McCleary's Pub State — Restaurant in Garden City

I spent about 3 hours here on St. Patrick's Day. It was my first time here. The weather was good so we could be outside. My rating of 4 stars for atmosphere is based on being outside; I cannot say what it is like to spend time inside. The inside seemed like what one would expect of a neighborhood bar.

I had to park far down the side street from the pub. There is very little on-site parking. It was not surprising to have to park far away given this place is on the corner of a busy main street and a lot of people attended this holiday event

The staff had decorated for the holiday and they were dressed in green as were many of the patrons. It was crowded so we were lucky to get a place to sit.

One of the first things I noticed was the stench of cigarette smoke. It was strong even though we were outside. Later it was not noticeable so the smokers must have left. The smoke and inadequate seating are why I have given 4 stars for atmosphere.

Patrons had to go to the bar inside to get their drinks. There was a bar outside but I didn't see staff there the couple of times I passed by. The bar was super busy so they ran out of glasses. The staff members were working hard to take care of everyone. The staff were friendly and efficient.

There were so many people attending this event that it was too loud to be able to hear my table mates. Again, not surprising.

At 3:00 a rock band started playing. The music was fun but it was way too loud--even for outside. I noticed this pub regularly has bands outside in the summer.

The pub had a counter set up outside where they were serving plates of corned beef and vegetables. Patrons paid $8 inside at the bar and took a token to the food table. The food was good and was like you would get at a family meal. The food wasn't hot because the staff had the lids off the roasting ovens in order to seve the food. The food was good anyway, the portions were generous and the price was right.

After I ate I left. There were bagpipers later in the day. I was told that they were not too loud, which is good!

I think this pub is fine for a neighborhood bar. For people who like hanging out outside and listening to music during the summer at a neighborhood bar it is a good...

McCleary’s is hands-down my favorite dive bar in Boise. The vibe is immaculate, and the bartenders do a great job making sure everyone’s taken care of. There’s both an indoor bar and an outdoor bar. The crowd here is surprisingly young, and the backyard has tons of games. Giant beer pong, table tennis, Jenga, and more.

On Saturdays, they bring in live music, which is honestly the only day I avoid. It gets so loud you can’t really have a conversation, and it just isn’t enjoyable for me. Every other night, though, I love it, especially Fridays! I always end up meeting fun people, and the drinks are inexpensive.

If you’re looking for a spot to hang out with friends or meet a younger crowd, this is the place. If you’re into loud music and don’t care about talking, then Saturday nights are your jam.

This bar shines in the spring, summer, and fall. I skip it in the winter because the backyard doesn’t stay warm. They only have a couple of fire pits, and while they work, they’re not enough to make it cozy, you will still feel frigid. The indoor area is smaller than your typical dive bar: small, cramped, and it fills up fast when it’s cold out. But when the weather’s nice, this is the best dive bar in the valley.

Oh, and I don’t think they actually sell food, but every now and then there’s a food truck parked outside, which is...

If you’re lucky enough to get Courtney as your server at McCleary’s Bar, just know you’re in for an amazing experience. She is absolutely amazeballs—seriously, the sweetest, most attentive, an all-around incredible server I’ve ever had. She doesn’t just do her job; she goes above and beyond in every way.

From the moment we sat down, Courtney made us feel so welcome, like we were longtime friends. She was on top of everything—drinks never went empty, food, and she checked in just the right amount without being intrusive. You can tell she genuinely cares about her customers and takes so much pride in what she does.

Her energy is infectious, her service is flawless, and she made our night unforgettable. McCleary’s is lucky to have her, and if you go, do yourself a favor and ask for Courtney. You...