I am VERY impressed with Dave, Tim, Matt, and the rest of the crew at Juniper. We went to the soft opening last night (Tuesday, July 8, 2014), and I really expected some serious bumps and a possible landslide. Didn't happen. Absolutely wonderful evening. I highly recommend starting the way we were started off: all 3 dips (at $15, they are well worth it). If you've got a mouth, you will not be disappointed. The fava bean hummus was zesty and delicious, and Carla's favorite was the tzatziki: creamy, rich, yet still light. But for me, the almond skordalia stole the dip contest. Smooth and supple on the tongue but with just enough spice to make you really interested. We then got the fattoush salad. This was quite good; however, the dressing needed a little more punch. I can see, however, why it doesn't. Sheep's milk feta is not nearly as strong as cow's milk feta, so a stronger dressing would interfere with that delicious cheese. It's a hard balance because if you start with those delightful dips, then the salad doesn't quite measure up. We then got the lamb agnolotti. Umm... Wow. That sauce alone was worth 20 of the $24 this dish cost. Holy cow, what a wonderful sauce. Rustic (i.e. coarsely chopped, visibly present vegetables) in a lovely "Greek tomato sauce" that completely understates the delightful play on a somewhat Middle-eastern-inspired sauce with hints of cinnamon and mint--quite reminiscent of an Indian tikka masala in flavor. The agnolotti themselves at first seem under cooked, but then you realize that it's a whole grain pasta (whole wheat, I later found out). You do have to work a little to get at the unctuous lamb inside, and the ratio is a little off because that pasta is so delightfully toothsome. Perhaps a little more of the lamb filling would balance that all out. What a stellar dish. In the future, I hope they serve it with their house-made (I assume) pita. You will not want to leave one smidgen of that sauce on the plate. I then asked to try the lamb burger from the "bar menu." I put it in quotes because the menu isn't just for the bar, and the main menu can also be ordered from a bar seat. This burger is, hands down, the best deal going in Wellesley. For $14 you get a lamb burger, ground in house, cooked to your temp (their medium-rare was spot on), with fig jam (a little sweet for me), and served on a house-made English muffin, which is an excellent touch. It also comes with kaseri cheese, which has subtleties in flavor that are completely lost on this burger. They definitely need a different cheese (feta, perhaps?). The burger itself needs to be seasoned before being grilled (just some salt and pepper on the outside), but this is a great burger. This lamb burger comes with one of the most delightful sides I can remember having in a loooong time: chick pea fries. Picture the creamiest hummus you've ever had somehow formed into little square logs and fried to a perfect golden brown. They aren't as garlicky as a traditional hummus, and they could use a hint of salt, but the texture is out of this world. We were then sent the rice pudding for dessert. It had apricots and plums on it, I think. The pudding is made with a hint of cinnamon, which renders the fruit unnecessary. The pudding is a delightful texture, and I don't like rice pudding, so that says a lot. All-in-all, Juniper opens officially this evening, July 9, 2014. They don't take reservations, and it won't take long for you to wish they would. This place is a wonderful addition to an area that has been hungry for a great, comfortable, unusual restaurant. Welcome! read more

I can't believe I hadn't gone here til tonight. The food was amazing. I had the curried cauliflower salad, short rib, and tried both desserts. The date cake was out of this world. I loved that the vibe was glamorous but also casual and comfy. Service was excellent, every person was friendly and helpful. I'd go so far as to say this was the best meal I've had in the Boston area. No lie. read more

Not one negative thing here. Honestly, it's the best Mediterranean food I have ever ever had. Delicious. I got the quinoa falafel, others got the Lamb Bologna's, and my husband got the Lebanese fried rice, I think that's what they called it. They were all so delicious I can't wait to go back. Wow. You will not be disappointed with this place, I guarantee it. Yum read more

