FOODIE DIARIES - Juniper on the Water
About Juniper on the Water
Tucked away on the Intracoastal and off the beaten path, Juniper immediately won us over with its absolutely gorgeous views of the waterway, which took our breath away. It was like stepping into an idyllic scene from Southampton: Intimate, minimal decoration, and wood rafters and floors, provide an almost rustic atmosphere that was very inviting. The light colors combined with the open floor plan created a casual European elegance that immediately made us feel right at home. Aside from the main dining area, we noticed a fabulous bar area that’s ideal for Happy Hour, which we fully intend to return for. Another big plus is that the water taxi stops at Juniper, making it a convenient destination when planning a cultural outing on the water.
Starters
Burrata Salad
We kicked things off with this fabulous mix of burrata cheese, farm fresh tomatoes, and micro basil, with a sherry vinaigrette over mixed greens. The burrata cheese, in particular, was very fresh and creamy, filled with melt-in-your-mouth goodness!
Fried Calamari
After the delicious salad, we couldn’t wait to try the Fried Calamari and it did not disappoint! The calamari were corn-meal crusted, lightly breaded like air. Very yummy! This dish was served with tomato and poblano pepper salsa, and lemon aioli, providing a perfect complement and whetting our appetites for more.
Steamed Mussels
The next entry in our culinary journey was truly mouthwatering. The mussels were served in a chorizo broth with a lovely, garlicky flavor that was divine. A definite must-try!
Main Dish
Grouper
Fish lovers will be in heaven with this entrée! We definitely were. The grouper is pan seared, served with Moroccan couscous, poblano, sautéed spinach, crispy kale, mushrooms, and a butter white wine garlic sauce. This dish is the epitome of freshness, prepared and beautifully presented.
Oven Roasted Chicken
This combination of French-cut half chicken, creamy polenta, seasonal veggies, and chicken jus definitely raises the bar in the expression “tastes like chicken.” We thought it was fantastic and would have had seconds if there weren’t so many other delights to try.
Pasta Pesto
We were greatly anticipating trying this mix of sun-dried tomato, spinach, artichoke hearts, shaved Parmesan cheese, cherry tomato, pesto, and black olives. Well, the verdict is in: guilty of tasting great! And the bonus? You can add chorizo, shrimp, and chicken to up the ante
Special
Skirt Steak
On this particular occasion, Juniper was offering this special, tailor-made for steak lovers like us! The steak was cooked to perfection with a delish red wine demi-glace flavor. And the accompanying truffle fries were to die for with their crispiness.
Dessert
Key Lime Pie
Though we barely had any room left, how could we resist this treat, with delicious, light meringue and very little crust? We could have easily taken a whole pie to go.
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Oh my god! This piece of fudge decadence cut in the shape of a cake was insanely rich, but not too sweet. Needless to say, they had to practically roll us out the door at the end of the evening.
1975 S. Ocean Drive - Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
954.544.3370
