We've been meaning to try this place forever and we're bummed we didn't try it sooner! This is such a cute place and the food was great. I'm still thinking about the fries - crispy on the outside and soft inside, seasoned really well. The cocktails were delicious and we appreciate when there are NA beer options as well. We will definitely be back. read more

Lively Station - Butterfly flower tea cocktail - Specialty Food Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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The area is so pretty, great natural light! Excellent Smash Burger with fresh ingredients and lovely sauces!!! We can't wait to go back! Excellent service and great coffee!! read more

Waited forty minutes for a coffee at brunch, yesterday, New Year's Eve. We had reservations at 10:30am and finally got a pitifully small cup of coffee at 11:10am, ordered their Lively Station Macchiato" which was a short shot of rancid soured espresso with something sweet in it: it was undrinkable and the bartender was kind enough to remove it from our tab. Breakfast Burrito was unremarkable & average, and so was the fish cake Benedict. What was remarkable was the fruit salad: I thought it looked like golden kiwi but it was a regular kiwi that was completely rotten and disintegrating. With a brown over-ripe banana & some grapes. I wanted to go full on Gordon Ramsay and scream, "Are you trying to make people sick?!!" Because this is how you make people sick!! Check the Health Inspections and be forewarned. https://inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/or-marion-county/inspection/?inspectionID=3C68EA1B-E55D-48F1-9838-CD7C1C7C5E9C We so desperately wanted to like this place and it's always been hit or miss. Mostly miss. The owners seem nice, but it's apparent they have literally bitten off more than they can chew. Compared to other restaurants nearby? Lively Station is awfully disappointing. Keep an eye on their Health Inspections and know before you even think of going!! read more

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Please frequent this place. There are genuine foodies, with local interest and fusion. Mac and Cheese is great, added bacon and chicken. Smash burger, excellent....got them to go. While waiting for our food, had a delightful time with the crew, drinking amazing craft cocktails, and got introduced to a space we have been craving. With a woodsy feel outside, just near the Willamette River, and just far enuf away from town it is relaxing. Dine inside (refurbished old Oregon building....bar is in old wood meat locker) or outside in the shade. Kid, couple, and group friendly. Local wine and beer available. Fun options in market, which is next to an espresso bar. Just became our favorite hole! read more

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Just finished another super meal. Has always been high on our list when we want to go out to eat.

Frankly it's the people here that make the difference. My wife and I come here to enjoy a Friday night together after a long week. Madison welcomes us with a smile and knows what we order. We throw her a curveball every once in a while just for fun! She is such a joyous person and makes our visit a delight. Not to be outdone by Tina, she is an amazing mixologist. And her new drink menu is THE BEST! she adds to the ambiance with amazing creativity and is arguably the best mixologist in town. We often enjoy her recommendations which never disappoint. Not to mention that she makes one heck an Old Fashioned. Everyone that works here shows care in what they do. Back of the house included. The food is always consistently delicious, creative and enjoyable. As regulars with many restaurant options in town, this is our favorite place to visit week after week. Thanks for all you do! read more

Best fries I've ever had . Also the cornflake crusted chicken sandwich was awesome and the owner spent a lot of time with me and my mom giving us the history of the place. Great vibe /Great outdoor areas / will definitely return! read more

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Although it was busy, our server was so sweet and made us feel like we were paid attention to throughout our time there. The food was also amazing, so it made it all worth it! read more

Lively Station - Grilled Salmon Salad - Specialty Food Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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I stumbled upon this gem on my way back from a hike. The menu was small, but provided a variety. I chose the French onion soup and chimichurri veggies, along with Pfeium Pilsner. The veggies were perfectly cooked, still crisp with just a hint of spiciness. The soup was very flavorful but a little heavy and the bread and cheese. The staff were friendly and accommodating. They informed us they just had a beer and yoga night (bummed I missed that) and often have live music. I live over an hour away, but plan to stop by next time I'm in the area. read more

Went on Sunday for their brunch service. Service was so good! Everyone was super friendly and open and knowledgeable. Food was good, definitely worth a visit. The Harvest Moon mocktail was read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Salem. Great food with fresh ingredients and a thoughtful menu, fantastic cocktails and wine list. Not to mention the market! This place is great. read more