I was never a fan of Sweet Basil, however I found the food at Juniper to be excellent. The spreads were amazing with the warm pita. The falefal was amazing, crispy on the outside while hot and soft on the inside. The beef entree was nicely season and cooked. Overall, my dinner companions and I thought the food was excellent. HOWEVER, our server Barbara was awful. She was short with us while taking out order, snapped at my husband thinking he changed his mind, and then we waited close to 40 minutes for our bill. She barely checked on us. She needs to be sent back to customer service training. read more

This is a new restaurant run by the owner of Sweet Basil in Needham. If you've been there, you know what a fine running machine it is with the best food, the best staff and the best vibe of any restaurant, period. Even the sound system is mind blowing. At Juniper you can pick up threads of that throughout the restaurant. I don't know if they're trying to be so different but it certainly is. First, the food is unbelievable. I mean really, it's as mind blowing as Sweet Basil but with a different menu. I've been there twice now and the food is so good, just writing about it I can feel the urge to drive over and have something right now. The staff is another story. I won't go into details, let's just say that the service is remarkably poor. Everyone seems so stressed out and snippy, much more than most restaurants and polar opposite to Sweet Basil's staff that makes you family as soon as you walk in. Also the feel of the place is tense. It's very loud, bring ear protection. I first sat in the main dining room, right under a speaker that blared out really annoying, distorted music. We asked to be moved and decided outside might be quieter but no luck. There were speakers out there too that blared this horrible noise. It really ruined an otherwise perfect experience. I only mention the music because again, Sweet Basil is the polar opposite. There the music is delicately woven into the experience. It's a brilliant and unusual enhancement that makes you feel like you're really out somewhere special. Maybe they want customers to be annoyed and leave early at Juniper for faster turn around, I don't know. Too bad if it is because the food is truly worth going for. I rated it three stars. Five stars for the food but the rest, maybe a two. I'll be going back occasionally, hopefully they'll get their act together and I change my review. read more

Juniper is a local favorite. Unfortunately they do not take reservations, so we go very early on Sat night, on a week night. or for lunch. The Mediterranean food is creative and delicious, as are the cocktails. The interior is delightful. We always start with the three-hummus appetizer as we peruse the menu. read more

Absurdly - no high chair, which ruined our evening. We came here as a family hoping to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday. We were early - 6 PM and were seated promptly. Completely ridiculously they do not have high chairs and offered my 15-month old a wine crate to sit on. As anyone with a child that young will know, not only will a child that age not stay put on said wine crate, but it is downright unsafe. I get it, this restaurant wants to discourage lots of family diners. But the prices do that already. There is no need to make people feel actively unwelcome by not having appropriate seating. The best restaurants around have high chairs. This does not make them kiddie havens but it does make them locations where one is able to celebrate a birthday, graduation or other occasion. The food was fine, but it's difficult to enjoy when you're trying to hold a squirming baby on your lap the whole time. I will not return. read more

Loved both lunch and dinner at Juniper when it first opened. However, the last few dines have been disappointing, and I am looking elsewhere. read more

I love this place it's my third time back however this is the first time I sat at the bar. For the first hour or so it was lovely. And then all of a sudden a big television got turned on. It really affected the ambience of sitting at the bar as I don't see this as a TV sports kind of place. I don't quite understand why a television is necessary and such a beautiful very cool space. There are enough televisions in the world!!!! read more

Home-Run! Visited last week and found this place to be excellent. Good, interesting and well-prepared dishes. Nice atmosphere and good service. Dishes are generous (which is a good thing) so keep this in mind when ordering. No complaints. read more

Finding Juniper in Wellesley is like running into John Huntsman (or your favorite rational, moderate republican) in the Republican Party. For a town known for peddling overpriced garbage as haute cuisine, Juniper blooms refreshing with amazingly inventive takes on mediterranean food in a cozy setting and a super-friendly staff. The pita pieces they serve are succulent, buttery and warm. Probably due to all the butter they ladle on it, but I love it all the same. Their sandwiches are ridiculously tasty and filling. The service is classy and friendly at the same time, not an easy balance to achieve. It is the best kept secret of Wellesley. On second thoughts, I should remove this review just in case my favorite haunt gets crowded with hoi polloi. read more

