in my travels, it's easy to pass up. But if you find yourself driving through Effingham on I-57 or I-70, it's really worth a visit to this restaurant, especially considering that your most refined option for more than an hour in any direction is a Hardee's. The best meal that I've had there was a sweet corn lobster bisque (photo posted) although the tuna was a very close second. It was without a doubt, the best bisque i've ever had....okay, it was the only bisque I'd ever had, but it was "I am now a girl that gets lobster bisque cravings" good. If you didn't know, they actually have a garden out back and grow their own vegetables. The waiter let me know that the sweet corn in that dish was picked that day. Delish! Although it's located in the most unlikely of places (specifically behind an athletic shoe store - take a left at the steak 'n shake), it's definitely worth the stop. Hopefully it's a sign of more to come from this town.
(5)Sharon P.
My boyfriend and I decided to try Firefly because it was reviewed highly on Yelp as one of the more upscale restaurants in Effingham, Illinois- a town home to mostly fast food-type places. The building itself was very impressive as we approached it. The interior was also well-designed and it looked like we were going to have a great meal. Then the hostess seated us at the worst table in the whole place- a table where there shouldn't have even been a table. And the worst part was that there were several good tables open and available (at least 7 to 10) that looked lovely. It was pretty rude. Our food was only half decent- nothing special. We expected something a lot better for our $22 entrees (lobster pot pie). Our waiter was very nice- hence the one star. The seating really pissed me off. Applebee's would have been better value and less disappointing.
(1)Fred J.
The fish really is fresh, and the preparations are excellent. It may be the only place to eat in Effingham that's high end, but you could eat there three nights a week and be happy. Great pizzas, steaks, and unusual fish preparations. And a damn fine hamburger too!
(4)Jessica O.
I am a country girl at heart. Born and raised in the North Shore of Chicago, I still go weak in the knees at the sight of BBQ or sweet corn, etc. When my sweetheart drove me down to the middle of nowhere on my birthday and we got off the expressway to see Steak and Shakes and Ruby Tuesdays all around I was not expecting to get a flippin' gourmet meal. This place is beyond words cute and chic. It looks like a rehauled pole barn complete with tin roof, but the atmosphere from the hella-high ceilings and the menu is great. They grow some of their own produce, bake their own breads, fly in fish fresh, and make their own salad dressings. We were sat on the beautiful little porch on their little pond in the back complete with up-lighted ambiance. We ordered the portabello mushroom which was broiled with garlic, parmesan cheese, and escargot and served with a fresh crusty baguette. Then we had the fried green tomatoes which were perfect on their own. We each ordered the New York strip steak with garden salads and I had the sweet corn which came from a farm down the street. Our server, Larry, was prompt, and perfectly attentive to each detail and recommended the banana cake with cream cheese frosting and home-made banana ice-cream. This meal cannot be replicated... it was amazing, and it might be worth the drive down to Effingham. :0)
(5)Jim P.
I am from Effingham and this is the first time back to Fire Fly in 6 months due to the cost. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they have dropped their prices. More food was included with the main dish too. It would great if they would add a salad too. The drink prices are comparable to any travel city. Getting better and more likely to come back more frequently. Thanks Niall and Kristie.
(3)Denise S.
Today while I was on business in Effingham, IL I stopped by for lunch and dinner at the FireFly. It is a beautifully decorated restaurant. The old wood that runs throughout the outside and inside is really lovely. At lunch we were seated out on the covered porch. We overlooked the pond with the koi etc. swimming close by. I selected the bowl of Butternut squash soup with crème fresch and crisped sage. It was nice and creamy but really lacked flavor from either the broth base and or maybe some salt. Next I opted for the Effingham burger. The burger was nice but nothing that would warrant a return for. Now the French fries parmesan, lemon, garlic were extraordinary. Loved them. The service was fine and the place was filled with several customers. Due to business I had to stay overnight and opted to try FireFly for dinner. I decided to sit at the galley bar in the kitchen. Figured I would not take up a table for more customers. It took entirely too long for someone to come and wait on me. Finally someone came with menu. I started with the tuna sushi roll. It was good but you could barely find the tuna. Then I ordered the special lobster with pappadella and lobster broth. Let's say it's less than stellar. Now I know I am in Effingham so I was pleasantly surprised that I had something more to choose from than the cracker barrel. The pasta was just bland and missing flavor. I asked for additional parmesan just to get it some flavor. No salt offered on table. I ordered a side of Brussels sprouts which were probably the best thing I had. Someone flavored them so no need to add anything. I then order an espresso which was lukewarm and the brioche pear bread pudding was good as well. The ice-cream scoop of pumpkin was pretty good. The atmosphere was beautiful so I would come back and try the wood fired pizzas that looked really good.
(3)Heidy C.
the manager contacted me after reading the review and was kind enough to offer a gift certificate which i accepted. it was extremely nice of him and showed that he really cares about the experience that the guest experiences. I would go back and try it again when i'm in the area
(3)Angela J.
Effingham... I'm effing amazed. I was shocked to find this place when driving through the area. A beautiful place with lots of great local food and fresh seafood. We had fish soup, burgers, Bolognese, and stroganoff, which were all delicious. A bit pricey, but not out of line with what you get. I will certainly be stopping back next time I'm around!
(4)Dan N.
I've been here about 6-8 times over the past year or so, and Firefly Grill has become one of my favorite restaurants over that time. The menu changes with the season, the food is fresh (seafood flown in overnight, meat from local farms, produce from their own garden), and the restaurant is a cool place to eat (on a lake, relaxing atmosphere). For Central IL, the seafood is second to none--always a wide variety and always really good. I would definitely recommend the seafood or something from the "special considerations" portion of their menu--I've had a steak here once, it was fine, but you are better of going with one of the more "unique" options. I've never had any apps here, but they look incredible. If you go to Firefly Grill, take this advice: --Sit at the bar --If Mike is bartending, ask him what's good tonight --Follow his advice and enjoy your meal --If you get a salad (or firefly onion rings) they have housemade honey mustard and housemade blue cheese--both are amazing!
(5)David K.
Very funny story how I came upon this restaurant. I was on a road-trip and saw a billboard sign on I-70 that said "Firefly Grill". First, I thought it would be a typical Midwest BBQ place, but boy was I wrong. This restaurant is tucked away from the highway and the main street, in an oasis of its own. It was just by chance I came to this restaurant and I'm extremely happy that I did. The restaurant is an organic based restaurant with their own garden. The ambiance is incredible. Firefly Grill has a deck and pond in the back side, and a fire-pit on the porch. I ordered Braised Kurobuta Pork Shank and it was excellent. It was so well cooked that the meat just pulled right off the bone. The pork came on a bed of split peas and roasted kale (grown from their garden). The service was great also. The hostess and the waiter were hospitable. The restaurant closes at 8pm on Sundays. However, I arrived about 8:30pm and they were still willing to serve me. I would definitely recommend this place to anybody who would love a hidden gem.
(4)Ken H.
This is a gem in the town. Great food. great people. great vibe. I was in town for 5 days, and I ate every meal here, except for 1 dinner. They don't serve breakfast, or I'd be there, too. It's that good. It's simple American food. But very nicely done with fresh and very good ingredients. I had tuna burger, fish taco, fish and chips, pork shank, coq au vin, lava cake, chocolate moulin rouge, banana cake, spicy wings... Pretty much everything is very good. Most of them are not complicated, but I love the simply delicious quality food that they provide dish in and dish out. I also love the fact that they change menu almost weekly based on the fresh ingredients they get. I had too many dishes to grade dish by dish. Here's some highlight: Deserts I had were all great. Like Great. If you are remotely a dessert person. give them a shot. It's worth it. All the seafood I had were very fresh. I also like how the chef let the food shine without over season them. Pork shank was vey tasty. Very juicy and flavorful. My kind of food. This is a restaurant that will be love in anywhere of the country. If you are around the town. stop by this place and you won't be disappointed.
(5)Sydney H.
Literally one of the best meals I've ever eaten. I ate here in passing on a roadtrip, and will never forget! The service was impeccable and the atmosphere to die for. I wish I could go here all the time!!!
(5)Kevin J.
You can definitely tell this place is choosy about their ingredients. Everything was very very fresh, very nice atmosphere lakeside, well decorated inside. Maybe a little pricy but pricy for quality is worth it. Could see this place being featured on the Food Network, I think it was of that quality. Regularly go through this area and has definitely earned our business.
(5)Ellen E.
My fiance decided to take me to Firefly for my birthday this evening. We made the trip down to Effingham from Champaign given that we had heard that they serve excellent food and boast an accomodating staff at Firefly Grille. The server, can't recall his name, immediately wished me a Happy Birthday, and explained some of the entrees. We ordered cocktails and shortly after they arrived the server came to take our order. I asked my fiance what he was having and he said the sea bass, so I proceeded to order something different than that so that in case one of us wasn't pleased, we could switch. Told the server no thanks on salads, which somehow was interpreted as my fiance saying he wasn't eating at all. My entree came out a reasonable time after, but as a former server, I was confused as to why the food runner placed my meal at the center of the table. TWENTY MINUTES later someone finally stopped by and asked if I wanted my untouched meal boxed up. When we said we were still waiting for our other entree our server came by to tell us he misunderstood and that it was on its way. My plate of food continued to sit there and finally another 25 minutes later the server came and took my plate. We had to be back in Champaign so at this point we had to just tell him we needed both plates boxed up. Such a different experience than expected, we had planned on wonderful meals followed by dessert. Instead we sat at the restaurant for over an hour to eat bread, and have to wait until we drove the hour and a half home to eat $35 meals reheated. (spoiler alert: seafood is terrible after being cooked twice) The server did end up not charging us for the sea bass, so in the end this far from spectacular experience cost us over 150 miles of travel and $58 (68 with tip) My birthday wish=I wish I could take back this complete waste of a night.
(1)Jeremy S.
This place I love to go to when traveling. It has a wonder full setting off the interstate, easy to get to but well hidden. It's not your normal meal. They have a great menu of fresh food, and always a special on the blackboard. In my many trips to this place, I have never had a disappointment. The wait staff is both knowledgeable and courteous. They love your feedback on the meal. I had the "island girl" pizza. Jen had the "best Ruben I ever ate" ... The cranberry tamale with caramel was a savory sweet treat to end the meal with!
(5)Paul J.
Every trip to Firefly Grill has been an experience to remember. The servers are always extremely friendly and happy to offer information about the dishes. My partner and I always plan on spending the entire evening here - starting with an appetizer or two, moving on to the entree, and then sharing one of their incredible desserts. The decor is sleek and modern. More ambient lighting would be a nice touch, and might make the space feel more intimate. It can be loud and crowded at times... But those are just minor quibbles - I've never had such wonderful, unique, freshly-prepared food outside of Chicago. It's a rare treat to have perfectly cooked buttery scallops served over risotto - and, in Effingham?! (I mean no offense to the people of Effingham!) One of the best!!
(5)Roy D.
Service tonight was very poor. Sat on the outdoor patio, very nice, but had to go get a service person to take a drink order which never came. Errors were made on drinks, salads and entrees, they could not even clear the table properly, trading dirty dishes with our entree dishes. Very poor
(1)David M.
I have to give FF only 4 stars because I was only there for lunch, and could not imbide....their beer / wine selection looked good but the proof is in the pudding...or the pint, as the case may be I was very impressed...for Effingham but this place would be a success (and much more expensive) in Chi-town.... I had the grilled scallops and pea risotto...very very good....along a well spiced but not overspiced chicken tortilla soup....excellent... my lunch partner had the chicken pot pie (hey, she's from Springfield, cut her some slack...) which she said was also excellent... Would like come back some evening (yeah, I know, on my way to........) and sample the beer list... but that is for a future time.... bottom line....wonderful....way to go Effingham....
(4)Melanie F.
What a great find while traveling through Illinois thanks to Yelp! Great atmosphere and food! The ribeye could've used a little more flavor to it but everyone else had wonderful meals! Really enjoyed the swordfish.
(5)Kathy S.
Very cool place...slow service...a little pricey. Server was awkward....
(3)XO K.
It's been awhile since i have eaten at Firefly Grill, but every time I have had the pleasure of dining there, the experience has been nothing short of fantastic. The food is unbelievably good, especially given the town itself and how "out of the way" it is. That said, this place could flourish in Chicago, if the owners were so inclined.
(5)Thom E.
This place is much more than expected! In season, they grow much of their own produce. Everything made from scratch, including buns, hot sauce, and fries.
(4)Natalie W.
I only hope a broken down car is not the reason I return to firefly grill. When you pull up (even in the dead of winter) the landscaping is lovely !! You can't really see the pond in the dark but i imagine dinner on the patio with that view is awesome. Then you go inside and the decor is a modern rustic but very polished. Very pretty. Then they bring the bread ...... OMG .... Delicious.... Warm .... Goodness We started with a spinich salad with almonds and a goat cheese croquette. I mean they had me at goat cheese but to make it a little fried ball of yum was even better. Then we both had a steak. My NY strip was cooked perfectly ( hubbys was a smidge under the medium he ordered but he said it was great) and had a ton of flavor. Sides of penne & cheese and asparagus were simple but very well done !!! Dessert was banana cake (after reading other yelpers talk about it) with banana ice cream and it was effing fantastic. Our server was attentive without being in your face. The cocktail menu looked amazing (too bad we had to drive back to stl) ... So who wants to volunteer to be my designated driver for my next visit ??? My reason for only 4 stars is that it's 90 miles away ..... So if you have to break down on the side of the interstate. .. My advice is pick Effingham !!
(4)John E.
All I can say is WOW. Not sure why this place is out in the middle of nowhere but you really should stop by if you're anywhere nearby. Very very good restaurant. I only wish we could have stayed for dinner but we were driving through and had an amazing lunch!
(5)Dave J.
Unbelievable food! An oasis of top notch food amidst a plethora of truck stops and fast food franchises! My wife and I stopped here on a road trip between Carbondale and Chicago. It's a bit tricky to find, but you'll be glad you did! Nice contemporary decor, with a full bar. Friendly staff, but a bit inexperienced. What is going on in the kitchen is pure magic. I had a cheeseburger with bacon, one of the best ever! Instead of fries, I asked for a substitute of roasted fingerling potatoes, and I'm so glad I did. My wife ordered the half chicken, locally produced on an Amish farm, and it was fantastic as well. What really impressed me was...the corn risotto, which came as a side with the chicken. WOW! Unbelievably delicious! There's steaks, fish, chicken, and pork on the menu. I highly recommend this place. You wouldn't think a restaurant of this quality and sophistication would be located off an interstate highway with all the truck stops, and fast food places around. I'm glad it's here and I'll be back, for sure!
(5)Cami R.
First off let me say I am not a food snob. I have a love for good food and price is not a restriction if the food warrants it. Also let me say that both of us have worked in the service industry and always give service peeps the benefit of the doubt. That said I was glad to see Dawn B.'s review of only two stars. We came in from St louis and the reviews here seemed outstanding so we gave it a whirl. Wish I could say better.. 5 stars for decor- beautiful inside and out 5 stars for bread- (outstanding, don't know if they make it or not) 5 stars for wine- good suggestion from the bar (not our server) 3 stars for apps- Live Pei Mussels 2 stars for salads- Crab and Baby Spinach 2 stars for our meals (servers suggestions) Cedar Plank Salmon with Jalapeno Pesto and Brown Rice $28 for tasteless fish and rice the pesto was good. Montana Mignon cooked well that's it folks! 1 star for sides- broccoli undercooked and absurd portion size 1 star for seating- the table barely fit our plates much less drinks 0 stars for service- I wish I had her name, you name it she stunk at it! Not to beat a dead horse but she came to our table exactly 3 times, order, main dish, check please! She didn't take our drink order, bring us our app or salads, didn't fill our water glasses (we had to flag someone down) and she left us to sit for 20 min with dirty dishes after she dropped off the check and we were finishing our wine. She did have time tho to sit with the table of 5 next to us for a long chat after that. All of this can be yours for $140. Have to say lastly,I am a big believer in 2nd chances so we went for brunch the next day. Sat on the porch I had tuna and eggs, he had steak and eggs, and bloody Mary's. 5 stars for the view 5 stars for the service (different girl, yes!) 5 stars for the drinks- (best spicy Bloody Mary) 3 stars for the meals (again the best bread!) All in all it was worth the try and I may give dinner a go again sometime, but I would rather go to Erato in Edwardsville, illinois before we make that drive again.
(3)Emily D.
Why are you in Effingham? Really? The only reason we even heard of it was because it was one of the only cities at this point in our drive cross-country that had an actual hotel and since we were about to fall asleep at the wheel, Effingham was out spot. If you are within 100 miles of this place you are nuts to skip it. Seriously. I took a chance and scoped out the Effingham 'yelp scene' (HA) and noticed that this place had some stellar reviews and even though I was weary, we had to try it. It was either this or another dose of Toxic Smell or some other abusive road food... The place is amazing! The restaurant is off the main drag and literally set on a farm with a pond and all. We went on a Sunday night so the place was super quiet. Our server was great and could tell we were thrilled to have some real service and awesome food. I went with the spinach salad and loved it and my boyfriend went all out and got a Cesar salad to start with fillet and mashed potatoes as his entree. Service: 5 stars! Drinks always full and people generally happy to be at work Food: 5 stars! Unreal! One of the freshest salads I have tasted-clearly fresh from the garden/farm out back Ambiance: 5 stars WOW someone dumped some major money into this beautiful barn-turned-restaurant. Impressive! We were so surprised at this place! I think we are still getting over the shock factor of finding an awesome dinner spot in fricking Effingham! If you are looking for an awesome meal that is SO far from anything in this area, come to Firefly Grill!
(5)rick a.
The Firefly Grill is the Field of Dreams for foodies,"If you build it,they will come." Finding a place like this is like going to a singles night held in a retirement community and finding Scarlett Johansson in the mix. I don't mean to be hard on the town but I believe that the Firefly survives on the fact that people seek out this place thru word of mouth. I hope that the locals realize what a gem they have here. My wife and I had the Montana Mignon wrapped in a puff pastry with boursin, BBQ and bacon along with the oak-fired Columbia River Sturgeon with chickpeas and edamame salad, both were fantastic. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, which is always a plus. For dessert we had the banana cake with banana ice cream which was a real treat. The prices are reasonable for the quality of food. The only problem I had was that there were far more good choices on the menu then I could have anticipated. For the record I hope to find a menu that I will want to eat 50% of the items on this one I will say it is 70-75%. You must visit if you are traveling on I-57 or I-70 or within 20 miles of Effingham. I don't give out five stars easily but I will say that easily the Firefly Grill is the most worthy in an area awash is a sea of chain restaurants.
(5)Jeremy D.
Outstanding! Great recipies, ingredients, and preparation. Some of the entrees get pricey, but other items are reasonable. We had the ceasar & spinach salads, a chicken & lentil soup, and a wood-fired pizza. Everything was supurb. An unexpected find - located a few blocks from the largest truck stop in the country!
(5)Steve T.
This is an expensive restaurant, but I feel it's well worth the price. I had the lobster stew and the chopped salad. I thought I was eating light but ended up walking away stuffed. The staff was well-informed and courteous. I would like to return in the summer and eat outdoors overlooking the pond.
(5)Leah B.
NOT wheelchair friendly!!! Saturday morning we made a reservation for 4 people for 6:30P and stated one of us would be in a wheelchair - they advised no problem. We called a second time around 5P reminding them we would have someone in a wheelchair - they advised they had the note down and it would not be a problem. We arrive 5 minutes early and all the front desk staff looked really surprised and utterly confused. First they led us straight to the patio, but the wheelchair would not fit down the aisle, so they had us double back to the front desk. Then had us go all the way to the very back of the restaurant and to the other side of the floor and then didn't even have a table ready for us. So, not only was EVERYONE in the restaurant staring at us as we wheeled by, we clogged up the servers passageway because we were standing in the middle of the dining room waiting for our table to be ready. With literally EVERYONE staring because we were paraded first around the front of the restaurant and then all the way to the back and along the back wall, EVERYONE got a good look at us. It was MORIFYING!!! Finally we are seated and my chair was further in the aisle because of where our wheelchaired guest sat - after 10 minutes of the servers and customers walking behind me pushing into my chair and brushing against the back of my head, I got up and moved the table adjacent our's back against the wall as far as it would go in order to make the aisle wider - I explained this to our waitress and received no "I'm sorry" ... "We should have been better prepared for your arrival" ... NOTHING! Here's a quick breakdown of what we ordered: Lobster Stew special - was a flavorless watered down creamy broth with raw shallots and a few pieces of lobster, hardly a "stew". Halibut with ratatouille - fish was perfectly cooked, but for $34, not good enough for the price. The ratatouille was a joke at about 3 bites. Salmon risotto - HORRIBLE. Salmon was totaly overcooked and dry. Risotto was undercooked, mealy and tasteless. Ceasar Salad - tasted like the dressing was out of a jar and some of the greens were a little brown. Sea bass w/noodles - this dish was excellent, but the portion was tiny for the price tag Here's the most unpleasant part ... during coffee at the end of our meal, 2 out of the 4 of us spent the next few hours sitting on the toilet if you catch my drift - we both ate the Lobster "stew". In closing - if you like to be made a spectacle of because of your disability, and losing your expensive dinner to the porcelain god within an hour of your dinner, this is the place for you.
(1)Mark E.
Truly stunning to find such a nice restaurant in Effinghan, Illinois. Firefly Grill has every characteristic of a "big city" modern restaurant, in an out of the way location. The decor is modern and presentation, menu, and employees give you the feel of a hip, big time bistro. Being that the restaurant is in a small town, the prices are incredibly fair, especially when you consider the quality of the meals. Our table had a variety of things on the menu, including appetizers like spring rolls, crab rangoon, and amazing onion strings. Our brunch entrees included pizzas, different burgers, and some off the menu Sunday Brunch items. Everything was well prepared, looked great, and served with flair. Firefly Grill is a rare gem in a world of highway-friendly chain restaurants, and, while maybe not worth the trip to Effingham unless you are already going there, well worth seeking out if you're anywhere in the area.
(4)Teve' U.
compared to local places, lets just say its very EXPENSIVE expect $8-10 for a glass of wine, at the bar they had a special $5 malbec (very nice) salad $12, entree $20-35 food was very good.. 5/5 (maybe even 6/5), i had the strip steak-- yummy yummy yummy & mashed potato with and herbs 22 million/5 nice atmosphere 5-/5, vaulted wood ceiling, nice b/w photos, lots of glass (++++ just great) honestly if your going for a 5 star place, need to spend more time with the staff --hmmm yeah welllllllllll uh-no (need i say more) out door seating (very nice), they have a lake out back and a fire pit and yes, this is the place i picked for my birthday
(4)Joe L.
If this restaurant was in Chicago, it would be in my top 10 restaurants to go to on a regular basis. I've eaten and drank here over 10 times so far and the quality of the food, service, and drinks are amazing. One Tuesday night, I ordered a salmon and on Wednesday (I think), they have sushi lunch available. So I think I happened to get the sushi grade Salmon on Tuesday and I ordered it medium rare. I don't think anyone ever asks, but I tried it and it was the best salmon I have ever had in my entire life! Another night, I found conversations with the bartender and he recommended a few to taste. Because of his recommendation and their selection of single malt scotches, I found my favorite... Scapa. Overall, this place is consistent and the staff are friendly and welcoming.
(5)Suzanne W.
I also want to know why this place is in Effingham!? What a great restaurant! Traveling through from St. Louis to Indianapolis and we stopped for dinner. Ended up grabbing a hotel room, so we could enjoy the wine and atmosphere! Steaks were some of the best I've had. Hopefully they expand to another city because more people should be enjoying this place!
(5)Dfros T.
Had a great Valentines Day, 8 course dinner. Service was good, food was great, date was beautiful!
(5)lesiel l.
Okay eating for a passing tourist. Pleasant atmosphere and the drinks were perfect! We had the stuffed zucchini blossoms and they were very good. I enjoyed my steak but my husband had the halibut with risotto and he felt that the fish was over done and the risotto wasn't good. At over $100 for dinner, there should be no complaints. But then again, who in their right mind orders fish from Alaska in the middle of the plains? Seems like the place was full of locals and lots of people eating the $14 hamburgers! Wait staffed rushed dishes off of table...not leisurely dinning in a very attractive space.
(3)Helene R.
Driving across country, avoiding all the bad stuff close to interstate70, willing to stretch out within 20 min. or so ....kept on finding gems ! One must believe it is there, yes:' Firefly Grill a blessing, Go!
(5)Violet L.
On our initial visit to Firefly Grill, my husband called it "a hidden gem in the middle of rural Illinois." We have dined at more 5 star restaurants all over the US than I can count so this was high praise. The first thing we noticed is how beautiful the building looks at night.The ambiance is soothing, the food is exceptional and the waitstaff are top notch. Even sitting at the bar to eat is a wonderful experience. The bartender was attentive and interesting to chat with. On a humorous side note (from our last visit in Oct. 2012), the friendly and funny waiter had the same name as our dog. I'm originally from Illinois so when we take the trip from Houston to visit our grandchild and other family members, we always set up a reservation. My only complaint? This eatery is in another state. ;)
(5)Curt E.
Met some friends here for a late lunch on Saturday. The restaurant was quite impressive inside with an open kitchen, the well stocked bar, and the Boos block tables for every party. I will say that our service was top notch as the young lady taking care of us kept our glasses full and needs attended to. Those were the high points of the place in my opinion. For the food, my wife was going to order the fish and chips but they claimed to be out of fish (on a Saturday @ 1?) so she went with a cheese pizza which she said was decent but in my opinion was so so. I'm not a fan of the St. Louis Provo on pizza but that's just me. I got the "oak fired tacos" with skirt steak carne asada topped with spicy slaw, salsa verde, salsa rojo, and queso blanco. Sounds decent and flavorful, but was far from that unfortunately. The steak ( what little there was) was not freshly grilled and had zero flavor and an odd texture taboot. I've had/made skirt steak before but never that dry, tender and tasteless. Note to cooks, salt, pepper, and a dash of cumin could do wonders. There was nothing spicy about the slaw and I had trouble determining where my salsas had gone (tasteless as well). I was served three tacos in sufficiently greasy corn tortillas to really (channeling Emeril) "Kick it up a notch" . This was served with my choice of bean salad or fries- I got the "Kennebec fries" (Whatever those are) which had some sort of salt on them and maybe chopped parsley? Nothing special- and damn I hate 1/2 full cups of ketchup, bring it to the table if people need it if you think it looks tacky sitting there all the time, wth? The place as a whole is very "local, local,local " with their ingredients which I could care less if my steak dropped a deuce within 20 mi. of where I'm consuming it's flesh, but that's just me. If it puts people in the seats then so be it. I do question ( as I was gazing at that nights carnivorous fare) how they could justify $45 for a 14oz strip steak for dinner - better be the best steak I had ever, or will ever have tasted. It just all seemed a bit costly for Effingham?..Chicago sure, but Effingham? Overall I'd say blandness got the best of us at the firefly grill today, but maybe I'll try it again some evening and see how great a $45, or $35 rather (I'm a fan of Ribeyes personally) steak tastes. But then again, I don't know if it would be worth the drive....
(2)Steve R.
Loved the atmosphere, service, and food. Lunch was great, even with a crowd!
(5)Vicki M.
We have eaten here before; this is not my first review. Today the food was fantastic, as usual. I had the butternut squash soup, it was SOOO good, so creamy and what a great rich flavor! It was accompanied by a large, crusty, delicious dinner roll. Then I had the softshell crab sandwich, the pretzel bun is great, and the crab and dressing were so tasty I am getting hungry again just thinking about it. My husband had the Effingham burger and he was VERY happy with it as well. We did have a little service bobble - they forgot my soup. I wondered why they didn't bring it when they served my husband his salad, but I didn't say anything, just waited. When the main meal was served I asked where it was, well they had somehow managed to forget about it. So they brought it and said we wouldn't be charged for it. Other than that, great meal! We ate on the enclosed back porch which I like. The main dining room did have a pretty heavy cooking odor so I was glad to be in the fresher air.
