Prior to 2026, I had been to this restaurant 3 times. In many respects our experience was disappointing. An expensive menu and inconsistent food, some of which was not well-prepared. We gave it another try last night and were astonished by how good everything was. The menu was simplified and re-priced. The food was less complex and was prepared perfectly, very skillfully. Service was also outstanding. The new kitchen team is rocking it and the new concept is a home run. Well done! read more

My daughter had her wedding and reception at The Lively this spring, I cannot express how absolutely perfect the day was. The staff did an amazing job, the food was fantastic and the venue could not be more beautiful. There is plenty of parking near the venue as well as hotel options for out of town guests. Thank you so much to Missy, Mindy and the entire team for making the day stress free and perfect. read more

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This was second time here for an afternoon tea- this time was as lovely as the last. The reservation process? Awesome, via OpenTable, & easily confirmed both afternoon teas needed to be gluten free. The reception? Welcoming! We had option of stairs or elevator. SO appreciated that option! Was having lower pain day so took the stairs, & enjoyed every ounce of ambiance in the way upstairs! Table? Perfectly situated in a sunny window, quieter area- just as requested! Tablescape? Simple & high quality. Really nice touch to have well weighted silverware. Tea selection? A plethora, far beyond standard blah. And our gluten free tray of goodies, though a bit sparse looking in presentation, was all high quality & balanced flavors to perfection. And they were ever so kind to provide complimentary drinks... as they'd been running a tinge behind... so my guest & I enjoyed the most delightful mocktail w/huckleberry shrub... made fully from scratch in house. I will not be waiting 2 years between visits again. I have to say... by far far my fav afternoon tea experience in Treasure Valley (& yes I've done several others, several times ea, at establishments well known in area... left very disappointed every time. ***So having two excellent experiences at The Lively says a lot*** Elegance without pretense, charm without hype. Just my vibe! (That said, yes it's true our waiter didn't seem fully engaged in the experience, & yes it's true I only got one hot water refill (in the tiny tiny kettle) but I think we all know that's probably more about a bit short staffed which happens anywhere, to the best, & I do know they had big wedding reception at venue after our tea seating... & I had reserved the last seating time) read more

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I don't do a lot of 5 stars, this place earned it for so many reasons! This was a Google find...Googled "most romantic places in Boise" and this was the first place that popped up! Now, this was a Thank You dinner to the most amazing woman in the world so thought went into this! We have tried many nice places around Boise and me being new to town and her knowing everyplace I was surprised when I found out she had never been here! Huge plus, huge expectations for a better than average meal / experience! Everything was damn near perfect! Parking lot next to it, finding street parking on a Friday at 7pm is impossible! Had our table ready, a nice little two person booth by the windows in a beautiful space! This really is a nice room, as you come up the large sweeping staircase, you're greeted by this large open space. Nicely laid out space, not loud at all for the size of the room and the people, well planned! The service was great, drinks near perfect, company unmatched! I had the Black Cod which was perfectly done with a nice crisp skin side to it! She had the roasted chicken which was perfectly done and sweet to the finish! Through this meal I ordered a glass of wine, something Red and good with the fish...a Cabernet perhaps...another spot on match, great glass of wine...soft notes that hit with the fish just right! We did skip the desert, but have full intentions of coming back, soon! KT read more

The Lively - New American Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Brought my husband here to celebrate his birthday and they brought out a special coconut ice cream with chocolate ganache that he thought was delicious. Our server was great, checked in frequently enough, great energy and was quick to refill drinks which we appreciated. Place is super cute - definitely an aesthetic spot. Food wise, the fries we got on the side were probably our favorite thing we ate, with maybe the octopus being second. The cod was fine, but the prawn crudo was really bland. The cheesecake we ordered for desert was fine, probably better than the octopus, but the birthday desert was hands down the best thing from the meal. While the ambience and our server were amazing 5/5, the food was not something that we'd go back for 3/5. read more

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Absolutely my GO TO Date Restaurant In Boise!!! Last Night was Great, made even better by the Waiter, Bousani !!! Watermelon Gazpacho was BEYOND Flavorful, the Hamachi Crudo merely FANTASTIC and the Denver Steak was served perfectly Medium Rare !!! Always a Pleasure to dine here read more

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Food was excellent, ambiance very nice. Cocktails creative especially the non-alcoholic ones.