This review is long overdue as we have been regulars at Lively Station since moving to Salem over two years ago. The food is fantastic - everything we've tried has been delicious and expertly crafted with the freshest ingredients. I highly recommend the Ahi Bites, Pot Roast, Fish Tacos and Smashburger - be sure to order a side of burger sauce to dip your fries in. But what truly sets this place apart are the cocktails. I've sampled a few and each one is more delicious than the last. The mixologist, Tina, is an absolute master at her craft. Her creativity knows no bounds, and her cocktails are like works of art in a glass. The new One Love and the Chamomile Sour are fantastic. I can't wait to try the rest of the spring cocktails. Service is always impeccable, thanks Madison. She is wonderful! Always attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. She gives the best suggestions (like burger sauce for my fries)! If there was a way to request her as our server every time, we would. With fabulous food, awesome cocktails, and the dynamic duo of Tina and Madison - and the rest of the fantastic staff - Lively Station it's definitely a place I'll continue to return to again and again. I have already cast my vote for them in more than one category, including Best bar, in the Best of the Willamette Valley survey. read more

Had reservations at 4 for 3 people. Arrived at four and found out they didn't have a table prepared. Said we could sit in bar but would have to leave by 530. This was a birthday celebration so we declined their offer. Very loud dining room with a picture of a fire place in a very cold room...it was so loud we had difficulty in conversation without yelling like others were. We hoped the food would be redeeming. It wasn't. Steak was about a half inch thick and tough, and the sides were tasteless-38.00$. The stroganoff 24$ was bland with no bread offered. Very disappointing experience. Have tried this place twice with the same results. I don't usually write bad reviews but felt this was a necessity as others may make reservations for a quality, celebratory meal and be surprised by the low quality. Wait staff did their best with smiles and graciousness. The issue was not the staff. read more

I came in last week after going for a drive and accidentally stumbling across it, the staff were all super friendly and welcoming. We were seated right away, and the waitress Lissie was extremely polite and charismatic. The food was amazing, and the drinks were beautiful. The restaurant was clean, and it all came together for quite the dining experience! 10/10 will be returning read more

Lively Station - BLTA with side salad, and a tropical pineapple mocktail - Specialty Food Near Me - Salem, Oregon

This place is a hidden TREASURE. The food and drinks are phenomenal and they had a seasonal berry shortcake dessert that I could've never gotten over. The bartenders are always kind and the area is cute and cozy. read more

Food was cold when it was brought to table and there was a 15 minute wait on a Wednesday evening with only 1 table with 3 people . Seem to be very short staffed . Probably won't go back not worth the price . read more

Went here with some neighbors and had a fab time outside on their patio. Staff was very eager, friendly, and helpful with beer suggestions. Love the caprese salad. Will be back soon! read more

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Just had my first brunch here. It's a small menu and I opted to have something I would never think of having at home. Fry bread tacos topped with pulled pork, scrambled eggs, sautéed onions cheese and salsa. While not the prettiest presentation and a little difficult to juggle to my mouth the rewarding taste was well worth the effort. Delicious! read more

Great food, friendly staff. We stayed in the Air BNB next door and ate there at least once a day.

Great spot with wonderful, attentive service. The drinks were refreshing and unique, the appetizer was tasty and it was a very enjoyable experience. Can't wait to return for future happy hours! Megan Marie is a wonderful server! read more

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Lively Station was the best thing to happen to River Road. The owners know customer service have have hired well. Staff knows us by name and always has great recommendations for us. The coffee shop is quick and pastries are SO GOOD. The market is easy and full of goodies. Many charcuterie boards have been made with products from Lively. Wine selection is great & owners always looking for reccomendations. Lunch / Dinner are delicious. I have tried the; Chicken sandwich which is a top 5 for me & the goat cheese salad. All yummy! Beer Garden is fun to bring friends too, non drinkers, they have an awesome NA beer! Sunday brunch is a must, simple and delicious. The station smash is a classic, waffle is sweet & sweet potatoe hash is so flavorful. Make sure to make a reservation as they have been so busy! Bravo, Lively Station! My only complaint is breakfast isn't everyday read more

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This was our first visit. We went on a Monday at about 1:30. We were the only ones there. Seating was in the bar. We both had the smash burgers which were very good, except for the buns. They were listed as potato buns on the menu. Unfortunately, they were much too light a bun (rather like Wonder Bread into a bun) for a burger. When I picked mine up the bottom of the bun was already soaked and paste-like so that was disappointing (and messy). Their fries were cooked very well but had way too much salt on them. The server never came back to check on us or refill my empty water glass. Two more couples had come in while we were there and a guy at the bar. Not so busy that service couldn't have been better. For fifty bucks (with tip), I'll not likely return. read more

