We came to Ridge Spring to check out some of the antique shops in town and decided to try Juniper for lunch. What a great choice! I ordered the crab cake sandwich with a somewhat local beer (North Carolina). The flavor and texture were perfect! The service was attentive and friendly. The restaurant was in a great old downtown building. If you are in the area, I recommend giving this place a try. There is even a beautiful park across the street, so picnic there is always an option. read more

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The best food around! Must try their corn chowder! Love the food and the atmosphere! I eat there as much as I can!!!!

That was so good!! Deee-licious! Another stop on the foodie trail! I ordered the Crab Cake Sandwich on a hoagie roll with a side of chips. Chips were from the bag, so they don't get rated. The sandwich was great!! Not too messy and it had a slight crust to it! Niiice! For dessert, I had 2 oatmeal raisin cookies. I wonder if they're homemade. They were better than the one I had the other day. While we waited for our order, they brought us samples of Tomato+Feta, Potato Salad, & Corn Chowder. I liked the chowder the best. read more

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A local told me I absolutely HAD TO make the drive out from Lexington to this lovely little community and have lunch at Juniper. She was right. The crab cake sandwich was very good as was the corn chowder. I took some pecan pie home and it was fantastic too. read more

Great lunch menu. Awesome service. Nice atmosphere. Food was very tasty. Plan on going back for dinner.

Good food. Highly suggest the 5 course meal with someone special. It's better if you make a reservation on a Friday night.

You all need to try this place! The inside is fun and homey. The people are simply inviting and really wonderful! The food is over the top without the crazy prices! It is the most flavor filled excitement your taste buds need. The drive here for us from augusta,ga is totally worth the 30 mins. Very nice and easy. You need to put this place on your list to try! read more

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Crab cake sandwich, juniper house salad and black eyed pea salad never disappoint. Brandon always uses the freshest ingredients.

Excellent place for a foodie lunch!! Everyone needs to give them a try. It's a really funky eclectic place, but it has an amazing chef, and it's really good elevated southern cuisine. read more

Im actually pretty bummed out. My wife and I have been here several times before, and have always had a great experience. A few weeks ago, we decided to come here for Valentine's Day (er, at least the day after since its a Saturday.) We called up and made reservations - easy enough. We were really excited because we've come here before and honestly had great experiences in the past. It's a 30 mile drive for us, so we only get to come here for special occasions. We arrived at 6pm, and were seated at a table for two. We were one of three tables in the entire restaurant, as they had just opened. It took the server about 15 minutes to acknowledge us, which seemed odd seeing as the restaurant was practically empty. Then, he stopped by, dropped off a couple of menus and asked us what we wanted to drink without even introducing himself. No apology or anything for the wait - just the "whaddya want to drink" treatment. Placed our orders shortly after. It took about 30 minutes for the first course to come out. Truth be told, it was delicious. Afterward, we waited about 45 minutes and our second course never came. Our anonymous server stopped by a few times. He asked if the corn chowder had come out twice, to which we replied that it hadn't. He didn't seem to have much interest in finding out where it was. Meanwhile, every single table around us, including those who were seated well after us, were already being served their 3rd course. We felt completely ignored, and our server didn't really seem to give a crap. Not sure what we did, we were polite and as friendly as we could be. After an hour and 15 minutes of waiting, we just decided to up and leave. Spoke to the manager, before doing so. We could clear hear our server say "Yo, this guy wants to talk to you" while we waited for the manager. The manager was friendly and apologetic, but it just sucks having a special night ruined by such crappy service. The icing on the cake was that our server, after all that, walked past us and said "Your entrees AND DESSERTS" are ready if you want to sit back down. WTF???? He skipped an entire course of our meal and brought out both the entrees and deserts at the same time to compensate. :facepalm: This was a special event menu for Valentine's day, and our server treated us like we were a couple of hillbillies ordering off the dollar menu at Arby's or something. We drove all the way back to Lexington for sandwiches and beers at Keg Cowboy instead (which was awesome, btw). Sad, because we used to really enjoy this place. At least we have a good story to tell now. read more

We are so happy that Juniper was able to weather the COVID storm and are reopened for dine in. We ate lunch here today and I had the most excellent corn chowder with a BLT and tomato&feta salad. I took half the sandwich home because that's a lot of food! My husband also had the wonderful corn chowder and a French dip with potato salad. I thought the potato salad was a bit too onion-y but he loves it!! The waiter said they are open for dinner Thursday-Saturday 5-7, reservations required. Please patronize this restaurant so they can be around for years to come! We drive 25 minutes to get here-it's that good! read more

