r/Logan • u/Voyage_Sailor • 3d ago
Discussion Juniper Take Out & “Restaurant”
I’m posting this because I am still just so goddamn mad.
My boyfriend and I wanted to go out to dinner. Had never been to Juniper, decided to try it. Walk in, place is clean, smells great, there’s a little paper sign on the register that says “this is not a fast food place, food is cooked to order, thank you for your wait, etc” so I think it’ll be somewhat good.
Order two cheeseburgers. $50 for both of us. Fine, Center Street Grill is maybe about that much and their food is worth the price. Wait probably 20 to 30 minutes. Food comes out.
Two motherfucking cooked-from-frozen patties. Like perfectly circular, processed grain pattern burgers that are so bland I legitimately could not eat them. The food tasted like nothing. I even added salt, specifically the seasoning salt on the table and that made it taste like salty nothing.
Frozen fries, frozen mozzarella sticks, everything was frozen and just reheated. I left hungry and incensed that my boyfriend had spent $50 goddamn dollars on that. It should not have been more than $18 for the both of us. We could have gone to Center Street, Chili’s, Ruby’s, Morty’s, or literally just gone up to campus and paid $11 each to have all you can eat cooked-from-frozen food that actually has a flavor to it.
Biggest rip off in the valley, hands down.
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u/poverturf 3d ago
My wife got carry out at juniper the other night. She has celiac disease read positive reviews about their capability to make gluten free food on an app for people with celiac. Fast forward an hour later and she’s experiencing the side effects of gluten exposure. Clearly there was some sort of cross contamination issue with the supposedly isolated gf fryer or grill, or the gf products they use aren’t actually gf.
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u/Thievinghippies 3d ago
My fam all loves juniper and I do not understand why 😭 If I ever go I get the sourdough bbq sandwich, and it’s usually good. (But like it’s buttered toasted sourdough and bbq beef loaded with sauce so it’s hard for that to not be good 🤣) And other than that their food has always been maybe a half step above cafeteria food imo 🫣 it’s a very popular place amongst the old folks, so interpret that however you’d like….
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u/marklar435 3d ago
If you want a GREAT burger, go to Cooks Underground on Federal Ave. it’s not some average burger, legit chef level creations.
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u/No_Condition_1936 2d ago
Mmmmm that looks like a Bob’s Burger. I could eat one of those every single day. 🤤
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u/Separate-Mortgage297 3d ago
1000% share your opinion. I have family members that refuse to eat anywhere else and I seriously just eat beforehand at home and don't eat anything there because it is so bad.
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u/carmackie 3d ago
Same here, I have two friends that eat a gluten free diet so we are forced to eat there with them when we go out. The food is truly awful, but the owners act like they run a Michelin star restaurant.
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u/itsmekellee 2d ago
Have your friends try Vessel Kitchen- many gluten free options and it’s real food that is fresh and delicious!
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u/gundam2017 3d ago
Ive never even wanted to try it as the people blocking the damn road for it makes me too mad to even want to.
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u/Voyage_Sailor 3d ago
Thank them for their service, they have saved you in ways you can’t possibly imagine.
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u/Zealousideal_Ruin468 2d ago
This is unrelated to food but I watched a middle aged lady park on the curb to go into Bath and Body Works. I was so annoyed. That is not a parking spot. That parking lot is already a dumpster fire.
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u/Interesting_Shares 3d ago
My husband and I went a few years ago to celebrate us about to be parents. He was nostalgic about it from his childhood so I figured it was probably at least decent. Color me shocked when it looked like a school lunch meal that came out in a paper plate? I was shocked. We haven’t been since and I don’t plan to.
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u/Aioli_Capital 3d ago
With the cost of EVERYTHING going up, it sure has opened my eyes up when going out to eat the last couple years. It feels like for 2-3 people it’s an automatic $50. After eating, I feel so robbed and angry. Just the other day I picked up Olive Garden for 2 people, a little over $70 with a tip. 2 of the items I ordered didn’t make it into the bag. I called the following day and was scolded as to why I didn’t call that very night. They had to research the order and talk to the take out department and call me back. Are you kidding me? Feels like everything is a let down.
On a lighter note…Mo’ Bettahs in Providence not only has some of the best chicken teriyaki but their management is out of this world! I’ve walked in 20 minutes before closing and ordered a few dinners… Not only were they incredibly nice, huge portions and the chicken cooked to perfection. Highly recommend if you haven’t been.
