What an incredible dining experience at Juniper on Main in Carmel! Four of us met there for dinner to celebrate a birthday (though we never mentioned it to the restaurant), and from the moment we walked in, everything exceeded our expectations. Our server, Hannah, made us feel welcome immediately. She was warm, attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and struck the perfect balance of being available without ever hovering. We started with the Caprese peach salad and the deviled eggs, both of which were outstanding. Then the evening became something truly special. Our friends happened to know Chef Antoine, who came out to say hello and asked if we'd trust him to simply cook for us. We happily said yes--and we're so glad we did. The chef first brought out a beautiful arugula salad with peaches, strawberries, pecans, blue cheese, and an incredible peach balsamic vinaigrette. Then came what he called "a sampling," but it was really a feast. We enjoyed rich, tender short ribs over creamy grits, a perfectly prepared chicken cordon bleu with fresh green beans, and beautifully blackened redfish served with dirty rice and asparagus. Every single dish was cooked perfectly and packed with flavor. Dessert was the perfect ending: creamy cheesecake and a slice of hummingbird cake, one of my all-time favorites. Both were absolutely delicious. The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting. It was a beautiful evening, and while many guests enjoyed the patio, we chose to sit inside. After this experience, I already know we'll be back in the fall to enjoy dinner outside. I've lived back in the Indianapolis area for a while now, and I can honestly say this was the best meal I've had since returning. We had driven past Juniper on Main countless times without stopping. It took a friend's recommendation to finally walk through the doors, and now I'm wondering why we waited so long. If you haven't been, put it on your list. Outstanding food, exceptional hospitality, and an unforgettable evening. We'll definitely be back. read more

*2.25/5* Unwhelming. - Service was fine to average. - Good ambiance outside. - The red wine sangria wasn't worth the price for the pitcher; house red with maybe 5 slices of assorted fruits. - The crab and artichoke dip tasted good. The pimento cheese dip was fine; closer to a nacho cheese dip. Both dips came with too few naan dippers to finish the dip (they charged extra for extra naan to finish the dip). - The cajun pasta was fine. Pasta was cooked well. I got it with chicken, which tasted good. The sauce was fine. - The hot honey chicken tenders were crispy, but lacked flavor. - The CBR chicken sandwich was good. Crispy and good size. - Do not order the side mac n cheese. $6 for some Stouffer's mac n cheese topped with the pimento cheese dip (that's basically nacho cheese dip). Overall, if someone asked to meet here for a meal I would request another restaurant but I'd still eat here if they insisted. read more

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We were visiting family who live nearby and wanted to take them somewhere they had not been previously and we chose Juniper based on their menu and reviews and we were not disappointed. Our server was attentive and friendly. We ordered the pimento dip and crab cake to start. The dip was not quite as good as we expected based on prior reviews. It was good not great. We enjoyed the crab cakes more which were full of crab. The entrees were the stars though - I had the peach glazed salmon which was cooked perfectly and the glaze was super flavorful. The collard greens were tender and had a tasty smoke flavor. A couple folks had short rib entrees and one had one of the shrimp and grits options. The servings were very hearty especially for the prices. All in our party agreed they would definitely return and happily order the same dish although there are many items on the menu we all want to try. We had seats inside and it was fresh and clean and not too loud despite being busy. Great place! read more

Juniper on Main - Savannah style shrimp and grits - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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I've had Juniper on Main saved in my collections for a while and this past weekend (Memorial Day/Race weekend) we decided to give them a try while attempting to avoid the crowds that were sure to be present in others parts of the city. This place is small...much smaller than I had imagined. In my opinion, there isn't really a good seat in the house, literally, because the restaurant is a converted home in a residential setting. Each and every table is either by the front door, near the kitchen, or restroom-adjacent. It also seemed like they were having some plumbing issues or something, because one area was blocked off making the seating situation even more limited. It was nice out, so we probably should've dined on the patio. Our server never introduced himself by name, so I didn't learn that tidbit of info until we got the bill. We ordered the deviled eggs flight, which he told us that he couldn't tell us about because "it's different every time". He did check for any allergens, which was thoughtful. The deviled eggs themselves were very much a blank canvas and the toppings were the entire show. Server asked if we wanted to play egg roulette or if we wanted him to tell us what they were. We wanted to know, so he pointed to each...extremely close, and I was so distracted by his finger hovering so dangerously close to my food that all I heard was "chimichuri". I have no clue what the others were. Oh, I think one was chili crisp! I also had the crab cake and loved the aioli that it was served with. My husband had the BLT, which comes with an egg on it and is served on Texas Toast. He's not a fan of Texas Toast, but he enjoyed the sandwich. If I were rating this on food alone, it would be 4 stars, but the cramped atmosphere and level of service brings it down to a 3 for me. read more

