Juniper, the high-end Italian restaurant helmed by executive chef Nicholas Yanes, opens today. Yanes, formerly a chef and creative director for Uchi restaurants, plans to offer innovative and modern twists on Italian fare, inspired by his travels through northern Italy.
Eater photographer Robert J. Lerma got a peek inside the elegant new space on Austin’s East Side. Christopher Sanders of Sanders Architecture served as the principal architect, while Mark Cravotta designed the interior using a mostly cool color palate inspired by the juniper tree. The eye-catching space mixes natural wood elements with industrial edges. A lush blue banquette runs through the middle of the dining area, and an artistic rendering of the restaurant’s namesake tree graces the wall. Front and back patios provide a place for outdoor dining and drinking.
The menu is still secret but Juniper teased photos of a few dishes, including puffy potatoes with whipped mustard and chicken liver mousse with cured grapefruit and pistachio pimenton. In addition to creative Italian food, Juniper’s cocktail program will be focused on gin (which gets its flavor from the juniper berry). Update, October 14: Check out the full menu below.
— Claire Canavan
