Juniper Bar & Restaurant

We came for dinner and had an excellent experience. The menu is fraught with local options that range from locally sourced beef to locally made vodka. We had the farm house special which was a cassoulet with perfectly braised pork shoulder and a seafood stew that was essentially a tower of flaky white cod, endless amounts of clams and mussels, as well as a delicious saffron broth. Apple crisp for dessert was rich, juicy, and flavorful. The cocktails were on point and my husband had access to the entire Alchemist line. No wait, cozy, and highly recommend. #GetBurlyinBurlington

Juniper is conveniently located within the Hotel Vermont (convenient for fiancé and I, who were staying there). We ate at Juniper on three separate occasions — for dinner once and for brunch Saturday and Sunday.
We were immediately seated for dinner at ~6:45 PM on a Friday (you can make OpenTable reservations for dinner). Our server was okay, but chilly at best. The beer list wasn’t descriptive as to the types of beer offered (unless it had «IPA» in the title), so we asked for some recommendations and weren’t met with much help. We ended up rolling the dice, and ordering local beers (a witte and IPA), and were really happy with them, it just would have been nice to have some guidance. To complement our beers, we ordered popovers, which were delicious, and I mean, carbs and any alcohol are a win in my book! For dinner, my fiancé ordered a burger, while I had the goat cheese mushroom gnocchi, which was so heavy, but so incredible. It took all my resistance NOT to lick the plate clean, and my fiancé was very pleased with his burger. We left being thrilled with the food, but iffy about the service. It was in no means bad, but also wasn’t great.
On Saturday morning, since were staying at Hotel Vermont, we decided to try brunch at Juniper, going in saying that we would likely not have warm service, but were confident knowing the food would be delicious. We were met with the sweetest hostess (I wish I had marked down names, because she deserves a shout out!) taking us to a table, as there was no wait at about 11 a.m. Our waitress (again, I should have gotten a name — she was a very bubbly, sweet brunette) was UNBELIEVABLE. The exact opposite of our dinner server the night before, this waitress was bubbly, friendly, and just so sweet, in addition to being attentive. We started brunch with two coffees, a mimosa for my fiancé, and an off menu request of mine for hot apple cider… with bourbon in it. It was absolutely delicious, and perfect for a chilly Vermont morning. We shared a chocolate croissant amongst ourselves, and it was one of the best I’ve had, Paris aside. To keep the carbs theme going, I ordered the blueberry pancakes (UNREAL), and my fiancé had chicken, gravy, and biscuits, which were devoured. It was such a fantastic brunch experience, and we left very happy with all aspects of the experience.
We also went for brunch at Juniper on Sunday morning, and had another great service experience, with a male server this time. This time, we started with the savory cheddar doughnuts, which were also incredible. Being a little carb overloaded, I then ordered the yogurt and granola with berries, which was awesome, while fiancé ordered the biscuits and gravy again, with a side of eggs. A perfect way to end a Burlington weekend.
Overall, service was great, the ambiance of Juniper is fantastic, the drinks are poured very well and there is a lot of variety, and the food is absolutely incredible. Definitely worth a visit, even just for a hot apple cider (with bourbon, naturally).

Gnocchi, gnocchi, Gnocchi! It’s not the actual dish I ordered but I ended up helping my friend finish hers. What an AMAZING dish. I had the steak, which was also awesome. The other dish at our table was a seasonal special-​tasty but the kale and egg atop were way over cooked. We were here celebating my dear friends birthday and once that was send we were served champagne and cake. I would come back here just for the hospitality alone. Beautiful and modern both in décor and demeanor!

I have dreams about the goat cheese mushroom gnocchi. I dined here with a friend and split everything. We had some kind of farm/​vegetable sandwich which didn’t really do it for me. The flavors were bland but the gnocchi, oh the gnocchi.
We both still talk about it. The gnocchi was fresh and pillowy, and the flavors could not be better. It was an excellent pairing. Congrats to the chef.
The restaurant was very clean and the hotel and servers were very accommodating. They also validated our parking :)

Darn, only getting 2 stars from me this visit, although I’ve enjoyed all previous times here! Service was slow and very impersonal, food was just ok, despite spending about $ 170.00 for 2, between drinks and dinner! Ordered the fried chicken dinner thinking it was going to be «old school/​home cooking» type, turned out to be chicken chunks tossed with Brussel sprouts and other stuff. The fried panettone was a greasy mess, and tasted like anything/​everything else that had just been just thrown into the deep fryer. Not good, not impressed. Hopefully the next visit will be better!

