The Juniper Bistro
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We dined on a Thursday night. The restaurant is inside the hotel. It has a quiet, serene vibe--a perfect way to end the evening after a long day on the slopes! There were a good amount of gluten free options-- We had the bbq bison short rib, fried chicken over kimchi, and a radicchio salad. Everything was perfection, tasty, unique. Service was wonderful. Restaurant was clean and beautiful. Will be back!
This is an AWFUL, AWFUL place to start your vacation, because after this, all other places will pale in consideration. We ordered the Baked Gooseberry Brie, Tarragon Tzatziki Dip, Bison Short Rib, Steelhead Trout, Double-Layered Pistachio Cake, and Grilled Peach & Dark Chocolate Mousse. We were a party of 6 and we had our meal family style, since the server had said these were "meals to share" or something like that. More on that later. Our favorite dish was the steelhead trout - it was melt in your mouth buttery. No weird fish flavors, just goodness. The brie was also good. The tzatziki dip was the most disappointing - it had a nice presentation, but it didn't taste like anything special. I couldn't taste the rose flavoring in the pistachio cake, but it was a well-made, moist cake anyway. The peach was OK too, but it was hard to discriminate the "ancho pepper powder - a spice that adds a complex umami flavor with hints of sweetness, bitterness, acidity, and saltiness". Overall though, the food was very good and was the baseline for Alberta vacation. We did order other fish dishes on our trip, and the trout dish was by far the best. Maybe even #1 of all dishes I had. The host and server were both professional and friendly. I think a different server even came by the table because he recognized some of the other members in the party from a year ago. What I didn't like was that although the meals were advertised or encouraged by the server as "meals to share", they really aren't. They're really designed to be enjoyed by a single person. No serve ware was provided and I was too lazy to put in the effort to ask for extra serve ware. The dishes are also hard to divvy up, so it really doesn't make any sense. On our vacation, I did notice a lot of Asian groups who are traditionally more accustomed to "Family style" dining where meals are shared for the whole table. So I wonder if the businesses are adapting to their customers, especially because other restaurants of similar ilk offered the same thing (they provided serve ware, but the meals really aren't made for sharing). Or is this some new fad? So if you want to be chic or hip or whatever is the new word to describe that, you say "meals to share". Or maybe this is a Canadian thing. I don't know, but if restaurants are going to encourage this, they should make the meals easy to break apart and provide the proper flatware for the patrons to do so.
Views were incredible here but the food was very mediocre. Our potato's that were called "hash" were undercooked and my French toast was cold. The only thing I enjoyed from my meal was the chai latte. It was one of the most disappointing meals we had in Banff.
Stopped for breakfast and really enjoyed it overall. I had the waffle and a vanilla latte -- both were good and beautifully presented. The food took a little while to come out. There were plenty of great savory options on the menu too. Our server was very funny and made the experience even better, and the views from the restaurant were absolutely beautiful. Would come back to dinner nextime
Juniper Bistro is, without question, one of the best dining experiences we had in Banff and frankly, one of the best breakfasts we've had anywhere. We were on our honeymoon and ended up dining at Juniper three separate times during our trip. That alone should say something. The food quality, consistency, and service were exceptional every single visit. Our server, Hera, delivered service that genuinely surpassed what we've experienced at multiple Michelin-starred restaurants. Attentive without hovering, warm, knowledgeable, and effortlessly professional, she made each meal feel special and memorable. On a honeymoon, that level of care matters, and she nailed it. The food deserves its own spotlight. The Eggs Benedict is the best we've ever had. Perfectly executed, balanced, rich without being heavy, and clearly made with intention. The Churro French Toast is unforgettable: indulgent, crisp, soft, and expertly seasoned. Every dish felt thoughtfully crafted, not just "good for a hotel restaurant," but genuinely outstanding by any standard. We regularly dine at Michelin-recognized restaurants, and while Juniper Bistro is not Michelin-listed, the food quality here was better than many Michelin meals we've had. That's not hyperbole, it's an honest comparison.
