Probably the most gorgeous and romantic restaurant I've been to in this city so far. You can duck off in a private booth along the windows on the second d floor - they put roses and candles on every table. Service was great! The food comes in really small portions but it it rich in flavor. The steak! HUGE! We shared this gorgeous steak they brought out read more

This is the best restaurant in Boise, no question. Anyone who gives The Lively less than five stars has no business leaving food reviews. That same person most likely gives five stars to a Bloomin' Onion, but I digress. This is a phenomenal departure from current options we have to choose from in the Treasure Valley. From the ambiance, to the service, to the cocktails, to the FOOD. OH MY GOD THE FOOD. I'm not usually a dessert person, but I find room for The Lively's. The Coffee & Donuts is hands down the best dessert I've ever had. The cocktails are on a rotating menu and I have yet to be disappointed by their options. At one point we had tried all of the appetizers but the menu also rotates based on seasonality, so we haven't caught back up yet. The potato bisque--phenomenal. The 1/2 roast chicken--divine. You HAVE to make a trip. ASAP. read more

The Lively - Coffee and Donuts - New American Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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I really like the food and service here, which is usually delicious and friendly. Some combination of either the service or food has been a tad hit and miss but I am still a fan. read more

The Lively is stunning! The staff is friendly, accommodating and efficient. We loved the cocktails, apps, and entrees. I had their Idaho Trout and didn't love, the fish lacked flavor and the olive side was an odd combination both in flavor and texture for the trout. My husband ordered the lasagna and it was stellar, mouthwatering, flavorful and perfectly portioned. I was super jealous of his dish. Overall it was a great date night space, we will definitely try out the downstairs bar next time! read more

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Came here for lunch and have to say I was pleased. The burger was incredible: juicy, incredible flavors, and hearty enough with an elevated build. Definitely recommend the pickled jalapeño addition to the burger. I also had the Chicken & Cabbage soup, which was fine - would have liked it to be more cabbage forward since its namesake begs for it. Really enjoyed Spencer's Gift (featured cocktail) - the apple shrub makes it a delectable, well-balanced drink. Pretty sure the bartender who made it was actually Spencer, so that's really cool! Cool ambiance. Gives a Manhattan, bespoke hotel vibe. read more

What is not to love about The Lively? I was in town for work and was fortunate enough to come here with a fellow foodie co-worker who has visited several times. A few servers and the GM even went out of their way to come say hello. The space itself is immaculate from the inside out. You can tell so much attention to detail was put into every inch of the decor. The guys downstairs fixed us some nice cocktails while we waited for our table, and there's quite a few cozy places to sit and sip which is nice. We were lucky enough to get a spacious booth upstairs. Our server for the evening was phenomenal and made great recommendations. We started with Nonna Anna's meatballs, and oh my gosh they are so perfect - do not skip them! For my meal I chose the seasonal risotto, and I'm so glad I did! The zucchini spin was so unique and flavorful, and the portion size was perfect. My only regret is not saving room for dessert! We enjoyed everything, and it's clear why my co-worker frequents this beautiful restaurant. Now just need them to open a location in Raleigh! read more

The Lively - I think this was the EtCeTeRa from the bar downstairs - perfect summer drink! - New American Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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While a few highlights, The Lively needs work to retain repeat customers and justify their pricing. Five stars to the space...every detail from the hand painted stairway wall paper, the Gibbons on the first floor walls, lighting, table placement and overall decorating. Epic menu items include the Charred Octopus and Basque cheesecake. Four stars to our waitress for her perfect pace and menu knowledge. Also, kudos to the General Manager/Sommelier...focused and unique wine list, especially the Old World Reds. The Cote de Boeuf was well prepared and presented. However, 3 strands of broccoli rabe and a small amount of French Fries was disappointing, therefore, 3 stars. 1 star to our waitress' supporting cast...forgotten share plates, 1 serving of bread without inquiry of a second, and other oversights. Recommend retraining or replacement. Will give The Lively another chance upstairs as well as try burgers and beer in the first floor bar. read more

