Juniper — Restaurant in Johnson City

This is a lengthy review, so I’ve included a summary right here at the top. Juniper is a newer restaurant in the Tri-Cities. They have absolutely delicious offerings served in a homey modern farmhouse setting. Make a reservation and plan to visit again, as the menu changes regularly. The food is excellent, with standout dishes including the Chicken Pot Pie Croquettes and the Buttermilk Fried Chicken. We will definitely be back.

From the outside Juniper is an unassuming farmhouse. The style is modern and cohesive. Neither the lower or upper dining rooms are very large, but there was plenty of space for each table and we didn’t feel cramped at all.

The dining room upstairs was dimly lit. Maybe not so dark that a flashlight is necessary for the menu, but it did seem a bit dark. This may have been accentuated by each room-filling shine of light when the door was opened. A wattage check may be in order to balance the two spaces.

We started with the Chicken Pot Pie Croquettes and the Focaccia. We were served a plate of five croquettes, each about the size of a small hush puppy. The outside was golden, crisp and adequately held in the warm filling. This was a great tasting appetizer, it isn’t to fill up on, just to have a great taste.

The focaccia was absolutely the tallest focaccia I’ve ever seen. I normally see focaccia as a throwaway, it’s a dipping bread or should be topped with something; not this one. The top was crisp and flakey while all three inches on the inside were soft and flavorful. It’s served as four pieces with a simple butter, perfect for our table of four.

We also ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes and Burrata. It was very good, but next time we will be more adventurous and resist the urge to return to this familiar dish.

We each ordered an entree and a handful of sides to share. The Buttermilk Fried Chicken seemed like a dish that would fall in the same familiar territory as the Fried Green Tomatoes. Don’t be mislead; it is special. We thought it was interesting to choose a cut as lean as the breast for a hearty fried chicken. This fried chicken puts all those concerns to rest. The crisp, well-seasoned, breading keeps the chicken itself buttery and tender. The dish is served with a biscuit, hot sauce, and the smallest honey bear ever made. We wish the biscuit had come hot to melt the butter it’s served with.

Our table also had the Wood Grilled Salmon and an off-menu halibut special. Both received high praise and were enjoyed.

I ordered the Brasstown Filet from the Heath Grilled Meats section. These come with no sides but are served with your choice of sauce and fried onions. It was well seasoned and cooked to order. This ranked as the best filet I’ve had the pleasure of eating. No disappointments here steering away from my usual ribeye.

We ordered a few sides: Brussel Sprouts, Au Gratin Potatoes, and Blistered Shishito Peppers. All the sides were good. The brussel sprouts are sweet with a heavy char to balance. They eat more like a jam rather than individual sprouts. The sides are big enough to share with 2-3 people.

Front-of-house manager, Brent, checked in on our meal. He was polite, solicited feedback, and didn’t rush his time with us. He encouraged us to order dessert and explained it was where they shined at Juniper. We ordered: Pear Crème Brûlée, Grand Marnier Soufflé, and Chocolate & Coffee Roulade.

All the desserts were good, but the Coffee & Chocolate Roulade though came as a buffet of desserts. The whole plate was a pastry flex. Meringues, macaroon, candied hazelnuts, homemade ice cream, it was all impressive; even the little candle holder was thoughtful and delicious. Coffee flavor was present throughout each element but it was never bitter or overpowering.

We thanked Brent on the way out; his poignant review of the Chocolate & Coffee Roulade was tops: "I'm not really a huge fan of coffee...I ate the whole thing." He was absolutely correct about the desserts, it is where they shine.

All in, we had a great experience and delicious food. We will be back...

