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

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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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

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

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

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

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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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.

This place is all around amaaazing! The building itself is beautiful, and the ambiance is right up there with the best. My Lemon Berry Smash cocktail was VERY tasty and was a great start to our meal. I was assuming that they would be a bit hoity-toity, so thought the serving sizes would be small, and so ordered accordingly. I was WRONG! We shared the Blister Shishito Peppers which were VERY good. We ended up taking 1/2 of them home, and put them in at least 3 more meals for their great flavor. Hubs had the Fish Tacos and was only able to finish 2 of them. They weren't tiny little tacos, but grown up size! I had the Fried Shrimp Cake Burger which was BEYOND delicious! Probably should've brought half of it home too, but couldn't put it down! Instead of fries, I asked for Crispy Brussels Sprouts to be my side. That was a VERY healthy amount. Again, 1/2 of it went home and was a side for a meal at home too. The service was pretty good, even though they were pretty busy. Really love this place! read more

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I'm a restaurant snob and I'm giving this place 5 hearty stars. I was very impressed by the menu, atmosphere, and service!! Pleasantly surprised by such a sophisticated restaurant in a small town. I will be back here every time I come to the area for work. The viognier white wine was fabulous and every dish was spectacular. We had the blistered shishito peppers and the famous meatballs as apps, with roast duck, roast chicken, lemon lentil soup, and white pizza for entrees. Unbelievable food!!!! read more

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I recently had some major dental work done and could not eat much, however, I was advised to try the 'Whipped Potatoes' and they were so very good!! My friends ordered Hamburgers and all they could say was "Oh My God, this is delicious"! I would've been so jealous of them but my potatoes were the best I'd ever eaten! Being sympathetic, the staff suggested the Sticky Toffee Pudding with a Buffalo Trace ice cream for dessert! It was a treat I'll never forget! My friends all were able to share this with me and they too loved it! Highly recommend!! read more

Firefly Grill - Whipped Potatoes out of this world!! - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

Firefly never disappoints ! Fantastic Beet Buratta salad, Muffaletta pizza. Crab tacos had good flavor - however be aware crab is deep-fried. Sat at the bar and enjoyed the generous wine pour and sparkling house water (I love that) AND (for the extra environmentally conscious) - there are EIGHT EV charging stations. We've overheard guests say they drive down from Chicago to eat here and we believe it :) read more

Firefly Grill - Beautiful glass and setting for Sunday Brunch - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

Just too much. This place needs to understand more isn't always better. That is the general feedback I have. When I order a Soup I want a soup. This was a bowl of orange cream, definitely deserves at least to be called a bisque ( which I would not have ordered). It was so thick my spoon basically stood up in it. Was it delicious - while consuming- yes, a couple minutes later- agony. Steelhead Trout - Inedible. The actual trout was fine, the accoutrements with it (sweet potato and sauces) had absorbed the massive amount of chili oil it was doused with. You can see it pooling in the pic. I took one bite and my palette was ruined. My lips are still burning while I write this. I couldn't eat it. The service was good (I did need to let the hostess know I was there as she was keeping her back to the door), but other than that service was good hence the two stars. The first thing I did when I got in the car after this meal was pop a Tums - I have to assume this is not the reaction desired to a meal. So chef, please, take advantage of the benefits of cream and potent oils, but if all you can taste is cream and the potent oil, it is a food fail. read more

Firefly Grill - firefly farm Tahitian Butternut Squash Soup It's called soup, it is a bisque. - 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.

