Firefly
Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Noe Valley4288 24th St
(between Diamond St & Douglass St)
San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 821-7652
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
478 reviews
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
"We went to Houston's the other evening and of course ordered the Grilled ARTICHOKES as appetizer and then decided to order their burger.…" read more »
437 Reviews for Firefly
Amazing experience very quant simple yet amazing flavors and textures. The staff were kind and on spot. My new favorite place to go. I'd give it five stars but I don't want it too go to there head....please go now!!
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My recommendation - start out with drinks at Bliss Bar, build up an appetite, and then head over to Firefly for an amazing dinner. We were able to take advantage of the prix fixe dinner for $35 over Labor Day weekend - such a great value! All our dishes were fresh and delicious - the pork shoulder was especially memorable, as was the chocolate cookie+mint ice cream dessert. Try the Brother Thelonious beer - I'm not a fan of dark brews but I couldn't stop drinking it.
Was I expecting too much? 4.5 stars from 400+ reviews? Maybe.
I ate here earlier tonight and everything on the menu looked wonderful. My date and I opted for the fixed-price menu (3 courses for $35).
Appetizer: Sweet Corn and Roasted Pasilla Pepper Chowder with Polenta Croutons
This was really good. 4-stars good. The corn was crisp and fresh. The peppers added a nice kick to it, and the polenta croutons gave it a nice crunchy texture. Very good.
Entree: Grilled Rare Tombo Tuna with Japanese Sweet Potato Croquette, Cucumber Salad and Creamy Miso Sauce
First, the tuna. It was good, but I don't think it was fresh, so that definitely was a deal breaker. The sweet potato croquette was really good. Sweet and purple, but it's a little too starchy for me. The cucumber salad was not good at all, but I honestly don't like cucumbers. However, they prepared it so that it came out as strings of cucumber, which just made it mushy. Gross, right? Lastly, the miso sauce was pretty good. I smothered my tuna in it so it'd taste better.
Dessert: Ambrosia Melon Sorbet with Honey Ice Cream with Lavender Shortbread Cookies
I'm not quite sure what kind of honey it was, but the sorbet and the honey went together so well! It was really good. I took a bite of the shortbread cookies and decided to save them until the end. I liked the subtle lavender taste.
The service was great, but the food could have been better, especially the entree since it is the main course, right?
Firefly is officially my new favorite restaurant, an accomplishment in a city full of amazing dining. Of course, I'll have to save it for special meals, as it puts a dent in my wallet, that surprisingly, I feel all too happy to pay!
It's plenty quaint and charming minus any attitude. Our server Zo was knowledgeable and gracious. The food is definitely the star here as all dishes are made with fresh, local ingredients and have inventive little twists to truly inspire your palette.
Vino:
We had an amazing Pinot Noir (2004 Julia's Vineyard from Silver Wines in Santa Barbara County) which paired delightfully with our dinner.
Starters:
They offer fresh baked bread with a daily spread. Ours was black bean-- kind of hummus-like with a softly spiced flavor. Delicious and much more exciting than butter.
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Lola Rosa, Grilled Bread, Sherry Vinaigrette and Smoked Salt.
Flavor, flavor, flavor! Bursts of ripe tomato and the perfect amount of salt (I LOVE salt).
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Shrimp and Sea Scallop Potstickers with Sesame Soy Dipping Sauce.
I have never loved a potsticker more.
Entrees:
Pan Roasted Local Halibut with Toasted Israeli Couscous, Cumin Glazed Carrots and Zucchini-Brown Butter Vinaigrette.
Perfectly grilled, delicate flavor.
&
Grilled Rare Tombo Tuna with Japanese Sweet Potato Croquette, Cucumber Salad and Creamy Miso Sauce.
The miso sauce will make you cry tears of joy!
Dessert:
Zo treated us to a glass of Pomele Rosso Dolce Aleatico '06, the dessert wine pairing for the outrageously decadent Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich with Chocolate Brownie Cookies and Chocolate Sauce.
The mint in the ice cream has a fresh-from-the-garden taste that is really original and amazing.
A perfect ending to a beautiful meal!
