Came here for dinner for the first time. Hubby and I ordered the chili cheese tots ($10), black and bleu cheeseburger with a side of sweet potato fries ($17), the portobello philly sandwich (vegan) with a side of coleslaw ($16), and a gringo beer ($8). Total came out to approximately $60, not including tip. What's hot - Quality. Delicious. Hubby really liked their sweet potato fries. Slightly crispy on the outside, but soft and chewy on the inside. My portobello mushroom sandwich was delicious. Everything was well seasoned and the vegan cheese melted nicely with everything, which added to the flavor. Their coleslaw is listed on the menu as vinegar based, which it was and I enjoyed. Definitely a vinegar kick, but not overly so. We really enjoyed their chili cheese tots, which had a good amount of toppings, and was served warm. - Menu. Very good variety, especially vegan options. Dessert menu has vegan options, as well. - Price. Good value for money. It can cost less than $20 per person, unless you add drinks, appetizers, and/or dessert. - Service. Very good. Reliable and dependable. - Ambiance. Pretty cool that they have pinball games, video games, and a few board games and card games to play to keep you occupied. Be aware their pinball games and video games only take quarters, so you need cash. They have seating for groups of 2 up to 6. They also have scheduled events for the public, Iike trivia night. That they're open to all parts of the community, like LGBTQ, is visible and appreciated. - Parking. There are a few parking spaces in front of the restaurant. There's a larger parking lot behind the restaurant, which is helpful. What's not - Lighting. Indoor lighting is not the best, especially later in the day and when they have their curtains drawn. - Outdoor seating. On the one hand, it's nice to have outdoor seating. On the other hand, they have a sign that appears to indicate outdoor seating is self-serve, which can be inconvenient. Final answer Worth returning. read more

See all

I had one small problem with my order and the owner took care of it right away! The food is extremely delicious, especially the wings! I will eat here 3 to 4 times per week! Thank you for your awesome service!!! read more

Once again, they do not disappoint! The burger was outstanding, and the sweet potato fries and sweet tea were just right for the price. My waitress was friendly and seemed happy to be working there. Love the up to date pinball machines. It's a nice funky place to take your family and/or friends. I didn't care for the strawberry shortcake, it was a bit stale. read more

Amazing burger and I loved the sweet potato fries!!! The Philly steaks were also both great. The people and atmosphere were amazing. Absolutely love the service and our waitress! Will have to go back!! read more

Firefly - Brownie - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

Super fun atmosphere with great food! The menu has enough options to please everyone -- in addition to being welcoming to everyone My boyfriend and I shared the Tot-chos (tater tot nachos) and they were AMAZING! I probably could've just ate that as my meal, but my grilled cheese sandwhich was great, and my boyfriend really enjoyed his hamburger as we listened to an awesome soundtrack. The waitstaff was courteous and attentive, afterwards we hung out a bit and played some pinball. We will definitely make sure to visit Firefly again next time we're in Charlottesville! read more

Such a lovely local spot in Charlottesville. Family-friendly bar setting with lots of food options, including a full parallel vegan menu and fun activities most nights. Their numerous themed pinball machines take quarters. Check their socials to confirm schedule on a given day, but it's generally Tuesday - Geeks Who Drink Trivia, Wednesday - Bingo, and Thursday - Karaoke. I've been to both the Trivia and Bingo and they're a lot of fun. I advise making a reservation on those nights. Just call and request patio or indoor for whatever time. Note that you can hear the activity equally as well on the patio due to their speaker system, which is awesome in the warmer months, but can be a bit loud if you're not participating, so just be aware of what night you're going. The food is pretty good, but a little bit expensive for the entree portion sizes. They have a vegan version or close equivalent of every regular menu option which is really cool, and I think their brunch is super underrated (see pictures). Lots of drink choices, including local options and a rotating list of fun cocktails. The wonton nachos (huge) and chili tots are always a highlight for our table. One thing we have noticed though was that the food portions are kind of inconsistent and have started to skew smaller, both in general and as the night goes on, especially if the restaurant is busy. Over the past year or so, there seemed to be an ongoing issue with inconsistent service. The staff are generally enthusiastic and kind, but they often seemed overwhelmed, and sometimes your table gets left alone for a long time. It's great that the place is so full of people, but in general and notably when the 2024 Fall semester started, there seemed to be some issues with that. The vibes are amazing, and I appreciate what a welcoming and joyful environment this is. You can tell a lot of thought and love goes into this place. read more

