Firefly Grill is a "farm to table" restaurant in Effingham, IL. The owners take pride in using the freshest and best ingredients from local or sourced artisan farmers, foragers, and fishermen. I went with my wife for a fun date, and since we like to share, we decided to pick a bunch of small appetizers and eat family style. We ordered the following. Clam chowder - creamy and had good portions of clams 1/2 lbs shrimp - good size shrimp, had a good crisp bite Seasonal risotto - rice was cooked well and good consistency Sesame Asian Crunch Salad - surprisingly the star of all the dishes we ordered. Probably one of the best salads I've had. Crispy Brussels Sprouts - wasn't quite crispy as advertised, but the flavors were there Fashionably Pear - not quite the drink I was expecting. I knew it wasn't gonna be a traditional old fashioned, but it was more on the sour end and I couldn't really taste the bourbon. Service was great, as our server was very helpful in giving us some food recommendations. Firefly Grill is definitely a prime spot to go take your spouse or significant other on a date, host an event, or celebrate someone's birthday. Overall, a great restaurant and will be back again. read more

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Stopped to get a pizza to go after work. Very helpful and attentive wait staff at the front desk. Got the sausage and mushroom pizza and added pepperoni to it. was pleased to see the black olives when I opened the box. Wood fired oven which made the fairly thin crust very crunchy which I like! Definitely will order again if I'm in the area working! read more

Firefly Grill - Pizza - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

The pepperoni pizza was good just was expecting it a bit of a thin crust because they said it was cracker crust. The shrimps I had were good just only got shrimp with it so you didn't have much else. read more

Let me start by saying never judge a book by its cover. This place is the bomb dot com. WOW! The service here is outstanding. I was greeted and seated promptly by the hostess. Since it was just me I opted to be seated at the bar. The bartender was super sweet. She was extremely knowledgeable of the menu. The entire staff made me feel super comfortable. The food came out really quick with 10-15 minutes of me ordering. I ordered the shrimp risotto. And if you read my reviews I love a good risotto and let me tell you it's absolutely delicious. Like I was a little blown away at how creamy and flavorful this dish was. Honestly I initially didn't know what to expect of the place but mind I'd blown completely. I think it's the lobster broth. The risotto is cooked to perfection. The peas still have a little crunch adding that extra something to the dish. 100/10 recommend this dish. The mimosa flight was great. I love the variety. And they aren't using Andre like most places we had some La Marca. The bar also have some great top shelf options. Looking to have a drink this could definitely be a destination for you. They also have a variety of holiday drinks. The restaurant is impeccable. Like really clean. The bar, the floors like really clean. Parking isn't an issue here. Firefly has a huge lot. read more

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The shortbread dreamsicle dessert was fantastic! The service is always fantastic and the ambience lovely.

Stopped in for lunch and had the fish tacos. They were ok nothing special. I also ordered a Bells Two Hearted IPA. I got my bill and it was almost $40 without a tip. The beer came in a Champagne flute versus a pint glass and was $11. You pay that for a craft beer in Chicago and you get it in a 16oz pint glass. Also, there is a 5% service charge add to your bill. Not sure why that is? It did have a nice atmosphere but I certainly would not recommend this if you are just passing through Effingham. read more

We stopped in on an 18 hour trip. The atmosphere is inviting and tranquil. Our server was attentive and helpful. The menu was full of so many options. We chose our food and were thrilled with every decision, from the appetizer of pretzel bread to the filet. If you ever have a chance to dine here, do it. Worth every penny . read more

Service was exceptional the food was tasty but not enough of it. They allow substitutions but only offer fry's or a salad with a sandwich but wouldn't let me substitute a cup of soup with it! Even since it was the soup of the day! Dessert was delicious! read more

Went out with family to celebrate a birthday. Waitress was very nice. Had a nice bottle of Cake bread wine, 12 oz ribeye With the mash potatoes. The take was a nice piece of meat but didn't have much flavor. Mash potatoes were also very plan. Can't forget the brownie/ice cream. Just wow. It's a must try. When we asked for our checks, it took 45 mins to cash out due to their new system. Great atmosphere and I'm sure we will try it again when we are back in town. read more

