what's better than some extra crispy tater tots?? TATER TACHOS!!! I had the delightful pleasure of trying Firefly's tater tochos from their food truck at a cidery not so long ago and then frequented their brick and mortar bar-cade establishment for lunch. Tots are solid whether purchased from mobile or fixed location FYI :) My second time around I opted for the Veggie Burger, and was truly impressed! The patty is from No Bull - a local product - and it was fresh and DELISH!! Really enjoyed the flavors and heartiness of the burger (and TRUST ME - I am a solid meat eater!) The tots were extra crispy, just how I like them, and the price ended up being 12$ for a very satisfying meal! I only wish it wasn't extra 2$ to upgrade from the potato chips, but otherwise no complaints here! read more

Firefly - veggie burger lunch with tots ($12) - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Really good Philly cheesesteak! Added bacon and avocado and asked for a side of ranch that comes with cilantro! Very tasty. The only reason it didn't get a five star rating is because I asked for a Diet Coke and i was not told it wasn't actually Diet Coke, it was some other type of diet cola, and I didn't like it but got charged for it anyway. (I didn't ask for them to take it off but, I feel like I should have been told prior to ordering it). read more

Firefly - Philly cheesesteak with avocado and bacon! - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Firefly is a green-certified restaurant in Charlottesville that doubles as a game room. They have pinball machines, arcade games, skeeball, and a selection of board games. Their food is good, big sandwiches with a choice of a side (sweet potato fries, tater tots, Mac and cheese, etc.). Their draft beer list changes frequently and they have trivia on Tuesday nights. Firefly has a good outdoor dining area as well. Parking might seem limited, but it is plentiful if you park across the street at the memorial company. read more

Firefly - Chicken Philly with tater tots - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Was is very happy they had a vegan menu and non-vegan. The wait staff was very knowledgeable. The service was excellent. We loved everything about this restaurant. The food was exceptional. read more

I usually avoid criticizing restaurants with vegan options, but this food was inedible.

10/10! Food was awesome and my best friend has a gluten allergy. They fry their tater tots and other sides in a specific gluten free fryer to guarantee it is gluten free. They also have a vegan menu as well which looks delicious! We sat outside since the weather was nice and the view is gorgeous! The server was friendly and very personable. The drinks were amazing (Night Owl is a MUST TRY!). Overall a great experience and a must try for anyone who is in Charlottesville! read more

I've been wanting to come to Firefly for a while and finally it happened. Overall I'm giving it a 4 because the atmosphere was fun and the service prompt, and the food was above okay but no exactly something exciting or new. The space includes a game area with skeeball, billiards, pinball and arcade games. Everything costs $.50 to $1 a play which is really fun before and after you eat. We started with the wonton nachos which I was super excited about. But they were basically cold, which I was not anticipating. For meals the kids had Mac and cheese and chicken tenders with tots. Neither came with a vegetable, though I didn't ask if I could sub one in. (Why is this such a problem!! Give my kids vegetables people!!). I had the No Bull veggie burger and sweet potato fries. It was quite good and I'd recommend to anyone. He had the cheeseburger and was equally happy. We both also enjoyed various beer from the tap list which basically had one of every style of beer out there. I'm sure we'll return soon, but I hope to see some more exciting options on the menu and some vegetables fruit for my kids. read more

Firefly - No Bull veggie burger and sweet potato fries - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Overall, I had a fine experience here. The food there is decent, though a bit pricey. The atmosphere at Firefly is really unique, and we're into return again that would be the reason. I love all the vintage arcade games inside and the board games that you can take back to the table. The place has a really cool vibe I haven't found at other places around. Service is friendly, fat, and helpful. The location isn't far from town, but you aren't quite on the Downtown Mall. Though the meal was good, it wasn't excellent enough for me to continue to return again and again. read more

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I came here for breakfast while visiting a friend in Charlottesville. I was very pleased with my experience here. I started with a Bloody Mary and also ordered a breakfast platter. Everything I had was delicious. I also really enjoyed the quirky ambiance. Our server was friendly and the experience overall was great. One of my favorite parts was the arcade games. I'd come back here the next time I come to Charlottesville. read more