See all

Food was okay, but the manger/boss Jen was incredibly rude to our server in front of us .. would not go again

My group had the best time at Firefly. We hosted a formal at their venue, and the staff could not have been friendlier! They responded very promptly to all of my emails and helped me to ensure we got the right amount of food for our party. For a large gathering, I could not recommend Firefly enough. We can't wait to come back next year! read more

Silent Disco at the Firefly? WiNnInG CoMbInAtIoN Good drinks, good floor,good layout, and a super triple soundtrack that kept the dance floor full for 3 solid hours. It'll be back there in Feb 2023. If you like to dance? Then yes......... tickets before it sells out. read more

See all

Delicious food, fun ambiance with lots of board games, pinball machines, skeeball machines, pac man, etc. lots of vegan and gluten free options. They have a separate gluten free fryer so food is very safe for people with celiac / gluten-allergy. Love this place! Also the brownie sundae is TO DIE For! read more

Firefly - Seasonal dessert menu - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Fun place for a holiday get together with family. Kids loved the pinball machines. Staff was great and food was good.

Loved the setting - casual and fun! The bar area was separate from the dining room and games area. There were pinball machines, an old school Galaga/Pac Mac table, skeeball, and foosball. The menu were plenty of vegan/vegetarian/meaty dishes to choose from. I didn't hear a complaint (only oohs and ahhs) from our group for 12+. Our waiter was a gem and managed the table amazingly by himself. read more

See all

Stopped here to get some work done while having a late lunch. This was originally on our list for a fun, casual, dinner since they have an extensive vegan menu (and games). However, that didn't work out - we planned on coming on Saturday and they had rented out the whole place to a sorority. On a Saturday. Anyway... Powered up our computers and was pleasantly surprised by the strength and speed of the wifi, even sitting on their patio. We didn't drink, but we did both order appetizers - vegan chili for me, buffalo cauliflower for her - and chicken philly for me and vegan crab cake salad for her. She'll write her own review but I was very happy with my meal. The vegan chili wasn't anything to specifically come here for - we make a better vegan chili but then again, our vegan chili is freakin awesome. However, my chicken philly was probably one of the best I've had. I have found myself disappointed time and again with phillys, but this one was a but smokey and flavorful. Not sure if the chicken was marinated or it was just the peppers and onions cooked perfectly, but I really enjoyed this sandwich. Enough to bring me back? Probably. Not sure when we'll be in Charlottesville again, but we haven't had many repeat worthy meals here. This was one of them. read more

Firefly - Chicken Philly. One of the better ones I've had. - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Wait staff was friendly, games were fun, food was tasty at the time... but I got sick less than an hour after leaving this afternoon. Think the restaurant gave me food poisoning. Quick response and refunded 2 items. Updated review to 3 stars read more

Different is what this place is! We have been in area for over 25 years ! We recently plan to try a new restaurant every weekend! This was our first visit! I was jonesing for brunch! So , I ordered the cheeseburger with a friend egg! And tater tots! This place is more of a bar scene than a restaurant! Kinda of a fun whimsical place ! Hamburger medium rare with an egg OE! The egg and burger was cooked perfectly! A little more salt maybe! Great beer and only $2.50 for tea , somewhat reasonable! Parking a little tricky! Service was polite and fine ! Just different! examen des cols bleus: read more

