Juniper

I’m torn about this review and our experience here.
We had a six o’clock reservation but arrived early. We were seated right away and our waiter pointed out some of the menu highlights. We chose our drinks and studied the menu while we waited for them.
The waiter took our appetizer order (called snackies here) and then asked for our entrée order and waited for us to decide. I would have liked to wait to order our entrée and I guess we could have asked him to come back, but we felt very pressured to place our order then.
We ordered the chicken & waffles and the chicken liver pop tart to start. They came fairly quickly. I loved the chicken & waffles. The sauce was fantastic, peanut buttery and worked so well with the crispy chicken. Really, I barely noticed the waffles. The chicken and sauce stole the show. I could have had just that for my dinner. The chicken liver pop tart was good. The chicken liver filling didn’t really taste like chicken liver. The real flavor came from lemon sauce on top. We both agreed that the chicken & waffles won.
For entrees, I chose the shrimp & grits. My husband went for the fried chicken. We didn’t have long to wait between them clearing our appetizer plates and the entrees being delivered. A few years ago, I had an order of shrimp and grits that was absolutely amazing. Since then, I’ve been trying to replicate that experience. This wasn’t it. Perfectly cooked shrimp served with Andouille sausage bits on top of the grits. In my opinion, the grits were a little soupy. Also, there was a subtle burnt taste that was slightly off putting. I wonder if maybe the bacon was a little burnt. The sausage and shrimp tasted great.
My husband got the fried chicken that came with mashed potatoes and roasted cauliflower. I tried the mashed potatoes. They were made from scratch and were exactly what you want from mashed potatoes. I also tasted the roasted cauliflower. It was really roasted. I thought it was cooked perfectly but my husband thought it was overcooked. I didn’t try the chicken, but my husband said it was very good and polished off the first piece in short order. And then… he found a piece of plastic wrap fried into the next piece.
This was really unfortunate. The manager came over and apologized profusely. He offered to remake the plate of chicken, but at that point I was finished eating and he was no longer hungry. The manager offered to make it and pack it up to go, but we didn’t think that was really necessary. Of course they didn’t charge us for the chicken dinner, which would have been enough. But the manager also brought us a gift certificate and said he hoped we’d give them another chance. We thought he really went above and beyond what was expected.
Overall, the food was pretty good. I would go back just for the chicken & waffles. We did feel a little bit rushed. The customer service we experienced with the problem we had was excellent. Because of all the little issues, I’d give it 3.5 stars, but I’m going to to round up because the manager was so nice.

My husband and I went to Juniper for Valentine’s Day and I have to say I loved it. Our server, Bob, was great. Having been in the industry for 10 years, his style of serving was perfect. He knew all of the specials and described them in an enticing way, he didn’t try to make pointless conversation (love when a person can read if you are wanting to get more involved in conversation with the server), and he cleared everything as we were finished with it, also without disrupting our experience. As for the food, it too was wonderful. I had the pork and beans, the pork belly melted in my mouth! And I always appreciate a place that can take «simple» food and elevate it. I liked the atmosphere, quaint, romantic and rustic chic! I definitely see myself visiting again!

Just finished a fantastic meal at Juniper. The food could not have been any better. From the drinks to the fried chicken to the homemade ice cream, each item we ordered was wonderful. Service was also great. We can’t wait to return!

Juniper did a great job of delivering another five star meal. We got there a little early to make sure we could get a seat at the bar. It was totally open but as the night went on, the place filled up. After ordering drinks, we were given a small bowl of boiled peanuts, Juniper style. Boiled with a taste of Worcester sauce. Very good.
We decided to share the deviled eggs. You get three eggs (halved) with two flavorings. One was onion and we think the other was kimchi (we’re old and can’t remember). I thought it was Siracha. Either way they were very good.
Time for our main course. Both of us chose the quail with root vegetables. We also got a side of Mac n cheese which was large enough to share between two people and absolutely delicious. This was the first time I have eaten quail and with the root vegetables, it was outstanding.
After much discussion, we decided to share a dessert. We went with the pound cake with berries. Just the right amount of sweetness to top off our meal.
Juniper just keeps getting better and better. Next time — fried chicken. Yes I’m coming back.
Juniper, you knocked my socks off! I wasn’t thrilled about coming here last night because we have eaten here many times over the years and I felt it was just so-​so. But dadgummit, your new menu is great and the food is outstanding.
Came here early (6:00 p.m.) last night and we were able to get the last table available. Casey was our waiter and did a great job. He was very knowledgeable about the menu. We decided to start with the sweet potato hoe cakes and Casey informed us that it was one of the smaller appetizers available. We went ahead with it and we were happy we did.
Pancakes with a quail egg, bacon and sorghum syrup. Yummy. For me just the right amount. I wasn’t stuffed and looked forward to the main course.
I ordered the country ham carbonara and Mike opted for the pork and beans. My noodles were cooked to perfection. Large bits of ham in a creamy Parmesan sauce. I was so pleased with this dish. I tried Mike’s and his was wonderful also. Beans with collard greens, pork belly, an egg. We both wanted to lick our bowls.
I cannot wait to come back here to try another dish. Remember to make reservations. There were a lot of people turned away last night.
Would I come back here. I already said I can’t wait.