Firefly Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

Food- good food but overpriced - mashed potatoes cold. Service- good Ambiance- Nice Overall value- overpriced read more

The food was incredible! Everything was cooked to perfection and I highly recommend this location. read more

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Was looking for restaurants near me (mini #roadtrip in Effingham, Ill) and this popped up with good reviews. Looked at their web site that recommend rsvps for their dog friendly patio, so we did that (for a 7:45 on a Saturday.) Got here about 7:30 and was seated immediately. The inside looks nice and big, but we had the dogs so we say on a nice little patio with a really pretty setting, little pond and fountain. Quite a little hidden gem that feels like you're in the middle of nowhere, but it's just 1/2 mile off the hwy. Everything on the menu is so tempting. I had the sweet chili sour cocktail, the fried green tomatoes, and the duck entree. My friend had the Ceasar salad, shimp, and the rib eye. Sooo #yum. I also ordered another cocktail with lavender and lemonade. It was beautiful but too strong for me, I wasn't going to drink it (we were wrapping up our meal) and the waiter was so quick to say he was taking it off the bill, that was very nice. We were too stuffed for dessert but the selection looked great. #yum #foodporn #ReviewsByRL read more

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Super atmosphere. Being from out of town, this is not something you would assume would be around this area, and a nice little treasure! Great food. Super service. See y'all next time I'm in town! read more

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Wow, what a beautiful restaurant. From what I could tell, there's really nothing like Firefly Grill in the area. They have a farm on site, so they grow a lot of their produce. What they don't grow, they try to source from local vendors. The restaurant itself has rustic, classy vibes, and it's situated by a little lake, which was nice to discover as I took a seat on the huge outdoor patio. I visited during brunch, but I wanted something light and lunchy so I got a salmon salad. I didn't expect to receive so much food! The salmon itself could have fed two people, and the salad was a half of a head of Boston lettuce. You're probably thinking, "That sounds amazing," and it does sound amazing, except what I pictured I would be getting was a lot different than what I was served. If I knew the salad would be a wedge salad, I would not have ordered it. It came with a steak knife, that's how big and unwieldy it was! And it had a lot of dressing on it -- so much that it was almost soupy. So my advice to you is: If you are ordering the salmon salad, just know that it's a wedge salad with a huge filet of salmon. If you don't like a lot of dressing, ask for light dressing or dressing on the side. It was presented beautifully, though, and it came with beets, which I love. They get an A for effort! The service was exceptional, too. My server was very friendly and quick, and made the whole experience great. I was just passing through Effingham and came across Firefly Grill. I love when I find great restaurants by accident! read more

This wasn't my first visit to the Firefly Grill, but I wanted to echo what everyone else here has said. This place is amazing and I'm so glad it's located in my hometown. If you're traveling through or will be passing by Effingham, you have to stop and try the Firefly for brunch, lunch, or dinner. If you need a break from the "home cookin", diner style fare you're likely to find at most other Midwest restaurants, the Firefly is the place to stop. Farm to table fresh ingredients. The flavor combinations in many of the dishes I've tried always mesh so well together and leave my tastebuds wanting more. Service has always been great, but our server Sarah was amazing this visit. Knowledgeable about the menu selections and quick to offer recommendations. She made us feel right at home and was very attentive. The style and decor feels upscale but cozy. The back deck offers seating with views of their pond and their bountiful garden. Get a cup of fish food before you head out back and keep your eyes peeled for sunbathing turtles! Bring your pup friends to enjoy lunch with you. If you're looking for a quality meal with fresh ingredients in a relaxing atmosphere, this is the place to fill up and recharge. You don't wanna miss it! read more

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The server, Victoria, was a delight. She was friendly, helpful and funny. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was amazing.