Firefly - Breakfast platter - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Firefly is a unique and quirky location in the Belmont area. This restaurant/bar has a very nostalgic feel to it with old pinball machines, Ski-Ball, board games, Foosball, retro arcade games and other activities. We went in early during the weekend to catch Brunch. The meal started off with Bloody Marys and coffee that is supplied by Mudhouse, a local coffee roaster. Firefly's Bloody Mary wasn't bad but it wasn't great. The cocktail itself was a bit bland and I actually enjoyed the stuffed olive, bacon and celery garnish more than the rest. We had the Brunch Tacos, Sausage Omelette and Home Fries with Peppers and Onions. Temperature, quantity and quality was good but we both agreed that the food overall was a bit bland and under seasoned and couldn't find any salt or pepper on our table or nearby tables to remedy the issue. Redeeming qualities for Firefly are ample parking in the back in a town that is plagued with parking issues, fun atmosphere, ample events and a respectable bar and beer selection. One day I'll return to give Dinner a go. read more

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This is a unique restaurant and bar that also doubles as an arcade (almost), with fun arcade machines, games, and billiard tables set up throughout the restaurant. The menu is appealing in its wide range of options and plentiful vegan and GF dishes, but I was underwhelmed with the portions of the main dishes for their prices ($11 for 6 chicken wings, $10 for loaded tots that lacked in tots and toppings). However, service was friendly and we didn't branch out into the drinks or entrees, so we could have just had a sub-par experience without the full experience. I definitely wouldn't mind trying this place again! read more

Firefly - loaded tots. wished there was more topping! - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Great service today on the patio. A good selection of vegan options and even bigger selection of drinks! I had the vegan crab cake sandwich and it was amazing. Will be back for the dessert :) We really enjoyed our time hear and our server was awesome. read more

Firefly - lots of patio room - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Food was okay. I never write reviews and wouldn't have even written this one had I not overheard the manager (short brown hair,had a hat on) or owner,assuming its one of those or both, belittling her employees in front of customers. As someone who has been an employee being belittled in front of others, it sucks. I will never return to this establishment as long as this continues. so sad because it could be such a fun place to work and eat. read more

My husband and I live in the neighborhood and we've been here before and after the COVID protocols were put in place - every time we ate outside. We haven't had a bad meal every time we've been, not even when we've ordered takeout! I know lots of people talk about their tater totchos and don't get me wrong, they're delicious, but their sweet potato fries and sriracha aioli keep me coming back for sure. They have a lot of excellent vegan options which is a unique offering and if I was going out to eat with anyone who was a vegan, I would probably recommend this place simply for the number of options available. We also recently went for brunch. I got the pumpkin crepes which were outstanding and my husband got the French toast and said it was wonderful. People we were with got bloody maries which looked really delicious. If you're like me and not ready to eat indoors just yet, the patio is expanded beyond just the front. They have a popup tent on the side with a few picnic tables if your group is more than 4 people and plenty of other socially distanced tables for smaller groups as well. read more

We just celebrated my daughter's birthday at Firefly with 20 people. The management was so great to work with. The restaurant atmosphere was amazing. Everyone played the games and had a great time. The food was amazing!! Drinks were flowing! And the service was outstanding! Would definately recommend for a gathering. We will be back just for the food!! Pam Watson read more

Not from the area and needed a lunch stop and was very pleased we stopped here. Staff were wonderful, really enjoyed the Firefly grilled cheese and there house made ice cream sandwich was phenomenal! read more