See all

Firefly was a cute restaurant both outside and inside. They have some seating outdoors right outside the front entrance and plenty of seating inside. Something really nice is that they have classic arcade games indoors, plenty to choose from also! They also had plenty of card and board games right next to the entrance that you can take with you to your table. The firefly burger was good along with the tater tots. Hard to say that the tater tots are anything unique and out of the ordinary, but they complemented the burger well especially since burgers usually come with your typical fries. I would like to come again to try out other menu items, I do recommend! Try them out read more

See all

Not at all what i thought it was. Very disappointed from food to expensive games. Never again

What a great place! I had the chicken wonton nachos. They were so full of fresh flavors and the portion was huge. Our server Jada was so sweet and on top of everything. I would definitely return. read more

I've been back a few times since my original review, and the food has fallen downhill unfortunately. I came with a friend and ordered the vegan crab cake sandwich, and it was just okay - not my favorite. She said her mushroom entree also tasted a bit off. I ordered some sort of mango cocktail and it was just average. I came about a week after that with a large party from work, and the tatchos were AMAZING, but the burgers were overdone. Very hit and miss both times I've been recently. Overall, I still love the ambiance, the games and the times I've been here, but the food hasn't kept up as I've tried more on the menu. Solid experience still and I'll still go, but the food has definitely fallen off a bit. read more

Place was dirty af. Bathrooms were somehow cleaner than where people eat. Host had no idea what they were doing. Food was not food, but something that may have been food once upon a time. Staff were rude, snooty and lazy AND entitled about it all somehow. Mixed drinks were room temp sugar water. Just no. You will have a better dine in experience at Taco Bell. read more

The place looks ruff when pulling up but the food is very tasty and filling. Our waitress was very nice and checked on us several times. The inside is roomy and comfortable with several pinball machines. read more

I was happy the place is gay friendly and all that. The service was great, but the food disappointed me greatly. Its just weird food. I got diarrhea and stomach cramps a bit later. And, a restaurant with no French fries is really weird too. And the "music" was awful. read more

Delicious food and great service! They have a large vegan/vegetarian menu and I love the wonton nachos!

I've been disappointed each time I've come here. What used to be a friendly and welcoming spot for children is now mediocre and unpleasant. The new owner is completely clueless about handling criticism and understanding the concepts behind running a restaurant. I am glad Melissa was able to continue on with her own adventures but she is missed. If your food can't stand on its own, you'd better be compensating with good vibes and this place fails in both directions. read more

Food was great and such friendly service...it was a real find! Try the brownie sundae.

We went here last night for dinner. It's an easy sell for a six year old because they have pinball and a few other arcade games. The games are really the only thing that keeps this from being a 1 star rating, the rest was downhill from there. The burgers are overpriced. They are decent, but basic. The blue cheese burger is good, but there is nothing special that elevates it to $16. It just a regular burger, standard lettuce, tomato, onion, plus blue cheese. Im fairly certain they are using potato rolls, like those you can get at the grocery store. Our kid order a grilled cheese from the kids menu, but instead they brought the adult version. It was then that I realized the kid version ($8) and adult version ($14) are exactly the same except the adult version has slices of tomato and Pesto sauce. Essentially, they are charging you $6 for two slices of tomato and pesto. Service was poor. My wife ordered her burger with a side salad. At no point did the wait staff bring silverware or napkins to the table, including after the meal was served. My wife finished her burger, had to go the bathroom to wash her hands, and then headed to the bar to get silverware to eat her salad. When the bill came, they charged us for both the adult version grilled cheese, and the kid version, despite the kitchen making the mistake. My wife had to find a manager to get the bill corrected. We will most likely go back because our kid loves the games, but we will be going knowing that the food is overpriced and the service lack luster. Maybe we will just order drinks, it seems like a safer bet. read more