Food was OK, Quail was good, but the stuffing not so much.

Let me sing the praises of Juniper! I read about Juniper in a local St. Louis paper that featured the best food of St. Louis. Being southern myself, and a great lover of innovative southern food and mixology especially, I could not resist going to Juniper on my recent business trip. I went on a slow snowy Tuesday night, and it was perfect. I sat at the bar, and the incredibly friendly bartender and the host (I feel horribly that I did not get the bartender’s name because he was awesome and so generous with his recommendations and engagement).
Because everything … literally, everything … on the menu seemed amazing to my eyes, I chose the «3 for $ 30» deal so that I could try 3 things from the menu. I chose the fried chicken and waffle appetizer, the kale salad, and the fried catfish. I’m happy to say that there was not one mistake in my choices (which the bartender perfectly passionately and patiently described).
The fried chicken appetizer comes with two of their specially brined and battered fried chicken tenders, served over a small waffle and peanut butter with a drizzle of caramel flavored fish sauce (don’t worry about the fish sauce, which sounded nasty to me but actually tastes like caramel). The combination of flavors was one of the most memorable culinary experiences I will have this year.
The kale salad consists of a nice portion of kale served cold but with something that had the texture of homemade bacon bits and two delicious pieces of fried pork ear. I loved it.
Then came the catfish. Now I’m a southern guy from Tennessee and Alabama, so I know my catfish. This was a filet portion, and fried in a lite crunchy batter of something amazing that I don’t even know but probably Ritz crackers and more. The combination of sweet and crunchy was delicious. It is served over a sweet potato purée.
Juniper is one of the best meals I’ve had in a while, and definitely this year. It should be a must if you’re in St. Louis. This southern boy thinks this place hits the mark, y’all.

Fried chicken, deviled eggs, chicken and waffles, hot cakes, Mac and cheese… all was excellent. Good service and nice atmosphere. Great place for dinner and drinks with friends.

Had an awesome dinner here. My favorite small plate was definitely the corn cakes with bacon and quail egg. As far as large plates go, we couldn’t pass on the shrimp and grits and we did NOT regret it. Finally the bread pudding — delicious too. I forgot to mention the cocktails! I had a bourbon based cocktail that I could have drank all night.

My wife and I came into Juniper this week for their happy hour. This is sctuslly my third visit with the first two bring for dinner. Now that I’ve also caught their happy hour, I can honestly say this place is the real deal!!!
We had just intended to come by for a few drinks and appetizers however we ended up having our entire meal there! We started off with a few drinks — my favorite is the Presbyterian but their riff on the standard mint julep is amazing also. My wife went for a negroni that was solid also. The bar program is really amazing here and it shows in the selection of creative cocktails.
As for the food, I have had the fried chicken in the past as well as a pork belly with dirty rice and both were amazing. On this visiit, we wanted to focus on the happy hour food so we started with the deviled eggs and biscuits & gravy. Both were so good!!! The deviled eggs were kimchi and maple sausage which were both exceptional. The sausage gravy had a little space to it that really made it great.
After we tried these options, we had to try the other two — hoe cakes and the hot brown. Wife also had a brussels sprout salad. I have to say both the hotcakes and the hot brown were amazing and the latter one of my favorite things we had.
Service is always exceptional here and we appreciate that a lot. This place is great and I have to say the happy hour may be one of our favorites as the drinks plus the good food make it really worthwhile! Make it part of your ritual in 2016!!!

My biggest fear about moving away from Chicago to a smaller town is the food/​bev scene. Not only would I worry about my own job opportunities, but underneath this hardened jaded food industry professional outer shell, I am still a basic b foodie deep down. And I need to be fed! And wowed! No better place than Chicago for both.
But finding a place like Juniper on my quick trip to St. Louis made me really relieved that I know of at least one place where we could go eat if I were forced to relocate…
My friend and I met up for dinner and did the 3 course tasting (because it seemed to be a better deal than the 5 course). I also added on the chicken and waffles. We both were eyeing the pork chops, and they were by far the best dish of the night, even if mine were still rare around the bone. No worries, they threw it back on the grill (just the last few bites worth) and replated a mini plate of garnishes with it, so that was cute. The beets were good, country ham was decent, chicken and waffles were great texturally but was a little sweet overall.
I also had the mississippi punch and THAT was killer, just what I was looking for — fruity and you could barely taste the booze, but sneaky strong. Mm.
Service was prompt and friendly and helpful in choosing.

