Back in the 80s we used to joke about the food in the USA. It was hard at the time to find a very good meal and when it happened, it was generally in large cities like New York or San Francisco. Well, not anymore! Effingham Illinois is a small town of 12000 people or so and yet, the Firefly Grill serve spectacular food. This gem, is a bit hidden on a side road behind the truck stops, malls and chain restaurants but it worth well the effort to find it! It's both a restaurant and a farm so they serve very fresh ingredients in season. We did try the fried green tomatoes as an appetiser and rib-eye steak as a main course. Everything was beautifully presented and very tasty. The setting is great with large windows and both an outdoor and indoor terraces. Service was professional and attentive. An open kitchen complete this nice setting. I'll be sure to stop again next time we pass through this city who billed itself as "The Crossroads of Opportunity". read more

Amazballs! Just got lunch there and the food was amazing. I am vegan and I had the hummus sandwich (photo enclosed) with delicious fries. My family also has diverse food needs (gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian) and they all loved their food. Service was incredible and fast, my server was so kind and made sure we had everything we needed. We sat outside on a koi pond with a fountain. Priced for quality, local, and good food. Bathroom was clean and nice. Rated one of the most eco friendly restaurants in the US. 10/10!!! read more

Firefly Grill - hummus sandwich with fries - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

Had the pork chop. It was dry as a bone. I do not recommend this place the service was OK not the greatest. I travel quite a bit, and on restaurants I do not recommend this place. For the price I paid over price for sure for the pork chop read more

The food was excellent and the server was appropriately attentive. It did take awhile to get our food but that's being nit picky. Overall would recommend. read more

This is a nice place to visit. Service was great! Food was good.... and the atmosphere is excellent.... I would definitely eat here again!!!! If I were to suggest one thing that I tried, but didn't order..... it would be the scallops. I had two with my salad and will be ordering as main course next visit. I can't wait read more

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Driving on I 57 near Effingham IL? You MUST dine at the Firefly Grill! It's a farm to table kind of restaurant.. all fresh and homemade, even the ice cream and raspberry sorbet. We saw their sign on the highway and love trying new restaurants, so we stopped. The building is adorable, very warm, cozy, comfortable and welcoming! The hostess and our server were both friendly. The service was prompt. The food was OUTSTANDING! We started with an appetizer: stuffed squash flowers. Deelicious. So light and filling was so creamy! Then I ordered shrimp cake burger on a pretzel bun with a side of truffle fries. The best I have ever eaten. So yummy. And then came dessert, I enjoyed a cup of homemade salted caramel ice cream on a bed of whipped cream. (Sorry no picture of ice cream because I dove right in to eat) this was a fantastic experience and want to tell the world how wonderful this restaurant is!! read more

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Let me preface this by saying I acknowledge this is a unique experience but there's some fault on the restaurant to a degree, mostly that the situation went completely unacknowledged (and also their ingredients caused me to be sick). So we came here for my birthday and we're excited to have a nice meal since I'm out of town and flew in specifically for my birthday. We ordered a couple drinks and apps to start. I had the summer shakeup and another had a sangria. We got clam chowder and fried green tomatoes and shrimp - all excellent. We ordered entrees. Meanwhile I wanted a new drink while waiting for those - I asked about one near the top forget the name but it's 8$ and said firefly but I was advised to get the blackberry spice even tho I wasn't a fan of jalapenos. I got the drink and immediately it didn't smell right. I actually didn't realize it was the drink at first. There was something on the rim that honestly smelled like rotten eggs so I wiped it off. I tried the drink and it tasted ok at first but then I got more of that nasty taste and smell. I had a quarter of it and got so nauseous I had to leave the restaurant. I came back and couldn't even stand the smell of our food, couldn't eat the entree that just arrived and pretty much ruined our VERY EXPENSIVE birthday dinner. My parents packed up the food bc I felt like I was going to throw up. The waitress didn't ask even though I ate none of it and we were clearly packing up in a hurry. I really regret listening to the server about changing the drink order bc it pretty much ruined the evening. I had to stop and get Pepto on my way home and it still tastes like egg in my mouth. My parents said their filet and pork shank were good so the food I'm sure is outstanding. It doesn't say what that drink is rimmed with but PLEASE TAKE CAUTION. And it would have been nice if the server asked if anything was wrong since she recommended the drink. I felt awful my parents paid nearly $400 for a dinner that got cut short. It's not necessarily anyone's fault but checking in would have been great as I was in tears at the table while trying not to barf. Bummer. Edit: I learned the next day that my dad actually told the server when I had left the table that the drink caused me to be sick and she had zero reaction, wtf. She did mention that she was too busy to box our food because there was a wedding. It's also possible that the ingredients used in this particular drink that's not even on their website menu were rancid! Food is 4 -5 stars but that drink, getting sick, and zero care about the issue is a 2 for me since it ruined our night. read more

