Firefly Grill

My husband enjoys vegetable gardening and we travel through Effingham every time we visit our grown kids in IN and OH. We plan this place as a destination. It has a cool, relaxing vibe and the food and service are outstanding. Today, we enjoyed the lunch menu. We had the cream of mushroom soup, and arugula salads. My husband had a smash burger and I had the muffuletta. Our server was Harley and she was fabulous. If we lived closer, we’d be eating here all the time 😁

What a great place to stop for lunch on your travels. Yes it's a slight bit of the beaten path but absolutely worth the detour and they have puppy dog food bowls so cute! The only thing I will recommend is to also bring a bowl of water for the pups. But other than that it was amazing the food was absolutely delicious we had the seasonal butternut squash soup and it was absolutely divine, so was the Muffletta and the best Shoshitos we have had in a restaurant. Thank you feel rba wonderful experience!

WOW!!! I literally was looking for a place to turn around and stumbled across this ABSOLUTE GEM! I ate at the bar (very nice bourbon selection I might add) Tammy was very cordial and welcoming. Food was off the chain. House ranch is one of a kind awesome. Pork chop dinner was top notch...can't say enough good...I will definitely be back and recommend anyone looking in the area DO NOT overlook this place you won't regret it.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - outstanding dining experience. 5 star all around- service attentive and courteous, food delicious and pleasant to the palate, nice variety in the menu- we had hummus board, butternut squash soup and salad, Sea bass, ahi tuna, salmon, and dessert to finish a fabulous dinner. Firefly bread pudding, strawberry rhubarb sorbet. Fresh, fresh, delicious. The atmosphere is relaxing and enjoyable. Full bar available and wine list.

Our family recently dined at Firefly Grill, and it was truly an exceptional experience. Visiting from New York, Boston, and Florida, we chose this restaurant based on its strong reputation — and it exceeded our expectations. Our group sampled a wide variety of dishes, including the meatballs, chicken ramen, bao buns, caprese salad, and a 4oz filet, along with family-style sides of risotto, polenta, Brussels sprouts, and seasonal vegetables. Each dish was beautifully presented, expertly prepared, and absolutely delicious. The quality and flavor of every item reflected a thoughtful and creative approach to the menu. Our server was warm, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcomed, adding to the overall charm of the evening. The only minor drawback was the pacing of service — some dishes arrived several minutes apart, leaving a few of our party waiting while others had already received their meals. That said, the overall experience was outstanding, and we look forward to returning. Firefly Grill is a true gem, and we highly recommend it to anyone seeking a memorable dining experience.

Fried green tomatoes were really good. Can’t remember the steak but I enjoyed it also. Definitely will stop by next time I’m in town.

Firefly Grill Farm & Table is an absolute GEM! What sets this place apart is its commitment to freshness and sustainability—60% of the menu is sourced directly from their on-site farm, and the rest comes from local vendors. You can truly taste the difference. I started with the warm Bavarian pretzel bread paired with a rich beer cheese dip—comfort food at its finest. For lunch, the steak tacos with truffle fries were spot-on. Flavorful, satisfying, and beautifully presented. Nicole and Trapper lead an outstanding team that delivers not just great food, but also top-notch service in a fun, welcoming atmosphere. The music is upbeat and lively without being overpowering, adding to the overall vibe. Evie was my server and she was fantastic—knowledgeable, efficient, and genuinely friendly. She made the experience even better. Firefly Grill is now a must-stop for me whenever I’m passing through Effingham, and I’m already recommending it to friends and family. 10/10—highly recommend!

This was a stop on our way back to VT last night. A true farm to table restaurant. Salads were outstanding, fresh and vibrant with local ingredients. I had the banger and mash, she had she had the fried chicken. Delicious. Cocktails get a high mark with an excellent selection of bourbons and real italian cherries in the old fashion. Service, pace, ambiance great. Highly recommend.

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!

Went here on two seperate occasions while I was in the city. The service was amazing and food was served in a very timely manner. One of the waitresses we had went above and beyond to help reticify a mistake that she had made by accidentally charging the wrong card to the wrong order. We really appreciate her for going the extra mile. However, I felt like the food was lackluster. The first time I went, I got the baby back ribs, and they were on the drier side and felt a little bit bland. The second night, I got the cacio e pepe and the brussel sprouts. The cacio e pepe was pretty standard and the brussel sprouts were prepared very well. They were crispy and flavorful -- to the point where I feel like the bottom pieces drowned in the sauce a little bit. One of the people in my dining party got the truffle fries and those tasted amazing. Especially the aioli sauce, which was probably my favorite thing that I had tried from this restaurant.

Stopped here for dinner tonight. It was so good! I ordered the Chicken Noodle soup, good portion, well seasoned, chunks of chicken, carrots, onion, ramen noodles, very good. My friend had the 12 oz. NY strip, med rare with French fries. It was tender, cooked correctly, and my friend said it was very good. Service was excellent. Would definitely recommend eating here, and when in this area I would return.

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.

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.

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!

Vibe: saw huge sign on interstate 70 that said "I Love Firefly Grill" so I asked Siri about it and was told it is farm 2 table and has 4.5 stars Seating: arrived around 1:30 pm on a Saturday just after lunch crowd left Service: top notch***** Ambiance: lovely ***** Food: Spectacular!!! ***** This place made my day!!! Driving for hours today and on the road 3 weeks Ive eaten my share of different foods. This was the best I've eaten in the past month! And that's saying something bc I've been through 11 states and only had fast food once. Try and get a table next to the windows bc the view is so soothing while dining. I noticed they even have charging stations for your electric car. I can't recommend this place enough. Total surprise to find it and would not have if not for their sign. Perfect placement, perfect food choices that were unusual, perfect parking situation, perfect concept of farm to table, perfect wait staff, perfect all around!

We visited the day after Thanksgiving for dinner when we were in the area. I was excited to order salmon, which I don't often make at home. This visit food was very enjoyable, especially the empanadas and polenta cakes. I did find that alone the salmon lacked flavor, but when eaten with a bite of rice it was great. The reason for this visit not being 5 stars, unfortunately, was our server. Multiple rude comments and were made not only to us, but other tables. Things along the line of "wow you guys ate that fast" and "is that really going to be enough food for you?" Etc. In fact she commented 3 different times on how we ate the appetizer quickly or cleaned our plates. This was incredibly rude/ unprofessional and really affected how we felt about spending $150 for a date night here, having driven an hour to visit.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

Such an awesome place!!! This is my now regular stop on the way back home to Indianapolis from St. Louis

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!

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!

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

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.

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!

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!

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

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)

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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