In the middle of fast food junk, there is a little fly of happiness. Food is great Service efficient. Atmosphere comfortable and cozy Well worth the small diversion when going thru Effingham. read more

Just happened to be staying in town for the night. Got a recommendation to go there. It was a great place with a wonderful atmosphere. I'll be back next time I'm in town. read more

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We visited Firefly for a work dinner, and even on a busy Wednesday evening, it was bustling with activity! The food was excellent, and the drinks added to the fun. I'd definitely suggest checking it out if you're in town. read more

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This place would be one of my favorite restaurants if it were near home! It's amazing. Service is always impeccable, the food is great, no matter what I get, and the restaurant itself is classy, and laidback country all in one. The surrounding area literally IS the farm where they get a lot of their produce! You can't get a lot fresher than that. I honestly can't wait for a reason to go back to Effingham! read more

Wonderful place to pull off the highway for a relaxing break. Tranquil setting and wonderful farm to table food. I had the shrimp cake Benedict which was delicious. Dogs allowed on expansive porch. read more

One or the best steaks I have ever had, got the NY strip and it was cooked to perfection. Also had never tried bread pudding before and this did not disappoint. In my opinion this is the absolute best spot and a must hit in effingham read more

Awesome little spot in Effingham, IL with electric chargers in the parking lot. Great outdoor seating and wonderful peaceful bar inside. Staff is mellow and professional, highly recommended read more

Firefly Grill - Bar area - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

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Was driving from Indiana to Texas and I needed dinner. Saw a sign on I-57 for the Firefly Grill and figured I'd give it a try. I try to support Farm to Table restaurants. It was a Saturday night around 1730, so I expected it to be crowded. Wasn't wrong about that, and since I was alone with no reservation I went to the bar. The atmosphere is lovely, everything is new, a kind of rustic & industrial mix. Lighting was perfect. I am an engineer, not an aesthete, , The two bartenders are pros, and they and the barbacks. Everyone was super friendly and attentive. Lots of menu options, and everything looks delicious. Settled on the 1/2 pound of shrimp, and then the 8 oz. filet. The shrimp were great, and the filet was cooked perfectly medium rare. They do a super delicious demi glace, and I love a good demi glace. They also have some very good whipped potatoes on the plate. Presentation of it all was very well done. Since I had to get back in the road I could not have any of their extensive cocktail or wine menu. Also had to pass on dessert (which made me sad). I am sure all of those would be delightful. Will definitely come back when I am in the area again. read more

Outstanding in every way! Delightful food, setting, and service. We are on our way home from our 40th wedding anniversary RV trip around the Great Lakes. We did not expect to find such a gem on I 57 South today. Our server, Cori, was not only delightful, but made great suggestions from the extensive menu. It's Sunday brunch time, so we started with French Toast bites and house-made bacon. That was filling enough, but since my husband ordered chicken biscuits and gravy, and I ordered the Savory Dutch Baby, we stuffed ourselves and left quite content. Even their coffee is memorable. Thanks, Cori and the rest of the team, for being part of our 40th anniversary memory! read more

Firefly Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

Have not been here in a few years and wondering why... Beautiful venue, ambience and delicious food. Unexpected fine dining! Highly recommend. Burrata board and scallop linguine. We will be back soon. read more

Such a good spot along I-57! Unexpected farm to table gem. Stop here! Love the salads and sides. Pizza was a little greasy. read more

Say what?! There's a foodie destination in Effingham, IL?! Yes!! Look no further than Firefly! First, this place is charming inside and out. I'd love to see more of it another time. They take reservations, which you might want on weekends, but on this Monday evening visit, they weren't necessary. I ordered carry-out because I'm traveling with a dog and a trailer. They have a large parking lot which was awesome! They were super flexible with my carry-out order, allowing me to come pick it up in a hour. I ordered the salmon and after asking about the salads, I had to go with the beet salad. Their seafood is flown in fresh and I'm told their chef is from Massachusetts, so seafood and steaks are their best specialty. That salmon was incredible! I am usually one to pull the skin off my fish, but when it's crispy like this...sign me up! I'm still dreaming about that salmon. The beet salad was good, but honestly kind of boring. I know it was missing the goat cheese croquettes that were described to me when I placed my order. Even with those, I'd wonder if it needs some red onion or a toasted nut. This is the only reason I'm knocking a star off, but I would absolutely come here if I find myself in Effingham again. read more