5 Star dining experience at Firefly Grill (Farm to Table) Restaurant in Effingham. The Fried Green Tomatoes with baby sweet corn were the best. Carne Asada Street Tacos and Fish and Chips were excellent. Tom really enjoyed his Bananas Foster Cake with Salted Caramel Ice Cream and I had the really flavorful and refreshing Passion Fruit Sorbet. Hannah, our waitress was really great, but she is leaving soon to begin college at SIU. If you are near Effingham, I would highly recommend The Firefly Grill. Don't forget to head out to the back deck stopping by the door to get a cup of fish food so you can feed the turtles and giant catfish and carp. read more

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Just a few notes about our visit this week-end: 1) Food was good - hence the reason we came back on Sunday for brunch. 2) Waiter was good but service was slow as far as receiving our food. 3) 5% service charge was added to our bill - our total was $212.00 without tax so we did spend a significant dollar amount to include appetizers, drinks, entrees and dessert for 2 people. No where could I find where you are told about this service charge. When I called to find out what it was for after we got home, I was told that it was for the back end of the restaurant. My husband is a big tipper as our tip for this transaction was close to $65.00 to round the total to approximately $300. I believe this tip could have been shared with the entire staff including the back end staff. 4) Came in on Sunday for brunch and was told that they could not accommodate any more people because the kitchen was so backed up with larger parties of 12 or more. We could wait approximately 1/2 hour just to get seated and then we could not be guaranteed when we would get our food. Quite disappointing as there were so many empty tables inside and outside. As we came to town for the Corvettefest which is an annual event, we thought that this restaurant would be able to accomodate a larger crowd due to this event. Other restaurants that we ate at did not have a problem with the influx of people that were in Effingham this past week-end. It looked like they planned ahead with waitstaff and kitchen staff. read more

Great food. Nice interior. Ice cream (vanilla) was a stand out. Drinks were tasty. Sat at bar. Enjoyed company of bartender. We will be back. read more

I have visited the Firefly Grill twice...once for dinner on my way to Southern Illinois and once for brunch en route to the St. Louis area. Both visits were outstanding. The location is beautiful and the restaurant is unique, like nothing in the Effingham area or Central Illinois more broadly. Firefly features a changing menu using locally sourced ingredients including multiple steak and seafood options. Their beer list was pretty good as well. It includes some downstate Illinois, St. Louis, and Chicago beers. On my first visit I had a pork chop and a beer, everything was fresh and delicious. Your meal will be a bit more expensive than other area restaurants, but it is not exorbitantly priced for the quality of food. My second visit was during brunch and I enjoyed an eggs Benedict. We also tried some of their homemade ice cream, which changes season to season. We had salted caramel ice cream and honeydew melon sorbet, delicious. There is an outside seating area which was perfect for a warm late summer morning. If you are in Central Illinois or just passing through the area Firefly Grill is a must visit. read more

I've lived in the Effingham area all my life and traveled extensively, it sometimes seems the firefly has received an almost crazy unwarranted celebrity status as the "place to go". From friends in Chicago to other states, the Firefly always seems to come up, not totally surprising because there aren't many fine dining establishments in this part of the state. I haven't been here for a couple of years so we thought we give it a try again tonight. Still unremarkable, the menu look very creative and interesting but the end product was far less. The service was terrible (two hours to get our food with no opportunity to get drinks from order to delivery of food to our table. I was ready to spend some real money but didn't have the opportunity, wish we would have bought bottles of wine instead of by the glass, again, poor service. Sorry Firefly, another subpar experience at full price. You'd think you'd have your stuff together after all these years! Nice atmosphere but unfortunately the food and service is bad and the price is equal to downtown Chicago. Still unsatisfied! read more

Great job catering our concert at the Effingham Performance Arts Center! Food was great and loved the attention to detail!!!