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What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday! Took my mom here for her birthday and we had such a good experience! We ordered the crab artichoke dip for appetizer. I had the crab Rangoon tacos, while my mom had the catfish sandwich. Everything tasted amazing and perfectly seasoned! Our server was Mitch and he was absolutely pleasant! We sat on the outdoor patio, which was a wraparound porch. They had seating indoor, but it was a beautiful day to sit outside. I was pleased to see that they had a parking lot since they are on busy Main Street. The bathrooms were clean which is always a plus. Overall we had a great experience and I would gladly go back! read more

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Came here to dinner with some friends and wished I had taken more photos! The minute I walked in I couldn't help but take in the airy and well-lit restaurant. I love that they have plenty of outside seating as well! I was quickly greeted by staff and taken to our table. Service was very quick and our waiter was very patient with us as we scanned the menu. We ordered the fried green tomatoes for table (based on the waiter's recc) and we are so glad that we did!! Perfectly crispy and tasted great with the sauce it came with. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich and the arugula salad on the side and it was good as well!! We will definitely be back to try more items off the menu! read more

Juniper on Main - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

We've returned to Juniper on Main twice since our initial visit. Both times we dined outside on their lovely patio and both visits were great experiences. On today's visit, Hannah took wonderful care of us. She told us she was happy we chose to dine on the patio so she, too, could appreciate this unusually warm February day. We appreciated her friendly and upbeat personality! Upon her recommendation, we ordered the citrus shrimp tacos as well as the jerk chicken tacos and upgraded to the coconut rice and beans as the side for both. We also had to order the hot honey chicken tenders with slaw and fries, which has become a menu favorite of ours as it is 100% southernly delicious. And, we have lots of yummy leftovers to enjoy, which is always a plus! read more

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My family and I came here on a very crowded Carmel night and we were able to get in for a family dinner. The service was very friendly. The ambiance was comfortable. We ordered Quesadillas, bacon and pimento grilled cheese, fried chicken platter, short rib and pimento grilled cheese. It was okay. Our food came out very very quickly. Some of this was fried. Oh wow, we all said, that was quick we all added. But it was cold and tasted like it had been made some time ago. My wife had been here several times and always talked about how great it was. This time she said it was off - it was different. I don't know if we ordered something popular and these were premade or what happened. It looked good. Just seemed cold and old. read more

Juniper on Main - Fried Green Tomatoes - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Hello, delicious South Carolina cookin'. We've been here a few times but this is my first review. Our past experience taught us that their portions are large for two seniors so we decided to find something to split for lunch and I immediately landed on the short ribs, dinner portion. They offer a lunch portion a well plus something similar on the sandwich menu. This was more than enough for the two of us since the meal is so rich. The dinner portion has two large pieces of beef lying atop cheese grits, all of this partly covered with a rich stout gravy. Three pieces of cornbread were served on the side. This also comes with a topping of pimento cheese sauce which we had served on the side. I never touched it as it just wasn't needed! The beef was tender but I still had to use my knife to cut it. The grits were outstanding, just the right flavor for both of us, and the gravy was absolute perfection. The cornbread was good as well. Each part of this meal complemented the other nicely. We both certainly recommend it as you can see by our empty plates. BTW, they do not split meals in the kitchen but will bring an extra plate. read more