In my honest review this place was a huge miss. I'll start with the positive. The atmosphere was very beautiful and romantic, exactly what you are looking for an upscale restaurant. My dinner experience started great. I had the Spot Prawn Crudo which was so creamy and delicious. But everything started to go down hill pretty quickly. One of the server asked to clear our plate, and surprisingly she started to clear our personal plate with food still on it. That threw me off, and after she cleared our plate we waited a quite awhile for our entrees to arrive. 35+mins. We ordered the $65 dollar New York steak and some sort of fancy ravioli which came out so cold. The steak was presented so boring and unappetizing. And the ravioli was really nothing to write home about. For the price I feel like your neighborhood Applebees had better service and food. I'm sorry to say the Lively was disappointing overall. read more

The Lively - New American Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Horrible, horrible, customer service. 3 bartenders and could not be attentive, totally ignored sitting at the bar for 20 minutes with no more than 3 people at the bar. Definitely not worth the money even when served. read more

We had our wedding here and The Lively and their staff were incredible every step of the way! The food is absolutely out of this world and is matched only by the attentiveness and consideration of the staff. Honestly whether it's for an event or just for dinner we cannot recommend The Lively enough! read more

Trendy, classy, craft cocktails, and excellent food! We went to the Lively for my birthday, and they truly made our experience memorable. Our waiter gave great recommendations, and was very knowledgeable. Their bar is top notch so I recommend going for a cocktail! You can tell this menu was carefully curated and is focused on using high-quality fresh ingredients. They have great starters to share, my personal favorite was the octopus! The cote de boeuf was phenomenal. A great cut of meat cooked perfectly, but it is a lot of food so I recommend sharing! I think the desserts were my favorite part. The funfetti birthday cake slice was a nice touch and the carrot cake was so moist. Be sure to make a reservation! The name speaks for itself. read more

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There are two potential experiences it seems to me, downstairs and upstairs. Proper dinner was spectacular. Excellent service. I suspect some of the lower reviews may be the "downstairs" experience which I have not had, but seems more casual. Our family enjoyed the meal and felt spoiled. read more

This lack of upfront price disclosure is misleading and unfortunately is the reason why I won't be back. I got 2 drinks and a $19 entrée togo and somehow was charged $107. I always get a certain brand of whiskey for my old fashions so I assumed the price would be around the same the range as it is anywhere else. I simply was not informed that the only brand they carry of the certain whiskey was going to be the top shelf of that brand. And to top it off with no pun intended, the cherry that came with the old fashion still had the pit in it which was a great surprise when I bit down and had to spit out chunks of seed into my napkin. read more

First of all, the restaurant is gorgeous. Pictures do not do justice, I expected less based on pics. Food was amazing. I ordered the half chicken (homey vibes with an upscale flare), steak tartare (Tastier with every bite), and the Basque cheesecake (looks pretty and taste gorgeous). I had Nate as a server and he was pretty great. I wasn't able to really determine what I would like and my experience in Idaho so far was that I do not like the drinks. Nate gave me recommendations based on little information that I gave and recommend two drinks throughout the night that I liked but still pushed me out of my comfort zone. He didn't seem super confident when recommending but he did a great job and anyone should trust him as their server. So yes service was great as well. Not just Nate but from the other servers and host as well. I have a severe allergy and clearly it was discussed before I came in and I was told immediately what I could not order and what I could have adjustments for. I would trust this restaurants and the chefs with other dietary restrictions as well based on my experience. If I do return to Idaho I will visit Lively again. read more