(5)Jason D.
Delicious! Loved the taste and range of flavors available, from the guilty pleasure fresh cut fried onion rings appetizer with homemade honey mustard, to the delicious fresh Dungeness crab cakes, and the awesome "chocolate peanut butter cup" dessert, everything was wonderful. Also loved the atmosphere and friendly, attentive service! Well worth the 65 min. drive from Champaign!
(5)Joe V.
Great place, although on the opposite side of Keller rd. it shows it's located on one side.. but in fact its misleading.. as a lot of places are that I have found in my travels and researching them on any map.
(4)Michelle G.
If you happen to be driving through this area I demand that you stop. Pull over right now as a matter of fact. My boyfriend and I were looking for a quick dinner and after reading these reviews changed our mind and I am beyond glad that we did. The only reason I did not give this place five stars is due to service. Our server managed to walk all around and never actually look at us as we waited to order for what seemed like forever. We even had to ask the manager to call him over. Luckily the food was worth it. We had the farm raised chicken quesedillas as an appetizer, oh so yummy though the dips were a tad too spicy for my taste. My boyfriend order the pretzel bun burger with bacon and dang it was delicious. The bacon alone was worth the order. It being a cold night I decided on a special of lobster pot pie with a flaky puff pastry on top. It was mouth watering deliciousness. I give this kitchen an immense amount of credit for pumping out a menu of such variety and savory options. My pot pie was like an uber thick lobster bisque with huge chunks of Maine lobster and seasoned to perfection. With much reluctance due to my full belly we still had to order desert. An apple pie flaky goodness with a scoop of spiced like ice cream that could not have tasted better. It doesn't make any sense why this place is in Effingham but I am grateful to whomever decided to open it. It is just a quick stop off the highway and down a small road that makes you feel like you have gone the wrong way before you see the large structure that is firefly grill. The old wooden beams and giant bulbs hanging over head in neat little rows lends a comfortable atmosphere to the location that keeps the kitchen smell rising. Honestly, stop here, just make it a priority when driving or make it a little adventure if you live in St. Louis or near by. Oh so worthy.
(4)Samantha R.
YUMMMY! Fresh food, all in season picks, great service, delicous taste. I had a great private dinner here & I can't wait to go back, especially because the menu changes. Read the other reviews if you want details. Everything you eat here is quite tip top amazing. It reminds me of the restaurants back in San Francisco but even better because their local is their own backyard basically. The apple cider martini is now my favorite Fall cocktail!
(5)Meerkat H.
---- just to follow up: the actual owner of this restaurant emailed me to apologize for the behavior of the server and promised that this would never happen again.... maybe one day we'll be able to return to eat their great food!
(4)Sissie P.
We were on a road trip and going to stay in Effingham, so I used YELP to find a good place to eat. THis is the FIRST bad place we've been that had good Yelp ratings! Made me think about my son noting that the owners and help sometimes try to game the system. I ordered the Sechuan pork, requesting it extra spicey -- and it was a very salty, very bland Teriyaki sauce -- didn't remotely resemble Sechuan. Guess I should have expected that when the waiter recommended mashed potatoes as a side to go wiith it! I had the asparagus instead, and it was not tender.That same waiter, when I said this isn't Sechuan at all, said "well, it's a kinda mild Sechuan." Oxymoron. My husband had a chicken dish that was stringy, and also terribly over-salted. This places charges like it is serves gourmet food, but the food was substandard, the wine list pathetic and the desserts like the Cheesecake Factory -- f resh ingredients can indeed be ruined. Next time we'll just totally bypass Effingham. We had much better meals at the Irish Pub in Batavia the night before and at the Picadilly in Wichita the next night.
(2)David C.
I always dread going to effingham for my business seminars. But i always look forward to eating at Firefly.
(3)Joe O.
Amazing. Everything everyone got was just amazing.
(5)Ashley M.
We were taking a long Christmas drive from central Texas to Northern Michigan and used Yelp to help us find something to eat along the way. Chicago was too far and yelp brought us to the Firefly Grill in Effingham. There was NOTHING else that came up in Effingham and we were apprehensive at first, but even pulling up to it made us feel better. It's well designed, and the food is really good!! Someone I was with had their cream of mushroom soup and really liked it, and the pasta bolognese was good, but HUGE! Very cute atmosphre and food I would eat even if it was in my own hometown?? Eat here!!!
(4)Dan M.
I'm realllllllly disappointed right now. I'm in Effingham for work, and let's just say there are not a lot of quality restaurants in the area. In fact... it appears that Firefly is the only one. Lots of chain, TGI Friday, etc.... but not just a solid quality dining place. On to the review... Food: Right now, this would be a 1-star, on the food. For starters, I ordered a Caesar salad. High on presentation, low on taste. Not bad, just not nearly as good as it looked. For my entree, I ordered the "Montana Fillet", essentially a fillet wrapped in bacon, inside of a pastry. I was told it was going to be Medium-Rare to Medium. I'm a Medium Rare guy, so I had no issues with this. I received the steak/pastry and cut into it. It was quite red (not more than 1% pink on the edges and cool to the touch. Maybe my steak-done-ness-meter is off, but I would consider this rare to blue. Much much closer to rare than the medium rare. (( I was so concerned about the my perception of the doneness, that I came immediately back to the hotel to check the intertubes for steak doneness levels.)) I decided to mention that it was a bit on the rare side, as I realy wanted to have a nice meal. I've been eating fast food for the week and am sick of it. No issues sending it back, they didn't disagree (not sure any waiter/waitress would). So then I get my second one... and it's worse than the first. This was no contest rare. Red cool center, with very little (almost none) color outside of red. At this point, I could have shut my mouth and ate it.... as rare steaks aren't deadly (right?)... but I didn't. He came over and asked if it was better. "Yeaaaaahhhh.... it's actually worse than before". At this point, I just wanted to eat some food. I told him not to worry about it, and that I would power through it. They explained that the pastry aspect makes it difficult to cook to medium, without burning the outside pastry. The cook (from Firefly) next to me, mentioned that they normally cook them a bit before adding the pastry aspect. This makes me think it shouldn't be too difficult to cook the steak to medium-rare, throw on the pastry... then bake to medium... Hell, even medium-well. Had it come out overcooked, I wouldn't have had the gall to say anything. But nope... it was more rare than before. So ate some of the edges, the asparagus, and the potatoes. I did want to like this place. So I tried a dessert that sounded good. Banana cake something or other. The cake was dry, the banana ice-cream was off a bit (cant describe how... just off). I kept my mouth shut on this... even though they were afraid to ask how it was. :-) So, from a food perspective.... ugh. What a nightmare. I'll go back to try to give it another shot. I'll stick to something very simple.... say a steak, or a roasted chicken. I'm holding out a bit of hope, as everyone else seems to love this. From a positive perspective, and the only reason I am willing to go back (and give this place any stars) was the service. I was seated promptly at the bar (my choosing). The bartender was attentive and poured a proper drink (not too strong, not too light). There was nothing but willingness to help from the Bartender, the manager, as well as the cook (off-duty) at the bar with me. Everyone seemed genuinely concerned. They did also offer to comp my steak, as I was unhappy with it. From a service perspective, I would give this place 5 stars. **.
(2)Nick B.
This place has it all figured out. Amazing atmosphere, artistic building, great service, food was perfect, and portions were large. We had the burger, Reuben, trout, and steak panini. No one was disappointed. The Hummus app was huge! Definitely stop here!!
(5)Amie C.
First of all it must be said that I tried for weeks to get ahold of an event coordinator to plan a party or at least find out about planning. I wanted to have my moms surprise 50th birthday party here. I left several messages, only receiving one call back from them. Finally i just made a regular reservation for 15. Boo to them for not raking in more dough by having a real "event", oh well. Once we get there for the party I discover they have placed our party in the area behind the bar and it was perfect! We were secluded without being stuffed into a room. Loved it. Our service was excellent. Wish I could remember the young chaps name. He even hung out to chat with my dad which is no small feat because he is a talker....to anyone. I had 2 yummy glasses of red sangria and they packed a slight punch! Thank goodness for the awesome bread/rolls and butter that came out before dinner....they were pretty darn awesome! I ordered a cup of tortilla soup and some sort of pork dish, perhaps szechuan pork. The soup was pretty great as was my entree but for the prices....no way! Now, don't get me wrong, I live in Chicago so I'm used to paying top dollar for fancy shmancy restaurants (hah when I can afford it and only very rarely) but c'mon Effingham! YOU ARE NOT CHICAGO! This place did look like it was a transplant out of the suburbs (I would say city but it was more farmish and well...Chicago isn't). Great service Great atompshere Great for giant groups I would go back for lunch and hope the prices are cheaper! haha I ordered 2 sangrias, a cup of soup, a medium priced entree and a dessert and my bill was just under $50. Sure they did figure in 18% because we had more than 8 people.....but you get the picture. ***word to the wise....the szechuan (hopefully that's what i ordered) pork was awesome and the sauce made me want to drink it from the plate (I didn't, I was surrounded by 5 of my classy aunts!) but it must have been tooooooo rich for my tummy because the end result was not a good one....be careful! haha
(4)Sarah P.
Definitely 5 star worthy. And, what an unexpected find just a few blocks away from truck-stop, chain restaurant haven of Effingham. The Effingham steak burger was delicious! So good, in fact, that I told my husband, meh, it was just ok, until I was finished so that I wouldn't have to share. If you didn't catch it, by the way, you could call their burger the Effing - hamburger...get it? :) Service was great, attentive when we needed it, but not pesky. Hubby had the boar bangers and mash and said they were good, but I didn't want a bite because, again, why would I want anything besides the burger??? The fries were yummy and our toddler ate his mac and cheese, which he is notoriously picky about. For all you parents, from the outside, and the menu, I would never have thought this place kid friendly, but the staff was very accommodating, they had highchairs, and a kids menu, and it was a great overall experience. Great atmosphere. I really hope this place stays in business. I was surprised to be able to walk in at 6:30 on a Friday evening with no wait. We will be by every time we are in the area.
(5)beth w.
The Firefly Grill has become a welcomed stop on the way to my parent's in Indiana. We have called ahead and had a snack ready for us to swing in, eat, and get back on the road. We have also met as this is about our half-way point between St. Louis and Indiana. I have had the pizza a couple times, which comes with a ceasar salad. My sister had the fish tacos, which were basically the fish and chips in a tortilla. I suggest to lighten the batter on the fish tacos...panko maybe. My sister's boyfriend had the duck fat french fries...decadent and delicious by their account. The setting is fantastic. Service is very good. I know it's a weird critique but the silverware looked dirty and we sent back several pieces.
(4)Jan N.
Love Firefly Grill! Like others have said, it is an unexpected surprise in Effingham! Don't let the Nike outlet deter you. On my most recent visit I finished my yummy meal with even more yummy lavender sorbet with shortbread. Delish! My husband (a BBQ guy) had an apple, applewood and Brie cheese pizza and enjoyed it, too.
(5)Jack M.
Great heirloom tomato salad, hummus app and proscuitto wrapped halibut. Wife's wood roasted chicken was great. She had corn chowder, which was probably the most mediocre item we had. As always, great seasonal beers on tap. I had an Oktoberfest and wife had a pumpkin. Larry's service was great too, as always.
(4)Daniel C.
Perfect timing for lunch on our trip from Chicago to Memphis! I saw this place online, and was sold on the Muffelatta panini, unfortunately, that was no longer available. We had a brief wait for our server, but it wasn't that long. I, instead, ordered the Angus Roast Beef panini with Brie. It normally comes with a horseradish sauce, but I'm not keen on horseradish, and they were happy to oblige my request for garlic aioli in lieu of it. My wife ordered the reuben panini, and enjoyed it very much. The aesthetic of the place was amazing- kind of a barn that has been redone in a modern, yet rustic look with old wood that had been reclaimed. Modern bathrooms, and nice style accents througout. The bar had massive plaid curtains behind it that separated the main room from banquets, and there were beautiful sunroom and patio seating areas overlooking the countryside and a quaint pond with fountains. I'd love to come back for dinner sometime if we pass through Effingham at night! We'll definitely make this a regular stop on our trips down south! Hidden gem!
(4)jim v.
I had the pleasure of eating at FF for a wedding reception. The food was OUTSTANDING as was the service and ambiance....it brings the sophistication of a "big city" restaurant to Central Illinois. Definitely worth the trip!
(5)Wan T.
Ya know I wanted to be a tough grader and not hand out 5 stars just willy nilly. But this was great. I had the Schezwan pork. I ate at the bar and the bar tender told me that this is the #1 seller to the staff - and I'd say with good reason. Mighty tasty. Nice casual atmosphere. Good looking open floor plan. The patio seating looks like it would be nice too.
(5)Paul G.
World-class meal, in a place I'd never expected to find it. Look, i'll admit i'm a bit of a 'foodie' - I travel (a LOT) on business and have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the country, in every major city. So imagine my surprise to find this gem of a restaurant in Effingham, of all places. The specials were all unique, interesting and amazing (we were a party of eight, so we tried most of them). In fact, the entire menu (with an emphasis on local and fresh) sounded interesting and delicious. Better-than-average wine list, great decor, fantastic service. The unanimous verdict from our group: worth coming back to Effingham, just to eat again at the Firefly Grill.
(5)Tracy H.
I live 30 miles away and wish I went to Firefly more. I have never had a bad meal here. Local food, green design and culinary skill make for an extraordinary experience each time. There's more to central IL than meets the eye, and this represents it.
(5)Brian and Adrienne L.
We stopped for lunch on our long road trip home. The food was very good. The quesadillas were fresh (a lite pickling of the peppers was a nice touch). The fresh baked bread was amazing, crispy on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside. The turkey blt was good, but a bit messy to eat. The roast pork tenderloin special was enjoyable (though slightly overdone). It had a nice spice and the fresh creamed spinach was excellent (could've eaten twice as much). The only downfall was the homemade potato chips and pomme frites were both fried for too long and under seasoned. Service was good and very accomodating, as we had our four month old with us. We look forward to stopping here again on our next trip to Missouri.
(4)Laura H.
We make frequent trips from Indianapolis to St. Louis, and had seen the billboards but only remarked upon them because Firefly is the best television show of all time. Then I read a blog about hidden dining gems, and this place ranked highly, so we decided to check it out. I can't believe this incredible restaurant is tucked away in a little town otherwise remarkable for a giant torture device made of metal siding. The entire place is stunning. It sits on a lake, so sit by the windows and watch massive, lovely carp swim around. We saw some folks feeding them, which all seemed to enjoy. The service is top-notch. The food is RIDICULOUS. I had trouble deciding, there were so many things I wanted to try, so I'll look forward to going back for more. We had a steamed bun apiece for appetizer, pork and shrimp, both delicious. I had the crab eggs benedict, which was unreal. We will ALWAYS stop here now.
(5)Sherri B.
Great service wonderful atmosphere and amazing food with fresh ingredients from there own garden. Seafood Steaks and even a brick oven pizza.
(5)Mark F.
Niles Campbell is one of the 10 best restauranteurs in America. Wow what a find for someone traveling on 70. I'm glad I turned around at the last exit to come back to this place. Awesome staff, decor and gourmet food. World class chef. The Montana Mignon is something special! ...Ok I'm back here again adding to this review and I asked Niles to pick all of my drinks and food this visit. Wow!!! What an experience!!! I literally came here an Hour out of my way to cleanse my palette of a bad experience at "the most famous steak house in the world" Peter Lugars and Niles' 16 oz New York strip is a 99 and ironically puts all the New York steak houses I've been to to shame!!!
(5)Eleni B.
Went here on a whim and as tourist felt extended out of place. I have numerous tattoos on my arm and I was wearing a tank top from old navy and shorts, while the rest of the lunch crowd was in golf attire and sun dresses. Menu is simple and prices are fair. My mother and I split a pizza which takes about 20 minutes to make but they warn you on the menu. The table to preset before you get there and they give you water right off the bat. Restaurant is extremely nice and I would come again! Food was great and music was low key. The staff was always cleaning or busy, meaning everyone had a purpose and not standing around.
(4)Dave C.
Was passing through on my way back from St. Louis and stopped to have diner. It's actually pretty close to the highway but tucked back behind the main strip. First, the building is pretty neat. There was a wait so we decided to sit at the bar but would have loved to tried to get a table outside. The food was excellent. I had the Chicken in a Bag and thought it was very good. Certainly something I would get again. I don't live in the area otherwise I would be back to this place often. The prices are a bit high but not over the top. If this place was located in Indy then the prices would be right in line with what I would expect. The other really cool thing about this place is the fresh ingredients. They have their own garden that surrounds the building. You could see all the herbs and vegetables they were growing. That was a really cool thing to see. When they say farm to table, they really mean it. I highly recommend trying Firefly if you are in the area.
(5)Faith R.
This place is AMAZING! It is beautifully tucked into a sea of wildflowers and overlooking a serene lake complete with fountain and extra large Koi fish. There are so many seating options from inside the restaurant area to an enclosed porch overlooking the lake to outdoor patios complete with comfy couches and chairs. The staff is friendly and helpful. The service is quick and accurate. My daughter and I stopped here on our way to Indianapolis. I had the Shrimp Poor Boy and she had the Applewood Chicken Sandwich. Both came in a pretzel bun with fries. The chicken sandwich had apples and brie on the sandwich. Everything was delicious! The restaurant is immaculate and the owners grow the food on the menu. I will make a point to stop here any time I am in the area. I do not have a negative thing to say! Perfect!
(5)Johanna B.
One of the best dining experiences that my husband and I have had! We stayed at the Hampton Inn nearby so we were able to walk about 5 minute walk to restaurant. We started with Alaskan King crab purses-wonderful! My Montana mignon was fabulous and my husband's ribeye was the best he's ever had! Great atmosphere and service!
(5)Benjamin S.
Firefly Grill is my absolute favorite spot in Central Illinois. If I could afford to eat here each week of my life, it would be done. However, let's talk about the food. Fantastic and always fresh- the use of their own ingredients makes it even better. The service is excellent and I am never disappointed. This is one of the things I will miss when I move away from the area.
(5)Arlene A.
We were traveling on I-70 and found this place on Yelp. What a find! Firefly is a beautiful building in a bucolic setting, only a mile or two from I-70 and right down the street from the Hampton Inn. The meal was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. Great, friendly service. I enjoyed the delicious rolls, crusty and a little salty on top, but tender and tangy in the center. The butter was just the right consistency for spreading and especially fresh tasting. We ordered the morels with two dipping sauces, crabcakes with garlic fries, and a fish dish. Everything was terrific, and I used the fries to sop up the last of the sauce from my fish. Expensive, but oh so worth it!
(5)Amanda B.
I wish it was in Indianapolis. it's gorgeous and everything tastes amazing. As soon as we walked in, the smell let me know that we'd made a good choice. The hostess was also our waitress, and she was exceptionally friendly and welcoming. We started with the crab purses, which basically is a fancy Rangoon-and by fancy, I mean way above average. I had the ribeye sandwich and my husband had the steak burger. they were both delicious (we switched halfway through to get to try more). My only regrets are that we didn't go there for dinner or during summer, because there's a duck dish with my name on it, and the place must be amazing in summer. They apparently even have a dog park near the porch, so owners can have a nice meal while their puppy-children play. Indianapolis restauranteurs pay attention-this is what Hoosiers need!!!! You just can't go wrong.
(5)R.J. V.
This place was amazing. If you happen to be in the area ( and aren't broke) be sure to stop by and check it out. The food was amazing. The atmosphere was both swanky and rustic. And the staff were courteous and friendly. For an appetizer we had the flash fried morels which are basically a rare mushroom that is hard to find and grow. I didn't quite find their taste too inspiring to me, though they were unique and well made. Others I know who have tried them can't get enough. So I recommend trying them for a unique local delicacy experience. For the main course we tried the filet mignon wrapped in a pastry and their chicken and waffles entree. The mignon was delicious and its flavor was sealed in using that flaky crust. The chicken and waffles were outstanding. The chicken was cooked perfectly (crispy, yet almost falling off the bone) and the waffles were buttered with syrup. They both sat in a dish of country gravy which really pulled them together. Simply for this meal would I seek to return for more. And finally the staff were friendly and were kind enough to seat us on the porch overlooking the lake (from which we could see tons of fish including some huge koi). You may need to gain a reservation on busier nights but the night we went they seated us right away. I can't express how much I truly enjoyed my time there. My only negative comment is the price...it can get a bit extreme. However, I think once you are there you will agree it's worth it. A great place for a celebration or for impressing that significant other.
(5)Dawn B.
Stopped here on way back home from a road trip and had dinner. We used Yelp to locate a great restaurant and the reviews did not disappoint. This restaurant, from the food, to the service, to the ambience and cleanliness is OUTSTANDING and unique. Just wished we lived closer and could come more often!
(5)Rick D.
Nice setting! Friendly servers and upbeat atmosphere! For the menu tonite we tried the Baked Feta and Fire Fly Fillet Mignon (most reassembled a beef Wellington). For the money you cannot do better than this for flavor and dining experience! The appetizer and main plate are delicious beyond expectations. Overall I would have to say this place is a must try for any one visiting Effingham Illinois! If you do visit try to get cayla as your server. What an incredibly friendly server who is happy too provide information on menu items to restaurant history! Five stars from this Diner!
(5)Heather M.
I realize the prices are a little higher there then some places, but the food is absolutely exceptional! Worth the drive from anywhere and conveniently located off of the interstate. Great place for parties, Business meetings, celebrations and weddings of an upper scale quality. They allow private music, photographers and cakes which is rare in this type of venue. Also, they have private spaces including an enclosed heated porch and a wine room that is super elegant. They raise their own garden which they glean as many ingredients as possible out of. Events coordinator Megan is fantastic and will help you through every detail. The kids can't even feed the massive quantities of golden carp in the Pond that the restaurant is situated on. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Breanna N.
My boyfriend and I stopped in here after a dirt bike race in Casey. We were so happy that we did! The food and drinks here were hands down the best we've ever had. I got the ribeye and he got the halibut. Everything was cooked perfectly and to order. There is an amazing difference in taste when all of the ingredients are fresh. The butter compote they put on the steak was AMAZING! As well as the potatoes. Wow! My boyfriends halibut was out of this world, I've never had a piece of fish that tasted so good! We also got the fried squash flowers as an appetizer, there were delicious something I've always wanted to try but never able too mainly because there aren't many restaurants at all that have access to a fresh garden and I don't! Haha. And we also got the mushroom soup! Amazing! Handmade sodas, I got the lemon lavender and he got the blackberry so good! And finally for dessert we got the molten chocolate cake which is made to order and obviously from scratch! It's a perfect portion to end your dinner. The pricing is not that outrageous at all, you pay for what you get and it is top quality food, service and presentation. All the food is prepared when ordered with no subpar quality ingredients. Plus how cool that you can eat then go feed the fish walk around their garden and pond?! Very very awesome restaurant. I don't have one bad thing to say about it. We will be back every time we go to Casey!
(5)Les D.
Just keeps getting better. Don't need much of an excuse to come here. Tried the fried chicken in a bag. Wouldn't normally be my first choice, but what the hey. Definitely worth it. Gourmet in every bite. Beautiful side salad. Wife's French onion was perfect. Expectations keep getting higher. Keep it up, Firefly.
(5)Sue ann P.
This is not a two dollar sign restaurant. It is more of a three to four dollar sign restaurant. That being said this was a great experience. The inside and outside are very tastefully decorated. The wine list while not easily recognized had some very good choices. We had the squash blossoms as an appetizer and they were wonderful! My husband had ribeye steak, mashed potatoes and green beans. I had fried chicken, corn vichyssoise, mozzarella (made at the restaurant) , thinly sliced radish and basil. Everything was beyond perfect! You could really tell this is a farm to table restaurant in how fresh and vibrant the flavors were! I would definitely eat here again and again!
(5)Nate T.
A very nice meal. The wife had the crab cakes and I had the pork loin. I wish they would turn down the music a bit, since it is all hard surfaces, the noise level is a bit loud (not unbearable), but that might be the only thing I could complain about.
(5)Peter M.
This is one of those farm-to-fork places and is casual-upscale. Stopped while passing through - we had an appetizer, my daughter had the white pizza, I had a traditional pizza, she had a drink and I had a couple microbrews. I had a side of veggies from their garden as well. We both had the strawberry shortcake dessert, which had about two or three subtle flavors in it that really complemented the strawberries very well. The food was delicious and the drinks were good as well. The service was appropriately attentive. For all of the above, we got out of there for $80, pre-gratuity. It's not an inexpensive place, but you do get good value for your money.
(5)Ana D.
Mediocre food and atrocious service. Very discriminatory! Probably a great place for those who don't live in big cities or with great culinary venues in their town, but absolutely horrid place for the way the staff behaves here and for the poor customer experience. The food might be deemed high quality and unique, catering to varied palates and excellent tastebuds, but we actually felt the food didn't quite do justice to the ingredients, the seasonings were all over the place, sauces were too heavy and... But what left a bitter taste in our mouths was the treatment we received at this place. When we walked in, the maitre'd/hostess was at her desk but instead of welcoming us, she walked away without a word to go chat with another waiter, then come back only belligerently seat us. She actually deliberately made us wait! When we asked if the enclosed porch seating in the back was air conditioned (it was 97 deg outside and we were traveling across the country to get back to our cooler climate and home), she gave a very rude and sarcastic yes, and plopped down the menus upon seating us. We were tired and hungry, since there were not many options in this little town, we decided that the food will make up for the hostess' behavior and so shrugged it off. But oh no, the waiter was the same - he rolled his eyes when my child asked him a query about the menu, and he huffed away upon taking our orders. We dug into the food that was eventually served, but the waiter never once came by to enquire if all was well with the food, nor ask if we needed anything, or even to top off our water. We couldn't even catch his attention despite trying to flag him down multiple times so that we could get our check, pay and leave. Finally I went up to the manager, who upon hearing all the aforementioned, asked me what he expected me to do?!?! I answered that I don't want anyone else to be treated in this day and age, the way we were treated. There should be zero tolerance for such discriminatory behavior. There should be staff training on cultural and ethnic diversity and the element of being cordial, friendly yet professional and always serve the customer if you are going to be in this hospitality business! So long story short, if you are non-white, stay away from this place!
(1)Anthony D.
This place is upscale and kind of expensive. It's very gourmet. All of the ingredients are fresh and almost all of the dishes are like something you'd see on Food Network. Not exactly my kind of scene, but the bangers n mash that I had was pretty good. The service was very friendly. The bread was a little nasty as it was nothing but really cruncy bread with an intense amount of garlic and salty butter. All in all, a decent meal, but you're paying a lot for presentation and environment. If that's your thing, then have at it.
(4)J F.
Probably top five restaurant I have eaten in the world. From the well dressed professional staff to the fully sustainable menu from their many gardens, if you are passing through Effingham,this is absolutely a must try. We were passing through and find it on yelp. From appetizer to dessert, this was the most amazing menu I have seen. I honestly cannot complain about one single thing. Definitely worth every single penny. I recommend the Zucchini blossoms for appetizers, sea scallops risotto and/or Montana mignon for entrée and pick any dessert. You can't go wrong with homemade ice cream! Thank you Firefly for the excellent experience!
(5)Linda B.
I took a trip down to Southern Illinois for work and was told by several of my foodie friends that Firefly was worth a visit. I was warmly welcomed right from the start, and everyone (from my server to other people who walked by) was really friendly and pleasant. I started with the pomegranate iced tea and it was fine; it probably could've used a bit more sweetener but I was too lazy to add it, so there you go. I had the spring flatbread with morel mushrooms and, seriously, I wish there were some way of capturing the smell. It was amazing! And what's better is that it tasted just as good. I highly recommend it. For dessert I had the strawberry shortcake, and though I loved the presentation I didn't think the dessert tasted quite as good as it looked. In all, I had a really great meal and would happily go back next time I'm near the area.