Juniper on Main - The sad remains of a dinner portion of the short ribs that we split for lunch. Just sayin' ... - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I used to really love this restaurant, especially for the flavor profiles and consistency of high-quality menu items and ingredients. Lately, especially during my last visit, I am so sad to this quaint gem go downhill. My spouse and I arrived during a non-busy time and yet despite one person a table for two at the front of the restaurant, surrounded by several open tables, we were squeezed in between two parties in the back, so close to them that I couldn't hear my spouse across the table - very uncomfortable. Luckily we were able to move, after barely fitting through the tight space again to exit (tables were less than a foot from on another). I ordered a salad, which was pretty good, but I had to remove several brown pieces. My husband got the fried chicken meal which was decent, not great (no seasoning), but the collard greens were awful - we both gagged and had to spit them out. Clearly no one is tasting the food before serving it. The greens tasted completely metallic. Luckily we were able to get a different side, fresh green beans, which was a little better (very al dente, almost raw), but nothing was great. We ordered hummingbird cake to-go, my favorite part of coming here. I didn't think to check it before leaving, I just trusted it was great, as it had always been in the past. Upon getting home to indulge, we discovered it was a very stale, tiny piece of white cake, with white frosting, and a little coconut - NO hummingbird cake and no pineapple relish. I was very sad! I contacted the restaurant, just hoping to have the cake replaced when it's made correctly again, and never heard back. I'm not sure if they're too busy to care but quality control needs to be in place again. Until then, please spend your money at a place where quality matches the price, because this is not it (not anymore). read more

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Nice litttle dining place. They have outdoor seating in warm weather. Parking is good nearby. Started with crab cakes, it was enjoyable when dipping on lemon aioli as the flavoring was lacking. I had to get 2 main courses with local stout glazed short ribs and grilled rib eye chimichurri as both looked really good. Both meat were tender and well flavored. Yum!!! Their fries are also very well flavored. Wifey got the peach glazed salmon. It was also well flavored. Service was attentive but not intrusive. Overall, had a really good time dining here. read more

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Stopped by for dinner. The atmosphere was quaint and refreshing. Quickly seated with friendly service. All the food was absolutely delicious. Cornbread and Brussel sprouts were so good I would order it again. I was recommended the crab Rangoon tacos as they are not offered anywhere, good choose. Coconut rice and beans were substituted for chips and salsa which was a solid choice. Food was fresh and vibrant looking. Highly recommend and would come back. read more

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I'd give this one a solid That Was Fine. The crab cake was a bit overdone, and everything was a bit under-seasoned. I asked the server a few questions about menu items and he was ... less than interested in talking about food. The decor was cute, though, and the saving grace was the hummingbird cake. It was scrumptious. read more

Juniper on Main - Crab Cake Sandwich - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Juniper on Main is an absolute gem if you're craving Southern fare. I went with friends for an evening out and the atmosphere immediately felt inviting and homey. We tried a few things throughout visiting multiple times: the Sea Island Platter was beautifully presented with fresh, coastal flavors that felt both indulgent and authentic. It had sweet plantains, coconut rice, and black beans. You can also add meat to it. For pure comfort food, the Buffalo Mac & Cheese was gooey, spicy, with just the right kick. Every dish leaned into comforting flavors! The service was attentive and friendly. I've really enjoyed my experiences there. read more

Juniper on Main - Buffalo Mac - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Cozy establishment on Main St- parking is a bit of a hassle, that's for every restaurant in this area, not necessarily the restaurant's fault. Inside is small, tables closely placed together, easy to hear everyone's conversations so don't go talking about anything you don't want anyone to know! Service was swift and friendly. Food quality good. Southern-themed, - I had crab and artichoke dip. BF had gumbo, both dishes were pretty good! Hummingbird cake was tasty and moist, Above average, glad I tried. Not the best, but also not the worst. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. read more

What a surprise. It has been several years since I have been here. We came within the first year of this restaurant opening. I would have to say we were not overly impressed at the time. Flash forward to this weekend and we had heard there was a new menu and the food was much better. That is definitely true! A much more extensive menu and every bite of our dinner was delicious. We even went for the Hemmingway cake for dessert. Despite being busy, the service was quite good. The hostess allowed us to sit where we wanted, and the server was patient and quite pleasant. We will definitely recommend and come back again . read more

