Best food I have ever eaten at a restaurant
The atmosphere is upscale but still comfortable and casual. Cocktails were unique and sooo tasty! The food changes frequently on the menu but everything we had was so delicious! It was so difficult to order because there wasn't one thing on the menu I didn't want to try!
We were really excited to be able to get a reservation at Juniper and Ivy, the restaurant of Top Chef alum Richard Blais where Executive Chef Anthony Wells creates a very creative menu that would for sure excite the culinary curious...unless vegetarian. I wish restaurants were keeping their menu online up to date because Jodi was excited to try their pasta with truffle, but unfortunately it was not there, their menu changing on a regular basis and the waiter did not really come back with options besides what was there written. So I left glad I got to try that place; Jodi was less enthusiastic than I was...Here is what we had:I did not feel like having a cocktail as we came back from a visit at the San Diego Distillery and I had enough whisky. So I ended up trying their house made apple juice that was pretty good and flavorful.
Fantastic meal!!! The duck corn dog was sooooo good! Another highlight was the beef tongue. But the best was probably the lamb noodles. I also had the biscuit with foie gra butter which was good (some people at my table really loved it). This place is great with a group so you can share and try a little bit of everything. To be honest everything was so good there, I would totally go back since the menu changes daily.
Everything about our dining experience was fabulous. Drinks, appetizers,dinner and dessert. The hostess and our server were attentive and pleasant. Would definitely eat here again.
The Real Foodie Of Orlando
+5
Definitely a San Diego! The menu is always changing and always to die for! Modern creative and delicious. I’ll be back every time we are in town!
Richard Blais and his crew are amazing. The staff is super nice and very accommodating. We had originally made reservations to sit outside but it was super cold that night. Luckily, they were able to seat us inside at the bar by the pastry kitchen. We loved watching the pastry chef create the desserts, and she was so nice to talk to us through our meal. Obviously, all the dishes were great. Top five best meals of my life.
Overall an outstanding meal that did not disappoint. The warm cheddar and chive biscuits at the start were perfectly salty, we had the roasted carrots with chimichurri and peanuts - perfect fall side dish!
I went with the snapper in a dashi broth with radish and mushroom. My husband had the SoCal chicken. We also shared the shrimp and pork rigatoni.
We paired with a Sancerre and couldn't go wrong. We will be back next time we visit San Diego! Service was top notch.
sO WE SHOW UP...20 people plus 2 more after about 20 minutes. we had a curtained off area, - booked in advance...but when we walked in, I thought we might have a dress code problem...but not a chance.To start, the service was fantastic. when you looked around the room the staff was always attentive and smiling...including the kitchen staff which you could see.Wine was flowing, drinks were brought. The food was really exceptional, always well served, presented, and the tastes were eclectic and friendly.Even errors were well saved. There was a dessert missing, it was mine...they brought the house specialty...a kind of chocolate log, stuffed with frozen items, and wrapped in a perfect chocolate round cylinder, topped with warm milk chocolate sauce...was a revelation.
Maria Desiderata Montana
+5
May 28th is the date to set all diets aside because calories don’t count on National Burger Day. If you want to go the extra mile, you could say they don’t count the entire month of May, since the whole month is dedicated to America’s fascination with the hamburger. Grab your napkins and discover the very tastiest burgers in all of San Diego. From a spam topped Hawaiian styled patty to another complete with bacon and a fried egg, there’s a little something to whet your burger appetite!
I was super excited to come here and when I did the hostesses were so rude as soon as we walked in the door. Second, they gave us the smallest table they could find, which of course, I wasn't going to sit in. The hostess did nothing to change it until a really nice server approached us and saved the night. The food here is very unique and with so many flavors at once, which can be a bit overwhelming. I had about 5 things to share from the whole menu and let me say that my favorite was a potato dish with chorizo and the bbq carrots. The restaurant is really nice and comfy and good food, but I definitely expect better service next time.
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Let me start by saying that Juniper & Ivy is my favorite restaurant in San Diego. They opened in March 2014 and I’ve been 9 times already. We always seem to take new people with us each time, exposing them to the culinary delights that this restaurant has to offer. This time we brought our friends MaryBeth, Philip, and Veronica. I do love when we take an odd number of people because that means extra pieces for me…lol! The restaurant is located on Kettner between Juniper and Ivy (hence the name). The first thing you notice is the ambiance; the space is very modern and has a lofty feeling but with wood accents that give it a very warm and inviting vibe. You’ll also notice that it is very busy, this is one of a few new places in Little Italy that has opened in the last 12 months that is helping to invigorate the SD food scene. The big open space of the restaurant and bar has one small downside — it can be a bit loud here. If you are sensitive to background noise, ask to sit on the outside patio.