The price was exorbitant for the flavors presented. The freshness of the food itself was good, but the bland taste was difficult to elude. Sauces were abundant, almost as if the dish relied on the sauce to cover from the lack of seasonings. The old fashioned was not an old fashioned. This seems to be a common theme in the area though. I had asked for a different whiskey and it wasn't until the end while paying that I was informed that I get charged double for using a different whiskey, turning a $16 old fashioned into a $39 random charge for a glass of whiskey and some syrup. Had also ordered the 20 day dry aged Ribeye mid rare, but what I received was eerily close to a New York strip that was medium to medium well, chewy, no marbling, no different from a cut of steak you could procure from a local chain and cook the same day. Hope others have a better experience than I, but if you're looking for a recommendation, stick to BlueBird Steakhouse.
Disappointing experience as service to my table was forced and insincere. I came during late lunch with plenty of open tables. Once settled in our table, the waiter quickly gave us the menus then provided still water without saying anything. Same with taking our orders, the waiter seemed to be rushing us and kept trying to leave without us finishing saying our orders. When he brought our food to the table, he literally dropped my plate in front of me which made me jump because it was placed so loudly. As other groups came in, I noticed his personality change when talking to them. He introduced himself, asked for still or sparking water, and had great enthusiasm throughout their meal. Food was ok but not worth coming back with the weird service.
We used the OpenTable app to make reservations for four weeks in advance. We read wonderful reviews about this Michelin chef and understand that the views here can't be beat. Claes our waiter from Denmark was on point. We started with wine & appetizers. We shared crab croquettes & butternut squash pesto. For an entree we shared roast duck & a berry compote meringue dessert. Everything was delicious. The carrots were like candy, they were delicious, but my brussels sprouts are better.
Breath taking views and peaceful brunch. We came for a birthday brunch and enjoyed the make your own mimosas and eggs. Highly recommend the mimosas for the value and fun of making your mix! The short ribs eggs Benedict was very good. Tender short rib topped with a poached egg. The egg portion is not that large, mostly potatoes but overall would recommend. The staff is super friendly and helpful. They are more than happy to snap some group photos of your table to take advantage of the amazing view from the patio. I would definitely recommend this spot to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Banff and enjoy a quality meal with an amazing view!
Food just okay, not delicious. I didnt care for fry bread as base for eggs benedict, though others might. View from indoors lovely, but outdoor highway traffic sounds detract. Service - nice but understaffed. Barista did great job of cappuccinos.
The main reason we came here was because of the amazing dishes that were posted on Yelp. But be warned, the menu changes daily and we must have been unfortunate to come on a day with some boring options on the menu. My children are well-versed in fine dining, but they really didn't care for anything on the menu. I think the best feature of this place was the view of the mountains which was gorgeous. It is located a bit north of the main town so you probably need a car to get there. It is located inside the hotel which was very rustic and dated. The servers clearly tried to be helpful, but they were somehow lacking in fine dining skills that accompany the prices of this establishment. Also, be forewarned: I order a dish called King scallops on the menu, but didn't see that was supposed to be a vegan option. I wish the server had pointed that out when I ordered it. So you can imagine my surprise when the dish came out and it was mushrooms. Also, if they were trying to imitated King scallops, those suckers were not even close...more like bay scallops. I suppose it is great they offer the vegan options, but those would have been some $40 mushrooms and way overpriced in my opinion. I was really hoping to enjoy this place, but it was ultimately disappointing. I won't say that we got food poisoning there, but all of us had stomach pains for a couple days after eating here. Too bad. I had such high hopes from previous reviews.
You can't beat the views - they have blankets if it gets cold. However, service is super slow - too many customers table for the amount of servers there were. Good thing, the view makes up for it.
We were on vacation during Thanksgiving this year, and decided to visit because of their turkey feature and fixed prix menu. We were also pleased with our server. We first started with a salad, mashed potatoes, root vegetables to share, the turkey and brisket entrees were also great. Cocktail and mocktail were tasteless, and we did not enjoy the dessert- apple pie and pumpkin Panna cotta.