The Lively - Steak Tartare - New American Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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I wanted to love The Lively, but at best it was lackluster. The space is gorgeous, seating comfortable and well appointed glassware and table settings. It fell short on the food, and while our server was nice and the assistants kept our waters full, it was super slow, bar drinks took way too long (to the point a glass of wine was comped because it came after our meal) and finished plates sat a long time. We ordered a glass of wine and cocktails, then about 10 minutes later ordered a bottle. The bottle got to our table way before the cocktails and single glass did. Also, my friend didn't finish her cocktail because it was way too strong for her taste. The wine was wonderful and they had an extensive list, with wine by the bottle ranging from $40 to $180+. Excellent Italian selection for old world wines. We had the meatball appetizer and tuna. Tuna was a hit for the table, the meatball sauce was amazing, the meatballs were fine. For entrees, I ordered the ravioli and it was so al dente the pasta was doughy and the filling was cold. It took a while before our server to come back (I had to ask for him) and I sent it back. They remade it and it was delicious, pasta cooked perfectly, but I ate after the rest of our table was done. My friends noted their pasta dishes were over salted, and 3 of them didn't finish them. The steak dishes were a hit and seemed to be cooked to order. It is a very small menu (and it was different than the one published online), but a good selection. I tried the frozen hot chocolate for dessert. It was pretty, but hard to eat in the dish they serve it in and the cream was way too cold to eat before the hot chocolate got too cold to melt it. The marshmallow was yummy, but they put these large dry meringue shards stuck in the top, so that made it more awkward to eat. I had high hopes for that dessert, but it just didn't deliver, especially for $13. It was quite expensive and overall, there are simply other downtown restaurants I prefer with better food and better service. read more

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The atmosphere was great, the service was outstanding! My wife, my brother in law and I went to the Lively Christmas Eve. We made reservations for an early dinner at 5:30. My wife and brother in law had the beets appetizer and I had the clam chowder, both of which were great. My wife had the Salmon which she loved, my brother in law had the cannelloni which he thought was fabulous. I ordered the Prime Rib and asked for medium rare. My prime rib was not remotely close to medium rare, much closer to medium, no hint of pink anywhere in the meat. I would have thought by eating early, there would have been no problem getting medium rare. Our total bill including drinks came to very close to $500. I was amazed to see I was charged $5.00 for a square ice cube. read more

I've had great experiences here in the past, so I'm really hoping this was just an off night. Unfortunately, from start to finish, this visit was disappointing. Right as we sat down, we found an octopus leg left in the curtain--clearly from a previous diner. From a restaurant of this caliber, I'd expect better cleanliness and attention to detail. Unfortunately, things only got worse from there. My steak was cooked to the wrong temperature not once, but twice. Then, we found plastic in the potatoes. When we brought it to the manager's attention, her only response was, "Noted." We were given a $50 gift card, but nothing was taken off our bill, which felt like an inadequate response given the series of issues we encountered. I don't like leaving negative reviews, and I genuinely feel bad for our server, who was wonderful, but this was easily one of the worst dining experiences I've had in Boise. Hoping this was just a fluke, but I'd be hesitant to return. read more

If you're in Boise you have to come try this restaurant! It's gets quite busy on the weekends so make sure to make a reservation! The decor inside is so cute and all the staff are so friendly and are knowledgeable with the menu. We ordered the grilled octopus, cote de boeuf, and coffee and doughnuts. Hands down our favorite was the cote de boeuf. The flavors were fantastic and the beef was so tender it melted in your mouth. Pro tip: book the chefs table with a group of friends! Kevin (the chef at The Lively) is so talented and he'll curate a menu that will be unforgettable! read more

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I was excited to try this place for my birthday dinner. The atmosphere is stunning. I was so happy they had a few mock tails to choose from, mine was delish! For entrees I had the trout which was lovely, but my friend had their rendition on a "pot pie". It was really small, no veggies and a cracker type crust. Basically beef in gravy. It was dry and not what we expected. For dessert we agreed to try the seasonal apple tartine. The apples were sour (maybe not cooked enough or not caramelized enough) on a dough but it was soggy. That was my birthday dessert. I mentioned I did not care for it and nothing was done. Over all a beautiful place, but you have to know what to order and the seasonal items were 0-2 for us. read more

The Lively - Trout - New American Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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Impecable environment; classy decor, from the wall paper, to the furniture, artwork, clean lines, lighting and colors pallet. The staff is very friendly, and food presentation sophisticated and appealing. I ordered the half roasted chicken, it was slightly overcooked and too salty. For dessert I ordered their signature coffee & beignets, it was very good. The coffee was not an actual coffee, but rather a coffee flavored ice cream similar to an affogato, on crispy sea salt caramel thins, topped with a creamy mousse. Overall I was pleased with the experience, but the food came short of expectations for their price point. read more