Service goes a LONG way with me. It matters almost more than the actual food or drink. With that said, both of my experiences with Juniper have delivered on both.
The first time I went was shortly after Juniper opened. I got a few cocktails with friends and discovered a new-​to-​me liquor that quickly became a favorite. They have comfortable seating that makes people want to sit around and socialize. Local is definitely their theme which is perfect for downtown Burlington and, obviously, Hotel Vermont.
The second time was for a nightcap. I’d had a shit-​tastic day and just wanted to put on pajamas, crawl in bed, and eat my feelings… er…I mean eat my dessert. The kitchen had already closed. I went up to the bar and asked if there was any possible chance of getting some dessert. Without missing a beat (and perhaps seeing my desperation) he said, «They only closed a few minutes ago. Let me check». He came back with good news and options. A few minutes later I was heading up to my room with a hot toddy and coconut cake.
Despite the fact that the kitchen was closed, the kitchen staff didn’t make me feel like an afterthought — they drizzled a berry syrup on the plate, along with berries and whipped cream and it was lovely. Once I got my PJs it was game-​on! Watching Food Network in bed with cake and booze — the ultimate taboo. The cake was a little sweeter than I might have liked and the coconut flavor was subtle, but cake is cake! My nightcap — whiskey and local hot cider — was potent and comforting.
No, it’s not cheap. But Hotel Vermont is not about «cheap» by any stretch and Juniper is located right in the lobby. And I would happily pay a few dollars more to have staff who will pleasantly serve me cake even though the kitchen is closed. Huge kudos to them for going the extra mile.
Sidenote: The hot toddy must have really worked its magic, or the beds in Hotel Vermont must have some sedation trick to them, because I slept like an absolute rock.

Having only sat at the bar for some drinks and a snack, my ability to review is limited. But what a place. While staying at the Vermont Hotel, also exceptional, we started this go around in Burlington with some great bartender selected beverages. Well made and delicious. A beautiful bar, and delicious momos to snack on!

Great beer list! Haven’t had the food yet but these bartenders seem to know what they are doing and I’ve heard good things. Breakfast to come tomorrow!

This review is for the bar.
While the ambiance is refreshingly modern without feeling like IKEA, the cocktails are either poorly conceived or poorly executed, I can’t decide which. Charging $ 15-​$ 18 for a well crafted cocktail is fine, if it is, in fact, well crafted. Otherwise your patrons’ puckering won’t just be from the overly tart beverage.

My favorite breakfast in Burlington is their delicious corned beef hash! They plate two poached eggs over beets and potatoes… The coffee is also fresh and delicious and served with brown sugar cubes. I also love staying at hotel Vermont. You’re definitely in for a treat if you choose this place. Worth going out of your way!

I cannot speak for the food as I was only at the bar having drinks. Never have I witnessed more rudeness by bar staff. I was there for my college reunion and both myself and my friends received horrible service. More than once it seemed that the bartender was more concerned with washing glasses than taking orders and was very curt with an «I’ll be with you in a second» response when myself and another party tried to get attention in order to get a drink.
I understand being under pressure when things are very busy (the place was packed) but some good customer service goes a long way when dealing with a crowd of thirsty patrons.

I was staying at the Hotel Vermont and I didn’t feel like making the journey outside it’s warm embrace and decided to have dinner there as well. Juniper makes some excellent dishes that you would expect in larger cities like New York and the prices to go along with it. I ordered the BBQ Beef which was essentially a braised beef (I assume) that was served along with carrots and a cheddar biscuit. Everything about this dish was fantastic, the beef was fork tender, flavorful, and the biscuit was excellent. Service from the kitchen was quick and the bar tenders were attentive. Juniper doesn’t have the largest dining room but they do have a nice outdoor space if that floats your boat. For a hotel restaurant they set the bar high and I would say this is definitely worth a visit if you’re in Burlington.