The Lively - Cote de Boeuf! - New American Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Amazing service. Food was lovely. I loved the interior decoration. I think the beef selection is awesome. And you definitely have to order the meatballs. read more

Long review but worth the read I am a food snob and I a am not ashamed to admit this, (I pay the price in my waistline). I have been to some of the best restaurants in LA, San Diego, Las Vegas, New York, New Jersey and Boston. I also grew up a family run Home style Italian restaurant back East and that is what has shaped my tastebuds. Since moving here we have been on the hunt for great food and we where more than impressed with our evening here at the Livley. First I have to make a comment on the beautifully designed building itself, the exterior architecture has a very New Orleans feel (I wanted to hang out on the top veranda and throw beaded necklaces out to people on the street) the interior design is a beautiful blend of British colonial with an Art Deco flair not to feminine or too masculine, just perfect, kudos the the owner who did all of the design work. The food was all very very good, we went as a large group so we were able to try most things on the menus and everything was perfectly balanced. I started with the Ohana salad which was lightly dressed with a really delicate dressing that was fresh and delicious, my app was charred Spanish octopus also wonderful although a couple of my friends thought that the potato and celery confit over powered the octopus (I disagree). My entrees was the 1/2 roasted chicken with king trumpet mushrooms (they must have run out of those mushrooms because I do not believe that's what was served in my dish although I could be wrong but I don't think the kitchen would trim the beautiful stems so short) regardless of the mushrooms variety the dish was a hit with every single person at the table. My girlfriend ordered the Idaho ruby trout and it was cooked beyond perfect, it was one of my favorite entrees. My fiancée ordered the croques Des Boise as a app, everyone else loved it however that was the only thing on the menus that I did not like, the taste was pleasant but I had a few bites of grizzle and that ruined it for me (I can not handle that texture) he ordered the rigatoni, I am so ridiculously picky when it comes to pasta sauce because people usually over season it for my taste but this one was just as I remember it as a kid growing up, the pasta was a fresh pasta and the sauce was also very fresh and clean (I love that they added fresh basil at the end. We had the wagyu, also beautiful cooked. Another friend ordered the risotto (it did not sound appetizing to me and it was surprisingly good, my favorite part was the tempura zucchini blossoms (one of my favorite things from a summer garden). We also had the pastrami gougers and I have to say they were absolutely delish, very unusual in the best of ways! I had my regular cocktail, a Hendricks gin martini it was in a very small martini glass but it really kicked my butt, I was feeling pretty good after just one. Our server Jessie was so attentive, all of the food runners were pleasant and the timing between courses was timed well. Chef Edward Higgins came by our table so that we could personally let him know how thrilled we were with everything, he was so humble and kind, I love that we are supporting a very nice group of people. All in all, we are so happy to have found a restaurant that seems to have it all, ambiance, cocktails and food, I am very happy and we will be going very frequently. read more

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My family are regular at The Lively. We celebrate birthdays, anniversary, Easter...etc pretty often here. On 3/27 came with my husband to celebrate our anniversary n my brother in law from Toronto. Was really excited to introduce this amazing restaurant that we really loved. Unfortunately, standard had changed. We had Ravioli, Smoked Cod n Steak. All of them were seasoned with heavy heavy salt that hurts your throat and you probably need to drink water for few hours to wash the saltiness away. Server is not friendly. Ambiance still the same. Big disappointment and won't come back again. read more