One of me and my husbands very favorite place to eat. We live in Aiken so it's special to drive to this beautiful town to eat for Friday night date night! That corn chowder, OMG. We love it. I've never had a bad meal or service. Thank you! read more

Awesome lunch, great find in a small town. Sandwiches were awesome, salads were great and service was over the top. Nice folks, awesome food and great desert. Get the corn chowder. You will be glad you did. read more

Run by chef/owner Brandon Velie and his wife, Jeanne, the spot is called Juniper. Velie, who got his start as a cook in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked at the Green Boundary Club in Aiken before opening Juniper three years ago, has a simple approach to food. He emphasizes locally grown ingredients while offering a range of comfort foods with a slightly European flair. Juniper's eclectic style charmed me immediately. Mismatched chrome-legged dinette sets from the 1940s and '50s make up the seating in two large rooms. Strings of holiday lights and brightly painted walls covered with artwork from local artists create a cozy, hip environment. The lunch menu features daily specials ranging from meatloaf on Monday to shrimp and grits on Friday as well as a wide array of sandwiches and salads. Juniper also offers two choices of soup, its signature sweetcorn chowder and a soup of the day. A taste of the sweet corn chowder ($3.25/cup, $4.25/bowl) started lunch off just right. The creamy soup base was enhanced by a generous amount of whole kernels of sweet corn. It was obvious a lot of thought had been put into the presentation and preparation of this soup, as all the other vegetables were cut to the size of corn kernels so that nothing overpowered the key ingredient. I also tried the grilled Cuban sandwich (roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, spicy mustard and a pickle on a hoagie roll, $6). The side of black-eyed pea salad, with its slightly sweet taste and crunch of chopped bell peppers, paired well with the lightly seasoned pork. I'll have to return for the smoked salmon on toasted pumpernickel with Boursin cheese, cucumber, red onion and sprouts ($7). In the evening, white tablecloths cover the dinette sets, and candlelight transforms the diner to a true dinner spot. The menu also changes, always according to the season and availability of fresh ingredients. On my visit, the choices included locally farm-raised striped bass, barbecue duck quesadillas, a rosemary and red wine-braised chicken and prime rib. The menu, divided intriguingly into Little Plates and Big Plates, also offers the option of ordering a little plate as a big plate and vice versa, all depending on your appetite. I found this a charming accommodation to the diner's desires. My dinner companion ordered the chicken ($18 large). The chicken practically fell off the bone, and the rosemary and red wine reduction was flavorful without overpowering the meat. The dish was served with a wild rice pilaf and wilted spinach seasoned perfectly with garlic. I had to order the Chef's Five- Course Tasting Menu ($35 or $45 with wine pairings). This is a great way to judge the chef's creative range. To start, a sampling of crisped Old Shoals Farm striped bass over shredded collard greens. The fish was done perfectly with the crispy skin adding just a bit more intense flavor. The shredded collard greens mimicked the look of pasta noodles and paired well with the fish. Second course was crab cakes accompanied by creamed corn grits and spinach. Much to my delight, the crab cakes were way more crab than cake. And the Adluh grits contained just enough sweet kernel corn to push them into the category of "best side of the evening." Third course was a house salad with bleu cheese vinaigrette. Next came a playful take on meat and potatoes with a thinly sliced, perfectly grilled flat-iron steak over a sliced baked potato with sour cream and pico de gallo. Dessert, the fifth and final course, was a triple chocolate cake with peppermint ice cream. The cake, not as heavy as it might sound, paired well with the ice cream, creating a great finish to a wonderful meal. read more

Juniper - A Cuban sandwich with black-eyed-pea salad is served for lunch at Juniper. - Sandwiches Near Me - Ridge Spring, South Carolina

Literally my favorite food IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!! The corn chowder would be worth crossing the country for. The house salad is amazing. Everything they serve is so good it will make your tounge slap your face! Last time I went I was heartbroken because they had just 86'd the corn chowder, so I had to settle for the tomato soup. To my happy delight, it was awesome too!!! We drive 45 min almost every weekend to get this food and it is worth every single minute! The decor is 'shabby chic' for sure. It is super cute. read more

I visited Juniper for lunch around 1pm on a Saturday. The atmosphere was lively, but not crowded. You order at the front, get your own drink, and find a seat. I waited 10-15 minutes for my food but it didn't feel like an unnatural length of time. The food was great. I had the build-your-own sandwich. Smoked turkey, pepper jack cheese, tomatoes and mayo on a toasted hoagie roll. The turkey was shaved finely and the tomatoes were very fresh. They loaded on the mayo - fortunately I didn't mind, but just a word to the wise. The side of potato salad was delicious and homemade as well. read more

