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!
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
10 months ago
We found this place after reading a list of great outdoor dining options in Banff. We were impressed with their brunch menu and booked a reservation. Although we sat indoors, we had a nice view out toward the patio and trees and mountains. Brunch was delicious and the staff were friendly and efficient. We enjoyed the Juniper Benny with rabbit and the salmons benny with, well, you know. After dining, we did wander out to the patio to enjoy the view some more. Would definitely recommend this eatery. read more
2 years ago
The view the food, the staff. All impeccable. It was our best meal in Lake Louise, even better than any of the food served at the Fairmont. I started off with a salad and shared the softened Brie with sweet cranberries on top. I liked it but wished the cheese was more softened and melted. Our server, Orion, was so nice. He took pictures for the customers when a rainbow suddenly popped up after a brief rain. When we complimented the food, he brought Chef Catherine Bohn, the only female executive chef in Banff, over to meet us. She was divine and personable. I saw him being over the chef de cuisine to another table when they also raved about the food. Hubby liked his pork chop a lot. It was moist and flavorful. I settled on a hamburger. I'm not a burger fan and prefer Impossible burgers at home or the rare Habit Burger when out. I took one bite of this burger and I was speechless. Truly one of the best burgers I've eaten and would have made me a burger convert at that moment if all burgers tasted like that. The chocolate tart was delicious and Chef Catherine pointed to the bakery in town where it came from, owned by the same person as the restaurant. We went there for pastries the next AM and they were really good. There's First Nation history to the site of the boutique hotel and restaurant which makes the place even more special. If we return again to Banff in the future, this restaurant is a must for us. read more
4 years ago
Enjoyed everything I ordered! The tomatoe salad was light and refreshing. The Alberta beef was a filet with truffle fries and veggies (asparagus mainly), their red sauce was such a nice compliment to the filet. Pro tio ask for aioli for the fries. The lemon creme brûlée with blueberry ice cream was the perfect ending. My cocktail was the wild mint with vodka (choice of liquor). The views were so nice for sunset. They have parking out front for customers. If you visit in summer, wear bug spray to avoid the mosquitos (true of everywhere outdoors here). read more
2 years ago
One of the top meals we had in Banff at one of the top locations. This casual bistro is not visible from the road and we would have only ever discovered it through Yelp research and a friend pointing us in the direction. We came here for brunch on the last day in Banff because we didn't want to spend any seconds not soaking in the views. Located in a small hotel by camping grounds, this restaurant opens up to a huge back patio that overlooks the mountains. The patio is elevated, making the view even more dramatic. You MUST have a meal here! I ordered the avocado toast, which was more than your average toast. It was topped with half of an avocado, charred corn, a poached egg, local goat cheese, and oven dried tomatoes on sourdough bread. While it was $15, it was more than worth it considering it was a full meal, the view was jaw-dropping and the ingredients were local. I'd highly recommend booking a table on their website or calling ahead to book a spot before going on your trip so you can ensure a seat, specifically one outside. We were lucky that we were there on a weekday and were able to score the last table outside for brunch. Such a chill and wonderful spot! read more
1 year ago
We were trying to cram as much of Banff before going to Lake Louise and every restaurant was booked for 2-4 hrs. There was no where to go. We made a Hail Mary reservation on Opentable and found this place. We pull up an unpaved road off the highway, through a forest to an old spooky motel and got chainsaw movie vibes and said ok, so where else? And realized we didn't have the time for anywhere else if we wanted to make it to Lake Louise and return our car rental on time. We begrudgingly went in and thought, "this will be interesting". Let's just say that the old adage of "don't judge a book by it's cover" couldn't be more applicable than at this place because wow what a great experience. Great service, everyone was attentive and pleasant. The menu offerings were interesting with unique blends. Like the Juniper sage Tea. My friends chose to go with the safer Earl Grey. I chose this Juniper Sage tea and decided this was the worst part of the meal. It initially smells like your grandmother's potpourri and tastes like a Christmas tree if that makes sense. But everything and everyone else was so nice, I didn't want to make a fuss to ask them to change it. So the other girls shared their tea pot with me. Lol The other girls had the Salmon Benny and 2 eggs your way and really all of our plates looked beautiful. I really appreciated the stunning view. We were lucky to have an unobstructed view of the valley by the window. I could see how this place could be a really great date spot. Don't let the initial "Bates Motel" exterior scare you away. The hotel on the inside is updated with modern style and the food and service was excellent. A great spot to get away from crowds of Banff. read more
