Our favorite "local" Monday night go-to restaurant. The menu changes regularly, food delicious, they work with customers' food issues & the waitstaff is excellent! PS, we love Rob (the bartender)
Greg D
Our server Mica greeted us warmly and was pleasant throughout, but the food was somewhat disappointing. The Cheddar Puffs were delicious, but were almost certainly deep-fried, and no small plates were given. The Chicken Kiev was also deep-fried, which I would expect from a Roadhouse type restaurant, not one charging $28 for an entree! There was a large piece of soft fatty meat in the chicken which not pleasant, and had to be discarded. Also, the Chicken Kiev did not have Ricotta Cheese inside as indcated on the menu, and the Caesar Salad was forgotten until we had to ask for it twice! The only reason why we are giving three stars is because of the Cheddar Puffs and Mica's warm service - otherwise way over-priced for what you are getting.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Jessica
I don't like leaving less than stellar reviews because there's so many variables to consider.BUT we've been here twice now, the first was great food but service only a teeny bit lacking (had to keep asking for refills, no spoon with coffee when creamer was brought). This most recent was a bit worse, same exact issues as before, but this time there were food issues too (no ketchup brought when asked, lettuce on sandwich when asked to omit, french toast completely raw/undercooked). All that said, they did give a discount on my French toast, they replaced it asap and both servers were apologetic.Both times were for brunch and we were sat in the bar area so maybe thats why. The food is phenomenal and I LOVE that they have reservations because it can be a pain to get into a place for brunch... so I think one more shot at a different time and maybe a different seating area before we throw in the towel.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Orv Pickett
First time there and food was great. We will be back for sure
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Megan Wilson
A bit spendy, but the food and atmosphere were amazing. Our server was amazing as well. Cute little gift shop at the front is nice to browsw while waiting. The location is out of the way but worth it. If you get the chance to eat out on the patio take it, its beautiful! This might not be an everyday option, but will definitely be back for special occasions!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Crimson Fox
We called to see how busy they were ~8 minutes ago, they said they weren’t very busy. We arrived and they told us a 35 minute wait. I would leave a negative review if this wasn’t ATLEAST the 3rd time this has happened. I’m unsure how to navigate and am now frustrated.
Katharine Moore
We finally visited Lively Station for the first time last night. I'm not sure why we had been sleeping on it for so long but we were definitely missing out. We originally had a reservation for 5 but needed to add 2 at the last minute. They were incredibly accommodating but suggested we get there a little earlier due to a large party that had reservations 15 minutes after ours.Our party had two Campfire Mac and Cheeses (one with bacon and one with crispy chicken), two steak sandwiches, the smashburger, the halibut and the pot roast. All of the food was delicious, but the pot roast was truly amazing. Our server was fabulous as well but I think we were all too focused on our food to interact much. The price for the quality of food was very reasonable as well.My husband and I can't wait to visit again on our next date night to try some of their other dishes as their specials all sounded amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jennifer H.
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.
Deric H.
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!
Dawn D.
Cute place, worth the stop. The parking is in the back and main entrance in the front facing the road. There's an opinion to order light and shop or full menu dine in... and then shop. There is both indoor and outdoor seating and a bar.I had the California burger, fries, and brussel sprouts salad. So far the best burger in the Salem/ Independence area. Could have passed on the salad but wanted to try something new.My server was friendly but the place was a little busy or they were short staff.. not sure. Get there early.
Finally tried lively station. Absolutely fantastic. We were fortunate enough to go while it was quiet and were completely spoiled with dining on a private patio. I had the smashburger and he had the rueben. I had a mocktail of "galway girl". Also delish. Outstanding service and very creative menu, I wanted to taste everything. Highly recommend! The picture of the little baby menu is drinks she's trying out for spring ❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger
Harlan Brock
We’ve been wanting to eat here for a few months and finally got around to it this weekend. Did not make reservations but we were seated in less than 10 minutes on a Saturday night. The staff was friendly and efficient, the bartender was the best! My wife is vegan and I don’t eat dairy, finding delicious food items on their menu to suit both of our needs was easy to do as they have several options to choose from and can make substitutions as needed. For a night out including dinner and drinks the cost was better than expected. ($68 not including tip)We are looking forward to making Lively Station a regular stop for us and inviting friends!Vegetarian options: They have began and vegetation options clearly labeled on the menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger
Hannah Fouts
The drinks are made from scratch and the food is excellent! One of our favorite locations for date night!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Holly F.