On 3/6/21, CF and I visited The Lively in downtown Boise. Located inside an old three-story building that is under renovation. The Lively will ultimately be located in a much larger space on the second floor, but for now it is serving out of the ground floor level bar, Bar Gibbon. I don't often comment on the decor, but every aspect of The Lively/Bar Gibbon is noteworthy. I loved everything about it, from the building facade and landscaping, to the exquisite hand painted De Gournay Art Deco Monkey wallpaper, the smoky grey upholstered booths, the lighting fixtures and the elegant but understated bathrooms. The Lively's menu is designed and executed by Michelin starred Chef Edward Higgins, who we had the pleasure of meeting and visiting with for a bit. Chef Higgins'menu is a reflection of his East coast Sicilian/Irish heritage, his travels abroad and the bounty of Idaho. I had planned to order an entrée, but I was so fascinated by the appetizers, that I ended up ordering four, along with a dessert. CF ordered an appetizer. an entree, dessert and cocktails. With the exception of my clam chowder, we shared all of the entrées and desserts. Here is the breakdown: New England Clam Chowder ($11) - Manila Clams, Smoked Lardons, Thyme, Oyster Crackers. I enjoyed the clam chowder and appreciated that the oyster crackers were made from scratch. Gin Cured Salmon ($15) - Crisp Potato Latke, Cucumber Raita, Cured Roe, Dill. This was my first time trying caviar. I found the bright little pop of flavor delightful. This was my second favorite appetizer. Snake River Pastrami Gougeres ($13) - Smoked American Wagyu Brisket, Pickled Mustard, Red Onion Jam. I enjoyed this appetizer. For me, the flavor was reminiscent of a cross between deviled ham and pate. It reminded CF of liverwurst. This was CF's favorite appetizer. Croques Des Bois ($10) - Country Style Duck Ham, Apple Butter, Face Rock Spicy Cheddar. Pickled Jalapeño. Acme Baguette. I enjoyed this appetizer. The unique but pleasing flavor combination, enhanced by the heat of the pickled jalapeño made me think of a Basque variation the Bahn Mi. Nonna Anna's Meatballs ($9) - Pecorino, Rosemary Gremolata, Extra Virgin Oil. It was served with four bruschetta toasts. This was the simplest of the appetizers, yet my favorite. Hearty and packed full of flavor, these meatballs are the best I've ever had. Snake River American Wagyu Culotte ($37) - Roasted Cauliflower, Bone Marrow Butter, Chimichurri. CF ordered it dry-aged steak medium rare. Beautifully played it, the flavor was outstanding. Chocolate Budino ($9) - Valrhona Andoa Chocolate, Mascarpone, Hazelnut-Orange Shortbread. Although I prefer a less ganache-like budino, I enjoyed the complexity of the 70% dark chocolate. The hazelnut shortbread was a nice finishing touch, though I couldn't much taste the orange. Plate of Cookies ($9) - Sea Salt Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal. Matcha Cream. All of the cookies were good. I liked the dark chocolate used in the sea salt chocolate chip cookie. I enjoyed the apple cinnamon glaze drizzled over the oatmeal cookie. I was excited by the inclusion of the Matcha cream cookies, which had a wonderful buttercream frosting. I apologize for the photo, but I stepped away from the table for just a moment and returned to find CF had already begun enjoying them. CF ordered a cocktail called Bowling with Jen ($12) - Bourbon, Vanilla & Cinnamon Demerara, Fig, Angustora Bitters, a Campari and Soda ($8), and a Monte Carlo decaf to go with dessert ($6), all of which were good. In addition to a beautiful space and a creative menu, the service was outstanding. Everything about the evening exceeded my expectations. I look forward to returning. Highly Recommended!!! read more

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We felt well cared for from the moment we arrived at The Lively. We were shown to an upstairs table for two by the window. Our waiter made sure we had everything we wanted including house specialty cocktails. We shared a delicious appetizer and the 18 ounce steak for two. It was perfectly cooked and accompanied by arugula salad and house fries. We topped off our evening with a white chocolate cheesecake to celebrate our 55th anniversary! Thanks to everyone at The Lively for giving us a night to remember! read more

Came here for my birthday. The Lively in Boise is known for its upscale dining atmosphere, but one standout dish on their menu is their roasted chicken. Prepared with attention to detail, the chicken is perfectly cooked, with a crispy, flavorful skin and juicy, tender meat. The mashed potatoes and veggies were perfectly cooked and paired well with the chicken. We all enjoyed our plates and the desserts- oh so good! read more

The place is beautiful. Very artsy and art deco. Good for a fancy date night or an anniversary. The cocktails were delicious, as others have also said. I thought the appetizers were terrific--we had the meatballs and the salmon crudo which were both amazing. I don't feel like the entrees lived up to the appetizers though. I got the sea bass, which was ok but not great. My friends agreed theirs were also good but not a mountaintop experience. The service was a little slow but not slow enough to be annoying. Overall, I'd go back and take my wife next time instead of a business dinner. read more