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Aesthetically, The Lively is probably one of the more beautiful restaurants I've visited in Boise. Decor, wallpaper, art etc. all helped to create an excellent, chill vibe. My wife and I opted to try a few of their appetizers. We had the Salmon Carpaccio and tartare. Carpaccio was underwhelming. The salmon itself was well prepared however the coconut cream (literally tasted like it was straight out of a can) overpowered the dish. Server mentioned it was cured in pineapple and jalapeño. I wasn't able to detect either of these. The tartare was oily and too salty while lacking an acidic component which I think may have tied the dish together. The cured egg yolk may have been the culprit in causing the ubiquitous amount of salt. While I do appreciate the gesture of trying to throw their own spin on some dishes that are relatively classic, I still stand by the saying that there is "elegance in simplicity." Service was sub par for what I'd expect at an establishment of this type. We were open to staying for dinner, but after the underwhelming dishes and an extended wait time for our cocktail in an empty restaurant that appeared fully staffed, we decided to venture elsewhere. read more

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My lovely husband surprised me with dinner reservations here on 10/30/2021. Overall, we both enjoyed our meals and had a great experience. Upon walking in we were seated at the second lev right by the bustling open kitchen. While I appreciate an establishment that is transparent with it's kitchen I didn't enjoy being so close. Plus the seating was awkward. My husband and I were side by side instead of across from each other. Not very romantic at all, so we requested to be moved, which was done so promptly. I ordered the Gibbon Burger (SRF & Double Ranch blend, melting onion, Beecher's flagship cheddar, Gibbon sauce, medium, $17.00). I'm a fan of Beecher's and an even bigger fan of burgers so this caught my attention right away. My husband ordered the 1/2 Roasted Chicken (king trumpet mushroom, pommes purée, Spanish sherry vinegar, $25.00) which a side of the richest mashed potatoes you'll ever have. More on those in a minute. My burger was nothing short of excellent! It was cooked to the perfect doneness as asked and paired wonderfully with the well-seasoned, crispy fries. One of the best burgers I've had in a long time. My husband's chicken was exactly as describe - a whole half (?) of juicy chicken on top of the best mashed potatoes I'd ever put in my mouth. From what I remember, they were half butter and half potatoes. Super fluffy yet filling and tasted so so soooo good. Besides the seating issue in the beginning which was fixed right away, I enjoyed the rest of my time at the Lively so I can't give anything below 5 stars. Definitely recommend!!! read more

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Boise is seeing an uptick of craft cocktail speakeasies. The exclusive drinking experience is becoming popular. No. 40 is the newest of these and perhaps the most expensive. They feature drinks for $20/each that are not on the "outside" menu. They're good. Not mind-blowing amazing, but good. The tapas/snacks are a bit harder to support. Designed to be the most minuscule in size, they still run a hefty price. But- it's the ambiance right? Well- not so much when we had to completely move tables to accommodate another party of the same size. 4. The max size is 4. But these people made 2 separate reservations for 4 in order to take the additional space. Overall, I say sure, check it out. But I can't say I'll be back at those prices. read more

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The atmosphere is fantastic, whether you are sitting on the upper or lower floor. The entire menu from starters to desserts has something unique and delicious. The staff are all friendly and helpful when trying to determine what to try. read more

The Lively has all the makings of an exceptional dining experience but didn't blow us away. As other reviews note, the restaurant is beautiful. I love the wallpaper, the trim and paint, the gorgeous tables and seating areas, and even the beautiful open kitchen. But it's definitely overpriced for food that wasn't exceptional. Also as someone noted, it was really loud. Pretty tough to hear across our 4 person table. It was all tasty and satisfying but nothing I would say is to die for. The risotto, trout, and potato bisque were all yummy. Service was great and matches the caliber of the ambience of the restaurant. Overall it's an impressive and unique spot to find in Boise on its surface, but the menu can use some flavor elevation and some wow pieces to justify the price. read more

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Lovely ambience, great food menu, and wonderful cocktails! Staff went above and beyond! If you are looking for a place to celebrate a special evening while enjoying a wide selection of cocktails and wine, The Lively is the spot you are looking for! We ordered hamachi, meatballs, rib eye, and the pasta - everything was on point and nothing disappointed. Dessert menu can be better but overall you can't go wrong with The Lively!! Highly recommend for a special dinner - expect to spend $100 per person!! read more

