FireFlies: A funky Alexandria favorite
Just a little south of the city, in a quaint collection of shops and boutiques known as Delray, is a perfect place for pizza, a pint, and plenty of entertainment. FireFlies has become a neighborhood favorite thanks to its funky vibe, tasty treats and terrific shows.
Located in the south suburb of Alexandria since 2002, FireFlies is a hip and cozy bar and restaurant with a modern-meets-retro aesthetic. Plush booths, a glossy bar and steel walls give the feeling of a futuristic speakeasy, and low-lighting only adds to the experience.
Wait staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the extensive beer and wine lists. On tap is a rotating collection of seasonal beers, a perfect pairing with American and Italian dishes done a little differently.
Appetizers include standard offerings of chicken wings and calamari, but options like deep fried olives and scotch eggs (deep fried hard boiled eggs with sausage) definitely stand out. Salads include the staple Caesar, chef and house, but then there’s the Nova Scotia chop (smoked salmon, capers and crème fraiche vinaigrette).
Sandwiches include the smoked turkey wrap, and pulled pork with coleslaw. But then there’s the hot ham and brie, the BSLT (smoked salmon, bacon, lettuce and tomato) or the chicken fried steak po' boy, an unexpected addition indeed.
Burgers include the Alpine (Swiss cheese and mushrooms), the Double B (blue cheese and bacon) and the Best BBQ (shaved ham, cheddar and BBQ sauce). Pastas are a great sandwich alternative, with options like primavera, sausage-n-peppers and pesto tortellini.
But the biggest stand-out on the FireFlies menu has to be the pizzas. The hand-tossed, foot-wide disks of deliciousness come in a variety of combinations, and you can even make your own custom pie.
Highlights include the Red, White and Green, a white pizza with roasted garlic, goat cheese, red peppers, olives and artichokes. The Chicken Saltimbocca includes garlic butter, chicken, prosciutto, onions and parmesan. Other standouts are the Just Green (pesto, chicken, olives and feta) and the Capricciosa (prosciutto, artichokes and olives).
With such a great menu, relaxed atmosphere, and a near-daily line-up of local musical and comedy performances (check for performance schedules here: www.firefliesdelray.com), FireFlies has definitely become a neighborhood hangout. It’s a great spot to kick-back, relax and enjoy great food, drink and fun.
Posted by D.J. Siegel