Called to make a reservation for a party of 6. We were going to celebrate 3 people's birthdays. One of the birthday guests had an expressed an interest in trying out this place. A male answered the phone, and in the most sarcastic voice, said we do not take reservations for parties less than 8. I said OK, would they make an exception. He said no. He then went on to state that if we wanted, we should come early, and that they would push tables together for us. Excuse me??? Well, after that rudeness that this we will never go there and will tell all of our members on Face book to stay away. Unless of course they want to speak with a rude and sarcastic brat. We have a dinner club where we visit a different venue each month. Not Juniper. Do not need to be chastised by some entitled wanna be. And I just received a comment from a Michael D. in Boston, MA who used threats and profanity. He has been reported to the police. read more

If you like Sweet Basil in Needham, you will love this place. Went there Saturday for girls night out dinner. The decor is more upscale than Basil, but waitresses are casual in jeans. We had three of the spreads, I had the lamb ravioli, very delicious, and split the chocolate mousse dessert. Service excellent. The only bummer is no reservations. But since we went at 5 o'clock, we sat down right away. read more

Juniper's menu offers riffs on a vaguely Middle Eastern theme without being bound by it, just as Sweet Basil is vaguely Italian. What Dave Becker gets is how to make a restaurant feel warm, friendly, intimate, energetic and fun, and how to put out food that's just inventive enough to feel interesting while remaining reasonably simple, hearty, and comfortable, and relentlessly delicious (and always served in generous proportions). Everything we ate here worked beautifully: The 3 dips we had--eggplant, fava and red pepper/pecan--were intensely flavored without any of the sharp edges you might hit in traditional Middle Eastern versions. The pork belly was served cubed, seared to a near-char on top, closer to rare deep down, and well-complemented by the slightly sweet sauce and slices of something I couldn't identify but that offered a nice contrast in texture and flavor. The chicken tagine provided two braised thighs, perfectly flavored and textured, on a bed of some of the best couscous (the Israeli, or larger-grained, style) I've ever had, bursting with flavor and perfectly al dente. The seafood couscous included a wonderful mix of seafood along with some bits of terrific lamb sausage--I thought the grilled octopus was a particular standout in the mix, but it was all very, very good. The brioche bread pudding dessert was a very nice variation on the dish. We started off with a fermata gin cocktail, fruity and yet only slightly sweet, which worked well. The beer list offered a good variety of about 15 beers, nicely representing a range of some of the best craft beers made, including some heavily hopped and/or high-ABV beers. The wine list was more extensive, and featured a large number of nice and reasonably priced by-the-glass options. As with Sweet Basil, Juniper's staff is friendly, helpful, knowledgable, efficient, and just plain likable. I've never encountered anyone on the staff of either place whom I wouldn't want to join me at the table, and I don't often feel that way at restaurants. As has long been true with Sweet Basil, If you don't get your name in here for a table by 6 PM or so, you may have to wait a long time, and you might not find a spot in the restaurant in which to kill an hour or two. But maybe that adds to the experience--any place this jammed must be great, right? In this case: Yes. It's well worth the wait. And having a chance to let your appetite build will help you with those portion sizes. read more

The food and service here are both spectacular. The dips and pita are incredible, as are the slow cooked lamb ribs. We sat on the patio with our dog and the entire staff was cheerful and uber dog friendly. Highly recommend. read more