Quick stop so quick review! I was in here for just a brief time but it was wonderful enough that I am dying to go back! I stopped in for a cinnamon roll and mocha with my mom. Their location is SO cute. (It's a repurposed old train depot! How cool!!) It has a small little "market" filled with local gifts and treats. I can tell once this pandemic is over that their seating area is going to be full all the time as it is so well done. I want to hang out here and study and relax in their great atmosphere. The owners are just the nicest people ever and have an obvious passion for their trade. And of course, the food. My gosh the food. We got two cinnamon rolls, a steamer, and a hot caramel mocha. That cinnamon roll. The best one I have ever had. When you think of your perfect, ideal cinnamon roll, you are thinking of their. Soft, pillowy, gooey, cinnamony goodness with a warm and tasty, but not too sweet, icing. I want one right now. I am determined to get up early enough to snag one of their coffee cinnamon rolls. I heard they are to DIE for. Love this place and cannot wait to become one of their regulars. read more

This was our first time going to Lively Station. And we enjoyed it. The "smash burgers" were outstanding with quality ingredients. The meat was cooked perfectly - and Martin's potato buns were a nice touch. The fries were seasoned and absolutely delicious. We hope to come again! read more

Lively Station - Smashburger, fries, and Oregon Sunshine Hazy IPA. - Specialty Food Near Me - Salem, Oregon

This place is a bit of a drive, but its very scenic and the location is super cute, I'm sure spring time there looks to be a garden area as well so I'm excited for it! I originally wanted to come here for their pastries and coffee, but they offer craft beers and specialty items which is nice little stop to get snacks. They have oregon specialty cheeses, jams, breads and other fixins as well as vegan ice cream or frozen pizza. They also offer a little apple station for .30 cents an apple? How fun and affordable! I think you have to come out here before lunch time to snag the good pastries. I really wanted to try the pot pie, but had to settle for the blackberry goat cheese which wasn't too bad! A little tart for my liking! Their coffee and latte is suuuuuper creamy I love it! Hopefully I can come back next time to more choices. read more

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It has been one of those weeks where the motivation to make dinner is lacking mostly because I don't want to make a trip to the store. My husband wanted a burger for dinner and I was not craving anything in particular. Lively Station for the win! For most this may be a bit of a drive but it is our "neighborhood spot." It was super easy to order takeout online. I walked in the door as my order was just being finished. I had a nice chat with the owner as I waited for my food to be brought from the kitchen. Her hospitality background is apparent from the time she greets you. As for the food...I got reports that the Smashburger was very good and that it would be ordered again. My chicken sliders were excellent and perfect for me to eat one now and save one for lunch tomorrow. It was a mutual love fest for the fries. During that chat it somehow ended up that I also bought a pint of ice cream...something that I take VERY seriously. It was so smooth, with great flavor and no aftertaste. Yep, we will be back. read more

We frequent Lively on a pretty regular basis and the food is always perfect. Last Friday, we went for an early dinner and with the warm weather brought a bit of a crowd. Kate was exceptional in making sure she gave us our approximate wait time as well as giving us a drink menu, taking the drink orders and quickly bringing us our drinks. Kate was so pleasant and really hustled to get everyone settled in and happy. read more

Delicious food and the cocktails are amazing!! The property is really cute and it's in a pretty little area of Salem. Our waitress was also really kind! It is a bit pricey but at least everything is good so you feel ok about spending it. read more

Overall, very good. The atmosphere/vibe is cozy and casual like a cabin. The service was prompt, attentive, friendly, but not intrusive. We ordered two cocktails: Send Me to the Moon and the Pink Pony. The Send Me to the Moon (bourbon, marionberries, and simple? was pleasant, but not exciting. The Pink Pony was gin and herbs and was very good. We ordered the ahi bites, which were great. Perfect fish on wonton crisps with paper thin avocado and microgreens and a savory sauce. My wife ordered the black cod and enjoyed it a lot. It looked like a work of art and she thought the fish was perfect. I got the steak frites, which I do not recommend. The steak seemed like select or choice at best and wasn't seasoned, although the temperature was perfect. The flavor was pretty much absent. The fries were good. The steak frites came with a salad and I chose the farmhouse salad, which was great! I would avoid the steak but try to get the farmhouse salad if you can. read more

Delightful! Enjoyed a delicious Impossible Burger and a Chicken Sandwich (split both with my mate). The fries were so good. Farm fresh potatoes. The beer on draft was cold and the ambiance is great. I would recommend that they invest in a sound system so you can hear the music playing (rather than a bluetooth speaker blasting in one corner of a large room). Overall - happy and good eats - we shall return. read more

Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. Everything I've tried has been delicious. The smash burger is a must try, Yummy! You can't go wrong with anything you choose. The ambiance is warm & cozy and the staff is very friendly. Go grab a drink and relax. read more