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Our monthly supper cub visited! Everybody absolutely love their food. We tried to mix it up, but three of us ended up getting the shrimp and grits. Highly recommend! The hubby got a shrimp boil for one and we ordered cornbread for the table - it was almost like dessert! Be sure to get the deviled eggs as an appetizer. Next time we'll get two orders since there were six of us and five eggs. read more

Juniper on Main - Deviled egg - a must have! - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Just as good as always. Had family in from out of town and decided to take them to Juniper on Main. We started with the corn bread basket and the fried green tomatoes. Both were great. Excellent panko fry in the tomatoes and the corn bread was a bit sweet and not too course, just like I like it. Forgot to take pics of these as we dug right into both. One in our party had the chicken salad sandwich and said it was very good. Another had the Pimiento Grilled Cheese with tomato and bacon and said it was outstanding and very rich. Third member of our party had the Hot Honey Buttermilk Chicken Strips and said they were excellent as well. I had a taste and will try these next time. (These would be outstanding with waffles.) I had the low country boil and it was every bit as good as the first time I had it. Loads of shrimp, potatoes, sausage and corn. A must try if you have ever had this dish anywhere else. Service was outstanding and quick. Drinks stayed filled. We ate outside and it made for a perfect day. read more

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My first restaurant in Indiana was incredible!! Every item on the menu looked crazy good but I chose the Charleston shrimp and grits because it was something I'd never had before. Service was excellent! Helpful with the decision making process and so sweet to my grandkids. Ambiance was a massive win. Pretty pretty pretty! We ate inside due to rain but the outside seating was lovely too. Already looking forward to my next visit! read more

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This was our first time dining at Juniper on Main. We sat at a table inside in the front room. At first, I thought it was loud due to the amount of people. However, after most of the people were gone, it was still hard to hear my friends sitting right next to me. The food is good. Within a menu that reminds me of southern cooking. I ordered the blackened catfish with grits and okra. The plate came out with two good size portions of catfish a large portion of okra and a cup of grits play. It was big enough that I was only able to finish the fish and part of the okra. My son ordered the seafood boil and loved it. Next time we visit we'll request an outside table. That should help provide a more comfortable experience. read more

Juniper on Main - Southern Blackened Catfish - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Really good food! The salad that I got was absolutely incredible and the ranch dressing that was homemade. It was so flavorful. I also love the outdoor seating that you can use when the weather is good. A great place to catch up with friends and the service is great! read more

Juniper on Main - Telfair Cobb Salad - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Went on a Thursday evening and called to make a reservation almost a week before. When we arrived, they stated they didn't have any reservations under my name. Luckily, they were able to seat us still. After looking at other reviews, it appears that it has happened to others before, too. Food & service was great though. We sat inside and it was a tight space, but wasn't bad at all. read more

Juniper on Main - Forsyth Fig Salad - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

This was a complete random find. We were traveling to Carmel to see our son. The menu had a large number of options. I got the BLT that came with a fried egg. Sounds a bit weird, but it was fantastic! A quick glance at other patron's meals an it was easy to assess everything on the menu looked amazing. The portions were large and the service was great. We sat outside, but the inside seating looked wonderful too. The next time we are in Carmel, we'll purposefully select this restaurant. read more

Juniper on Main - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

First visit. In Carmel Arts District a quaint cultural area. About 5 spots fir parking on side of building. More parking apparently further north. Friendly greeter for our 5pm reservations. Bright looking pastel decor befitting of the southern style. A little congested in terms of spacing between tables. Looks like all tables and no booths. Outside eating seats available but we chose indoors. Good variety of items on the menu. I had shrimp and grits. Spouse the short ribs. Fried green tomato appetizer was good, 4 pieces. Both our entre meals were good. Big enough short rib portion to take half home. Hummingbird cake was okay,but I expected more of a wow taste. Chocolate Turtle cheese cake was desert to go for spouse. Not too crowded at 5pm on a Wednesday. We will return. read more

Our favorite restaurant in Carmel! Service is always stellar, the sweet tea is perfect, and the food is delicious. read more