TLDR: 4 star atmosphere with 3 star food at Firefly. Came in with a few friends around a week ago for drinks/dessert after wanting to visit for a while. We were initially disappointed with the small number of games available, and we didn't anticipate having to bring in cash to play as well. Nevertheless the atmosphere was really excellent, and we loved how the games decorated the space. Me and my friend ordered mead, our first time ever trying it, and loved it! I can't remember which ones we specifically got, but the waitress was very helpful when we asked for recommendations. We ended up staying a while, playing one of the many board games they have available for free. I will say that the food left more to be desired. My friend go the hummus platter, and the hummus itself wasn't the best. Additionally, I shared the brownie sunday dessert and didn't enjoy it that much as well. The brownie itself wasn't fresh and the ice cream on top wasn't flavorful. Overall an ok experience, however not sure if we will return to eat. read more

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Great food and atmosphere! Prices were good, too. Server was probably new and not in the groove, but otherwise our party of four had the dinner we really needed to enjoy. read more

Fun environment! And good food if you like a little bit more greasy. Tater Totchos! Soooo yummy

Disappointing food. The pork wonton nachos were oversold and kind of gross, seems like something I would've made with a bunch of leftover food back in college. The Philly cheesesteak was bland, chewy, and average sized. The sweet potato fries were possibly the only thing I enjoyed. Overall I was disappointed, although the food came quickly, it all lacked flavor and was pretty greasy. A star was saved by quick food delivery as well as their arcade which hosts single player dig dug, galaga, and multiplayer gauntlet! read more

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If you are fair left minded this is the place for you. Service is terrible by employees are don't care. Wish I could post zero.

Food was excellent. I had a delicious BLT with avocado. I chose chips & altho not house made they were the perfect accompaniment to the sandwich. My husband had a burger with fries that he enjoyed. The service was sketchy. They forgot us. We were sitting outdoors and eventually went in search of someone to take our order. We had been seated and told that they would give us time to look at the menu. 15 minutes was probably too long. We weren't in a hurry so it didn't matter, but it might be better to be inside where they see you! I would recommend this restaurant, funky and fun inside. read more

Great beer, great food, great people. Only come here if you want fun. We came with no reservations and the staff made room for us on their busy Tuesday Trivia night. Fun video games to play while you wait for your meal. read more

Firefly - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Decided to try this place out for lunch since it had decent reviews. It was ok nothing special. Only about 10 people there and the music was so loud you couldn't hear at your own table. Some old school games and several were not working. Got 2 burgers with bacon. My wife didn't want the Sriracha aioli so she asked for garlic aioli. They charged .50 extra. Asked for honey mustard, they charged .50 extra. Since she didn't want the lettuce, onion and tomato I should have asked if I got a discount. I hate feeling like I'm getting nickel and dimed at a restaurant. I got the bill and noticed I was charged a 10% service fee. I usually tip at least 20% but in cash. I want to make sure the server gets it. All in all $64 for a beer, mixed drink and 2 bacon cheddar burgers. Too many other options won't be back. read more

Personalities of folks working here! Excellent beer and food. Old school cool arcade games! They were awesome to my 9 yo. Hit the the glass palette for some groovy glass crafting then here for refreshment. read more

I'm kind of on the fence with this place. It has a cool atmosphere and the food is pretty good. Service is usually good and friendly. Pinball machines are always a plus. I would have given it four stars but subtracted one star because I feel it is overpriced. On our last visit we had a quesadilla, shrimp tacos and two beers. Ended up being close to 50 bucks before it was all said and done. read more

The atmosphere of Firefly is great; however the food was mediocre and appetizers were overpriced for what we got. We ordered the pork wonton nachos ($11), which were okay, and I had a grilled cheese with sweet potato fries. The fries were the best part of the meal. I found the grilled cheese to be very bland. I enjoyed the board games at the tables and the retro arcade games in the restaurant. It made for a fun, casual date night. read more

Firefly - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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The server was very nice. I ordered wings and they were refrigerafor cold. not a little but very cold. I got a cesear salad instead. the dressing was flavorless and the chicken was rubber, inedible. the waitress noticed I didn't eat the salad but didn't even ask. Charged me for it even though it was clearly not eaten. Then there were fees that were charged and couldn't be explained. My daughter ordered the kids slider which came on a pretzel bun which was not said on the menu and it was burned. she would not eat it because of the bun. The other food that was ordered was decent and the drinks were good. over 150$ and I am so unhappy. read more