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The food and service at Firefly has been consistently awesome since I tried it for the first time a couple of years ago. I've taken out of towners, family, friends and clients here and they all really enjoyed it. This is also the place that made me become a fan of brussels sprouts! My parents would have been proud to see my progression. So do yourself a favor by adding some creative and consistent Firefly goodness to your day. I'm looking forward to returning again and again!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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05/17/2006
Braised short ribs...yum! It was fantastic and I had a tough time sharing my entree. (haha, I felt… Read more »
I went to this restaurant a while back for my birthday. I even made reservations way in advance. My folks were in town and was my boyfriend at the time was with us. Everything, and I mean everything was sold out off the menu. Our server was continually going back and forth to check if they had any of the dishes we wanted. They in fact, and I'm not freakin kidding, were out of practically every single thing on the menu. I even chose this restaurant because one of my friends had such a great birthday there before.
I felt bad for our server as she was apologizing left and right, but who I have no sympathy for are the people who order for the restaurant. I mean seriously, you can't figure out how much food you need to cover the wants of your patrons?
I strongly urge you not to waste your time or your money. That was another thing. This place ain't cheap, yet they expect you to order something that you don't want?
In the end, we went somewhere else and walked out. Which I've never done in any restaurant ever, which just pisses me off even more.
Are you the type of person that people don't like taking to nice restaurants, because you will inevitably do something retarded?
Like, try to get chicken off a skewer and fling it across the room instead of on your plate, hitting some old woman in the back of the head? (Aziza)
Or spilling a full glass of beer all over the table, then trying to clean it up with a dirty napkin, inadvertently knocking your fork on to the floor and putting your elbow in red sauce? (Mescolonza)
Or eating a piece of sushi, and because it is too big to fit in your mouth you accidentally drop it the soy sauce, splashing it all over the front of your white blouse? (Zushi Puzzle)
So yeah, neither am I. (stop silently judging me)
Dinner at Firefly was lovely. I was there with a few yelpers on Thursday evening to celebrate the birthday of Christopher K. The wine was very good. Chris K's dad made excellent selections. The food was amazing, and they have a nice $35 price fix menu.
I was talking to his dad about something absolutely fascinating when I reached over to try some eggplant spread. As I was spreading it on the bread Jamie started laughing hysterically. I realize that I had grabbed the dirty end of the knife and had dipped the handle into the eggplant. Classy. BUT, the spread very creamy and delightful, a nice alternative to butter or oil.
So, long story short, don't take me anywhere unless you have an adult sized high chair and bib I could use, and you don't mind feeding me and wiping drool from my chin.
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Do you ever have that moment when you watch something extraordinary happen, and time suddenly slows just for a brief instant while it's going on?
Those are the kinds of things that happen at Firefly. From when the Pinot is poured, and you all toast for the absent birthday boy and his father who have yet to arrive, to when you take your first bite of the shrimp & scallop potstickers dipped in soy sauce.
You gesticulate your conversations with a fork in your hand and a knife in the other, gracefully flowing like a conductor's hands during a rhapsody in Central Park.
They bring your food out, the lamb skewers, the fried chicken with their heavenly buttermilk-battered skin, the flakey and warm biscuit, and heirloom tomato salad. Wine miraculously appears in your glasses should they get too low, and your meal is tender, juicy, and succulent.
Life could not possibly get any better than this...until you watch, in slow-motion, as Carla dips the wrong end of the butter knife into the eggplant spread for her bread, and all hell breaks loose because you're laughing so hard everyone in the restaurant stops talking to find out just what the hell is going on.
Then it got even better.
4 stars for aloof entertainment.
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On my to-try list for years, this charming restaurant has evaded me. Friends raved about it, I walked by it when workin' on my fitness, I even applied for a job there. For years, Firefly remained untouched on the short list.
That all changed this past weekend.
Our cozy party of 7 (happy b-day, euge!) was seated in a charming, family-style room with long tables and bench-seating along the wall. Fabric draped up on the ceiling, the feeling is more of being in someones wine country home (in say, France or Italy) than a restaurant in Noe Valley. I was instantly charmed.
Before I get to the food, let me say that the service was attentive & professional. All of our needs were met so there were no distractions from the lovely food...
The bread. Served with a chick pea mushroom spread, was a perfect amuse, taking the edge off my hunger and going nicely with the J-sparkling rose our hostess brought (hi Jen!).