Sadly had a bad experience at The Lively tonight. We had reservations at 6:30 and they were already out of both of the only pastas on the menu. Of course, not the servers fault she was wonderful. read more

The ambiance is lovely. I'm giving them 3 stars because the food was okay, my meal was very very salty and I'm the type of person that salts everything so you know it's very salty if I've think it is, it was some kind of lobster dish, My hubby couldn't finish the bite I let him try it was so bad. His steak was decent, needed more sauce as the flavor was just okay. Hamachi crudo appetizer was great, the salad with lemon vinaigrette was really good. For the price it wasn't worth it. If I return it'll be for salad, appetizer and drinks read more

The Lively - Rib eye - New American Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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The decor and atmosphere are incredible. The cocktails are incredible, some of the best I've had. The food however was not that great, especially for the price! My wife got pasta and it was undercooked. I got steak and there were a few bites that were so salty I almost sent it back. The restaurant looks so nice and upscale I thought maybe it was just an off night, or one side of the steak had been dipped in too much seasoning. But then after reading other reviews I saw many many people also complaining about how overly salted the food was. Even our fries were too salty. Atmosphere: 10/10 Cocktails: 11/10 Food: 3/10 read more

My wife and I have been here several times with and without friends and have always enjoyed it. Last night was starkly different. We had a reservation for four at 5pm and when we were sat down it was at their worst table right next to the busy stairs. When asked to be moved to one of their other tables that were much more festive and decorated offering a much better ambience we were told no! Even though very few people were even there. They gave no explanation just no can do! Then when the server explained steak availability we were told there were only 2 Cote ribeyes in total in the house and would cost $180 apiece and take an hour to cook. Cmon... 5 oclock and just a total of 2 ribeyes available for the evening? I don't think so. Clearly, they didn't want us ordering ribeyes reserved for their better clients arriving later we presumed. Even though we ended up spending $600 for dinner at the table apparently we were the "riff raff" that didn't deserve a better table nor the usual options offered for their delicious Cote ribeye. Then a big mistake by their server. I had a glass of wine (a cab) and was just about finished with it when we decided to order a different bottle of red for the table. The server actually poured the new wine in my glass that had the last of my cab still in the glass! Bad no no in a nice restaurant. Disappointed in the service last night. But the food is always good. I wanted a ribeye but apparently they didn't want me to order one! I couldn't believe the way we were treated. I'll remember for sure. read more

My husband brought me here for my birthday last night. Tip #1 make your reservation well in advance. The building is beautiful. The ambience was very nice as well. They have the bar downstairs and dining upstairs. We were seated at a very nice table by the window upstairs. The only issue I encountered was when I went to use the restroom and the toilet seats were both full of urine. Apparently, not everyone has the hang of gender neutral bathrooms and lifting the seat is not yet a common courtesy for some. So let's get to the good stuff. The staff was wonderful. Very polite and well versed on the menu items. We had the Foie Gras which was AMAZING. Honestly it was my favorite part of the experience. I had never had it before and I was just blown away. We sampled 2 types of their red wine while enjoying a roll, before making our selection. They were both wonderful. My husband and I shared the ribeye. The MP for this was $125. Now hear me out, before you clutch your pearls. This is no ordinary ribeye. This was a 2-2.5lb experience. We ordered the Cote De Beouf when we ordered the appetizer, as the waitress told us it would take time to make. Had I realized "it would take time" meant we would be waiting 40-50 min for the entree, we may have opted for the lasagna. But we were committed. We enjoyed each others company and finally our plate arrived. The staff presented the ribeye in its entirety to us before taking it back to the kitchen, removing the bone and slicing it for us. The entree is typically served with fries and a Three cheese Creamed Spinach, but by the time it came out, they informed us they were out of the spinach dish. So they brought us mashed potatoes instead. I wish they had offered anything other than mashed potatoes. They were delicious, but a side of Potatoes with another side of potatoes, was a little bit of overkill. They did bring out some mushrooms which were very good with the Ribeye The meat was delicious. And we had so much left that we couldn't finish, so we will be having it for dinner tonight at home. Of course, we always have to have dessert. The server recommended 2 of the dessert items, but for whatever reason, we chose the coffee and donuts which was 2 powdered sugar covered beignets, and something new to us called, "Coffee Pot de Crème". I wasn't sure what to expect, but just so you know if you decide to try it, it comes in a coffee cup with whipped cream over it. Inside, there was a coffee flavored soupy cream with a strong espresso flavored ice cream and a crispy salted caramel layer that was reminiscent of the top layer of crème brûlée. It was good, but I don't know that I would order it again. My coffee arrived before the dessert, but my husbands port arrived as we were nearly finished with our dessert. We typically enjoy port with the dessert, but we stayed until he finished it. We were there for about 2 hours. We don't mind a slow meal at all, but my suggestion is if you are coming to have the ribeye, maybe make your RSVP for earlier in the evening. Overall, it was a nice evening and if you have dinner here, make sure to try their Fois Gras. read more

