The Lively

4.5

554 Reviews

$31 to $50

American

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Charming
Romantic

Located just blocks from the Capitol Building, we'll welcome you with graceful, genuine hospitality into our home. Our culinary experience draws its inspiration from the bounty of the region. Our classic cocktails are sophisticated and our craft cocktails are beguiling. Our hope is simple- to invite you again and again to eat, drink and be lively.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
American, Continental
Hours of operation
Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(208) 209-5503
Website
https://www.thelivelyboise.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Chef Edward Higgins

Location
505 W Bannock St, Boise, ID 83702-5917
Neighborhood
Boise
Cross street
5th and Bannock
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, High Tea, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Best Restaurants in Boise

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Experiences

New Year's Eve at The Lively!!
$150.00 per person
Prepaid
Dec 31, 2024 only
7:00 PM
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style at The Lively—the most exclusive party in town! Indulge in a spectacular 5-course dinner crafted by Chef Edward, then head to Bar Gibbon, where the festivities truly begin. Enjoy live DJ entertainment, handcrafted holiday cocktails, and a glass of bubbly to toast 2025! Festive cocktail attire is optional, but come ready to have an unforgettable time. Want to elevate your evening? Add a curated wine pairing or a luxurious caviar set to your ticket for the ultimate experience. Tickets are limited, so don’t miss out on A Lively New Year’s Eve!
Christmas Eve Menu
$95.00 per person
Prepaid
Dec 24, 2024 only
This specialty three course Prix Fixe menu will be sure to delight everyone at your table! From Angus Prime Rib to a Chocolate Peppermint Bûche de Nöel, you get to decide how to feast on this festive evening at The Lively.

What 554 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Idaho
Romantic
Idaho
Good for special occasions
Boise
Best Ambiance
Boise
Romantic
Boise
Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Lively offers an engaging dining experience with "great service" and "amazing food." Guests praise its "elegant atmosphere" and commend the restaurant for accommodating dietary needs. Although some diners noted noise or overly salty dishes, the attentive staff often rectifies issues promptly. It's a top choice in the Treasure Valley for special occasions.

554 Reviews

A
Amy
Boise
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The Lively offers a vibrant dining experience, beginning with Nonna’s meatballs—tender and flavorful in a rich marinara sauce. The potato bisque soup with trout is a creamy delight, perfectly balancing comfort and tenderness. The star, however, is the prime rib, cooked to a succulent medium-rare, paired with hand cut fries and an arugula salad. For dessert, the Basque cheesecake shines with its smooth texture and carmelized rice krispies, while the toffee brioche is a dreamy, buttery treat drizzled in caramel. Overall, The Lively is a must-visit for those seeking hearty, delicious food that delights the senses.
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N
Nancy
Boise
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Thank you for a nice holiday tea. The food a teas were delicious
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J
Julie
San Francisco
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was our third visit and not as good as previous visits. The meatballs, steak tartar, and foie gras were excellent. The Tortola cocktail was also outstanding. The roasted chicken is always excellent and the lasagna was tasty but a little too rich/heavy. The grilled octopus didn’t taste fresh and the new preparation isn’t nearly as good as before. The cod was also fishy tasting, not fresh like our two previous visits. The Christmas decor was very well done and the service was impeccable as always. Overall a good experience but I believe the wine list could use some love, we didn’t like either of the wines we ordered. The Sicilian red we got last time was outstanding but that is no longer available. Nor was the scotch we got last time. And the seafood was sadly fishy. For the price and previous excellent experiences I expected more. But overall still an excellent restaurant. We will be back and will stick to what we know is great.
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D
Debra
VIP
Los Angeles
7 reviews
4.0
7 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Overall, the great experience, the food was great except my ravioli dish came out about 10 minutes before everybody else’s dinner so they had to bring it back to warm it up and in the meantime, everyone else’s dinner came out and mine was delayed. Everyone agreed the food was wonderful, the staff was very nice. Nice ambience.
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M
Mark
Boise
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best newer restaurant I have been to in Boise for a long time. Impressive experience from start to end, might be the only place in Boise that is not trying to turn a table quickly, you’re able to take your time and enjoy. Tables were nicely spaced, felt cozy and quiet even though the space is fairly large. Food was top notch, made me want to go back and try some of their more adventurous starters. Great to see a place like this in Boise that is seemingly thriving and can’t wait to return.
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S
Scott
Boise
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Service by Grace B. was outstanding---she should be given a raise!!....... Nana's meatballs to die for---melt in the mouth. Coffee & donut desert also delicious and w/ 2 espressos a wonderful way to end the meal.
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CP
CarlaP
Vancouver
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on December 4, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Anniversary dinner. Wonderful service, terrific food. Very special evening
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K
KELLY
Boise
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 30, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great ambiance and service was outstanding! The steak, the fish, the drinks and dessert were all excellent. The coffee and doughnuts dessert was to die for! We will be back!
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M
Mark
VIP
Charleston
3 reviews
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 30, 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 1
Very Dark like a dive neighborhood bar, bland taste with our cod choice and our Half chicken. our waiter was more than pleasant offering choices off the menu without being pushy he had a very pleasant attitude he was the bright light of the evening . Basically with all the hype of this restaurant we could not have been more disappointed!
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E
Espy
Los Angeles
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 24, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
We really do enjoy the Lively. It is a beautiful restaurant and feels sofisticated but not overly trendy. It's a place you can get dressed up for the night and have a nice night out. The menu could use a couple more selections in meat and fresh fish. It felt a bit limited. A couple of our dishes were salty. The salad dressing and the "meat special" and the mashed potatoes all over salted. But the staff was great at replacing the dishes quickly. Overall the staff and service were fantastic. The desert dishes were fresh. I would definitely return with some more friends.
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FAQs

The Lively offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (208) 209-5503.

The Lively is rated 4.5 stars by 554 OpenTable diners.