Starters: me - romaine salad with a bright, herbaceous green goddess dressing. So good I almost licked my plate. But didn't 'cause we were in classy mode. J - heirloom tomatoes. Sweet and perfectly ripened & lightly dressed. Perfect with the muscadet we had with the 1st course.
Entrees: me - Grilled California White Sea bass with Grilled Corn Off the Cob, Grapes, Scallions, Herb Roasted Potatoes and Watercress Purée. J - The Fried Chicken of Your Dreams with Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Peas & Carrots and a Damn Fine Buttermilk Biscuit. The menu warns that you probably can't have one unless you order the chicken. Fortunately for me, I have a very generous BF - I got half!
I need to pause here for a minute. While my bass was perfectly executed and so flavorful (who would'a thought grapes would taste amazing with corn?!), the fried chicken was the star. The Star! Perfectly seasoned. Juicy & tender. Everything you ever dreamed and more! Get it while they got it, because Firefly's menu is seasonal and changes frequently.
After cleaning our plates, who would've thought there was room for dessert? Well, after committing to the $35- prix fixe menu (Sun. - Thurs.), there was nowhere to go but to the sweet stuff. I opted for a lovely blueberry crepe with corn ice cream (yes, corn. quite possibly my new favorite!), while J went for the chocolate offering (trading his cherry ice cream for raspberry sorbet).
I could pout about how much time I've missed by taking so long to come to Firefly... all the delicious food I've missed. All the wine-soaked meals I could have shared with friends. All the pounds I surely would have gained. : \
All-in-all, a wonderful meal with awesome friends, all delivered by a really nice staff. I'm sure there's plenty of time to go back and pack on the pounds. Firefly: for me (sadly), best used in moderation! You know, if you consider moderation once a week!
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I have nothing but good things to say about the food. I went with the prix fixe for $35, as did our entire group. I chose the heirloom tomato salad, pork chop and the cheese plate. The tomatoes were so fresh and juicy and the dressing did not overwhelm them. I don't usually order pork but I'm so glad I did. It was succulent and flavorful but not too salty. The haricot vert it came with were also delicious. Finally, the cheese plate was lovely but I was too full to eat much of it.
I also sampled the fried chicken, beef (sweet) cheeks and seabass. Everything was delicious but I thought my pork chop was the best. The fromage and strawberry parfait I tasted was good. Not too sweet but creamy. The many bottles of wine we had were nice too.
The service was excellent and it was a great place for a birthday dinner.
What was not great was being tormented by the Hamburglar, frou frou and the tomato about me doing errands and Jenga. Sorry, kids, my life is not that interesting and, for the record, there was no Jenga playing.
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Our Supper Club group of six tried Firefly last night and what a night it was!
The Navarro Guwertziminer grape juice and Bitburger non-alcoholic beer flowed as the three prix fixe courses graced our long, center table.
A loaf of complimentary bread with carrot and bean spread was brought as a prelude to delicious stuffed-to-the-brim shrimp and scallop potstickers and succulent lamb skewers with cranberry beans and salsa verde.
And then the entree - "The Fried Chicken of Your Dreams."
It lived up to its name, with heavenly fried juiciness intact. And the biscuit, with butter and honey slathered generously on, was lovely.
For dessert, my partner and I chose the caramelized lemon pain perdu with lemon verbena roasted blackberries and the mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwich with chocolate brownie cookies and chocolate sauce.
Divine.
The six of us rolled out stuffed to the gills and absolutely content.
Firefly is a softly beautiful restaurant with draped ceilings and fine attention to details, tucked away in a quiet corner of Noe Valley, with occasionally flickering lights (perchance an ode to the firefly?), and impeccable service.
The occasional odd choice of music and high decibel buzz of conversations do nothing to detract from a very high recommendation.
Prix Fix Menu Sun.- Thurs.;
Any Appetizer, Entrée and Dessert
$35 Per Person
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Thank you Firefly for making my boyfriend's birthday dinner a great success!!!
And the Fried Chicken of your Dreams really is dreamy...
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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06/25/2008
Eugy's really good when it comes to feeding me. And he always seems to find an excuse to take me to… Read more »
So is it bad to be on a date and order a bottle of wine....just for yourself? Cause that definitely went down. I'm sorry, but the Leitz Dragonstone Reisling was too good, and nobody could take it away from me.
