REVIEW: Firefly’s combines friendly atmosphere with tasty barbecue

Assistant+A%26E+editor+Amy+Sullivan+felt+that+the+positive+atmosphere+that+surrounded+Fireflys+BBQ+added+a+unique+element+to+the+already+delicious+food+on+the+menu.++

Photo Amy Sullivan

Assistant A&E editor Amy Sullivan felt that the positive atmosphere that surrounded Firefly’s BBQ added a unique element to the already delicious food on the menu.

Amy Sullivan, Assistant A&E Editor

Your next barbecue oasis is waiting for you at Firefly’s BBQ restaurant, where you will have an excellent meal and a dining experience with a positive twist.

Located in Marlborough, Firefly’s has  a multitude of choices and accommodating menus like gluten-free meal options and even a catering service. Firefly’s has won the barbecue award from the Best of Boston, and was rated four stars by The Boston Globe, along with several other recognitions. You can enjoy their food any day for dinner and enjoy lunch as well during the weekend.

When my family and I first arrived at Firefly’s, they accommodated our request of sitting in the main dining room, as the section under renovation of a new bar area seemed bland without the fun atmosphere. Our waiter was welcoming, and the upbeat music added to the relaxed and positive vibe.

The menu was visually appealing, with seemingly endless, mouthwatering entree choices.

Once we were seated, five minutes passed until another friendly waitress arrived at our table and got us our drinks. Unlike many restaurants that only provide a small cup of water that’s never refilled, the water I ordered came in a large cup, which I enjoyed, especially knowing there was zesty barbeque to come.

We ordered fried pickles ($8) as an appetizer which came out shortly after ordering. The fried part around the pickle had just the right amount of crispness, with the flavor of pickles still present. They were hot and very enjoyable, and the portion size was generous.

Photo Amy Sullivan
The fried pickles appetizer at Firefly’s BBQ ($8).

I ordered the pulled pork sandwich ($12). As my sides, I chose fries and substituted the options of coleslaw or pickled cucumbers with macaroni and cheese for just $1 extra. My food came within a speedy 13 minutes of ordering.

I first tried my fries, which were hot and had a nice, crispy texture. With large amounts of cheese, the macaroni and cheese was very creamy, making it a delicious side dish. The pulled pork sandwich was cooked well with loads of pork oozing out, and their original, mildly spicy Beelzebar BBQ sauce added to the delicious taste.

Unfortunately, as all of us enjoyed our food, my mother didn’t. Almost 10 minutes after we got our food, the waitress came and said they were just starting my mother’s meal. Her food came almost 20 minutes after ours did, which was a major drawback, but was made up for by the staff.

The waitress was very apologetic and made it up to us by giving us free dessert and not including my mom’s meal on our overall bill. However, my mom did not enjoy her meal very much, as her salmon felt overcooked and was too spicy for her liking. We ordered the Carly & Rachel’s Cookie Sundae as our free dessert which topped off the meal nicely. The sundae was huge and big to share among four people. The cookie and hot fudge nicely complimented the rich and smooth vanilla ice cream. Later, the manager even called my mother and gave her a $30 gift card because of the inconvenience.

So even though our meal had a blip, Firefly’s clearly cares about their customers’ experiences. If you are a big barbecue fan, you should stop by Firefly’s and enjoy their authentic, award-winning barbecue.