Juniper Bar is a multi-leveled restaurant and sports bar, just steps away from Penn Station and Madison Square Garden. I should have ordered a gin drink as the restaurant is named after the piney flavored berry used to flavor that alcohol, but I went for the spicy special. Those who, like me, enjoy spice should try the piquant jalapeño and cucumber margarita ($11) with Herradura tequila, Cointreau, fresh cucumbers, jalapeños and a splash of orange juice. Loved the peppery kick.

Skip the hearty portions of tacos overflowing with Maine lobster, grilled corn, diced tomatoes and light creme binding it together ($18 or three) as the crustacean was overcooked making it rubbery. Do order the the unusual arugula and pumpkin salad ($13) with avocado, feta cheese, pomegranate seeds and a delicate pear dressing. I’d also suggest the Mediterranean flatbread ($13) topped with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and an arugula salad as it would have been wonderful if the cook hadn’t overcooked it — as also done with many other dishes. Our waitress offered to replace it but we had enough other things to satiate.

The chili-soy glazed ($21) pan-roasted salmon was flavorful but also overcooked. It came with jasmine rice & pickled red onions. Our wild stripped bass ($28), topped with lump crabmeat was also overdone. We best enjoyed the accompaniments of baby rainbow carrots, haricot verde and black forbidden rice. We asked for a small sample of their homemade sweet potato gnocchi ($16) in a sage-flavored brown butter sauce. I’d skip that as they were gummy, not pillowy light. I would order the hand-cut tasty fries with ketchup and a ranch-flavored mayo ($10).

Desserts were good. We sampled the NY style sea-salt caramel cheesecake with caramel brittle and chopped nuts ($10) and the chocolatey Oreo-crusted mud pie with a cappuccino mousse and Bailey’s whipped cream ($10).

I got to thinking that perhaps the chef wasn’t in the kitchen or was having a bad night, as the flavor of all the overcooked dishes were good, but way too many items were overcooked.

Next time I go to this sports bar, I’d just order a burger and fries; it’s more that kind of place.

 

– bonnie

BonnieBOTB
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Juniper Bar
Midtown West
237 West 35th Street,
New York, NY 10001
Juniper Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato