Alison M.

I was hesitant about the southern focus of the cuisine but I was pleasantly surprised! I sat at the bar and the bartender made an off the menu derby themed cocktail that was fresh and citrusy! I had the pork belly. The greens were delicious and tender the pork belly was tasty and melted in your mouth. We also had the buttermilk biscuits and the banana and peanut butter desert with bacon ice cream! It's was all so delicious! Good service and decently priced! I would recommend it to any and everyone!
(4)
Ian S.

Underwhelming and overpriced are the words I would use to describe Juniper. I've had a few weeks to cool down from my disappointing dinner there and I still feel the need to write a review on yelp, so that should tell you how strongly I feel about my experience. First off, they don't really have a beer menu. They have two taps and then a handful of option in a can or a bottle including PBR Tallboys and Dixie Lager both of which felt like more of an ironic statement from a hip "southern" restaurant than real options. The cocktail list didn't have anything that jumped and screamed "Drink Me!" and it's sad when you have to rename a whiskey ginger "The presbyterian" to fill out your drink menu. Service was fine, but very slow. It took a long time for our food to come out, well over half and hour and when it did I was disappointed. We came in for the Monday meat and three which was 2 pcs if fried chicken a biscuit a small side of green beans and small skillet of mash potatoes each and it was twenty dollars a person. I left still hungry. The chicken was good, not like mom used to make or even the colonel, but I'm from the south so I kind of expected that and the side were sides. They can call it a Meat and Three, but it's a two piece with a biscuit for twice the price. Nothing about the experience, in terms of the food or the service felt special and I left feeling like I'd spent a decent amount of money on a meal that was just OK. I would understand two dollar signs for just ok food in manhattan, but a couple of blocks north of lindell in a mostly residential part of town left me wondering why.
(2)
Dave M.

I've been to Juniper a couple times now, and they knock it out of the park on all the key elements: delicious food, friendly and professional staff, and a classy yet casual atmosphere. Great drinks too, from cocktails (their speciality) to beers to wine.
(5)
Mary W.

We went here on a date tonight and enjoyed every aspect of this restaurant! We shared the bread basket and every roll, biscuit, and bread was delicious. I had the garden salad of the day and really enjoyed the vinaigrette. We also shared the fried chicken and while it came with potato salad instead of the potatoes and country gravy the menu boasted, it was some of the best fried chicken I have ever had! We also shared a moon pie for dessert. So good! It was a great dessert but not too sweet. The service was really stellar and the atmosphere is fun and funky and friendly. What a great date!
(5)
Jessica S.

I came to this place with about ten girls. We came here about 6 for an early dinner, as Juniper only has about one table equipped to seat a big group. So if you're planning on making a group outing, I'd either make a reservation way ahead of time and/or make it to the early bird special like my group. The decor inside Juniper is adorable- rustic farmhouse chic. Soon after sitting down, we were given complimentary bowls of boiled peanuts. As a first time trier, I wasn't sure how to feel about them- they are sort-of embarrassingly-hard-to-open, mushy, supersalty peanuts. In either case, I'm a fan of complimentary anything. I got an Ozark 75 as a cocktail; as a bourbon lover, I wish I had selected a drink that allowed you to actually taste the spirit. If you're a fellow lush, I would recommend ordering off the "boozy" section of the cocktails menu- many of my friends commented that those drinks were delightfully strong. For an appetizer, I got the pimento grilled cheese. The cheese has a really sharp, fresh flavor and the jam on the bread has a great, smoky bacon taste (pure bacon-y goodness, not all that maple bacon nonsense that's so trendy right now). I had this as an appetizer by myself, and while it might be able to feed two people, it's pretty small. The same cannot be said for the other appetizers; my friends got the andouille corn dogs and spicy cheddar cracklins. These portions were fairly enormous and would be a great selection for a larger group. I simply cannot say no to chicken and waffles, so my main course was a no brainer. The plate was visually beautiful, with the pickled vegetables offering a bright contrast to the meat. I'm a pretty big fan of unusual flavor combinations, and while I enjoyed the combination of the peanut butter slathered on the waffle alongside the cauliflower and pickled veggies, I'm not sure it was actually all that cohesive. The cauliflower was a bit undercooked, so perhaps that would have helped? It seemed sort of like the unusual flavor combination was specifically selected BECAUSE it was unusual, not for the flavor itself. Form before function, people!!! The fried chicken was definitely good; heavily breaded and with lots of thick, juicy meat. This is the sort of fried chicken you kind of have to pick up with your hands and dive your face into it, so it may not be the best first date food. Unless you're a civilized human being, unlike me :-) After dinner, I also got the Elvis, which is a banana upside down cake with a side of bourbon bacon ice cream. My only complaint is that the scoop of ice cream they give you is pretty teeny; if you're going to have a luscious, fat kid dessert, go big or go home! Juniper is arguably overpriced, which caused me to debate between giving it three or four stars. What pushed it into the four star range was the service. My water glass would be filled without me noticing, my empty plate would somehow vanish before my eyes. Ninja wait staff, I tell you! All in all, an enjoyable experience. If you're at all into the STL foodie scene, you should probably stop by Juniper, unbutton your jeans, and get ready for some rad (albeit expensive) Southern cookin'.
(4)
Jennifer V.

This place hits the spot in every way! Great food, great drinks, great service, and great atmosphere. I grew up in the south and coming here reminded me of a summer night at a friends house eating great food and enjoying great company. Even the smell reminded me of that! The boiled peanuts were delish and the collards rival any I've ever had!! The best part, the moon pie!!
(5)
Diana J.

I'd lean more towards a solid 3.5 stars but since Yelp doesn't do halfsies, I'll round down rather than up :/ Space: LOVE IT. Romantic rustic ambiance with exposed brick walls, strings of white patio lights and sprigs of cotton buds as centerpieces. Drinks: they offer civil life and 4 hands, which are some of my favorite local breweries, so props for that! I also tried the mint julep with pineapple, very tasty and strong :) Food: the dishes are actually pretty reasonably priced, considering the location (near CWE) and overall decor. We started with fried green tomatoes ($7) - the batter was very good, but I wasn't so fond of the orange juice based sauce. First it was a bit weird to have a runny sauce for the fried tomatoes to sit in... and the sauce was quite tart. It also came with bits of smoked white fish.... which was another interesting element, although we weren't quite sure if it really enhanced the dish. We opted for the half bread basket- that was probably the most disappointing dish of the evening- for $5 you get 4 pieces of bread. We had two hushpuppies (probably the best out of the breads but still eh), 1 cornbread (dry and slightly burnt), and an angel biscuit (also very dry). I just feel that if you are going to pay for the bread basket, it should really be special. The deviled eggs were pretty good, for $7 you get 6 egg halfs of two different styles. The chicken and waffles was $18, consisting of 3 pieces of boneless fried chicken, pickled radish and cucumbers, and sliced up waffle pieces. The chicken was very moist and tender inside, and crunchy on the outside. We were too full to try anything on their desert menu, but perhaps another time. We arrived around 7:30pm on a warm Saturday evening and had no problems getting a table within 5 minutes of waiting.
(3)
Erin O.

We really enjoyed Juniper. It has a communal dining style that makes for a cozy atmosphere. The shrimp and grits were great, as were the bunny (rabbit?) biscuits. The chicken and dumplings tasted greasy and I would not recommend. Service and drinks were wonderful!
(4)
Rosalyn H.

Juniper is a lovely place in that it has rustic charm and good service. The food was just not a big deal. I ordered their wings as an appetizer. The glaze was nice but was so faintly put on the chicken that there was little impact in the flavor department. The wings also lacked basic seasoning...For my main course I ordered the shrimp and grits....hmmm who puts lemon in a shrimp and grits dish? Well Juniper does, that's who. My dinner companion sent hers back and they quickly brought out a different dish which was nice. I just went ahead and ate mine, but will not be coming back as there are other southern restaurants in the area that delivers more impactful flavors.
(2)
Danielle T.

I really enjoyed both the atmosphere and the food. We ordered 1/2 a breadbasket (of which I would be happy eating just that bread array all day every day), chicken and waffles, smothered frog legs, and deviled eggs. We were completely happy with everything! Left feeling like I had exactly the quantity of food I needed, at excellent quality.
(5)
S. W.

