Juniper61

Juniper61’s sweet and fruity White Sangria. Photos by Ashley Brandt.

Wauwatosa’s Juniper61 is the second venture of Sarah Jonas and Cameryne Roberts, chefs and co-owners of Bay View’s  hip Café Lulu. While Lulu has a relaxed and inviting atmosphere with simple, well-done dishes, Juniper61 stands out for it’s more sophisticated décor and bolder flavor combinations, while still maintaining a welcoming, neighborhood gathering-spot vibe.

For Sunday Brunch with a group of friends, the patio at Juniper 61 is the place to be. Set behind the restaurant and away from the bustle of North Avenue,  a tall wooden fence makes you forget that you are in a residential neighborhood. With plenty of green space and sunshine, it’s the perfect spot to unwind.

The perimeter of the garden is lined with seasonal herbs and occasionally members of the kitchen staff pop out to pluck fresh leaves and sprigs to accent the beautiful dishes they are creating.

As our group settled into a corner table with a nice shady umbrella one sunny afternoon, we ordered a round of the special of the day: sangria. On Sundays, Juniper 61 offers their homemade red, white, or peach sangria for $5 per glass or $20 per pitcher.

The frittata consisted of thinly sliced prosciutto ham, brie, and fresh asparagus served atop eggs that Juniper 61’s chefs start in the skillet but finish in the oven for a light, fluffy texture. It comes served with your choice of toast and rosemary breakfast potatoes, or their cheddar scallion potato cake.

Prosciutto Frittata with rosemary potatoes and rye toast.

The first thing I noticed about the dish was the generous portion size and the beautiful balance of colors on the plate. An edible purple orchid beautifully complemented the yellow egg, pink prosciutto, and fresh green asparagus. And the flavor combination was just as appealing as the color palette. The eggs were cooked perfectly, providing a great base for the salty ham, creamy brie, and crunchy asparagus.

The Dijon Pork and Brie Press is offered with your choice of homemade potato chips or Asian slaw. Having fallen in  love with this particular slaw years ago (a staple at Lulu), I opted for the latter for it’s bright flavors, crunchy cabbage and peanuts. The sandwich comes layered with roasted pork loin and peppery arugula on a baguette, spread with whole grain mustard and apricot jam, which is then grilled.

While I was most excited about the flavor combinations of this dish, the end result was a little lackluster. The pork was slightly bland in flavor and texture, and neither the jam nor the mustard were entirely present. However, I think with a couple of tweaks, this dish could be really great.

When the server dropped off the first two dishes, he informed us that the kitchen had forgotten to make the roasted vegetable tart. To tide us over, he brought over a plate of fresh fruit that was much appreciated.

Roasted Vegetable Tart.

The roasted vegetable tart was certainly worth the wait.

The browned puff pastry shell and lightly charred, roasted vegetables caught everyone’s eye as soon as it landed on the table. The tart was topped with a fried egg and garnished with some fresh thyme (from the herb garden) and an edible orchid. The generous side salad was topped with a chunky blue cheese dressing and crunchy pieces of thick-cut fried prosciutto, which they were calling “prosciutto croutons.”

The flavors were fantastic. The vegetables were perfectly sweet, soft and carmelized, and nestled beautifully inside the light pastry shell. The sharp blue cheese and prosciutto croutons are an amazing combo, a perfect complement to the earthy greens. This dish is definitely a winner.

Overall the prices were reasonable and the quality of the food was high. I will most certainly be back and encourage Milwaukee brunch regulars to venture out of their regular stomping grounds and give Juniper61 a try.

Juniper 61 is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week, with brunch served on Sundays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m..

Juniper61
6030 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa
(414) 727 -6161
Hours:  11 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Mon – Thurs.); 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.); 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Sunday)
All major credit cards accepted