Delivering a eclectic menu with ample opportunities to try something out of the ordinary like
Three Little Piggies,
Firefly in Manasquan is a nice addition to the restaurant scene at the Jersey Shore. Opened in April 2011, the word on the street was that the food is good, and so is the price for high-end dining. We decided to celebrate a 40th birthday there, and made reservations well in advance. We’re glad we did. In the confirmation email, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that Firefly is BYO – which only added to the allure. Plus, we were seated at the best spot in the dining room, just in front of the beautiful fireplace, with a little “Happy Birthday” note on our table – those are the kind of touches that we appreciate.
Being an eclectic establishment, instead of bread, guests are first served pretzel-like sticks with a dipping sauce. Famished, we quickly devoured those, and anxiously awaited the herb-grilled flat bread we ordered for the table. With fresh fig puree, goat cheese, caramelized onion, and a balsamic glace, it was a delight to eat.
The “Fire Fly” salad is a must-have, with arugula, goat cheese, and poached pear. For entrees, the hits at our table were the Maryland “Boss” lump crab, which we had as an entree versus an appetizer, and and the melt-in-your-mouth pork tenderloin with grilled asparagus and tri-color fingerling potato.
Vegetarian or gluten-free? Let the chef know when you book your reservation so that your meal can be prepared well in advance, and ready for when you arrive. The attire runs the gamut. We recommend smart dress… it’s a nice place, so put on your fancy duds. But don’t be surprised to see some in more casual attire, as though they are making a dash for their Saturday morning coffee. But hey, anything goes.
The dinner for our party of 6 ran us $200, not including tip. Half of us ordered salads and apps, and we opted out for coffee and desert. The BYO really keeps it exceptionally reasonable.
If you haven’t been, we recommend heading over, and daring to try something new… like Three Little Piggies. Enjoy!
