I've eaten here 20+ times. The food, atmosphere, staff, service, etc. are first-rate 100% of the time. What a gem!
Came in for Valentine's Day dinner, they had a pre-set menu, but we ordered off the regular. The short rib was amazing! Great portion, especially to share, as well as the cacio e Pepe which was very cheesy and not over cooked. The beef carpaccio isn't something usually order but it was thicker slices with dollops of horseradish cream, capers, parm cheese, arugula and a nice salt. The grilled octopus wasn't chewy however it had no flavor, it was surprisingly bland. Service was great, would come back to sit at the bar, but that is reservation only as well and was full that night.
My husband and I went for our anniversary and we ordered the multi-course menu since it was our first time there. It was a 5 course (1 app, 1 salad, 1 pasta, 1 meat, and 1 dessert) starting 85pp. Our favorite from each category was the Puffy potato, little lettuce, Cacio E Pepe, NY Strip, and the Milk and Honey dessert. The house focaccia that came with our meal was absolutely delicious that we had to have extra. Our server was great, she gave us great recommendations since it was our first time, she explained the menu and told us what was popular. Vibe was intimate and romantic, great spot for special occasions or just a peaceful dining out experience.
We reserved seats for a Thursday night at the chef's counter which I recommend to see the kitchen at work. You can't go wrong with the standard indoor seating if the chef's counter isn't available. We had no wait and service was prompt. We chose The Prix Fixe option and our server, I think his name was Josh, explained the menu and options very well and our dishes came out in a timely manner, not rushed or a long wait. He also made sure we didn't have any dietary restrictions. Each dish was flavorful and for us overall it was the perfect amount of food. They're smaller dishes but a good way to try out a little bit of everything. Come with a decent appetite! The service was great and the staff was very friendly and attentive. Will be coming back to try out the a la carte and those delicious desserts.
Food: 8/10 We ordered quite a few things on the menu as I wanted to get a good taste of it all. - The star item was the bucatini in my opinion - zesty, perfectly al dente, and fresh. Additionally, that dessert was top notch, as well as the oysters. - The potato puffs weren't as crispy as I was hoping for as the Dijon was slightly overpowering- that said, a good palette warm up. - Short rib - crispy and delicious but not as tender as I was hoping for. - Additionally, the cacio e Pepe (their star dish), was underwhelming I thought. While the portion size was hefty, I thought the noodles were slightly overcooked. But the taste itself was wonderful and perfectly balanced. - The ravioli in a duck bone broth (I think) was a bit bland, missing the umami punch, but beautifully presented. Service was also top tier 10/10 - consistent checking in, hey coursed the meal well, and explained things as they came. Ambiance also lovely. Open interior space with nice paintings and murals with an open kitchen and tall ceilings. The seating in the middle felt close to tables on either sides of them, but not so much that I felt I was intruding on others dinners.
We sat at the Chef's Counter tonight and it was a fun spot for dinner! It was a great location to watch the bustle of the kitchen. The entire restaurant was holiday festive and a beautiful backdrop to a delicious dinner! Service was attentive and friendly! Food was tasty but a little on the pricey side for some of the dishes - example: $42 for a small serving of sable fish! We had a great time with tonight's dinner and will be back to try the other dishes we didn't get to try this time
This is one of my husbands favorite Italian restaurant in Austin so we came here to celebrate his bday. He normally gets the prefix but we wanted to try something new so ordered everything al la carte. Some of my favorites are in this order: -Cacio de Pepe - must try! -Oysters - citrusy and delicious - beef carpaccio- so delicate - Marscapone dessert - it's like a fried donut on top of cold Marscapone. Soooo good - Cod - great main choice
THE BIG: East Austin fine dining Italian Restaurant. The food here is insipired by Northern Italian cuisine. Parking is available via valet or street parking. Gorgeous interior that screams moody modern. THE BLACK AND WHITE: The wife and I came here for ARW and wanted to try their 4 course menu. My wife loves fish and got the Branzino while I got the grilled short rib that was *chefs kiss*. The appetizers were quite small with us trying out the Stracciatella and the hamachi crudo. Good thing the salad was there, which was actually a big portion. Finally for dessert, we got the deconstructed apple strudel and a chocolate cake. Wait staff was amazing, kudos! THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall ~$150 was the damage done for 2 tasting menus for Austin Restaurant Week. Definitely nice to come try the four course meal with an awesome ambiance.
My husband and I came for date night on a Saturday Night. We made reservations the night before, so we had to eat at 5:15pm. The vibe inside is very modern and sleek. The staff is really knowledgeable and super nice! We came for Restaurant Week and was very pleased. For $60, you get a four course meal with a variety of options. My favorites were the following: - Stracciatella - String-y cheese paired well with peaches and absolutely delicious focaccia - Hamachi Crudo - Only get 4 pieces, but each were fresh and vibrant! - Summer Salad - Loved the goat cheese and pecan on this salad. - Grilled Branzino - You basically get the whole fish with a few pieces of artichoke! It was alot of protein, but all very fresh - Post Oak Grilled Short Rib - Cooked very well with an apple puree. My husband was pleased with the size - Torta Di Pere - Essentially a deconstructed apple strudel without being overly sweet My husband and I were stuffed at the end of the meal and food pacing was fantastic throughout. Overall, I highly recommend Juniper for your next date night or celebratory meal!