3 years ago
The food, service and ambience was amazing. The view was jaw-droppingly beautiful. I got the avocado toast with 2 perfectly poached eggs on top and it was incredible. The potatoes were delicious and perfectly cooked also. The coffee with baileys was delicious. Thank you for a great experience. read more
6 years ago
Thank God for Yelp because I found this hidden gem because of Yelp! The view will make your jaw drop. We had the most stunning view while eating breakfast that was out of the hustle and bustle of Banff and more in nature. We got the Juniper Benny which was braised rabbit and eggs benedict on bannock with potatoes on the side. Their hollandaise sauce was great. We also got the Steak and Eggs which was hanger eggs, and hash browns again. It was delicious but the steak was just a touch too overcooked for our liking but still great! Anyways, the menu was so unique, and the surroundings just so beautiful. read more
3 years ago
The scenery is very beautiful.The waiters are very friendly and I would especially recommend the beef that has been cooked for 12 hours at a low temperature. You must try it. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Great place for brunch at Banff-Salmon Benny was excellent, as was the huevos rancheros! Loved the cascade shooting star tea too! And excellent service by Clarence! read more
2 years ago
Great service, good food, and the best espresso martini I've ever had -- Highly recommend trying if in the area!!! read more
3 years ago
This place is amazing with beautiful views of the Banff mountains. We wanted to sit outside but it rained the night before so all the tables were wet, but they sat us next to a window and it was just as amazing. Our server, Clarence, was friendly and knowledgeable with recommendations for us. I started with a strawberry rhubarb mimosa, my friend has a regular mimosa and my husband had the grapefruit juice. We decided to order the stuffed French toast, steak and eggs, juniper Benny and huevos rancheros. We were all saying it was all so good. I recommend making a reservation because there's a reason why this restaurant is on all the trip advisors best restaurant guide. It's a must try when you're in Banff! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Great food! Great service! Great ambiance with beautiful views. All of our food was delicious read more
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
We visited this place again on our second trip to Banff 5 years later and food is still amazing! Service very polite and the views are amazing. On open table though it said it was fully booked between 6-8 but it wasn't. So I suppose if you want to book a table you are better off calling instead. Parking is plenty and available for free. If you are visiting Banff you won't go wrong having an awesome meal here read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
This review covers only the brunch experience! Located in Juniper Hotel on the outskirts of Banff, Juniper Bistro is a nice escape away from the tourist crowds. It offers lovely outdoor seating and yummy food. Our group of 6 came here a week ago - we were seated on the patio which offers umbrellas to shade from the sun while still allowing you to enjoy views of the mountains and Bow River. The food is a little pricey but enjoyable. I got the smoked salmon benedict - good portion and came with their in-house smoked salmon and a side of potatoes (crunchy and not too greasy). My friends got a variety of salads which they enjoyed and the stuffed French toast which was a hit! Food came out quickly and our server was lovely. read more
2 years ago
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4 years ago
A great spot! The summertime patio views of Banff and the mountains are terrific. The food is great and the staff are friendly and helpful. I really enjoyed our brunch here! read more