Words can't describe my utter disappointing experience. I'd been waiting months to finally try this spot and experience what all the hype was about. The restaurant is chic, very nice atmosphere and vibe. The service was OK. Our waitress Courtney could brush up on her waitressing skills and customer service. We ordered the full bread basket which was highly overrated, especially for $9 and the fact that our bread was either burnt or undercooked was inexcusable!!! Since our waitress was M.I.A. we couldn't put an extra request in to order a salad...... thank goodness!!!! For our entres we ordered the fried chicken dinner extremely over rated and highly over priced for the taste. I don't know if the kitchen was having an extremely off day, but the saga continues. The chicken looked burnt but was bleeding inside, not to mention it had that old grease/ fish taste. I wondered at one point if it was recooked chicken until I hit the middle and saw it wasn't cooked properly. The potato salad sucked and the pickles were just OK, for $16 I highly expect better quality. FYI pay the Libertine $30 on the second Sunday of each month and experience what fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits and house pickles are suppose to taste like. We also ordered the $19 Tasso Pork Chop that comes with spoon bread, pickled peaches and smoked onion petals. This dish was better than the chicken but just OK. A word to the wise don't waste your time!!!! For the money you spend it's soo not worth it........ oh yeah, we were given a piece of Mimi's pound cake with whiskey peaches and buttermilk ice cream for our troubles, Wow, dry pound cake with nasty ice cream, the hits keep on coming.
(1)
Soheleu C.

I really wanted to like Juniper. I have wanted to go there for a long time, so I was excited to be finally going. We ordered the bread basket - and for $9, we felt it was overpriced for what we got. There was nothing on the board that we don't make at home and there was nothing that elevated the quality to the price point being charged. I ordered fried chicken, as it seemed like a house staple. It was overcooked to the point of almost being burned, leaving the chicken itself dry. It lacked seasoning and was greasy. I was truly disappointed. The mashed potatoes were tasty, but they were cold. My party also ordered shrimp and grits, which was ok - some of the shrimp were overcooked, but the grits were good. We got a side of brussel sprouts that came out cold. The special was scallops over a bed of lentils. The scallops were well cooked, but the lentils were undercooked and lacking that creamy quality you expect. They were also cold. We enjoyed the atmosphere and thought the service was good. We won't go back, because you can get much better food at a better price point elsewhere. I would love to see these issues worked out, as I love little places like this and I would love for these folks to succeed.
(1)
Mike J.

I can't speak enough volume about this place! Being born and raised in Charleston S.C., now calling St. Louis home, these people get it! Not only is their twist on "Southern" cuisine amazing, but the "Southern" hospitality matches! 4.5 Stars...I'll be back over and over again!
(4)
Trista D.

New favorite restaurant in CWE hands down! Wish I would not have waited so long to try it! The decor alone is worth the trip! I recommend the bread basket and fried chicken! I will go back...soon!
(5)
Jessica H.

I am a huge fan of John Perkins (Entre catered our wedding) and am always excited to see what he will do next - Juniper did not disappoint. First of all, I really like what they've done with the space - the atmosphere is just right (love the cotton on the tables and the refrigerators) and my husband praised the cocktails from Joe behind the bar. Also, our service was impeccable and we were well attended to throughout the whole meal. As for the food, the hush puppies are ahh-mazing! Seriously. Don't leave without trying them. Also, my husband highly recommends the shrimp toast and I loved the "chicken and biscuit" deviled eggs that were featured. For our main course, my husband had the chicken and waffles with peanut butter syrup and really enjoyed it (especially the chicken). I had the catfish but requested to swap sides with another dish and the kitchen happily accommodated, so I had the mashed potatoes and gravy (heavenly) with buttered carrots. We capped it off with the s'mores dessert - house made graham cracker with a toasted marshmallow fluff and chocolate ganache. It was delicious but, in my humble opinion, doesn't beat the old fashioned version. As we were paying the bill, I mentioned to our server that I would love to see chicken and dumplings on the menu and he told me they did this recently as a soup using gnocchi - I can only hope they bring it back so I can try it! I liked the additional small plates and mac-n-cheese idea from another reviewer but have little else to suggest - our whole experience was great! I'm thrilled Juniper has found a home so close to ours as we will be returning again and again.
(5)
Chip M.

Three cheers for Entree on this edition of their rotating restaurant concept. It was bursting at the seams when we got there... they were hospitable and gave us a complimentary glass of champagne while we waited. We countered by ordering The Presbyterian and Ozark 75. Spent the first few minutes arguing about who got to order what, then devoured the breadbasket we had as an appetizer. Searched the restaurant for William Faulkner, but he must have left just before we arrived. I had one bite of my wife's chicken and waffles and the refused to let anyone touch my pork belly cooked sous vide. This was a poor choice as I had to be rolled out of the place. The refrigerators behind the bar are a stroke of genius that you wish you had thought of but can be thankful this space can authentically and creatively handle anything these folks decide to cook.
(5)
Julia W.

A couple months ago, I went to Juniper for drinks after having just eaten a large dinner. That was a giant mistake. The couple next to us ordered the bread basket and my dining companion and myself spent most of our time staring at it and wishing we could digest our food more quickly. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago, I went back on an empty stomach. We ordered several things, and they were all terrific. But if you're going to go, do yourself a favour and get the bread basket to start (I'd say it's the best bread basket I've ever had) then the fried chicken. The bread basket has cornbread, biscuits, hush puppies, etc...it's practically a meal in an of itself. I am a sucker for cornbread and theirs is absolutely fantastic. They also have multiple types of biscuits? I didn't even know that existed. And the fried chicken is perfect. They also make a mean Sazerac if you need something to wash down all the butter and grease. Juniper is great and you should definitely try it!
(5)
Katie Z.

Went here for the first time this evening and overall, it was great. When I arrived a little after 6, I asked to be seated at the bar and the hostess told me that due to a power outage earlier in the day, the kitchen was a little behind. I wasn't in a hurry, so it wasn't a problem for me. More time to enjoy a cocktail and peruse the menu. I really like how they have their cocktail menu arranged (sweet, bitter, boozy, etc.). It helps people that aren't too familiar with cocktails (not saying I fall into that category) try something new. Either way, the bartenders are extremely creative, receptive to your tastes, and generally, really know their stuff. They are also using really high quality liquors and mixers behind the bar. Everything they put in front of me was delicious. Onto the food...they told me ahead of time that the kitchen would be delayed, but I'm pretty sure food was in front of me no longer than 20 min after I ordered. If I had been with a group, I would have ventured into the small plates, but dining solo, I stuck to a single entree. I ordered the chicken and waffles at the recommendation of the bartender. I was skeptical about the peanut butter being mixed in, but I was not disappointed. The order comes with half of a large, fluffy waffle, drizzled with syrup and creamy peanut butter, two pieces of really spectacular fried chicken (thigh and wing) on the other side of the plate, and pickled red onion and cauliflower over the top of the chicken. I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fried chicken fan, but this chicken could bring me over to the dark side. The crust was perfectly crunchy and flavorful. It also stayed on the chicken well...not all falling off when I cut into it. The chicken inside was so moist! The seasoning was spot on...not too salty. Overall, the bite of waffle, chicken, and pickled veg (oh so yummy and crisp)...mixed with the sweetness of the peanut butter and syrup was really fantastic. It struck me as an odd combination, but I would order it again without hesitation. I'm really looking forward to trying other items on their menu. As for ambiance, the place is really cozy. Low music, dim lights, lots of warm wood tones, contrasted with red brick walls. It really came together great. With a mix of long tables and high top tables, it'd be great for a larger group or an intimate evening...or a solo night like I had!
(5)
Jon T.

