Firefly - Charlottesville

Update 9/2023: still a great, long menu of vegan options. I got the vegan french toast for brunch which was tasty!! I stand by my original statement that the quality is average but I will certainly be back to try more food and bring my omni friends/family. 5/2022: This place has so many vegan options!! It is so exciting to have a restaurant of this style with so much to choose from. I had the vegan totchos and they were good but there was too much cashew cheese for me. The vegan brownie was a little oily. But, I will definitely be back to try the sandwich options! Updated from previous review on 2022-05-31

Compared to typical non vegan restaurants, this place’s menu is awesome

Hubby and I enjoyed a Vegan Tatar Totchos off the special sampling menu, delicious! Then my hubby had the No Bull vegan burger off the regular menu and I had the “Oyster” seitan Po Boy off the special menu (I hope they add this to the regular menu, it’s a keeper). For desert we shared a delightful Vegan Berry Crumble for dessert. It should be noted that their oil fryer is vegan (fresh oil, no meat cooked in it) for Meatless Monday. Looking forward to seeing Firefly at the Vegan Roots Fest at the end of the month.

Wonton nachos with tofu. Crispy, messy, healthyish, delicious, and so filling.

There are far too many restaurants with vegan options in Charlottesville to have to experience poor customer service. They have a vegan brunch menu, but the sides listed are not all vegan. So while paying my bill, I made the suggestion to the owner that only including the sides that ARE vegan would be a nice improvement. I had ordered a side Caesar salad with my sandwich thinking it was vegan it was not. So I thought this suggestion would help others avoid a similar mistake. I asked to have the up charge for the Caesar salad removed from my bill and explained to the owner the mix up and made my suggestion. I also mentioned that the service had been very slow, with our having waited 45 minutes to get our sandwiches. The owner was not receptive to my feedback and told me I was rude. I won’t go back to Firefly. There are amazing vegan restaurants like Botanical Faire and GRN Burger that I would rather have my business.