On Valentine's Day, the BF and I ventured to the Juniper Bistro in Banff for dinner, because where is more romantic than the good ol' mountain town of Banff? For a while, I've wanted to do a shout out to Juniper Bistro. It's off the beaten path, about two kilometer from Banff but it's worth going a few minutes out of the way. I've been there for brunch, lunch and now dinner and it's always been exceptional on every level. RATING: 9/10 - The Juniper Restaurant It all started with a cocktail! I ordered the Juniper Sour--refreshing and the perfect balance of sweet and sour. Definitely missed crafted cocktails during lockdown and this drink reminded me why. The BF got a booze-forward drink which was smoked under a cedar block, not my thing but he sure looked happy as he sipped away. For dinner, it was the gnocchi that caught my attention--with feta, arugula and lamb neck. You heard that right. Lamb neck because why not? Lamb is one of those things I almost never have at home but like to indulge in every now and again, but I've NEVER tried the neck. It was a fattier piece of meat, melt in your mouth tender. It had a stronger taste than other parts of the lamb but it was beautifully counterbalanced by fresh arugula, earthy gnocchi and creamy feta. I adored this dish and it was an experience I know I couldn't have anywhere else. Dessert was also in order and it had to be the Bannock Bites. Imagine doughy, deep fried dumplings sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and plated with custard and fresh berries. These babies reminded me of mini donuts at the Stampede. I couldn't stop eating them. The staff were lovely and warm. As always, Juniper Bistro delivered an extraordinary dining experience that I will not soon forget. I love how versatile Juniper is--the perfect stop on your next outdoor adventure or for a special occasion. read more
Made a reservation to the Juniper Bistro days in advance. I'm so glad we did. The Juniper has an ideal location with some fantastic views of Banff. Pretty much every table in the restaurant has a great view of the outdoors. Arrived at the Juniper and COVID protocols are well in place. Arrows on the floor and signs, which is a good thing. The host was very friendly and took us to our table along the windows. Our server was by quickly and took our order. We went with the French Toast and the Salmon/Eggs benny. Both were delish ! The French Toast had bree and apple compote which paired perfectly with the french toast. The Smoked Salmon was so good with the eggs benedict. Overall, the food is excellent, service was fantastic, and the views are undeniably some of the best you can get. The Juniper Bistro is a bit pricey, but then again so are most places in Banff and to top it off, you get some fantastic views ! Can't wait to go back. read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
I would like to give the Juniper Bistro a higher review because I love the hotel, the staff and the venue, but sadly the food in the Bistro is not worthy of more than an "OK" rating. Their spin on traditional dishes is simply uneven, with flavours which are either overdone and overwheming, or straight-up clash. Case in point, the pulled pork poutine. It is so SO sweet, it's repulsive. Honestly I could barely swallow the single bite I took. I hate sweet pulled pork to begin with, but add on top of that sweet congealed barbeque sauce, sweet caramelized onions and a topping of sweet chopped gherkins...GAH! Just NO, massive fail. I appreciate trying to be different and keeping things homemade, but it was a flavour disaster. I tried to express this in a diplomatic way to the manager "it's just not to my taste...", but what I got was defensiveness and zero eye contact. Ok then, keep it up and see where it takes you I guess. Another example is the stuffed french toast. Take a sweet french toast, add candied nuts and a sweet apricot coulis, and then top it with... frissé salad with a mustard vinegar dressing? Um, wut? This combo just doesn't work, not sure what they were thinking with that one. I rescued said salad from my partner's plate and added it to my smashed avocado toast, which was really dull and needed a flavour punch. That and my "blistered" tomatoes were cold, chopped up directly from the fridge and placed on the avocado. Not impressive, at all. I also found the brown butter "hash" to have a bad flavour combo: sweet brown butter with savoury chunky hash browns and fried onions. Again, the flavours compete and clash instead of being complimentary. Not a bad price for food in a tourist town, but I'd recommend sticking to their drinks and dining elsewhere. The Tasty Rhubarb cocktail was delicious, as was the French 75, highly recommended. The Whiskey Sour with bourbon was definitely sour as advertised, be forewarned. read more
3 years ago
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3 years ago
So glad we made the short drive from downtown Banff to Juniper! Beautiful outdoor terrace, wonderful food, and friendly service. Can't beat it! Highly recommend read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
We stayed at the hotel but it's about a 15-20 min walk from downtown Banff and a great little getaway from the crowds. Breakfast was delicious, even something seemingly as simple as Two Eggs Your Way was amazing. The steak and eggs was as well. The staff was super friendly (shout out to Josh!) and the drinks were delicious. A bit out of the way for most but definitely worth a visit. read more
2 years ago
More info about The Juniper Bistro
1 Juniper Way
Banff, AB T1L 1E1
Canada
Directions
(403) 762-2281
Call Now
Visit Website
https://thejuniper.com
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Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
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