In the interest of trying to keep up with a few of the many new restaurant openings in St Louis, the D's and T's made Juniper our January night out spot. The southern influence hits a sweet spot for Ms T and me. They have a limited beer selection, but enough to cover a reasonable range of tastes. We started by sharing a House Charcuterie platter and an order of Pimento Grilled Cheese from the Snackie menu. Don't worry about getting too much food when you order several of these small plates for starters. They are not going to fill you up before you get to the main course. The Charcuterie was OK, but not marked with the touch of deep experience. We had guanciale (southern Italy I guess?), low country pate and venison sausage. The guanciale is like eating butter and is probably the best of the three although they are certainly distinctly different and hard to compare. I liked the pate next best. It is made with andouille and country ham, no liver. It is good, but the neither the country ham or andouille flavors came through. I am an andouille snob and when you have had Jacob's from LaPlace, LA all others pale. The venison sausage was OK, just not very flavorful and with the chewy texture you expect from this meat. Charcuterie: no better than three stars. The Pimento grilled cheese was two slices of bread with a thin spread of cheese, toasted and cut into four triangles. I did not eat any, knowing that Ms T would not want the charcuterie. She said it really needed more of the cheese and pimento, the pimento in particular was hard to detect: two stars. Ms T and Ms D ordered the Brussels Sprouts with White beans and apples as a side dish. It was not clear to us on the menu that this was intended to be a salad, so it was delivered by itself and we all shared it. This was very good. The sprouts were well roasted and had deep caramelized flavors that dominated the dish in a good way. The white beans are excellent in this combination. The apples are actually just a little apple butter that is smeared on the side of the dish, I detected no others. Nevertheless, this was something I would order again: four stars. For main courses Ms D had the Crusted Catfish which I did not sample. The other three at the table rated it very highly, so probably four stars. Ms T had very good shrimp and grits. The shrimp were nice sized and had excellent fresh shrimp flavor, infinitely better than what we had at a DDD (Darwell's) in Long Beach Mississippi a few weeks earlier, not a mile from the water. The grits were as good as I have had, being no expert. They were very creamy and flavorful without the usual overload of cheese: solid four stars. Mr D and I both ordered the Pork-N-Beans which is a chunk of pork belly roasted and served with some small red peas, collards and a fried egg. This was a good dish with some reservations. The pork was beautifully roasted so that the fat was crisped just right and the meat itself was dead, melt in your mouth, tender. It just needed a little seasoning rub containing a little salt. It came across as completely unsalted. I selected this dish over the Yaka Mein because I wanted collards and beans instead of noodles. As good as the pork was, the beans and greens were disappointing to me and these comments are simply a matter of personal taste. The red peas are apparently some heritage variety. I love beans and field peas. The flavor of these was OK, not worth special effort to find, but they were not seasoned much and the portion was very small. I realize this is not a place where the field hands eat, but I had no more than two bites of beans. I also love collards and have fixed them for us twice this winter. These were sweet, which I don't care for, otherwise they would have been good. As I said, it is personal taste and I know there are southern cooks who sweeten them. The collards were another two bites. How expensive are beans and greens to make? Put some on the plate. After all of those comments, I really did enjoy this meal on the strength of the pork. Juniper is southern influenced but is probably more properly called "new southern". You can see the influence, but most of it veers off from the origins. Don't expect to come here and get down home comfort food. I am not a big eater. We normally take more than half of our dinners home. At Juniper, I got enough food, but there were no leftovers. I am also not cheap, but my rating of three stars is rounded down for the price/portions combination. Would we return? Yes. Will we? There are a lot of places yet to try.
(3)
Brandon B.

Went here based upon a recommendation from the waitress at Bridge Tap House and Wine bar. Great ambiance! Get the fried chicken, collards and boiled peanut ice cream and leave a happy camper. On top of that, the staff was AMAZING! Wish we would have found this place a few days ago into our stay. Travelers - leave downtown and COME HERE!
(5)
Tiffany D.

I have gone back several times for the fried chicken. I have had a lot of fried chicken in my days, and I'm just going to go ahead and say that this is one of the best I have ever had. I was told that it is braised in fish sauce, and being raised in a Filipino household where fish sauce was added to basically everything, I have a greater respect for this rendition of fried chicken. Such an interesting flavor, and not too salty. Even the white meat is juicy. Unfortunately other dishes I have tried have fallen short. The pork belly was too rubbery. And I would not bother with the bread basket. Cocktails are great though, and the butter Chardonnay is just the way I like my chard. Go for the fried chicken and it'll be well worth the time and calories.
(4)
Marlo S.

Went with the family, so I had the chance to try four different entrees. Everything was just ok. For what I paid, I expected more. (Go to Kitchen Sink on Union Ave. and you'll find similar food, far more lovingly prepared and at a lower price.) My fried catfish had too much breading, relative to the amount of fish. You could barely taste the cat or the fish. Let's just say it didn't purr. No strong scent apart from the smell of deep fried flour. My daughter's brussels sprouts were not terribly fresh, a little overdone, way too salty. Likewise, my wife's dish - which was so forgettable that I've forgotten what it was. Salt seemed to be the primary ingredient. My other daughter had the pork belly, which was fine, and the accompanying spinach was good, but for the price...I dunno. Great atmosphere. Excellent service. Good beer list.
(2)
Justin W.

Great and much neededaddition to the STL food scene. Juniper does Southern food up right, tweaking it just enough to keep you interested and coming back for more while also not forgetting the history of the dishes they serve. Our group sampled ALOT of the menu and it was all excellent, but some particular highlights were: Pimento grilled cheese Shrimp toasts Brussels sprouts and white bean salad Shrimp and grits Pork belly and beans ... And the sorghum ice cream The service and cocktail selection also served to highlight the fantastic trajectory of this restaurant. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Caitlin G.

This place was wonderful! We were visiting from out of town and came here and to Taste and both blew us out of the water. Beautiful space and menu, friendly down to earth staff, and all around great food and drinks. Southern gintleman was strong and tasty, and really original coding/categorization on their drink menus. The menus were so beautiful they looked like wedding invitations! Fried chicken and waffle was nice as were the hoe cakes. They focus on quality and the quantities aren't too small. Love it. Doing something special here.
(5)
Jill M.

Get ready to feel fat! This was some really tasty food that I'd definitely try again. The menu was so different from a lot of restaurants you see around here (and that is a good thing!) I had the market fish which was really good, but I tasted some of my husband's fried chicken and then we ended up switching meals...because the chicken was SO GOOD. I normally get grossed out by the amount of grease on friend chicken skin, but this was so light and crispy and kind of had a parmesan taste to it. I highly recommend Juniper...and the drinks were excellent too!
(4)
Swati C.

I've only been here once but was t that impressed. The are essentially no vegetarian choices nor do they really work with you to provide one. However, their menu now os different than when I went and seems to have a few more choices. The dessert was pretty lackluster.
(3)
Max F.

We had an 8:15 pm reservation and at 10:15 pm we still did not receive our food. Management claimed our food had not arrived because they only had 1 waffle maker, but we never ordered chicken and waffles. Our group ended up leaving, the manager did not even comp any portion of the drinks we had received. All in all very disappointed.
(1)
Brenda V.

The decor is shabby chic, very beautiful and the service is spot on. The food and drinks however, leave much to be desired. I started with a Missouri mule that was incredibly strong and medicinal..moved on to the famous breadbasket which consists of a few pieces of bread, that we're just ok. ordered the pork belly that was awkwardly (trying too hard) plated in a long rectangular dish that resembled more of an appetizer than a real entree. The pork was dry, bordering on suspicious reheated pork on rice grits that were well seasoned..also tasted the famous fried chicken that was truly overrated and very mediocre. I would not return, but overall it was a nice experience with great service and ambiance.
(2)
Una M.

Went here on the 30th of December, a Tuesday and when we were seated we saw the paper menu said Monday. We asked the server, she told us that they just found out themselves that they were doing this (it was pick the type of chicken and sides and it would be family style). The restaurant was closing in a few days for a week and the kitchen was trying to go through things, eww. So our family decided to do that because we figured since they are known for their fried chicken and even a chicken can be defrosted and be ok. Tried ordering fried green tomatoes because I figured they had them since they were listed on this limited menu, they didn't. I said I wanted their tea and everyone else got soft drinks. It took too long for our drinks to come, good thing we didn't order anything fancy. Note, their drinks menu is heavily bourbon influenced. Our bread basket came first, only one piece of each type so all I got to try was the buttermilk biscuit which was very fluffy and good. When my drink came it tasted like regular iced tea, not sweet tea but it wasn't until our meal came that I was able to ask and was told it was regular tea, I didn't even know they had regular tea because the drink menu I pointed to only had booze and the sweet tea listed, why would I have ordered it. Chicken was good, tender, very breaded. Collared greens and the biscuits were my favorite sides, corn was nothing special, and the mashed potatoes were drowning in so much gravy they were watery, gross. I honestly could not wait to leave this place, we were crammed in there, my knees were right up to the table leg, couldn't stretch out because of the bar underneath, couldn't move my chair back it would hit someone else's and that was the only way for the waitress to get through. So disappointing overall.
(2)
Terry B.