Hands down the best restaurant we have available in Southern Illinois. Food is always creative, service is great and the ambiance is to be admired. read more

So delicious. My favorite spot to stop while traveling east. There menu changes frequently which I love and allows me to not get too comfortable in my orders. Every thing I've had is phenomenal and I will continue to go there whenever I have to travel through Effingham. The flash fried shrimp was so tasty and flavorful and the beet and burrata salad was explosive in flavor! read more

Firefly Grill - Flash Fried Shrimp - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

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This is the perfect place to stop if you want a nice sit down restaurant in Effingham with a chic farm table atmosphere. I am vegan but the rest of my party were picky meat eaters. This place had a great menu for all of us: burgers for them and hummus plate for me. read more

Food and service was amazing! First time in the area and we came just to try this restaurant! Well worth the drive! read more

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We were traveling from Ohio and needed a break for lunch but didn't want fast food! The experience was amazing. They make their own box of chocolates too! We love collecting t-shirts from memorable places , while they don't sell them, they made the extra effort to find two up in the attic for us!!!! Please visit this location. It's the original farm and table Firefly Grill. The mashed potatoes are boiled for 5 hours first and you can tell. Thanks Firefly Grill. We will be back in October 2025 passing through from Ohio again. read more

Tyler was our spectacular waiter this Sunday! Very informative and helpful in selecting menu choices. The restaurant itself has excellent choices for the small eater to the hefty eater-something for everyone! We had the excellent meatballs, special zucchin/squash and potato fritters along with the green fried tomatoes! Perfect! my espresso martini was lovely! And the basil ice cream was a treat! Come check it out! read more

When we visit our son in Nashville we time our trip south from Chicago so that we can have dinner at Firefly Grill. Nearly everything is top notch. The service is competent and friendly, the ambiance is warm the decor is well thought out and the food is inventive and delicious. Finding a place with this level of excellence, and in Effingham IL of all places was a very pleasant surprise. On our most recent trip from Chicago to Nashville I opted for their Crispy Honey Glazed Chicken with whipped potatoes. The whole dish was amazing! Boneless, super crispy, tender and juicy chicken sitting on a bed of the smoothest buttery potatoes imaginable. Stellar. My wife got the caesar salad and it was also excellent. From previous experience we now know not to get a steak. (Read the ** at the end for that story.) For lunch on the way back from Nashville I got the American burger and fries. I was really looking forward to their fries. The burger itself was fabs, but the fries? They USED to be something to write home about. Firefly used to have a pretty involved way of prepping their fries that had a blistered crispy outside and a tender flakey inside. They were so well executed that even when cold, the fries would almost snap in half. Something has changed in the way they are prepared. This time (yesterday) the fries were more like everyone else's and while good, nothing to write home about. Despite the steak and fries disappointments we will continue to stop for dinner and lunch on our multiple trips to Nashville and back. If you've seen it and wondered, don't wonder, go experience what's easily the best food within a hundred miles. The Firefly Grill is not to be missed! **What NOT to order? A steak. We've ordered nearly everything on the menu and nearly everything we've eaten has been superb. Wonderful and out of the ordinary. But not their steak. Good beef is not cheap and but I opted for a steak at Firefly during a trip that happened on my birthday weekend. I got the Manhattan Cut Steak medium rare...supposed to be super tender and flavorful. It wasn't. It wasn't nearly as tender as I expected and the line of connecting tissue (a.k.a. gristle) running across one end made it disappointing. It should have been trimmed to just be the eye of the meat, no silver skin, no line of connective tissue. I don't think it was trimmed the way a Manhattan style strip is supposed to be and unfortunately that made a world of difference. So was it just this one time? Wish it was. Friends of ours made the trip to Firefly for a birthday celebration (after I talked about how much we loved the place so many times...) but despite my warning, he got the 14 oz Ribeye. He reported later that he should have listened to me. While they loved everything about the Firefly Grill, they said their steak was the least favorite part of their meal as well. read more

Firefly Grill - Crispy honey glazed chicken on a bed of whipped potatoes. - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