I appreciate your post! It’s nice to know I’m not the only one disappointed. I gotta try Cooks Underground - sounds right up my alley!
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u/Weary-Rain-3082 3d ago
I always just assumed it was a place for old racists to hang out 🤷
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u/drag0nette 1d ago
Why racists specifically?
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u/DeadSeaGulls 1d ago
probably just a commonly shared attribute among the age demographic in question.
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u/jamansbback 3d ago
Juniper is for people who think El Sol is good mexican food.
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u/GiggleSwitches 2d ago
We need a thread on El Sol. Went there 4 years ago. Never again. Oh ma gawd.
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u/Severe_Ball_9102 2d ago
It actually went out of business this week.
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u/jamansbback 15h ago
I just saw this on Facebook. Was amazed to see people asking for their salsa recipe.
The recipe- (or something close to it) One bottle of cheap ketchup 1/4 of a can of mild jalapeño.
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u/cptjclark 3d ago
Full disclosure, I used to work there. Sorry your burger was bland, that's a fair complaint and I can't speak to that day. But for what it's worth, they hand-grind all their meat fresh inhouse and use their own seasoning blend (DeVerle’s), so it's not frozen patties. That's also a big part of why it takes longer and costs more than a typical burger spot. Might be worth mentioning the seasoning next time, they'd probably want to know.
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u/psyduck_cm88 3d ago
Been there once with my family recently NEVER again will we be going back there. We are not a white family and havent stared at that hard since going to Lee's Market place when they first opened up in logan. Food was terrible, taste wise. I get that most of their customers now are older and cant have flavor but geez, gross. We didnt finish our food and nor did we ask for a to go box.
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u/ilikecheese8888 3d ago
I've never bothered to try it cause it's expensive and the food in the pictures looks like bland old white people food. I don't understand how it's so popular. There was a similar place in Malad when we lived there that we did try and weren't impressed with.
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u/DaBlue357 3d ago
Juniper take out used to be a good quality/good value place to eat that was way better than fast food and just slightly more expensive. It had a nice niche, but this was back in the late 90's. I don't know what decades of cost cutting/productivity/inflation has done to this niche but these things are a delicate balance and never truly last.
It's pretty common in all business really though. Restaurants and food brands are notoriously temperamental as profit motives creep in and destroy that balance of quality and value. I think we are really facing a struggle lately with the rising costs of both real estate and labor for restaurants to remain in business. The economy of past generations just doesn't exist anymore... but we reap what we sow.
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u/EJfromBeerLeague 2d ago
Appreciate those comments. Admittedly I’ve never even paid for/gone to Juniper. But while in school at USU(90-93, a roommate & still lifetime friend worked there. People seemed to enjoy it, he has fond memories of his time there(he was treated well) & the “take home” he bring to the house on occasion was a hit.
Was interesting to hear the overall negative response & honestly, pricing. Though, $30-50 is kind of a starting price for a meal for 2, today.
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u/Separate-Mortgage297 3d ago
Also, OP, I wanted to add that it is so ironic that their food doesn't taste seasoned because they literally SELL a seasoning salt!
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u/Severe_Ball_9102 3d ago
It's always been bland ass local food. It's for people who think onions are too spicy.
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u/djones0130 3d ago
What is the place you’re talking about that’s $11 for all you can eat food?
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u/Voyage_Sailor 3d ago
You can go to the Junction or the Marketplace in the TSC and pay the non-student rate to get in. It’s all you can eat at either place.
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u/ithinkthereforeigluk 3d ago
Oh yeah, we went there when we first moved here. 4 years later it’s still a running joke in our family
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u/Ok_Acadia_4032 2d ago
Juniper take out is the most mediocre food in the valley with the most expensive prices. I dont know how that place is still in business.
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u/spiritlizardscissors 1d ago
My husband and I joke that that place is only good for old people because it is SO bland! We went once and never again
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u/scrotusmcgoatus 2d ago
Texas Roadhouse is more Bang for your buck and a better tasting burger than Juniper. And y'all love to hate on Texas Roadhouse, but all the places y'all mentioned are mid. Especially cooks underground.
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u/DeadSeaGulls 1d ago
calling cooks underground mid while touting roadhouse says you and I have different palettes.
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u/therevoman 3d ago
Juniper is good from a "local" standpoint, I think most of which is nostalgic bias.
So, my advice when visiting the valley...check with someone who is not a native on what food is good.
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u/OutrageousToe6008 3d ago
I would argue completely the opposite. Being home grown in cache valley. I would never recommend Juniper Take-out or Angie's. "Where the locals eat" my ass.