When I order fried chicken, I'd like it to taste like chicken. It's kind of funny when chicken doesn't taste like chicken. At least it wasn't spicy, only greasy. It came with mashed potatoes with spicy PORK? gravy. Even the green beans were spicy. They could at least warn you when a dish will b spicy-hot. So, $18 each for two and a half pieces of chicken. The bread basket contained 1 popover, 1 sea salt biscuit, 1 angel biscuit, 1 slice of cornbread, and something called Sally Lunn bread for $9. For a less than satisfying dinner we spent $60 including the tip. I'm glad we didn't order a drink. It would have been $20 more.
(2)
Jessica W.

As a huge Entree fan, I'm really sad to say that I had a disappointing experience at Juniper. I'm really hoping that with time, they iron out some kinks and get back to their old ways. First, the positives: the decor is similar to Entree's, but they've added a bar and some booth seating: both welcome changes. Their deviled eggs (which we had before at a wedding that they catered, and my husband hasn't stopped raving about) were on the menu, and both the pickled beets & the black walnut ice cream were great. Now, the not-so-positives: We had pretty sloppy service--our waitress seemed distracted the entire time. It took us almost 15 minutes to get our drinks and when she was telling us about the specials, she stopped mid-sentence and walked over to another table. She apologized when she came back, but it was weird. And as far as the food, we were mostly underwhelmed. The bread was average--the buttermilk biscuit was really dense, the 3 measly benne wafers (which the waitress recommended) were nothing special (and definitely not worth paying for). The beet appetizer with sorghum was almost there, but missing something. And our entrees were disappointing--mostly because it was clear that the sides had been plated well ahead of the protein, so they were cold (not room temp--cold). I had the pork chop special. The flavor was very good, but the presentation was lacking and my hubs had the chicken and waffles. The chicken breast was quite good, but he wasn't a fan of the drumstick and wing. Also, he said that the chicken and waffles didn't really come together as a cohesive dish. The cold sides really threw the whole thing off though. I'd like to humbly offer a few (unsolicited) suggestions: Either make the bread basket free or serve the deviled eggs as an amuse bouche. Diversify the menu--get rid of one of the fried chicken entrees (I'd vote for the chicken and waffles) and maybe add a brisket, pulled pork, or mac and cheese OR make more small plate options. And finally, make sure the wait staff is polished. Mistakes were more forgivable when it was a pop-up and things were constantly changing. Juniper has a good concept, a great chef, and a trendy space--I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a five star review in the future!
(3)
Katie C.

It was just SO delicious. Beautiful atmosphere, amazing drinks, delicious appetizers. Such a wonderful experience and a delightful addition to the St. Louis restaurant scene. Just go! They're doing fabulous things at Juniper...
(5)
Gina D.

I enjoyed my visit to Juniper. First off, right when I walked in, I was greeted by the most friendly hostess. I like the inviting atmosphere, interesting art and retro feel. I had the chicken and waffles and it was so delicious! The menu had many unique and tasty dishes. The wine and cocktail list was very good as well. I will be back!
(5)
Luke H.

Very good attentive waitstaff and fantastic bread sampler appetizer, the menu is limited but all the food is quality over quantity of selection. Overall cozy atmosphere and clean.
(4)
Steve D.

Not worth it. We've been wanting to try Juniper for some time now. We've kept track of the ups and downs of the reviews and were extremely excited to finally try it. Southern comfort food it is not, I've lived in the south and I'm not really sure what southern comfort food this is trying to be. Upscale southern comfort food?...that isn't genuine. We started with the fried green tomatoes and I'm not really sure there was more than one tomato on the serving. Actually I'm not really sure there was more than a quarter of a tomato on the plate to consume. The quality was decent but the quantity is paltry. We progressed to trying the half a bread basket which was good and a bit more plentiful than the tomatoes. We followed this with the shrimp and grits which for $20 was about the serving of an appetizer. As for the quality it had a smokiness that lingered on the tongue as an after taste for far too long. We tried the side of the Mac and cheese hoping for a bit of comfort food and it was definitely not a comfort food Mac and cheese. The ambiance is nice, the bartender was great, and the beer was cold but that is basically all the good I can say about our dining experience. We would probably go back for drinks but not the food.
(2)
Megan S.

I really liked the deviled eggs, bread basket, oysters and salad. Fried chicken was good. Shrimp toast and fried green tomatoes were not my fave. Place was cute and service was good. :) They just changed their menu today....so they may need a few days to get those other recipes right. I think the fried green tomatoes need a sauce and the shrimp toast was dry.
(4)
Bailey M.

It is hard to get restaurant lighting right, and it is very well done at Juniper. I can see what I'm eating, but the atmosphere is relaxed and homey. I've tried almost everything on the menu and it is all amazing! The chicken and waffles is fantastic as are the mashed potatoes, shrimp toasts, and angel bread. Beautiful space, great food, lovely staff that makes you want to hang out more. They all seem to know everything about the food and drinks. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jamie H.

Chicken skins with strawberry buttermilk. So dirty but so good. Incredible service. Awesome drinks. Best lighting at a restaurant in the city, hands down.
(5)
Tanja B.

We could not have had a better evening tonight. Wow...amazing flavors from beverages to food. Superior service. Seriously, ridiculous effort on the part of the kitchen...anything with the house made chicken broth..get it! more than once I wanted to stand up and applaud.
(4)
Jimmie O.

Small cozy restaurant with nice atmosphere. Service was good, but the food was very lacking. Pork & beans couldn't have been more disappointing. My wife had the chicken which came out over cooked and very dry. The couple dining with us had similar complaints about their food. Junipers will really need to make some changes in the kitchen before I will go back.
(2)
Jen A.

My favorite restaurant in St. Louis by far! I pride myself in knowing some great places in St. Louis for dining. So this is a great compliment! You cannot miss put on this dining experience!!!!
(5)
Matt N.

This is a great place! The service was phenomenal and the restaurant has a pretty cool hipster type feel to it. The hush puppies were a great appetizer and the fried chicken was some of the best I've ever had! I would definitely recommend trying this place out!
(5)
Charles M.

Juniper has restored my faith in the CWE producing another high quality restaurant. Solid menu items but not too full of itself. Delicious drink menu with options to suit most if not all tastes. Comfortable atmosphere. Will return for sure. Given the menu does have some rotation it may be sooner than later.
(5)
Terry H.

Take my recommendation ... do NOT spend your money or time at this restaurant. This was our second visit to Juniper. The first visit was shortly after their opening and was chaotic (on a Saturday night) but generally OK (as I attributed this to them still "learning the ropes and getting their processes in order"). Very interesting menu and concept which I felt deserved a second visit. Was I wrong. We returned on a weeknight and told it would be a one hour wait (despite the fact that when we arrived only half the tables were full). After a nearly 45 minute wait, we were seated and served. 3 of the 5 people in our party enjoyed their dinners (catfish) while the remaining 2 had the worst fried chicken. It was terribly overpriced (2 pieces of dark meat) and even more overcooked. How can a restaurant with a "southern comfort food" concept not be able to properly cook fried chicken? To add insult to injury, the owner stopped by our table and introduced himself to our party (he seemed like a nice guy). We told him we were celebrating 2 birthdays that evening, and that 2 people in our party were in the restaurant business. After hearing of this, he offered to send some "extra things" out to our table (which we thought was a kind gesture). He clearly forgot ... since there was no acknowledgement or follow-up to our table the remainder of the night. When I spend $160 at a restaurant, I expect consistent (if not exceptional) food quality and good customer relations. Unfortunately, I felt we didn't receive either. There are plenty of other restaurants where I KNOW I can get both. Juniper is not one of them.
(1)
Eric S.

Pretty good food, but the pricing is not that great...
(3)
John B.

First let me say that the food was good, not exceptional...just good. For a neighborhood restaurant, you might want to walk a few spaces to West End Grill if you are hungry. Got a two dollar upcharge for 2nd piece of chicken white meat and ended up with a chicken wing with no meat on it. Asked for a diet coke and ended up with a 3 dollar Mexican soda. Be careful what you order. If you want to pay 25 dollars for a meal that will make you walk away hungry, then this is your place.
(3)
Lilly L.

I went here with my fiancÃ© and it was AMAZING. We had great service, food, and we loved the decor by Rustic Grain! We can not wait to come again!
(5)
K H.