I don't know why I shouldn't rate it 5 stars. Every time I go to rate a cigar, for example, i look at the 5 star and I think of the magic Cubans I've had and I stop short of rating even the best non Cubans a 5, but it doesn't mean they aren't great. Firefly does very good yummy bar foods (often better than restaurants) and they serve tater tot's. What's not to like? read more

Waited over an hour for food with only 3 other tables of customers ... I came here on a Sunday with my 2 kids at 1pm. They were not at all busy. We weren't greeted and took about 20 minutes for someone to take our order after menus dropped. then it took another 1 hour for our food to come. Nobody checked on us or offered any updates on our order. Again the restaurant was basically empty at this time. I was told we couldn't order desert because the kitchen was closing early, an hour before listed online and signage. I had to hang out by the cash register for another 10 minutes for someone to come so I could pay for lunch, and when I asked (kindly) if they were short staffed they said no, there was a late event the night before and staff was tired and we should expect an hour + wait on Sundays. The response was rude and without any customer service basics. No even an "I'm sorry everything took so long" more like "you're problem and should have know bc it's Sunday." The food was food and games were fun. Service nonexistent, wait ridiculous, food not good wnough to compensate and would definitely not return. read more

Was very excited to see a menu with so many vegan options so decided to stop in here! Really liked the arcade games and they were a nice distraction while waiting for food. The flavors all hit the spot for my meal and I did finish every bite, but the serving size for the amount paid is underwhelming, not to mention there should definitely be more sausage on the bun for the beyond sausage hoagie, because it was more bread than anything, except right in the middle. Good flavors and fast service nonetheless though! Worth a stop in :) read more

Firefly - Beyond sausage hoagie and vegan chili cheese tots - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Had breakfast here today and loved it! We arrived around 10:30 and seated right away. The restaurant is perfect for kids, at least in the morning because it wasn't too busy and there are several arcade games and pinball, our 5 yo loved playing the car game! I imagine it gets pretty busy later in the day and especially at night. They offer a wide variety of options, including brunch or lunch items and a nice vegan menu as well. We started with coffee with oat milk on the side and for food, I ordered the avocado toast which is drizzled with balsamic vinegar and topped with housemade pesto and roasted tomatoes with a side of fruit, my partner ordered the breakfast platter, which comes with bacon, eggs, French toast and a side of fruit, our son went with the French toast and a side of fruit. I also ordered a side of hot sauce and the server brought out 3 options, definitely appreciated that! We all loved our food! I highly recommend this place, it's casual, fun, and good food, good service. read more

Firefly - Avocado toast. Amazing! - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Firefly has a great atmosphere and has a great dairy free menu for my wife! We really enjoy coming here on date nights.

The service is incredible!! Food and games are amazing. I love it. The place fits so well in the repurposed building. Iconic. read more

Firefly - Appetizers and Sandwiches - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Firefly is such a great place with excellent food, wine, and lots of fun arcade games and a great selection of various board games. I truly feel inspired just by the back story of how Firefly came to be and how it's help to impact our community - not mention the beautiful artwork it displays and sales of local talented artist. They are a certified green restaurant and are part of FeelSafe. Firefly gets a lot ingredients locally which is very cool and it's an investment into our community as whole. John as always did a fabulous job!! Alex from Dogwood Refillery, had a lot of awesome low-waste, non-toxic that my friend and I really appreciated and came out with some of her goodies and definitely be visiting the shop very soon. read more