Amazing amazing amazing food, service and gorgeous atmosphere! My (now fiancé) and I visited for our first date, so we decided to go back one year later and have promised to go back each year on our anniversary. We love the fried green tomatoes, pizzas, crab cakes and their wedge salad. The service is outstanding. You won't be disappointed you visited the firefly grill! read more

Do stop in Effingham, Illinois. Do pass by the Hampton Inn and follow the road until you get to the Firefly Grill. Do not stop until you try the hamburger! Hands down one of the BEST hamburgers I've ever eaten. The food and service were both so good, I ate there on my way back home. Two days in a row, same spot-- different meal, both meals were EXCELLENT! The second trip was for the chicken and waffles-- a definite must try, but bring your appetite- the portions are man sized! Everything from the bread and butter, to the chicken was freshly prepared and seasoned to perfection. This is my favorite farm to table restaurant yet! I'm a foodie and I was impressed! read more

Firefly Grill - Hamburger and garlic fries - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

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Mother's Day brunch so not worth the price. Was sat at the firepit "table" because they were booked. There were at LEAST 5 empty tables around us. Brunch was $30 for a selection of breads, a small tiny yogurt parfait and your choice of several main entrees. The food was very good, just not enough of it. If each person is being charged 30 for the same thing then the "selection of breads" should be more than a smattering of bread pieces. Drove over an hour and was done in 45 minutes. And yea, we made a reservation and still sat at the fireside table which was not really a table to eat at. Hunching over my $30 3 pieces of french toast was not pleasant or elegant. read more

Firefly NEVER disappoints and it is always well worth taking the longer route home from travels just to stop here and have some of their delectable craft cocktails in addition to the amazingly fresh farm to table food offerings. Every meal I have enjoyed at Firefly has always been above and beyond and I look forward to my next dining experience in their beautiful restaurant. read more

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Service was amazing and the food was great. We had a lovely view of the pond. I will be back.

Visited 8/3/23 while traveling with our Golden Retriever. We sat outside on covered porch. Service was good, gardens surrounding the building are relaxing, and the food was excellent. The wedge salad's truly fresh ingredients made it so good! The grilled chicken was moist and flavorful, unlike traditional commercial restaurants. My husband had a ribeye steak and gave it 4 stars. Prices are a little high, but worth it for a treat. read more

Best meal in 7 weeks on the road! Victoria was a fabulous server, the food had excellent flavors and presentation. Reasonably priced wines and festive, hip, vibe. It is worth a stop.! read more

This was a wonderful dining experience for me and my girlfriend, as we were traveling back from Shawnee National Forest. The ambiance, service, and food quality was absolutely wonderful. The only reason I took 1 star off (wish I could have only removed 1/2 star) was because I felt the brussels sprouts were slightly charred. We loved their philosophy and extensive gardens for sourcing their vegetables. This is a hidden gem in Effingham that would do oh so well in our Chicago hometown area! read more

Lovely restaurant inside and out. Food is outstanding. Had fried. Green tomatoes, Montana mignonette steaks, mashed potatoes, bacon Brussel sprouts, crème brûlée. Wow! Perfectly made and served quickly on a busy night. Bar tender was on it! Great place. Will be back every time we are through Effingham. read more

I chose this place for a lunch date with my boyfriend and I just loved the vibe of this delightful restaurant. We made a reservation to sit in the porch with view. They have an outdoor seating option too. The cocktail I ordered was so refreshing and the food was very well prepared and had neat representation. The staff was very welcoming and friendly and made sure to answer all your concerns. The server had a good knowledge about the menu and they always have menu specials - soup is a must try! In addition to all of this, they gave a togo box which was environment friendly. They have home grown herbs and vegetables which they use (how healthy is that!). I'm sure they will outpace any restaurant if they keep up their best in class service! Must GO!!! read more

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If you haven't been to Firefly Grill, do yourself a favor: stop whatever you're doing, drive to Effingham and go there right now! This place never disappoints, and I've been there with my wife just the two of us for lunch and dinner, and with my whole family (two kids under 5) for dinner several times. The food, service, and atmosphere are all top notch, especially considering the small town central Illinois setting. This is truly a hidden gem. In fact, the reason I tried Firefly in the first place is that work colleagues from Cincinnati told me that they stopped there every time they pass through on their way to St. Louis on business. You don't hear that about too many restaurants these days, so I decided to give it a shot, and I've not regretted it. They are very good at catering to families: kids food comes out fast, bill follows entrees quickly, and service is laid back but gets the job done. We recently stopped for dinner on our way through town and couldn't have been more impressed or happier with the service. We've had a lot of really terrible experiences recently at similar-type restaurants, which makes Firefly Grill stand out even more. I recommend the risotto with any meal, and the crab cakes are exceptional. The complementary pretzel rolls are delicious and my four year old would make an entire meal out of them if we'd let him. Don't delay, get to Firefly Grill ASAP! You won't regret it. read more