This was such a fabulous find for us! Recently and friend and I were traveling from San Francisco for work. Not knowing the area at all, we saw a write up in a local paper. Once I saw shrimp and grits on the menu we were there! We had such a great time. The remodel they apparently had recently done was very fun. The mix of brick and wood and vintage refrigerators worked way better than I would have thought. First, the place was packed, but we luckily got a place at the bar. I say luckily, because the fabulous owner, John, was at the bar. He was a great mix of outgoing, friendly, knowledgeable and food historian. Dinner was not just dinner it was a whole experience. We started with the cauliflower gratin and the brussels sprouts with cape beans and apple butter. the sprouts were mouth watering and cooked perfectly. I did get my shrimp and grits and they were a mix of savory and savory. Yes, I said it twice. And the cocktails were perfectly suited to the flavors of the food. And if you are not big on cocktails, you can have a PBR tall boy or some other great local beer on tap. How hip is that? I could keep going, but really, this is a GREAT establishment. I wish I lived a lot closer! Thank you for such a fun night out in St Louis!
(5)
Craig H.

Definitely one of my new favorites! Seated immediately for our reservation at 7 on a Saturday, server immediately greeted us and got our drink order. Service and Atmosphere is fantastic! Food is even better! Started with the full bread basket, every single bread was awesome, corn bread maybe the best?? I can't tell you which was better, because I loved ten all! Definitely too much for two people to eat as an app, so we took half home. We also got the shrimp toast, now one of my favorite starters in St. Louis. The kale salad with Crispig eat is great, the cornbread crumbs make this salad! Had the porchetta for dinner, whoa! Simply melts in your mouth! Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
D K.

I wish I could say that it was a better experience. Our server was pleasant but could have better kept us informed about service delays. The beet salad was good but fairly standard with a nice addition of pickled beets. Ham flight was underwhelming- in part because of the poor presentation and lack of any information about the differences between the hams. There was an unexplained 45+ minute wait between the first course and main service. Sadly the Tasso pork chop was so salty as to be almost inedible and even more sadly it showed no succulence normally associated with brining. The fried chicken was a very small portion- half piece of breast, thigh and drumette- less than 8 oz of meat. Flavorful but overly coated in crust, almost an inch thick in places. Sides of mashed potatoes and polenta cake were good. Ice creams were tasty although Southerners in our party refuted that the boiled peanut ice cream had anything to do with boiled peanuts. We all agreed that the black bottom pie had a great crust but no one could identify that it contained chocolate - the crust flavor overpowered the filling flavor. We all love to support local restaurants but we'll pass on a return to Juniper any time soon.
(2)
Kel Vin W.

Wow! The food at that Chef John produces has evolved so much in the past couple of years, I've been a loyal customer since Entre Stl, Le Coq and now Juniper. For starters, we got the the bread plate, the which included a delicious cheddar biscuit, sweet, fluffy angel biscuit and sweet-savory cornbread. It comes with a soft whipped butter and a deep rich apple butter. For entree, I got the chicken and waffles. OMG, the chicken was the best crunchy-juicy-mouthwatering fried poultry I've ever had. One piece tender chicken thigh and one piece of well brined and deeply seasoned chicken breast. It was not greasy at all. The crackle of the breading and the chicken skin sends waves of gastronomic delight through my mouth! The waffle is soft and delectable, a perfect complement and foil to the star of the show! Garnished with sweet pickled onions that further enhance the qualities of the chicken! We also got the shrimp and grits and it was amazing! It's lighter than many other variations that I've had. 5 large prawns are sweet, tender and fresh! The grits are soft and lightly cheesey! I'm impressed and we're definitely coming back soon!
(4)
Angela C.

Came here for our monthly dinner club, which consisted of 8 of us this time. The place and ambiance is great, fun, mildly loud and great/simple decor. They had just added the tasting menu which we all participated in. It was a great way to taste everything for your first time visiting. We were first shocked at how much smaller the portions were and felt we made the wrong choice, but we all ended up feeling rather full. Four of us split the bread plate which we split each piece in 4 so we could all have a taste and it was plenty! The angel biscuit was everyone's favorite and the Apple butter and sorghum butter was delicious! On to the snackies: fried green tomatoes were breaded differently and a little thicker than I was expecting but the sauce it was served in was great. The pork rib was just okay as the meat was decent but the entire dish had an overwhelming vinegar/tangy taste that I didn't care for. The deviled eggs were okay but warm, I have a pet peeve that these have to be served cold! My husband said the beet salad was the highlight of the day as they are served 3 different ways and very fresh, he wishes he would have ordered a whole serving and not just the tasting. We didn't get the chicken and waffles but everyone else at the table who did said this was the best dish! The country quail was very tasty with just a hint of curry sauce, was the highlight of my night until....I tried my husbands dirty fried rice with an addition of kimchi. The rice is a little salty but I still loved it because there were sooo many delicious flavors! Get it with the egg on top of course! Others that we didn't sample but reviews on what was said: shrimp and grits seemed soupy. The gnocchi tasting menu was served with only 3 gnocchi, you definitely have to add the fish. The low country boil tasting menu comes with 1 piece of everything, so VERY tiny from what you would expect but still good. Overall review I wanted to give a 3.5 not just a 3 because it didn't blow me away with the flavors but it was still good on a few items. Biggest take away the tasting menu is good to try but wouldn't do it again and just go back for the highlights.
(3)
Spencer P.

A recovering alcoholic shouldn't go to a bar. A recovering drug addict shouldn't hang out at meth labs. A former fatso probably shouldn't go to Juniper. I am that fatso. All I knew about Juniper going into the meal is that it was southern and the chef had a beard. As we waited for the slowest eaters in the world to sign their check, we took in the surroundings. The interior is rustic; lots of wood, brick, and old refrigerators. A number of the tables are large enough to seat 10 or so people, which means communal seating, more often than not. But enough chit chat about the interior. It's time to eat! As we perused the menus, we were given a cup of boiled peanuts to munch on. They were good. They tasted like boiled peanuts. Oddly enough, it reminded me of going to Chinese restaurants throughout Asia. You always get to start the meal off with some boiled peanuts. The more you know. The restaurant was kind enough to have an order of the Fried Green Tomato salad ($9) delivered to us almost as soon as we sat down due to the long wait. I friggin' love fried green tomatoes. Crispy on the outside, juicy and tangy on the inside. Little chunks of smoked trout and orange were scattered over the tomatoes, but those were too healthy for me to care about. I was like a bull seeing red: all I could think about was eating more fried things. If a fatty can't have something deep fried, what's the next best thing? Bread. Lots of bread. It was time to cargo-load these love handles. The full basket of bread ($9) was recommended to me by some Twitter angel and thank god for that. This isn't your normal stale white bread basket. This is some next level shit: Fritz Hollings' Carolina Biscuit, Angel Biscuits, Cornbread, Hushpuppies and a Honey Glazed Drop Biscuit, all served with seasonal jams and butter. They were all incredible. I can't even remember which one is which because I completely blacked out and came to again with jelly and crumbs on my hands and face. So worth it. Fried Oysters ($9) came next. Beautifully plated and very good. Like Forrest Gump said, "that's all I have to say about that." The next dish...oh man. The next dish is the kind of thing I've joked about making before, but never have done so because my conscience won't let me. It's just too far. I'm talking about the "Nashville Hot" Fried Chicken Skins with strawberry buttermilk. The whole table was fighting over these. They were easily the star of the night and the most talked about for days to come. I think these may be the best post-drinking snack ever made. Fried chicken skin should be used more. Between the five of us, two got the Frogs Legs ($21), two got the Shrimp Andouille ($22) and one got the Market Fish Plate ($21) for mains. All of us agreed that the fish special, blue fish, was the best of the three dishes. This was partially due to the fact it was the lightest, but it really was a stunning fish dish. I knew I wasn't going to be getting it though, so I didn't listen to the waitress' description of the dish. I've failed you, dear readers. I bet that orange stuff is sweet potato related. I'd never heard of a shrimp andouille before, so that's what I went with. It was a sausage made of shrimp with crispy chicken skin as its casing. Perhaps it was intentional, but this tasted so much like Har Jeong Kai, a prawn-paste fried chicken from South-East Asia, it was uncanny. It was served with a collard greens kimchi that was intensely vinegary and spicy, as well as a soft Carolina Gold rice purloo. The dish proved too much for one of my tablemates, so she traded hers for one of the frog legs. I can see how this could be a divisive dish, but I enjoyed it. Frog legs are just french chicken wings, and chicken wings are delicious, so frog legs must be as well. These had the great crunch one would hope, plus a really nice flavor inside. They came with a summer bouillabaisse poured around the grits, but I didn't really get to try that. There wasn't much left at the end, so it must have been good. As you can probably tell, our meal at Juniper was a gut busting fried frenzy. Is it worth the calories? Yes. Yes it is. You're going to leave full, happy and probably slightly intoxicated. The American dream.
(4)
Sarah M.