Not too shabby. You can’t beat the sleek interior of Hotel Vermont (which is where Juniper Bar is located). I visited the restaurant for an early morning breakfast last week.
Being one who often can’t decide between sweet or savory when it comes to breakfast — I opted for one blueberry pancake and an order of the home fries topped off with a cappuccino. For me, it was all about the blueberry pancake — both in presentation and flavor. I could have guzzled the entire bottle of maple syrup. Maybe it was partly due to the romanticism of chowing on maple syrup in the land of maple syrup?
The bartender/​server was very friendly and allowed me to do my thang. My thang being read the complimentary New York Times at the bar like it was my job from cover to cover.

A local enticed to a hotel restaurant! My friend and I had an early dinner before the theatre. We were wowed. The food was delicious: layered and interesting tastes. The mussels were particularly delicious. The sides were worthy additions. The service was also excellent, attentive and friendly. I don’t usually go for hotel restos in my home town, since you pay a price, but this place is worth it and will be added to our list. It is pricey but lives up to the price point.

We were staying at the hotel and arrived after 10pm (without eating dinner), so we were eager to try their late night menu (which is much smaller than their dinner menu). My date and I each ordered a cider and a burger. The food was good, although the portions were small for the price. It’s slightly on the expensive side, especially if you decide to add toppings to your burger.
The food area was empty when we came but the bar was pretty busy. The place was decorated nicely and people were even playing live music in the hotel lobby when we sat down. Our server was nice and prompt. Overall, a nice place but kind of expensive.

The menu and pictures were mouthwatering. The ambience was top notch! The service, unbelieveable! So what’s missing here to get them to a 5 star??? Better flavor on the food. Just like you might have read on other reviews for Juniper.
I ordered the salmon and was surprised that even with kimchi on the side, the meal was lacking so much flavor. It didn’t help that the fish was overcooked to med well.
The beet soup was ok. Not the best, not the worst. Salad was HUGE! Just order the small size, which is plenty. But again lacked flavor. The dressing fell short even though I loved the fact that the salad wasn’t doused.
All in all, I would definitely eat there again and maybe try the NY strip next time as recommended.

Went tonight again for a post valentines date. We ordered so starters which were fine. Then my salmon entrée came, skin on. I like crispy skin but this was way overcooked with soggy skin. I haven’t done this in a very long time but I sent my meal back they were kind about it and later didn’t charge for it which was an unexpected service. I think I’ll wait a little longer before going back though. Price point too high

Came here for breakfast /​brunch on Saturday morning and waited ~20 minutes for a table, ordered coffee while we waited, if ya get lucky you could sit fireside while ha wait. I was a bit hesitant going to this place being vegan and looking at the menu and seeing no vegan options but I only hoped they could come up with something and when I asked our waitress she was very confident answering with what they offered for vegans and basically surprised me with a hemp patty, steamed kale, potatoes and toast — and it was very good! They also had a pretty awesome (make your own) mimosa and Bloody Mary bar setup… And an moose ice sculpture outside!

i’m a real fan of this place for brunch. The food is delicious. I’ve been for dinner a few times and it can be a bit hit or miss. I’d recommend skipping dinner entirely on the weekends as the bar scene is fierce and the wait staff becomes less and less effective the more crowded it gets into the evening.
Brunch is definitely my pick. They have some really interesting things on the menu and the staff is very accommodating. They’ve started a do-​it-​yourself Bloody Mary bar, which is great and allows you to make them just the way you like them with tons of choices.
The oatmeal here is fabulous. You know that the place is rocking brunch when even the oatmeal is great. My friend always gets the egg and mushroom tartine and it’s out of this world.
The brunch is a bit more geared toward foodies than not. But there is something on the menu that should appeal to everyone.

I enjoyed this place, the hotel is modern and the food is good quality. But it was bland. For the price, I not only expect good ingredients, I expect some originality in the food they prepare, be it spice or some significant mixing of textures. This was simply lacking.
I went back and tried it in the AM for breakfast and again it was just lacked some flare. The price on breakfast was fair considering what I got and I would rate their breakfast ⁴⁄₅ stars. But their dinner (which is what I assume most are looking for) plate was average.
The atmosphere is good, they have TVs that are on when requested and overall it was a quality place, I just want a little more for my money.