See all

There was a group alumni event hosted here. It was $40pp, but unfortunately we realized that did not include drinks. It ended up being a good space that was family/kid-friendly. There were also a lot of arcade games for kids to play, and some board games available. I think for the particular event it was a bit small/crowded. There weren't many seats for people except for select chairs and one or two standing tables. There were two couches near the bar area. Overall a chill place to have an event, but for the size of this one, room was tight. The food selection was a buffet that included: green salad, fruit salad, chicken nuggets, sourdough sliders (the buns were made of dough that tasted like pretzel), tater tots, and a make your own taco bar. The taco bar had chicken and a vegan option. I understand it had to be a kid-friendly and all-types-of-diets-friendly, so I commend the vegan options at Firefly. I thought some foods such as the chicken nuggets and tater tots were no better than eating frozen food. The sourdough sliders stuck out to me though as one of the favorites; the burger was cooked well-done, but not overcooked which was good. The servers did their best to accommodate us and do refills on the drinks (unsweetened tea, sweetened tea, and lemonade). There were many points throughout the evening where there was no food left though, and when they did refill it was just the nuggets and tater tots. 4/5 for effort and accommodations, but if it were just the food I'd personally give it a 3/5. read more

Everything from the Vegan options, Video Games & top notch service was all that & then some. A restaurant/cafe/sports bar & game room wrapped up in one. We came for Brunch - Sat & Sun from 10/11A-2P & was not disappointed. The vast menu items can accommodate everyone's food preferences from French Toast, Burritos, Smoothies & Sandwiches. Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Desserts & Late Night menus highlights seasonal ingredients from local & organic producers. Libations - wine, 18 rotating beer taps, mead, cider & cocktails. Check their FB page for specials. Sam, the man gave us amazing service & his recommendations were on point. The Beyond Sausage Hoagie, Brunch Burrito, French Toast & Tater Tots with Cashew Vegan Cheese landed on our table & was all consumed with eager satisfaction. I enjoyed my hearty breakfast while playing Ms. PAC-Man & Donkey Kong...Ms. PAC-Man is still my jam! We almost came back the next day, yet decided to wait until our next visit to UVA. What a cool & fun visit at the Firefly. read more

Firefly - 12.14.3019. - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Went for bingo night, so much fun. Very crowded so may want to make a reservation. Typical bar food, taste good. And retro pinball machines is a great addition read more

Slightly off the beaten path, this is a great local spot to grab a burger and drinks and hang out with friends. There's a bar on one side and an arcade and pool table on the other. Plenty of seating, great for groups, and outdoor patio as well. We received good service, it wasn't too crowded or too loud and the prices were decent. Our food came out pretty quickly. Our burgers were thick and juicy and the toasted bun was soft and buttery. I loved the tater tots and I had an old fashioned root beer to top off my meal! Super cool vibe, I'd definitely return and recommend it to all! read more

See all

Firefly is a fun bar that also happens to offer tasty snacks and meals. I've been a few times, with my focus being on the drinks. They usually have quite a few ciders on offer, which is cool because a lot of bars are lacking in this (even with our plethora of local ciders here in Central Va). The bar staff is always friendly, and the owner, Melissa, is really personable and you can tell she cares a lot about the place and its customers. One of the few places in town to go for a friendly game of pool, and I much prefer it to another option because there's not smoke filling the room where the pool tables are. The arcade games are a super cool touch, even if you aren't playing them, they give the space a cool vibe and act almost as unique decor. I also loved hearing the story about the founder (who passed away not long after Firefly's opening) and how this arcade/bar/restaurant hybrid was his brainchild. It's great to see it still flourishing and carrying his memory forward; the story behind a local business always makes the experience that much richer. I haven't tried all that much on the menu, usually sticking to the bar type snacks/apps while there, but the totchos are so good. Next time I go, I plan to try more from the menu, and will update review at that point. Overall a fun local hangout, with good service, a convenient location, and easy parking! read more

See all

No food for 2.5 hours after arriving (on 2/18/2023). About a 1 hour wait just for our order to be taken. I think they were just way understaffed out front and in the kitchen for a Saturday night. Great food. And lots of great menu choices. Probably would have left if we didnt have each other for great conversation that night. Don't like to complain but if I owned this restaurant I'd want to know. read more

Firefly - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Hip little place that is very dog friendly. We found them through the BringFido app and our sweet Luna was very pleased to have a slider, tots and eggs for lunch. The patio is heated, albeit breezy this time of year. read more

See all