Fine Dining, Austin Style: An Evening at Juniper
Juniper pairs Italian tradition with East Austin soul, cooking from whatever Central Texas is growing right now. Pull up a chair on East Cesar Chavez and see what we've been up to.
At The Table
Fine dining in Austin is at its best when it feels welcoming and connected to the neighborhood around it. That's the room we've built on East Cesar Chavez: twenty-foot timber ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto the courtyard, and an open kitchen where you can watch dinner come together.
A hand-drawn juniper tree mural runs across the main wall, and warm lighting and natural materials give the room a relaxed, social feel.
The Culinary Concept: Italy Meets Texas
Executive Chef Sterling Ridings and his team cook from Italian tradition and shop close to home. You'll taste it in pasta made in-house, nose-to-tail butchery, and proteins that come off the grill with a little Texas post oak smoke.
Rooted in Local Agriculture
We've spent years building relationships with local purveyors like Steelbow and Boggy Creek Farm, and those relationships shape the menu. When the season turns, so do the plates. For us, fine dining in Austin starts with what's fresh in Central Texas right now.
Those ingredients become antipasti meant for the middle of the table, house-made pastas that change as the produce does, and wood-fired secondi with real weight to them.
A Great Night Out
Some nights call for a quick plate of pasta after work, and others are built around an anniversary or a birthday. Our team reads the table either way, ready with a wine recommendation, an extra plate or an answer to whatever you're curious about, and glad to give you room when the evening calls for it.
Settling In
Plenty of evenings here start at the bar with a spritz, a cocktail or a crisp Italian white before you head to your table. Come in early Sunday through Thursday and you'll catch Aperitivo Hour from 5 to 7 PM.
The Rhythm of the Meal
You might start with warm house-made focaccia, move on to a plate of seasonal antipasti, and settle into a bowl of fresh pasta finished with olive oil and toasted black pepper. Our servers know the wine list inside and out, so ask for a pour that suits whatever pasta you land on.
The Chef's Counter Tasting Menu
Our nine-seat Chef's Counter is home to the Tasting Menu: six off-menu courses that Executive Chef Sterling Ridings and his team create just for the counter, with an optional wine pairing. The new hotline island suite gives Sterling's team the precision and flexibility to cook at the level this menu asks for. Book the Tasting Menu on OpenTable or learn more about the Chef's Counter.
Gatherings and Private Events
Our second-floor Private Dining Room is where rehearsal dinners, corporate dinners and big celebrations come together, and for larger groups, the whole restaurant is available for buyouts. Learn more about private events at Juniper.
The Final Note
The best nights here tend to end with one more glass. Our list leans Italian, and a pour of Langhe Nebbiolo is a fine way to close things out before you head back onto East Cesar Chavez.
Plan Your Visit
Our doors open at 5 every night. Drop in for a spritz and a quick bite at the bar, save a seat at the Chef's Counter, or reserve a table for dinner.
- Reservations:
- Available nightly from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
- Walk-Ins:
- Welcome.
- Location:
- 2400 E. Cesar Chavez St, Ste. 304, Austin, TX 78702.
- Parking:
- Valet Thursday through Saturday at the front entrance. A self-park lot sits about 25 yards from the door, and free street parking is available nearby.