Our first dining experience at Juniper was beyond reproach. We were seated within 5 minutes of our reservation and were promptly greeted by our knowledgeable and friendly waiter. The waiter told us about the dining experience and offered a list of specials. We had made the reservation with a singular menu item in mind, but after discussion with the waiter and his personal recommendation we went with the special. The special of the evening was a 50 oz T-bone steak served with fried onions and a choice of three sides. As one would imagine, with a popular and new dining facility the kitchen was rather busy, but even with the tempo and in consideration of the enormous cut of beef, the food was served approximately 45 minutes later. I can say without reservation that the steak, made to share of course, was one of the best steaks my wife and I have ever had the pleasure to dine upon. To say it was worth the wait is a genuine understatement. The seasoning and medium cook of the steak were perfect. The sides we opted to accompany our feast were sauteed mushrooms, house made and seasoned fries, and potatoes au gratin. Our dinner guests opted for the same special but ordered the seasoned brussels sprouts. The sprouts were the best sprouts I have ever eaten. The house fries were seasoned in a manner that provided a tase of home paired with a perfect golden-brown preparation. The potatoes were rich and creamy. The seasoning of the steak and the creamy cheese flavor of the potatoes paired to make one delicious combination. The sauteed mushrooms also provided an equally delicious, but different pairing with their sweet and buttery taste. The atmosphere was clean, homey, and fresh. Though we elected not to explore the bar on this evening, the offerings were plentiful and generous. To round the evening off, we elected to experience two items from the dessert menu with our guests. The Hummingbird cake can simply be described as “the spice of life”! The moist and delicate cake was adorned with a delicious icing that was divine, but the rum sauce that was provided to drizzle and flow over the over top like a warm blanket offered a contrast that was delicious and comforting. The other dessert which we partook in was the chocolate peanut bar with raspberry sorbet. Though the opposite of the Hummingbird cake with its rich and dense chocolate, it is not a dessert to be overlooked. The sweet smooth raspberry sorbet provides just the right amount of tart to offset the sweet and dense ganache generously adorned with peanuts. All of this was ultimately topped off with a cup of house made cappuccino. Not too strong, not too sweet, but just right. Overall, I would rate Juniper a 10 if there were as many stars. Thank you, Juniper, for the wonderful atmosphere, experience, and food. I look forward to our next dining...

If you are looking for a fine dining experience that truly lives up to the name, you’ve found it! I am a big foodie, and I have been let down by a lot of restaurants from here to Charleston that claim to provide an elevated dining experience. Juniper lives up to that claim at every angle. The moment you walk inside, the design has been very thoughtfully pieced together. Though you can tell they have worked to fill the room with tables, each one has been carefully spaced so you don’t feel like you are on top of other diners. The digital artwork reflected season for the time of year. The music was at an audible level but not too loud, and there were tasteful sound muffling boards hung in certain places which helped us to hear one another at our table, despite the restaurant being at capacity. I especially appreciated these “small” details as I am very hard of hearing when in crowded places. The candle at the table was artificial so we could easily move it aside to make room for our dishes, and we had a carafe of water to refill our glasses at our convenience – which my husband very much appreciated.

Our server, Rachel, was very attentive without hovering too much, was able to recite their specials for the evening with prices, and provided some excellent recommendations for our meal! She as well as the gentleman who brought our dishes were visibly excited to discuss the selections and get our feedback on them. Which brings me to the food!

Never have I eaten anywhere that shows such astounding consideration for the ingredients. I was completely blown away, and nearly brought to tears. We ordered the Wood-Roasted Oysters, which were a perfect balance of salt, fat, acid and heat and left us wanting more. I had the duck breast, which I had never had before. The skin was so perfectly crispy it was almost like bacon, and the balsamic reduction went beautifully with it. It came with root vegetables and lentils– which I am normally not a huge fan of, as they are often very bland– but these were thoroughly, and pleasantly seasoned. I believe I tasted cinnamon, which was another new experience for me, but absolutely delicious. My husband had the wagyu denver steak which he very much enjoyed, as well as au gratin potatoes. The potatoes are what got me so emotional. The depth of flavor that those perfectly tender potatoes had was unreal. That is flavor that takes time and passion. It is rare to get to experience the passion that we see in so many food television shows. What an honor and privilege to be able to taste it.

I am genuinely so glad to have eaten here, and though I suspect it was a typical visit for the folks who work here, it meant the world to me to be able to experience genuine passion and love on my...