LuAnn Thibodeau 

Do you like great food, wonderful music, an awesome adult beverage or two, and getting together with friends? Well, you can have it all- in one place. Where is that place, you might ask? It’s Firefly’s BBQ, 350 E. Main Street, in Marlboro. Very convenient to Route 495, Firefly’s is the place to be this summer. 

The Backyard at Firefly’s will be featuring live acoustic music on the weekends (weather permitting), beginning Memorial Day weekend. The June lineup of music includes Tim Levitt, Justin Ray, Greg Schuler, Mike & Missy Unplugged, John Copeland, Ava Panza, Carl Schiller, Joe Mannion, Jared Hanrahan, Alan Goodrich, Steve Angelis, Dan Emino, Steve Spector, and Mark Manzella. Shows are on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, from 5 to 8 pm.  

In addition to the great music in The Backyard, there is also a very fun outdoor bar where you can watch your favorite sports events on TV, enjoy a game or two of Cornhole on the grass court, and of course, indulge in some of the best BBQ and Southern Fare anywhere. 

Also, inside at Firefly’s is Dante’s, which features live music on Friday and Saturday nights from 9-11 pm. The June lineup here includes Rumour Hazit, VinylEcho, Billy & The Jets, A Phine Connection, Moose Juice, All That 90’s, Crash & Burn, and Jake & Jenny. And Dante’s also features 17 TVs, draft beer on tap, craft brews, amazing cocktails, and a phenomenal whiskey collection- all making for a good time every night of the week. 

And speaking of whiskeys, Firefly’s boasts a collection of 367 bottles and counting, so they have your favorite brand and more. And the beer and cocktail menu also includes many, many other flavors to temp your taste buds. 

What about those taste buds? Well, at Firefly’s, you’re in for the best BBQ around. Ironically, it was National BBQ Day when I stopped in on a recent Thursday afternoon. Steve Uliss, the owner, graciously greeted me and gave me the grand tour before the restaurant opened at 4 pm. The bar area has some of the most comfortable seats I’ve ever sat in, and the décor throughout is magnificent. There are some paintings as a tribute to BB King and John Lennon, and a beautiful graffiti style wall painting depicting many things that make up what Firefly’s is all about. 

But I digress. Back to the food. I have to admit that some of the featured items are not in my all time favorite list, but that list changed after Steve gave me a very generous sample offering.  The pulled pork was fantastic, as were the ribs, which are slow cooked and tender. Add one of the specialty sauces, and your mouth will thank you. I also had the homemade coleslaw and a cucumber salad that rounded things out very nicely. And the best cornbread that I have had in years- reminded me of sitting at Mom’s table in days gone by. With more than I could eat in that sitting, Steve gave me a to go container, and I had more than enough for another meal as well as a late-night snack. 

When I asked Steve for a bit of history of the business, he began with Firefly’s start in 2001. Steve grew up in Brookline, where his family had a deli business. So, food has always been in his blood and is his passion. While working in the corporate sector of the food industry, Steve was invited to the big Memphis in May annual festival, and from day one, he was hooked. He traveled around a bit, competing in BBQ festivals, and won many of them. He then brought the idea back to his bosses at the Copley Hotel in Boston and started a BBQ restaurant in that hotel. Then came the idea of having his own restaurant, and the rest is history, as they say. When I asked Steve how COVID times affected the business, he said that they weathered it well, because they had already established themselves as not only a great place to come to eat, but also a great place for takeout. 

Firefly’s also has a catering service, called S.W.A.T.- Smokin’ Wicked and Tasty- offered for private parties at the restaurant as well as providing the service to the venue of choice for a party. 

The restaurant is closed on Monday, and is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 4-9 pm (bar open til 10pm), Thursday from 4-9 pm (bar open til 11pm), Friday from 4-10pm (bar open til midnight), Saturday from 11:30 am to 10 pm (bar open til midnight), and Sunday from 11:30 am to 9 pm (bar open til  10 pm). 

For more information about Firefly’s, including their menus and information about tickets for the shows at Dante’s as well as the dates of the shows there and in The Backyard, check out their website at www.fireflysbbq.com . And don’t delay- for the best BBQ as well as a great time at an awesome restaurant, get to Firefly’s.