Nice place marred by a 5% junk fee and somewhat uninspired service. Sad that California had to make a special law just to eliminate these types of fees, which comes into effect on July 1st 2024. The ambience is fine and rather classy; the exterior is nice and would be pleasant in the summer. We didn't try the food so I can't comment on that. The drinks are a measured poor with an extra splash. Rather forgettable probably wouldn't come here again but not an unpleasant experience. 3.5 stars rounded up to four.
Stephanie canas
Very good food, location. Service very friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nate
"Mixed Feelings at Firefly Eatery and Bar, Mission Beach"Firefly Eatery and Bar in Mission Beach, San Diego, presented a dining experience that left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the ambiance, especially the outdoor seating, provided a delightful tropical atmosphere, complemented by elegant heat lamps that added both beauty and warmth on a chilly April evening. The setting near the pool, under thoughtful lighting, along with tasty chips and salsa, set a promising start to our meal.However, the culinary experience and service didn't quite match up to the ambiance. The food was decent but didn't stand out in terms of flavor. The fish tacos were somewhat bland, and while the seared salmon was enjoyable, the sweetness of the glaze overpowered the dish. Additionally, the coconut rice missed its mark on delivering the expected coconut essence. The highlight of our meal was the lobster mac and cheese, which lived up to expectations. Unfortunately, the lava cake dessert was a letdown, lacking the molten fudge center one anticipates, feeling more like a dressed-up brownie than a true lava cake.Service-wise, we found it to be on the slower side, with infrequent visits to our table, which detracted from the overall dining experience. Moreover, the presence of a hidden 5% surcharge, attributed to minimum wage increases for the food service industry, was an unwelcome surprise, especially considering the already high prices.The staff did demonstrate friendliness and were quite accommodating with our seating request, which was appreciated. Overall, while Firefly Eatery and Bar offers a fantastic atmosphere for a night out, particularly with its outdoor setting, the culinary offerings and service aspects leave room for improvement. For those seeking a beautiful location with decent food, it might still be worth a visit, but set your expectations accordingly.Kid-friendliness: Kid friendlyWheelchair accessibility: Accessable
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Pan Roasted Salmon, Fish Taco
SirJuan
Awesome service and great burger. A little on the pricey side, but worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicole B.
I visited the Firefly multiple times during my stay at The Dana on Mission Bay. I felt very welcome as the staff were all very friendly, customer service oriented, conversational and in some cases off the charts accommodating. The food was excellent. During my various lunches and dinners at Firefly, I had the salmon, the Wagyu burger, which was so delicious, fish tacos, Korean style chicken wings, cheese flatbread, and the herb seasoned chicken. I was pleased with all of my meals. Shout outs to Jacob and Mary who were simply delightful. Everyone who worked there was great, I just had the most interactions with them. Thanks for brightening my days with excellent food, drink, and conversation. I highly recommend Firefly Eatery and Bar @ The Dana on Mission Bay.
Alex I.
Great atmosphere!! The food was well portioned for the price. Mary attended us with the utmost quality of care. Their selection of craft beer was extensive and well rounded.
Robert K.
Cheerful atmosphere at the Firefly for lunch. Had a decent selection of food for their lunch and happy hour specials when we were there. Our waitress had a big smile and a cute accent
Lesley C.
3.5 stars Lunch is served from 11:30-3 pm. My colleagues and I were at the Dana for a conference and decided to grab lunch at the Firefly before the conference started. For a party of 6, we were seated rather quickly. I think there were only 2 servers and 1 front of house manager, so service was a bit slow, which could be a good or not great thing depending on your time. Also, if you ask for any additional condiments, they may not arrive before you finish, or almost, finish your meal. Fried Chicken Sandwich $16 Lettuce, Tomato, Pickles, House Honey Mustard, French Fries The sandwich and the French fries were delicious and it was quite filling. But.. the grease from the Fried Chicken Sandwich literally continued dripping onto the small plate as I was eating (my colleagues noticed that also), and the outdoor tables had holes on the top, so I was trying to not drip any oil, through the holes, onto my pants. If you're vegetarian, there is not much on the menu besides the Salads and the Cheese Flatbread. If you order the Clam Chowder, it is more like a small cup, than a bowl of soup. A few in my party ordered the Clam Chowder but it was not filling enough, as they thought it would be a bigger portion. For menu serving times, make sure to look them up on the website. The menus are also listed on the website for easier access. The FireFly does close a little early, Sun-Thu 5-9 pm and Fri-Sat 5-9:30 pm, so keep that in mind if you are a late eater or if you wanted to grab something later in the evening. They do have heat lamps and tables with fire pits in the middle as well. Service is a bit slowwww like molasses so we were running late for our conference. We were trying to see if we could get our bill, and I had even walked to the manager to ask and also a server had come by to ask if we needed any boxes or wanted our check. We ended up all walking up to the host station/podium to try to speed up the process of signing for our checks instead of having them walked over to our table. At the bottom of the menu, it states "A 5% surcharge will be added to all Guest checks to help cover increasing costs and in support of the recent increases to minimum wage and benefits for our dedicated Team Members." I am not a fan of extra surcharges, especially when the items are already pretty pricey, on top of tipping as well. One would hope an establishment would be paying their workers minimum wage, but to pass it onto its customers, as a separate surcharge, that is a no-no in my book. Overall, food and service was okay. It is convenient to have an on-site restaurant for the hotel but it is also not the greatest food. Another reviewer wrote "way underwhelmed" and I could not even more, that the food was a bit underwhelming. I totally understand the low-key vibe of service, since most people who visit are on vacation (and want to relax) but if you need to be somewhere, it's a bit of an inconvenience. The restaurant is located right next to the swimming pool and jacuzzi, so I can imagine it being quite lively with families during the summer. For the cooler months, it is lovely to be able to enjoy a quiet meal with a wonderful view of Mission Bay. It is all about location and views.