Very good food and some of the best food in the area. Everything is reasonably priced with a good selection. Had the vegan stir fry which I would recommend. The chips and guacamole were delicious. The hummus is very tasty too. read more

I have been to the place a handful of time and have never been disappointed. The atmosphere is amazing. Everyone is friendly. I've never been disappointed in anything I've ordered from drinks to the entrée. I would recommend for a great evening with that special someone. read more

Did was amazing! Had the salmon and brussel sprouts. Loved the Brussel sprouts!!! Sooooo good!! The chocolate martini was delish.

Amazing key lime pie! Love everything about Firefly! We come from 90 minutes away to enjoy their amazing food, atmosphere, and service. read more

Firefly Grill - Key Lime Pie - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

We try to dine here whenever we come to Effingham. Normally top rate food. Tried the shrimp cake burger. I think it was suppose to be like a crabcake. Unfortunately it was the blandest, tasteless sandwich I have ever had. Wife's fish and chips were great. Also they add what appeared to be a 5% "Service Charge" to your bill without explanation. Disappointing. read more

Firefly Grill is a welcome change from the chains one encounters in travel. At close to the intersection of I-57 and I-70 - it is an excellent place for weary travelers to get a nice dinner. The staff is very friendly, responsive, considers the customer to be the focus of attention. Best I've seen anywhere. The food is fresh, creative, and as they say "from farm to table to belly". Menu selections change continually to reflect their passion for fresh ingredients, so it is hard to say what they'll have - yet I can say there is enough variety to suit everyone. If you get a table in the back, you overlook the fountain in a small lake. It is the kind of place you could go for a casual burger or sandwich, yet also get a fancy meal. Highly recommend. read more

This was a diamond in the rough, a place found when we were too tired to drive any further and a good meal would be appreciated. The building is rustic and we started to think Bar-B-Que, and we were really wrong! Walking up to the building begins your experience, the place is casual but it has an upmarket feel and menu. The full bar was comfortable and where we remained. There is a large seating area with views of the kitchen. The menu has a really good choice with main courses from the lower teens to the high fifty's. Steaks, delicious burgers, Fish, really excellent pizza. This husband and wife owned restaurant could give any top restaurant a run for its money. read more

Thanks to all my fellow Yelpers who gave this restaurant some good reviews. We stopped here for dinner along our drive up to Chicago from Nashville. Love that they use fresh ingredients. Farm to table ftw! We got: Chopped salad with grilled chicken: I threw it down with this salad, man. The veggies were so fresh and just the right amount of dressing. Sausage mushroom pizza: the sausage is made in house and the mushrooms are delectable. Wood fired oven pizza is yum! Side of mushroom risotto: love me some risotto. This was a little aldente...I think if I heat my leftovers up tomorrow it will be perfect. read more

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Omg right off Hwy 57 is a jewel of a restaurant..wonderful service , warm friendly and helpful with there menu. Delicious food farm to table food.. winner winner Mushroom soup like velvet , great salads and best chicken sandwich ever eaten. YUM read more

Farm to table food and a lovely patio. Best halibut ever. Cooked perfectly. Accompanied by potatoes, and peas. Everything was very fresh. Just lovely. So glad I bypassed fast food chains to savor a meal here. Nice wine selection also. read more

New menu to checkout on their Facebook Page. They have a new chef who seems to care about what he represents.

Amazing service, food is spectacular & the Filet is seriously the best I have ever had and I've been to Gibson's, Smith & Wollensky, & Ruth's Chris... A Amazing! read more

Firefly Grill - Allen Brothers Filet Mignon at The Firefly Grill... 2nd to none! The evidence HS been eaten & the plate tells the story! - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

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Such a great place. Had the sea bass last night - delish!! Great service, great atmosphere- I love going here

Firefly has great farm to table food. The service is always excellent as well! We love going to Firefly.

Absolutely love the food the atmosphere and the service. We always make time to stop here when traveling through Effingham. The deck is pet friendly. read more

Beautiful area in the back porch came in for brunch met by a lovely waitress who gave suggestions on her favourite, ended up with eggs Benedict good but I've had better hollandaise sauce and the poached eggs were a little to under done. The chicken and waffles was great! the gravy was flavoured just right mix of maple syrup chicken was cooked perfectly and waffles were just right would recommend. Everything was fresh read more

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