This place is a gem. My dining companions and I were in the midst of a long move from Texas to Ohio, and this was our lunch stop on day two of the drive. What an oasis Firefly Grill turned out to be. The place has a wonderful modern-rustic decor and comfortable indoor and outdoor seating. (We went with outdoor because we had three dogs riding with us. The staff brought water for humans and pups alike.) The lunch menu has some wonderful selections. I chose the muffuletta and was not disappointed--mounds of cured meats and cheese on a delicious focaccia style bread. It's not huge, but it's more than enough for a lunch serving and comes with a refreshing arugula salad. The service was friendly and attentive without hovering. This is one of those places that I think would really reward repeat visits because there's a lot to explore on the menu. I don't know when or if I'll ever be in the area again, but I'd gladly come here again. read more

A very cool trendy restaurant with a large outdoor patio. My server was attentive and gave helpful pointers. I ordered the salmon fish tacos! The 1st was delicious but the time I made it the the 3rd that one was soggy from the batter / sauce. If I'm ever in the area I will return! read more

Firefly Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

Very disappointing! I had Fish & Chips for lunch today, fish and tartar sauce completely flavorless, fries were half cooked, mushy. Must be an ice shortage, had to drink lukewarm water. We were never asked if we wanted refills on our other drinks or dessert was never mentioned. Had to wait for our bill for quite a while. Wasn't busy, late lunch. We used the rest of a gift card we received from a friend, we've been there 3 times, and have been disappointed every time. Won't be going back! read more

Delightful dining experience to discover in Effingham. Perfect find for a group lunch in town for a small conference

We have eaten at The FireFly many times and We haven't really ever had a problem with anything Today started rough for me today We had a 10am Reservation so we arrived at 9:50am and we stepped in side and a Very Blonde headed female tells us to wait outside !! Not even 3 minutes later and 4 adults and children step in and they were not asked to wait outside and of course they were seated it never makes a person feel good to be treated rudely! Part of my daughters food was missing and over cooked French Toast $17 We were excited about our trip and we had made the reservation more than a week ago So not happy to be greeted by a Rude worker read more

We came upon this hidden gem when we were pulling up to charge our Rivian with their fast chargers. This spot is beautiful! Awesome location and the grounds and restaurant are beautiful. We had our sweet greyhound with us, so the team set up a nice spot outside in the patio by the fireplace. The menu is great. We had the crab purses (similar to a crab rangoon but better), calamari, Caesar salad with chicken, honey hot pizza (add jalapeños), and split a burger. For drinks, we had hot toddies. The team was exceptional and the food was amazing. Organic, homemade, and delicious. We are so happy we stumbled on this spot on the way to St. Louis. We will make it a stop when traveling through again! read more

Price! Other than that their food is excellent service was just o.k. And the ambience was alright.

Absolutely enjoyed being here. The Cesar Salad was a slightly different take, thick dressing that is milder than traditional, but enjoyed the creaminess. I did miss that there was no shaved Parmesan. Also, please let the staff know that you need to serve cold salads on chill plates, at least room temp, but hot very warm to hot plates as mine arrived. The sausage and mushroom pizza was delicious, I would have loved more mushrooms, as it was the crust was the star of the show. Not too thin, nor too thick and fired just right, crispy bottom, nice caramelized edges, but not burnt. This is hard to do and hats off to the pizza chef. Blueberry Lemon Drop was pretty light, if you want to enjoy several drinks you may want this on your line up. I'll will certainly come back. read more

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We met some friends for lunch and with it being right off the highway it was perfect. The decor and water with large fish was a wonderful experience while we dined. The service was amazing and food was great. Many options on the menu to choose from. We will be back soon. read more