John Wiss
The Firefly was awesome and Jacob made the best drinks we've
Located right on the property of our hotel, Dana on Mission Bay, it was super convenient to stroll into for dinner. Service was great. Their filet mignon flatbread is SO good! Highly recommend.
Alvin R.
Where do I even start... I came here for drinks. I also ended up ordering dinner. I have to say it was lovely to have drinks here. This place is very cozy. I love cozy spots! The food was ok. I must say the highlight here is the attentiveness of both bartenders, Mary and Jacob. They are very comforting and social with their guests. I'm definitely down to come back!
Tim Pelletier
Came to San Diego to visit friends and stayed 3 nights at the Dana. Best part of the trip was the Firefly Restaurant on the property. Totally impressed with the service we received from Gabby when we dined (and drank) in the evening, and Bobby, morning manager in the breakfast area. They were top notch staff providing exceptional service, something you don’t always receive, or expect these days, from the service industries. And the food and drinks were all great . Will definitely plan to revisit this quality Eatery & Bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kirsten May
So delicious!! Great service, location at the beautiful resort nearby the pool, & the drinks & food were all phenomenal. Yummy espresso martinis, calamari, flatbreads, & mushroom risotto,. Mmm! Will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamari
Logan Goulette
Had a couple drinks at the bar and had a free wine tasting. Pretty great tiki drinks and amazing service. Recommend checking it out if you’re staying at the hotel.
Nice place marred by a 5% junk fee and somewhat uninspired service. Sad that California had to make a special law just to eliminate these types of fees, which comes into effect on July 1st 2024. The ambience is fine and rather classy; the exterior is nice and would be pleasant in the summer. We didn't try the food so I can't comment on that. The drinks are a measured poor with an extra splash. Rather forgettable probably wouldn't come here again but not an unpleasant experience. 3.5 stars rounded up to four.
Very good food, location. Service very friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
"Mixed Feelings at Firefly Eatery and Bar, Mission Beach"Firefly Eatery and Bar in Mission Beach, San Diego, presented a dining experience that left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the ambiance, especially the outdoor seating, provided a delightful tropical atmosphere, complemented by elegant heat lamps that added both beauty and warmth on a chilly April evening. The setting near the pool, under thoughtful lighting, along with tasty chips and salsa, set a promising start to our meal.However, the culinary experience and service didn't quite match up to the ambiance. The food was decent but didn't stand out in terms of flavor. The fish tacos were somewhat bland, and while the seared salmon was enjoyable, the sweetness of the glaze overpowered the dish. Additionally, the coconut rice missed its mark on delivering the expected coconut essence. The highlight of our meal was the lobster mac and cheese, which lived up to expectations. Unfortunately, the lava cake dessert was a letdown, lacking the molten fudge center one anticipates, feeling more like a dressed-up brownie than a true lava cake.Service-wise, we found it to be on the slower side, with infrequent visits to our table, which detracted from the overall dining experience. Moreover, the presence of a hidden 5% surcharge, attributed to minimum wage increases for the food service industry, was an unwelcome surprise, especially considering the already high prices.The staff did demonstrate friendliness and were quite accommodating with our seating request, which was appreciated. Overall, while Firefly Eatery and Bar offers a fantastic atmosphere for a night out, particularly with its outdoor setting, the culinary offerings and service aspects leave room for improvement. For those seeking a beautiful location with decent food, it might still be worth a visit, but set your expectations accordingly.Kid-friendliness: Kid friendlyWheelchair accessibility: Accessable
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Pan Roasted Salmon, Fish Taco
Awesome service and great burger. A little on the pricey side, but worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I visited the Firefly multiple times during my stay at The Dana on Mission Bay. I felt very welcome as the staff were all very friendly, customer service oriented, conversational and in some cases off the charts accommodating. The food was excellent. During my various lunches and dinners at Firefly, I had the salmon, the Wagyu burger, which was so delicious, fish tacos, Korean style chicken wings, cheese flatbread, and the herb seasoned chicken. I was pleased with all of my meals. Shout outs to Jacob and Mary who were simply delightful. Everyone who worked there was great, I just had the most interactions with them. Thanks for brightening my days with excellent food, drink, and conversation. I highly recommend Firefly Eatery and Bar @ The Dana on Mission Bay.
