Juni: A Hidden Gem for Fine Dining in Midtown NYC

Juni Introduce

In the competitive world of New York fine dining, a restaurant must offer more than just a meal; it must provide an experience. Juni, a New American restaurant and cocktail bar, does just that. Tucked away on a quiet street in Midtown East, this restaurant is a hidden gem that offers an elegant and sophisticated dining experience without the stuffiness often associated with high-end establishments. It stands out for its impeccable service, innovative cuisine, and a surprisingly friendly and welcoming atmosphere. For New Yorkers looking for a special occasion spot, a place to impress a date, or a sophisticated yet approachable lunch, Juni presents a compelling option that feels both upscale and intimate. It's the kind of place that transforms a simple meal into a memorable event, making it a true destination for culinary enthusiasts in the city.

Juni has garnered a reputation for its creative approach to dining, particularly through its prix-fixe menus that highlight seasonal ingredients. It is a place where you can enjoy Michelin-rated chef’s food at a reasonable price, providing an accessible entry point into the world of high-end gastronomy. While the ambiance might at first appear a bit "dull" or "1980's," as noted by a reviewer, the elegant and intimate design eventually wins you over, striking a "right balance between classy and intimate." The diverse and attentive staff further contributes to the overall positive experience, ensuring every guest feels valued and cared for. Juni is a testament to the idea that true fine dining is not just about the food, but about the harmonious blend of ambiance, service, and culinary artistry.

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Location and Accessibility

Juni is conveniently located at 12 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016. This address places it in the vibrant Midtown East neighborhood, an area well-known for its mix of business, residential buildings, and diverse dining options. The restaurant's position on a side street provides a sense of quiet exclusivity, making it a perfect spot for a private lunch or a romantic dinner. It is easily accessible by foot from major subway lines and bus routes, and its central location makes it a practical choice for anyone working or living in the area. While not explicitly mentioned in the provided information, the restaurant's location in a modern building likely provides standard accessibility features. Its setting within a busy part of the city makes it a convenient and desirable destination for a truly unique dining experience.

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Services Offered

Juni is a fine dining establishment that focuses on providing a full, immersive culinary experience for its guests. The services offered are centered on the traditional fine dining model, with a few key dining options and offerings to cater to various needs.

Dine-in: The restaurant's primary service is dine-in, providing a complete, multi-course meal experience within its elegant and intimate dining room. This is where guests can fully appreciate the atmosphere and the chef’s meticulous plating.
Lunch and Dinner: Juni offers dining options for both lunch and dinner. The lunch menu is particularly noted for its exceptional prix-fixe deals, making it an excellent opportunity to experience fine dining at a more accessible price point.
Dessert: A dedicated dessert course is part of the dining options, ensuring a complete culinary journey from start to finish.

The service at Juni is consistently described as "impeccable," "attentive," and "friendly," with the staff never "hovering over" guests. This high level of service is a defining feature of the restaurant, and it’s a crucial component of the fine dining experience it aims to provide.

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Features and Highlights

Juni's highlights are centered on its culinary prowess and its commitment to a top-tier guest experience. A significant feature, as highlighted by a customer review, is the prix-fixe lunch deal, which is considered "one of the best" in the city, offering an opportunity to taste a Michelin-rated chef's food at a value price. The service is described as "impeccable" and "friendly," with a diverse staff that is "always attentive." This welcoming atmosphere is a key feature, especially for a fine dining restaurant, making it feel less formal and more intimate. The ambiance, while initially seeming "dull," is ultimately seen as "classy and intimate."

On the culinary front, the restaurant’s New American cuisine is a highlight. Dishes are described as "tasty and innovative without being overbearing." The menu focuses on seasonal ingredients and well-plated dishes, such as the praised butternut squash soup with gingerbread and the pork belly entree that is "not too fatty, not too salty." The drink menu is another notable feature, with a wide variety of cocktails, including unique matcha-infused options like matcha lemonade and matcha lattes. The restaurant also offers a great selection of wine and other alcohol to complement the meal. Payment is convenient, as the restaurant accepts debit cards.

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Contact Information

For reservations or to learn more about their menu, Juni can be reached at the following contact information:

Address: 12 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016

Phone: (212) 995-8599

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What is Worth Choosing

For a truly exceptional experience at Juni, the three-course prix-fixe lunch deal is a must-choose. As noted by a customer, it is an incredible value for the quality of food you receive. This option allows you to sample the diverse and innovative menu created by a Michelin-rated chef. For appetizers, the butternut squash soup is a highly recommended choice, praised for its "tasty and innovative" flavors and unique texture. The scallops and pork belly are also highlighted as excellent entree options, both for their great taste and beautiful presentation. While some reviewers wished for larger portions, the quality of each dish makes up for it. The drink menu is also worth exploring, particularly the cocktails. If you are a fan of matcha, the matcha-infused drinks are a unique and refreshing option. Finally, while desserts received mixed reviews, the overall experience of the lunch menu is a worthwhile choice. The true value lies not just in a single dish, but in the entire three-course journey, coupled with the impeccable service and intimate ambiance that defines Juni as a top-tier fine dining destination in New York.