Last month, S and I celebrated our six-year anniversary! We chose Juniper & Ivy, Richard Blais’ first restaurant in San Diego, as our celebration spot – both of us were big fans of Chef Blais on Top Chef and have been wanting to try J&I for quite some time. We requested to be seated at the Chef’s table (or counter) when making the reservation, and we were lucky enough to get a spot there so that we could watch all the action going on in the kitchen!
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This is my very first 5-star restaurant review! I've given 5 stars to one bar and one coffee house, but c'mon, that's a much easier scale. I have to say I'm so delighted to have found a place that lives up to every bit of its hype!
My absolute favorite things we had were our first and last courses: the smoked biscuit to start, and the Yodel for dessert. The smoked biscuit smelled like a campfire in the very best way possible, and every bite of the Yodel was like a gastronomical treasure hunt -- you never knew what you were going to find inside the delicate chocolate shell! We decided to split several small plates, and they were all excellent. I absolutely loved the heirloom tomato with "feta ice cream" and the SoCal burrata with plums. We also split the sausage and prawn rigatoni; it was a bit on the al dente side for my taste, but that's totally a personal preference so I can't dock 'em for it :)
Again, everything from the food (most important, duh), to the service to the atmosphere and decor lived up to the hype. I went in to this meal feeling skeptical, and left a believer. If you live in San Diego or are even just visiting, you have to put this place on your must-try list!
Having been a fan of Top Chef Richard Blais, I didn't pass the chance of trying his 1st restaurant in the west coast. With most of his restaurants in Atlanta, I was ecstatic when I found out that he just opened in San Diego. Blais is known for his love for molecular gastronomy and it's present in several of his dishes, some obvious, some not. Like his deviled egg merengue is a must try, as well as his steak, which is in my list of the best steaks I've tried ever. And don't miss out on the yodel cake dessert! It's an interactive presentation! :p all in all its familiar dishes with just a touch of molecular science, but not hard core. There's still a lot of heart in the dishes, just how it is in the south. Definitely a must try when you're in SD!
Lysabeth Luansing-Garcia
+5
...This is when she followed her heart and decided to study Culinary Arts. She loves food. She grew up trying all kinds of different kinds of food. The study of culinary arts still allowed her to be in the field of the arts and explore her creativity....
Incredible dinner at Juniper & Ivy last night. They're doing some really cool stuff there. Everything was great, but whatever you do don't miss the carne cruda asada with quail egg, the heirloom tomato with feta ice cream, and the morels with green garlic aioli and beer powder. Fantastic service too! Blais even came out to say hi when he heard there was a table full of Atlantans there (if you're ever in ATL his restaurant The Spence is worth a visit).
Off menu burger!, just do it. Order it animal style. Other items of note the carne toast - the quail eggs are what makes this dish. Porcini mushrooms are a must. Also loved the smoked ribs and the lab carpaccio.
FUN and Different small plates!. We ordered a bunch of small plates. Everything was interesting and everything was unique. We shared some deviled eggs and they were made using molecular gastronomy. The creamy filling sat in hard egg white mousse shells. We also had pastrami trout that tasted like pastrami on rye. My favorite plate was the Almond Wood Grilled Carrots, they were amazing. I have no idea how they made carrots so special. I liked some things I tried more than other things but every thing was good and service was excellent. Atmosphere is comfortable and casual.
...the restaurant by acclaimed chef Richard Blais, was the first reservation I made for this trip. It was the can’t miss spot for me. I first heard of Richard Blais through Top Chef and I quickly became of a fan of this guy...Juniper was our favorite stop this trip. I loved everything about it: ambiance, service, creativity of dishes.
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My friend Alyssa (who used to write for this blog!) recently came back to San Diego to visit with her husband, J, and her two adorable little ones. She made plans to go to Juniper & Ivy and invited me along! I’ve been interested in trying out Juniper & Ivy for so long and was glad to get the chance to hang out with my best good friend and to eat tasty delicious things. Juniper and Ivy is one of chef Richard Blais’ restaurants, in case you have no idea (though I bet you do). I’ve never watched Top Chef (I know, that’s probably weird for a food blogger, but oh well) but I know there was a lot of excitement around the opening of this restaurant. The restaurant has a fun, open space and an open kitchen if you’d like to have a show with your meal. We had kiddies with us so we sat in a little corner. We got there quite early (about 5:30PM) and beat the crowds that evening. Instead of fancy white napkins, you get a kitchen towel. I wanted to steal it and take it home with me. [ juniper & ivy menu ] I poured over the menu trying to figure out what it was that I wanted to order. Minion had been here a few months ago and told me about a disappointing dish he tried, which was a pork chop. I scolded him and told him to not order pork chops in the future. Most restaurants can’t seem to get pork chops right! There were no pork chops on the menu this evening. The menu changes so often though that
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Completely worth the price of $85, for two. Started off with the Biscuit with smoked butter and the Yellowtail tostada. Best biscuit I have had outside of the best places in my southern foodie city (hmm, do I taste the buttery-richness of ritz crackers?). The yellowtail was fresh with a tasty shark sauce and bright micro greens.