The espresso martini reminded me of Viet coffee. If you love coffee, then you'll enjoy it. It was not sweet at all but still delicious. I liked that it had 3 beans. The view is so nice here. You can even go outside and take more photos. I recommend the churro french toast. It's a little sweet but still has good flavor. The braised Alberta short rib eggs benedict were also really good. Jeremy was a great server. read more
Had a couples breakfast here on our last day in Banff. Service was very attentive and the views from our table were stunning...but the food was just average. I ordered their Mushroom and sage benedict dish which came with a small mixed greens salad in a very light dressing. Both the salad and the benedict dish lacked any real depth of flavor, and although both were made from very fresh ingredients I was disappointed that neither had any "punch". Maybe i just needed to try another dish on the menu? Unsure, but wish it had been a better meal experience. read more
If you don't want to shell out hundreds for a sky dining experience or somewhere nice with views, this place is it. While still pricy in comparison to a handful of restaurants in Banff and especially in Calgary, this is one of the better valued places that offer beautiful views of the rockies. We did not make a reservation since OpenTable says outdoor patio is first come first served, so we walked in and chanced at the waitlist. We were initially seated further from the mountains so we requested the table directly overlooking the mountains, and they lied that there were reservations coming (I take off 1 star for the dishonesty). With a minimal wait of 2 min, we eventually got seated at a nice table directly overlooking the mountains, so what "reservation" haha We got the Juniper benny trio and chose bison short rib, salmon, and mushroom. 3 for 33 CAD is pricy for very tiny eggs benedict but you are kind of paying for the view. We also got a pot of tea for 10 CAD which was pretty good - we asked for milk and honey that was included in the price. The bennies were good - I liked the bison short rib as it is fairly unique, and the others were good but did not stand out as much. Overall, okay pricing but good value for a restaurant with a view (as long as you can sit outside), with solid food options. read more
We dined on a Thursday night. The restaurant is inside the hotel. It has a quiet, serene vibe--a perfect way to end the evening after a long day on the slopes! There were a good amount of gluten free options-- We had the bbq bison short rib, fried chicken over kimchi, and a radicchio salad. Everything was perfection, tasty, unique. Service was wonderful. Restaurant was clean and beautiful. Will be back! read more
1 year ago
This is an AWFUL, AWFUL place to start your vacation, because after this, all other places will pale in consideration. We ordered the Baked Gooseberry Brie, Tarragon Tzatziki Dip, Bison Short Rib, Steelhead Trout, Double-Layered Pistachio Cake, and Grilled Peach & Dark Chocolate Mousse. We were a party of 6 and we had our meal family style, since the server had said these were "meals to share" or something like that. More on that later. Our favorite dish was the steelhead trout - it was melt in your mouth buttery. No weird fish flavors, just goodness. The brie was also good. The tzatziki dip was the most disappointing - it had a nice presentation, but it didn't taste like anything special. I couldn't taste the rose flavoring in the pistachio cake, but it was a well-made, moist cake anyway. The peach was OK too, but it was hard to discriminate the "ancho pepper powder - a spice that adds a complex umami flavor with hints of sweetness, bitterness, acidity, and saltiness". Overall though, the food was very good and was the baseline for Alberta vacation. We did order other fish dishes on our trip, and the trout dish was by far the best. Maybe even #1 of all dishes I had. The host and server were both professional and friendly. I think a different server even came by the table because he recognized some of the other members in the party from a year ago. What I didn't like was that although the meals were advertised or encouraged by the server as "meals to share", they really aren't. They're really designed to be enjoyed by a single person. No serve ware was provided and I was too lazy to put in the effort to ask for extra serve ware. The dishes are also hard to divvy up, so it really doesn't make any sense. On our vacation, I did notice a lot of Asian groups who are traditionally more accustomed to "Family style" dining where meals are shared for the whole table. So I wonder if the businesses are adapting to their customers, especially because other restaurants of similar ilk offered the same thing (they provided serve ware, but the meals really aren't made for sharing). Or is this some new fad? So if you want to be chic or hip or whatever is the new word to describe that, you say "meals to share". Or maybe this is a Canadian thing. I don't know, but if restaurants are going to encourage this, they should make the meals easy to break apart and provide the proper flatware for the patrons to do so. read more