(4)Evanne J.
Absolutely a gem of a restaurant - From the food to the service to the decor ! The beautiful wood ceilings and simple but elegant lighting add to the excitement and anticipation when you take a look at the menu. Farm fresh locally grown vegetables , foraged mushrooms and fiddleheads, hand-raised pork and beef, homemade ice cream, lava cake...! We had a delicious meal- my pork chop was absolutely perfectly tender, spiced to perfection . Check out the filet mignon wrapped in a buttery flakey crust, or the oak-fired swordfish- or anything else on the menu. The servers were friendly and helpful,and the entire experience was a special treat for all of us! Check it out !
(5)Dena S.
Wonderful find kind of out in the middle of no where! Very chic inside bar and restaurant. Probably should be a little more dressed up than we were but they accommodated us anyway. Great food and bar options. Would definitely return when in the area! Bummed we don't live closer.
(5)Nick S.
Wow! What a diamond in the rough! This place is an absolute dream! A restaurant with their own farm and the food reflects the meticulous care they took to set up the restaurant concept. The wedge salad with home grown tomatoes was fabulous, my halibut with porcini mushroom ravioli was to die for. The other dishes I sampled were the fried chicken over corn vichyssoise and that made me question my already great decision to get the halibut. The real surprise came with the best burger I've ever tasted. I eat a lot of great burgers, but I still crave this one. If I'm ever anywhere near Effingham again, I won't hesitate to stop and have another absolutely perfect dinner!
(5)Talulah M.
I had started to think my memory of this place from 9 months prior was clouded by road weariness and extreme hunger, but...we went back and it was just as wonderful! This time, we both had filet. HEAVENLY! Cooked to perfection. I uploaded a photo. I don't remember the appetizer but it was great, I don't remember the desserts but they were great. My only complaint is that we live so far away from this magical place.
(5)Sara Jane G.
Delicious! Fresh ingredients grown on the grounds! Great staff and amazing food! Large menu with a wide selection of food as well as price. The burgers are seriously amazing!
(5)Gina R.
WT-EFF!? This place is an ah-ha-mazing little gem in the middle of nowhere! My first bite, and I thought what the eff?! Where did this place come from. We were driving from St. Louis to Indiana, and on the hunt for something delicious. Found it. We had their burgers and chicken sandwiches, and I don't know if I was just really hungry (doubtful) but this place is one of the best places I have had a burger. I mean delicious! The place it self is adorable ... so well lit, nice ambiance, and just cute, modern, trendy! They have a lake with catfish that you can feed, which makes waiting for your food so much more fun. They are hungry little fish and put on quite the show. This was a pit stop for us, but I would seriously consider making the drive just for lunch again! SO GOOD!
(5)Ruth T.
Wow. This is a must stop if you're in the area. We stopped around 3:30 and had "lunch." We started with the Chinese steamed buns. One pork. One shrimp. We liked the pork one the best. Then I got the fish and chips which was really fresh cod and awesome fries. Hubby got the steak sandwich. Split a tiramisu. All said and done it was $60 with sodas and minus the tip. Was it worth it? Yes! It was an "off-time" so we were able to sit right by the water. Quite a place and wonderful food!!
(5)Sharon M.
This place was surprisingly wonderful. The best food I've had in awhile. Service was great and food was amazing. Got the halibut and the Montana mignon! Superb!
(5)Bill J.
Met family at Effingham and Lonnie pick this and We were very thankful he did. We had a pizza, shrimp poor boy, burger, Reuben and meatloaf sandwich. Neat place and very clean, Great place to eat
(5)Jake A.
Firefly Burger is the way to go! A few items have an Indianapolis theme like the smoking goose sausage and traders point milk. Also all the vegetables are grown in the fields behind the restaurant. Will be back for sure!
(5)Azile Y.
Woah... I don't know what they put in the whipped butter that comes with the bread but it is WONDERFUL! Slightly sweet, with a hint of garlic. French onion soup special was terrific as well.
(5)Elizabeth W.
Overall great attitude from the person on the phone to the staff. I Mathew guy who asks unique requests like" can I park my airstream overnight if I stay out of the way" I have a dog and they are very pet friendly /outdoor patio has many different zones with a relaxing feel to all of them. Beer selection is solid ! Food - unique tweaks to Americana that feels comfortable and packs the wow factor ! The sources are paired perfectly. Saturday afternoon on the porch With a beer and a burger on a pretzel bun - sauced up and blanketed with cheese . This is a review from a non red meat guy that can't resist this burger. Bona petite ! @epicdetour
(5)Andrew W.
Effingham, Illinois, I owe you an apology. I've now stopped twice to eat at the Firefly Grill. Fellow I-70 travelers, take heed. This delightfully designed restaurant pairs a mostly upscale, eclectic American menu with a lovely, take-a-date setting. I can, somehow, recommend both the pizza (with a superb, obviously fresh tomato sauce) and the pork bao. Whatever you think about the kind of restaurant that serves both simply doesn't apply here. (I do not, however, recommend the standard burger, which comes out like a fancy Big Mac. Very good, if that's your thing, but it's not mine.) Before you go, check out the library-set private table, the herb garden, and the wonderful koi pond out back. As I sat on the deck with my girlfriend after hours, a waiter came out to talk to us. We thought he was going to tell us the restaurant had closed. Instead he offered to take our picture against the pond, and then he give us food to feed the fish. Completely, irrepressibly charming. Five stars.
(5)Normajean G.
We dined here while staying in the area on our way home from St. Louis. I need to eat gluten free, and there were choices. The food we had (pork chop) was excellent, and the corn side dish was delicious. The only thing on the menu that was $$, in our opinion, was the pizza. There were no gluten free pizzas, so I could not choose that. The beef filet was $55, and the main course menu items were $25 plus. Salads are extra. Hamburgers are $16.50. The online menu here does not reflect those prices. I would definitely rate it a $$$ at the very least.
(4)Sara Jane W.
Awesome find in the middle of the Midwest!! Food selections are great, atmosphere is trendy and open, the pond in the back makes a great backdrop. Chef and server customized a dish for my dietary limitations...gluten and cheese free. I will be back!
(5)Melissa H.
Love the atmosphere, the food, and the pond! Great date place!
(4)Jon L.
My son and I were traveling through the area on our way back to Georgia. Stopped in town for the night and did a Yelp search for places to eat. This popped up so we decided to try it Boy, were we ever pleasantly surprised. Starting with our waiter, Jordan, the whole experience was amazing. You can taste the difference in the fact that everything is locally sourced, or grown in their own garden. The filet we both had is from the prime of the prime beef. The best we've ever eaten. It is pricey, but well worth it if you want to give yourself a treat! It was my sons 1st time trying a filet cut. His face after the 1st bite was priceless! We came in right at 8p, not realizing they closed at 9(we left about 930ish). And no one seemed bothered by the fact that we were keeping them there. Jordan was very knowledgable about the food and history of the place. You could tell he cared. That's rare today in the food industry. So if you are EVER in the Effington, IL. area, stop in and give them a try. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Véronique T.
Awesome food!! Had shrimp, Southern fried chicken... And awesome onion soup! They also have awesome fish and drinks!
(5)Lucas B.
Love this place!
(5)C M.
Exceptional in every way! Don't miss this little gem of Illinois. The food is excellently prepared, mostly from locally sourced farms, including their own vegetable and herb garden. The waitstaff is pleasant and knowledgable. The location is idyllic, on a reed-lined pond full of koi and other fish. And they let the kids feed the fish from the deck. Quite entertaining. The wagyu beef meatball starter was perfectly presented in an escargot plate. The meatballs were super flavorful and tender, sitting in a bath of marinara, and covered in hot, stringy, melty cheese. The bread and butter! Crunchy on the outside, light and airy on the inside, the rolls arrive with a light waft of garlic and are topped with sea salt flakes. I chose from their Father's Day special menu. The lobster pot pie was stunningly good. The crust was to die for and the filling was full of lobster. My wife had a pizza that had bacon, ham, sausage, sage, and other delicious toppings. The crust was flaky, puffy, and carried the aroma of the wood fired oven.
(5)Deborah B.
Delicious food and premier service. I had the steak burger. Beef was so flavorful, French fries were crisp and tasty, even the bun was delicious. SO had salmon - wild caught flown in daily. He's a fisherman and quite Picky about the fish he eats and he said it was out of this world. From the specials menu so may not always be available. Salads were good but the entrees were what gives this Place 5 stars. Shout out to Kelly who made the experience ever more enjoyable with her menu suggestions, pleasant conversation, and unobtrusive/always there when you need her service. Not easy to find but its right off Rte 70. Take a left at the light by the Starbucks and drive to the end of that road.
(5)Leigh W.
Very well done restaurant. Farm to table is impressive when pulled off well. Inside is comfortable & patio dining is available. Friendly staff & wait staff knew exactly how to describe the entrees and when asked for recommendations our waiter was quick to offer suggestions with a description of the item & how it stands out above other items he even asked our tastes & that was impressive. Menu was very nice & loaded will a lovely selection of steak, seafood & other mouth watering items. We ordered several items to get the experience of the menu since I came here specifically to write a review, it's a hobby & I know my food. French Onion Soup was delicious, Fried Green tomatoes where as well as the shrimp cocktail with homemade cocktail sauce, shrimp where more prawns than shrimp with their size, very nice. Special treat morel mushrooms which when dipped in the dill ranch where very good even if I prefer them not to be battered in corn meal. The Montana mignon was their take on a beef Wellington which was nice in the puff pastry with whipped potatoes & asparagus at $26 it was more $$$ instead of $$ the filet was probably 4oz & meat temperature was perfect. Highly recommend the swordfish it was delicious, served on what was suppose to be a crab risotto however there was no crab & risotto was a tad over cooked. I would defiantly try another steak prob going with the larger filet or the swordfish. Defiantly feel this restaurant excels at fish. Inside decor is relaxing & cocktails are on point. Not a place for children unless you want to spend the money but beautiful place for couples, events, special occasions, girls night, treating your guy to a steak, Etc. nothing else like this unless you head towards St. Louis.
(4)J R.
Went mid-day for a lunch. I'd say their price range is more $$$ than the $$ posted. The value was there, it was just unexpectedly expensive. Beautiful location, we sat on the porch area, enclosed on a sunny day it was wonderful. Wasn't prepared to pay the high prices for a lunch so had the pizza. Was very good, wonderful crust and creative topping. They had a chocolate souffle for dessert, had to try it. Was worth every penny. A personal size souffle with whipped cream on the side and blackberry ice cream, softened. It took me a good long time to eat it, not because it was so big, but rather because it was worth savoring every mouthful. Service was prompt, a bit excessively inquisitive but perhaps at a crossroads town that's how you do it.
(4)Mark E.
Best Salmon meal I have ever had. Priced more than most, and certainly more that the $$ rating on Yelp, but worth every penny. Employees love the place and food ... so what not to LOVE especially when love as good as this.
(5)Michelle S.
What a hidden gem!!! ALWAYS make a point to stop here when traveling through! NEVER a bad meal EVER!!!! Tonight it was dungeness crab purses with a sweet and spicy sour sauce, pork shanks, and Dungeness crab cakes with the most perfectly cooked and seasoned green beans ever. And the focaccia....... Go! You WILL NOT be disappointed.
(5)Marissa C.
Never disappointed! The chef/owner Niall is good at what he does. The menu is creative and delicious. Nothing else like it in central Illinois. Fresh veggies from the garden drive the menu. I look forward to the pumpkin ice cream coming back. It would be nice if they have a mailing list of when the menu changes because I like trying new things there!
(5)Patrick B.
This is a great place hidden away in the middle of no where. I have been here 20+ times and the service, food and beer selection is fantastic. Customer took me here 3-5 years ago and I keep coming back. Prices are fair for outstanding food. If your looking for a low price - go to a fast food place. If you want excellent food and a nice break while traveling through the area - go here. Just found the lunch special today for $5 for a hamburger with garlic fries. This place also has fresh morel mushrooms in season.
(5)Christine A.
We stumbled on this through yelp while traveling. What a wonderful surprise!! This yet again proves our theory that chef run restaurants are successful because of the chefs passion , and it shows. We had the medeterrian appetizer platter. Best focaccia . I had the seabass with risotto-wonderful. My husband has the pork tenderloin. It was delicious. Wine was delicious. Too bad it was dark. I bet the view of the water was wonderful. Will be back when we travel through the area. Chef said hello and he was very nice. Proud of his restaurant, wife who helps run the restaurant & his staff. Andrew did a great job as our server.
(5)Susan S.
I generally enjoy Firefly, but I was so disappointed with today's Mothers Day brunch. $26 for bread, a shot of a granola parfait, an omelet and potatoes. I could easily have made this at home. Shame on you for excessive pride, Firefly.
(1)Vanessa T.
Talk about out of place. When I step into Firefly I feel as if I have been transported somewhere urban and hip and forget I am in the middle of nowheresville Illinois.Firefly is extremely convienient for me as I stay 1/4 mile down the street at the Hampton Inn. The chef is as creative and talented as any that you would find in Manhattan. You must get the Chinese steamed buns as an appetizer. I get these every time I am here. The most recent time I visited, I ordered the Firefly steak burger and fried wontons along with the buns. I gobbled everything up and left feeling as I always do, like I ate too much but it was soooo worth it. The atmosphere is fancy but casual as you will see some truck drivers stopping in during their drive probably to order something unique for a change. The furniture and fixtures are classy and modern. I have never eaten on the patio but if you do, you will be able to dine among the beautiful fountain and garden they have created out back. The kitchen is also an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare your food right in front of your eyes. There is also a bar that is semi private as it is blocked by a piece of non-see through glass. The wine list is extensive but the beer list is minimal. Still, they do offer several craft beers which is a nice change from your typical bar beer offerings. If you only eat in one place in Effingham, let it be this place. Unless of course you prefer to eat that the Buffalo Wild Wings down the street or some other overly commercialized local eatary.
(5)Paul R.
The food was wonderful, but please look out for the substitution policy on the menu. It's there, and small print - small enough that no one can see it. I was able to get a manager to reverse the charges, but I'm frustrated that I had to ask in the first place. It's worth eating here but buyer beware.
(4)Kathie C.
The 2 $$ were very misleading. The prices are higher than that. Not much you can get for less than $18 and most things are much more. But it did look wonderful. We also stopped in without a reservation. Not a good idea on a Saturday night! But we did get to sit at the counter and watch the cooks and the food going out. We opted for some pizza, as it was one of the few choices under $20. It is a very nice place, but too rich for our blood.
(3)Shelli A.
This a wonderful little hidden gem in Effingham IL. The food was very good but the service was extremely beyond our expectations. We had a very long day and stopped in Effingham for the night and although they were completely booked for the evening, they made special accommodations for us to enjoy a very nice dinner even with 2 kids. The kids got to go outside and feed the fish while my husband and I got to enjoy an adult beverage. I highly recommend this location to anyone looking for a great meal when passing through Effingham. Thank you
(5)William D.
Firefly Grill is destination dining in Southern Illinois. This eco-friendly farm-to-table roadhouse features fresh and delicious seasonal fare. Chef Niall's menu and execution are worthy of Chicago, so Firefly is a surprising find indeed for Effingham, Illinois. I don't begrudge Kristie and Niall Campbell charging big city prices in small town Illinois. Obviously their product is in strong demand. If the prices get too high, people will stop coming. With that said, Firefly Grill is definitely a "$$$" restaurant. (I think Yelp has it wrongly categorized as "$$".) The only way to dine at Firefly for less than $30/plate is to have no apps, no alcohol, and no dessert. Though their gourmet burgers, fries, and fried chicken are delicious, I aspire to someday be able to afford some other dishes and drinks. If you are a foodie and you find yourself on I-70 between St. Louis and Indianapolis, stop for dinner at Firefly! Feed the catfish from the dock, stroll in the vegetable garden, and enjoy a first class meal in a pastoral environment. You won't regret it.
(5)Heidi R.
Having never driven through this part of Illinois before, we were at a loss for a decent restaurant at which to dine until we came across Firefly Grill. Wow. Being from Chicago, we've dined at many an amazing restaurant, and this place could easily compete! Squash blossoms were to die for, filet was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and for someone who doesn't typically like fried food, the fried chicken in vichyssoise sauce was delicious. My 7 year olds ate everything up too (something for this and all restaurants to consider, please stop dumbing down kids menus! They're little people with real taste buds, enough with the chicken strips and cheese pasta, they can and should be eating real food!). Atmosphere and design was beautiful, very clean kitchen and facilities. It's been a rainy summer, so even though their gardens weren't producing that well, they source from a local farmer so still very fresh. If only we lived closer than 4 hours away!
(5)Lorna J.
Enjoyed the Firefly Grill. Food was good and I loved sitting out by the Koi pond.
(4)Charlotte L.
Stopped by on our way to Kansas. Sat out on the porch and had a beautiful view. The weather was perfect. Food was fresh and delicious. The fried green tomatoes were great, I haven't had anything like them before. Our waitress and the other staff were attentive and prompt. It was a great place to stop!
(5)Mary P.
Food was quite excellent, albeit a little on the expensive side. The dish I had was a puff pastry with an very tender filet inside. I loved the mashed potatoes, but the side of asparagus left me underwhelmed. Considering the rest of the meal was quite good, that surprised me. I also had a cocktail with pear juice that was quite delicious.
(4)Patrick M.
Yelp comes through! This place is super awesome atmosphere. Sat at the bar and had a firefly Steak Burger with Jamie. I won't add a picture because there are a hundred of them on here. It was yummy. Definitely coming back for more. Hopefully I can try something different.
(4)L R.
Wonderful food and very cool atmosphere. Love the garden outside where alot of the ingredients originate. Had the fried green tomatoes which were fabulous!! The salmon was also very very good. We stayed locally at the Hampton and were traveling from NJ to Denver. So glad to have stopped in Effingham. Wish I could have given 5 stars but the service was not that great. Willing to overlook that to say we will definitely be back.
(4)Andrea A.
Delicious! If you are looking for quality food, check this place out. It's a little pricey, but definitely worth a visit. It was surprising to find this gem in such a rural area. I would recommend the Firefly as a place where everyone can find something to eat (even picky eaters and folks with food allergies).
(5)JS E.
A pleasant surprise. Incredible service and friendly staff. The food was well prepared and perfectly seasoned. We look forward to a return trip, especially in the summer time.
(4)Clifford S.
We had dinner here on our way to Kansas City and it was one of the best meals of the summer. No, I have not had a few beers and yes, it is in Effingham. I don't know why it's there either. I had scallops and squash blossom appetizer and pie - all outstanding. We are planning a fall trip to St. Louis and one of the goals is to somehow stop here either on the way down or back. Yes, it is that good.
(5)Nic N.
Don't miss this countryside jewel nestled near the 'cross roads' of southern Illinois. Great local flavor meets rural chick at Firefly. I have a client in Effingham and make frequent trips from Chicago as a result. In my opinion this spot certainly holds its own among even some of the most highly rated restaurants in Chica-go-go, but the best part is that they include a lot of locally grown food. Even the dining tables were made in Effingham, nice work on supporting the local economy! On my last visit we started with a caprese salad and then moved on to the grilled truffle duck egg sandwich - Lake meadow Farm's ducks eggs, white truffle, white balsamic dressed greens on house-made Challah bread (this was lunch time). Food was great...filling, but not too heavy so we could go about our day. Unfortunately I don't remember what I had for dinner there on my last visit (months ago), but I do know that it was just as good, if not an even better experience, if that is even possible. Sit on the back deck and enjoy the view of the fountain in the large pond or dine inside and check out the great decor. The building looks like it was constructed in salvaged barn wood and even the parking lot is stylishly landscaped so these guys get an A+ for building an excellent establishment all around. Oh...and if you like beer and wine you won't be disappointed. It absolutely has to have the best selection in Effingham...hands down.
(5)William S.
What a great meal! It is like an oasis in the dessert. These kind of restaurants are found in big cities like Chicago, Toronto, and Dallas. The pork rind and crispy dungeness crab purses appetizers were perfect. We both had the firefly burger. One of the best burgers we have ever eaten. The Coconut creme brûlée and peanut butter cup desserts were the topper to a fantastic meal. The Effingham area is fortunate to have this place in their town. Please support it so we can stop there next time we pass through!! Update... I was so excited about the great food I did not mention the service was equally as good!!
(5)Scott L.
Great place and never would have expected to find this type of quality hidden here. What a delicious meal we had. The ambiance and food were excellent and it would have received 5 stars if the service would have matched the obvious attention to detail in the food. Meals ranges from a $5 bar burger to about $44 for the lamb chop. I had the Reuben and it was delicious, served with fries which were also excellent for $10. Even though I don't live here I will stop here on future travels for sure.
(4)Brad P.
really nice atmosphere, terribly friendly staff, the building is impressive, the menu is fun, the beer and wine selection would not disappoint the most spoiled diners (being one) and an amazingly well executed plate of food (my date thinks maybe the best shes EVER had) made this surprise in the middle of nowhere a true treat on a Los Angeles to Indianapolis cross country drive that was actually full of great meals... but this was the true gem of our trip! Would definitely go WAY out of my way to dine there again!
(5)Michael C.
Amanda is the highlight of firefly grill. I typically do not give glowing reviews about restaurants that have par food but Amanda made my entire experience more than excellent hospitality wise. Whether she is on the floor or behind the bar make sure you at least introduce yourself and she will see to it that the night of restaurant experience is worth you stopping in effingham. The steak worth stopping for although I hoped the taste would have been better for the price. Although it was cooked perfectly. I'm looking forward to stopping back through for the seabass instead. I would however.. Scratch that. I will be stopping again just to talk to Amanda again over a drink. That is a certainty.
(4)Gary K.
This place is outstanding! The service and food were great, and the location is perfect. Close to the hotel we were staying at, and all the other shops, restaurants, etc.; but Firefly Grill clearly stood out. I had a teriyaki flank steak and it was amazing! It was so tender. The potatoes were great too. The nice thing was that even though it's a nice restaurant they still had a reasonable kids menu too. I only wish they had a restaurant like this in Clarksville, TN. I'd go here all the time.
(5)Scott C.
Great little establishment. Friendly service and it looks like a great place to be in the warmer months.
(4)Eric W.
Owners are a TOTAL Class Act. Next time through Effingham will definitely stop in again.
(4)Susan S.
Daughter loves Firefly and Daughter needed some TLC, so we scheduled a little ladies' lunch on a Saturday afternoon. And a lovely little lunch we had. As always, the ambiance of FF grill is sublime---its look is one of my all time favorites. Daughter's too. She loves the oversized, sepia-toned wedding photos of the owners that grace the walls. Daughter described her lunch as "summertime in a sandwich." After one try-bite, I concurred. The roasted chicken/basil/mozz/pesto panini was a delectable balance of crunchy, gooey, savory, and smokey sensations. 5 stars. The fries were perfection---nice and hot (cold fries stink) and nicely seasoned. And the $8.50 price point was spot on. My lunch---a little on the meh side. I ordered the Spinach salad with strawberry balsamic dressing, vanilla almonds, and about 4 interesting warm goat cheese croquettes, about the size of an old fashioned gumball or an embryonic tater tot. The price was either $8.50 or $9.50. The abundance of spinach was great and would have satisfied even the hungriest Popeye. However, the co-stars, so to speak, did not support the quantity of spinach served. I found myself rationing the teeny bits of cheese and almonds to help me make it to the finish line with the greens. As often happens at FF, the staff was super smiley and welcoming but hard to summon when needed. Drink orders took over five minutes to place and just about as long to deliver. Iced tea refills took awhile, too. I saw some verbal and nonverbal communication going on between the hostess and various waitstaff regarding our beverages, but no one seemed to have clear ownership of our table. Nor did anyone stop by after the hopper brought our meals to ascertain if all was okay or if we needed anything else---which we did. I had expected the salad to have some kind of carb alongside, a bun, a cracker, etc. In the past, FF served bread on a board or popovers. I couldn't catch my server's attention---I think she was busy with a baby shower--but the hostess eventually explained that bread service was available, for a buck. Two probs---first of all, that didn't happen when I ate lunch at FF Grill in April. In fact, that time, our group of four was served up some tasty popovers even though people ordered bread-centric entrees like pizzas and rock shrimp po'boys. Secondly, why isn't this upcharge mentioned on the menu or offered when ordering? FF has been promoting lunch specials diligently--which is nice. But, the lunch menu seems to have shrunken in size and grown in price point over the last few years. And the foo-foo factor has increased as well. I miss the salad/pizza special....and the complimentary bread, and the greater number of choices. You know I'll be back---the pluses outweigh the minuses---one major plus being location, location, location.
(4)Michael K.
3rd time here in last couple of weeks on my way back and forth to Indy from STL. It is an oasis of great food with real care towards the ingredients. This is as good as you find in any major market. Be sure to try the tiramisu!
(5)Dan K.
Very nice. Maybe the nicest restaurant in Effingham. Pricy but very good food. I would definitely come here again.
(4)Mike A.
We stopped here on our drive to Detroit from Dallas. Simply amazing food and atmosphere! High recommendation in my book!
(5)Jon T.
Romantic devil that I am I took Ms T to Effingham for St Valentine's Day dinner and a visit to the Boos Block's outlet store. She can never say I don't take her to exciting places. I searched for places to eat in Effingham and found the Fire Fly Grill. This is a surprisingly sophisticated place to find out here and offered a lot of promise. We made reservations on Open Table and being Valentine's, it was a good thing. The place was packed and I suspect normally reservations are a good idea. They have put a lot of effort into the ideas behind the restaurant. It looks like a barn or something but inside the menu is upscale and (I think) pricy for Effingham. They make a big deal about being green and local but I am cynical about this. While well intended I'm sure, it is really mostly about marketing. Let's face it, it sells. What really matters is how good the food is. The Fire Fly Grill missed the mark especially considering the price. Remind me never to tell a waiter that this is our first time there. I made that mistake and we listened to the sermon on green and local and then the specials from Jordan. It was a bit condescending assuming we did not know anything about the ingredients rather than letting us ask when we needed information. We ordered two glasses of wine (marked up very well). We started with Crab and Lobster Rangoon which was really very good. Ms T ordered scallops on risotto and I ordered pheasant on papardelle. The scallops were seared properly but were gritty. We could not decide if it was in the scallops or was from the grill. They tasted good to her, but the grit was off-putting. The risotto was poorly executed, flavorless and underdone, not al dente, but rather al crunchy, while the matrix was very pasty, an odd combination. My local pheasant was OK. It was seared and then finished in the oven. It had good herbal flavors on a crispy skin, but the serving was tiny. One pheasant wing and breast is about four bites. I grew up eating wild pheasant in Iowa and this farm raised, tame bird had virtually no flavor of its own. My bed of papardelle was fine and the dish was executed well. It was just short on poultry serving size and pheasant flavor. This is a surprisingly sophisticated restaurant for the surroundings. But we had to ask again for our wine or it never would have arrived. The wines were served too warm. Ms T's white was not chilled and my pinot noir was room temperature. The room was about 80 degrees and a PN should be served cellar temperature. This was over $50 per person, (one appetizer, no desserts) which is OK, but I expect much better execution.
(2)Angela M.
This restaurant is the second most Eco friendly restaurant in the nation. Great prices, fresh ingredients and amazing service! Best restaurant in 90 miles! The Firefly is comparable to some of the finest restaurants I have eaten at in Seattle, New York and Chicago. The food: The goat cheese, portobello brick oven pizza was the best pizza I have EVER eaten. That's a bold comment considering I have pizza every time I travel. The crust was crispy yet doughy, airy and flaky. They brushed it with a seasoning and garlic. The goat cheese and portobello complimented each other beautifully. Paired it with a glass of Merlot. AMAZING! The scallop risotto was seared seasoned to perfection, and flaky in the middle. The peas in the risotto popped and the risotto was al dente. The PEI (Prince Edward island) mussels were hands down the best my friend had had. I tasted the sauce which was creamy with a zing of horseradish. Served with freshly baked French bread to dip in the sauce. The service: Outstanding sums it up! Upon entering the hostess was on the phone and got another employees attention to greet us. We sat outside overlooking the lake. We had Adam bring us water, he introduced himself as the hits who would be assisting the waitress and proceeded to tell us our waitresses name which was Kelly. Kelly informed us in detail about the specials and let us know their seafood was shipped in multiple times a week. It was fresh. We explained that we live on the Gulf of Mexico and have high standards when it comes to seafood. She was right! It was outstanding! Beautiful scenery inside and out! Very comfortable and relaxing atmosphere! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Frank C.
