FIREFLY: THE VALLEY’S ANSWER TO HOLLYWOOD
Over the hills, greasy bar food meets sophistication
BY CARLY CYLINDER
Firefly, located on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City, is so discreet, covered in moss, that when driving by (I was in the left lane), I nearly passed it, when the valet sign caught my eye. Valet is $5.
You enter through a small door; the address is right above, as if that would draw your attention to the location. Inside is a sitting/lounge area with a small bar, made to look like a library. Typical in the sense of the seating layout, but the ambience is soothing with KCRW type music playing (Mazzy Star, Bjork, etc.) and shelves of random books everywhere. The crowd is mixed, which I cannot tell if it's a reflection of the night (this is L.A.), or the valley. Young professionals, Persians, frat-type boys, too-cool-for-school ladies, Harper's Bazaar style, 90's style, creepy men, desperate women, with everything in between. Reservations are a must.
My ladies and I have a glass of wine (Pinot Grigio for me), and with time to kill, venture to the back patio. Once leaving the library, you enter into the main dining area, which is modern and sophisticated. The ceiling is so high, the shrubbery peeking inside on one wall, with rich wood ceilings, floors, and tables, that you feel like you're outside at a very wealthy friend's house, catching up over dinner. There are cabana-like tables adjacent to the wall that is open to the greenery, along with round tables of varying sizes, and another bar located near the patio. The patio is outdoors, where you can have a smoke, or relax with companions. It is small, but intimate. You can order appetizers out there from the "bar” menu. Prices are in comparison to other establishments of this caliber, and as I noticed, they made every healthy thing fattening: fried green beans ($7), fried olives ($9), mussels in butter ($15), caramelized cauliflower ($8)... you get the idea.
The place is packed, with jittery noise spilling over the music, waiters bustling around, and a feeling that if you are in the valley, "this" is where you should be. The five of us are seated for dinner at 9pm. My friend Whitney orders a Mojito (she later tells me there is hardly any alcohol in it). We decide to eat family style so we get a bunch of appetizers (the same bar menu is the left side of the regular menu). The entrees look equally as rich; short ribs with noodles ($24), Japanese style halibut ($26), roasted lamb with eggplant ($23).
We are happily surprised when out waiter brings out a small plate of chopped walnuts, grapes, oil, seasoning, with Pecorino Romano slices and bread, courtesy of the chef. Next comes our cheese plate, which appears to be tiny portions (blue cheese, goat cheese, imported cheese, brie, jam, onions and toast), but is rich enough to satisfy the palette. French fries (standard, nothing extraordinary) and calamari are next. The calamari is okay, a little undercooked, and served with two sauces- chipotle (standard) and a liquid lemon mix (nothing to write home about). The caramelized cauliflower, popular with the girls, is buttery, with notes of spice and hints of sprinkled cheese, but overpowered by a greasy aftertaste (yet I ate the entire thing). According to Whitney, the steak tar tar is divine. A perfect mixture of aioli, quail egg and high quality beef are mixed together by the waiter and spooned atop toasted brioche. The fried olives the size of marbles are too crispy, served with an unforgiving mayonnaise, and would have been better if larger olives were used. Our waiter Joey was on point; the service impeccable. Overall, if you want to have a Sex-and-the-City night with your girls, or for males, pick up some ladies or have drinks after work, this place is a good choice, that is, if you are not on a budget. Our tab for 5 girls was about $200, not including tip.
Firefly: 11720 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 762-1833. Open Mon-Sat, 6pm-2am; Sun, 6pm-1am.
Over the hills, greasy bar food meets sophistication
BY CARLY CYLINDER
Firefly, located on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City, is so discreet, covered in moss, that when driving by (I was in the left lane), I nearly passed it, when the valet sign caught my eye. Valet is $5.
You enter through a small door; the address is right above, as if that would draw your attention to the location. Inside is a sitting/lounge area with a small bar, made to look like a library. Typical in the sense of the seating layout, but the ambience is soothing with KCRW type music playing (Mazzy Star, Bjork, etc.) and shelves of random books everywhere. The crowd is mixed, which I cannot tell if it's a reflection of the night (this is L.A.), or the valley. Young professionals, Persians, frat-type boys, too-cool-for-school ladies, Harper's Bazaar style, 90's style, creepy men, desperate women, with everything in between. Reservations are a must.
My ladies and I have a glass of wine (Pinot Grigio for me), and with time to kill, venture to the back patio. Once leaving the library, you enter into the main dining area, which is modern and sophisticated. The ceiling is so high, the shrubbery peeking inside on one wall, with rich wood ceilings, floors, and tables, that you feel like you're outside at a very wealthy friend's house, catching up over dinner. There are cabana-like tables adjacent to the wall that is open to the greenery, along with round tables of varying sizes, and another bar located near the patio. The patio is outdoors, where you can have a smoke, or relax with companions. It is small, but intimate. You can order appetizers out there from the "bar” menu. Prices are in comparison to other establishments of this caliber, and as I noticed, they made every healthy thing fattening: fried green beans ($7), fried olives ($9), mussels in butter ($15), caramelized cauliflower ($8)... you get the idea.
The place is packed, with jittery noise spilling over the music, waiters bustling around, and a feeling that if you are in the valley, "this" is where you should be. The five of us are seated for dinner at 9pm. My friend Whitney orders a Mojito (she later tells me there is hardly any alcohol in it). We decide to eat family style so we get a bunch of appetizers (the same bar menu is the left side of the regular menu). The entrees look equally as rich; short ribs with noodles ($24), Japanese style halibut ($26), roasted lamb with eggplant ($23).
We are happily surprised when out waiter brings out a small plate of chopped walnuts, grapes, oil, seasoning, with Pecorino Romano slices and bread, courtesy of the chef. Next comes our cheese plate, which appears to be tiny portions (blue cheese, goat cheese, imported cheese, brie, jam, onions and toast), but is rich enough to satisfy the palette. French fries (standard, nothing extraordinary) and calamari are next. The calamari is okay, a little undercooked, and served with two sauces- chipotle (standard) and a liquid lemon mix (nothing to write home about). The caramelized cauliflower, popular with the girls, is buttery, with notes of spice and hints of sprinkled cheese, but overpowered by a greasy aftertaste (yet I ate the entire thing). According to Whitney, the steak tar tar is divine. A perfect mixture of aioli, quail egg and high quality beef are mixed together by the waiter and spooned atop toasted brioche. The fried olives the size of marbles are too crispy, served with an unforgiving mayonnaise, and would have been better if larger olives were used. Our waiter Joey was on point; the service impeccable. Overall, if you want to have a Sex-and-the-City night with your girls, or for males, pick up some ladies or have drinks after work, this place is a good choice, that is, if you are not on a budget. Our tab for 5 girls was about $200, not including tip.
Firefly: 11720 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 762-1833. Open Mon-Sat, 6pm-2am; Sun, 6pm-1am.