I was part of a 10 person party who went here on 1/29/17. This was most of the parties first time. One couple have been here before. The place is awesome. It started with the service at the bar, the bard tender was very friendly and helpful. We took his suggesting for the house drink that has tequila infused with habanero pepper , it was delicious. Our server at the table was also very helpful and friendly. I enjoyed the mussels and the Lebanese Rice , so good. Everyone in our group loved their meal choices. I have told many people I work with how good this place is. The only suggestion we have is that when you are sitting in the back dining room it is very hard to read the menu as it is prey dark. We all had to use our cell phone lights. Maybe candles on the table? We will be back soon! read more

Just left this place and had to immediately write a review when I got home. It far exceeded any and all expectations. From the host, to the waitress, and some awesome guy named Phil, I've never had friendlier service. The amazing food and flavors just add to this amazing restaurant. Thank you for a wonderful meal! read more

How insulting, "I'm not an ambulance driver", really? As a Metrowest Paramedic for over 20 years, your NOT funny. EMTs and Paramedics do a whole lot more than just drive. After the snooty attitude and unfriendly poor service I'd rather take my hard earned money and family elsewhere. read more

Likes: -Great patio atmosphere with little glass lights strung up outside, nice ambiance -Tasty dips/spreads, yummy toasted pita, fresh local greens and produce. I'd certainly recommend the food after trying some dips and mezze. -Interesting wine list -Friendly service -Fills the need for a cute spot in town to grab a drink with a friend/go on a local date Dislikes/Opportunities to improve: -The patio only has 6 or so tables, most of which are for 4. It seems to make sense to get more out of the space by adding more small tables for 2 to speed up the wait, which can be long even on a weeknight. -Slow bar service -- took awhile to be acknowledged and then served water, even after making eye contact with someone drying glasses....who kept drying glasses instead of coming over. -Price is high for the value. I'm willing to pay more for local, quality ingredients (yay! Glad to see this on the menu) but I think $12 for a small appetizer-size salad WITHOUT protein is absurd. Yes, I know this place is in Wellesley. Still absurd. read more

Nice place! Ambience is good and food is even better. I had the chicken schnitzel and my husband got lamb bolognese. Both dishes were rich and tasty, next time we will be splitting the entrees as their dips with pita are worth your appetite. Its a little pricey but totally worth it for a special occasion. PS: my husband got some drink.. Sun tiger, that was the only thing we didnt like. read more

I don't review restaurants that often, but I don't often get to have a meal like this. First, the restaurant is lovely. We got there on the early side on a beautiful Saturday night and only had a 20 minute wait. Just enough time to have some great drinks at the bar. Service is outstanding- and very knowledgeable too. We had the octopus starter and the seared manchego. The manchego was completely incredible. Dinners- I had the lamb bolognese- it's like Indian food meets Italian comfort and just holy cow, the most delicious thing ever. Husband had Kakavia- he said it was fresh and a bit spicy. Dessert was the showstopper- Salted Caramel Budino. You could taste cardamom and salt an caramel and chocolate. I can't EVEN. Can't wait to go back! read more

I have been to Juniper several times now and have never left disappointed. The staff is friendly and welcoming and the food is outstanding. In my opinion it beats Blue Ginger for the premium option in Wellesley. Very happy to have it in town and I can't wait to go back. read more