Excellent food for both dinner and brunch. What can I say? There is nothing really to see in Effingham, but we come here just to go to Firefly Grill. And when we do, we normally stay the night at a nearby hotel so we can have dinner on Saturday night followed by brunch the next morning. Food is excellent. Amazing cocktail list. Excellent wine list. We had a bottle of Saint Emillion. Stuffed Zucchini Flowers is easily their best appetizer. We had the filet Mignon wrapped in a puff pastry with Boursin and bacon. Wow! Love coming here and leaving so stuffed I feel like exploding. Great kids menu. Only complaint is silverware size for the kids. Their silverware is huge and consequently the kids ages 4 - 10 were constantly dropping them. Tip...bring your own from home.
(5)Nate T.
A very nice meal. The wife had the crab cakes and I had the pork loin. I wish they would turn down the music a bit, since it is all hard surfaces, the noise level is a bit loud (not unbearable), but that might be the only thing I could complain about.
(5)Peter M.
This is one of those farm-to-fork places and is casual-upscale. Stopped while passing through - we had an appetizer, my daughter had the white pizza, I had a traditional pizza, she had a drink and I had a couple microbrews. I had a side of veggies from their garden as well. We both had the strawberry shortcake dessert, which had about two or three subtle flavors in it that really complemented the strawberries very well. The food was delicious and the drinks were good as well. The service was appropriately attentive. For all of the above, we got out of there for $80, pre-gratuity. It's not an inexpensive place, but you do get good value for your money.
(5)Kevin K.
Firefly Grill is definitely a must if you're in the area - or can be in the area. Were I to live anywhere within a hundred miles I'd go at least twice a week, probably more. There is much to recommend it though there are a few inexplicable issues. What works: all the most important things. Nicely designed and comfortable spaces set in their perennial and herb/vegetable gardens; attentive staff from the moment one arrives at the door through seating and service; a (mostly) well thought out menu with (mostly) reasonable prices considering the skill in the kitchen; well prepared, well presented plates. What doesn't work: the wine list, a menu item or two, some pricing. At first glance the wine list looks good. This turns out to be obviously false upon closer inspection. At least 20-25% of the list shouldn't be there (on their list or anyone else's) at all. (Covey Run Riesling? Seriously? No German Riesling? One Oregon Pinot Noir - and a vastly lesser one? Where are the good Zins? I could go on - and on.) There is a wholly unsatisfying by-the-glass list (not much here worth ordering - I couldn't find one satisfactory red - and it's badly priced, too high (considering the wines) and there is no value here at all. Worse, there is no value in getting an 8-ounce pour over a 5-ounce. They're priced exactly (or so closely as to be tantamount) the same. On a good note, most of the better wines on the list are priced well by the bottle. It's unfortunate that the list overall appears to contain more better wines than it does, and none of the better wines are available by the glass. The house salad (that should be representative of the "house", especially at this time of year, considering the gardens just outside the door) is uninspired and insipid, nary an herb in it(!), with pedestrian romaine and scant vegetables. At the very least it would benefit from salt (and a pepper mill served alongside - or offered - would gave been welcome) but I was so looking forward to the herbs I had just walked past on my way in. Inexplicable. As stated above, there is much to recommend. Try the soups, the stuffed squash blossoms (currently on the menu but probably not for long as they're so seasonal), the meatballs (a bit overpriced and the Wagyu is overkill) that are delicious, any of the vegetable sides, the pizzas, the grilled meats and fish - virtually the entire rest of the menu. I look forward to returning the next time I'm passing through. For those of you passing anywhere near, GO - even if you have to detour a bit.
(4)Kelly C.
This is a must when in Effingham - absolutely wonderful! Unique offerings as well as standard fare. Many items are grown right on the grounds. The fried green tomatoes were grown in the garden out back and topped with local sweet corn - amazing! Beautiful restaurant, helpful and pleasant staff. The steak burger was very, very good. The waffle dessert is a little bit messy but worth it!
(5)Michelle C.
So fun! Perfectly swag, rustic, and sharp trendy atmosphere. Lovely grounds and open-concept. Classy industrial yet inviting & relaxed decor. Plush patio furniture to lounge on while you wait, or eat outside on the porch on the patio couches. Don't forget to ask for fish food so you can feed the huge catfish and goldfish from the pier over the gorgeous, quiet fountained pond. Oh, and order the House-Made Lavender&Lemon soda. To-die for.
(5)Laura H.
We make frequent trips from Indianapolis to St. Louis, and had seen the billboards but only remarked upon them because Firefly is the best television show of all time. Then I read a blog about hidden dining gems, and this place ranked highly, so we decided to check it out. I can't believe this incredible restaurant is tucked away in a little town otherwise remarkable for a giant torture device made of metal siding. The entire place is stunning. It sits on a lake, so sit by the windows and watch massive, lovely carp swim around. We saw some folks feeding them, which all seemed to enjoy. The service is top-notch. The food is RIDICULOUS. I had trouble deciding, there were so many things I wanted to try, so I'll look forward to going back for more. We had a steamed bun apiece for appetizer, pork and shrimp, both delicious. I had the crab eggs benedict, which was unreal. We will ALWAYS stop here now.
(5)Sherri B.
Great service wonderful atmosphere and amazing food with fresh ingredients from there own garden. Seafood Steaks and even a brick oven pizza.
(5)Mark F.
Niles Campbell is one of the 10 best restauranteurs in America. Wow what a find for someone traveling on 70. I'm glad I turned around at the last exit to come back to this place. Awesome staff, decor and gourmet food. World class chef. The Montana Mignon is something special! ...Ok I'm back here again adding to this review and I asked Niles to pick all of my drinks and food this visit. Wow!!! What an experience!!! I literally came here an Hour out of my way to cleanse my palette of a bad experience at "the most famous steak house in the world" Peter Lugars and Niles' 16 oz New York strip is a 99 and ironically puts all the New York steak houses I've been to to shame!!!
(5)Eleni B.
Went here on a whim and as tourist felt extended out of place. I have numerous tattoos on my arm and I was wearing a tank top from old navy and shorts, while the rest of the lunch crowd was in golf attire and sun dresses. Menu is simple and prices are fair. My mother and I split a pizza which takes about 20 minutes to make but they warn you on the menu. The table to preset before you get there and they give you water right off the bat. Restaurant is extremely nice and I would come again! Food was great and music was low key. The staff was always cleaning or busy, meaning everyone had a purpose and not standing around.
(4)Dave C.
Was passing through on my way back from St. Louis and stopped to have diner. It's actually pretty close to the highway but tucked back behind the main strip. First, the building is pretty neat. There was a wait so we decided to sit at the bar but would have loved to tried to get a table outside. The food was excellent. I had the Chicken in a Bag and thought it was very good. Certainly something I would get again. I don't live in the area otherwise I would be back to this place often. The prices are a bit high but not over the top. If this place was located in Indy then the prices would be right in line with what I would expect. The other really cool thing about this place is the fresh ingredients. They have their own garden that surrounds the building. You could see all the herbs and vegetables they were growing. That was a really cool thing to see. When they say farm to table, they really mean it. I highly recommend trying Firefly if you are in the area.
(5)Faith R.
This place is AMAZING! It is beautifully tucked into a sea of wildflowers and overlooking a serene lake complete with fountain and extra large Koi fish. There are so many seating options from inside the restaurant area to an enclosed porch overlooking the lake to outdoor patios complete with comfy couches and chairs. The staff is friendly and helpful. The service is quick and accurate. My daughter and I stopped here on our way to Indianapolis. I had the Shrimp Poor Boy and she had the Applewood Chicken Sandwich. Both came in a pretzel bun with fries. The chicken sandwich had apples and brie on the sandwich. Everything was delicious! The restaurant is immaculate and the owners grow the food on the menu. I will make a point to stop here any time I am in the area. I do not have a negative thing to say! Perfect!
(5)Johanna B.
One of the best dining experiences that my husband and I have had! We stayed at the Hampton Inn nearby so we were able to walk about 5 minute walk to restaurant. We started with Alaskan King crab purses-wonderful! My Montana mignon was fabulous and my husband's ribeye was the best he's ever had! Great atmosphere and service!
(5)Benjamin S.
Firefly Grill is my absolute favorite spot in Central Illinois. If I could afford to eat here each week of my life, it would be done. However, let's talk about the food. Fantastic and always fresh- the use of their own ingredients makes it even better. The service is excellent and I am never disappointed. This is one of the things I will miss when I move away from the area.
(5)Arlene A.
We were traveling on I-70 and found this place on Yelp. What a find! Firefly is a beautiful building in a bucolic setting, only a mile or two from I-70 and right down the street from the Hampton Inn. The meal was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. Great, friendly service. I enjoyed the delicious rolls, crusty and a little salty on top, but tender and tangy in the center. The butter was just the right consistency for spreading and especially fresh tasting. We ordered the morels with two dipping sauces, crabcakes with garlic fries, and a fish dish. Everything was terrific, and I used the fries to sop up the last of the sauce from my fish. Expensive, but oh so worth it!
(5)Amanda B.
I wish it was in Indianapolis. it's gorgeous and everything tastes amazing. As soon as we walked in, the smell let me know that we'd made a good choice. The hostess was also our waitress, and she was exceptionally friendly and welcoming. We started with the crab purses, which basically is a fancy Rangoon-and by fancy, I mean way above average. I had the ribeye sandwich and my husband had the steak burger. they were both delicious (we switched halfway through to get to try more). My only regrets are that we didn't go there for dinner or during summer, because there's a duck dish with my name on it, and the place must be amazing in summer. They apparently even have a dog park near the porch, so owners can have a nice meal while their puppy-children play. Indianapolis restauranteurs pay attention-this is what Hoosiers need!!!! You just can't go wrong.
(5)R.J. V.
This place was amazing. If you happen to be in the area ( and aren't broke) be sure to stop by and check it out. The food was amazing. The atmosphere was both swanky and rustic. And the staff were courteous and friendly. For an appetizer we had the flash fried morels which are basically a rare mushroom that is hard to find and grow. I didn't quite find their taste too inspiring to me, though they were unique and well made. Others I know who have tried them can't get enough. So I recommend trying them for a unique local delicacy experience. For the main course we tried the filet mignon wrapped in a pastry and their chicken and waffles entree. The mignon was delicious and its flavor was sealed in using that flaky crust. The chicken and waffles were outstanding. The chicken was cooked perfectly (crispy, yet almost falling off the bone) and the waffles were buttered with syrup. They both sat in a dish of country gravy which really pulled them together. Simply for this meal would I seek to return for more. And finally the staff were friendly and were kind enough to seat us on the porch overlooking the lake (from which we could see tons of fish including some huge koi). You may need to gain a reservation on busier nights but the night we went they seated us right away. I can't express how much I truly enjoyed my time there. My only negative comment is the price...it can get a bit extreme. However, I think once you are there you will agree it's worth it. A great place for a celebration or for impressing that significant other.
(5)Dawn B.
Stopped here on way back home from a road trip and had dinner. We used Yelp to locate a great restaurant and the reviews did not disappoint. This restaurant, from the food, to the service, to the ambience and cleanliness is OUTSTANDING and unique. Just wished we lived closer and could come more often!
(5)Rick D.
Nice setting! Friendly servers and upbeat atmosphere! For the menu tonite we tried the Baked Feta and Fire Fly Fillet Mignon (most reassembled a beef Wellington). For the money you cannot do better than this for flavor and dining experience! The appetizer and main plate are delicious beyond expectations. Overall I would have to say this place is a must try for any one visiting Effingham Illinois! If you do visit try to get cayla as your server. What an incredibly friendly server who is happy too provide information on menu items to restaurant history! Five stars from this Diner!
(5)Heather M.
I realize the prices are a little higher there then some places, but the food is absolutely exceptional! Worth the drive from anywhere and conveniently located off of the interstate. Great place for parties, Business meetings, celebrations and weddings of an upper scale quality. They allow private music, photographers and cakes which is rare in this type of venue. Also, they have private spaces including an enclosed heated porch and a wine room that is super elegant. They raise their own garden which they glean as many ingredients as possible out of. Events coordinator Megan is fantastic and will help you through every detail. The kids can't even feed the massive quantities of golden carp in the Pond that the restaurant is situated on. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Breanna N.
My boyfriend and I stopped in here after a dirt bike race in Casey. We were so happy that we did! The food and drinks here were hands down the best we've ever had. I got the ribeye and he got the halibut. Everything was cooked perfectly and to order. There is an amazing difference in taste when all of the ingredients are fresh. The butter compote they put on the steak was AMAZING! As well as the potatoes. Wow! My boyfriends halibut was out of this world, I've never had a piece of fish that tasted so good! We also got the fried squash flowers as an appetizer, there were delicious something I've always wanted to try but never able too mainly because there aren't many restaurants at all that have access to a fresh garden and I don't! Haha. And we also got the mushroom soup! Amazing! Handmade sodas, I got the lemon lavender and he got the blackberry so good! And finally for dessert we got the molten chocolate cake which is made to order and obviously from scratch! It's a perfect portion to end your dinner. The pricing is not that outrageous at all, you pay for what you get and it is top quality food, service and presentation. All the food is prepared when ordered with no subpar quality ingredients. Plus how cool that you can eat then go feed the fish walk around their garden and pond?! Very very awesome restaurant. I don't have one bad thing to say about it. We will be back every time we go to Casey!
(5)Les D.
Just keeps getting better. Don't need much of an excuse to come here. Tried the fried chicken in a bag. Wouldn't normally be my first choice, but what the hey. Definitely worth it. Gourmet in every bite. Beautiful side salad. Wife's French onion was perfect. Expectations keep getting higher. Keep it up, Firefly.
(5)Sue ann P.
This is not a two dollar sign restaurant. It is more of a three to four dollar sign restaurant. That being said this was a great experience. The inside and outside are very tastefully decorated. The wine list while not easily recognized had some very good choices. We had the squash blossoms as an appetizer and they were wonderful! My husband had ribeye steak, mashed potatoes and green beans. I had fried chicken, corn vichyssoise, mozzarella (made at the restaurant) , thinly sliced radish and basil. Everything was beyond perfect! You could really tell this is a farm to table restaurant in how fresh and vibrant the flavors were! I would definitely eat here again and again!
(5)Joe W.
OMG! This place is exactly as good as described. Totally worth all 5 stars. If you enjoy good food you will be truly impressed with the Firefly Grill. The building is the cool, the service terrific and the food amazing.
(5)Sean M.
Classy, yet approachable elegance. Everything is top notch quality. Their California entrées are exceptional! I truly love their authentic fish tacos! The wait staff are genuinely caring and attentive. Always a great experience!
(5)Ana D.
Mediocre food and atrocious service. Very discriminatory! Probably a great place for those who don't live in big cities or with great culinary venues in their town, but absolutely horrid place for the way the staff behaves here and for the poor customer experience. The food might be deemed high quality and unique, catering to varied palates and excellent tastebuds, but we actually felt the food didn't quite do justice to the ingredients, the seasonings were all over the place, sauces were too heavy and... But what left a bitter taste in our mouths was the treatment we received at this place. When we walked in, the maitre'd/hostess was at her desk but instead of welcoming us, she walked away without a word to go chat with another waiter, then come back only belligerently seat us. She actually deliberately made us wait! When we asked if the enclosed porch seating in the back was air conditioned (it was 97 deg outside and we were traveling across the country to get back to our cooler climate and home), she gave a very rude and sarcastic yes, and plopped down the menus upon seating us. We were tired and hungry, since there were not many options in this little town, we decided that the food will make up for the hostess' behavior and so shrugged it off. But oh no, the waiter was the same - he rolled his eyes when my child asked him a query about the menu, and he huffed away upon taking our orders. We dug into the food that was eventually served, but the waiter never once came by to enquire if all was well with the food, nor ask if we needed anything, or even to top off our water. We couldn't even catch his attention despite trying to flag him down multiple times so that we could get our check, pay and leave. Finally I went up to the manager, who upon hearing all the aforementioned, asked me what he expected me to do?!?! I answered that I don't want anyone else to be treated in this day and age, the way we were treated. There should be zero tolerance for such discriminatory behavior. There should be staff training on cultural and ethnic diversity and the element of being cordial, friendly yet professional and always serve the customer if you are going to be in this hospitality business! So long story short, if you are non-white, stay away from this place!
(1)Anthony D.
This place is upscale and kind of expensive. It's very gourmet. All of the ingredients are fresh and almost all of the dishes are like something you'd see on Food Network. Not exactly my kind of scene, but the bangers n mash that I had was pretty good. The service was very friendly. The bread was a little nasty as it was nothing but really cruncy bread with an intense amount of garlic and salty butter. All in all, a decent meal, but you're paying a lot for presentation and environment. If that's your thing, then have at it.
(4)J F.
Probably top five restaurant I have eaten in the world. From the well dressed professional staff to the fully sustainable menu from their many gardens, if you are passing through Effingham,this is absolutely a must try. We were passing through and find it on yelp. From appetizer to dessert, this was the most amazing menu I have seen. I honestly cannot complain about one single thing. Definitely worth every single penny. I recommend the Zucchini blossoms for appetizers, sea scallops risotto and/or Montana mignon for entrée and pick any dessert. You can't go wrong with homemade ice cream! Thank you Firefly for the excellent experience!
(5)Linda B.
I took a trip down to Southern Illinois for work and was told by several of my foodie friends that Firefly was worth a visit. I was warmly welcomed right from the start, and everyone (from my server to other people who walked by) was really friendly and pleasant. I started with the pomegranate iced tea and it was fine; it probably could've used a bit more sweetener but I was too lazy to add it, so there you go. I had the spring flatbread with morel mushrooms and, seriously, I wish there were some way of capturing the smell. It was amazing! And what's better is that it tasted just as good. I highly recommend it. For dessert I had the strawberry shortcake, and though I loved the presentation I didn't think the dessert tasted quite as good as it looked. In all, I had a really great meal and would happily go back next time I'm near the area.
(4)Evanne J.
Absolutely a gem of a restaurant - From the food to the service to the decor ! The beautiful wood ceilings and simple but elegant lighting add to the excitement and anticipation when you take a look at the menu. Farm fresh locally grown vegetables , foraged mushrooms and fiddleheads, hand-raised pork and beef, homemade ice cream, lava cake...! We had a delicious meal- my pork chop was absolutely perfectly tender, spiced to perfection . Check out the filet mignon wrapped in a buttery flakey crust, or the oak-fired swordfish- or anything else on the menu. The servers were friendly and helpful,and the entire experience was a special treat for all of us! Check it out !
(5)Dena S.
Wonderful find kind of out in the middle of no where! Very chic inside bar and restaurant. Probably should be a little more dressed up than we were but they accommodated us anyway. Great food and bar options. Would definitely return when in the area! Bummed we don't live closer.
(5)Nick S.
Wow! What a diamond in the rough! This place is an absolute dream! A restaurant with their own farm and the food reflects the meticulous care they took to set up the restaurant concept. The wedge salad with home grown tomatoes was fabulous, my halibut with porcini mushroom ravioli was to die for. The other dishes I sampled were the fried chicken over corn vichyssoise and that made me question my already great decision to get the halibut. The real surprise came with the best burger I've ever tasted. I eat a lot of great burgers, but I still crave this one. If I'm ever anywhere near Effingham again, I won't hesitate to stop and have another absolutely perfect dinner!
(5)Talulah M.
I had started to think my memory of this place from 9 months prior was clouded by road weariness and extreme hunger, but...we went back and it was just as wonderful! This time, we both had filet. HEAVENLY! Cooked to perfection. I uploaded a photo. I don't remember the appetizer but it was great, I don't remember the desserts but they were great. My only complaint is that we live so far away from this magical place.
(5)Sara Jane G.
Delicious! Fresh ingredients grown on the grounds! Great staff and amazing food! Large menu with a wide selection of food as well as price. The burgers are seriously amazing!
(5)Gina R.
WT-EFF!? This place is an ah-ha-mazing little gem in the middle of nowhere! My first bite, and I thought what the eff?! Where did this place come from. We were driving from St. Louis to Indiana, and on the hunt for something delicious. Found it. We had their burgers and chicken sandwiches, and I don't know if I was just really hungry (doubtful) but this place is one of the best places I have had a burger. I mean delicious! The place it self is adorable ... so well lit, nice ambiance, and just cute, modern, trendy! They have a lake with catfish that you can feed, which makes waiting for your food so much more fun. They are hungry little fish and put on quite the show. This was a pit stop for us, but I would seriously consider making the drive just for lunch again! SO GOOD!
(5)Ruth T.
Wow. This is a must stop if you're in the area. We stopped around 3:30 and had "lunch." We started with the Chinese steamed buns. One pork. One shrimp. We liked the pork one the best. Then I got the fish and chips which was really fresh cod and awesome fries. Hubby got the steak sandwich. Split a tiramisu. All said and done it was $60 with sodas and minus the tip. Was it worth it? Yes! It was an "off-time" so we were able to sit right by the water. Quite a place and wonderful food!!
(5)Sharon M.
This place was surprisingly wonderful. The best food I've had in awhile. Service was great and food was amazing. Got the halibut and the Montana mignon! Superb!
(5)Bill J.
Met family at Effingham and Lonnie pick this and We were very thankful he did. We had a pizza, shrimp poor boy, burger, Reuben and meatloaf sandwich. Neat place and very clean, Great place to eat
(5)Jake A.
Firefly Burger is the way to go! A few items have an Indianapolis theme like the smoking goose sausage and traders point milk. Also all the vegetables are grown in the fields behind the restaurant. Will be back for sure!
(5)Azile Y.
Woah... I don't know what they put in the whipped butter that comes with the bread but it is WONDERFUL! Slightly sweet, with a hint of garlic. French onion soup special was terrific as well.
(5)Elizabeth W.
Overall great attitude from the person on the phone to the staff. I Mathew guy who asks unique requests like" can I park my airstream overnight if I stay out of the way" I have a dog and they are very pet friendly /outdoor patio has many different zones with a relaxing feel to all of them. Beer selection is solid ! Food - unique tweaks to Americana that feels comfortable and packs the wow factor ! The sources are paired perfectly. Saturday afternoon on the porch With a beer and a burger on a pretzel bun - sauced up and blanketed with cheese . This is a review from a non red meat guy that can't resist this burger. Bona petite ! @epicdetour
(5)Andrew W.
Effingham, Illinois, I owe you an apology. I've now stopped twice to eat at the Firefly Grill. Fellow I-70 travelers, take heed. This delightfully designed restaurant pairs a mostly upscale, eclectic American menu with a lovely, take-a-date setting. I can, somehow, recommend both the pizza (with a superb, obviously fresh tomato sauce) and the pork bao. Whatever you think about the kind of restaurant that serves both simply doesn't apply here. (I do not, however, recommend the standard burger, which comes out like a fancy Big Mac. Very good, if that's your thing, but it's not mine.) Before you go, check out the library-set private table, the herb garden, and the wonderful koi pond out back. As I sat on the deck with my girlfriend after hours, a waiter came out to talk to us. We thought he was going to tell us the restaurant had closed. Instead he offered to take our picture against the pond, and then he give us food to feed the fish. Completely, irrepressibly charming. Five stars.
(5)Normajean G.
We dined here while staying in the area on our way home from St. Louis. I need to eat gluten free, and there were choices. The food we had (pork chop) was excellent, and the corn side dish was delicious. The only thing on the menu that was $$, in our opinion, was the pizza. There were no gluten free pizzas, so I could not choose that. The beef filet was $55, and the main course menu items were $25 plus. Salads are extra. Hamburgers are $16.50. The online menu here does not reflect those prices. I would definitely rate it a $$$ at the very least.
(4)Sara Jane W.
Awesome find in the middle of the Midwest!! Food selections are great, atmosphere is trendy and open, the pond in the back makes a great backdrop. Chef and server customized a dish for my dietary limitations...gluten and cheese free. I will be back!
(5)Melissa H.
Love the atmosphere, the food, and the pond! Great date place!
(4)Jon L.
My son and I were traveling through the area on our way back to Georgia. Stopped in town for the night and did a Yelp search for places to eat. This popped up so we decided to try it Boy, were we ever pleasantly surprised. Starting with our waiter, Jordan, the whole experience was amazing. You can taste the difference in the fact that everything is locally sourced, or grown in their own garden. The filet we both had is from the prime of the prime beef. The best we've ever eaten. It is pricey, but well worth it if you want to give yourself a treat! It was my sons 1st time trying a filet cut. His face after the 1st bite was priceless! We came in right at 8p, not realizing they closed at 9(we left about 930ish). And no one seemed bothered by the fact that we were keeping them there. Jordan was very knowledgable about the food and history of the place. You could tell he cared. That's rare today in the food industry. So if you are EVER in the Effington, IL. area, stop in and give them a try. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Véronique T.
Awesome food!! Had shrimp, Southern fried chicken... And awesome onion soup! They also have awesome fish and drinks!
(5)Lucas B.
Love this place!
(5)C M.
Exceptional in every way! Don't miss this little gem of Illinois. The food is excellently prepared, mostly from locally sourced farms, including their own vegetable and herb garden. The waitstaff is pleasant and knowledgable. The location is idyllic, on a reed-lined pond full of koi and other fish. And they let the kids feed the fish from the deck. Quite entertaining. The wagyu beef meatball starter was perfectly presented in an escargot plate. The meatballs were super flavorful and tender, sitting in a bath of marinara, and covered in hot, stringy, melty cheese. The bread and butter! Crunchy on the outside, light and airy on the inside, the rolls arrive with a light waft of garlic and are topped with sea salt flakes. I chose from their Father's Day special menu. The lobster pot pie was stunningly good. The crust was to die for and the filling was full of lobster. My wife had a pizza that had bacon, ham, sausage, sage, and other delicious toppings. The crust was flaky, puffy, and carried the aroma of the wood fired oven.
(5)Deborah B.
Delicious food and premier service. I had the steak burger. Beef was so flavorful, French fries were crisp and tasty, even the bun was delicious. SO had salmon - wild caught flown in daily. He's a fisherman and quite Picky about the fish he eats and he said it was out of this world. From the specials menu so may not always be available. Salads were good but the entrees were what gives this Place 5 stars. Shout out to Kelly who made the experience ever more enjoyable with her menu suggestions, pleasant conversation, and unobtrusive/always there when you need her service. Not easy to find but its right off Rte 70. Take a left at the light by the Starbucks and drive to the end of that road.
(5)Leigh W.
Very well done restaurant. Farm to table is impressive when pulled off well. Inside is comfortable & patio dining is available. Friendly staff & wait staff knew exactly how to describe the entrees and when asked for recommendations our waiter was quick to offer suggestions with a description of the item & how it stands out above other items he even asked our tastes & that was impressive. Menu was very nice & loaded will a lovely selection of steak, seafood & other mouth watering items. We ordered several items to get the experience of the menu since I came here specifically to write a review, it's a hobby & I know my food. French Onion Soup was delicious, Fried Green tomatoes where as well as the shrimp cocktail with homemade cocktail sauce, shrimp where more prawns than shrimp with their size, very nice. Special treat morel mushrooms which when dipped in the dill ranch where very good even if I prefer them not to be battered in corn meal. The Montana mignon was their take on a beef Wellington which was nice in the puff pastry with whipped potatoes & asparagus at $26 it was more $$$ instead of $$ the filet was probably 4oz & meat temperature was perfect. Highly recommend the swordfish it was delicious, served on what was suppose to be a crab risotto however there was no crab & risotto was a tad over cooked. I would defiantly try another steak prob going with the larger filet or the swordfish. Defiantly feel this restaurant excels at fish. Inside decor is relaxing & cocktails are on point. Not a place for children unless you want to spend the money but beautiful place for couples, events, special occasions, girls night, treating your guy to a steak, Etc. nothing else like this unless you head towards St. Louis.