I've now been to Juniper twice. The decor is very fitting and quite nice! The food, ehhh... My first encounter was for my birthday. We began with the breadbasket which was fine. Many of the choices were just so dry and dense. For the main I had a vegetable based dish. It sounded great but the preparation was extremely inconsistent. I would have a pea that was nice and soft and then one that was extremely hard - same with every other veg on the plate. The dish also seemed to be lacking a little salt. I will say on this occasion the service was great! The waitress even gave me a little jar of apple butter for my birthday. The second visit was for the Monday Meat & 3. My pal and I were super excited to try the fried chicken! It was super hot out so we were ready to relax and enjoy the evening. Unfortunately, the heat followed us inside. We were served some barely chilled water that was desperately calling for ice. Again I was faced with food that was underwhelming. The chicken came with biscuits (again very dry and dense), cucumber and tomato salad, mac & cheese, and mashed potatoes. The chicken had this sweetness to it that just didn't speak to me. Everything else was just okay. I also felt terrible for our waitress who seemed to be the only staff on the floor during a pretty busy night. Definitely not worth the $25 pp.
(2)
John H.

Our experience last night at Juniper was great! The space had wonderful detail and character. The staff was knowledgeable and warm. The food was hot an flavorful. Chef John and his team paced the courses well and everything had appropriate brightness and seasoning. Try the Macque Choux for sure. I had mine with some perfectly cooked red snapper.
(5)
Jenny J.

Honestly more impressed by their fall menu than their spring. Excellent servers who are very knowledgeable. Their signature drinks are very good, particularly the Presbyterian and the one that uses their homemade tea.
(3)
Katrina T.

Cool atmosphere. .great bartenders and excellent array of drinks. . The food is ok. I am not a big deviled egg fan but my girlfriend seemed to love them. The snack size chicken and waffles brings together a distinct taste of the sweet and salty but must say it wasn't my favorite chicken and waffles but the pickles and peanut butter were very creative. I would go back but probably need to try other items on the menu..one tip is sit at the bar and watch the creative way drinks are mad3
(3)
Gail T.

OMG!!! It is almost 10pm and I have been waiting since 7:30 for my Chicken and waffles. I'm told the problem is they only have one waffle iron in the kitchen. For Christ sake it's Saturday night. You know there is going to be a crowd invest in another waffle iron people. Thanks for ruining my sons birthday celebration. There isn't enough alcohol to salvage the evening Gail T
(1)
Julia J.

If you are from the south and want a taste of home, go here. Everything from the sweet tea to fries okra to the pound cake was on point. Our waiter was from Birmingham and could not have been more of a southern gentleman. When in doubt with friends and family, try a modern twist on Southern cuisine here at Juniper.
(5)
April M.

And on a Friday night they run out of grits. So no Shrimp and grits. Food is a bit pricey and is just ok.
(2)
Christie S.

Oh, Juniper, you dirty little tease, you. I was lured in with a glowing recommendation from a co-worker, stellar online reviews and a unique menu that sounded too good to be true. I practically skipped in for dinner with so much anticipation to get my socks knocked right off and, alas....it was just ok. Juniper has got ambiance down and the food and drink descriptions are all so intriguing that it's hard to choose what you want from the menu. The service was fantastic from start to finish. We started with two signature cocktails - The Presbyterian (which I LOVED - refreshing and delicious) and Three Bees (which I HATED - couldn't choke it down). The half bread basket lets you choose three of their offerings. We tried the Sally Lunn, the Cornbread and the Angel Biscuit. The Angel Biscuit (made with bacon fat) was delicious. The others were lackluster. From there we shared a deconstructed salad, which was beautifully plated with winter squash, sage brown butter vin, black garlic, bacon fat candied pecans and cheese curds. It was alright, but didn't deliver the flavors that I thought this obviously well-thought-out plate would. We shared the fried chicken. I was ready! Bring it! Eh...not nearly the best I've ever had. I felt like the coating lacked salt, was disappointed that the breast came as a butterflied boneless breast instead of bone in, and it was semi rubbery. The mashed potatoes were fantastic, but should not have been the star of the plate. For dessert we tried the bacon bourbon ice cream, which tasted good but the soggy bacon bits in it were off putting. They surprised us with a complimentary apple hand pie just because it was a slow night, which was very kind. It was fantastic! I feel like this can't be right. Juniper has got to be better than this! I will likely be back just to see.
(3)
Rusty S.

Went in for date night with my wife this weekend--Juniper was recommended to us by family. Great looking place, small-to-medium sized dining area with bar along one of the exposed-brick walls. We were excited to try the cocktails as well as the fare. I ordered he "Lazy Man's Load," which was Broker's Gin, cucumber, lime, fresh mint, vermouth, Saison de Lis, and Yzagguirre. It was very light and refreshing. My wife had an "Aviation," which was gin, creme de violet, marichino liqueur, and lemon. Cocktails were good, liquor selection looked fairly extensive, with plenty of top-shelf choices of whichever spirit floats your boat. For an appetizer we had the Deviled Egg Selection--Spinach & Garlic and Red Bell Pepper and something else, both of which were unique and very tasty. For the main course, I ordered the Dirty Fried Rice, which consisted of what looked like lightly-fried (wild?) rice with chunks of deliciously sweet & tender pork belly, and a beet-pickled Egg on the side. The pork belly was the star of the dish--the rice was a bit too dry for me, and the beet-pickled egg was also a bit desiccated. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly, with great crispy texture; unfortunately the breading was very bland (we are non-smokers and still you could tell there was barely (if any) salt in the mixture. The sides were good--mashed potatoes had good texture; she commented that the gravy actually seemed a bit over-seasoned. The fresh green beans stood out--crunchy and tasty. There were two dessert selections--chess pie and pouncake, but we did not try either of those. Overall it was "just OK." Strangely enough our server did not ask if there was a reason the chicken was largely untouched. Oh well, maybe we just didn't order the right items or maybe the chef was having an off night. Probably would skip it next time, but it still seemed like a very nice place.
(3)
Kristina S.

Juniper has all of the ambiance and style I could ever dream of for an elevated southern comfort food experience. While I normally hate people's commentary on a restaurants' ambiance, I have to give props when an establishment is as curated and thoughtful as Juniper is with design. Anyone who knows me could tell you that I'm a huge fan of craft cocktails and Juniper delivers! The flavor mapping their menu provides is awesome for seasoned and new cocktail drinkers alike. And the food... Incredible! I got the pork belly and my fiance got the fried chicken, both were perfect. I'm a huge fan of throwing a fried egg on pretty much anything but for the first time in my life I had a dish so good, I decided it didn't need the egg. I will definitely be returning to see what their spring offerings will be. My only warning to future Juniper customers is that it is somewhat of a splurge for St. Louis diners. If you're going to get the whole experience (bread basket, appetizer, entrees and cocktails) it will be slightly more expensive than your run-of-the-mill St. Louis dinner experience. That being said, it's totally worth it.
(5)
Theresa R.

This place was super cute! We opted to sit outside in the hot summer sun and our server was so nice and concerned about making sure we had plenty of water! She was super friendly and very willing to tell us all about the food. After mentioning that my wife was gluten free they offered to law the fried chicken using a gluten free flour! It wasn't on the menu but they went out of the way to accommodate us without us even asking for it. Great service! They have several bread options which you can mix and match. The buttermilk biscuits and sorghum butter were melt in your mouth amazing! The cornbread was good as well. The fried green tomatoes were very good. The shrimp and grits were flavorful. My wife's chicken was good. We will definitely be back!
(3)
Aaron B.