I've been here before and I would go back again. The food is good, the service is mediocre. I strongly suggest getting the shrimp and scallop potsticker, as I think it's the best thing (besides dessert) on the menu. Also, who doesn't love potstickers? If you don't like them, I'm sorry, I may not be able to be your Yelp friend. The portions were large and I could barely finish the last half of my halibut, which was quite delicious. The fried chicken is definitely good, but it's still fried chicken. So, if fried chicken is the thing you order even at high tea with grandma, then go for it. But if not, there are better choices.
This is not a place to skip dessert! They are oh so delicious and it was my favorite part of the meal. I had the lemon pain perdu, and my friend had the chocolate truffle thing which was sooooo rich. I almost had a food orgasm right there.
The service was mediocre at best. They weren't ready with our seating when we got there, they took too long to bring out the appetizer, they tried to take away my bread after the appetizer, they brought the entree out way too soon after the app, and they took the empty bottle of wine away from me after I said I wanted to keep it (they replaced it later though). Oh also, they were all wearing flannel shirts. Automatically minus 1 star =) Overall I don't think they were very attentive, but they were nice when they did come around.
3 stars because for what it's trying to be, there are places just as good. BUT it's a fun place for a date and I would go back there again if someone invited me out.
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I think this quaint, neighborhood restaurant owns a little piece of my heart.
The food is earthy, creative and delicious. The atmosphere is adorable and cozy. The people are super friendly.
Keep in mind that they do not offer a full bar, just an impressive wine selection. But there is no reason to complain, it somehow seems perfectly fitting.
This place makes me want to write them a thank you note and sign it with x's and o's and say things like, "I heart you".
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Ever had a fantasy come true? Well, dining at Firefly was like living out a good dream.
Brussel sprouts with truffle oil left me underneath the table trembling with excitement. Cousin had the fried chicken which was crispy on the outside and juicy inside. I had the most tender braised beef that just melted in my mouth. Oh goodness, I get the shivers just thinking about it.
You have try this place, it's really as great as everyone says.
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Called at 8:30pm on Monday night expecting the restaurant to have plenty of room but nope, got the last reservation for 9:15pm (they close at 9:30pm). The place was packed, as expected, but also extremely noisy - don't go here if you're looking for a place to have a nice quiet date. Judging by the clientèle that night, this is also not a good places for singles. We also sat with our menus for an uncomfortably long time (no drinks either). Food was solid - not "oh my gosh best ever" and worthy of four stars. Desert sounded much better than it tasted (mint ice cream sandwich). Loved the ambiance of the place though and definitely worth the visit if you're a foodie and enjoy checking out the local spots like I do.
A friend and I tried Firefly on Friday night. I've been dieting, and hoped the fried chicken would live up to its "perfect" name, as if you are going to break a diet, it better be perfect. I did not find that to be the case. However, I did enjoy the ambiance in the restaurant, and down home feeling of authenticity. The mashed potatoes were perfect, as were the corn and peas, both of which accompany the fried chicken. And the homemade biscuit was all that you would hope for. We shared the lemon bread pudding dessert, and it was a beyond perfect dessert. I will definitely return, and if I have something I like better than the fried chicken, I will add star(s).
It's easy to see why this place is so popular - very relaxed atmosphere, all blonde unfinished wood and communal tables, very nice waitstaff, pretty good food.
But IMHO it could do this well simply on the reputation of it's fried chicken. Better than Blue Jay's Cafe. Way better than Front Porch. This is classic fried chicken (okay, maybe not pan fried) just done perfectly. Nice and juicy and really flavorful. I also enjoyed the gravy that came with the mashed potatoes.
Beef cheeks were also really good although my companions were a little put off because they expected it to have a steak like consistency and it was more like a slow roast - really soft and tender. I didn't think it was incongruous and in any case, it tasted great.
Dessert is a must have here - anything with chocolate is good.
Even the bread is delicious!
Although I'm not a fan of having to call 30 days in advance to get a reservation, I live close enough that I can just go when they can squeeze me in. I sense a new local for me.
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Firefly is where I take people who are visiting me here in lovely San Francisco. I have been going there for over 4 years now. It's small; the staff is always genuine and friendly; the food is NEVER anything other than spectacular. I love that the menu is seasonal and each time I go I can rely on something new and perfect. They do, however, always seem to have those insanely delicious potstickers.