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We love The Lively. I planned to date my daughter here and we were happy with the overall experience. It was busy but we were seated right away. Worthy read more

I am so let down to see anyone giving this place any less than 5 stars. I have a hunch that a lot of those people have never been to a Michelin starred restaurant or done much traveling outside of Boise. This is the best quality food, best atmosphere, and the best overall experience Boise has to offer. There are a lot of other places in town that are good, but nothing is on this level. If you want a great table, make a reservation, but if you need a great spot on short notice for lunch or dinner, the downstairs is first come, first serve. We have been here over and over again and we are blown away again and again. It seems to be getting better each time. Don't listen to the bad reviews. It's just a bunch of locals trying to help out their favorite places that haven't changed in 15 years. read more

Lets get straight to the overall review first...5 stars! Our experience was fantastic. I am bummed for those fellow Yelpers who did not have the same experience we did. As soon as we entered, we were greeted with very friendly staff. Our arrival was early as we wanted to grab a drink first and check out the bar. The staff behind the bar were great and helped our party find drinks that worked for them. It was great watching them put together the drinks as the staff put the time in to making great tasting drinks (no pre-made stuff here). Fyi, the actual bar has 4 chairs I believe...tiny area. Plan ahead. We were escorted upstairs to the main dining area and the art, style, decor, and staircase were great. It was nice to see the attention to detail and something different in Boise. The entire restaurant was clean and alive with energy. Our waiter was very helpful as he provided his current favorites on the menu and explained the food in detail. We started with Himachi Crudo. The Crudo was very good and the Rice crisps were a great vessel to use for the Crudo. Everyone enjoyed the starter. Clean and flavorful. For dinner we ordered the Chicken entree, the Meatballs, and the Pasta entree. The Meatballs are on the starter menu but the waiter raved about them so we ordered them too. If you like Meatballs, you will like these. The meat was not overcooked and the light red sauce worked well. The Chicken entree was delicious! The sauce, the mushrooms, and the chicken all paired nicely. The chicken was super tender and flavorful. The sauce was crazy good. The potatoes were super silky and buttery. Everything on this plate worked well with one another. The other entree we had was the Pasta dish (minus the pork). Overall a very simple dish with huge cheese flavor. It was nice because the simplicity allowed you to taste the key ingredients and enjoy them. For dessert we had Spiced Cake (gift for birthdays from the staff) and Donuts. I am not a huge Spiced Cake fan, so meh for me. For the dessert that we ordered, yum! If you like donuts, coffee ice cream, and caramel.....you found your heaven. This dessert was amazing and everyone at the table agreed. It was a treat to have an amazing tasting meal from start to finish. The food was perfectly prepared, flavored, and presented. If you are looking for a great experience, I would highly recommend The Lively. Cheers Always!! read more

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Absolutely loved our experience here! Would recommend pretty much everything - we started with profit and losses drinks (adding gin and vodka) and they were so unique and tasty. First course was fancy potato boat caviar and no till salad - yum! The trout was a stand out entree and the bf declared the coffee and donut dessert the best he's had all year. Def recommend! read more