I’m a little surprised by the lower rating for Juniper and have to wonder what people are expecting. This place is exactly as advertised. Sort of an eclectic southern cooking themed restaurant with maybe a small menu but plenty of choices and a growing alcohol selection (thanks for getting ketel!). It’s a little on the small side but also very charming and cozy. It’s a great place for a date and they can push tables together for a nice group setting. I personally like to sit at the bar and watch them concoct some of their interesting cocktails. The only negatives are the seats are primarily all metal and I don’t have a lot of cushion so I usually walk out of there a little sore. And they can be a little light on waitstaff but in their defense I tend to go on weeknights since it’s right around the corner from my house. But I love their deviled eggs and for 25 bucks a person the fried chicken special. Just try it and you’ll see why.

I think this is the best New Southern, New American restaurant I’ve been to in St. Louis. Drinks are fun too ;)

We were so excited to try Juniper for the first time Saturday night. It is rare that one goes in with high expectations and not only finds them met but exceeded. We feel quite fortunate to have had that experience at Juniper.
Atmosphere — My husband and I often head to Chicago for anniversary dinners out. We both felt that Juniper had that Chicago feel. The space has been carefully designed and has a feel that is a bit cooler than much of St. Louis. For us it made the experience feel like a mini-​vacation which is always nice.
Bread Basket — Wow! We did the buttermilk biscuits and Sally Lunn because they were out of angel biscuits. The buttermilk biscuit was so buttery and had all the proper biscuit-​ness of a good southern biscuit. The sorghum butter was exceptional and husband really liked the apple butter.
Dinner — We decided to share the fried chicken and the shrimp and grits. Both were amazing. The grits were the best I had ever had. I am still trying to pinpoint what they are cooked with — is it bacon, andouille? Whatever, it is superb. Now for the fried chicken — the meat was moist, but what really got me was the breading. It has this delicate feel in my mouth that left me craving it again for days. The mashed potatoes and gravy that came with it were an exact replica of my Grandma’s — the highest honor for any potato.
Service — The serving team was great. Helpful, informative, attentive — what more can you ask for?
All in all, we can’t wait to go back.

Ok so first off, the main reason I’m only giving 3 stars is simple. We called and had a reservation, when we arrived we were placed at a community table with 4 other people. When i asked if we could get a 2 top, i was informed they they had a lot of Tarvaris already coming in. There we maybe 7 or 8 tables for 2 open, some where still open when we left. So what the hell was the point of me getting a reservation.
Now on top of that is the fried chicken. I was told it was the best, and it very well may have been. However mine was burnt, and when i asked for more it too was burnt. My girlfriends food was fanatic, as were the appetizers we ordered. I don’t know that i would go back based off my experience. I’ve been to some very nice places here in st louis and in my opinion you get better service and better fried chicken at quincy street bistro. And it is maybe ¹⁄₃ the price.

The food was amazing, nice twist on common southern foods. Tried fried green tomatoes for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. The chicken was divine. And the bartender was a gentleman, very attentive, informative and talented at making drinks. I gave him a base (tequila) and he whipped up 2 different things, both were delicious. The entire staff that I came in contact with were very nice.
I’ll be back for sure.

This place fell flat.
We had a selection of small plates and dropped about 50 bucks on a small, lackluster meal. Brief synopsis is as follows:
Ribs — good flavor, plenty of smokiness but more akin to pig jerky than ribs. Not at all tender or juicy but very peppery. Black-​eyed pea component was good but the price point for two bones was way out of line.
Fried green tomatoes: not something I grew up eating but I’ve had better pretty much every time I’ve tried this dish everywhere. A bit bitter also.
Chicken & waffles: The waffle was very dry and ruined the whole dish. The chicken component was a bit dry and pretty average overall. The peanut sauce was vaguely reminiscent of Thai peanut sauce but more like very thin peanut butter and out of place with the dish. There was way too little maple syrup present to add the sweetness the dish deserved and some little chunks of pickle were simply out of place on this dish.
This final one may seem odd but the best bites of the night were on the bread service. I’m not sure I’ve ever paid $ 5 for a selection of three pieces of bread with two types of butter but it was certainly the high point of the meal for me.

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.

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 décor.
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.

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.

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 fiancé 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.

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.

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.