This is always a romantic spot as well, if you are on a date. The lighting is nice, and the noise allows for intimate conversation without the fear of being hear. If you make a reservation, which I recommend, ask for a window seat.
Their wine list also deserves mention... it's not too long, but very nice. Firefly is where I learned my love of Grüner Veltliner. (Thank you to the bartender who was also a comic book artist.)
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i had mixed feelings about firefly. i have heard great things about it and yet when i looked at the menu i couldn't get excited. after going here, my feelings are still the same but justified. the food is good but not great, the ambiance is nice but loud and the service is friendly but slow.
if one thing stands out it is that firefly has a great neighborhood gem feel to it. everything is pretty much wood including the bar and gives firefly a very earthy setting.
the prix fixe menu is a nice thing on non-busy nights as it does give a nice bang for your buck. at $35 you get an app, main and dessert and given the prices on the menu for each component, it's a good deal.
for apps, my wife started with the heirloom tomato salad that came w/ grilled bread, red lettuce and a sherry vinaigrette. the tomatoes were really nice and flavorful but the vinaigrette was a bit on the oily side. i had the shrimp and scallop potstickers. very tasty but nothing spectacular.
for mains, my wife had gotten the buttermilk fried chicken of one's dreams which was accompanied w/ a biscuit, mashed potatoes and peas and carrots. she like it but she's not much of a fried chicken fan. the chicken was cooked nicely althought a bit more seasoning in their breading for the fried chicken could've made it better. i did like it but didn't think i was gonna dream about it. i got the pan-seared local halibut w/ israeli couscous, cumin glazed carrots and a zucchini brown-butter vinaigrette. this was a very interesting dish w/ a vast array of flavors and textures. i did like it a lot and probably was the highlight of my meal.
for dessert, she got the mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwich w/ chocolate brownie cookie. the mint part of the ice cream was pretty crazy. the moment it touched my mouth it felt like that had eaten an incredibly potent breath mint. she thought the ice cream was alright and really loved the cookie. i got the fromage blanc and strawberry parfait w/ a honey balsamic caramel and ginger shortbread. overall and intriguing dish and a tasty one too. the fromage blanc and strawberry balance each other well but the caramel really brought nothing to the party and the shortbread was just kinda there to nibble at.
as we recapped our dinner i think we came to the conclusion that we would come back here if a few new items popped up on the menu. currently, there was really nothing there to draw us back.
Quite possibly my favorite all-around restaurant in San Francisco. With almost 400 reviews, I'll not go on and on, but let me just say it's a near-perfect dining experience as far as casual neighborhood places go.
I eat meat, but many of my favorite dining partners do not. With such a tiny menu, I really appreciate that they make room for one vegetarian AND one vegan selection, and they are never throw-aways but always something inspired and well-prepared.
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$thirty-five pre fixe...menu pricing...appetizer, entree 'n' dessert....three course bargain feast....available a la carte if prefer....firefly bit of trek...reaching near twin peaks base....homing on flashing beacon....start with pinot grigio waiting....party seating and pick of pre fixe all around.....various selection opportunity.....self pickings being potstickers, fried chicken to crepe....scallops stuffing potstickers pan fried crisp....chunky meaty filling eat bite and marvelous....chopsticks provided and used (and kept for use)....main fried chicken second....standard mashed potatoes...but, peas 'n' carrot cubes just adding color for self......trio of fried chicken being leg, thigh and breast...consuming in order from favorite dark to least favorite white....careful use of chopsticks to control and feed self....substitutions for dark or white not allowed....fine fried chicken..chopstick licking good...above expectations in crisp, taste and cooking perfection....up there in quality...no fancy seasoning....simple fried chicken.....maple syrup crepe to end...with cup of french press coffee to compliment.....bit sweet, bit full....dinner ends.....mention of moderate wine to compliment and dinner coming to little below $eighty total per person....
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This is my new favorite restaurant :) Everything we had was perfection. Apricot salad with fromage blanc and a sweet dressing to start. Arctic char with potatoes and beets. Chocolate marscarpone mousse with cherries and a chocolate haselnut madeline that was to die for! They really know what they're doing at firefly. It's not cheap, dinner for two is about $100, but it's so worth it.
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Highly recommend this place. Go for the prix fixe ($35). Get the shrimp/scallops pot stickers for appetizers, braised beef cheeks for main and chocolate cake for dessert. The decor is very charming and down-to-earth. People dress up, but not stuffy. You'd be fine with tshirt and jeans, but there are some good looking people around. The staff is friendly and mellow.