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We arrived for our reservation greeted immediately. Sat inside, just us and one other couple...( because everyone else enjoyed the nice weather. Restaurant was busy but not a bad busy. Anyways we started with the cornbread, then my wife ordered the shrimp and grits, and I ordered the pull pork sandwich. We also had 3 premium sides , plantain , grits cakes. The indoor seating has smaller tables so if you order a bunch of food it will be very crowded. But overall I give this place and experience 9/10. -the menu changes at time so if you are curious about something when you are there , just go ahead and order it then read more

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Might just be the best spot in Carmel! With nice patio seating (including heaters) and an extensive menu where everything sounds good, Juniper exceeded expectations. Service was very quick and very friendly. read more

Juniper on Main - BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Arrived to a very busy Juniper on Main, a quaint house with an outside deck area. We were lucky and got seated outside very quickly. There were plenty of staff, our server arrived promptly and took our drink order. They returned quickly to take our appetizer order of deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes, which came out quickly. The fried green tomatoes were awesome, everyone thought they were delicious. The base for the deviled eggs were good but the toppings didn't compliment the eggs, it was as if they were used just to be different, especially the chicken salad with grapes topper and the pineapple salsa with hot sauce. We ordered both variations of shrimp and grits, the short rib grilled cheese, hot honey fried chicken sandwich and a fried chicken sandwich. Service was very attentive while we waited for our mains, no complaints there. After the mains arrived, we dug in and shared around the table as we usually do. Our thoughts were unanimous- short rib grilled cheese was excellent, everything else was just ok, not much flavor. The hot honey chicken was just honey, no heat at all. The shrimp and grits both ok, nothing bad, just ok. Same with the fried chicken sandwich. I would normally give 4 stars due to the service, but for price we paid ($50/person with tip, no drinks) we expect more from the food. read more

Stopped in today with our two kids to try Juniper on Main for the first time and yum! My husband and I ordered the Fig Salad which was recommended by our server. It was 10/10 for flavor and freshness. Excited to come back in the Spring/ Summer time to enjoy a spot on the patio. One of my new favorites in Carmel. read more

Juniper on Main - Forsyth Fig Salad - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I have come to Juniper on Main several times now, and unfortunately, the experience seems to be getting worse. I have no complaints about the food. It's always delicious. But when I was most recently there, the inside had so many flies buzzing around the tables. Not just one or two but 10+. Also, at one time I counted seven high school/college girls around the welcome desk just looking at each other playing on their phones, and not engaging with customers in anyway. I was a little shocked at the wardrobe! One of the girls really only had on an oversize T-shirt. If she was wearing shorts, you couldn't see them. I hate to ding the restaurant for this, because I really do feel like the food is good and the location is great. But I would encourage them to have higher standards towards their staff and to please get some fly traps! read more

Juniper on Main - Outdoor sign on patio - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

came here for lunch & it was amazing. out of all the carmel restaurants i tried in my very brief weekend trip, juniper is the one i think of first. the property is giving house + gigantic homey front porch vibes. we love. the green apple grilled cheese was solid. maybe a bit sweeter than expected, especially with the cinnamon (i think it was cinnamon???). the staff is friendly & their bathrooms are cutesy. next time i'm trying the flight of deviled eggs or so yelp me god... read more

Juniper on Main - Forsyth Fig Salad - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Perfect dinner location and close to all the action in downtown Carmel. We enjoyed the southern comfort food, shrimp and grits and the southern coastal plate. The flavors were amazing and made you feel you were somewhere other than Indiana! They have a great outdoor patio for seating when the weather is nice. Service was good but we came in closer to closing time so the server seemed a bit distracted with closing task versus taking care of customers. The service would not stop me from returning as the food was that satisfying. read more

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This might just be my favorite restaurant in Ham Co!!! I've been here a handful of times and have never had a bad meal! The staff is always friendly, and I love that they take reservations over the phone. The ambiance is quaint--it's literally a house that's been converted into a restaurant, making it super cozy. My only minor complaint is that it can get a little loud, but they do have panels on the walls to help soften the sound. The food is absolutely to die for. I've ordered the braised short ribs the past few times, and they've always been incredible, so I was hesitant to branch out. But I'm so glad I did because my fried chicken platter was unreal! I was a little nervous that the hot honey would be too spicy, so I got it on the side instead. It turned out to be the perfect balance of sweet and heat! I even enjoyed it on the cornbread appetizer we ordered (which was also fabulous, btw). I will absolutely be back--again and again and again! read more