You may ask yourself, tonight are you dining in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, nope you are dining in little ol Boise Idaho. The past four years living in Boise we have witnessed the food scene grow immensely. This is one of the few positives from the huge influx of new people moving here. Now we reach another level, enter The Lively who is situated couple blocks east of the Capitol Building on Bannock. The building is an old Wells Fargo building and they did an A+ job of renovation, inside and out. From the outside with gas street lamps to the inside grand staircase. Ok here is the first tip, reservations right out of the gate are hard to get and far out. However when you enter the first floor you are met by the bar and lounge which are first come, first serve. If you get there before they finish seating all the dinner reservations you can also order from the full menu in the lounge. It's a easy way to sneak in and grab a seat and enjoy the meal without the long reservation wait. Side note, toward the back of the first floor is a "Speak Easy" private bar and lounge which you can rent for private events. The wife and I are already planning a event with friends and family in this space. Head up the grand staircase and you will find the main dinning room and open kitchen. The front of the dinning room is really bright and near the windows facing Bannock. For another kind of experience sit in the back of the dinning room right next to the kitchen and watch all the magic. It's almost like having a chef's table experience. Ok, all of this and I have yet to speak about the food. Well that is the easy part, it's all phenominal. The menu is ever changing right now as the chef finds where they want to land on, or maybe it will always be new which would be fun. Always ask if there are any specials, one time I had a special which was lamb sausage pasta and it was literally one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. Each time I return I'm hoping to see it becomes a permanent fixture on the menu. For apps, highly recommend the pastrami mousse, yes I know that sounds very odd but it totally works. The duck ham Croques Des Bois are something we always order each time, if you love duck (or maybe not) you should try these. The other thing revolving is the craft cocktail menu and their bartenders do a fabulous job. My favorite so far is the "Bowling with Jen" which is their take on Old Fashion and I hope it never leaves the menu. Stop in, enjoy a relaxing and swanky spot, bring your significant other, and enjoy an amazing evening of food and beverages. You will thank me later. read more

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If I could give more stars I would. I have celiac disease and the staff was very helpful and thorough with my order. I had the wagyu with foie butter and bordelaise, all that was confirmed gluten free, and it was INCREDIBLE. Best beef I've ever eaten. Plus it was a beautiful wedding venue. 10/10 would recommend!! read more

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Our first night in Boise and the wife and I made our way to this fine restaurant. Hostess had a great sense of humor took us up the elevator and we arrived at one of the most elegant floors for a restaurant. The cocktail book was one of the most well designed book's I've seen. The cocktails did the book justice! Now for the food: meatballs, trout ,mushrooms and chicken just danced on our palates! The waiter and the staff was awesome and we can't wait to go back! read more

This was our first time to visit the Lively. We were early to our reservation, so we decided to have a cocktail in the bar area . The young lady that took care of us, did not smile once. The hostess came to us, and said your table is ready, but we did not have the Cocktails yet, no big deal. René was our waiter. He was kind, knowledgeable, and down to earth. We decided to order the Himachi crudo and the meatballs for hors d'oeuvres. We really like the himachi, but the meatball square salty. I did tell René our waiter and he said that he was pass this info onto the chef. The sommelier Riley was also very pleasant, friendly, and knowledgeable about the winds. We decided to go with a Tempranillo from Spain. The wine was vibrant, fun and had great structure. Later, we got our main course, which was a cote de beouf! And the runner brought it to our table, and I looked absolutely beautiful. They took it back to cut it, and when it came back, it was served with french fries, and mashed potatoes. It was perfectly cooked to order, medium rare. However, we thought it was rather bland, the bone had a good amount of salt, but the rest of the steak did not. We had to add a bit of compound butter to make it flavorful. Again the service was pretty good, the ambience is second to none, but we were not as excited about the food as we were when we walked into the restaurant. I would still would recommend this restaurant to anyone, we will be back! read more