I wouldn't recommend the fried chicken even though I was told it was the most popular. I've had better fried chicken from Hard Knox in Potrero, Front Porch in Bernal Hts. or Maverick in the Mission. Also we waited a bit longer than usual between our appetizers and main.
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Firefly is excellent. I've eaten here on many a special occasion and not been disappointed. The atmosphere is homey, service is attentive and the food is wonderful.
What is the purpose of having a reservation if you get to the establishment on time and even call in advance and still end up waiting 15-20 mins? I don't know. It's a pet peeve of mine. If you have a reservation, doesn't it mean you should get seated at the time you made your reservation? Let's just say waiting for our table irked me. But I was calmed down by a glass of prosecco.
We opted for the fixed price menu(3 courses=$35/person). Everything tasted great. The service was very attentive(our waiter looked like Dr. House from "House"!). I enjoyed my romaine salad, especially the fried capers. My filo dough entree was a bit more than I could handle. I couldn't finish it all!
For dessert, I had the lemon pudding cake. And my husband had the blueberry tartlet. Nice flavors. But at this point I was pretty stuffed. I don't think I handle 3 course meals very well!
Overall, a nice experience. The reservation situation bugged me, but the service and food were great. They also stuck a candle in my dessert to remind me that I'm another year older. (They almost forgot the candle though and did a quick rewind and brought the dessert back out with the candle.)
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Firefly is quite possibly one of my favorite restaurants in the entire Bay Area. The menu is small but incredibly eclectic, interesting and fabulous. When I walk in I feel brave and willing to try anything on the menu and I usually do! I love the tasting menu where you can get a starter, main course and dessert for $35 - what a great deal! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone - and I probably have!
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Definitely satisfied. This is where my boyfriend and I chose to have our parents meet for the first time in our four year relationship... it went over smashingly! Excellent service, food was amazing, reservations went through smoothly... and an extra star for having more than one veggie choice on the entree list!
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This place is local to me and I love it. They always have different spreads from the bread made from all types of different grains & veggies, soooo good. Prices are reasonable and the menu is really great - I have yet to eat anything that I wouldn't recommend or eat again (and I have eaten many things again). It can get crowded and noisy but the food is worth it and the service is good. Go there, you'll like it!
One of the best restaurants in the entire Bay Area. The menu is inventive and eclectic (pot stickers to fried chicken). The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and the atmosphere is delightful. And you cannot beat the Prix Fixe offer - what a deal! Highly recommended!
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Fun neighborhood spot with lots of menu choices (for me, at least). Everyone seemed to order the "fried chicken of your dreams" (yup, it says that right on the menu) and I overheard great comments about it. My daughter and I shared the heirloom tomato salad with lola rosa (I have no idea what that is), grilled bread, sherry vinaigrette and smoked salt. Too much smoked salt. Overwhelmed the tomatoes. I prefer salting my food to MY taste, thank you very much. I had the halibut with toasted couscous, cumin glazed carrots and zucchini brown butter vinaigrette as my entree and it was scrumptious. Daughter had the grilled tuna (not "tombo tuna" as on the menu, but ahi, as the server told us before we ordered - not that I'd know what tombo is either. Am I just think?) Tuna was served with Japanese (translate "purple") sweet potato croquette, cucumber salad (more a tiny relish portion) and creamy miso sauce. She enjoyed it all. I'd definitely go back, if only to educate myself.
Just what this place needs, a 420th review. Obviously people love this place and I would not review it if it was not for the Fried Chicken. Since I am a self proclaimed fried chicken aficionado, I promised our server that I would write a yelp review.
Fried Chicken of your dreams is what they call it, and they are not lying. Juicy, crisp, flavorful without being too salty. Excellent!
Please understand, I am no beginner to fried chicken, I eat it everywhere it is on the menu so I can honestly say on Saturday night, they were on their game. Order it, eat it, love it. You won't be disappointed.
The rest of the party enjoyed their meals, the salads were very tasty and those pot stickers were wonderful. The beef cheeks were delicious, but frankly I thought the Sea Bass was a bit bland, but my wife like it.
Two notes:
Our server was terrific. Knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating a real pro.