Firefly Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

My husband and I have not been to the Firefly Grill for about 2 years. It was always one of our favorite places to stop for good food in Effingham. This stop did not disappoint us. It started with us calling ahead to make sure they were going to be open. David answered and let us know that it was pretty busy (lunchtime crowd) and took my number and name and put us down on their list so we wouldn't be waiting forever when we got there since we were traveling. We were about 30 minutes from the restaurant. Needless to say we were seated when we got there. Victoria was our server and took good care of us. I ordered Iced tea (which was very good), Cream of Mushroom soup, and my husband split the Philly Cheesesteak with me. My husband had the Vietnamese Hot and Sour soup and half of the Philly Cheesesteak, which came with fries. The Cream of Mushroom soup was very good. Lots of mushrooms, and a nice creamy flavor. The soup was well seasoned. The Hot and Sour soup was not like traditional Hot and Sour soup, has noodles, has good flavor that pops. It is a little spicy, but not too much for my husband. The Philly Cheesesteak (which we split) was on a pretzel roll. The meat was very tender and had good flavor. The cheese was the right amount for us. Not overly cheesy. The pictures attached show half the sandwich and half the fries that came with the sandwich. We've always recommended this restaurant to our friends and family. Thank you David and Victoria for taking such good care of us! read more

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First timers at Firefly in Effingham IL. Great food and good service in a big dining room with a nice atmosphere. There were four of us, all having trouble deciding what to get. Sooooo we had apps, soups, salads and entrees. Shared all of it. Cocktails were excellent. Nice experience, a bit expensive. read more

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Well, what happened? We hv gone to Fire Fly for years (10-15) generally 2-3 times a year for special occasions because that's the type of place it is. This time we arrived around 3 pm so just missed lunch menu so ordered off dinner menu - Generally not a prob. I didn't even look at the menu since the special sounded great and really. It tends to run a 125 bill for the two of us but this time it had doubled! $225 with out the $10 service charge and before tip. The food was good but for the outrageous prices and service charges, I felt like I was taken advantage of. We had tea ($6 ea) and my husband ordered an Old Fashion which was $25. Our salads were $15 ea. I can see higher prices for meat and sea food but the mark up on things like vegetables has gone up TOO MUCH. These long term customers will find a new special occasion place - it felt greedy after all these years... read more

Nice place. Off the path just a little but that was a plus. Good food and atmosphere. I would do again. Thanks.

Stopped on our way between PA and OK with no recommendation.Amazing restaurant. Could easily survive in NYC, CHI or LA. Cocktails were wonderful. Best fried green tomatoes ever. Tempura shrimp in steamed buns were great. Tempura was light and crispy and perfectly seasoned. Montana mignion was a very creative and successful take on Wellington. Crème brûlée was the perfect dessert. Entire staff was impressive. I'll drive 100 miles out of my way to go again. Mike read more

Firefly Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

I love this place! When I miss one of my friends who lives in Indianapolis and I live in St. Louis this is the perfect half way meeting point and we have made this the destination for us because it's amazing food and wonderful ambiance! This is a cozy slice of Heaven with magical farm to table inspired fare. Vegetarian options, amazing carnivore options salad, soups and gourmet entrées. We sat on a glassed in porch near the pond and they have a lovely assortment of fish that you can feed. I can not recommend this place enough! If you are near Effingham or even passing through, this place deserves a visit. The staff, the chefs, and the revolving menu make it a destination on its own. I can't wait to go back! read more

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This place is literally incredible. I give 5 stars to places that truly blow me away and this was one of them. The food, staff, ambience, and overall experience was great. My husband and I stopped in Effingham as the halfway point of our move across states. We looked up local places to eat and this place popped up everywhere. We decided to give it a go and were seated on the patio instantly, despite the restaurant being super busy. It was prime summertime and there were literal fireflies all over the field infront of the patio, making the most peaceful experience ever. Food- absolutely SMACKED. I started off with the Carne Asada street taco and it looked so good I forgot to take a picture of it before hand, because it was on the table maybe for 2 seconds before I inhaled it. I decided to stick with the small plates theme and got the pork buns - HOLY SHITE!!! Order this. Seriously amazing!! My husband got the homemade chicken noodle soup for something light and he said it was super flavorful and whole. I am from the south and pretty much never want to go to the Midwest again, but I would willingly return to Effingham, IL to eat at this restaurant again. read more

Firefly Grill - Chashu Pork Steam Bun, Ditalini & Cheese - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

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The food was very underwhelming. The food did not have the a lot a flavor and not worth the price. The service and ambiance was very nice.