When a new restaurant enters your town and brings a breath of chic Brooklyn air to the dining scene, you simply must check it out. Firefly Kitchen, which opened earlier this summer, adds an upscale option to the North Shore with a focus on a relaxed yet distinctly unique vibe.
When I attended the Firefly Kitchen opening with my a few friends, I immediately knew this was a restaurant that would quickly become a neighborhood darling. From the cozy semi-communal bench seating to the exposed bulb lighting to the tongue-in-cheek quotes on the wall (“Love the wine you’re with”), this locale knows how to put the urban in suburban.
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| Clockwise from left: Opening Night via NS Modern Luxury, Bar Scene, Got A Guy Cocktail |
As soon as I heard their patio was open, I immediately booked a table- al fresco dining is at such a premium in terms of both real estate and weather on the North Shore. My friend Cecilia (the gorgeous gal above) and I received a tour of the kitchen and patio-to-be at the opening party. I loved hearing the vision from the owners about how they intended to transform the back alley. Here is a before and after shot- blown away!
And now for the food…
We started off with the Shrimp Hibachi Skewers which were served with Chipotle Sauce. They were paired alongside a hot grill with a lump of charcoal smoking away inside. What I loved about this is the fact that I could enjoy an appetizer without it going cold AND the charcoal infused the shrimp with a lovey flavor.
Next up was a Chopped Salad, presented with artfully displayed tomatoes, cucumber and avocado. The grilled chicken atop a bed of greens was perfectly juicy and flavorful- delish!
For our main course, we selected the Salerno Burger (named after, of course, Chef Dean Salerno) served atop an English Muffin seared with the Firefly logo. Served with crispy, thin fries and house-made pickles, this was a delectable dish.
I chose the FF Steak and Cheese Sandwich, which is the Cadillac version of a Philly Steak Sandwich. Filet Mignon, sliced thin and arranged between a crusty French loaf, topped with caramelized onion, gooey Gruyere and served with a side of BBQ chips. HEAVEN.
The Smoked Pork Mac N Cheese was incredible (and we were so stuffed from the aforementioned feast that I had to take most of it home…and yes, I ate it for breakfast the next morning while hiding from my kids).
And how could we skip dessert? Summer is time for s’mores, so when our waiter described the S’Mores Tart I couldn’t say no. Gooey marshmallow atop rich chocolate ganache with a graham cracker crust.
And now for the fashion! Since the restaurant takes its cue from Brooklyn, I thought I would try to emulate the Brooklyn fashion style as well. I had a chat with my friend Shibani who knows all things hipster about what Brooklyn style truly meant. We settled on ironic, vintage, eclectic casual.
As for the jewelry, I kept it casual by pairing a Kendra Scott pendant with these black spike earrings from Etsy. I also added a gold studded black leather cuff to keep the look edgy and modern. The cocktail in the photo is called Knocking on Heaven’s Door- vodka, lemon, rhubarb tea and raspberry.
This adorable dress is from Ella Louvi in the Glen- it is the perfect patio dress to complement this urban oasis. At under $100, it was a steal in my book- the material is an incredibly soft and stretchy jersey that maintains its shape. The pattern is a bit retro and 70s, which is right on target for this season. You will see this on repeat for fall- paired with boots, topped with a sweater, under a chunky knit scarf. Love!!
Overall, my experience at Firefly Kitchen in Wilmette was top notch. The service was excellent, ambiance akin to a secret garden complete with an extensive craft beer and creative cocktail selection, and the menu featuring both a creative take on classics and new inventive dishes. Bravo Firefly, thank you for bringing this gem to my backyard!
A huge thank you to the staff for having me- I was fortunate enough to meet the family (and yes, this is a family run operation) and the have put their heart and soul into this venue. Make sure to check out their newest addition- brunch every Sunday from 10am-2pm!
Disclosure: I was provided with a meal at Firefly for review purposes; all opinions are honest and my own.
What a beautiful review on Firefly Kitchen. What a perfect evening to dine for date night. Thank you for sharing this gem with us.