Views were incredible here but the food was very mediocre. Our potato's that were called "hash" were undercooked and my French toast was cold. The only thing I enjoyed from my meal was the chai latte. It was one of the most disappointing meals we had in Banff. read more
Stopped for breakfast and really enjoyed it overall. I had the waffle and a vanilla latte -- both were good and beautifully presented. The food took a little while to come out. There were plenty of great savory options on the menu too. Our server was very funny and made the experience even better, and the views from the restaurant were absolutely beautiful. Would come back to dinner nextime read more
7 months ago
Juniper Bistro is, without question, one of the best dining experiences we had in Banff and frankly, one of the best breakfasts we've had anywhere. We were on our honeymoon and ended up dining at Juniper three separate times during our trip. That alone should say something. The food quality, consistency, and service were exceptional every single visit. Our server, Hera, delivered service that genuinely surpassed what we've experienced at multiple Michelin-starred restaurants. Attentive without hovering, warm, knowledgeable, and effortlessly professional, she made each meal feel special and memorable. On a honeymoon, that level of care matters, and she nailed it. The food deserves its own spotlight. The Eggs Benedict is the best we've ever had. Perfectly executed, balanced, rich without being heavy, and clearly made with intention. The Churro French Toast is unforgettable: indulgent, crisp, soft, and expertly seasoned. Every dish felt thoughtfully crafted, not just "good for a hotel restaurant," but genuinely outstanding by any standard. We regularly dine at Michelin-recognized restaurants, and while Juniper Bistro is not Michelin-listed, the food quality here was better than many Michelin meals we've had. That's not hyperbole, it's an honest comparison. read more
The price was exorbitant for the flavors presented. The freshness of the food itself was good, but the bland taste was difficult to elude. Sauces were abundant, almost as if the dish relied on the sauce to cover from the lack of seasonings. The old fashioned was not an old fashioned. This seems to be a common theme in the area though. I had asked for a different whiskey and it wasn't until the end while paying that I was informed that I get charged double for using a different whiskey, turning a $16 old fashioned into a $39 random charge for a glass of whiskey and some syrup. Had also ordered the 20 day dry aged Ribeye mid rare, but what I received was eerily close to a New York strip that was medium to medium well, chewy, no marbling, no different from a cut of steak you could procure from a local chain and cook the same day. Hope others have a better experience than I, but if you're looking for a recommendation, stick to BlueBird Steakhouse. read more
6 months ago
Disappointing experience as service to my table was forced and insincere. I came during late lunch with plenty of open tables. Once settled in our table, the waiter quickly gave us the menus then provided still water without saying anything. Same with taking our orders, the waiter seemed to be rushing us and kept trying to leave without us finishing saying our orders. When he brought our food to the table, he literally dropped my plate in front of me which made me jump because it was placed so loudly. As other groups came in, I noticed his personality change when talking to them. He introduced himself, asked for still or sparking water, and had great enthusiasm throughout their meal. Food was ok but not worth coming back with the weird service. read more
We used the OpenTable app to make reservations for four weeks in advance. We read wonderful reviews about this Michelin chef and understand that the views here can't be beat. Claes our waiter from Denmark was on point. We started with wine & appetizers. We shared crab croquettes & butternut squash pesto. For an entree we shared roast duck & a berry compote meringue dessert. Everything was delicious. The carrots were like candy, they were delicious, but my brussels sprouts are better. read more
2 years ago
Breath taking views and peaceful brunch. We came for a birthday brunch and enjoyed the make your own mimosas and eggs. Highly recommend the mimosas for the value and fun of making your mix! The short ribs eggs Benedict was very good. Tender short rib topped with a poached egg. The egg portion is not that large, mostly potatoes but overall would recommend. The staff is super friendly and helpful. They are more than happy to snap some group photos of your table to take advantage of the amazing view from the patio. I would definitely recommend this spot to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Banff and enjoy a quality meal with an amazing view! read more