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Really disappointed in our last visit here. My husband and I went here last year for his birthday and it was amazing. Service and food was delightful. However, we went here for his birthday this year with my parents and I was severely disappointed in both service and food. I wanted to impress my parents with this place and at the end, none of us were impressed. They were out of 2/3 steak options, which is what I was hoping to have my dad try. It also seems like they got rid of their decently priced steak options and now only offer $130 options. The dinner options weren't very appealing, but my dad and I both got the risotto and weren't impressed. It was very blah. My mom got the yellowtail special and she said it was really fishy tasting. Our food also took forever to arrive. We were there for about 3 hours which seems a bit ridiculous. Server was not great either. Considering we had an awesome server last year, this years was not great. He couldn't remember if he took our order or not. Hardly visited our table. Did not inspire confidence in whether he would remember anything else we asked for, nor did he really respond to our requests which again made us wonder if we were going to get what we asked for. He did actually bring out the items, but again, some reaction to our request would've been nice. His pants were also sagging, which I thought was odd for a high end place like that... On a positive note, I love the ambiance of this place. The meatballs we got as an appetizer were also really good! Espresso at the end was one of the better espressos I've gotten in town. read more

Beautiful atmosphere, had our Christmas party here, and the staff were amazing! Food excellent

Amazing place, excellent food, and the staff was incredibly helpful with a down to earth friendly service. It's a high end restaurant and it's evident with their decor, cocktails, appetizers, side dishes, main dish and deserts. If you like old fashions try the Bowling with Jen. A great way to start or end the experience. I highly recommend this restaurant and by the amount of patrons it appears the word has gotten out. read more

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This place is a 10. Starting from the parking lot just outside it's easy and convenient. We walked in to a hip, modern spacious (not cramped just roomy and comfortable looking). Quickly greeted by a charming and happy hostess that takes us to our seats upstairs after first offering to take our coats (nice touch) but we kept them. Team of crew members first get us our bubbly water. Next the bread girl gets our bread rolls which were baked at Acme bread in Garden City which is one of the best bakery's in Boise. Lead waiter gets drinks and shares the top items on the menu he recommends. He describes them like he cooked them himself, this guy is on his game. My wife started with the HAMACHI CRUDO and IDAHO RUBY TROUT "NIÇOISE". I started with the CHARRED SPANISH OCTOPUS then the SNAKE RIVER AMERICAN WAGYU CULOTTE. Finally we split what they call COFFEE & DONUTS for desert which is actually this: Coffee Pot de Crème, Coffee & Fernet Ice Cream, Brown Butter Beignets, Salted Caramel. Everything was perfect. Not only are they a great Boise restaurant I'm but them up against anything NY of LA have to offer, and are worthy of a Michelin star or at least consideration. read more

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Not sure how that first review posted, I wasn't finished. Sorry. I really wanted to get to the good part... We order cavier flight- really nice. Would order that again. And now for the cote de beouf. Not a cheap dish, but we love a good piece of meat. It came out, but our waiter found it necessary to show it off and under the noses of the table next to us FIRST. WTF. Seriously. Then he put it on our table so we could see it before they took it back and sliced it. He brought it back- purple and wiggly. Not medium rare. We sent it back. They. forgot. to. bring. Our. Steak. Back. We asked for it. They were mortified, it was close to one hour. To-go we got it. Super lame. And... their salted salads were outrageous. The chefs were usung salt with reckless abandon. The manager was nice, she explained that our table was her favorite (whatever), gave us our steak and we never saw our waiter again. It was my birthday. We believe in second chances. But this one stung read more

I know I'm going to get a lot of rolled eyes for this review but this place was meh. I came here with a local friend of mine who seems to know everyone everywhere she goes, seriously she's the kind of person who will start full on conversations with our servers and bartenders... my sisters like that too. Recently went to sushi with her and she's talking to the sushi chef behind the bar the entire time... like sis I came here to have a rainbow roll and chat with you.. I digress... maybe that threw me off who knows but I was very underwhelmed by this spot. The steak was ok, I still prefer barbecoa. They didn't really have many gluten free options and since the friend I was with is a strict gluten free gal, I had to wait for the waiter to run back and forth to and from the kitchen to answer all her questions regarding substitutions so they could accommodate her dietary restrictions. Which actually had me feeling grateful because OMGOODNESS that's annoying. The spot aesthetically is pleasing if you're into that spoiled hamptons vibe. IMO read more