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What a difference. When the Lively opened, I had a poor experience with a staff member and vowed not to return. Yesterday was my wife and my 25th wedding anniversary, and we decided to try the restaurant again. I am glad we did. First, the waiter and staff were prompt, kind, attentive, and professional. We started with a cocktail and then ordered a bottle of wine. They have a good wine list that includes some old-world, new-world, and regional wines from Walla Walla, which I love. We ordered the meatball appetizer as I make it a habit at any restaurant that offers them. I have to admit, they were the best I've had so far in the journey for the perfect meatball appetizer. They were well-seasoned and moist, and the marinara sauce was spectacular. The appetizer came with bread for dipping in the sauce. Heretofore, Gildas in Portland was my favorite place for the meatball appetizer. If you're ever in PDX I highly recommend them. My wife and I then both ordered pasta dishes, and they did not disappoint either. I had the special which is not on the menu but should be added--pork-filled pasta with a fennel and cherry sauce. I was surprised at how well the fennel and cherries worked together. It was truly amazing. We topped off the evening with the Key Lime pie, finished the bottle of wine, and walked home chatting about what a different experience this was from the first time. Congratulations Lively, you now have won my culinary heart back. Dr. Clifford Green read more

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If you're hungry and want to eat, probably not the place for you. This is definitely a place for "vibes". The food wasn't bad and service wasn't bad but sheesh the portions were so tiny and the prices so high. Would like to go back just to try that donut and coffee desert. But definitely NOT going back. read more

The Lively - $15 for 4 meatballs - New American Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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Great food and great service. Went for happy hour and had a very good menu for happy hour. Well priced.

**This account just reviews bathrooms** Somehow I found myself in downtown Boise with an inexplicable urge to use the John. While nature was calling, my stomach was also demanding substance to refill my energy reserves. Luckily the fancy food joint I wandered into with the hopes of stealing a bite from the table scraps and crumbs of high-society types, also featured two gender neutral restrooms on the second floor which I was only able to find after asking one of the underpaid 20 year olds they refer to as a waiter. After stumbling around in the dimly lit eatery like Velma from "Scooby-Doo" looking for her glasses, I finally made my way to the single occupancy restroom door. Immediately upon entry, a small room with a strange feel greeted me. The first thing I noticed was the toilet, which looked like a standard public toilet at a glance but was missing a flush handle. Upon inspection, I concluded that the wealthiest among us must not like doing their own flushing because this automatic toilet seemed to be missing a manual flushing device of any kind, at least to my untrained necessitous eye. Upon the completion of my business, I noticed the toilet paper holder was facing a direction I wasn't used to. Instead of pulling down on the bathroom tissue it is pulled toward you. This is now how I imagine all wealthy people dispense their toilet rolls (when getting ass-blasted with a water jet isn't an option) instead of thinking this is just a weird quirk of this particular eating establishment. The sink was fine, although a bit dirty (rich people get filthy too apparently), but the strange part was the paper towels. At first glance, they looked like normal paper towels but laid out on a shelf as opposed to a dispenser of some sort. My immediate conclusion was there wasn't some sort of bathroom attendant to instruct the wealthy patrons of the establishment how to operate a lever based dispenser (or one of the weird ones you have to twist that knob on the side) so they decided to lay them out instead. Upon further inspection, I realized these were not normal paper towels. They were thicker and more absorbent than cardboard smelling tissue I'm used to. So naturally I grabbed as many as I could stuff into my pockets and shirt so I could enjoy them later. Now, the trash can was just some kind of woven basket on the ground. Surely a place like this could afford a regular trash can, even as prices on the mostly plastic receptacles seem to surge to new unreasonably high prices every day. But no, they opted for a very low to the ground basket. I don't know which pea brain thought this was a good idea, but I'm sure they'll regret it if someone comes running into the restroom a little too late and has to toss some soiled undergarments in their finely woven bin. Overall The Lively restroom isn't a bad spot catch a breather to but you'll have to deal with a little bit of grime and a whole lot of understanding high society. read more