We then had the Octopus stuffed with risotto and the oxtail tortellini. The risotto stuffing and the octopus were both perfectly cooked, each a relatively difficult thing. The oxtail was served in an incredibly flavorful broth (brought to mind burnt-marshmallow smoke) that we savored spoon by spoon, but did tend to overpower the pasta-oxtail itself.
Lastly we had the choc-caramel mousse... WOW. A salty brittle, flakes of meringue cookie, fresh berries, under-layer of caramel and the richest chocolate mousse I have ever scraped from every corner of this plate. Overall one of the best food experience I have had in years, with great food and service, 9 out of 10. Make A Reservation, this place is Packed!
Amazing food and service. Our waiter Mike knew every ingredient of every dish. Very cool vibe and setting definitely a great place for dates or special occasions.
Good stuff. We got lucky with a good parking spot on a Saturday night. Keep in mind parking MIGHT be difficult, it is in Little Italy. Anyway, the food was great! Definitely get the biscuit!! It's just one biscuit, but it's a big biscuit and the smoked butter on it is phenomenal. I would be content with just that. I got the butternut squash agnolotti. Delicious. I love squash and pasta together to begin with, but it was really good. Not too sweet. My husband loved his po boy, but didn't care for the carne asada. Mainly because it wasn't hot. It's served at like room temperature. I didn't think it was bad...Service was good. We sat at the bar and it took a while for anyone to take our order, but once they did, the service was great. The place is pretty, and seats more people than it looks. Make a reservation though if you want a table.
Amazing food and service! High quality and great atmosphere. Beet salad and grain/garden dish are phenomenal.
Simple, complex, and utterly delicious.
All items were fresh and well-balanced.
If you enjoy modern American, I can't imagine being disappointed if you eat here. Waitstaff loves food and is highly attentive and engaged, ensuring you have a great dining experience.
WOW, WOW, WOW!!!. I'm so glad Richard Blais decided to open a restaurant in San Diego!!! This place is the bomb. From the moment you step in the front door you know you are somewhere special. Beautiful, creative, upbeat urban decor - fun, friendly staff - incredibly creative cocktails and a menu that is so interesting and complex. I went with a group of girlfriends - we shared several dishes and bottles of wine and while the plates were small and pricey - everything was delicious, seasoned to perfection with flavors that totally pop - like nothing I've ever tasted. I recommend the Carne Cruda Asada (raw seasoned chopped sirloin/filet? jalapeno, etc., on grilled toast with raw quail eggs) and the Lamb Pappardella with fresh peas and mint. YUMMY!!! (Oh, the fluffy buttermilk biscuit is awesome too)
San Diego cool. Warm wood surrounds. Staff is attentive and easy on the eyes. Food was prepared with extremely high attention to detail. Exceeded my expectations.
Olives in a Bag for app
Shaved Asparagus and San Diego Chicken were impressive to even this Seattle foodie.
Great place for friends at the bar or date to impress.
Highly recommend
DaveG
There are any number of solid reasons why culinary master Richard Blais won Bravo’s Top Chef All-Stars challenge. Having recently dined at Juniper & Ivy, Blais’s new San Diego restaurant venture, it just so happens that my tastebuds have solid proof of his credentials. If you’ve not yet dined here, you really should be VERY envious right about now. However, in the event that you require more testimony to Mr. Blais’s credentials, here is a sneak peak at his impressive resumé:
Lori Bierman Gardner
+4.5
U-T San Diego recently named Juniper & Ivy 2014 Restaurant of the Year. According to the paper, Chef Blais can be found working in the restaurant up to five nights a week, when he is not off shooting “Top Chef” or his new show “The Hungry Games.” Chef Blais has put his mark on this exciting restaurant, and I’m elated about the opportunity to eat his food.
We had absolutely excellent service- our server was warm and entertaining and extremely prompt. The food was delicious but short of excellent- we over ordered intentionally to taste many dishes and found about 70% hit rate. The atmosphere was a little strange- the music didn’t have much of a vibe and despite very cool decorating it was sort of missing a tie through connection.
Great ambiance! Very lovely experience with amazing staff that is there to help. They have a diverse menu with plenty of high quality options. It is on the speedier side but if you don’t mind spending a bit of dough it’s a fun place to go to. Would also recommend taking a walk in little Italy afterwards. We ordered the duck and the entire duck neck and head came with it!