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This is a terrific restaurant to go to that is just a little off the beaten path. It's in the town of Ridge Spring a few minutes outside of Batesburg-Leesville. The chef does a wonderful job with his creativity and a lot of the food comes from local farmers. The staff is always attentive and super friendly and helpful. You can order from the menu or do a "chefs tasting " where he does something special from what is on the menu and "in house". Everyone at the table has to do this if you go this way but it's worth it!!!! We have Never been disappointed at Juniper and y'all might want to make reservations. Especially on Friday and Saturday nights. read more

What a great dining experience! I got the Reuben which was fantastic and really enjoyed the tea and lemonade. Great place! read more

Juniper - This place is great! Best Reuben I've ever had! - Sandwiches Near Me - Ridge Spring, South Carolina

I had heard so much about Juniper, but was very disappointed with Sunday buffet. The food was almost an edible. One of the worst done experiences I've ever had. read more

Being a foodie from Houston where we have some of the best restaurants available to humankind, I have to admit I was skeptical about trying a "fine dining" establishment in Ridge Spring, SC. However, I'm not afraid to admit I greatly underestimated what you can find in a small town! The meal start with a delicious couscous-based amuse-bouche, followed by my partner and I sharing the juniper corn chowder and house salad. I often joke that you can tell the quality of a restaurant by its salad dressing, and let me just say, that proves true with their blue cheese vinaigrette. Then on to the entrees - (fried) shrimp and grits served with succotash. Oh my gracious! The combination of flavors was outstanding! Whatever you do, don't take the server up on his/her offer to exchange your side for something else on the menu. The succotash was the perfect accompaniment to this fun spin on an old favorite. I only wish I hadn't eaten so much so I could have tried the desserts. Will just have to make a return trip! read more

Great meal. Husband ordered a nice steak and it was cooked to perfection. I had a large juniper salad and the crab cake over grits small plate. Just right. The mouch booing (sic) was a nice treat as well) pleasantries California Pinot Noir added to the meal. Great service by Charles as well. Only reason didn't get a 5 was it was understood they weren't ready to seat up but they could have made eye contact and explained the situation; instead another table and ours stood at the entrance for at least ten minutes feeling stupid... I even overheard the other table talking about leaving before they even were seated. It's a little thing but it could be improved upon with a little communication and smile. read more

They have the best corn chowder! All the food was so good and great customer service! Was in town for work and will make a trip over here again for lunch or dinner!! read more

Another great meal. A really nice place for date night. Corn chowder is excellent. Menu is small, but everything is great. Need a nap now. read more

Juniper - Great gourmet food very reasonable prices. Love the shrimp and grits, fried quail and bananas foster dessert. - Sandwiches Near Me - Ridge Spring, South Carolina

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I Was passing thru on a sunday afternoon and stopped by on a whim. my stop turned ed out to be a delightful sunday brunch experience. The building and interior is artsy meets rustic chic. The brunch was served buffet style and was loaded with thick bacon, eggs, grits, sausage, shrimp jambalaya, vegetables, salads, desserts...everything was fresh and slightly gourmet...not a greasy spoon buffet yall. read more

If you have not had the five course dinner at Juniper, you have miissed one of the 1000 meals you should eat before you die. The meal will start with an amuse-bouche. From there you will proceed to the five courses. Each one is served with an accompanying wine (If that option is chosen,) and introduced by the most excellent server named Charles. Each course was delicious, beautifully presented, and served with just the right timing. Part of the adventure is that the menu is a surprise. We had one allergy to consider, and we made that known when the reservation was made. All diners in the group were served the same menu. This was such a pleasurable evening, we resolve to repeat it. For those not familiar with Juniper, the building is in an old store on Main Street. It is furnished with an eclectic mix of mid-fifties Americana. For the evening meal, the place is transformed with the addition of tablecloths, and Mason jars are replaced by wine glasses read more

My wife and I visited from Philadelphia and stayed with her aunt and uncle in Johnston. Even before we arrived, her aunt touted Juniper as a place that we HAD to go. We had reservations for last Thursday night, 7/3, and it lived up to expectations! The atmosphere is casual, relaxed, yet sophisticated. The wait staff is terrific; friendly, knowledgeable, and made great recommendations. I'm not much of a bread person when it comes out for the table, but there was no way that I could resist fresh biscuits with cinnamon butter spread! Our waiter also brought out some sort of cold bean salad. I'm not sure exactly what it was but it was delicious. For dinner, I really enjoyed the SC shrimp with grits. The shrimp was so flavorful and the grits were creamy and charming. My wife had the bacon wrapped quail and was still talking about it on the trip back to PA. For the touristy portion of this review, I had my first glass of southern sweet tea and I loved it! Juniper for dinner is highly recommended. I wish there was a place like it in Philadelphia. I also hear that their brunch menu is outstanding. read more