There's a first time for everything and that's what this review is; my first time leaving a review. Unfortunately, it needs to happen if only to let the owners know how they're getting it so wrong. I had such high hopes for this place as I love the location, the old school vibe, their inclusiveness, and the wide array of vegan/vegetarian options. My hopes were dashed by the complete lack of server acknowledgement. I literally had to ask if I could order. My disappointment continued to grow as I was served the ABSOLUTE worst Bloody Mary I have ever had in my life. The mix is straight pickle juice with chili powder. If my guess is wrong, my apologies to the pickle juice. I even tried to cut it with water and ketchup. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Because it all starts with service and there is none. I shouldn't have to ask to be fed, I've already stated that by being there. If I hadn't been so hopeful, and hungry, I would've left after the Bloody Mary. I ordered another drink (to wash the Bloody Mary taste out of my mouth) and it was no better. I should've done like another at my table and ordered a canned beverage, but again, I was so hopeful. I ordered the Totchos because they look delicious (and to the restaurants credit, they offer a vegan option). I'm vegetarian but I LOVE a restaurant with the foresight to include something for everyone. At this point, I and other guests were debating whether we should just cancel our order and move one, but we were ever hopeful. At this point I can't say whether the food was good or we were just starved at this point. I do feel that the black beans weren't even drained from the can before they were poured onto my totchos. My meal was lukewarm as well. I REALLY wanted this to be a good experience but sadly, it wasn't (apart from giving us a "remember that time..." memory). My husband (who is a ridiculously generous tipper) didn't even leave a tip as there is an automatic $10 server fee. Is that what is giving the server's the zero f&cks given attitude? It hurts my heart to write this but PLEASE, you have the makings for excellence and it's being squandered. I look forward to this turning around. read more

Good bar, pretty yucky food. Go for anything but the food. Cool games, enough parking.

We found this place on yelp on our way back from SML , decide to give it a try. Firefly is located in a old looking industrial building , which to us is way cool! They have a medium sized bar on one side and tables and couches on the other side , and the best part they have pinball machines! And old arcade games like Pac-Man , defender , etc .. and the food was great , we had tater tot nachos, veggie burger. We will be back. Great place !! read more

Firefly - Veggie burger - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Love the patio option during COVID! Staff is friendly and great service. So happy to have multiple vegan options made with local ingredients. We tried the vegan tochos and 2 vegan sandwiches. Beautiful presentation, but all of our items could have used more flavor (especially the Mac & cheese and the jackfruit). The Firefly punch was refreshing though! Willing to try again because there's definitely plenty of options to explore! read more

Came to Firefly after work for weekday drinks and some apps, and enjoyed a table on their outdoor patio space. The tater totchos were good but nothing special, and the pork wonton nachos were a little dry. They all paired well with an ice cold beer though! Firefly had a decent selection of beer and wine which was a plus for our party that all wanted different drinks. Our server was nice and very quick to bring out our orders, but wasn't able to give us any food recs because she said she's never tried anything on the menu which we thought was a little odd. read more

We went for lunch and the burger was pretty good. I got the black and blue burger. The homemade ranch was also awesome (though not like typical ranch). It was also fun to have different arcade games to play if you have kids or as you wait. The only weird thing is the sodas which are locally made. Great if you want to try something new but not if you just want a Diet Coke. read more

Firefly - Sweet potato fries and black and blue burger - Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The ambiance of this place is very casual, arcade games, pool tables and seating for eating are all kind of together, so just kind of keep that in mind. There is a bar with high bar tables for seating as well. The food: Phenomenal!! We ordered the Korean wings- perfection. I had the spiced chicken grilled sandwich with tater tots- SO DELICIOUS. My bf had the philly steak and cheese- also flavors on point! The best part about the food is the HOUSE MADE RANCH/ AOLI- bang bang, mouth watering put it on everything! I would def come back for the food- or order to go UPDATE: went back to order literally the exact same thing as we did last time... completely different food. Wings not nearly as crispy, and the sticky thick caramelized sauce we loved the first time was more watery and "out of a bottle" taste. The Tots weren't crispy crunchy like last time. My chicken panini was on a hoagie roll and not crunchy and toasted like the first time. The steak and cheese looked completely different and was no where near as flavorful. Unfortunately to top things off the service was completely lack luster (bringing ice water to the table in a craf- no cups, serving food- no silverware, asked for bacon on the cheesesteak- didn't get it. HEY! The ranch was still good ‍ read more