Hands down one of the best places St. Louis has to offer. Juniper specializes in popular souther cuisine, but does it better and tastier than you've ever had it before. Not only is it less greasy, but it's also way more flavorful. I came here on a double date and advise you make a reservation like we did. It's pretty popular and you should know they do use community tables. It wasn't that big of a deal having others at your table considering they're pretty big. There are so many amazing things. We ordered everything as if they were small plates which I highly recommend. +Breadbasket: So good. Seriously amazing bread. Great to share. +Chicken and Waffles: First time having it, and I'm spoiled for life. It's gourmet and some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. Sweet and tender. Seriously amazing. +Frog legs: I was feeling adventurous. They were pretty good but I wouldn't order them again. The dish was pretty soupy. I also tried some other things that come to mind and it was all fantastic. If I come back, I'm going straight for that Fried Chicken. Also, you may be wondering about their amazing booze selection! I highly recommend checking out some of their bottled cocktails or anything else on their menu. They make some mean craft cocktails. Overall, Juniper is an amazing experience with exquisite food.
(5)
Jonathan S.

Short: Great artisan southern cooking; great cocktail menu. Come for the ambience. Hoping Cassy Vires from HWK makes it even better in the coming weeks. Long: Stopped by on a Tuesday night for dinner. Didn't need reservations; were seated immediately at a long table toward the back. Ambience of the place is awesome - long tables with community seating when it gets packed, old refrigerators against the wall of the bar. The only odd thing was the giant painting in the back - theres a girl staring out of an old car that freaked my wife and I out. We started off with the splitting the bread plate and the kale salad. We'd highly recommend both, particularly the kale salad. Had cornbread crumbs which were great. I had the "Gas Light" something cocktail, sort of a spinoff of an old fashioned. I loved it. For the main course, wife had the fried chicken and I had the pork belly. My pork belly came with collards, beans and a fried egg on top. The main reason we went to check out Juniper was for their new addition of Cassy Vires who was the previous chef for Home Wine Kitchen. I don't know this for a fact, but I'm assuming the fried egg addition to my meal came from her. Everything was great. Wife stated she preferred HWK's fried chicken to Juniper's, but it was still flavorful. The only sort of disappointing item was our dessert: the s'more. We were expecting it to come out hot or at least warm and it was served cold. Sort of odd for what it was trying to go for. Wasn't bad, but was expecting more. As of this review, Cassy had only been to Juniper for a couple weeks I guess. When we talked to our waiter about it, it sounded like the menu was going to be mixed up in the next few weeks with 75% of it being Cassy inspired. We'll likely be coming back soon to find out what that means. Overall, great experience and we will be coming back in the future. The cocktail menu was interesting and reminded us of Small Batch or Blood&Sand. Food was on par of the likes of the Block and Farmhaus. Update: Just dropped in to check out their spring menu - chicken was still good, brussels sprouts were a little hard to chew. Drinks are still really good. Try the Japanese if you're a bourbon cocktail fan.
(4)
Priscilla R.

My husband and I stopped here because we are a big fan of chicken and waffles. We got there and everything was lovely, everyone there is really nice and checked up on us to make sure we were okay quite often. There wasn't many people there that day so I figured it wouldn't take long for our food to come out but it took over an hour for it to be ready which was the start of our disappointments. The chicken was okay. The waffles had a very different taste to it that I didn't personally like. For 2pc of chicken and a waffle it was 18 per person. We walked out of there paying over $60 and still very hungry to where we got home and ordered pizza. Not a fan of this place overall.
(2)
Nicole J.

The overall atmosphere was nice and trendy. The signature drinks were good but a little pricey for the amount you get. We ordered a breadbasket which was delicious. Fried oysters for app was decent. Also got the fried chicken and shrimp stew for dinner. While both of these were good, I don't think they were the best ever as others have stated. The presentation of all the dishes was nice and somewhat fancy, and the wait staff very friendly. Giving three stars because when it was all said and done our bill for two people ended up being $120. (For fried chicken) Atmosphere very nice but food and drinks a but overpriced IMO.
(3)
Beth C.

Full disclosure- I'm becoming jaded by all of the hipster chic places in STL and it may be shining through. Fun cocktails! That's a thing now- like, everywhere. Fun, yes. Original- No. $10-$12 cocktail price like all other hipster chic joints- Yes. Price aside, they were tasty. We shared a half bread basket to start which was amazing. Really it was. Don't fret because you a paying for bread- get over that and enjoy that corn bread and honey. The Fried Chicken was great. It was super home-style, just like you used to get at your fav mom & pop places with mashed potatoes and gravy. Only this was prepared in a chefs kitchen and will set you out somewhere around $18. It seems silly for fried chicken, but not considering it really was the best I've had in the city. The only thing that would keep me from coming back here is the communal dining. Thankfully we got a table of our own, but those are limited. I would check before you put your name in for 1.5 hour wait that you won't have to do shares-ies with strangers!
(3)
Katie A.

No reservations - no problem. The bar seating was great for my husband and I. Joe at the bar kept us entertained as well as full with libations. We were frequent underground patrons. Love the fact that they have a commercial place now. Food is as good as ever. I got the fish plate - awesome jam. My husband got the pork belly - kimchi and grits made it. We also had deliciously prepared cocktails - just ask Joe for his recommendation. Great experience - new regular for date night.
(5)
Jenna L.

Overall, the food is average but worth trying. I went with a group of 6 and we ordered the bread basket, corn dogs, Nashville hot chicken, fried chicken, shrimp andouille, pork steak, and candy dessert plate. My favorite was the fried chicken because the mashed potatoes with gravy were amazing. Second favorite was the bread basket because the butter that came with it was insanely good. I wouldn't order the other items again. The atmosphere is fun and lively. Service is good. You're looking at around $80 for two for an app, two mains, and two drinks. I probably won't go back again but I'm glad I tried it.
(4)
Kelly M.

I went to Juniper for the 3rd time Friday night. I was reluctant to go back after my first two experiences had been pretty bad. I had been hearing how great it was so I figured I would give it one last shot. Pros: - The service was very good, from the hostess to the waiter; they were friendly, accommodating, worked as a team, and were very knowledgeable about the menu - The drinks are really tasty. Every time I have gone to Juniper I have loved their specialty cocktails. - The restaurant has a great atmosphere. It is relaxed and inviting with a trendy feel. Overall has potential to be a great restaurant. Cons: - The biggest issue I have with Juniper is the food. I have consistently thought the food was very bad. Apparently they changed the menu recently so I was hopeful that I would have a different experience than past visits. Unfortunately I got my hopes up. The corn bread was over cooked, dry and nearly burnt on the outside. The fried chicken was also over cooked and didn't have very much flavor. What really did us in were the grits. My boyfriend got the shrimp and grits; the grits were almost inedible they tasted so bad. They were lumpy and had an awful flavor. By the time dessert was offered I had completely lost my appetite and had no interest in trying another course. Unfortunately Juniper gets three strikes in my book. I will not be going back.
(2)
Nathan O.

I loved it. I'm a picky eater I eat like a 7 year old. I found my self eating food that I hate. Every thing was delicious..
(5)
Suzanne D.

We tried Juniper again after almost a year and I have to say the addition of Cassie as head chef has taken it to a whole other level. I had the pork belly and my husband had the pork shoulder pasta. Both were delicious and had me wondering when we could go back. The cocktail menu has also been revamped. The taste profile key is spot on and the drinks we had were great!
(5)
Jen J.

We had an enjoyable meal here, with a few caveats. The shrimp toast as a starter was very tasty. The fried green tomatoes with trout was...odd. Even though the tomatoes were fried perfectly without appearing overly greasy and the trout had a nice smoky flavor, they simply didn't go together. We were all a little baffled by the combination. I tried my friend's kale salad and fried oysters starters too. The salad was way too salty and the fried oysters were good except only half the fried pieces were oysters. The other half were chicken. We didn't think this was explained clearly on the menu. Since my friend was getting chicken and waffles for entree she really preferred to have her starter with all oysters. Since there were no shrimp and grits on the menu on this evening I opted for the shrimp andouille, again, well seasoned and the kimchee complimented the flavors, but it was very similar to the the shrimp toast. For some reason I thought I also get andouille sausage but turned out I misread the name, it was a sausage made of shrimp, not shrimp AND andouille. Darn! Cocktail wise what really shined were the Cola Highballs. They had quite a few enticing options. Overall, great atmosphere (although I have to say I dont understand why they painted those French Cafe posters on the top of the wall. I find them so beyond tacky even if people just hang them in restaurants, let along permanently painting them into an establishment). Food was priced just right imo. The group consensus was that everything could use less salt. Despite downing one after another water, all of us had left still thirsty for remainder of the night.
(4)
Seth C.