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Cannot express our excitement and satisfaction of the food at Juniper's on Main. Hush puppies with sour cream are a wonderful and delightful delicacy. Fried green tomatoes best in the state! Deviled eggs are incredible. My new tasteful delight was the low country boil-corn, potato's, smoked sausage and shrimp - mmmm boy!!! read more

My husband and I ate here for the first time today and we are SO UPSET! Not at the restaurant, meal or service but at ourselves for waiting so lonnnnggggg to try this delicious gem! We had the crab cakes and crab & artichoke dip for apps and our lunch entrees were the fried catfish sandwich with fries and the filet with mashed potatoes and collard greens. For bevvies, we tried their rosé and red zeppelin English ale. All of it, every bit and bite, was 10/10. Food breakdown: - Crab cakes: succulent lump crap meat within a lightly battered and flash fried coating. They come on a bed of arugula with a light dressing and dipping sauce for the cakes. Super yummy! - Crab & artichoke dip: ooey gooey deliciousness, perfect balance of cheese sauce too. You don't have to search for the crab or artichokes. And the fried naan chips were sliced long and thin, and could've been called naan fries actually. Perfect companion for the dip. - Fried catfish sammich: the piece of fish was huge and the batter was good. It came on Texas toast with fixins and tartar sauce. Won't lie, the only thing I wanted for was some hot sauce. That's a me problem... just gotta have hot sauce when I eat fried fish but I didn't ask for any while I was there (they may offer it) and still very much enjoyed the sandwich. - Filet: it was great... hubby got it medium and it arrived perfectly cooked. The Demi glaze sauce was so good and so were the sides. Their collard greens are seasoned up! I said does my auntie work here?! This cuisine is so comfortingly southern and didn't disappoint. Shoutout to our friendly and helpful server, Dan... our food and drinks came out quickly and so did our to-go box. His service was truly top notch. We have been living in Carmel for 5 years and this is one of the best restaurants here. If you're on the fence about trying this place, jump off and make a reservation. You won't regret it. read more

What a wonderful place with excellent staff! I was trying to find a place to celebrate my friend's 50th birthday and after calling multiple restaurants that wouldn't allow me to make a reservation I came across Juniper on Main. They made making a reservation so easy and were so accommodating. We had a group of 10 and everyone loved their food. From the loaded fries to the salmon, everything was delicious. I will definitely be back! read more

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A very nice place to visit. Wonderful patio seating and even better food. Reminds one of a Charleston dining experience with emphasis on Southern cooking influences. Attentive but not overbearing service and good pacing of meal. Deviled eggs were really good, as well as our lunch entrees. Definitely recommend and must go back to have other menu items read more

Best upscale southern cooking. Juniper on Main is a delicacy and the perfect date night restaurant. The service is good and the food is 10/10. Not pictured are the deviled egg starter-ft unique takes on the classic deviled eggs read more

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Always down for some low country and coastal fare but this place was just a hot mess when we came here on a Monday night. So I will stick this place on my list that is called "I just want to give you money" because it was damn near impossible to pay (let alone get a hold of our server the entire time). We sat on the patio, our server came over eventually and then not again.....for a long time. We ordered an appetizer in hopes it would stave off the hunger but it took a bit albeit, it was delicious (crab dip). After that we played the waiting game......the food came out, we devoured it and it was delicious, although I didn't taste much chile lime flavor with the salmon not coconut with the coconut rice. After that we had to ask three different people to get our server so we could give him money. Nope, never again. Again, please let me just let us give you money in exchange for food. read more

Juniper on Main - Grilled Salmon with Chili Lime Butter - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Always enjoy my experience here! Love the Red Sangria which is served in a jar. Staff is friendly and ambiance is quiet, and can be considered casual or more formal depending on your dress preference. read more