Juni Details

Service options
Dine-in

Offerings
Alcohol
Cocktails
Wine

Dining options
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert

Amenities
Restroom

Payments
Debit cards
Credit cards

Juni Photos

Juni Location

Juni

New York New York County New York East 31st Street

12 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016, USA

Juni Reviews

An average rating of ★4.8 from 25 user reviews.

courseprixtasting menuwinevealoystercarrot

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Juno is a great spot to grab a refreshing drink, especially if you're a fan of matcha. They have a wide variety of flavors to choose from, including matcha lemonade, matcha iced tea, and matcha lattes. Their location is also perfect for people who are looking for a quick pick-me-up on the go. They're located in the heart of downtown, and they're open late, so you can always get your matcha fix no matter what time of day it is.
August 06 · Super Aba
At $129 (including tax and tip) for the three-course prix-fixe meal and one glass of wine for two people each, I can concur with the other reviewers that this is one of the best prix-fixe lunch deals around. We had lunch on n New Year's Eve afternoon. It's a great opportunity to eat a Michelin-rated chef's food. I just wish the entree portion was 20-33% bigger.The service was impeccable. I liked the diverse waitstaff. Just what you'd want service to be (always attentive; never hovering over). The place was also a lot more friendly than I expected. At first, the ambiance does have a 1980's dull living room decor but it actually grew on me. And in the end, I think the design strikes the right balance between classy and intimate.We both had the butternut squash soup (very thick with some sort of butternut squash panna cotta in the middle) with a sprinkling of gingerbread. The dish was tasty and innovative without being overbearing. I wish it had more gingerbread as it gave the soup great texture and taste.For the entrees, she had the scallops (tasty all the way through) and I had the pork belly (not too fatty, not too salty). Both great dishes and well-platted. Still, I'd wish for bigger portions.For dessert, the sorbet was fine (carrot-flavored?) and the chocolate sweet potato was just chocolate cake with sweet potato chips. But both were fine.In short, a great lunch prix-fixe deal but I'd wish for bigger portions and better dessert choice (I don't want complexity, just some solid stuff). In sum, a 4.5/5 but rounded up to a 5 cause we appreciated the friendliness.
January 03 · Phil Cleary
Exquisite food, absolutely beautifully presented. Interesting, imaginative, different, and yet not weird. We stayed at the Hotel where this restaurant is housed - the Chandler. We ate there the first evening in a rush before the theatre and were blown away. The next evening we went for the 4 course meal. To have 4 courses for U$90 when it food, wine and service at another level, I think is good value. In addition to the 4 courses, there were savoury and sweet petit fours. Try the mind blowing oyster leaf - a green leaf in a gorgeous little bowl of water, that tastes like an oyster. And it is natural. The exquisite veal woke me up from my jet lag stupor, and the next day I tried the lamb belly - well, that was heavenly. The food at Juni is at another level. And not to forget the wonderful staff, extremely helpful, obviously well trained but also taking pride in what they do. The wine was exquisite too thanks to the fabulous sommelier who knew about some rather obscure wines, and whose recommendations were spot on. And then the star Chef Shaun who bothered to come out to thank us for the compliments and spent time chatting... oh, and the bar tender Grant - the imagination and knowledge... This institution has a great team going. As I say, both evenings were outstanding on all fronts but the food will be a great memory and I will be sure to return.
July 09 · Zemun3011
Had dinner at Juni in November 2013. It was absolutely wonderful.The service was great, from the moment we stepped in until we walked out.The cuisine is very refined. I would actually be very curious to see what they will cook with the spring/summer ingredients. Will definitely be back.Not sure why there are so few reviews. I highly recommend it.
April 28 · Guy Lunardi
For our 9-year wedding anniversary, we heard about Juni from a friend of ours and decided to try it out. We were a bit skeptical because of the location inside of the Hotel Chandler, which I never really thought of up-scale before.In any case, from the moment we got there, the reception was extremely nice. We waited at the bar, as we were a few minutes early, and what a change the bar has gone through too! I used to go there for drinks a few years ago, and it definitely did not look like this. Very simple decor and the color palette was calming and serene. They even added new fancy cocktails that were very similar at some speakeasy bars in NYC.When we got sat down, the same great decor was in the restaurant. They sat us a comfy table, fit for 4 people. Again, the service staff was really nice and pleasant. Always attending to anything you need or to fill.The menu, at first, is a bit confusing, but I believe you can order ala carte or prix-fixe. We decided to go with the Chef's 10 course tasting prix-fixe, as we didn't want to dissect the menu and left it up to him to decide. They were great on what we didn't eat and catered to those needs in the meal.I need to state that you probably shouldn't eat lunch before coming here, or eat a light lunch. We didn't know that they start you off with some Petits fours! And we had at least 6-7 of them. All delicious...from the ones I remember, leaf bathed in oyster broth, truffle ball, crispy oats, beet on beet paper. What followed was just as good or better, 7 courses and 3 desserts. Again, from what I remember, carrot puree in a carrot crisp wrap, peekytoe crab in a tangy broth and fresh corn, uni, kale soup with pork, salmon, veal, sesame ice cream....Everything was presented in such beautiful layouts and done extremely well. Like miniature treasures. There even was a dish that the chef used liquid nitrogen for the presentation but also to make these cheese grits. What was even better was that the Chef came out and poured it for us and then greeted us, which was a nice touch!I would say the flavor of everything was super fresh, it tasted like it was picked right from the garden. Nothing was too salty or sweet, and the combinations of the sauces and foods were excellent.I never write reviews, but seeing how much I loved this place and having lived in the area for about 13 years, I need to bring attention to any great restaurants in my neighborhood, as there are very few.
August 21 · Douglas Jung