I met an old friend from college days here at her suggestion and I loved it. I live in St Louis and when we meet, it's somewhere in between where we both live, so we chose Effingham, a 90 minute drive. I saw signage from the road for this spot when I've driven by on my way to Indianapolis and Kentucky for work trips. When I eat out, I tend to go for ethnic foods. When it's traditional American, I love homey, farm-to-table style restaurants and am happy to pay. This is a family owned spot. The walls are covered in family photos. The restaurant is big with a few different areas for seating - a patio, dining room, and a back room overlooking a pond. Seating and tables are very comfortable. The food was really good. The highlight was the special appetizer, cream cheese stuffed squash blossoms. You must eat them while they are warm. We are growing squash right now and I didn't realize we could be eating those blossoms! We shared a special farm to table salad with their own garden veggies. It was so delicious, tasted so fresh. The vinaigrette was light and perfect on the hot day. Then I had the fish tacos. I opted not to eat the fries and ate two of the three tacos. The tortilla was thin and crispy and there was just enough battered fish and slaw inside, perfect amount. I wished for a spicy element there and would get them again My friend had the lunch special, a katsu style panko breaded chicken sandwich with a gochujang sauce. She cut me a piece. The bun had to be homemade; light and airy without overpowering thin katsu. We decided to overdo it with dessert, something I rarely do for lunch. She had a scoop of the caramel ice cream which was fantastic. I had the key lime pie: an individual round pie that was tart and sweet and had an amazing crust on the bottom that was nutty and sweet. We went out to the desk over the pond for a bit to chat before we left, watching the koi and turtles swimming and it was so relaxing. I'd drive out there again for dinner sometime. I enjoyed the meal so much that I didn't get any photos. Our server was kind and gentle when he had to interrupt our conversation, and he kept our iced teas flowing. Highly recommend this place. Can't wait to try a dinner entree sometime. 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

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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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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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

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

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

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 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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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

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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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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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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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

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

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

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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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

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

Imagine driving back to Chicago on the interstate and just hoping to find something edible that is not greasy, gross, and over processed fake food. You Yelp and Firefly pops up. Truth be told, we had been munching on (healthy) snack food so we weren't starved but I just felt I needed a little something more substantial and when I read about Firefly, well, we had to stop. I wish I'd been hungrier to more fully enjoy what we had; the good news is that for many of the mains they offer both a small and regular size portion. We had roasted Brussels sprouts, fried green tomatoes, and the 4 Oz (small) portion of sea bass served with quinoa and brown rice. They add a unique twist to each of these (check the on line menu for descriptions) and all were super sensational. You've probably by now read the other reviews explaining their farm to table and healthy food philosophy so I won't say more. The land & home grown produce is beyond amazing. We sat at a table overlooking a water feature (they offer fish food pellets to feed the fish in aforementioned water feature). The restaurant and bar are beautiful. The open kitchen is also welcome. Speaking of "welcome", as you approach the restaurant, to the left are some outdoor seating options and to the right are some sofas with a sign proclaiming "we're so glad you're here." WE'RE so glad we stopped in. Wish it was closer to home. read more

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Staying in town for business. Went to the desk and asked to place a to go order about 6:20pm. Was told I couldn't order food to go but could get something off the kids menu if I wanted. So I'll take my money elsewhere. 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

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

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

We have always enjoyed eating here, however, today the service was great, the place is beautiful, the food was really sub-standard. I had the Philly Cheese Steak sandwich and thought it was not good- my wife had the Smash burger and did not like it. The fries were good. When we got the bill we noticed a 5% charge (service fee) so I asked the waiter what that was. They now charge a 5% fee that covers employees other than our waiter and for using a credit card. Very disappointed in the quality of the food and the fee that was not mentioned anywhere (except on the bill) read more

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

Had reservations for brunch and hostess was very pleasant. After that, service went downhill. Although server was also nice, it took 10 min before a server came with menus & water. Then it took 1.5 hours to get our food! A couple dishes were great and the rest of the food was inedible because they have obviously sat under the heat lamp for awhile. So disappointing. read more

VERY nice place. A special occasion type place for sure but don't wait for that if you are in the area. Its not cheap but you pay for what you get!!! Already making plans this time to bring some friends. read more

My SIL and I met at Firefly yesterday for lunch. It was a rainy day so we each ordered the "homemade chicken noodle soup". It was dreadful. The carrots were still crunchy, the noodles were smaller than angel hair pasta, and it was cooked in beef broth. No seasoning. Just really bad. I had envisioned my grandma's chicken noodle soup - what a disappointment. read more

Firefly has great service and great food. It's one of those places you really want to go to and enjoy while you're there. Expect to pay more for the service, food and ambiance because it's worth it. Maybe I'll see you there! 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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This place is really good! The food is fresh and the portions are good sizes. Price is definitely higher, but the food is great! Service was good, it took us a while to get the bill but nothing to complain about other than that. read more

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

The food is always top notch. Menu rotates often. Servers and staff are always professional, & the ambiance is on par for a great farm to table restaurant. Best place to eat for miles in any direction. read more

This was Our first time visiting The Firefly Grill...and it was well worth it .... From the outside to the inside made Me feel very Special.... It is by a Lake with a Beautiful water fountain and several of My Favorite Trees...Weeping Willows. There were even huge Fish swimming around in the Lake. It is quite picturesque! We had come here with 4 other Couples...and We ALL were celebrating Our August Anniversaries together. Most of Us have done this for at least 25 years. So it was quite Special. Siobhan was Our Server...and She was one of the BEST We have ever had...., From the moment We met Her.. We were smitten. She did an excellent job of attending to Our needs, recommending Drinks and Foods and answering all of Our questions! We couldn't have asked for Anyone better...and when We come back...and We will...We will ask for Her to serve Us. She is a real GEM... read more

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