I hadn't planned on going here! I was actually walking to one of my favorite haunts, The West End Grille...was just sort of window-shopping as I walked, and I'm suddenly looking into a softly-lit, woody kind of a restaurant with a fine wooden bar. One of the servers noticed me and smiled and waved a bit. This was my first taste of the Southern Hospitality that is served at Juniper. (I also got some amazing boiled peanuts (seriously, I have never eaten these before...they were delicious!), but it isn't clear to me that these are always gifted.) Every single person working there, including the manager, Jason, was just extremely welcoming, helpful and friendly...and, I know what you are thinking, not the in-your-face California friendly...this was a smile and a soft word Georgia friendly. I sat at the bar. The bartender was one of those magic intellectuals who can have a quiet conversation about art and medicine while somehow taking care of myriad other tasks. I ordered another food I have never eaten: frogs legs. It is a very light dish, comes in a savory broth/brine with some sort of grain, off the bone, and, no, they do not taste like chicken...not exactly. They taste like whatever you'd get if you bred a chicken with a tilapia. I stayed longer than I planned. It was cold outside and the warmth of this place and its people made it hard to leave.
(5)
Jennifer W.

I was impressed with the food, but not the service. I took my mom for her 75th birthday because she's from the South; I thought she would enjoy high end Southern food. I made a reservation, we were seated quickly but ignored for over 20 minutes. It's a pretty small restaurant. Our waitress walked past us several times, finally coming over and saying she didn't realize we were her table. Ok, fine. Then she acted like she didn't really want to answer our questions and when she did, she oversimplified it as if we knew nothing about food at all. She seemed to be having a hard time being friendly although she did eventually wish my mom, "Happy Birthday." The manager (I think) did eventually apologize for the slow service and gave us the bread bowl/plate for free (which was delicious). As far as the food goes, it was cooked perfectly. Mom ordered fried chicken w/roasted Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes. It was good but a little overpriced ($18). I ordered shrimp and grits which was made with blue corn grits and 3 huge prawns. ($20) I thought that price was reasonable. Overall, it's the experience that makes a restaurant really good and this one felt a little cold and awkward to me. Maybe it was just our waitress. I won't be in a hurry to come back, but I'll always remember those prawns. :)
(3)
Ed A.

I like food and I've worked in the industry my whole life. Here we go. Decor: Americana decor, while popping up EVERYWHERE, still holds a special place in my aesthetics department. Lose the aluminum chairs though. Linens and check presenters are on point. Service: Place was packed (deservedly so) and our server was certainly busy but still friendly and informative. If you're the type to require a water or diet coke refill every 2.4 minutes, you might rate less. Regardless, good staff. Food: Items ordered and DEVOURED: Deviled eggs Pimento grilled cheese w/ bacon Brussels sprout jam Shaved Collard salad Fried chicken w/ mash n' veggies Yaka Mein (Pork/noodles/broth/egg) Bread basket w/ biscuits, cornbread and hush puppies ^ That's 2 people!!! How's there no Yelp badge for that?!?! Oh, yeah, the food was amazing. Seriously, screw step by step analysis of EVERY bite, this food was flavorful, well presented and quality exuded from every bite. This was my first time at Juniper. It will be far from my last.
(5)
Mollie S.

This is one of my favorite places I been to in STL. It's an unique atmosphere with communal tables. But don't let that scare you off, it adds to the experience as a whole. Everyone I was with got a cocktail, and everyone was pleased. I shared several items off the menu, but my favorite dish was the chicken and waffles. I still fondly think about it, probably more than I should. This was my first chicken and waffles experience, and I have seen the light. But there are plenty of dishes that allow you to be adventurous. All the designs around the room and on the table are well done and adds to the ambiance. The service was excellent as well.
(5)
Karelia R.

Can't recommend this place enough! Creative menu + great atmosphere and service. Andouille corn dogs are a must.
(5)
Anna B.

I can only speak to the drinks, but I have to say those alone warrant a 5 star rating. I don't normally select cocktails, but I loved both that I ordered. I also tried my dates and enjoyed both of his! Another fun thing, the bartender is a mixologist and will make a custom drink based on what types of alcohol and drinks you like (which my date tried out, we were pleasantly surprised!) A fun spot for drinks and dinner looked pretty tasty too!
(5)
Davis J.

Worthy of 6 stars. So good it made me want to punch a baby. Southern. Classy. Satisfying. Creative. These guys started the St. Louis underground pop up restaurant craze and with all their success decided to open this brick and mortar location. Speaking for myself, I am so glad they did... its a true life bromance. The cocktails are beyond exceptional. They make tears come to my eyes. The bartenders are so passionate about their craft. I could sit there and drink all night if I could still walk afterwards. Note: try their flamed bourbon cocktails. The food.... My lord, the food. The menu changes every couple weeks (as it should). This week they have southern inspired house made ramen on special (doooope!). The breadbasket options they offer are baller status. The rest of their menu is clearly on some next level shit. EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING here is made in house. This includes any and all pastas, breads and cured meats etc. Selling point: They have a culinary bookshelf full of the finest and most current culinary reading materials. It rivals my own collection. After seeing this personal collection, I knew I would get along just fine with their chefs.
(5)
Barbara B.

Service was very good. Food was very good, although the menu is quite limited.
(3)
Joel F.

I am writing to let everyone know that I was contacted by the owner of Juniper in a timely fashion with his sincere apology and assurance that the issues have been resolved. I certainly will give them another chance since the issue was handled in a professional manner.
(3)
Anish M.

The new quail dish on the menu is a must try-- it reflects a Carolina take on Southern food that is not often served. The combination of curry like flavours with the perfectly cooked quail is dynamite.
(4)
Chanel M.

The drinks at juniper were so good! Service was very good too! I started off with a bread plate appetizer which came with my choice of 3 different bread selections, butter and apple butter, amazing! I would come back for the bread alone!! For my entree I had the fried chicken with seasonal vegetables and mashed potatoes. The chicken was very bland, wouldn't order it again, but the seasonal vegetables may be the best I've ever had, mashed potatoes were yummy too! I ordered a side of Mac and cheese and it was very dry, wouldn't order it again either. For dessert I had the biscuit bread, and it was probably the best bread pudding I have ever had! I believe it came in a bourbon butterscotch sauce that was to die for! I know juniper changes its menu seasonally, so I have to make it back to get that bread pudding again! Overall I really enjoyed my experience at Juniper, the atmosphere was great, service was great and though I didn't love everything I ordered the bread pudding made my month :)
(3)
Aurora L.

Caveat: I haven't eaten dinner here yet. Just drinks & dessert on several occasions. Lost a star because I the reason I haven't eaten dinner there is almost purely because of the prices, just not in my budget. Sad face. I'd like there to be more price variation on the menu! That said, I LOVE coming here! The bartenders, the ambiance, the food (bread basket! Oh dear god the waffle bread pudding! SO DAMN GOOD!), and my heavens the drinks are FANTASTIC! So, although I can't vouch for dinner entrees, do yourself a favor and go check it out, it's a great little place you will absolutely not regret checking out!
(4)
Julia T.

Had the pleasure of dining here a few weeks ago. What I loved! Service was great! On top of everything The Bread Basket off the Appetizer menu was unreal. Deviled Eggs were great. The Drink Menu was so much fun - if you are into great drinks - this is the place for you. The fried chicken was very good. I had the shrimp sausage was great. This is place everyone should try / what i like most is how they mix unusual things together.
(4)
Anchovy S.

Meh. Ok drinks. So so faux southern food. Go somewhere else. Too many "southern corn syrup infused drinks"
(3)
Ray C.

If you don't know about this place you are not in the know. The staff is super helpful and friendly , the food is fantastic and the bartenders are better than you would find in much larger cities. I have two words for you. GO Here!
(5)
Walker H.

I love John Perkins' restaurants. This one is a wonderful mix of the things he does best. He serves southern food, excellent cocktails under the consulting help of Matt (soon of Planters), and the new interior is totally amazing. They have kegs of local beer tapped directly from vintage refrigerators that are artfully painted and placed directly behind the bar. I'm a sucker for chicken & waffles. Juniper's version is a standout.
(5)
Jim F.

They have bread pudding. I like bread pudding. Fried Chicken was good but I wish I got the pork belly
(4)

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Address : 360 N Boyle Ave
Saint Louis, MO, 63108
Phone (314) 329-7696
Website https://junipereats.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Juniper

360 N Boyle Ave, Saint Louis, MO, 63108

Juniper Menu

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