I met some girlfriends for brunch at Lively Station today it was wonderful! Good service and even better food! I got the Charlie skillet and the blueberry pancakes. Salem finally has another brunch option and no hour long wait! read more

Stopped in on a Friday night--looking for a new place to try. We called first to see if there was a wait and the woman who answered went and checked to see if there was a table available or if anyone was leaving soon (that amazed me because who takes the time to do that?) There was a table getting ready to leave so she said for us to come on in. And were we glad we did! Service was great and the atmosphere was fun and "lively"!! Numerous people other than our server stopped by our table to make sure our dinner was going good...and it was! We ordered the Chimchurri vegetables for appetizer ....and the chimchurri sauce was amazing.... I asked for a side of it for my very tasty rib eye steak. Hubby ordered the butter chicken and of course I had to swipe a taste and it was fantastic! We have to swap rice for veggies, and they were very accommodating for our food substitutions, which is always a bonus! The bartender came out from behind the bar to see if there was anything we wanted. It kinda blew us away...who does that? Restaurants staffed with friendly people, do! We felt very doted upon, in a very good way and the food was very very good! Can't wait to come back and sit on the patio when it's warmer. It's going to be a beautiful place to be in the evening during spring and summer months! Do yourself a favor.... read more

Passed by while out for a scenic drive. had cinnamon buns and coffee. My daughter raved about how fresh and delicious it was! She loved the cream cheese frosting too. Was super cute inside with a lovely, attentive staff. The owner even gave me a little tour. The coffee and latte was phenomenal as well. We can't wait to go back for dinner!! read more

Tina is such a creative, attentive, and knowledgeable bartender. Darrel is upbeat and always helpful. Lively Station Bar is a cozy, quaint, unique spot in Salem. Thanks to the great group of people working here, my dining experience is always enjoyable. This is a bar worth visiting! read more

Lively Station is a must visit ! Put in on your 2024 to try list if you haven't already. I would highly recommend to everyone. The staff is always very polite and the food never disappoints. We sat in their large dining area with the beautiful mural. It was a great way to finish off our 2023. Thank you Lively Station! read more

I would give it less but I'm being nice because lately every restaurant is struggling. I get slow service but the food, all of it. All 4 meals not cooked right. Bad quality steaks. So much fat, overcooked...Terrible too tough to eat salmon. We left mostly full plates. Nothing was said. We felt guilty, we heard the table next to us complaining and leaving so we couldn't bring ourselves to bring it up but hoping the server would when she saw our plates. But didn't. It was $200. It hurts, I won't lie. We were visiting our friends it's hard to spend that much money and feel awful about it, especially when they have such good reviews. And we don't get to go out very often, it's a treat. Hopefully it's an off night and they will get back to normal. read more

Dined with wife and ordered off new menu. Roasted chicken was average, potatoes cold, veggies good. Bruschetta fettuccini was child size portion, so won't satisfy an normal appetite. Fortunately I could have some of my wife's chicken, so I didn't have to leave hungry. Crostini breads were rock hard, really? Won't be back. read more

We met friends for dinner and drinks. The hostess was friendly and sat us at our table pretty quickly. We all ordered different cocktails and were pleased with the size of them. They all tasted good and the bartender was entertaining! We ordered several appetizers - the tuna was excellent and the poutine also great. Main course hit the spot!! We will be going back!! read more

Great menu! I think they've been open almost a year now, so they've had plenty of time to fine tune their kitchen production. This was my first visit. Everything on the menu sounds really good. But there seems to be a problem with execution. I had one of the specials; the corned beef sandwich. It was described as corned beef with sauerkraut and cheese on wheat. What I got was lukewarm corned beef (a nice amount) with a thin layer of sauerkraut and slice of cheese that was half melted (but cold) and half not melted. The wheat bread it was served on was grocery store quality at best. My guest had the short rib on ciabatta sandwich, which again, sounded really good! What came out was meat that had a "mealy" texture to it. We couldn't tell if it had been held in a steam table too long and overcooked?? The ciabatta was abundant; so much of it, that it was quite filling, quite quickly. I will say, that the curvy fries were hot, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and quite a contrast to the main meal. They've got a ways to go to become relevant. Update: while scrolling Facebook, I came across today's Lively Station post. There is my sandwich! Except, they refer to it as a Ruben! "A Ruben" I thought to myself as the waitress described the special. But when I got it, there was very little sauerkraut and little (if any) Russian dressing. The wonderful thing about a Ruben, is the mix of the bold flavors. I must give credit to our waitress though, she didn't call it a Ruben, because it wasn't a Ruben. read more