(4)J R.
Went mid-day for a lunch. I'd say their price range is more $$$ than the $$ posted. The value was there, it was just unexpectedly expensive. Beautiful location, we sat on the porch area, enclosed on a sunny day it was wonderful. Wasn't prepared to pay the high prices for a lunch so had the pizza. Was very good, wonderful crust and creative topping. They had a chocolate souffle for dessert, had to try it. Was worth every penny. A personal size souffle with whipped cream on the side and blackberry ice cream, softened. It took me a good long time to eat it, not because it was so big, but rather because it was worth savoring every mouthful. Service was prompt, a bit excessively inquisitive but perhaps at a crossroads town that's how you do it.
(4)Mark E.
Best Salmon meal I have ever had. Priced more than most, and certainly more that the $$ rating on Yelp, but worth every penny. Employees love the place and food ... so what not to LOVE especially when love as good as this.
(5)Michelle S.
What a hidden gem!!! ALWAYS make a point to stop here when traveling through! NEVER a bad meal EVER!!!! Tonight it was dungeness crab purses with a sweet and spicy sour sauce, pork shanks, and Dungeness crab cakes with the most perfectly cooked and seasoned green beans ever. And the focaccia....... Go! You WILL NOT be disappointed.
(5)Marissa C.
Never disappointed! The chef/owner Niall is good at what he does. The menu is creative and delicious. Nothing else like it in central Illinois. Fresh veggies from the garden drive the menu. I look forward to the pumpkin ice cream coming back. It would be nice if they have a mailing list of when the menu changes because I like trying new things there!
(5)Patrick B.
This is a great place hidden away in the middle of no where. I have been here 20+ times and the service, food and beer selection is fantastic. Customer took me here 3-5 years ago and I keep coming back. Prices are fair for outstanding food. If your looking for a low price - go to a fast food place. If you want excellent food and a nice break while traveling through the area - go here. Just found the lunch special today for $5 for a hamburger with garlic fries. This place also has fresh morel mushrooms in season.
(5)Christine A.
We stumbled on this through yelp while traveling. What a wonderful surprise!! This yet again proves our theory that chef run restaurants are successful because of the chefs passion , and it shows. We had the medeterrian appetizer platter. Best focaccia . I had the seabass with risotto-wonderful. My husband has the pork tenderloin. It was delicious. Wine was delicious. Too bad it was dark. I bet the view of the water was wonderful. Will be back when we travel through the area. Chef said hello and he was very nice. Proud of his restaurant, wife who helps run the restaurant & his staff. Andrew did a great job as our server.
(5)Susan S.
I generally enjoy Firefly, but I was so disappointed with today's Mothers Day brunch. $26 for bread, a shot of a granola parfait, an omelet and potatoes. I could easily have made this at home. Shame on you for excessive pride, Firefly.
(1)Vanessa T.
Talk about out of place. When I step into Firefly I feel as if I have been transported somewhere urban and hip and forget I am in the middle of nowheresville Illinois.Firefly is extremely convienient for me as I stay 1/4 mile down the street at the Hampton Inn. The chef is as creative and talented as any that you would find in Manhattan. You must get the Chinese steamed buns as an appetizer. I get these every time I am here. The most recent time I visited, I ordered the Firefly steak burger and fried wontons along with the buns. I gobbled everything up and left feeling as I always do, like I ate too much but it was soooo worth it. The atmosphere is fancy but casual as you will see some truck drivers stopping in during their drive probably to order something unique for a change. The furniture and fixtures are classy and modern. I have never eaten on the patio but if you do, you will be able to dine among the beautiful fountain and garden they have created out back. The kitchen is also an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare your food right in front of your eyes. There is also a bar that is semi private as it is blocked by a piece of non-see through glass. The wine list is extensive but the beer list is minimal. Still, they do offer several craft beers which is a nice change from your typical bar beer offerings. If you only eat in one place in Effingham, let it be this place. Unless of course you prefer to eat that the Buffalo Wild Wings down the street or some other overly commercialized local eatary.
(5)Paul R.
The food was wonderful, but please look out for the substitution policy on the menu. It's there, and small print - small enough that no one can see it. I was able to get a manager to reverse the charges, but I'm frustrated that I had to ask in the first place. It's worth eating here but buyer beware.
(4)Kathie C.
The 2 $$ were very misleading. The prices are higher than that. Not much you can get for less than $18 and most things are much more. But it did look wonderful. We also stopped in without a reservation. Not a good idea on a Saturday night! But we did get to sit at the counter and watch the cooks and the food going out. We opted for some pizza, as it was one of the few choices under $20. It is a very nice place, but too rich for our blood.
(3)Shelli A.
This a wonderful little hidden gem in Effingham IL. The food was very good but the service was extremely beyond our expectations. We had a very long day and stopped in Effingham for the night and although they were completely booked for the evening, they made special accommodations for us to enjoy a very nice dinner even with 2 kids. The kids got to go outside and feed the fish while my husband and I got to enjoy an adult beverage. I highly recommend this location to anyone looking for a great meal when passing through Effingham. Thank you
(5)William D.
Firefly Grill is destination dining in Southern Illinois. This eco-friendly farm-to-table roadhouse features fresh and delicious seasonal fare. Chef Niall's menu and execution are worthy of Chicago, so Firefly is a surprising find indeed for Effingham, Illinois. I don't begrudge Kristie and Niall Campbell charging big city prices in small town Illinois. Obviously their product is in strong demand. If the prices get too high, people will stop coming. With that said, Firefly Grill is definitely a "$$$" restaurant. (I think Yelp has it wrongly categorized as "$$".) The only way to dine at Firefly for less than $30/plate is to have no apps, no alcohol, and no dessert. Though their gourmet burgers, fries, and fried chicken are delicious, I aspire to someday be able to afford some other dishes and drinks. If you are a foodie and you find yourself on I-70 between St. Louis and Indianapolis, stop for dinner at Firefly! Feed the catfish from the dock, stroll in the vegetable garden, and enjoy a first class meal in a pastoral environment. You won't regret it.
(5)Heidi R.
Having never driven through this part of Illinois before, we were at a loss for a decent restaurant at which to dine until we came across Firefly Grill. Wow. Being from Chicago, we've dined at many an amazing restaurant, and this place could easily compete! Squash blossoms were to die for, filet was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and for someone who doesn't typically like fried food, the fried chicken in vichyssoise sauce was delicious. My 7 year olds ate everything up too (something for this and all restaurants to consider, please stop dumbing down kids menus! They're little people with real taste buds, enough with the chicken strips and cheese pasta, they can and should be eating real food!). Atmosphere and design was beautiful, very clean kitchen and facilities. It's been a rainy summer, so even though their gardens weren't producing that well, they source from a local farmer so still very fresh. If only we lived closer than 4 hours away!
(5)Lorna J.
Enjoyed the Firefly Grill. Food was good and I loved sitting out by the Koi pond.
(4)Charlotte L.
Stopped by on our way to Kansas. Sat out on the porch and had a beautiful view. The weather was perfect. Food was fresh and delicious. The fried green tomatoes were great, I haven't had anything like them before. Our waitress and the other staff were attentive and prompt. It was a great place to stop!
(5)Mary P.
Food was quite excellent, albeit a little on the expensive side. The dish I had was a puff pastry with an very tender filet inside. I loved the mashed potatoes, but the side of asparagus left me underwhelmed. Considering the rest of the meal was quite good, that surprised me. I also had a cocktail with pear juice that was quite delicious.
(4)Patrick M.
Yelp comes through! This place is super awesome atmosphere. Sat at the bar and had a firefly Steak Burger with Jamie. I won't add a picture because there are a hundred of them on here. It was yummy. Definitely coming back for more. Hopefully I can try something different.
(4)Jacob S.
I was here on a Monday evening, not that busy some business dinners but for sure not crowded. The restaurant Design & Ambiance was great loved it! Staff was awesome BUT... The food was lacking. Don't get me wrong it was prepared great and presentation was excellent but it was boring. I had the duck two way & my wife had the Sea bass & they both were very bland. It was very safe. Granted it's located in Effingham, il which is not know for its upscale dinning & for the area it's the best, but if you are going to charge Chicago Prices for your food, you better be able to serve food that wows you. I feel like they are okay with providing food that's really good, but not great.
(3)Mindy H.
Perfect place to celebrate my 55th last night. Love the laid back atmosphere and feeding the fish from the dock while waiting on our table. We knew it was going to be fabulous when we pulled up and saw the gardens of herbs and veggies. The decor is rustic chic. Service was outstanding. Food was to die for. I had the lobster pot pie and bread pudding for dessert. My hubby had the waygu steak. Delicious. My only regret is that we don't live close enough to frequent this place.
(5)Janeen M.
This place is great! Very cute and clean inside. Close to the highway. Great food, fast and friendly service. Family friendly. And an awesome, clean changing table in the bathroom (we have twin 3 month olds)
(5)Jewells N.
So, what is this awesome "farm to market" restaurant doing in Effingham, IL ? Really well run, great service, good food. We were totally surprised how good it was. Relaxing atmosphere, service was spot on and food was fresh and good. We went by accident - on our way from Port A tx to MI - it was in town we were going to eat in; thanks to Yelp for the heads up! We had the wood fired pizza - really good; exactly what a wood fired should taste like. We had 2 salads and the pizza - just right for lunch. I had the garden and wife had the Caesar - both were good, Caesar was better. One interesting things was the tables were all made of boos blocks - which are made in Effingham. Worth the stop and if they were in "big city" would be huge hit.
(4)Julie L.
Business trip took us to Effingham as it does a few times a year. Tucked away off the main drag in Effingham, IL, this restaurant is top notch. Party of two tried the fillet and scallops with risotto. Both were absolutely delicious. Fillet was so tender and the scallops/risotto had a flavor that was out of this world. Our bill was about $150 which included a bottle of wine. Waitress was awesome not only in the service she provided, but with the suggestions she had for us. There are other options should you not want to spend a lot. Burgers were priced at approximately $15 and the menu also offered pizza options. This will absolutely be a stop for us each time our travels bring us to Effingham!
(5)Janet A.
Everything was beautifully done and food delicious; husband got the halibut [small portion but delicious] and I got the Montana Mignon; again, small portions but really tasty. The smaller portions meant we felt comfortable getting dessert! Shared the brownie sundae which was a large brownie with 6 toppings - wonderful! service was good, loved the "swing" music. A bit pricey but you get what you pay for
(5)Ashley K.
Service was great. Food is fresh. Stop by for lunch while driving through the area. Shared a margarita pizza and house salad with the white balsamic vinigerette. Delicious with all fresh ingredients. Desert looked really good too, but we were too full. I would definitely recommend eating here if you're near the area or just driving through.
(5)Scott V.
Traveling through Effingham looking for something different to try and we found it. The food had a great taste but the portions were ridiculously small for the price. After spending $70.00 for two to eat I wouldn't expect to be starving 2 hours later. The place was very clean and a great environment to eat in. Our waitress seemed to be more interested in her friends sitting a couple of booths down as opposed to taking care of us, but the others working that day picked up her slack. Not sure that we'll be going back but overall it was a decent and new experience for us and that is what we were after.
(3)Erin F.
Our second visit was just as amazing. Their classic burger with a fried egg on top was hands-down the best burger I've ever had. Awesome!
(5)Joshua C.
I ate dinner here last night, and I must say this is now my favorite restaurant. I had the center cut sirloin and my sweetie had the King Salmon. Worth every single penny. Very attentive staff and pretty good wine list.
(5)Bruce R.
Went for lunch on a Saturday just as it opened. Cant say enough good things about the service. Out of the gate the staff seemed eager to please, extremely knowledgeable on their dishes and happy to answer any question we might have. I am an appetizer freak and found the selections very interesting (go for the Chinese steamed buns). My only regret was the amount of grease in the calamari. It was delicious but the grease left my wife with an upset stomach (I blamed her for eating too much) but retracted that comment when I got my entree of fried green tomatoes. Breading was as hard as I have ever had a breading and yet was soaked with grease. I felt my stomach churning at the half piece point. Ate one piece and stopped. The remainder of our table was satisfied with their choice. Exception was the breading on the fish and chips fish. Fish itself was great, breading again too much oil. Rib eye steak sandwich was fantastic as was the Ruben. All in all I will definitely go back. I will be a little more careful on my selections.
(3)Mit M.
This place has the best food and offering south of Chicago. A real garden/farm to table. Presentation, taste, quality all worthy of a five star restaurant. The one valued component that was failed: service. Got the order wrong, limited training and frankly a wait staff more like a Cracker Barrel. Too bad as it killed the experience If they can get this right going forward it will be 5 stars all day long. Bummer
(3)Keith M.
Oh my Goodness!!! What an awesome find! Saw this written up in a local magazine as we were traveling through & decided to try it for dinner. Oh my oh my! We are already planning a trip back just for dinner (2 hrs from home)! Food service & ambience are all top notch
(5)Bill L.
When you are traveling from Los Angeles to Boston by car with two dogs, you don't expect to have a meal you'll never forget. We stopped in Effingham, Illinois ( staying at the Fairfield Inn & Suites---great place and Andrea at the front desk is a GEM!), and I asked Andrea for a real restaurant without drive thru service. My partner and I were beat and we deserved a reward for days of journey. Andrea recommended the Firefly Grill. But as we only had shirts and shorts ( nice though) I had her call to make sure it was okay. Sure, come on over...we'll have a table all set. After a quick shower and shave, we went over to discover this oasis. It's tucked in far behind the Starbucks in this beautiful meadow..with a small pond. Impeccably landscaped with native flowers etc. and a vegetable and herb garden attached to the restaurant. SERIOUSLY? In Effingham, Il? The restaurant itself is in the style of a San Francisco version of a roadhouse with wood, glass, steel, and stone. The staff is incredible. They were so welcoming and pleasant and seated us almost instantly. We were in shock. The shock continued as we ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes( Yup---right from their garden outside!). Amazing. Lexie was our server and she was funny, friendly, and Johnny on the spot. I ordered the Ny. Strip and my partner ordered the scallop risotto and each of us had a salad ( me-caesar, him-capriso). With each bite, we stared at each other in absolute amazement. My partner blurted out, " I don't want this meal to end!" The owner Christie ( hope I got the spelling right) came over and we had to crow about what an amazing place this was and the EXCELLENCE of the meal. She told us she was living in San Francisco when she met her now-husband ( a chef ) and after returning to Effingham to settle a late relative's estate, she wondered aloud why there was no place to eat? You can see where this is going, right? Bim Bam Boom...FIREFLY GRILL. Los Angeles should only deserve such a restaurant. This is like a roadhouse for foodies and for anyone who truly loves a meal they deserve..THIS IS IT! I ffgrill.com DO NOT MISS THIS!!!!!
(5)Spring Chicken Z.
Randomly found this cute place on our LA-NYC road trip. Love this place!!! Friendly staff, our waiter was very nice and helpful:). The crab thingie was very creamy and crabby, the sauce was pretty good too, but the wrapper was touch oily, maybe the oil wasn't hot enough or the temp dropped too much? The bread was very soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. The salad was very fresh, and the anchovies were pretty good. Chicken/waffle was really good! Nice thick waffle with super crispy chicken! The only suggestion would be take out the bone and use all dark meat. The mashed potato was very creamy too. O, love the pumpkin ice cream, interesting texture, thicker than regular ice cream. One thing I have to complain about is the coffee prices, much pricier than Restaurants (even the very nice ones) in LA or NY Would def go back:)
(5)Sheri R.
Amazing amazing amazing. Visiting from Kansas City. Checked in with Yelp expecting a laundry list of fast food. Low and behold The Firefly. Based on the glowing reviews from Bill L from Angeles California I decided to book a reservation. Yes the food is $$$ for the location BUT don't get hung up on that or you will miss likely one of the meals you will have this year. YES ITS LOCAL, IF NOT GROWN ON THE PROPERTY ITSELF. The service is great, the dirty martini was awesome and so was the wine. Oh, did I mention they were getting a new pastry chef ? I can't wait to come back and try the new desserts. So what are you waiting for? Stop reading my review and make a reservation already.
(4)Rusty S.
A great place, but first of all--how does this place only get two "$'s" in the Price Range category?? Maybe I'm the poorest Yelper on here, but we're talking $48 steaks here, folks. All the entree's, with the exception of the burger and fries, were over thirty bucks, disappointingly. So, I got the Firefly Steakhouse burger and Caesar side-salad. The bartender recommended the Caesar as they make their own croutons, dressing, and use Grano Padano parmesan cheese. The salad was very good, and had an authentic fresh garlic bite to it--very glad I ordered it. The burger was a "heart-attack" style (looked like about a 1/2-3/4 lb. patty) with bacon, carmelized onions, and a sunny-side-up fried egg on top, served on a pretzel bun with a side of seasoned fries. The burger was cooked perfectly and succeeded in placing me into a nice food coma afterwards. Nothing special about the fries but they were tasty. I liked the restaurant and bar, and would probably go back if I was in the mood for a few drinks and appetizers--the beer and liquor selection looked great.
(4)Robin B.
Firefly grill would have been near perfect if we didn't have our children with us. The service was good, the owner came over to talk to us and give the kids some food to feed the koi and catfish in the pond out back. I ordered the local burger on a pretzel roll, which I was surprised to see arrived naked. I had to ask for basic condiments like mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. I also had to pay $5.00 to change my side from fries to asparagus, which seems exorbitant to me, considering their costs are the same on the "Sides" menu. The meat was amazing, however, and I could taste a hint of Worcestershire sauce in the burger. I may borrow the pretzel roll idea for myself! My husband thoroughly enjoyed his pork loin over mashed potatoes, with caramelized onions, and the beer that the bartender recommended to pair with the pork. Our two children (who were the only children in the restaurant) had macaroni & cheese (which they did not eat), pizza (which they ate later), and split a large bowl of fruit (which they did not eat). $18.00 just for the kids' food was a good bit to throw away, but we were just coming through Effingham, and not in a position to hire a babysitter. We did not experience the (daytime-only?) popovers that the other reviewers rave about- we had some very crusty and chewy sourdough bread- real, orthodontist's dream-come-true kind of bread. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for a date, special occasion, birthday, or anniversary. Would not recommend for kids. It is comparable in price, atmosphere, and quality to Memphis' own Interim restaurant. Peaks: fresh herb and green garden right on the premises, pond with fish out back, nice views. Pits: expensive to substitute, not the most kid-friendly in the evenings.
(4)Kit S.
I stopped by for lunch at 3 pm when the restaurant was nearly empty. I asked to sit near the water view but was informed that there were no tables available even though there were many within sight. I ordered the rib eye sandwich which was excellent. The fries were to die for. But before I was even halfway done, my waiter asked me if I had room for dessert, and at 3/4 I'd the way done, the busser asked I'd she could clear my plate, and at 7/8 done, the waiter gave me my bill, "no rush." I haven't stiffed a waiter in a long long time, but the service was rude. Btw I was in and out of there in under a half hour.
(2)Kathleen M.
We have been to Firefly Grill 4 times and we live about 3 hours away from it. What would inspire this kind of love? Fabulous food! The first time I came here I was stunned by the magnificent menu but later wondered, was it really that good? Was I just comparing it to the area? Was I so happy to stumble upon a non chain restaurant? We decided to try again last fall for brunch on our way home from St. Louis and this past weekend we stopped here for lunch on the way to Memphis and for dinner on our way home. Fabulous each and every time. Weepingly, life changing, magnificent eating. Plan your next road trip on I-57 so you can eat here. The dinners are unbelievable but pricey. However for lunch there was a 5.00 special last Thursday. That beats the price at any fast food restaurant. Firefly Grill, I love you.
(5)Michael U.
I had heard many good things about Firefly and had the opportunity to eat there while driving from St Louis to Mattoon. Decor was nice and upscale. I ordered sea scallops and risotto and while the food was well prepared I don't feel I received much value. The entree cost $32 and I only received 2 scallops. I think that is much too expensive for what they are offering. They gave me the lame excuse that the portion is based on weight, although the patron next to me told me when he had the dish he was served 5 scallops. They have lost a customer.
(3)Bob W.
If you are heading up HY 57 to Chicago, stop in Effingham for a gem of a restaurant: FIREFLY GRILL. Lunch or dinner it is OUTSTANDING! Best place we have been to in several years. It is a great find & must stop. Food offered is a wide range and cooked just right. Fish & beef offerings are wonderful. Bread is killer and is the french oinion soup. Very clean place with great service on a small pond. A little expensive but worth every penny. GO AND ENJOY!
(5)Harpreet C.
A gem. Better than a lot of places in Chicago. 5 stars on food and cocktail presentation.
(5)Laura S.
Visited two weekends in a row. The building was beautiful and service was good.
(4)Kay A.
I love the idea of Firefly Grill. It's like a fairy tale when you walk in. The menu is imaginative and inviting. The atmosphere is magical. But, sadly, I wasn't able to really eat much there. I have dairy, soy, and gluten allergies and so need to be very careful with what I eat. They have a so-called gluten-free menu, but it's not actually a gluten free menu. It's a list of dishes for which you can request that items to be taken out and it turns out they offer no substitutions. So, I ordered the burger without the cheese, bun, or fries. I asked if the server if he could give me some extra lettuce and tomatoes since I couldn't have the bun or the fries, and they said no. This really shocked me. In pretty much any restaurant of this calibre the chef would be embarrassed to send a plate out with a hamburger patty on it and nothing else. Don't get me wrong, I understand that it's not the restaurant's fault that I have these allergies, but I went here with such high hopes--especially because I called ahead and asked if they had a gluten free menu and they said yes. It certainly can't cost them extra make a bed of lettuce leaves and place the bun on top of it, with two or three slices of tomatoes. Especially since they're charging for the bun and the fries, but not actually serving them. In the end, the patty was fine, but nothing special. I'll probably go here again, because that's how special the atmosphere is, but I'll make sure to eat dinner before I go and then just have the side salad and wine. So, if you're one of those sorry folks with the gluten-dairy-soy problem don't bother coming here for the food. All you'll be able to eat is a piece of meat, and absolutely nothing else. Which is too bad, since the chef seems to have a great imagination and excellent execution.
(2)Patrick R.
We stop at Firefly Grill on every trip to STL from INDY. You can always count on the Firefly to have a couple fish specials since their fish is flown in fresh a couple times a week. The specials are always paired perfectly by the chef. I realize that this is Effingham, which is in the middle of the country, and most people are traveling through and are looking to pay McDonalds prices for a 5 star meal, buck-up people, it is well worth it!!
(5)Angela C.
Just left this restaurant. Excellent! It seemed a little pricey, but I'm willing to pay extra for good food. I ordered the Halibut which came with a tomato and cucumber salad. Ordered the risotto on the side just because I love risotto. Had the crab purses for an appetizer. Had the peach shortcake for desert. Everything was superb. The service was also excellent. I am just sorry I don't live here and was just driving through. Well i went here for sunday brunch and was disappointed in the service and the food so had to downgrade and say dont go on sunday
(4)Leslie S.
Excellent! Awesome atmosphere! Highly recommend starting out with onion rings! Can't go wrong with anything on the menu, Great brunch selection. Something for everyone!! :)
(5)Cindy D.
After seeing the Firefly Grill on the Delicious Destinations list we decided to stop by on our way home from St. Louis. The food and service were excellent. The service had the quality of a city but with the friendliness of a small town. We had the pizza, which was excellent. The raspberry soda was wonderful. I hope to go back during the day in the summer or fall because I understand it has a nice view.
(5)Tommy B.
mic experience right off of 57. To say that I was surprised by the caliber of the kitchen, the creativity of the dishes and the lovely & aesthetic feel of the room, it would be a huge understatement. If you are a weary traveler desperate for some respite from the road, Firefly is a glorious reward for your car-tired body & eyes. Firefly is a real restaurant for real foodies. Thereare straight ahead burgers, fries etc. for those who want it steady & delicious, and if you want something a little more varied, go deeper in the menu or try the daily specials. The wine list is thoughtful & informed. The bar is unbelievably cool. If you are traveling on 57, this is a must stop kind of place. Firefly is a culinary gem. I gave them the 5th star for two reasons. 1- some of the dishes really are that amazing 2- the element of surprise - they must care so much to deliver such an incredible experience in Southern Illinois.
(5)Joya H.
What a wonderful surprise on our drive from Texas to Michigan! The restaurant itself is beautiful. Add the enclosed patio overlooking kids feeding fish on the pond and deer in the field at sunset, was a nice touch, wow! The house salad and bread with fresh garlic and oil were delicious. My husband and I both ordered off the chef's specials. He had a pork shank, fall off the bone tender, perfectly seasoned, and with an excellent presentation. I had the Alaskan Halibut, which was cooked perfectly and served with squash grown on the premises. Thank you Yelpers for such a terrific find. We won't pass by without stopping again.
(5)Levent T.
Rule of thumb: Any reviews that mention how wonderful this place is because they are comparing it to what one may find in Effingham...deduct one star for that review. Now I say this *not* to be pretentious, but, because I almost gave them a Whoohoo! for the same reason. The restaurant and atmosphere is stylish, hip and welcoming. The staff extremely attentive, attractive and friendly. The food is pricey but the quality + service + facility = the damages. Side salad was fresh and enough for two to share. The scallop risotto was tasty and the cut I had for my seared tuna was one of the largest I've ever received table side, however, for $30+ it better, right? The tuna was cooked perfectly to my request of near sashimi style and the asparagus still had some crunch. My only complaint was that the sauce it came with was too sweet and that the noodles were a step above ramen. Still I would so go back to dine when in the area.
(4)Drew G.
The staff is very rude. My sister and I stopped here on a road trip after seeing the billboard. The hostess who sat us was rude. We waited 20 minutes for a server. No one stopped at our table. There were plenty of servers walking by or talking at the bar or host-stand. We eventually got up and left. It was extremely insulting. Pretentious, rude, cold. Save your time and go somewhere else.
(1)Kevin M.
Eat here. Now! If you are within driving distance, get in your car and get over here.
(5)Jeff H.
Ok, no doubt this place gets a 5* rating. This was an INCREDIBLY pleasant surprise considering I was stuck in Effingham for the night. Given past stays in Southern Illinois (see my reviews of Mount Vernon) I was pretty sure that Effingham would be a culinary wasteland of Applebees, TGI Fridays, Buffalo Wild Wings and other standard highway exit chain restaurants. And if I hadn't checked Yelp, I would have never found this option, because it is sort of out in the middle of a field, though not far from the highway. Just in an area all by itself. But what a find it was.... Driving over, I wasn't sure I had turned the right way. I was driving out into the dark away from the rest of the highway exit buildings... but then just another half mile or so along, I saw the building. Though it was dark outside, the building is all glass and timber with a tin roof. Very warm looking inside with big high ceilings and a country setting with fields all around. Very inviting as you are driving up. Went inside and found an inviting, open space with tables in the middle, a bar at one end and the kitchen at the other. Took a spot at the bar and reviewed the menu which was amazing. From the decor to the menu filled with locally sourced items and creative food combinations, this place would fit in perfectly in Sonoma or Napa. And of all places it is in Effingham, Illinois! There were tons of interesting things on the menu, but I just had the wild mushroom soup (local mushrooms), the 5 oz filet and a side of grilled asparagus. As opposed to most midwestern meals, this was about quality, not quantity so it was refreshing to get good food with reasonable portion sizes. All food was done perfectly and I finished with the bread pudding with caramel sauce and pumpkin ice cream. I'm guessing many people would be pissed off at the relatively tiny size of the dessert, but it was perfect. Great flavors in a size that doesn't add 1000 calories to your meal. I can't recommend this place highly enough if you ever find yourself in Effingham. Great decor and warmth, great menu, friendly service and I would imagine great pastoral scenery if you are there for lunch or in the early evening when it is still light out.