11 months ago
Food just okay, not delicious. I didnt care for fry bread as base for eggs benedict, though others might. View from indoors lovely, but outdoor highway traffic sounds detract. Service - nice but understaffed. Barista did great job of cappuccinos. read more
2 years ago
The main reason we came here was because of the amazing dishes that were posted on Yelp. But be warned, the menu changes daily and we must have been unfortunate to come on a day with some boring options on the menu. My children are well-versed in fine dining, but they really didn't care for anything on the menu. I think the best feature of this place was the view of the mountains which was gorgeous. It is located a bit north of the main town so you probably need a car to get there. It is located inside the hotel which was very rustic and dated. The servers clearly tried to be helpful, but they were somehow lacking in fine dining skills that accompany the prices of this establishment. Also, be forewarned: I order a dish called King scallops on the menu, but didn't see that was supposed to be a vegan option. I wish the server had pointed that out when I ordered it. So you can imagine my surprise when the dish came out and it was mushrooms. Also, if they were trying to imitated King scallops, those suckers were not even close...more like bay scallops. I suppose it is great they offer the vegan options, but those would have been some $40 mushrooms and way overpriced in my opinion. I was really hoping to enjoy this place, but it was ultimately disappointing. I won't say that we got food poisoning there, but all of us had stomach pains for a couple days after eating here. Too bad. I had such high hopes from previous reviews. read more
2 months ago
1 year ago
You can't beat the views - they have blankets if it gets cold. However, service is super slow - too many customers table for the amount of servers there were. Good thing, the view makes up for it. read more
1 year ago
We were on vacation during Thanksgiving this year, and decided to visit because of their turkey feature and fixed prix menu. We were also pleased with our server. We first started with a salad, mashed potatoes, root vegetables to share, the turkey and brisket entrees were also great. Cocktail and mocktail were tasteless, and we did not enjoy the dessert- apple pie and pumpkin Panna cotta. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
Had an amazing experience for an anniversary dinner. Our server, Love, had excellent recommendations of the mushrooms and chicken. We enjoyed both! It's also a beautiful spot overlooking a hill and the mountains. Definitely recommend for a nice dinner with great ambiance. read more
Amazing views! Make sure you ask for a table on their outdoor patio. The mountain views are so worth it! We came here for brunch, and it was perfect. My smoked salmon benedict and fresh squeeze OJ with beautiful views was the perfect way to start my day. read more
Exceptional views of Mount Norquay! Even if the food wasn't great, I would have given it 5 stars. Fortunately, the food here is equally good! Our server Clarence was really friendly and chatty - he even offered to take a few pictures of us without us having to ask him. I would come back here in a heartbeat just for the views. read more
We were staying at the Juniper Hotel, in room 110 & the bistro is literally right outside our outdoor patio. It's open for breakfast/brunch then closes and reopens for dinner. It is definitely a must go for food and ambiance! First of all, the view is unmatched. Especially for dinner when the sun is setting. So beautiful. Amy, our server, could have hands down been the best server we've ever encountered. She checked on us in the right times and had a funny story to tell us every time she came by. She was hilarious and full of local knowledge. The food was exceptional. Everything is organic and grown nearby. And it really does come out in the food. The chef even came out and asked if everything was ok. The food was so good! If you're in banff and aren't staying at the Juniper, still come and eat here. You won't regret it! read more
Probably the best breakfast we've had on our month-long trip to Alaska and Western Canada. Liam was our server and was so accommodating and chill! Ask for Liam! Benedict was especially good. Nice Hollandaise and properly poached eggs - cooked but runny. Juniper berry jam brought a sweetness. I really enjoyed the Huevos Ranchero s. Will definitely be back if we're in the area again! read more
2 years ago
Great service and location. Beautiful views from the restaurant with available outdoor seating areas. We thoroughly enjoyed glazed carrots (awesomely sweet with perfect texture of carrots) and the mussels for small plates. The butcher's cut was nicely flavored and it was cooked medium as ordered. read more