When we walked up to the window, the rain had made it so that our vision was reduced to what was directly in front of us. We had only looked at the menu for a second before the host--a relatively young man in his thirties--popped his head out the door and said genuinely, "Come on in it's delicious." So we did. We were not disappointed. I ordered the lentil soup and my friend ordered the chicken pâté for appetizers. We were surprised at how hardy the lentil soup felt combined with sliced tomatoes and bit sized pieces of octopus. On top was a balsamic reduction that added life to what would otherwise have been a heavy dish. A similar structure was to be found in the chicken pâté: an earthy substrate brightened with pomegranate syrup. In both cases, it felt as though the meal's region of origin was one where sustenance is essential, but where miracles like pomegranates still grow. It seemed to impart even an idea of how said cultures might have visualized life with an earthy tone highlighted by a thin layer of sweetness. Then came the kakavia, which we split. Neither of us drink, so that was not a topic. The color composition was very well thought out; there was a melange of red and orange hues held in the bottom by the whiteness of the bowl. The black muscles seemed themselves to have absorbed, like rocks, the space that they were placed into and much like a sea shore, where the taste and texture of the sea had washed up onto the place. The muscles seemed to solidify the dish and counteract the otherwise liquidus tendencies. We found the brininess from the seafood combined with the acidity of the tomatoes and the fire of the red chili flakes, creating a satisfying and plentiful experience. The potatoes was hardy and rustic without being distracting or overstating. It was a perfect compliment to the dish. The cute guy with the glasses said that if we come back again, we needed to try the date cake for dessert. We will. Signed, Max and Lucy *Constructive Criticisms: If the coat rack had been a man, he would have been humped back and greatly distressed under his load. There was no category that the music could belong to. There was no aesthetic to hold onto. While a hodgepodge of music can be beautiful, this instance cheapened the atmosphere. Jazz or a genre to enhance the feeling of satisfaction or "enough" should have been playing. read more

We are Sweet Basil regulars, so we had high hopes going in to Juniper. We went 5 days after opening and had a great meal. No BYOB here, but that's ok. Considering they just opened, everything was great. The restaurant was a bit loud even though it wasn't super crowded, but the food was delicious. We will definitely be back. read more

I can really give 2 stars with this place. Sweet Basil used to be great, it also has gone down in food quality, probably different chef. Back to Juniper: To me, what bring a customer back to the restaurant really down to food quality/taste, service, price, or any special experiences. This place provide nothing mentioned above. Food is ok, eatable but nothing special about it. Tried 3 plates to test it out to give it a good sampling for the chef skills. Service is in border line, very nice people, it brings Sweet Basil style of service which is very casual but missing details. Works for Sweet basil but not in Juniper in my opinion. Look at how much they charge for food. I can name few other restaurants(same price range) near by easily have much better food and services. (51 Lincoln, Sycamore, alta Strad). I would not recommend Sweet basil or Cafe Mangal these days either. For pasta, Fiorella's is great place to go and much lower price. Next need to try out Bocado. read more

Best Mediterranean food I have ever had! We ordered a bunch of the small dishes and they all tasted amazing. That, when combined with the five star service and cozy feel makes this place perfect for a date in the town or a drink with your girlfriend. Highly highly recommend! read more

4th time here and each time gets better. Atmosphere dark and comfortable, service knowledgeable and friendly, and the food outstanding. The combination of flavors thoughtfully blended in each dish is impressive. Of course you may not like everything, but there is enough variety to please everyone. Wine selection adequate, craft cocktails unusual but consistently good. Winners: Chicken tagine, charred octopus, lamb kofta and the machengo with honey. Definitely worth a try. read more

A party of six of us went to dinner on a Thursday night. We had an 8:15pm reservation and although the place was packed our table was ready for us just about on time. The manager personally brought me around the restaurant to look for my friends when I was the first to arrive at 8, and then suggested I wait at the bar until our table was ready - he even found me an empty seat and made sure the bar tender knew I was there. After a quick glass of the Argentina Cab (good choice) my friends arrived and we were seated. Our server was kind, quick and efficient, told us the specials and suggested wines (she was vey knowledgable on the differences between each). We order the fried cheese appetizer and between us we tried a good portion of the menu - chopped salad, lentil soup special, chicken, scallops, mussels, ribeye...) and there were no complaints. Everything was okay and the portions were decent, but it wasn't anything amazing - just basically good food. No complaints, no exclamations of amazement at the taste. At the end of the night the bartender and manager came over and gave all of my friends and I a round of dessert wine, on the house. They also told us to stay as long as we liked. (We closed the place down!) I'm giving 4 Stars because of the combination of good atmosphere, very good staff (genuinely kind and attentive and customer-oriented) and pretty yummy food. read more