(5)D M.
Good, clean - but a little expensive for what you get. I'd say these were comparable to Times Square prices for steaks... And burgers. Kids had a blast the waitstaff made sure of that. Did I say the place was clean? Well it was and very worth the trip, even though we had to sell our car to afford it. Thought the popovers were a nice touch.
(4)John F.
Expensive but worth it-it's a monopoly without a competitor here. Extensive, overpriced wine list; Rombauer chardonnay was $10 more than at the Cottage Place in Flagstaff. Good service. Very, very noisy. My lobster stew was quite good, with plenty of lobster. Wedge salad was huge, and very tasty. We'll return. Entrees are steep.
(4)Dane K.
In a sea of TGIF's and Cracker Barrel nastiness, Firefly is a bit of a hidden gem featuring local more sustainable cuisine. I've only "carried out" twice but for carry out it's a good option if you're passing Effingham on i57 / i70, they're about two blocks off of exit 160. It's a better carry out option for lunch than dinner, as their dinner menu is decisively more upscale. At lunch there are a wide range of sandwiches/salads, at dinner the entrees range $14-30, averaging somewhere in the middle (and there are some steaks that are a bit more $ I think). Their prices on sandwiches are pretty reasonable. On my last visit it was "dinner" and it was carry out and I was driving, so I needed a sandwich... And the only real sandwich on the menu was a burger, which I didn't really want but the alternative was going to a Hardees drive through. Actually it was a burger with gruyere and a side of fresh green beans... $10. It was one of the best burgers I've had in a long time, and perfect for the road. It turned out to be a really great decision. I forgot to specify condiments so it didn't really have any ketchup/mustard/mayo or anything, but it didn't need it. I don't know what the juicy goodness was flavored with, but it was pretty awesome. I did ask for avocado, but it appears this wasn't heard as I wasn't charged for it nor was it on my burger. My other visit I had a chicken caesar wrap. It was good, the wrap kind of absorbed all of the dressing though. They have house made chips that are pretty tasty too. I used to think this was kind of a hidden gem but now they have billboards, and every time I pass the highway the billboards seem to get bigger. Good for them I guess. The building they're in is absolutely beautiful! It reminds me of some modern meets barn wineries I've been to. A can't miss if you're eating in Effingham. Accepts reservations and they're on Opentable.
(5)Dan C.
Great restaurant. Wish it was close to home. Corn Chowder was probably the best soup we ever had.
(5)Greg J.
wow! In the middle of no-where; Effingham , Illinois, more known for truck stops then great food, is a real gem I cant say enough about the place. I travel weekly all over the US with an expense account to wine and dine clients and came across this restaurant last year. After 5 impressive visits, I have got to tell everyone to go. Its a bit expensive for the area, but I can guarantee a great meal. They use a lot of local grown items according to the menu so the meals change in the season. Try this one and you can thank me later..
(5)Sally L.
We loved this restaurant and would recommend to any and everyone!! The food was delicious and the service fast and friendly. I had one of their hamburgers and it was to die for along with the garlic French fries..
(5)Becky S.
Absolutely love this place! Ate here last August for the first time, and again last night. The second time was even better than the first! Last night I had a greek salad and the red Margherita pizza. The produce was so fresh, it was hard to believe it hadn't just been picked from their garden! I had the Tiramisu for dessert - one of the best I've ever had.
(5)amy c.
this place is like an oasis in the midst of crap for food central - the usual mcD, BK, LJS, etc. Its not right on the road with those god awful tacky neon signs blinding you while you're trying to drive at night. Its down a long road in a barn or "remodeled" barn really. Reclaimed wood, veg garden - all the makings of a tree huggers wet dream. they also use those compostable/recyclable take out containers (yay extra points!) The interior is nice - more of the spare, rustic feel with the owners black and white wedding pictures everywhere - apparently they had new england lobster bake yum yum. Its one big open space with a long bar towards that back and some more tables behind the bar that are a little more cozy I guess. crab rangoon - I don't really know what this food is, its def not asian. I've never had it before but basically its cream cheese folded inside a twisted pastry square and deep fried. no crab involved. not disgusting but not good either. flatbreads - so tasty, esp the california one with avocado. sometimes too much cheese to the point that its overwhelming but I can't blame them for catering to their audience. this is the midwest i suppose. crab and avocado salad - fishy. ew. serves me right (serves me wrong, actually) for ordering seafood this far from the coasts. seriously, could you be any farther from the oceans? pork chop - locally raised (yay!) and the size of your head and your mama's head combined. HUGEE. simple. well cooked. great steaks. There is a private room here for like 12 ppl i think. the light fixture is made of antlers. Welcomes to the midwest.
(4)Andrij S.
Me and my fiancée stopped by randomly on dec 30 for dinner and what a surprise!!!! Best pork shoulder I've had, presentation and combination of wild rice mmmmmm! She had a roasted chicken with the recommended mashed potatoes. Perfect combo. My fiancée even ordered a dessert, which is very rare for her and she wasn't disappointed. Nice building and very cool and different atmosphere. Not what you expect on a road trip in a smaller town at all. All around thumbs up for this place, stop in if you get the chance. It's effen great!
(5)Kathy S.
My first review but I wanted to warn people about this restaurant. If you enjoy paying too much for skimpy portions and rude service this is the restaurant for you. The atmosphere is far from romantic, we laughed when they seated us, reminded us of a kiddy table in the middle of a cafeteria. I love a nice Chardonnay, they just had one by the glass so I ordered it, it was $10.00 for a small glass, it was poor quality and I mentioned it to the waitress, her comment was, "what do you expect when you order a house wine." My husband had the steak, he could not believe how small it was, came with runny bland mashed potatoes. The bread was excellent, so for $100.00 we had some good bread and had the pleasure of being insulted by our waitress. This restaurant challenges you to tell the king he has no clothes.
(1)Kelly J.
I have stopped here several times while traveling and I have made the 60 mile trip from my home to eat here and it has always been excellent. Service has always been great and anytime that I have had any question about the menu, the servers immediately know everything about the dish. I will travel an hour away to eat here many times in the future!
(5)Tonya A.
I get that this fine dining experience is a diamond in the rough for the area, however, I think it is over-hyped. Warning, if you believe all the hype you will be sorely disappointed. The food was okay, nothing great. We had the red sauce pizza (wouldn't want it again), shells and cheese (so bland), crab cakes (2 for $22, would get those again as nothing else on the menu sounded appetizing), garlic fries (nice and hot- two thumbs up). The service was ok, our server knew we were going to the evening show and we were still rushed to get our ticket, pay and arrive on time for the show. I liked that were served water from a tall bottle and were able to keep it at the table. The dinning room is one large open room and very noisy with club music playing from the bar area. I would not recommend this as a date place at all, not cozy for an intimate dining experience. Side note - If you are looking for a fine dining experience like you would find in the city, well this is probably your place.
(2)Dawn H.
My fiance and I decided to have a relaxing weekend at his parents' lakehouse in Effingham this weekend, and after watching several hours of college football, we were hungry. We did a Yelp search, saw this place had great ratings, and decided to hit it up. The food breakdown: 1) onion rings (more like straws, good heaping full, 3 stars) 2) popcorn coconut shrimp (the coconut foam and breading they serve with this dish are disgusting, 0-1 stars) 3) crab rangoon (more slimy cream cheese than crab, 2 stars) 4) meatballs (the absolute best part of the meal, 4 stars) 5) brownie sundae (meh, 3 stars) So why the 2 star rating? The service was awful. It took 10 minutes after finishing our water glasses until they were refilled. They served our appetizers without the accompanying sauces, and it took 10 minutes to flag down the server to bring this to her attention. It was 15 minutes between the appetizer order and the entree order. No, the restaurant wasn't bustling (it was only halfway full). No, there wasn't a shortage of servers that night. We could never figure out what all the delays were about. Summary: average food, slow service
(2)XO K.
It's been awhile since i have eaten at Firefly Grill, but every time I have had the pleasure of dining there, the experience has been nothing short of fantastic. The food is unbelievably good, especially given the town itself and how "out of the way" it is. That said, this place could flourish in Chicago, if the owners were so inclined.
(5)Thom E.
This place is much more than expected! In season, they grow much of their own produce. Everything made from scratch, including buns, hot sauce, and fries.
(4)Mark E.
Really great restaurant in a sea of chains. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the staff was extremely friendly, and the food was delicious. They have a fresh garden next to the restaurant where all the vegetables are grown. I had the mushroom and white cheese pizza. It. Was. DELICIOUS!! The fried green tomatoes were great as well. The only down side was the wait. We waited at our table a very long time to get our food. But overall, very very good.
(4)Ken J.
So, to say that I was pleased to find a restaurant with the sort of look and feel that I'd come to expect in venues in much larger locales, would be an understatement. I read the reviews and was quite excited to try it, but it didn't quite live up to expectations. First the good: The place looks the part -- open, airy, modern and rustic, you know, exposed wood everywhere but all flat surfaces covered with something shiny be it aluminum, stainless, or glass, and those nifty hanging halogen lamps. The ceiling is natural, not drop, and I'd imagine the place could get loud, but we were there on a Thursday and it was fine. The wine/beer selection is adequate in that they have something for everyone but having more wines available by the glass wouldn't kill them, so that was somewhat limited. The menu is truly impressive and the selections are world class: Mostly local, organic, and artisanal meats and produce, with listings on the menu of the source of each, and most of the produce seems to come from their own garden/farm. Very cool. So you can easily see how I was excited. I ordered the braised pork shank (a special) and the client got a pork loin chop (regularly on the menu). Now, I've had pork shank before and it should be one of the most flavorful of meats, so to find that mind was bland and uninspiring was very disappointing. It was as though the chef had completely forgotten about the existence of salt (or any other seasoning for that matter). It came served on a bed of whipped potatoes (also bland and unseasoned) with a side of brussels sprouts which I typically perceive as an abomination unto God. However, these were served with bacon (everything, especially brussels sprouts, is better with bacon) and they were actually, GASP, good. I'd initially asked our waitress if I could swap them out and she said yes, but she'd have to charge me for an extra side. WTF?! But back to this in a moment. The shank was perfectly cooked, but lacked any flavor except the natural pork -- maybe that was the intent, but I hardly think so. I'd tried to order something like a small tossed salad, but it doesn't exist, and the server didn't volunteer to have the kitchen make me one and charge me for an additional side. Bad. The client enjoyed her pork chop and said it was excellent. And it looked it: Large, moist, thick, and juicy all the way through. I believe it came with local fall veggies and those too looked good and fresh. So, back the whole "gotta charge you for substitution" thing. Look folks, there is NO reason, ZERO, not to allow substitutions. It doesn't cost you money. And for the prices you charge, which, by the way, are equivalent to Chicago prices, you can certainly afford to make the switch. This really sticks in my proverbial craw: If you're going to charge those prices, then I expect an equivalent level of service. And I didn't get it. I'll be back, but I'm hoping it's better next time. And that the chef remembers where he put the salt.
(3)Melanie F.
What a great find while traveling through Illinois thanks to Yelp! Great atmosphere and food! The ribeye could've used a little more flavor to it but everyone else had wonderful meals! Really enjoyed the swordfish.
(5)Kathy S.
Very cool place...slow service...a little pricey. Server was awkward....
(3)Guy I.
Wow. I haven't looked at every review here but I bet many of them that are written by out-of-towners wonder just how this restaurant survives and thrives in Effingham, IL. Coming from the west suburbs of Chicago I doubt a fantastic restaurant like this would attract the clientele in my area. There must be some things about Effingham I don't know. But I do know that I sure wish I had this gem closer to my home. Upon my arrival I was thrilled-maybe stunned-when I saw their drink menu. Singapore Sling? Classic rum drinks? If I could even get a drink named Singapore Sling in Chicago, which I can't, I'm sure I'd find it to be kool-aid and vodka. Their version was absolutely 100% accurate to the original. (Need I say again, IN EFFINGHAM IL!) I was with a wedding party with a set menu. The salads and main courses were as great as I would have expected. Overall I was just blown away to find a place like this in Effingham. Sounds crazy, but we're going to plan another trip back to the area simply to dine at this restaurant again. Fantastic place.
(5)Nina U.
What an amazing place nestled in a little nook. Firewood is stacked out front. Sit on the front porch, off a little lake in the screened in back porch, or at a nice table inside with light dinner music, where are we? Effingham? no way. It feels like I'm sitting outside on the bayou. Don't think I would wear shorts but also don't think they would care if you did. Started with some light fresh fried green tomatoes and for this type of food, it's definitely listed at reasonable prices. Pisco sour was light and too easy to drink. Yum. I'll have another please. The Thai Beef Curry was also interesting and good but with my delicious cocktails I think I would go with something different next time to pair better with my drinks that I just couldn't part with. Try the coconut creme brulee with pistachios, whipped cream and a little scoop of mango sorbet. Quite delectable. Some times the best places are where you least expect them.
(5)Beth J.
Everything about this place deserves a five. We had lunch specials. Butternut squash soup was great, as well as the French onion soup. I had a spinach salad with grilled chicken. The chicken was great. Tender and moist. Hubby had steak burger on pretzel bun. The bread was awesome. The waitress was nice and attentive. We were traveling thru Effingham to Nashville. I am so glad we found this place. Thank you yelp!!
(5)Jim K.
This was our first visit to Firefly Grill and we went to celebrate our anniversary. The busy part of Ave of Mid America seems to go in the opposite direction from the restaurant, so having the name on the roof was a help in locating it. We had reservations and were seated immediately. The servers all seem to have been trained to assist one another. We asked for a minute before we ordered and a second server asked if there was a problem that he might assist. My wife and I are constantly watching the amounts of food we eat, so we shared an appetizer of about 2 1/2 doz. PEI muscles. We also shared a wedge if lettuce salad with a wonderful blue cheese and bacon dressing. We ordered a 15 oz prime quality filet, medium. It was cooked to perfection. Service was attentive, but not overbearing. The prices were commensurate with the quality of the food and service. Atmosphere was lacking. Tables seemed small for two couples. It also has a very high ceiling which lacks any effort of noise abatement. We live an hour and a half away and that's a long drive for dinner, but I'll find another reason to go back.
(4)Katie M.
First trip the food was fantastic. Second time around was not so hot. Started with the tomato, mozz, and basil salad. The tomatoes, touted as "heirloom", were under ripe and tasted no better than your average grocery store grape tomato. Basil leaves were left whole and managed to overpower each bite. $6 for a half order, aka 5 bite salad, is severely overpriced. The chicken with white asparagus risotto was over the top rich. It was screaming for acid. The fried duck egg and pancetta pinwheel were just unnecessary. The skin was perfectly crisp and could have been tasty but heavy handedness with sea salt left parts of the dish inedible. Greatly dissappointed on my second trip.
(2)Sara D.
I've enjoyed reading the other reviews for Firefly, many people commenting how this restaurant is in the middle of nowhere. Sheesh, people, this is a farming community! People want local produce and products, alas, here it is! Are we not worthy of a restaurant to showcase local agriculture? :) This is a delicious and innovative restaurant. I've been to Firefly many times over the past couple of years- the menu is seasonal and changes fairly often. Some things that stand out from previous meals: pork chops, steaks, and crab cakes...the brick oven pizzas are also tasty, although I can't remember specifically which ones I have tasted. The decor is very modern, with a high ceiling and open bar in the mid-back of the restaurant. The only criticism would be that sometimes the restaurant can get super loud. And by all means, if you are in the Effingham area, get off the interstate and main roads. There are some local wineries, cool countryside, and nice people to see.
(5)bobbi n.
Growing up in the area, Effingham was where we went if we wanted to see a movie or visit a McDonalds or go to Wal-Mart. Effingham's mall's anchor store was a Rural King. I remember when we were excited that Effingham got a TGI Fridays....but we couldn't complain, because in reality, Effingham was the "big city" and much much much more exciting than where we were coming from. Needless to say, there was definitely nothing like the Firefly Grill when I lived there. Not that it would have mattered, because the greatness of this restaurant would have been lost on my teenage palette. I'm just happy that it's here now and that my parents seem intent on bringing my husband and there every time we come to visit. As Ben Folds implies in his song about the town, Effingham is place that you drive past while trying to get somewhere else. With the gigantic white cross, it's hard to miss, but with more truck stops per capita then I have seen anywhere else in my travels, it's easy to pass up. But if you find yourself driving through Effingham on I-57 or I-70, it's really worth a visit to this restaurant, especially considering that your most refined option for more than an hour in any direction is a Hardee's. The best meal that I've had there was a sweet corn lobster bisque (photo posted) although the tuna was a very close second. It was without a doubt, the best bisque i've ever had....okay, it was the only bisque I'd ever had, but it was "I am now a girl that gets lobster bisque cravings" good. If you didn't know, they actually have a garden out back and grow their own vegetables. The waiter let me know that the sweet corn in that dish was picked that day. Delish! Although it's located in the most unlikely of places (specifically behind an athletic shoe store - take a left at the steak 'n shake), it's definitely worth the stop. Hopefully it's a sign of more to come from this town.
(5)Sharon P.
My boyfriend and I decided to try Firefly because it was reviewed highly on Yelp as one of the more upscale restaurants in Effingham, Illinois- a town home to mostly fast food-type places. The building itself was very impressive as we approached it. The interior was also well-designed and it looked like we were going to have a great meal. Then the hostess seated us at the worst table in the whole place- a table where there shouldn't have even been a table. And the worst part was that there were several good tables open and available (at least 7 to 10) that looked lovely. It was pretty rude. Our food was only half decent- nothing special. We expected something a lot better for our $22 entrees (lobster pot pie). Our waiter was very nice- hence the one star. The seating really pissed me off. Applebee's would have been better value and less disappointing.
(1)Fred J.
The fish really is fresh, and the preparations are excellent. It may be the only place to eat in Effingham that's high end, but you could eat there three nights a week and be happy. Great pizzas, steaks, and unusual fish preparations. And a damn fine hamburger too!
(4)Jessica O.
I am a country girl at heart. Born and raised in the North Shore of Chicago, I still go weak in the knees at the sight of BBQ or sweet corn, etc. When my sweetheart drove me down to the middle of nowhere on my birthday and we got off the expressway to see Steak and Shakes and Ruby Tuesdays all around I was not expecting to get a flippin' gourmet meal. This place is beyond words cute and chic. It looks like a rehauled pole barn complete with tin roof, but the atmosphere from the hella-high ceilings and the menu is great. They grow some of their own produce, bake their own breads, fly in fish fresh, and make their own salad dressings. We were sat on the beautiful little porch on their little pond in the back complete with up-lighted ambiance. We ordered the portabello mushroom which was broiled with garlic, parmesan cheese, and escargot and served with a fresh crusty baguette. Then we had the fried green tomatoes which were perfect on their own. We each ordered the New York strip steak with garden salads and I had the sweet corn which came from a farm down the street. Our server, Larry, was prompt, and perfectly attentive to each detail and recommended the banana cake with cream cheese frosting and home-made banana ice-cream. This meal cannot be replicated... it was amazing, and it might be worth the drive down to Effingham. :0)
(5)Jim P.
I am from Effingham and this is the first time back to Fire Fly in 6 months due to the cost. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they have dropped their prices. More food was included with the main dish too. It would great if they would add a salad too. The drink prices are comparable to any travel city. Getting better and more likely to come back more frequently. Thanks Niall and Kristie.
(3)Denise S.
Today while I was on business in Effingham, IL I stopped by for lunch and dinner at the FireFly. It is a beautifully decorated restaurant. The old wood that runs throughout the outside and inside is really lovely. At lunch we were seated out on the covered porch. We overlooked the pond with the koi etc. swimming close by. I selected the bowl of Butternut squash soup with crème fresch and crisped sage. It was nice and creamy but really lacked flavor from either the broth base and or maybe some salt. Next I opted for the Effingham burger. The burger was nice but nothing that would warrant a return for. Now the French fries parmesan, lemon, garlic were extraordinary. Loved them. The service was fine and the place was filled with several customers. Due to business I had to stay overnight and opted to try FireFly for dinner. I decided to sit at the galley bar in the kitchen. Figured I would not take up a table for more customers. It took entirely too long for someone to come and wait on me. Finally someone came with menu. I started with the tuna sushi roll. It was good but you could barely find the tuna. Then I ordered the special lobster with pappadella and lobster broth. Let's say it's less than stellar. Now I know I am in Effingham so I was pleasantly surprised that I had something more to choose from than the cracker barrel. The pasta was just bland and missing flavor. I asked for additional parmesan just to get it some flavor. No salt offered on table. I ordered a side of Brussels sprouts which were probably the best thing I had. Someone flavored them so no need to add anything. I then order an espresso which was lukewarm and the brioche pear bread pudding was good as well. The ice-cream scoop of pumpkin was pretty good. The atmosphere was beautiful so I would come back and try the wood fired pizzas that looked really good.
(3)Heidy C.
the manager contacted me after reading the review and was kind enough to offer a gift certificate which i accepted. it was extremely nice of him and showed that he really cares about the experience that the guest experiences. I would go back and try it again when i'm in the area
(3)Angela J.
Effingham... I'm effing amazed. I was shocked to find this place when driving through the area. A beautiful place with lots of great local food and fresh seafood. We had fish soup, burgers, Bolognese, and stroganoff, which were all delicious. A bit pricey, but not out of line with what you get. I will certainly be stopping back next time I'm around!
(4)Dan N.
I've been here about 6-8 times over the past year or so, and Firefly Grill has become one of my favorite restaurants over that time. The menu changes with the season, the food is fresh (seafood flown in overnight, meat from local farms, produce from their own garden), and the restaurant is a cool place to eat (on a lake, relaxing atmosphere). For Central IL, the seafood is second to none--always a wide variety and always really good. I would definitely recommend the seafood or something from the "special considerations" portion of their menu--I've had a steak here once, it was fine, but you are better of going with one of the more "unique" options. I've never had any apps here, but they look incredible. If you go to Firefly Grill, take this advice: --Sit at the bar --If Mike is bartending, ask him what's good tonight --Follow his advice and enjoy your meal --If you get a salad (or firefly onion rings) they have housemade honey mustard and housemade blue cheese--both are amazing!
(5)David K.
Very funny story how I came upon this restaurant. I was on a road-trip and saw a billboard sign on I-70 that said "Firefly Grill". First, I thought it would be a typical Midwest BBQ place, but boy was I wrong. This restaurant is tucked away from the highway and the main street, in an oasis of its own. It was just by chance I came to this restaurant and I'm extremely happy that I did. The restaurant is an organic based restaurant with their own garden. The ambiance is incredible. Firefly Grill has a deck and pond in the back side, and a fire-pit on the porch. I ordered Braised Kurobuta Pork Shank and it was excellent. It was so well cooked that the meat just pulled right off the bone. The pork came on a bed of split peas and roasted kale (grown from their garden). The service was great also. The hostess and the waiter were hospitable. The restaurant closes at 8pm on Sundays. However, I arrived about 8:30pm and they were still willing to serve me. I would definitely recommend this place to anybody who would love a hidden gem.
(4)Ken H.
This is a gem in the town. Great food. great people. great vibe. I was in town for 5 days, and I ate every meal here, except for 1 dinner. They don't serve breakfast, or I'd be there, too. It's that good. It's simple American food. But very nicely done with fresh and very good ingredients. I had tuna burger, fish taco, fish and chips, pork shank, coq au vin, lava cake, chocolate moulin rouge, banana cake, spicy wings... Pretty much everything is very good. Most of them are not complicated, but I love the simply delicious quality food that they provide dish in and dish out. I also love the fact that they change menu almost weekly based on the fresh ingredients they get. I had too many dishes to grade dish by dish. Here's some highlight: Deserts I had were all great. Like Great. If you are remotely a dessert person. give them a shot. It's worth it. All the seafood I had were very fresh. I also like how the chef let the food shine without over season them. Pork shank was vey tasty. Very juicy and flavorful. My kind of food. This is a restaurant that will be love in anywhere of the country. If you are around the town. stop by this place and you won't be disappointed.
(5)Peter P.
This is the real deal. Creative cooking by people who care. Beautiful room, interesting menu, competent staff - Firefly is awesome. There is no place I have found in downstate Illinois that is its equal. We drive 60 miles to dine here, and it is worth it.
(5)The P.
Solid, not amazing. The boar bangers and mash were quite nice. The desserts, however, were overly sweet and unbalanced.
(3)David M.
I have to give FF only 4 stars because I was only there for lunch, and could not imbide....their beer / wine selection looked good but the proof is in the pudding...or the pint, as the case may be I was very impressed...for Effingham but this place would be a success (and much more expensive) in Chi-town.... I had the grilled scallops and pea risotto...very very good....along a well spiced but not overspiced chicken tortilla soup....excellent... my lunch partner had the chicken pot pie (hey, she's from Springfield, cut her some slack...) which she said was also excellent... Would like come back some evening (yeah, I know, on my way to........) and sample the beer list... but that is for a future time.... bottom line....wonderful....way to go Effingham....
(4)Ellen E.
My fiance decided to take me to Firefly for my birthday this evening. We made the trip down to Effingham from Champaign given that we had heard that they serve excellent food and boast an accomodating staff at Firefly Grille. The server, can't recall his name, immediately wished me a Happy Birthday, and explained some of the entrees. We ordered cocktails and shortly after they arrived the server came to take our order. I asked my fiance what he was having and he said the sea bass, so I proceeded to order something different than that so that in case one of us wasn't pleased, we could switch. Told the server no thanks on salads, which somehow was interpreted as my fiance saying he wasn't eating at all. My entree came out a reasonable time after, but as a former server, I was confused as to why the food runner placed my meal at the center of the table. TWENTY MINUTES later someone finally stopped by and asked if I wanted my untouched meal boxed up. When we said we were still waiting for our other entree our server came by to tell us he misunderstood and that it was on its way. My plate of food continued to sit there and finally another 25 minutes later the server came and took my plate. We had to be back in Champaign so at this point we had to just tell him we needed both plates boxed up. Such a different experience than expected, we had planned on wonderful meals followed by dessert. Instead we sat at the restaurant for over an hour to eat bread, and have to wait until we drove the hour and a half home to eat $35 meals reheated. (spoiler alert: seafood is terrible after being cooked twice) The server did end up not charging us for the sea bass, so in the end this far from spectacular experience cost us over 150 miles of travel and $58 (68 with tip) My birthday wish=I wish I could take back this complete waste of a night.
(1)Jeremy S.
This place I love to go to when traveling. It has a wonder full setting off the interstate, easy to get to but well hidden. It's not your normal meal. They have a great menu of fresh food, and always a special on the blackboard. In my many trips to this place, I have never had a disappointment. The wait staff is both knowledgeable and courteous. They love your feedback on the meal. I had the "island girl" pizza. Jen had the "best Ruben I ever ate" ... The cranberry tamale with caramel was a savory sweet treat to end the meal with!
(5)Paul J.
Every trip to Firefly Grill has been an experience to remember. The servers are always extremely friendly and happy to offer information about the dishes. My partner and I always plan on spending the entire evening here - starting with an appetizer or two, moving on to the entree, and then sharing one of their incredible desserts. The decor is sleek and modern. More ambient lighting would be a nice touch, and might make the space feel more intimate. It can be loud and crowded at times... But those are just minor quibbles - I've never had such wonderful, unique, freshly-prepared food outside of Chicago. It's a rare treat to have perfectly cooked buttery scallops served over risotto - and, in Effingham?! (I mean no offense to the people of Effingham!) One of the best!!
(5)Roy D.
Service tonight was very poor. Sat on the outdoor patio, very nice, but had to go get a service person to take a drink order which never came. Errors were made on drinks, salads and entrees, they could not even clear the table properly, trading dirty dishes with our entree dishes. Very poor
(1)Natalie W.