The Hostess is annoying. We arrived on time for our early reservation (6:15), the place was half empty, but since our party was not complete she would not seat us. I understand this policy when a place is busy, or overbooked, but at 6:15 when it is empty?!? What difference does it make if you sit us at 6:15 as a twosome, or at 6:27 as a foursome? The table will not turn until we are finished with our meal anyway. There was nothing gained by making us sit on an uncomfortable bench in front of the cold doorway. Note to hostess: try using your brain and not hiding behind policies.
Firefly would have received a 5 star review from me if not for the stupidity of the hostess.
It really is great for kids. Right now the Yelp entry says "No" on Good For Kids, but that's wrong. Tonight, when we got there they already had the child seat set up for us for our one-year old. And all the waiters were very attentive and happy to have her. Importantly, the restaurant has the perfect volume -- just enough buzz and noise that it's perfectly fine when our kid babbles loudly, but not so loud that you can't easily have a nice conversation.
Really yummy of course, like all the reviews say. Service was a bit slow tonight because it was completely full, but other times it's been great. In any case, everyone is very friendly and helpful.
Went here for the ol' anniversary and had a great time. I'd tag the food as "inventive homestyle." My boyfriend called it "luxury KFC" (he had the fried chicken). Apparently, they switch up the menu often, so I'm curious to come by again. It kind of looks like a ski lodge inside and it's cozy and small. Our waitress was full of knowledge too, I had to ask her what "chanterelle" was and she gave me a wikipedia sized description. I pretty much stopped listening to what she was saying after she said "...mushroom" but I'm sure it was all fascinating and accurate.
Firefly is worth the trip to this Noe Valley neighborhood spot. This is a quaint, quiet, romantic neighborhood restaurant; and probably one of the best restaurants in the city. It's a very warm, pretty, beautiful atmosphere. Every couple in love should try this restaurant at least once and it's a wonderful special occasion restaurant. If you live in SF and love food and love finding wonderful neighborhood restaurants than this is a place for you to try. They keep the menu fresh and the service is friendly and absolutely non-pretentious. Enjoy!
How lucky to have this restaurant in our neighborhood! My meal was truly excellent, from the romaine salad to the arctic char (with a ridiculously good buerre blanc sauce). The service was great as well -- a true gem in Noe!
A great option for a nice dinner in Noe Valley. A friend booked reservations for four on a 9:30 (Saturday night of pride), we were seated without a hitch.
An afternoon stop at Burgermeister kept me from ordering any appetizers, but I did get Firefly's char with beets. The char was fresh, cooked on the rarer side of medium rare (Am I the only one that thinks that if you ask for "medium RARE" instead of "medium rare" you are specifically requesting the rarer side of medium rate? Probably). I also sampled the lamb entree -- super savory.
I did get a chance to look over the wine list -- lots of good picks.
Service was great, passed my normal "leave no empty water glass" test and the waitress visited with sufficient frequency.
Decor was nice and warm, I felt like I was stepping into someone's home. The effect was dampened somewhat, as I don't pay $50/head after I leave someone's house for dinner, but that's life.
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Firefly is amongst a small group of restaurants that serve really good food and also anchor and bring together their neighborhoods. The restaurant is composed of two rooms and a bar at which singles are well served. Nice groups of locals and some from further afield can be found here on any evening.
Start with shrimp and scallop potstickers which contain tasty seafood within a thin, not-too-greasy casing. Alternatively, try one of the seasonal soups.
Main courses are in general quite nice, I'm thinking in particular of an osso bucco I had one evening. Tasty home food that you never really got at home, except in your fondest memories. Desserts are eclectic and pleasing.
A three course prix fix dinner is a value at $35. Even the parking works in your favor in the Noe Valley. Make a trip to this place, its worth your taste buds while.
I've been twice now, the reviews were so strong I felt I had to give it a double shot. While I can appreciate why Firefly is a favorite for those who live in the neighborhood, I caution my fellow city nomads from letting their expectations run wild.
I had the tempura string beans to start and the grilled yellow tail on a bed of soba. Both were good, but neither was particularly remarkable. Ingredients are garden fresh and dishes tend to be simple which allows the components to shine, but also limits the complexity.
Service is excellent and everyone from the hostess to the waitresses offered friendly smiles and nice laid back vibe. I'm sure it