First visit to Juniper was serendipitous! They were celebrating the Summer Solstice with a delightful and sumptuous buffet and a very entertaining songstress! What a nice surprise! Definitely going back! read more

Wonderful food and great staff! My husband and I came across this gem for lunch today. My husband asked the person taking our order which sandwich was better, the Cuban or the Reuben. (According to our receipt, it was Charles) Upon discovering that this was our first visit, he offered him a half Cuban & half Reuben, as a full sandwich order! That is the nicest thing that has ever happened to us. He also brought us a complimentary sampling of each of the available sides so we each had a taste. I had a cup of the corn chowder, which was awesome! My half grilled mushroom & onion sandwich was very good also. My husband said that both halves of his sandwich tasted great. All of the sides were uniquely flavorful. We spoke one of the servers about the history of the restaurant. We had thought that it was new because the sign looked new. He told us that it was 15 years old. The menu was varied and interesting. We would definitely recommend this place. read more

Came on a Saturday for lunch. Arrived at 1 pm. Stood in line for a half hour to order. They only serve soup, salads and sandwiches. It has now been an hour since I ordered. I got my soup a half hour ago. I don't care how good the sandwich is it cannot possibly be worth the wait. My wife said the pics of dinner on Facebook looked good. I don't care and I'll never know because I'm never coming back. read more

I would give this place 10 stars if it were possible! I had the herb crusted chicken with grits and it was absolutely amazing. They let us try their corn chowder and it was just as good! The atmosphere is very homey and the staff is very friendly. Loved this place and I hope I visit the area in the future so I can eat here again. read more

After passing this gem for many months and finally finding the time to stop and go in and check it out, I was not disappointed! The food is so fresh and simply delicious! I have now eaten there twice in the past two days and currently anticipating the next visit to try another wonderful item on their lunch menu! I love the retro decor brings me back to my childhood at my grandmothers kitchen. The staff are very friendly and the service was great! This is now my new found gem that I intend to frequent weekly if not more! read more

The perfect lunch. The staff was so friendly and the environment rustic and welcoming. We had the special herb crusted chicken and we both had soup. Corn chowder and tomato basil which were so fresh and delicious. It's hard to find places that really care about the food that they are creating and serving, this place tops most of the "5 star" places in SC. Period. A truly amazing experience. read more

Really good sandwiches but a little pricey for what you get. May try again to see if the menu changes. Worth a try if you're in the area and like to support local. read more

Juniper is such a great place. So quaint yet elegant. The food was outstanding and I love the fact that their menu changes based on local availability of the ingredients. The staff were pleasant and quick. I will definitely be going back!!! read more

Worth the trip out to Ridge Spring. Creative, careful. Manages to feel comfortable yet special. The tasting menu is a wonderful value, especially if you add in the wine pairings. I've caught the brunch before as well, and it is pretty good. Try making a day of visiting local antique stores (they all close at 5, Juniper at 6, so be prepared to kill an hour), followed by dinner and a drive-in Movie over in nearby Monetta. read more

Juniper is always on-point and our area's original farm-to-table establishment (way before it became trendy). Furthermore, the people behind this lovely restaurant are as top-notch as they come. Rarely do small towns get to have such a talented chef on Main Street, and it's really cool to see the symbiotic nature of the restaurant with this vibrant farming community. Not only is the food incredible and atmosphere relaxed, eclectic and fun, but you feel really good spending your money there too. We LOVE Juniper! read more

This little place in a little town was excellent! We went there for lunch one Saturday, and all four of us loved our meals, and the delicious tea which was self serve in mason jars! Very charming and top quality food! read more

Beautiful eatery...off the wall and unexpected... Everything was made from scratch....loved the vibe! Oh...and Dwayne was great...you could tell he loves his job... read more

The food is imaginative and fun. Ingredients fresh and not your typical fare. Freshly prepared and very good, just a little too salty for my taste. Overall a fun place to visit. read more

Friendly staff good food. My wife and I spent the day browsing the antique shops, getting a snack at the Nut House, and stopping by Cones Meat Market on the way home. Great small farm town. read more