This Bistro located at the Juniper Hotel was great. Service was amazing each time my family and I visited. We attend twice for breakfast and once for dinner. The convenience of it was great and we were seated quickly each time. For breakfast we ordered the huevos rancheros and eggs your way. The beans and eggs were cooked perfectly. We also ordered the French toast from the kids menu. For brunch we also ordered the Mimosa your way option which you get a bottle of champagne and 3 juices. The views are also amazing and there is outdoor seating available. The young lady who served us was attentive and polite. I will say the kids menu is quite pricey in my opinion but food is good overall. read more
2 years ago
View is wonderful,food is great, more than these the service is excellent Love to comeback here again We had Huevos Rancheros, Salmon Benny, Alphine Melt. All of them were amazing more than expected!! read more
3 years ago
Everything about this brunch was 10/10! The sunning views, the friendly service, and the delicious food. We came for lunch around 12:30 on a Tuesday in the middle of August. It was relatively quiet, but didn't feel empty. The host sat us at the exact booth outside we wanted, and kindly gave us an overview of the menu. Our server was very sweet and attentive, and when she forgot an ingredient in one of our mimosas (I didn't notice), she let us know and made me another on the house! The quinoa power bowl was a great fresh option to fuel a hard day of hiking, but was on the plainer side. The avocado toast with potatoes was excellent (especially with their homemade hot sauce!) - I got the gluten free bread which wasn't bad. I didn't have the huevos rancheros, but was told they were excellent. Definitely recommend for a fresh and scenic brunch while you're in the area, potentially before or after a visit to Mt. Norquay! read more
This in hotel restaurant is amazing. Although the location is a mile or so from the city center, it's hillside setting provides stunning views of the mountains. The decor is casually elegant, and the staff are very friendly and attentive. The menu is not extensive, but the cuisine is very good. The prices are a good value for the quality. I'm happy I dined here. Five stars. read more
1 year ago
Seriously incredible meal! All the flavors were on point and everything tasted great. In addition, the service was excellent and made sure that we had coffee and water all the time. Everything came out super quick as well. Also, you can't beat the view. Unfortunately we came on a day that it was a bit foggy so it was hard to see. But if you could come when the patio is open and not as foggy, it is incredible. Outside of the view though I'd still give it a 5 out of five because all the food was delicious. read more
Great spot to enjoy a nice meal. I came by for dinner on a Sunday with reservations, though the restaurant wasn't very busy since it was still offseason (early May). The hotel/bistro has a parking lot, so it's easy to access. We were seated right away, and got a table by the window with gorgeous views of the landscape outside. The food here is all locally sourced, including the liquors for the cocktails. The menu changes regularly, but the fries and papardelle I had during my visit were delicious. The fries were more of a steak fry and came with a salsa verde-like sauce. The portions were also larger than I expected, and my group was stuffed after our meal. The service here is great, the hostess Amy took our picture outside and told us some fun stories, and our server Josh gave us great recommendations on what to order. Overall it was a great meal and I'd love to come back. read more
1 year ago
Wow what a restaurant! The Juniper bistro is a must try restaurant in Banff. Located in the beautiful juniper Hotel, the restaurant offers delicious fresh food with an incredible view. The restaurant looks over the mountains. The service was prompt and courteous. We went on a Sunday morning for brunch. Coffee was a bit too much for me with a feeling of burnt coffee. I am not a coffee expert so it didn't impact my review. In addition, the coffee was not bad enough to deserve anything more than 5 stars. I ordered the Avocado toast that comes with delicious Hasbrowns. The toast had loads of avocado and fresh veggies. The non vegan option has a poached egg on top. Because of the great prices, the portions, the view, the flavors and the service I think the Juniper bistro is the best place to go in Banff. read more
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More info about The Juniper Bistro
1 Juniper Way
Banff, AB T1L 1E1
Canada
Directions
(403) 762-2281
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https://thejuniper.com
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