Absolutely lovely atmosphere with knowledgeable and friendly staff! Fine dining without the stress that usually accompanies pomp and circumstance. More Great Gatsby than Bridgerton. The bucatini entree and the beans present in the Spanish octopus appetizer might have been undercooked but were delicious regardless and may have just been personal preference!

We reserved the Chef's table to celebrate my wife's b-day on 6/24/23. The entire experience from the time we walked in was incredible. This is fine dining that we've never experienced before nor had the opportunity to experience while in Idaho and it was a treat. The staff were amazing and were both extremely attentive while also personable and welcoming. Highly recommend adding the wine pairing. Each course was beautifully presented and tasted phenomenal. If you want best-of-class fine dining without traveling to a major city, this is it!

I know you've heard about it so why are you holding back? This is hands down my favorite restaurant in Boise. When you walk up to the building you already know that you are in for a treat. Then you walk into the bar (on the main floor) and your jaw drops. The design that went into this building is just breathtaking. You gotta start with some cocktails downstairs before your dinner. (So YES that means you need to show up early. And they do have some different cocktails from downstairs vs. upstairs) Enjoy a round, or 2 before you go upstairs (which I highly recommend so you can truly take the scenic route) Everyone that comes to your table is always smiling, explaining what is in the drink, or the food. I promise you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My favorites are the octopus & the coffee & donuts. This is our go to for my birthday in February (so we see the winter menu) & my partners birthday (which is the summer menu) Ed is a pioneer chef that Boise has been longing for. Please call now

We worked with Missy and The Lively's Bar Gibbon to host our wedding reception. Missy did extremely well making sure the evening went smoothly and we were aware of every detail. The ambiance inside Bar Gibbon is amazing and both the food and service was all top notch. The cocktails were all delicious, especially the fan favorite East Side. Overall it is an absolutely beautiful place to dine at and we would definitely work with Missy and the Lively again for another party.

Such a beautiful resturant. My husband and I celebrated our anniversary here tonight and not only was the food amazing and so fresh. Our server, Quentin C was very kind and offered lots of great advice. A must try on the menu is the coffee and donuts dessert. We traveled to France last summer and I will say this creme brulee was outstanding.

Wow. This place is beyond just “hey let’s go out for dinner”. This is a fantastic culinary experience. The staff is amazing, they break down the menu if you need, give recommendations if you ask, and the food has never disappointed. The atmosphere is very laid back and very clean. Well worth the trip!!!

I truly enjoyed the evening. The atmosphere reminds me of New Orleans, which made the experience even better. Even Niklause would like. The service was top-notch! Then, the snow against the outdoor clear lights was a touch of magic. A special thank you to the bar tender for our photo!

VERDICT: A definitive stop for lingering conversations over exquisite food and drink. Time easily shifts to timelessness as the experience truly envelopes you and your company. FOOD: If you go, plan on drinks, appetizers, dinner, sides, dessert (in whatever order pleases you). The food and drink are truly elevated, but the portions are smaller. Still, it's completely worth it and even adds to your dining experience via an ensemble of flavorsome choices progressively delivered to you. The menu does change (I'm not sure how fast), so keep that in mind if you find the items I'm reviewing aren't present. Each food was its "rendition, truly revelational in execution. DRINKS: Classic and unique offerings. I should have been more adventurous and gone beyond my draft beer. I did sample one (I don't remember the name of), but it was a take on an appletini that had incredible apple flavor while remaining dry in sweetness yet bold in flavor. APPS: Meatballs were excellent. At first, I was apprehensive in that there was no crust on the meatball, but after tasting it, they convinced me I might be making meatballs incorrectly. The texture was a perfect bite-- consistently cooked from surface-to-center-- blooming in flavor balanced well between meat, aromatics, and umami, while the marinara serves as acid to further open the palate. DINNER: The cod was brined and cooked to perfection, with a moist flake and a torch-seared skin. The miso sauce bloomed harmoniously with the more gentle flavor of the cod, awakening it to a more interesting presentation. While slightly uncouth, I ordered the french fries to experience an elevated fish and chips. The lasagna was almost laughably small, but upon tasting it, we laughed no more. It was rich and elegant, impressively filling akin to Elven Lembas bread. (The portion size was a mercy for those like me who would eat the whole thing and then regret it, had it been bigger.) The roast chicken was likely a well-executed half chicken presentation, perfectly brined and classically seasoned with an expertly balanced aromatic bouquet. DESSERT: Incredible. Having a pastry chef on staff really makes a difference. The cheesecake and chocolate cake were excellent, but the key lime brulee could inspire a whole Hallmark Channel movie about the dessert that got away, starring Simu Li as me, pining away for it during the lonely holiday season. SERVICE: Excellent. The wait staff were prompt, knowledgeable, and generally pleasant to interact with. ATMOSPHERE: Low light and quiet music set the tone for intimate conversation in a comfortable booth. This is where The Lively excels: a lingering, intimate environment meant to engage in conversation at length over drinks, appetizers, dinner, and shared desserts.