Stephanie Kroll Aspen Real Estate Broker
+5
I brought a group here for a business dinner and it was interesting. The design and ambience of the space was very swanky and cool. The service was good, the servers were attentive and focused on us. They took great direction regarding our reservation and pivoted well. Regarding the food, some dishes are better than others. I wasn’t into all of it, but I was so distracted talking that it honestly wasn’t that big of a deal to me. I don’t know if I’d recommend this as one of the best restaurants in San Diego but it’s certainly a cool place to meet a friend for drinks on a Saturday night. It was affordable though when we all split the bill, I was surprised.
Loved this restaurant so much for making my partner's Birthday special and surprising him. From every single dish was prepared with the utmost care and delicate flavors were paired nicely together. If you go the hanger and pesto linguine were delicious. Service was top notch from our server to the host both were fun and helpful with making us feel welcomed. Also the chocolate yodel a must get!
Loved eating here! The design of the dining room is really fun and feels upscale but still inviting, had a lot of fun watching the open parts of the kitchen.
All of the food was delicious and beautifully plated, and there were vegetarian (but not vegan) options with every course. The flavors were understated, balanced, and all of it was excellently cooked (especially the proteins)! Our favorites were the crudo, the cod with clam sauce and shisitos, and the dry aged duck breast. Wine pairings were great as well.
Our server was super personable, coursed everything out very well, even though she was super busy when we first arrived for our later reservation. Made excellent suggestions and accommodations, and talked very highly about the chef and kitchen which is always a good sign.
Would absolutely come back next time I'm visiting. Oh and the cocktails were thoughtful and fantastic as well.
Very nice meal. Server was exceptional. She really knew the menu and wines and made excellent suggestions. We enjoyed a prix fixe menu and although it only had 4 courses(Did I just say that) it was very filling. I love the fact that you get 4 choices for each course. Very cool. Kind of a creative your own idea!
Amazing food, and extremely nice staff. Seemed a little overwhelmed at peak service time on a Friday night (which is totally understandable). The hanger steak and angliotti pasta was to die for 🤌🏾🤌🏾🤌🏾🤌🏾Good cocktail and wine menu. I can’t wait to come back!!
Not only was the food absolutely perfect in every way, but the service we received from every single person we had contact with last night at juniper and ivy was the best we've had, our service did an excellent job explaining each menu items in details. Our meal was absolutely phenomenal, Strong and unique flavors are present in each and every dish. Complementary textures and flavors are utilized. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who has an appreciation a high quality dining experience. I hope to return soon!
Came here for early dinner on Monday night with my friends, ordered drinks, oysters, tuna crudo, tostada, lamb, stuffed eggplant, and the sweet potato tres leches. They have an entire GF menu so my friend was happy. Great table where we could watch the kitchen and overall had a great time
Traveled to San Diego for a vacation and birthday celebration. Decided on Juniper and Ivy for a birthday meal. The food did not disappoint! Everything we ordered was wonderful. As a side note, the bone marrow bread pudding (with the hanger stake) and the mango, coconut, mint desert were over the top! Our server John was wonderful! And it was a very nice touch to be wished a happy birthday from 4 different people, including the manager. Would definitely go back to Juniper and Ivy when in town.
Excellent food and service. I enjoyed the way the dishes came out so you get to enjoy each one. The crudo tostada and toffee caramel dessert were two of my favorite dishes. The snapper fish was ok. Overall my family had a good time.
Drinks were fantastic and the service was great. The food was very tasty, but felt more dedicated to the concept than the final dish. Each dish was one step away from being 5 stars
One of my favorite places. It can be difficult to get a reservation, but I usually sit at the bar and have appetizers. Highly recommended!
On August 1, 2023, they started serving a prix fixe tasting menu in the dining room, but the bar note has a separate menu.
The food was delicious! It was also fun to sit at the chef’s table and watch the kitchen at work. Each plate that went out was carefully prepared and looked amazing!
Had a great experience here. The dinner was served in four courses, and each course was excellent.
Our favorites were the crudo, the wagyu beef with bone marrow bread pudding, and the yodel.
Great restaurant! I particularly liked the “hand rolls”. I asked for one of each and they were nice to accommodate. The heirloom tomatoes were a tad too sweet (if you’re sharing it should be fine), and the sea bass was a bit dry.
We had a private business dinner for 11 with the prix fixe chef's menu and everything was oustanding. Kirsten helped us plan some extras to start and booked us the private upstairs space.
Service was impeccable and we were attended to for the whole meal. Absolutely recommend for a large party, they made the process super easy and executed everything flawlessly.
Its an experience that you just have to experience for yourself. The food that night was delicious, it was so much fun and I was able to give my compliments to the chef that night. If I could do it over again, I definitely would.
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