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Absolutely LOVED my dining experience at the Lively! My girlfriends and I loved our meal and the ambiance. I felt like i had to get the snake river wagyu since I was in Boise... I had medium rare and it was perfect! It was tender and just the right portion since I had been eating my way through Boise all day! This is definitely on my list go back if I'm in Boise again. read more

The Lively - snake river american wagyu culotte - New American Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Amazing food. Beautiful decor. Amazing service!!!!!! You won't be disappointed with anything or anyone!!! Do yourself a favor!!!! Just Go!!! read more

I have Celiac disease, and was impressed with the selections. I actually emailed them in advance at the email listed on their website asking about GF options since they don't have anything indicated on their menu. No one ever replied to email (that was about a week ago). I went anyway and they did a great job. Was impressed that the server even told the back servers, and so when they came around to place the hot bread on everyone's plates, they skipped me entirely which was a really nice attention to detail and appreciated. Cocktail was good, lettuce app (salad?) was basic but fine - it was really fresh and crunchy mixed greens so that was nice. Lobster was delicious and the sauce paired with it as well as the potatoes were amazing. read more

One night last week, my boyfriend and I were trying to figure out where we were going to have dinner and then it dawned on me- THE LIVELY is open now! I have been dying to try their food for weeks now and super excited to finally be visiting this establishment that we have heard so much about for months! As a resident of Los Angeles for a near decade I grew quite accustomed to some serious eats and I heard lot's of great chatter about this place! We arrived last minute and definitely not "dressed" for the evening, but as their website states...The dress code is as follows... It's your party. Dress lively! Love it! We entered and we were greeted immediately by a member of the waitstaff and we were told that there was a 45 minute wait. We didn't plan ahead or make a reservation, so we sort of expected that and we had absolutely no problem with it! As we approached the swanky facade and opened the large glass doors, I was taken aback by the incredibly, creative and "Lively" space with it's open floor plan, tasteful furniture that was cozied up against the walls, hidden in nooks, and then there was that daring, monkey wallpaper that put a smile on my face! So fun! They asked if we would like to take a seat and have a cocktail and of course we said YES! My man got a Negroni (which is not on the menu, but they were happy to make it for us) and I got The Bird. Flower. Fish. Cocktail made with Gin, St. Germain, Lemon-Thyme Syrup, Blueberry Preserves. They were divine! We started out with some appetizers and ordered The CROQUES DES BOIS which was a Country Style Duck Ham, Apple Butter, Face Rock Spicy Cheddar, Pickled Jalapeño, Acme Baguette and it was to die for! The caramelization that they got on that bread and the combination of salt, fat and sweet was something to write home about! Seriously good!!! Then we ordered the Meatballs! Not too brag too much, but It is hard to believe that anyone can match my Italian-American, homemade meatballs, but they did it! They were full of flavor, the sauce had dimension and you can tell that they cooked it down for a while, and the meatballs were super moist and flavorful. Then we got our salad on with the OHANA NO-TILL LETTUCES Acme Garlic Croutons, Shaved Radish, Sprouts, Lemon-Champagne Vinaigrette!! The greens were so fresh and crisp and the dressing was so nice!! The ONLY -TINY little complaint that I had throughout the dinner was that the chef is heavy handed on the salt. I LOVE SALT and I use quite a bit when I play chef, but it was JUST A TAD too much in most of the dishes. UP NEXT: Dinner! YUM. I had my eyes on the BUCATINI ALL'AMATRICIANA made with Tomato Sauce, Smoking Goose Guanciale, Chili, House Smoked Pecorino Romano (So good) since it's one of my favorite pastas and I was really looking forward to it! I was not disappointed. The sauce was gorgeous, (same as the sauce they used in the meatballs??) I think so. There was a tad bit too much oil that glistened on the plate for me, but because the dish was so good, I didn't care! I just swiped it off the plate with some bread and was good to go! My boyfriend ordered the RISI e BISI made with Spring Pea Risotto, Prosciutto, Parmigiano Crisp, Lemon Oil, Tendrils and he was so impressed. It was creamy and cooked just right. I tasted it and the lemon oil just took it over the top! It was the perfect touch of acidity for a rich dish such as Risotto. This place deserves a HUGE welcome to Boise! We do have many great establishments with yummy food, but this place just took things up a notch! YAY! I do declare that it is now my favorite restaurant!!!! Oh I almost forgot!! We had dessert! It's a rare occasion that I actually partake but I could NOT resist the BLACK FORREST which was a Dark Chocolate Brownie, Bordeaux Cherries, Whipped Crème Fraîche!! HEAVEN! It was dark in the restaurant and my phone didn't like that, so the photos are not the best. My apologies. We cannot wait to visit again! Bravo! read more