One of the best restaurants in Wellesley. The bar menu is a great way to get a very nice meal at a great price. The shawarma is the best thing on the bar menu. They also have a terrific dinner menu and the octopus is a must. The best part of this place is the cocktails though. A great place in Wellesley to get a very nice craft cocktail. read more

I absolutely loved this place. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could. The menu is so eclectic and original. The service is spot on. The decor needs a facelift and the dessert menu is a bit lacking. Otherwise I will 100% be coming back read more

I love Sweet Basil, sister restaurant to Juniper, this however is dark and gloomy but the reason for the poor review - the staff have serious attitude. I run a guesthouse and have also removed it from my guest recommendations. read more

Greatest restaurant experience I've ever had! Nicest staff, accommodated my allergy, and great food! I work next door and it's a pleasure being their neighbor :) read more

Consistently great crafted cocktails. Sit at the bar and the bartenders (Kevin, Ashley and CJ) will find you something great. Get an order of dips and buttered pita slices while having cocktails. The dip choices change but the potato and red pepper ones are my favorites. read more

Juniper is a fine restaurant. Three of us went for dinner. The service was great, the staff were helpful, the ambiance lovely, and the food excellent. But the portions were TOO BIG. Arriving at around 7PM on a Tuesday evening, the Juniper wasn't particularly crowded. But the place filled up, both inside and out, and when we left an hour or so later, it was truly bustling. A different experience than what I've seen elsewhere in Metrowest, and kinda nice. We had the Skordalia (potato and almond dip with pita), Lentil Soup, Schnitzel, Chicken Tagine, and Shortrib. All were attractively presented and delicious. The chicken could have used a little less salt. However - there was simply too much food. We had no room for dessert (not that that's a deal-breaker). The dip had too much bread. I only finished about half of my soup (it was an appetizer). If we had finished sharing the dip and I'd finished my soup, that would have felt like a full meal. Nobody could come close to finishing their entrée. We left with a whole lot of doggie bags, and I (who have quite a keen hunger) felt like I'd overeaten. Some people will appreciate the generous portions. I'd have preferred it if they'd cut down the portion size substantially, and lower the price a bit. My entrée (shortrib) looked good on the plate, but in a doggie bag the components would just get mushed together into a big gooey mess. That is the first time I've used the word 'components' in a restaurant review. One member of our party said that Juniper reminded her of Oleana in Cambridge. That's true in atmosphere, menu, and service. But you can leave Oleana still hungry, unless you eat their Baked Alaska. read more

Love, love, love Juniper! The food is delicious and the restaurant itself is intimate and impeccably designed! Can't say enough good things.

One of our favorites for lunch. Great food and staff. Too crowded at dinner time though and no reservations

Juniper is a consistent favorite for both lunch and dinner. Service is attentive and friendly. For lunch you can't go wrong with the Lamb Burger -- but I also love the Shish Taouk Wrap as well as the Hibiscus Lemonade. I found the falafel a bit dry. The homemade dips are all delicious with the star being the Muhummara. For dinner, the Schniztel is the shiz. The Lebanese fried rice would be better as a side rather than a main. Reservations are suggested for dinner as it gets busy. read more

Went to Sweet Basil's sister restaurant last night. Dave and his crew really created a stellar restaurant in Wellesley. The decor and ambience puts you in the mood to having a great night out. The menu was a unique twist on Mediterranean food. It was a stellar menu (everything looked yummy) and portions were plentiful as his food at Sweet Basil. Lamb Tatar and Octopus are amazing!!! read more

This place is great, the atmosphere is very cozy. I don't normally drink but I do like their selection of cocktail. Went there on Friday night last week and every table is full. The most impressive thing that i love their sauce, heathy but tasty selection. read more

I love it here. The food is fantastic, and the cocktail program is one of the most creative I have seen. The Deep Woods & Electric Wizard are great. They have a very nice selection behind the bar, and the staff are warm & friendly! read more