I only hope a broken down car is not the reason I return to firefly grill. When you pull up (even in the dead of winter) the landscaping is lovely !! You can't really see the pond in the dark but i imagine dinner on the patio with that view is awesome. Then you go inside and the decor is a modern rustic but very polished. Very pretty. Then they bring the bread ...... OMG .... Delicious.... Warm .... Goodness We started with a spinich salad with almonds and a goat cheese croquette. I mean they had me at goat cheese but to make it a little fried ball of yum was even better. Then we both had a steak. My NY strip was cooked perfectly ( hubbys was a smidge under the medium he ordered but he said it was great) and had a ton of flavor. Sides of penne & cheese and asparagus were simple but very well done !!! Dessert was banana cake (after reading other yelpers talk about it) with banana ice cream and it was effing fantastic. Our server was attentive without being in your face. The cocktail menu looked amazing (too bad we had to drive back to stl) ... So who wants to volunteer to be my designated driver for my next visit ??? My reason for only 4 stars is that it's 90 miles away ..... So if you have to break down on the side of the interstate. .. My advice is pick Effingham !!
(4)John E.
All I can say is WOW. Not sure why this place is out in the middle of nowhere but you really should stop by if you're anywhere nearby. Very very good restaurant. I only wish we could have stayed for dinner but we were driving through and had an amazing lunch!
(5)Dave J.
Unbelievable food! An oasis of top notch food amidst a plethora of truck stops and fast food franchises! My wife and I stopped here on a road trip between Carbondale and Chicago. It's a bit tricky to find, but you'll be glad you did! Nice contemporary decor, with a full bar. Friendly staff, but a bit inexperienced. What is going on in the kitchen is pure magic. I had a cheeseburger with bacon, one of the best ever! Instead of fries, I asked for a substitute of roasted fingerling potatoes, and I'm so glad I did. My wife ordered the half chicken, locally produced on an Amish farm, and it was fantastic as well. What really impressed me was...the corn risotto, which came as a side with the chicken. WOW! Unbelievably delicious! There's steaks, fish, chicken, and pork on the menu. I highly recommend this place. You wouldn't think a restaurant of this quality and sophistication would be located off an interstate highway with all the truck stops, and fast food places around. I'm glad it's here and I'll be back, for sure!
(5)Jason D.
Delicious! Loved the taste and range of flavors available, from the guilty pleasure fresh cut fried onion rings appetizer with homemade honey mustard, to the delicious fresh Dungeness crab cakes, and the awesome "chocolate peanut butter cup" dessert, everything was wonderful. Also loved the atmosphere and friendly, attentive service! Well worth the 65 min. drive from Champaign!
(5)Joe V.
Great place, although on the opposite side of Keller rd. it shows it's located on one side.. but in fact its misleading.. as a lot of places are that I have found in my travels and researching them on any map.
(4)Cami R.
First off let me say I am not a food snob. I have a love for good food and price is not a restriction if the food warrants it. Also let me say that both of us have worked in the service industry and always give service peeps the benefit of the doubt. That said I was glad to see Dawn B.'s review of only two stars. We came in from St louis and the reviews here seemed outstanding so we gave it a whirl. Wish I could say better.. 5 stars for decor- beautiful inside and out 5 stars for bread- (outstanding, don't know if they make it or not) 5 stars for wine- good suggestion from the bar (not our server) 3 stars for apps- Live Pei Mussels 2 stars for salads- Crab and Baby Spinach 2 stars for our meals (servers suggestions) Cedar Plank Salmon with Jalapeno Pesto and Brown Rice $28 for tasteless fish and rice the pesto was good. Montana Mignon cooked well that's it folks! 1 star for sides- broccoli undercooked and absurd portion size 1 star for seating- the table barely fit our plates much less drinks 0 stars for service- I wish I had her name, you name it she stunk at it! Not to beat a dead horse but she came to our table exactly 3 times, order, main dish, check please! She didn't take our drink order, bring us our app or salads, didn't fill our water glasses (we had to flag someone down) and she left us to sit for 20 min with dirty dishes after she dropped off the check and we were finishing our wine. She did have time tho to sit with the table of 5 next to us for a long chat after that. All of this can be yours for $140. Have to say lastly,I am a big believer in 2nd chances so we went for brunch the next day. Sat on the porch I had tuna and eggs, he had steak and eggs, and bloody Mary's. 5 stars for the view 5 stars for the service (different girl, yes!) 5 stars for the drinks- (best spicy Bloody Mary) 3 stars for the meals (again the best bread!) All in all it was worth the try and I may give dinner a go again sometime, but I would rather go to Erato in Edwardsville, illinois before we make that drive again.
(3)Emily D.
Why are you in Effingham? Really? The only reason we even heard of it was because it was one of the only cities at this point in our drive cross-country that had an actual hotel and since we were about to fall asleep at the wheel, Effingham was out spot. If you are within 100 miles of this place you are nuts to skip it. Seriously. I took a chance and scoped out the Effingham 'yelp scene' (HA) and noticed that this place had some stellar reviews and even though I was weary, we had to try it. It was either this or another dose of Toxic Smell or some other abusive road food... The place is amazing! The restaurant is off the main drag and literally set on a farm with a pond and all. We went on a Sunday night so the place was super quiet. Our server was great and could tell we were thrilled to have some real service and awesome food. I went with the spinach salad and loved it and my boyfriend went all out and got a Cesar salad to start with fillet and mashed potatoes as his entree. Service: 5 stars! Drinks always full and people generally happy to be at work Food: 5 stars! Unreal! One of the freshest salads I have tasted-clearly fresh from the garden/farm out back Ambiance: 5 stars WOW someone dumped some major money into this beautiful barn-turned-restaurant. Impressive! We were so surprised at this place! I think we are still getting over the shock factor of finding an awesome dinner spot in fricking Effingham! If you are looking for an awesome meal that is SO far from anything in this area, come to Firefly Grill!
(5)Leah B.
NOT wheelchair friendly!!! Saturday morning we made a reservation for 4 people for 6:30P and stated one of us would be in a wheelchair - they advised no problem. We called a second time around 5P reminding them we would have someone in a wheelchair - they advised they had the note down and it would not be a problem. We arrive 5 minutes early and all the front desk staff looked really surprised and utterly confused. First they led us straight to the patio, but the wheelchair would not fit down the aisle, so they had us double back to the front desk. Then had us go all the way to the very back of the restaurant and to the other side of the floor and then didn't even have a table ready for us. So, not only was EVERYONE in the restaurant staring at us as we wheeled by, we clogged up the servers passageway because we were standing in the middle of the dining room waiting for our table to be ready. With literally EVERYONE staring because we were paraded first around the front of the restaurant and then all the way to the back and along the back wall, EVERYONE got a good look at us. It was MORIFYING!!! Finally we are seated and my chair was further in the aisle because of where our wheelchaired guest sat - after 10 minutes of the servers and customers walking behind me pushing into my chair and brushing against the back of my head, I got up and moved the table adjacent our's back against the wall as far as it would go in order to make the aisle wider - I explained this to our waitress and received no "I'm sorry" ... "We should have been better prepared for your arrival" ... NOTHING! Here's a quick breakdown of what we ordered: Lobster Stew special - was a flavorless watered down creamy broth with raw shallots and a few pieces of lobster, hardly a "stew". Halibut with ratatouille - fish was perfectly cooked, but for $34, not good enough for the price. The ratatouille was a joke at about 3 bites. Salmon risotto - HORRIBLE. Salmon was totaly overcooked and dry. Risotto was undercooked, mealy and tasteless. Ceasar Salad - tasted like the dressing was out of a jar and some of the greens were a little brown. Sea bass w/noodles - this dish was excellent, but the portion was tiny for the price tag Here's the most unpleasant part ... during coffee at the end of our meal, 2 out of the 4 of us spent the next few hours sitting on the toilet if you catch my drift - we both ate the Lobster "stew". In closing - if you like to be made a spectacle of because of your disability, and losing your expensive dinner to the porcelain god within an hour of your dinner, this is the place for you.
(1)Mark E.
Truly stunning to find such a nice restaurant in Effinghan, Illinois. Firefly Grill has every characteristic of a "big city" modern restaurant, in an out of the way location. The decor is modern and presentation, menu, and employees give you the feel of a hip, big time bistro. Being that the restaurant is in a small town, the prices are incredibly fair, especially when you consider the quality of the meals. Our table had a variety of things on the menu, including appetizers like spring rolls, crab rangoon, and amazing onion strings. Our brunch entrees included pizzas, different burgers, and some off the menu Sunday Brunch items. Everything was well prepared, looked great, and served with flair. Firefly Grill is a rare gem in a world of highway-friendly chain restaurants, and, while maybe not worth the trip to Effingham unless you are already going there, well worth seeking out if you're anywhere in the area.
(4)rick a.
The Firefly Grill is the Field of Dreams for foodies,"If you build it,they will come." Finding a place like this is like going to a singles night held in a retirement community and finding Scarlett Johansson in the mix. I don't mean to be hard on the town but I believe that the Firefly survives on the fact that people seek out this place thru word of mouth. I hope that the locals realize what a gem they have here. My wife and I had the Montana Mignon wrapped in a puff pastry with boursin, BBQ and bacon along with the oak-fired Columbia River Sturgeon with chickpeas and edamame salad, both were fantastic. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, which is always a plus. For dessert we had the banana cake with banana ice cream which was a real treat. The prices are reasonable for the quality of food. The only problem I had was that there were far more good choices on the menu then I could have anticipated. For the record I hope to find a menu that I will want to eat 50% of the items on this one I will say it is 70-75%. You must visit if you are traveling on I-57 or I-70 or within 20 miles of Effingham. I don't give out five stars easily but I will say that easily the Firefly Grill is the most worthy in an area awash is a sea of chain restaurants.
(5)Jeremy D.
Outstanding! Great recipies, ingredients, and preparation. Some of the entrees get pricey, but other items are reasonable. We had the ceasar & spinach salads, a chicken & lentil soup, and a wood-fired pizza. Everything was supurb. An unexpected find - located a few blocks from the largest truck stop in the country!
(5)Steve T.
This is an expensive restaurant, but I feel it's well worth the price. I had the lobster stew and the chopped salad. I thought I was eating light but ended up walking away stuffed. The staff was well-informed and courteous. I would like to return in the summer and eat outdoors overlooking the pond.
(5)Sydney H.
Literally one of the best meals I've ever eaten. I ate here in passing on a roadtrip, and will never forget! The service was impeccable and the atmosphere to die for. I wish I could go here all the time!!!
(5)Kevin J.
You can definitely tell this place is choosy about their ingredients. Everything was very very fresh, very nice atmosphere lakeside, well decorated inside. Maybe a little pricy but pricy for quality is worth it. Could see this place being featured on the Food Network, I think it was of that quality. Regularly go through this area and has definitely earned our business.
(5)Teve' U.
compared to local places, lets just say its very EXPENSIVE expect $8-10 for a glass of wine, at the bar they had a special $5 malbec (very nice) salad $12, entree $20-35 food was very good.. 5/5 (maybe even 6/5), i had the strip steak-- yummy yummy yummy & mashed potato with and herbs 22 million/5 nice atmosphere 5-/5, vaulted wood ceiling, nice b/w photos, lots of glass (++++ just great) honestly if your going for a 5 star place, need to spend more time with the staff --hmmm yeah welllllllllll uh-no (need i say more) out door seating (very nice), they have a lake out back and a fire pit and yes, this is the place i picked for my birthday
(4)Joe L.
If this restaurant was in Chicago, it would be in my top 10 restaurants to go to on a regular basis. I've eaten and drank here over 10 times so far and the quality of the food, service, and drinks are amazing. One Tuesday night, I ordered a salmon and on Wednesday (I think), they have sushi lunch available. So I think I happened to get the sushi grade Salmon on Tuesday and I ordered it medium rare. I don't think anyone ever asks, but I tried it and it was the best salmon I have ever had in my entire life! Another night, I found conversations with the bartender and he recommended a few to taste. Because of his recommendation and their selection of single malt scotches, I found my favorite... Scapa. Overall, this place is consistent and the staff are friendly and welcoming.
(5)Suzanne W.
I also want to know why this place is in Effingham!? What a great restaurant! Traveling through from St. Louis to Indianapolis and we stopped for dinner. Ended up grabbing a hotel room, so we could enjoy the wine and atmosphere! Steaks were some of the best I've had. Hopefully they expand to another city because more people should be enjoying this place!
(5)Dfros T.
Had a great Valentines Day, 8 course dinner. Service was good, food was great, date was beautiful!
(5)lesiel l.
Okay eating for a passing tourist. Pleasant atmosphere and the drinks were perfect! We had the stuffed zucchini blossoms and they were very good. I enjoyed my steak but my husband had the halibut with risotto and he felt that the fish was over done and the risotto wasn't good. At over $100 for dinner, there should be no complaints. But then again, who in their right mind orders fish from Alaska in the middle of the plains? Seems like the place was full of locals and lots of people eating the $14 hamburgers! Wait staffed rushed dishes off of table...not leisurely dinning in a very attractive space.
(3)Helene R.
Driving across country, avoiding all the bad stuff close to interstate70, willing to stretch out within 20 min. or so ....kept on finding gems ! One must believe it is there, yes:' Firefly Grill a blessing, Go!
(5)Violet L.
On our initial visit to Firefly Grill, my husband called it "a hidden gem in the middle of rural Illinois." We have dined at more 5 star restaurants all over the US than I can count so this was high praise. The first thing we noticed is how beautiful the building looks at night.The ambiance is soothing, the food is exceptional and the waitstaff are top notch. Even sitting at the bar to eat is a wonderful experience. The bartender was attentive and interesting to chat with. On a humorous side note (from our last visit in Oct. 2012), the friendly and funny waiter had the same name as our dog. I'm originally from Illinois so when we take the trip from Houston to visit our grandchild and other family members, we always set up a reservation. My only complaint? This eatery is in another state. ;)
(5)Curt E.
Met some friends here for a late lunch on Saturday. The restaurant was quite impressive inside with an open kitchen, the well stocked bar, and the Boos block tables for every party. I will say that our service was top notch as the young lady taking care of us kept our glasses full and needs attended to. Those were the high points of the place in my opinion. For the food, my wife was going to order the fish and chips but they claimed to be out of fish (on a Saturday @ 1?) so she went with a cheese pizza which she said was decent but in my opinion was so so. I'm not a fan of the St. Louis Provo on pizza but that's just me. I got the "oak fired tacos" with skirt steak carne asada topped with spicy slaw, salsa verde, salsa rojo, and queso blanco. Sounds decent and flavorful, but was far from that unfortunately. The steak ( what little there was) was not freshly grilled and had zero flavor and an odd texture taboot. I've had/made skirt steak before but never that dry, tender and tasteless. Note to cooks, salt, pepper, and a dash of cumin could do wonders. There was nothing spicy about the slaw and I had trouble determining where my salsas had gone (tasteless as well). I was served three tacos in sufficiently greasy corn tortillas to really (channeling Emeril) "Kick it up a notch" . This was served with my choice of bean salad or fries- I got the "Kennebec fries" (Whatever those are) which had some sort of salt on them and maybe chopped parsley? Nothing special- and damn I hate 1/2 full cups of ketchup, bring it to the table if people need it if you think it looks tacky sitting there all the time, wth? The place as a whole is very "local, local,local " with their ingredients which I could care less if my steak dropped a deuce within 20 mi. of where I'm consuming it's flesh, but that's just me. If it puts people in the seats then so be it. I do question ( as I was gazing at that nights carnivorous fare) how they could justify $45 for a 14oz strip steak for dinner - better be the best steak I had ever, or will ever have tasted. It just all seemed a bit costly for Effingham?..Chicago sure, but Effingham? Overall I'd say blandness got the best of us at the firefly grill today, but maybe I'll try it again some evening and see how great a $45, or $35 rather (I'm a fan of Ribeyes personally) steak tastes. But then again, I don't know if it would be worth the drive....
(2)Steve R.
Loved the atmosphere, service, and food. Lunch was great, even with a crowd!
(5)Vicki M.
We have eaten here before; this is not my first review. Today the food was fantastic, as usual. I had the butternut squash soup, it was SOOO good, so creamy and what a great rich flavor! It was accompanied by a large, crusty, delicious dinner roll. Then I had the softshell crab sandwich, the pretzel bun is great, and the crab and dressing were so tasty I am getting hungry again just thinking about it. My husband had the Effingham burger and he was VERY happy with it as well. We did have a little service bobble - they forgot my soup. I wondered why they didn't bring it when they served my husband his salad, but I didn't say anything, just waited. When the main meal was served I asked where it was, well they had somehow managed to forget about it. So they brought it and said we wouldn't be charged for it. Other than that, great meal! We ate on the enclosed back porch which I like. The main dining room did have a pretty heavy cooking odor so I was glad to be in the fresher air.
(5)Michelle G.
If you happen to be driving through this area I demand that you stop. Pull over right now as a matter of fact. My boyfriend and I were looking for a quick dinner and after reading these reviews changed our mind and I am beyond glad that we did. The only reason I did not give this place five stars is due to service. Our server managed to walk all around and never actually look at us as we waited to order for what seemed like forever. We even had to ask the manager to call him over. Luckily the food was worth it. We had the farm raised chicken quesedillas as an appetizer, oh so yummy though the dips were a tad too spicy for my taste. My boyfriend order the pretzel bun burger with bacon and dang it was delicious. The bacon alone was worth the order. It being a cold night I decided on a special of lobster pot pie with a flaky puff pastry on top. It was mouth watering deliciousness. I give this kitchen an immense amount of credit for pumping out a menu of such variety and savory options. My pot pie was like an uber thick lobster bisque with huge chunks of Maine lobster and seasoned to perfection. With much reluctance due to my full belly we still had to order desert. An apple pie flaky goodness with a scoop of spiced like ice cream that could not have tasted better. It doesn't make any sense why this place is in Effingham but I am grateful to whomever decided to open it. It is just a quick stop off the highway and down a small road that makes you feel like you have gone the wrong way before you see the large structure that is firefly grill. The old wooden beams and giant bulbs hanging over head in neat little rows lends a comfortable atmosphere to the location that keeps the kitchen smell rising. Honestly, stop here, just make it a priority when driving or make it a little adventure if you live in St. Louis or near by. Oh so worthy.
(4)Samantha R.
YUMMMY! Fresh food, all in season picks, great service, delicous taste. I had a great private dinner here & I can't wait to go back, especially because the menu changes. Read the other reviews if you want details. Everything you eat here is quite tip top amazing. It reminds me of the restaurants back in San Francisco but even better because their local is their own backyard basically. The apple cider martini is now my favorite Fall cocktail!
(5)Meerkat H.
---- just to follow up: the actual owner of this restaurant emailed me to apologize for the behavior of the server and promised that this would never happen again.... maybe one day we'll be able to return to eat their great food!
(4)David C.
I always dread going to effingham for my business seminars. But i always look forward to eating at Firefly.
(3)Joe O.
Amazing. Everything everyone got was just amazing.
(5)Sissie P.
We were on a road trip and going to stay in Effingham, so I used YELP to find a good place to eat. THis is the FIRST bad place we've been that had good Yelp ratings! Made me think about my son noting that the owners and help sometimes try to game the system. I ordered the Sechuan pork, requesting it extra spicey -- and it was a very salty, very bland Teriyaki sauce -- didn't remotely resemble Sechuan. Guess I should have expected that when the waiter recommended mashed potatoes as a side to go wiith it! I had the asparagus instead, and it was not tender.That same waiter, when I said this isn't Sechuan at all, said "well, it's a kinda mild Sechuan." Oxymoron. My husband had a chicken dish that was stringy, and also terribly over-salted. This places charges like it is serves gourmet food, but the food was substandard, the wine list pathetic and the desserts like the Cheesecake Factory -- f resh ingredients can indeed be ruined. Next time we'll just totally bypass Effingham. We had much better meals at the Irish Pub in Batavia the night before and at the Picadilly in Wichita the next night.
(2)Ashley M.
We were taking a long Christmas drive from central Texas to Northern Michigan and used Yelp to help us find something to eat along the way. Chicago was too far and yelp brought us to the Firefly Grill in Effingham. There was NOTHING else that came up in Effingham and we were apprehensive at first, but even pulling up to it made us feel better. It's well designed, and the food is really good!! Someone I was with had their cream of mushroom soup and really liked it, and the pasta bolognese was good, but HUGE! Very cute atmosphre and food I would eat even if it was in my own hometown?? Eat here!!!
(4)beth w.
The Firefly Grill has become a welcomed stop on the way to my parent's in Indiana. We have called ahead and had a snack ready for us to swing in, eat, and get back on the road. We have also met as this is about our half-way point between St. Louis and Indiana. I have had the pizza a couple times, which comes with a ceasar salad. My sister had the fish tacos, which were basically the fish and chips in a tortilla. I suggest to lighten the batter on the fish tacos...panko maybe. My sister's boyfriend had the duck fat french fries...decadent and delicious by their account. The setting is fantastic. Service is very good. I know it's a weird critique but the silverware looked dirty and we sent back several pieces.
(4)Jan N.
Love Firefly Grill! Like others have said, it is an unexpected surprise in Effingham! Don't let the Nike outlet deter you. On my most recent visit I finished my yummy meal with even more yummy lavender sorbet with shortbread. Delish! My husband (a BBQ guy) had an apple, applewood and Brie cheese pizza and enjoyed it, too.
(5)Jack M.
Great heirloom tomato salad, hummus app and proscuitto wrapped halibut. Wife's wood roasted chicken was great. She had corn chowder, which was probably the most mediocre item we had. As always, great seasonal beers on tap. I had an Oktoberfest and wife had a pumpkin. Larry's service was great too, as always.
(4)Dan M.
I'm realllllllly disappointed right now. I'm in Effingham for work, and let's just say there are not a lot of quality restaurants in the area. In fact... it appears that Firefly is the only one. Lots of chain, TGI Friday, etc.... but not just a solid quality dining place. On to the review... Food: Right now, this would be a 1-star, on the food. For starters, I ordered a Caesar salad. High on presentation, low on taste. Not bad, just not nearly as good as it looked. For my entree, I ordered the "Montana Fillet", essentially a fillet wrapped in bacon, inside of a pastry. I was told it was going to be Medium-Rare to Medium. I'm a Medium Rare guy, so I had no issues with this. I received the steak/pastry and cut into it. It was quite red (not more than 1% pink on the edges and cool to the touch. Maybe my steak-done-ness-meter is off, but I would consider this rare to blue. Much much closer to rare than the medium rare. (( I was so concerned about the my perception of the doneness, that I came immediately back to the hotel to check the intertubes for steak doneness levels.)) I decided to mention that it was a bit on the rare side, as I realy wanted to have a nice meal. I've been eating fast food for the week and am sick of it. No issues sending it back, they didn't disagree (not sure any waiter/waitress would). So then I get my second one... and it's worse than the first. This was no contest rare. Red cool center, with very little (almost none) color outside of red. At this point, I could have shut my mouth and ate it.... as rare steaks aren't deadly (right?)... but I didn't. He came over and asked if it was better. "Yeaaaaahhhh.... it's actually worse than before". At this point, I just wanted to eat some food. I told him not to worry about it, and that I would power through it. They explained that the pastry aspect makes it difficult to cook to medium, without burning the outside pastry. The cook (from Firefly) next to me, mentioned that they normally cook them a bit before adding the pastry aspect. This makes me think it shouldn't be too difficult to cook the steak to medium-rare, throw on the pastry... then bake to medium... Hell, even medium-well. Had it come out overcooked, I wouldn't have had the gall to say anything. But nope... it was more rare than before. So ate some of the edges, the asparagus, and the potatoes. I did want to like this place. So I tried a dessert that sounded good. Banana cake something or other. The cake was dry, the banana ice-cream was off a bit (cant describe how... just off). I kept my mouth shut on this... even though they were afraid to ask how it was. :-) So, from a food perspective.... ugh. What a nightmare. I'll go back to try to give it another shot. I'll stick to something very simple.... say a steak, or a roasted chicken. I'm holding out a bit of hope, as everyone else seems to love this. From a positive perspective, and the only reason I am willing to go back (and give this place any stars) was the service. I was seated promptly at the bar (my choosing). The bartender was attentive and poured a proper drink (not too strong, not too light). There was nothing but willingness to help from the Bartender, the manager, as well as the cook (off-duty) at the bar with me. Everyone seemed genuinely concerned. They did also offer to comp my steak, as I was unhappy with it. From a service perspective, I would give this place 5 stars. **.
(2)Nick B.
This place has it all figured out. Amazing atmosphere, artistic building, great service, food was perfect, and portions were large. We had the burger, Reuben, trout, and steak panini. No one was disappointed. The Hummus app was huge! Definitely stop here!!
(5)Amie C.
First of all it must be said that I tried for weeks to get ahold of an event coordinator to plan a party or at least find out about planning. I wanted to have my moms surprise 50th birthday party here. I left several messages, only receiving one call back from them. Finally i just made a regular reservation for 15. Boo to them for not raking in more dough by having a real "event", oh well. Once we get there for the party I discover they have placed our party in the area behind the bar and it was perfect! We were secluded without being stuffed into a room. Loved it. Our service was excellent. Wish I could remember the young chaps name. He even hung out to chat with my dad which is no small feat because he is a talker....to anyone. I had 2 yummy glasses of red sangria and they packed a slight punch! Thank goodness for the awesome bread/rolls and butter that came out before dinner....they were pretty darn awesome! I ordered a cup of tortilla soup and some sort of pork dish, perhaps szechuan pork. The soup was pretty great as was my entree but for the prices....no way! Now, don't get me wrong, I live in Chicago so I'm used to paying top dollar for fancy shmancy restaurants (hah when I can afford it and only very rarely) but c'mon Effingham! YOU ARE NOT CHICAGO! This place did look like it was a transplant out of the suburbs (I would say city but it was more farmish and well...Chicago isn't). Great service Great atompshere Great for giant groups I would go back for lunch and hope the prices are cheaper! haha I ordered 2 sangrias, a cup of soup, a medium priced entree and a dessert and my bill was just under $50. Sure they did figure in 18% because we had more than 8 people.....but you get the picture. ***word to the wise....the szechuan (hopefully that's what i ordered) pork was awesome and the sauce made me want to drink it from the plate (I didn't, I was surrounded by 5 of my classy aunts!) but it must have been tooooooo rich for my tummy because the end result was not a good one....be careful! haha
(4)Sarah P.
Definitely 5 star worthy. And, what an unexpected find just a few blocks away from truck-stop, chain restaurant haven of Effingham. The Effingham steak burger was delicious! So good, in fact, that I told my husband, meh, it was just ok, until I was finished so that I wouldn't have to share. If you didn't catch it, by the way, you could call their burger the Effing - hamburger...get it? :) Service was great, attentive when we needed it, but not pesky. Hubby had the boar bangers and mash and said they were good, but I didn't want a bite because, again, why would I want anything besides the burger??? The fries were yummy and our toddler ate his mac and cheese, which he is notoriously picky about. For all you parents, from the outside, and the menu, I would never have thought this place kid friendly, but the staff was very accommodating, they had highchairs, and a kids menu, and it was a great overall experience. Great atmosphere. I really hope this place stays in business. I was surprised to be able to walk in at 6:30 on a Friday evening with no wait. We will be by every time we are in the area.
(5)Daniel C.
Perfect timing for lunch on our trip from Chicago to Memphis! I saw this place online, and was sold on the Muffelatta panini, unfortunately, that was no longer available. We had a brief wait for our server, but it wasn't that long. I, instead, ordered the Angus Roast Beef panini with Brie. It normally comes with a horseradish sauce, but I'm not keen on horseradish, and they were happy to oblige my request for garlic aioli in lieu of it. My wife ordered the reuben panini, and enjoyed it very much. The aesthetic of the place was amazing- kind of a barn that has been redone in a modern, yet rustic look with old wood that had been reclaimed. Modern bathrooms, and nice style accents througout. The bar had massive plaid curtains behind it that separated the main room from banquets, and there were beautiful sunroom and patio seating areas overlooking the countryside and a quaint pond with fountains. I'd love to come back for dinner sometime if we pass through Effingham at night! We'll definitely make this a regular stop on our trips down south! Hidden gem!