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Called in and made reservation for a birthday dinner with my wife and son, showed up on time and was told that our reservation was not in the books!!!! Hostess was apologetic and sorry which would be normal in such a case, I was irritated and extremely disappointed about having to deal with this very unfortunate situation. In today's world it seems like just a "I am so sorry "statement is what you get everywhere you go because someone clearly did not do what they were supposed to do. I will be hesitant to try to come back or recommend after what happened. Hope you can make me change my mind! read more

Beautiful restaurant, amazing food & top class service. I can easily say, The Lively has the best roasted chicken in the city! This is an experience you need to try for any special occasions or date! Try the cheesecake. read more

Tried the lively last night and had the most wonderful date night there. The pastrami appetizer, the rigatoni, and the coffee and donut dessert were my favorites of the night. Our server Jeff was great and all the staff were very friendly. The interior is beautiful!! We had reservations upstairs but started with drinks downstairs while we waited for our table. The downstairs also has open seating for those who weren't able to snag a reservation. read more

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This place is amazing from the decor to the staff and the food. The waiter we had was so nice and had great recommendations for the appetizers and we could not decide so we ordered them all. Lol the meatballs were good but just an average meatball. The rest of them were lick the plate good. Also we ordered a bottle of bubbles and they did not have it cold so they comped us 2 glasses of really good bubbles while they worked to get our bottle cold. Amazing did not even ask for this. Great wine menu such a wide variety of bubbles and wines. We nibbled all night and then tried all the dessert and was not disappointed they all were amazing in their own way. Luckily we each found one we loved more than the other or we might have been fighting. Lol. Go here you will love it. read more

Drinks are not cheap but delicious. We had apps and I went around the holidays and place was decorated perfect. Decor has an eccentric flair. Service is spot on. Definitely recommend a try. read more

SALT! As many other reviewers commented , I love salt, but my god, each of our entrees were absolutely saturated with salt. I barely touched my lobster casserole and potatoes because the amount of salt made me physically recoil with every forkful. I didn't want to ruin a lovely evening with friends, so I guess it's on me that I didn't complain, but why our waiter -- who bragged he was from New England and went out of his way to recommend this dish -- didn't ask why I barely touched a $57 meal is beyond me. After a bite, my husband commented with a grimace, "OMG why would you do that to lobster." Our friend had the pasta puttanesca, which of course has olives, capers, and likely anchovies -- so sure it's a savory dish, but he said the amount of salt burned his tongue and he couldn't taste any of the rest of his meal. * The cocktails in the bar were absolutely spectacular, as was the bar service. * The bar staff are truly masters of their craft. * The ambiance and décor were immaculate. The hostess at her station looked like a scene from a Wes Anderson movie! One of the most lovely restaurants in Boise. But these wins were overshadowed by the disappointment of the meal. As others said, I might meet a friend in the bar for a drink, but I would not recommend the food at that price point and with an extra helping of hypertension. read more

The food is amazing but above that the customer service is top notch. I have a dairy allergy and the staff and chef took the allergy very serious, providing me with all the menu options that could be prepared dairy free and communicating with each other to ensure that all items I received were dairy free. Thank you! read more