I have eaten at Juniper a number of times over the past 3 years, but this visit was different. Juniper definitely upped its game for the Tasting Menu experience. The presentations were outstanding and the bites were very, very delicious. I have been fortunate to dine at a number of 1, 2, and 3 Michelin Star restaurants and can tell when a tasting menu experience is good. Upon the arrival of the first course, I could see that the staff had taken their skills to a higher level. This continued throughout all of the courses. The wine pairing was also very good. My only are of constructive criticism — which I shared with the team — was that each wine pour should include a presentation of the bottle in case one wishes to search for a particular wine at their favorite wine store. After providing this comment to staff, they showed me each bottle for the rest of the meal. It was nice that they listened rather than just ignore a guest. This made me feel like they valued my opinion. I asked for a seat at the chairs by the kitchen so I could watch the plating. The three chefs near the counter — including the head chef — engaged with me throughout the evening making for a very fun experience. Hats off to Juniper........I believe they are in their way to earning their first Michelin Star!
Fatima
The gnocchi was absolutely amazing. The cavatelli was a second favorite. We'll be back for those two!
Holly H
I love Juniper! It’s hard to stay away. The pasta is amazing and the sides are creative and delicious. I appreciate that the menu allows for family style sharing but sometimes my husband and I each get our own portion of the Radiatori pasta (it’s that good). I’ve also had the rigatoni, risotto, and cavatelli pastas and love them all. One of my favorite places to eat in Austin.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Holly
I love Juniper! It's hard to stay away. The pasta is amazing and the sides are creative and delicious. I appreciate that the menu allows for family style sharing but sometimes my husband and I each get our own portion of the Radiatori pasta (it's that good). I've also had the rigatoni, risotto, and cavatelli pastas and love them all.
Marisa
Food was excellent. The pasta Radiatori was so good as well as the Cavatelli! The shrimp was so tender and perfectly cooked. Everything was on point. Our waiter was attentive but not intrusive. Juniper is one of my favorite Austin Italian restaurants.
Madeline
Juniper is a beautiful restaurant and the atmosphere is welcoming and cozy. However, the food left much to be desired. The dishes are all aesthetically pleasing but the flavors are underwhelming. The chicken was lukewarm and the sauce it was accompanied by - interesting. Not a great pairing. The crispy potatoes are flavorless and undercooked. The little lettuce also not much flavor. The two highlights of the meal were the house focaccia and two desserts we ordered. I was also not impressed with the wine list - especially the wines by the glass options.
SHIVA
Came in with my mom for our monthly mother daughter date. Super cute and calm inside. The gnocchi app was so amazing I wish I could take a quart container of the green sauce home. Split the salmon and cacio e pepe and both dishes complimented each other perfectly. Our server and other staff members had wonderful and intimate tableside service. I think I've found a new favorite for a quiet and elevated dinner ;)
Scott
Service was good as always, and salmon was great. Cacio e Pepe was a disappointment though: so much cream it was basically an Alfredo dish.
Clark Dufour
The best Italian fine dining in Austin. Anything you order will be fantastic. We always love the focaccia, prosciutto and melon, tuna carpaccio, the cacio e pepe, and the rock shrimp pasta (cannot for the life of me remember what it’s called). Highly recommend sitting at the chef’s counter for a great show of talent and precision. Our server, Oscar, was wonderful; attentive and hilarious. This is an Austin staple and you simply HAVE to go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kileigh Reed
The service was not good, extremely long wait time, our order was entered incorrectly and there was no ownership from our server about the mixups. They brought alcohol to our table as an apology for taking so long to greet us and when we explained that we don’t drink he made a joke along the lines of “too bad, you’re stuck with the party.” I’ve worked in the service industry for a long time..I use to work at Juniper actually..and everything about this dinner was subpar and disappointing. Definitely feels like a waste of $100.
My wife and I once again enjoyed Juniper as our Anniversary location to celebrate. Tyler was our waiter who provided excellent service and kind conversation. We received several complimentary dishes. We enjoyed outstanding appetizers and entrees. And it was topped off with Mango Sorbet for dessert. Just wonderful!
Amelia
Food was good. Server was almost nonexistent and we sat with empty drinks most of the time. We sat at the chef's counter and felt like I was watching a reality tv show with the amount of drama and scolding going on in the kitchen and prep area. Wasn't super pleasant. Would not recommend.
Sekhar
Awesome Italian food. Gnocchi appetizer was very memorable! The pastas were simply delicious.
Opentable Diner
The evening was a celebration of our 34th wedding anniversary. Everything was exactly as we had hoped. We were greeted with a”Happy Anniversary “ when we walked in and when we sat down our waiter greeted as well with “Happy Anniversary”-a great start. We were in no hurry and, Jake, our waiter listened and followed through with perfect pacing. Of course, the food was outstanding, with sort of a first course of the lettuce and broccolini combined with the amazing warm focaccia. Again, leisurely pacing until we were ready for our entries, risotto and rigatoni with vodka sauce. Everything food item was perfect. Jake did ask about dessert and he described each of the alternative in a very enticing way but we begged off because we were full. Lo and behold, Jake returned with one of the desserts with a candle-definitely a perfect touch to a perfect evening. We'll definitely be back!
Christian
Overall, a wonderful experience. Almost every aspect of the meal was top notch. The service and venue were incredible. The food was very good as expected but nothing was exceptional thet set Juniper apart from other places in Austin. I would definitely go back as it was beautiful and very fun evening.