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!
Nicole P.
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
Our favorite "local" Monday night go-to restaurant. The menu changes regularly, food delicious, they work with customers' food issues & the waitstaff is excellent! PS, we love Rob (the bartender)
Our server Mica greeted us warmly and was pleasant throughout, but the food was somewhat disappointing. The Cheddar Puffs were delicious, but were almost certainly deep-fried, and no small plates were given. The Chicken Kiev was also deep-fried, which I would expect from a Roadhouse type restaurant, not one charging $28 for an entree! There was a large piece of soft fatty meat in the chicken which not pleasant, and had to be discarded. Also, the Chicken Kiev did not have Ricotta Cheese inside as indcated on the menu, and the Caesar Salad was forgotten until we had to ask for it twice! The only reason why we are giving three stars is because of the Cheddar Puffs and Mica's warm service - otherwise way over-priced for what you are getting.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
I don't like leaving less than stellar reviews because there's so many variables to consider.BUT we've been here twice now, the first was great food but service only a teeny bit lacking (had to keep asking for refills, no spoon with coffee when creamer was brought). This most recent was a bit worse, same exact issues as before, but this time there were food issues too (no ketchup brought when asked, lettuce on sandwich when asked to omit, french toast completely raw/undercooked). All that said, they did give a discount on my French toast, they replaced it asap and both servers were apologetic.Both times were for brunch and we were sat in the bar area so maybe thats why. The food is phenomenal and I LOVE that they have reservations because it can be a pain to get into a place for brunch... so I think one more shot at a different time and maybe a different seating area before we throw in the towel.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
First time there and food was great. We will be back for sure
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A bit spendy, but the food and atmosphere were amazing. Our server was amazing as well. Cute little gift shop at the front is nice to browsw while waiting. The location is out of the way but worth it. If you get the chance to eat out on the patio take it, its beautiful! This might not be an everyday option, but will definitely be back for special occasions!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We called to see how busy they were ~8 minutes ago, they said they weren’t very busy. We arrived and they told us a 35 minute wait. I would leave a negative review if this wasn’t ATLEAST the 3rd time this has happened. I’m unsure how to navigate and am now frustrated.
We finally visited Lively Station for the first time last night. I'm not sure why we had been sleeping on it for so long but we were definitely missing out. We originally had a reservation for 5 but needed to add 2 at the last minute. They were incredibly accommodating but suggested we get there a little earlier due to a large party that had reservations 15 minutes after ours.Our party had two Campfire Mac and Cheeses (one with bacon and one with crispy chicken), two steak sandwiches, the smashburger, the halibut and the pot roast. All of the food was delicious, but the pot roast was truly amazing. Our server was fabulous as well but I think we were all too focused on our food to interact much. The price for the quality of food was very reasonable as well.My husband and I can't wait to visit again on our next date night to try some of their other dishes as their specials all sounded amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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.
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!
Cute place, worth the stop. The parking is in the back and main entrance in the front facing the road. There's an opinion to order light and shop or full menu dine in... and then shop. There is both indoor and outdoor seating and a bar.I had the California burger, fries, and brussel sprouts salad. So far the best burger in the Salem/ Independence area. Could have passed on the salad but wanted to try something new.My server was friendly but the place was a little busy or they were short staff.. not sure. Get there early.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts, Burger
Restaurantji Recommends
Finally tried lively station. Absolutely fantastic. We were fortunate enough to go while it was quiet and were completely spoiled with dining on a private patio. I had the smashburger and he had the rueben. I had a mocktail of "galway girl". Also delish. Outstanding service and very creative menu, I wanted to taste everything. Highly recommend! The picture of the little baby menu is drinks she's trying out for spring ❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger
We’ve been wanting to eat here for a few months and finally got around to it this weekend. Did not make reservations but we were seated in less than 10 minutes on a Saturday night. The staff was friendly and efficient, the bartender was the best! My wife is vegan and I don’t eat dairy, finding delicious food items on their menu to suit both of our needs was easy to do as they have several options to choose from and can make substitutions as needed. For a night out including dinner and drinks the cost was better than expected. ($68 not including tip)We are looking forward to making Lively Station a regular stop for us and inviting friends!Vegetarian options: They have began and vegetation options clearly labeled on the menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger
The drinks are made from scratch and the food is excellent! One of our favorite locations for date night!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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!
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