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Called them to ask if they are dog friendly. I was told "Yes, we are". I said great we are on our way. Told see you soon. Got there and was told we are not accepting walk-ins. You think they would have mentioned that on the phone. Food looked great but only putting one star for the waste of time. read more

Great food. However, there was no toilet paper in the women's restroom. We told the staff three times in the 90 mins we were there but no one bothered to refill the supply. I'm sure the owners would not be pleased. read more

Went here for a Thanksgiving gathering and it was such a neat spot! The atmosphere inside was great, and if the weather would have been nicer, the outside area looked gorgeous! Everyone's food was so good. I got the Italian pizza - it was huge! So much food for one person. It came as two flatbreads. It was super tasty with a great mix of toppings. I also sampled the Brussels sprouts side, which was so crispy yummy. A lovely spot! read more

We have never been through Effingham before, but we will be making this a regular stop on our road trips. This place did not disappoint. We sat outside and had the pleasure of chatting with Samuel, our server. The ambiance, food, drinks, setting, and service were a delightful and most welcome surprise! Our puppy was also warmly greeted which was sweet since he loves all people. Although they did not have the sticky toffee pudding (apparently it's a seasonal item), their strawberry rhubarb trifle was AMAZING! We both had their grilled salmon for dinner (yum!). We love farm to table restaurants and look forward to eating here on our next road trip. read more

perfect in every sense i travel out of my way for the food and service here Five Big Stars read more

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My advice... go sit at the bar and let Alexis take care of you. Honest opinion on the menu. Could've chosen the most expensive thing "the steak" but no she was honest. Attentive and makes a killer drink. Food was phenomenal I had the scallop risotto which Alexis suggested. Price may be a little high but you will leave happy and full. read more

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The food was not bad. Nothing to write home about. The service could have been better. It felt like they kept forgetting our table. read more

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I wanted the food to be good. Full disclosure -- I sent our meal back. The Manager On Duty was attentive and accommodating. However, our meals (Philly Cheesesteak, Chicken Gnocchi Soup, Smash Burger, Fries), were so laden with salt that none of it was edible. Truly unfortunate. This place could be great. read more

This was a dining experience like no other within 100 square miles. The firefly grill is a revelation im how to serve great food, have excellent customer service and make a dining experience fun and memorable. The meatballs to start out were fantastic! Simple but very effective. The main courses tonight, Chilean sea bass, filet (4 oz for a kid) and Ribeye were all of the highest quality. We could not have been happier with the food or service if we tried. Honestly, this is a treat to dine here and we look forward to many visits in the future! read more

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Beautiful scenery and ambiance. The covered deck was very nice and I loved I could take my dog. He loved looking over the water and watching the birds. The food was absolutely delicious. I would recommend Firefly grill to anyone! The white peach sangria, friend green tomatoes, and crispy shrimp cakes were Devine. read more

Firefly Grill - Wrap around porch at Firefly grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

Wow!! Unbelievable find in Effingham. Our great experience began by walking up to the beautiful building and interior design. Staff were all soo friendly and all wearing masks. Dining safely during the pandemic is always a little nerve wrecking, but we felt very safe here! We started with the Firefly mojito and peach sangria, light and refreshing. We then shared 3 small plates...possibly the best brussel sprouts I've ever had, a fantastic corn risotto topped with a scallop and the fried green tomato dish, with tomatoes picked from their garden right outside of the seating area. Each dish was so fresh and tasty! I wish we had tried more - everything on the menu looked delicious. Appreciate the water dish and attention for our dog on the patio as well! 10 out of 10 experience - wish we lived closer, would definitely read more

We stopped in due to seeing all of these billboards on the highway and were thankful we did. Our waiter was such a wonderful soul, he made sure our puppy had a water bowl. He assisted with selecting a local Illinois beer called Tuna which was good. The food here is off the charts amazing! The fresh baked coolies to go were incredible. The Peanut butter white russians were the best ever. We highly recommend a visit to have a meal here, we plan to come back again. read more