I have eaten at Juniper a number of times over the past 3 years, but this visit was different. Juniper definitely upped its game for the Tasting Menu experience. The presentations were outstanding and the bites were very, very delicious. I have been fortunate to dine at a number of 1, 2, and 3 Michelin Star restaurants and can tell when a tasting menu experience is good. Upon the arrival of the first course, I could see that the staff had taken their skills to a higher level. This continued throughout all of the courses. The wine pairing was also very good. My only are of constructive criticism — which I shared with the team — was that each wine pour should include a presentation of the bottle in case one wishes to search for a particular wine at their favorite wine store. After providing this comment to staff, they showed me each bottle for the rest of the meal. It was nice that they listened rather than just ignore a guest. This made me feel like they valued my opinion. I asked for a seat at the chairs by the kitchen so I could watch the plating. The three chefs near the counter — including the head chef — engaged with me throughout the evening making for a very fun experience. Hats off to Juniper........I believe they are in their way to earning their first Michelin Star!
The gnocchi was absolutely amazing. The cavatelli was a second favorite. We'll be back for those two!
I love Juniper! It’s hard to stay away. The pasta is amazing and the sides are creative and delicious. I appreciate that the menu allows for family style sharing but sometimes my husband and I each get our own portion of the Radiatori pasta (it’s that good). I’ve also had the rigatoni, risotto, and cavatelli pastas and love them all. One of my favorite places to eat in Austin.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love Juniper! It's hard to stay away. The pasta is amazing and the sides are creative and delicious. I appreciate that the menu allows for family style sharing but sometimes my husband and I each get our own portion of the Radiatori pasta (it's that good). I've also had the rigatoni, risotto, and cavatelli pastas and love them all.
Food was excellent. The pasta Radiatori was so good as well as the Cavatelli! The shrimp was so tender and perfectly cooked. Everything was on point. Our waiter was attentive but not intrusive. Juniper is one of my favorite Austin Italian restaurants.
Juniper is a beautiful restaurant and the atmosphere is welcoming and cozy. However, the food left much to be desired. The dishes are all aesthetically pleasing but the flavors are underwhelming. The chicken was lukewarm and the sauce it was accompanied by - interesting. Not a great pairing. The crispy potatoes are flavorless and undercooked. The little lettuce also not much flavor. The two highlights of the meal were the house focaccia and two desserts we ordered. I was also not impressed with the wine list - especially the wines by the glass options.
Came in with my mom for our monthly mother daughter date. Super cute and calm inside. The gnocchi app was so amazing I wish I could take a quart container of the green sauce home. Split the salmon and cacio e pepe and both dishes complimented each other perfectly. Our server and other staff members had wonderful and intimate tableside service. I think I've found a new favorite for a quiet and elevated dinner ;)
Service was good as always, and salmon was great. Cacio e Pepe was a disappointment though: so much cream it was basically an Alfredo dish.
The best Italian fine dining in Austin. Anything you order will be fantastic. We always love the focaccia, prosciutto and melon, tuna carpaccio, the cacio e pepe, and the rock shrimp pasta (cannot for the life of me remember what it’s called). Highly recommend sitting at the chef’s counter for a great show of talent and precision. Our server, Oscar, was wonderful; attentive and hilarious. This is an Austin staple and you simply HAVE to go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The service was not good, extremely long wait time, our order was entered incorrectly and there was no ownership from our server about the mixups. They brought alcohol to our table as an apology for taking so long to greet us and when we explained that we don’t drink he made a joke along the lines of “too bad, you’re stuck with the party.” I’ve worked in the service industry for a long time..I use to work at Juniper actually..and everything about this dinner was subpar and disappointing. Definitely feels like a waste of $100.
Restaurantji Recommends
My wife and I once again enjoyed Juniper as our Anniversary location to celebrate. Tyler was our waiter who provided excellent service and kind conversation. We received several complimentary dishes. We enjoyed outstanding appetizers and entrees. And it was topped off with Mango Sorbet for dessert. Just wonderful!
Food was good. Server was almost nonexistent and we sat with empty drinks most of the time. We sat at the chef's counter and felt like I was watching a reality tv show with the amount of drama and scolding going on in the kitchen and prep area. Wasn't super pleasant. Would not recommend.
Awesome Italian food. Gnocchi appetizer was very memorable! The pastas were simply delicious.
The evening was a celebration of our 34th wedding anniversary. Everything was exactly as we had hoped. We were greeted with a”Happy Anniversary “ when we walked in and when we sat down our waiter greeted as well with “Happy Anniversary”-a great start. We were in no hurry and, Jake, our waiter listened and followed through with perfect pacing. Of course, the food was outstanding, with sort of a first course of the lettuce and broccolini combined with the amazing warm focaccia. Again, leisurely pacing until we were ready for our entries, risotto and rigatoni with vodka sauce. Everything food item was perfect. Jake did ask about dessert and he described each of the alternative in a very enticing way but we begged off because we were full. Lo and behold, Jake returned with one of the desserts with a candle-definitely a perfect touch to a perfect evening. We'll definitely be back!
Overall, a wonderful experience. Almost every aspect of the meal was top notch. The service and venue were incredible. The food was very good as expected but nothing was exceptional thet set Juniper apart from other places in Austin. I would definitely go back as it was beautiful and very fun evening.
Loading...