(4)jim v.
I had the pleasure of eating at FF for a wedding reception. The food was OUTSTANDING as was the service and ambiance....it brings the sophistication of a "big city" restaurant to Central Illinois. Definitely worth the trip!
(5)Wan T.
Ya know I wanted to be a tough grader and not hand out 5 stars just willy nilly. But this was great. I had the Schezwan pork. I ate at the bar and the bar tender told me that this is the #1 seller to the staff - and I'd say with good reason. Mighty tasty. Nice casual atmosphere. Good looking open floor plan. The patio seating looks like it would be nice too.
(5)Paul G.
World-class meal, in a place I'd never expected to find it. Look, i'll admit i'm a bit of a 'foodie' - I travel (a LOT) on business and have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the country, in every major city. So imagine my surprise to find this gem of a restaurant in Effingham, of all places. The specials were all unique, interesting and amazing (we were a party of eight, so we tried most of them). In fact, the entire menu (with an emphasis on local and fresh) sounded interesting and delicious. Better-than-average wine list, great decor, fantastic service. The unanimous verdict from our group: worth coming back to Effingham, just to eat again at the Firefly Grill.
(5)Tracy H.
I live 30 miles away and wish I went to Firefly more. I have never had a bad meal here. Local food, green design and culinary skill make for an extraordinary experience each time. There's more to central IL than meets the eye, and this represents it.
(5)Bob K.
Simply the best restaurant in the Effingham area..I eat here every time I travel to or by Effingham.
(5)Doug B.
In a part of the world where most home town restaurants are simply remodeled homes with very little ambiance, this is one place that stands out and even outshines corporate *million dollar* establishments found in the *big cities*. This is your reason not to just drive on through Effingham.
(5)Brian and Adrienne L.
We stopped for lunch on our long road trip home. The food was very good. The quesadillas were fresh (a lite pickling of the peppers was a nice touch). The fresh baked bread was amazing, crispy on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside. The turkey blt was good, but a bit messy to eat. The roast pork tenderloin special was enjoyable (though slightly overdone). It had a nice spice and the fresh creamed spinach was excellent (could've eaten twice as much). The only downfall was the homemade potato chips and pomme frites were both fried for too long and under seasoned. Service was good and very accomodating, as we had our four month old with us. We look forward to stopping here again on our next trip to Missouri.
(4)Ashley S.
Pros: great setting, good local food, good service. Cons: really small portion of wine - too expensive to order two glasses -, asked for appetizers and meal all at once, but appetizer came very early. Overall, a good place to relax, especially the back porch.
(3)Andy E.
I stopped here a few months ago during the lunch hour and was very impressed. Tonight on our way home we drove 60+ miles out of our way to come eat here. They have a fresh vegetable and herb garden the food and the setting are both fantastic.
(5)Christina W.
I love all the fresh ingredients!!! Also, if you are brave or stupid enough to bring children the waiters and waitresses really work with them and help them stay entertained and quiet. It's a great place to unwind and have a nice date, but if you have to take the kids out (which sometimes is the only way) know that it will be okay with the great staff at Firefly.
(5)R M.
Not quite sure why this place exists where it does, but I'm from LA and been to much "better" and much worse. This place rocked! Great attentive staff, super tastey margharita pizza, and even the salad was worth writing about. Small craft beer selection too which is an easy way to get me to add a star if all goes well. It's more than I want to pay out in bfe, but with how good everything was, food/service/ambiance, absolutely a delight. Gawd forbid I'm out this way again, but if I find myself stuck driving down 70, no questions asked, I'll stop here.
(5)Sue C.
Sit by the pond, u can even feed the fish - the server can give u food for fish!!! My boyfriend and I had their crab appetizer, squash blossoms app, butternut squash soup, caesar salad, Margarita pizza, and homemade ice cream (blackberry) and they were all excellent !!!! You can taste the freshness in their food and the staffs are friendly!
(5)Nancy B.
Thank you Yelp for saving me from chain restaurant hell! The city really is at the "Crossroads of America" so every national chain is visible from the expressway. This gem is tucked back in a quiet spot and is worth finding! Outstanding food! My only complaint is that they were out of a few menu items by 8:30 pm. But that is also a good thing - it means everything is freshly prepared and they are not grabbing another pre-cooked pork chop out of the walkin cooler!
(5)Ted C.
My sis came here a few months ago and didn't have such a good experience and it was noted enough that they sent her a gift certificate to make up for the experience. She gave it to me knowing I would be passing through and I decided to see if it lived up to the Yelp hype or if my sister's lackluster experience was more accurate. Right off the main road it's pretty easy to find just look past the huge signs advertising nothing but chains. I came in and was sat down near the front. The seating scheme is a little weird with the tables spread out all throughout the restaurant, making it weird for the servers to cover their sections. I had some questions about what to get and Larry was quick to describe items and helped me make my decision as well as being quick with the bread. I finished the bread quickly and he asked me if he brought some more would I eat it. Something about how he asked me if I wanted more bread was memorable enough that I'm noting it here. He did find it out the French onion soup took a little long to come out but it arrived shortly thereafter. My sis complained about it being too sweet but I thought it was just fine, not overpoweringly salty, not overly sweet with the cheese adding a nice, smooth texture and flavor. I ended up ordering the Montana mignon, which was basically beef wellington with boursin cheese inside and an au jus. Served medium rare, with the spreadable cheese being a nice, soft, slightly sweet addition. The whipped potatoes were just okay, just okay not much flavor. I asked Larry for a dessert suggestion with his being the banana cake. Think a Bananas foster minus the fire and adding a tasty little banana cake on the side. An easy sell but that's because it was good and well made. I may time my trips up north to make sure I swing by when Firefly is open so I can enjoy a surprising, well made meal.
(4)S B.
Firefly Grill. A beacon of culinary awesomeness right in the middle of central IL at the cross rounds of I 57 and I 70. (Effingham). We have stopped here 4x in the last year. Each visit has been exceptional. The chef changes the menu based on what is in season and each food item is delectable. Today we had the Tuna Melt and Firefly Burger. For appetizers we had Fried Green Tomatoes with just right peppery blend of tomato tapenade - a must try. Flavored tea , deserts, drinks all are worth trying. Atmosphere is upscale but casual. Staff are friendly and work well together. Organic. Local fare. Hope you give yourself a treat and stop soon.
(5)Alexandra L.
Lovely place. Menu changes often which is good but also sometimes disappointing because they take away things I like! Great place for a nice meal, and a lot of things are home grown which is nice. Conveniently located!
(4)Chris S.
Great service and outstanding food. Farm to table concept done very well; we thoroughly enjoyed fried green tomatoes right from the garden. Relaxing atmosphere that nicely reflects the menu.
(5)Jim O.
This is my favorite restaurant in central Illinois. We live 75 minutes away and still make the trip several times a year. It's that good! Our first time dining here was a complete accident. We were driving through the area, it was getting late and we wanted a quick bite. Thankfully, my wife decided to Yelp for a place and the moment we pulled up to the building we could tell this place was special. Even though it's very near an area that couldn't be more commercial, it feels like a secluded oasis, located next to a pond in the middle of a field. You have to see it for yourself. The atmosphere was exceedingly pleasant and the menu was very impressive. It was clear there were chefs working here, not cooks. As I said earlier, it was late and I was just looking for a quick bite, so we ordered steak burgers (by the way, if you don't know the difference between a steak burger and a hamburger, you owe yourself a favor to come here and find out). I can't express how amazing that first bite was. My wife saw the look on my face and almost started laughing I was so blown away by it. Remember, it 's passed 8PM, I'm in middle of a road trip, I'm not expecting or needing a lot from my food at this point, and BAM!...the best burger I've ever had in my whole life comes out of nowhere and punches me right in the face. Kuma's Corner in Chicago no longer holds the title in my eyes, Firefly Grill in Effingham, IL is the new champ. That was the first of many trips to Firefly grill. I try to have something different every time and it's always delicious and prepared perfectly. They're a devout farm-to-fork establishment, which I will always support. The food is creative and exciting. The décor is semi-formal, but inviting. The staff is professional, but friendly. What more could you ask for? Update 3/4/2015: We took another trip to Firefly this last weekend and I just needed to rave really quick about the Strawberry Shortcake dessert. Sweet Hey-Zeus, that was delicious! We're going to keep trying different items on the menu. Each one seems to be the best version of the dish we've ever had. Update 3/7/2015: Yeah, I know, 2 weekends in a row. Well, my wife and I were at the tail-end of an audio book and the weather was nice for once, so we decided to take a leisurely jaunt down to Effingham for some Firefly. This time, I decided to really push Firefly to see if they could make something I didn't like. A Reuben sandwich. I've tried a few Reubens in my life and hated them all. I really don't like sauerkraut and the sandwich, as a whole, simply hasn't tasted good to me in the past. Well, not anymore. Turns out my hatred for Reubens was not the sandwich's fault, but merely the fault of the restaurants I've eaten them at. Holy crap, this was one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten. I won't go into to much detail suffice to say if you like Reubens, I bet Firefly's will be your favorite. The wife had the Meat Pizza for the first time, said it was great. The search for less than perfect food at Firefly continues...
(5)Christian S.
I think this place is tops...and I don't mean Tops Big Boy. I had a line caught ahi tuna burger with wasabi aioli and their homemade fire fries today. I would have prefered the tuna to be Medium instead of Medium Well or Well done, but I didn't specify. Aside from that, great taste, and a clever decor along with attentive, friendly staff makes this my favorite place to grab a quality meal in Effingham.
(5)Joel F.
For a $17 burger being one of the cheapest options I would expect stellar service. We stopped here on our way home from St. Louis. We walked in the door at 8:55pm and asked the girl at the desk if they were still open. She responded with "yes" and sat us. After a 7 minute wait our server finally comes to the table and tells us the kitchen closes at 9pm, but that they would still serve us. I wish the girl had told us this, because we would have gone elsewhere. I just hate eating somewhere right as they close...I feel rushed. They did bring bread out to us and it was soft, and the sauce that came with it was different, but delicious. The butter was real too and almost melted in your mouth. As staff have walked by the tone of their voice is very snobbish almost like they're better than us. Hate to tell ya honey, but you're a hostess. Fast forward to the food. It was absolutely amazing! I ended up going with the steak burger. It was so full of flavor, and an excellent marriage of flavor. The pretzel bun was probably the best I've had. The fries were cooked to perfection. It left me wanting to try other items off the menu. I'd give the food 5 stars, but the overall score remains a 2 because I just can't get over how terrible the service was. Especially after we waited almost 10 min for a server, weren't checked on until the end of our meal, and just talked too like we were bums off the street. All while what I believe was the mgr flirted with a table of three, refilled their drinks, brought them food, and gave them 5 star service. I wasn't even thanked as I walked out.
(2)Rebecca R.
Beautiful venue. Excellent food. Drove 2 hours for dinner and a play. We shared the fried green tomatoes and I had Columbia River Salmon. The meal was very good and the waitress was extremely knowledgable.
(5)Brandon H.
I'm assuming the only glowing reviews for this place are from out of towners. chef tries to be too fancy and charges waaaaay too much for the area. They can't cook a steak worth a damn and their excuse is that they aren't known for steaks. They boast about their fresh seafood but how fresh can it be in Effingham IL?
(2)Maridel S.
Always enjoy the menu choices that include regular items along with interesting additions (halibut, ravioli, cauliflower fluff--it was delicious!). The waiter was very prompt and attentive. Dinner prices are a little high for small town southern Illinois, but for the ambiance and quality you get, very appropriate for a special evening.
(5)Randy B.
The food was amazing, but the service was not good. We walked in just before nine and were seated right away, but when Blake, our server came to our table he told us that we would have to order quickly because the kitchen was already closing. I don't like being rushed, and I certainly don't like spending that kind of money on food, no matter how good it is, when the service is in a bigger hurry to close up and go home than make sure that I'm happy. If it was too late to seat us because the kitchen was closing, they should have said so. Overall, The food was impressive, but I was really disappointed with the service and wish I hadn't spent so much money here.
(2)Christine D.
Effingham is my dad's hometown so I've spent a fair amt of time here over the years. Never expected to come down from Chicago to meet my Dad and uncle for the big annual church picnic and find a place like Firefly grill. Totally agree with all the reviews who see this restaurant being wildly successful in the 'big' city. In fact, I am still wondering how this place makes in in a town like Effingham, which admittedly is not in as bad of shape as other small town rural areas but still... Setting terrific, kids wildly entertained by feeding fish, food superb. Fried green tomatoes were crunchy but not greasy like other reviewer's experience. Kids loved homemade sodas. husband had halibut special which was really unique and I had fettucine with a sort of beef ragout sauce that was delicious. Only lacking the final star as my husband's dish had a small errant hair in it. I'm sure this was total anomoly. we did not make a big deal as our kids would have all been in an uproar and the whole evening would have been spent discussing it.... :) something to look forward to for the next visit - or maybe worth a detour on our way t/f st. louis.
(4)Steve A.
First time eating here. Took a client to lunch and I had the steak sandwich with a house salad. The steak was Allen Bros. and was excellent. Very tender with caramelized onions on a fresh French bread roll. Salad was very fresh with homemade Ranch dressing which was great. My client had the pork shank plate which he said was terrific. He also had apple bread pudding for dessert. Everything was fresh and much was homemade. Really enjoyed the food and found the lunch atmosphere great for business meal.
(5)Carl B.
Great food at a reasonable price. This is a refreshing break from all the fast food at this exit. There are fish to feed in the lake off the back balcony and fresh produce from the neighboring farm. I would eat here weekly if it was in my neighborhood. Fantastic.
(5)Sabrina D.
The Firefly is an absolutely outstanding venue for excellent food and a great non-rushed dining experience. The service was excellent as well as the various menu items. The brownie or the bread pudding were a perfect end to the evening.
(5)Keith H.
After 1000 miles of the tedious and tallow menu items of the likes of McDonalds, Denneys & Cracker Barrel, a suicide bomber had issued a fatwa on my digestive metabolism. As Lady Luck looked kindly upon me for I stopped in Effingham for the night and Firefly Grill surfaced on the Yelp search. . Oh! To experience humanity again at Firefly Grill after the tyranny of interstate 70, rejuvenated my spirit to trudge onward through the usual suspects of IS 70, namely tasteless, colorful processed foodstuffs. A higher end restaurant with staff pleasing to look at, menu items pleasing to taste, wholesome and satisfying. One minor criticism, provide a wine list with the menu.
(5)Nick T.
Found this gem after checking in to my hotel room surrounded by depressing chain restaurants. Awesome building inside and out. Had the butternut squash soup and the Montana filet and can't say enough. Service was great and I look forward to my next layover in Effingham.
(5)Robby T.
Two star rating for the following: 1. Reservations were made 1 day in advance for a specific time and location within the restaurant. 2. We were seated 20 min late in the incorrect location 3. Our table was given to a different party who made reservations the day of for a later time. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth. 4. To add insult to injury; the aforementioned group was waited on and served first. 5. I received my food just now. The crisp southern fried miller chicken was very good. 6. Party size should not determine priority, but the quality of customer. Thank you.
(2)Don S.
SEVERELY OVERPRICED!! , I don't mind paying good money for good meals. But they are very orve priced and under portioned. We ordered the Shellfish Tower for 75$ , got 4 pcs of Shrimp, 1 Crab leg, 1 a handful of mussels, and 1/4 lobster tail. So the lobster was about 2 bites. Nice place, nice service, But the tower was a total ripoff. I give it a 2 and the server a nice tip. I guess they just dont have any competition in Effingham.
(2)Chuck R.
Wow! What an amazing find off the interstate. Way beyond typical roadstop food, in fact, the restaurant could easily be in any major metropolitan city. The food was amazing AND it's locally grown too. Just expect to pay for top quality food and service, the place ain't cheap!
(5)Jeff C.
We had another great experience as always our waitress was fantastic the appetizer and pizza errific. Thank you firefly
(5)Jay H.
This restaurant really is this good. As a Chicago city resident, I was very skeptical. But the quality of the ingredients, the skill of execution, the warm service, the cool interior, and above all, the creativity of the preparation won me over. Big time. We ordered a pork shank with red curry coconut sauce over lentils and a chicken with Korean BBQ sauce over udon noodles. 5 star flavor, 4.5 star execution. Onion rings were the best $5 I have ever spent. The prices are in line with quality and preparation. Also, wine list is well chosen anf fairly priced. A terrific place, especially if you branch out beyond steaks and burgers.
(5)Kaaren F.
Outstanding food and service. On easter We were driving home to Chicago from New Orleans and stopped in effingham. It was toward the end of their service for the night , and there were just a few tables still seated. Yet, We were met with warmth and the service and food were far far above what I would have expected. This could be a top restaurant in Chicago.
(5)Val T.
Seriously local food with flair. Today's special: stuffed squash blossoms from their own zucchini plants in the restaurant's garden. Margherita pizza with tomatoes and basil from their garden. Out in the middle of nowhere, IL but RIGHT off the highway and so much better than all the nearby chains. Service good.
(4)Jeanne G.
Great food and service. Little pricey but worth it. Best calamari ever. We had pork and scallops. Delicious
(5)J F.
Excellent service and Great food! We had such a great experience here that we had to call over the floor manager and tell them a positive compliment. I rarely if ever do that and felt that they needed to know that my experience was excellent.
(5)A.j. H.
Had the pretzel chicken sandwich with Brie , it was refreshing in a town like Effingham where flavors tend to be two dimensional. Firefly grill has yet to disappoint, I just forget it's an option sometimes! Go there for lunch it's affordable and you gotta love the atmosphere.
(5)Jenna W.
The very best place to have a nice lunch or dinner meal within a 60 mile radius. It's even better than some restaurants I've been to in bigger cities. I am so happy it's so close to home. I have never had a bad meal here. Very classy, good place!!!
(5)Carl M.
They serve up one delicious caprese salad with heirloom tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella. The tomatoes and basil came from their garden.
(5)Christopher G.
trying to plan someplace decent to eat between Indianapolis and Columbia Missouri (our stop for the night) . ..well this is really the only interesting restaurant between Terre Haute (decent enough Thai next to the interstate) and St. Louis. So we stopped here and were pretty please with the experience. The restaurant is beautiful, and sits on a coy/goldfish pond. The staff were especially friendly, giving my son plenty of bread to feed the goldfish/catfish. The food was decent, not the best Pannini but the pizza was rock solid (not new England quality, but definitely beat Indianapolis quality). Overall - a good stop, and definitely worth it versus stooping at McDonald are some other nondescript fast food joint.
(4)Missy L.
I would give this 5 stars, but my waitress seemed a bit stiff. She could have been having an off night, though...I'm just saying it did diminish my 5 star experience that I was expecting. Beyond that, the food was amazing. I had the wild mushroom pizza, which had a zillion wonderful flavors, all which exploded in my mouth bite after bite. There were too many flavors to identify, but the combination of sweet, tangy, salty and "wild" were all present. The ambiance can't be beat. Feels like Chicago or New York. I'll definitely be coming back, and bringing a date or a group to sit outside and enjoy the fire pit and lake view.
(4)Rachel S.
Came here for lunch with a friend and it was my first time in the restaurant. I believe we were the only patrons in the whole restaurant and had anywhere to choose to sit. We decided to sit outside on the patio and got the opportunity to feed their enormously huge, seven year old catfish and koi. Unbelievable! The service was wonderful and the food was great. I had the chicken sandwich on pretzel bread and the garlic French fries. Outstanding and I think I could have just eaten the fries... They were wonderful! The total bill for two lunches (no alcohol) was $27. I looked at dinner prices and they seemed a little expensive. That's e only reason I knocked it down a star. Hope to return to try other dishes.
(4)Christie B.
This is a hidden gem that is right off the 70 freeway in Effingham. If you venture a tiny bit further than the typical McDonald's and Starbucks that clutter the freeway exit, you'll find yourself in an open space with a gorgeous restaurant that looks like it's been transplanted from Napa Valley. This is a fantastic place that serves food made from locally sourced ingredients. I've eaten there twice now, and both meals have been excellent, from beginning to end. The waitstaff is friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere of the restaurant is superb. Add to that the fact that the menu is reasonably priced, and I'm a devoted fan.
(5)Matthew S.
I went in the first night thinking I would have a solid 4-star experience for dinner. It was 3 stars at best. I thought I would give it a second try, again, 3 stars at best. Here's the skinny: Night 1: Ambiance 4-5 stars, service 4 stars, food 1-2 stars. The homemade bread that comes out before the meal is good. The beer selection is decent as they have just under 8-10 beers on tap and around 20 bottled varieties to choose from. I ordered the citrus salad for the main course. The waitress talked me into adding chicken to it. Bad decision. The salad was great. Homemade dressing and very well done, but the chicken was at least 3 days old, dried out and almost as hard as the croutons. I ordered their "famous" bread pudding for desert. Not sure if it really qualifies as bread pudding. It was tasty, but be ready to fork over some cash for something you could probably eat in one bite. The ice cream "scoop" is about the size of a golf ball at best. I was pretty grumpy. You just don't tease and toy with my emotions like that! Unacceptable by Midwestern standards my friends. Maybe it has something to do with the Fiscal Cliff and budget cuts?? :-) Night 2: Ambiance again 4-5 stars, service 2 stars, food 3 stars. I ordered the roasted chicken with a cream sauce, asparagus and yellow foot mushrooms. Very tasty on the whole, but they just missed the mark of having something excellent going because they over salted the chicken quite a bit. I ordered their house side salad, this was fantastic. They even threw some goat cheese crumbles on there for me which was awesome. Service was sub-par. Our waiter really didn't know the first thing about beer although he pretended to and he didn't check on us very much. It also took 15+ minutes to get a check, our credit cards lying out on the edge of the table as a subtle hint that we're ready to peace out man! They weren't that busy. If they tighten up some loose ends with service and food quality they will have a great thing going here. I would say that if their prices were lower, I would give them another shot, but at $45 after a 18% tip for an entree, side salad and 2 beers, I'd probably try out another local establishment next time I'm in town for business.
(3)Sam H.
Great restaurant for a small city chain restaurant area.excellent ingredients well prepared. Small fancy portions, high quality. Definitely 3 $signs.
(5)Matt T.
Huh? Where am I? Driving from St Louis to Indianapolis and stopped for dinner. This is an AMAZING restaurant that would stand out in any large city. The menu is beautiful, the decor welcoming and warm. The food was outstanding. I can not imagine making this drive and not stopping here again. Had a salad, a pasta dish and a glass of wine for $40. Was almost licking the bowl...simply delicious. UPDATE: Came back the next night...yup, it's that good. Had a fish dish and a glass of wine for $31. Simply wonderful establishment. Service was prompt and pleasant, no complaints from me about anything at all. If I lived in Effingham, I'd be here once a week, no joke. Looking forward to my next drive to Indy already.
(5)Cherie O.
Really?? (insert McKayla Maroney is not impressed). I really wanted to like this place. Everyone raves about this place. But it being out in Central IL shouldn't change anyone's standards. Neither should the fact that they reiterate that everything is locally resourced or that they fly their fish in a couple of times a week should automatically bump it up. I think this place is a 2.5 star kind of place...it would have been three stars, but for some things that kinda left a bad taste in my mouth. It's a very pretty place. I wouldn't say it's warm because I don't think glass and metal are very warm...but it's a striking place. Some of the reviews make it seem like it's in the middle of nowhere...not really. It's down the street from a Nike outlet. I dragged a couple of colleagues here because there was going to be a group dinner and I had really wanted to try firefly. There were about 20 of us and we had the area behind the bar that's mostly curtained off. The first thing I noticed when we entered was that it was LOUD because of the acoustics and it was only a little over half full. So we tell the hostess that we're here for the group dinner and she waves us towards the back of the bar. I don't know if she thought we knew where we were going, but there was no attempt to even bring us back there. Even better yet, she waved towards the left side of the bar, towards this conglomerate of people (not with our group dinner) which ended up kinda funny because if we had headed that direction, we would have to have fought past that group only to be blocked from entering from that side because there was a screen projector on the other side. So there were three waiters, who all haphazardly ended up working the table. Some of us got drink menus; some of us didn't. Same thing for the actual menu and specials. I realize that there is a lot of confusion when people are arriving at different times resulting in drinks being taken out of order, but when serving the drinks, shouldn't they be done in that order? My colleague had to wait awhile for her pumpkin martini (which was done well) while other people who had ordered martinis and other drinks after her got theirs before she did. On the plus side, they do have Schlafly! So people started ordering starters and I'm not sure what happened, but they never brought out my other friend her Maine Lobster Stew. I felt like they were confused about who ordered what (because of the arrival times and random seats we were choosing) because there was some walking back and forth before plate placement, but there was never an extra plate of stew wandering about. As I was really really enjoying MY Maine Lobster Stew, I felt like I had to speak up for her because it really was very good and there was no head waiter in sight checking up on everyone to make sure that everyone had gotten what they ordered. So ten minutes later, her stew comes out, and it is COLD. WHAT? How do you not have a plate for her and then have it come out cold?! She took two bites and couldn't finish it because it was that cold. I'm still very confused about this. To make it more interesting, I guess this inconsistency is also across the board because it does come with this rustic bread, but some people had super burnt pieces of it compared to my creamy, buttery piece. (and again, really? Serving a burnt piece of bread?) We order the entrees in seated order and the same confusion happens about who is ordering what. I can only guess that it's either because a different person brings out the plates or that they were bringing out the same entree at a time to cause that confusion. Don't shoot yourselves in the foot, guys. I had ordered the seared Hawaiian Ahi Tuna with soba noodles, roasted Korean shiitake mushrooms, and asparagus. It was okay. I think it would have been really good on its own, save for that awful Americanized fusion super salty teriyaki sauce that was at the bottom of the plate. I felt it basically ruined the tuna. Dessert for me was the seasonal house special which was the bread pudding and their own peanut butter ice cream. That was pretty good; I'd order it again. The peanut butter ice cream really tasted like a grainier cold version of peanut butter, and I know some purists would take some offense at it, but honestly, ice cream is ice cream to me, and I liked it. Not going to have dreams about it, but it's solid. I think they have a lot of really good ideas. I think their resourcing and creativity is definitely there. But execution falls flat on so many levels. Dinner was just a disappointment.
(2)John B.
This restaurant is such a surprise, you may never know the regret you'd feel, if you knew what you missed.
(5)Anne B.
I ate lunch with friends. There is a wonderful private room and great service. Ordered poor boy shrimp sandwich. Delicious!
(5)Craig D.
I don't normally pay attention to whether or not the food is organic, but Firefly has opened my eyes. Their farm/garden to table food has brought me around. I had fried green tomatoes...fresh from their onsite garden...and the scallop with Risoto entree. Everything was perfectly cooked and spiced...and very fresh. Don't get me wrong, I'll still go right after some meat healthily infused with antibiotics and growth hormones, but I will keep my eye out for any place serving farm to table fresh food and I will absolutely stop by the Firefly Grill whenever I'm in town.
(5)Hannah G.
Holy mother of god. What a gem in the middle of nowhere! My boyfriend and I stopped here on our way through IL, and we were so pleased and impressed! The ambiance is amazing, spacious and modern. The entire staff is friendly and professional, the servers help one another out and work cooperatively even though your table will have a single server assigned to it. The food is spectacular! Modern American with and emphasis on seasonal, sustainable, fresh and organic. The restaurant even has it's own garden! Definitely stop in!
(5)William C.
Halibut with vegetables and butternut squash ravioli. The fish was ok in taste but it was cooked perfectly. The sauce with it really was great. The ravioli were outstanding. My wife really liked the scallops with risotto was cooked right and very tasty. Neither serving was very large but we felt they were enough and left room for desert. Both deserts were very very good. Small in portion but great in taste. I had the triple chocolate and she had the best banana cake. The staff was very good. The provided good service and were very knowledgable about the food and its preparation.
(5)