Great atmosphere!! The food was well portioned for the price. Mary attended us with the utmost quality of care. Their selection of craft beer was extensive and well rounded.
Cheerful atmosphere at the Firefly for lunch. Had a decent selection of food for their lunch and happy hour specials when we were there. Our waitress had a big smile and a cute accent
3.5 stars Lunch is served from 11:30-3 pm. My colleagues and I were at the Dana for a conference and decided to grab lunch at the Firefly before the conference started. For a party of 6, we were seated rather quickly. I think there were only 2 servers and 1 front of house manager, so service was a bit slow, which could be a good or not great thing depending on your time. Also, if you ask for any additional condiments, they may not arrive before you finish, or almost, finish your meal. Fried Chicken Sandwich $16 Lettuce, Tomato, Pickles, House Honey Mustard, French Fries The sandwich and the French fries were delicious and it was quite filling. But.. the grease from the Fried Chicken Sandwich literally continued dripping onto the small plate as I was eating (my colleagues noticed that also), and the outdoor tables had holes on the top, so I was trying to not drip any oil, through the holes, onto my pants. If you're vegetarian, there is not much on the menu besides the Salads and the Cheese Flatbread. If you order the Clam Chowder, it is more like a small cup, than a bowl of soup. A few in my party ordered the Clam Chowder but it was not filling enough, as they thought it would be a bigger portion. For menu serving times, make sure to look them up on the website. The menus are also listed on the website for easier access. The FireFly does close a little early, Sun-Thu 5-9 pm and Fri-Sat 5-9:30 pm, so keep that in mind if you are a late eater or if you wanted to grab something later in the evening. They do have heat lamps and tables with fire pits in the middle as well. Service is a bit slowwww like molasses so we were running late for our conference. We were trying to see if we could get our bill, and I had even walked to the manager to ask and also a server had come by to ask if we needed any boxes or wanted our check. We ended up all walking up to the host station/podium to try to speed up the process of signing for our checks instead of having them walked over to our table. At the bottom of the menu, it states "A 5% surcharge will be added to all Guest checks to help cover increasing costs and in support of the recent increases to minimum wage and benefits for our dedicated Team Members." I am not a fan of extra surcharges, especially when the items are already pretty pricey, on top of tipping as well. One would hope an establishment would be paying their workers minimum wage, but to pass it onto its customers, as a separate surcharge, that is a no-no in my book. Overall, food and service was okay. It is convenient to have an on-site restaurant for the hotel but it is also not the greatest food. Another reviewer wrote "way underwhelmed" and I could not even more, that the food was a bit underwhelming. I totally understand the low-key vibe of service, since most people who visit are on vacation (and want to relax) but if you need to be somewhere, it's a bit of an inconvenience. The restaurant is located right next to the swimming pool and jacuzzi, so I can imagine it being quite lively with families during the summer. For the cooler months, it is lovely to be able to enjoy a quiet meal with a wonderful view of Mission Bay. It is all about location and views.
The Firefly was awesome and Jacob made the best drinks we've
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Was very delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Located right on the property of our hotel, Dana on Mission Bay, it was super convenient to stroll into for dinner. Service was great. Their filet mignon flatbread is SO good! Highly recommend.
Where do I even start... I came here for drinks. I also ended up ordering dinner. I have to say it was lovely to have drinks here. This place is very cozy. I love cozy spots! The food was ok. I must say the highlight here is the attentiveness of both bartenders, Mary and Jacob. They are very comforting and social with their guests. I'm definitely down to come back!
Came to San Diego to visit friends and stayed 3 nights at the Dana. Best part of the trip was the Firefly Restaurant on the property. Totally impressed with the service we received from Gabby when we dined (and drank) in the evening, and Bobby, morning manager in the breakfast area. They were top notch staff providing exceptional service, something you don’t always receive, or expect these days, from the service industries. And the food and drinks were all great . Will definitely plan to revisit this quality Eatery & Bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
So delicious!! Great service, location at the beautiful resort nearby the pool, & the drinks & food were all phenomenal. Yummy espresso martinis, calamari, flatbreads, & mushroom risotto,. Mmm! Will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamari
Had a couple drinks at the bar and had a free wine tasting. Pretty great tiki drinks and amazing service. Recommend checking it out if you’re staying at the hotel.