I ordered the fried cod salad and they were crispy and delicious. We also got wings and tater tots which were both very good. Id give it a 5 but it may be a bit overpriced. read more

The loaded tater tots app was the best thing we ate! Burgers were good but realize they weren't rare in any way. Drinks, pinball, and arcade games were all on point. Good thing I ran out of bills. Definitely will be back when I come back to town. Thanks for the reply Melissa! And one more thing, the black bean soup was literally only beans and broth - I expected something with onions and peppers and spices. read more

Great find in the Belmont area! It's what my friends would say, a "bar-cade" with both bar, arcade, and restaurant features all in one. We sat on the patio tonight and ordered a dinner solely from the appetizer menu. I was impressed with their gracious serving sizes on the tater tots, truffle fries, hummus, and Korean styled hot wings. We thought we would order more but once the food came we barely had any space left on our table! The service was extremely friendly, patient with us as we decided on drinks, and knew when to check in to our table without interrupting our dinner conversation. I don't remember our servers name, but we really appreciated her sincerity with our interactions. She seemed like a genuinely nice person that made our night off that much sweeter! The space itself looks to be a converted factory space to restaurant with great charm in the brick, exposed beams in the ceiling, and sheet metal bar details. I especially love the game theme of the place which is stocked with ample board games, a few throw back arcade games such as Ms. Pacman, pinball, and of course foosball, ping pong, and two pool tables. Apparently on Wednesdays they have karaoke night, and every day from 4-7pm they have happy hour specials! Bottom line: we'll be back and we'll be bringing our friends! read more

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Firefly had long been on my list of places to check out--I had heard great things about the barcade setup of the place and thought it would be a fun place for a date night. We arrived with our puppy, and the staff was very welcoming and told us to sit anywhere on the patio. There was one table at the very far end of the patio that we chose to keep our puppy away from other customers. We didn't realize that the only place people are allowed to smoke was just next to where we were sitting, so the whole time during our meal, we dealt with drifting cigarette smoke. Eeww! To start, we ordered the popcorn, which according to the menu is "topped with truffle oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and Parmesan cheese". A small bit of paprika was the only thing our popcorn came out with. I don't know if it was an off day for them, but I would skip it next time. For our mains, he ordered burger, and I ordered the portobello sandwich. He said the burger was great and was very satisfied with his meal. My sandwich tasted funny to me--there was a very odd herby earthy taste, and I couldn't figure out if it was the bread or the portobello. If I ate here again, I would definitely choose something else. I went inside to use the restroom, and for me, the ambiance left something to be desired. It was very dark and divey inside. They have vintage couches and vintage games. I like the idea of the place and that they have collaboration nights with breweries, but overall, I was expecting better things from Firefly. read more

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Firefly taught me that it's best not to think too hard. Upon walking in, I thought, hmmm, can I turn around and get out of here without being awkward? I was worried, what with all the pinball machines and the somewhat beat decor, that I was in for mediocre nachos and perhaps a good-ish sandwich or salad, best case scenario, BUT I WAS WRONG! A surprisingly elevated menu with vegan options that were actually thought-through and delicious. I had the Kale and Quinoa Bowl ($10) Sauteed kale, asparagus, roasted red pepper, artichoke heart, caramelized onion, topped with chevre. Served warm!!! Served warm! My husband dining companion had Tater Totchos (Tater tot nachos! So cute!) and the cheeseburger which I did not taste but he said it was really, really good. Beer selection, awesome and such a nice server we had. Really knew the menu and could describe all the beers. read more