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I've spent now two celebratory experiences at The Lively. This is my go-to spot in Downtown, Boise for special occasions (when I'm not picking up the tab LOL). The Lively is farm-to-table with a mix of imported goods from Italy and Japan. There really aren't many spots like this in Boise and I would highly recommend The Lively for special occasions or if you're visiting the area. We came about 30 minutes early for our reservation because we were so excited and grabbed a round of drinks downstairs before being seated at our table. The drinks here are a work of art and there's also alcohol-free mocktails that have just as much artistry put into them. I ordered the "mclaren made" because I'm a big Mclaren F1 fan and the drink did not disappoint- I ended up ordered 2 throughout the night and my partner had 3! The upstairs dining area is reservations only and the space is absolutely beautiful. They have an open test kitchen where you can see, smell, and hear the chefs doing their thing. If you're obsessed with cooking culture like I am, this was an absolute treat to be around. We ordered the cote de boeuf (steak) and heard the sizzle when they dropped it on the heat. They even brought it to our table to see before letting it rest and cutting it up. This dish came with french fries that were so delicious that our table asked for another order of fries and like 2 more of the garlic aioli dipping sauces. The Hamachi crudo was imported from Japan and served at the correct temperature (not too cold, and obviously not warm either), something that others may overlook but I really appreciated. Other than really high quality fish, the accoutrements paired beautifully- adding to the hamachi experience and not overpowering. I wish there was an entree sized hamachi dish here, it'd be a hit! Sous vide lobster was the dish my mom picked and it was a really good pasta dish. I'm a big fan of sous vide, a cooking technique that uses water to keep the temperature constant. I've never had sous vide lobster before and the texture was delicate and buttery. It was an absolute luxury to have the lobster already deshelled! For dessert we had the "coffee and donuts" which is way more than just that. The coffee is like a trifle with so many different layers and textures to it and the donuts are actually beignets, a type of fritter, or deep-fried pastry, usually made from yeast dough in France, possibly made from pâte à choux. The Lively is a beautiful dining experience with amazing food, drinks, service, and ambiance. read more

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This is the fanciest restaurant we've been in. We specifically went to try the steak and it did not disappoint. It was super tender and the bone marrow butter and cilantro sauce perfectly accented the steak. Everything was so flavorful. Best steak we've ever had. They started us off with some bread and (whipped) butter. We ordered the Croques Des Bois as our appetizer and the duck tasted very good. We wish there was more. The Profit & Loss was similar to kombucha but with less of a fermented taste, which we liked. The Pasta Con Salsiccia was good but wasn't great. The pork sausage in it tasted nice but the noodles were just alright. The side of mushrooms didn't taste fully cooked and just weren't that great and we normally love mushrooms. The cheesecake was yummy. The caramelized rice crispies were delicious and the blueberry sauce was tart and accented the cheesecake well. The cheesecake itself was fine. Good but not great but again the toppings really shined. read more

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The food was excellent. The service was fine. The space is lovely. We had gift certificates that we presented at the beginning of the meal and at the end of the meal they refused to honor one of them. The receipt was very confusing--it seemed like they had deducted both gift certificates and instead they charged us more than the bill showed. Once we realized the issue and tried to discuss it with them they refused to resolve it. Would have been happy to eat there again, but the treatment at the end ruined it. read more

Wowow! Amazing restaurant with excellent vibes, decor, and service!! From the moment we entered we were greeted with a boisterous welcome from the staff, to the server explaining every dish and drink in immaculate detail, and all throughout our meal we felt like such special guests with the attentive server we had. A+++! My husband and I ordered the following: - profit and loss mocktail for hubs and the rose flight for me! Good unique flavors must try! - hamachi crudo flown in from Japan the night before! It melted like buttah!! - snake river farms wagyu hanger steak with Parmesan French fries - pork belly banh mi with fries! All good stuff and enjoyed it for lunch! Had a great experience on our trip to Boise and this place was the best restaurant we tried so far! LK read more

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This place is hands down my favorite restaurant in Boise. The food is delicious. The chef really has a great love for his taste buds. We took a party of 8 for a celebration dinner and every person raved from the cocktails, appetizers to dinner! I personally love the meatballs, lasagna and the Extensive Bourbon list. The staff goes above and beyond. The speakeasy is another fun tidbit. If you are going on a Saturday get a reservation to this new part of the Lively. The bartender is truly the best around! read more

The Lively - New American Near Me - Boise, Idaho

It gives me great pleasure to write this review and give a full 5 stars! The Lively is everything you want in a fine dining restaurant. Decor on point, music perfect, attentive staff, great cocktails, and the food makes me feel like I don't even know how to cook! Do yourself and your tastebuds a favor and try the Lively. You can pre-thank me now! read more

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