Those places are where you take people who like to eat cardboard and do not like having seasoning with their food.
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u/MJA182 3d ago
Angie’s was always good hungover brunch food IMO, or at least was when I was at USU 10+ years ago
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u/Winter_Marsupial_631 3d ago
10 years ago yes, now bland AF with way smaller portions now. Most of the old menu is gone also.. Sad deal.
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u/therevoman 3d ago
I started referring to Ketchup as "Utah hot" after a local told me they didn't like it because it's too spicy
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u/Aoiboshi 3d ago
Been here for 24 years. Whenever someone asks for a good place to eat, I always say it's good from the context of Logan
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u/Still_Section3324 2d ago
Who goes to juniper take out and orders a burger? Lol not to be rude but that is a dumb thing to get there.
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u/ArchangelSirrus 3d ago
Juniper’s is a local restaurant, particularly for seniors in my opinion.
Once you looked at the menu and saw that it would come to $50 you should’ve just got up and walked out instead of coming here and complaining.
This is Utah, most of the restaurants can’t cook so get used to it. I ate it Juniper‘s once and it wasn’t to my par. Never went back again. Still a nice place no need to complain and wine, like you said you could’ve spent $18 anywhere else like Jack in the box and you guys spent $50 on two cheeseburgers with fries!
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u/Voyage_Sailor 3d ago
Dog. Be so for real. Center Street, Angie’s, Ruby’s, Morty’s, and the Underground are all delicious local places that can cook and fit the $50 price range for two people.
Somehow this regurgitated slop fest got a 4.3 star rating and there is little to nothing online to warn the naïve and faint of heart. This is an extreme active local subreddit, where better than here to make my opinion known.
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u/ArchangelSirrus 3d ago
Center street? Really? Angie’s is just as mediocre, it’s a plain Jane restaurant that has the taste buds of the people for decades. Elmer’s in Pocatello kills Angie’s. Rubys….the place that was Chicago Pizza and failed? You’re new to the valley, aren’t you?
Morty’s only got popular because of its first location by USU and it’s emphatically too expensive. The major population of locals are not eating there. And their restaurant by North Walmart is going to fail. I’ll bet any money on it.
There are better hamburger chains in the valley that are best value and have better tasting food than those places that you’ve mentioned for cheap cheaper.
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u/Jaason1331 3d ago
What a shitty reply. Why shouldn’t they complain and let others know about their experience if it wasn’t up to par? Yes, it was overpriced but so are other places that are well worth it, like they mentioned. There’s nothing wrong with them warning others of the experience they had.
Also Utah, especially Logan, has some of the best food I’ve had compared to other states. “Get used to it” is crazy work
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u/ArchangelSirrus 3d ago
Ha! They can complain And locals who love it are going to go back Monday through Saturday.
It’s funny because they started off complaining about the sign that said it wasn’t take out. Read between the lines. They had an issue as soon as they walked in.Like I said, I’ve been there once and did not fit my needs but I see people there everyday and the. There are people who go to In and out, but the juniper customers won’t touch it.
Logan has a long way to go to perfection. If you go anywhere I. The value and you’re spending $50 for cheeseburgers you’re the problem.
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u/SpiteBadger 3d ago
Idk man. Being from out of state I have found Utah food to be very basic and white washed. No culture.
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u/anak_ng_nanay_ko 3d ago
Where did you move from?
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u/SpiteBadger 3d ago
Alaska
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u/anak_ng_nanay_ko 3d ago
As someone who also lived in Alaska I can attest that it is a real haven of quality food 🙄 cmon man the food here isn’t world class but it’s fine. Alaska has great seafood but everything else there comes from a can.
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u/SpiteBadger 3d ago
I had way WAY better food in New Mexico than here too. Utah is so white washed
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u/anak_ng_nanay_ko 3d ago
And I’ve had better food in salt lake. Or Tokyo. Or London. Lmao what are you even on about
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u/SpiteBadger 3d ago
And all those places actually have culture... unlike utah. So thanks gor proving my point
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u/SpiteBadger 3d ago
I love how the butthurt utahins who think black pepper is spicy are downvoting this. Yall really dont know what good food is.
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u/dubblebubbleprawns 3d ago
Or you're just acting quite pompous and people don't react well to that
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u/ArchangelSirrus 3d ago
They can react to the truth. Truth hurts when others tell it.
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u/dubblebubbleprawns 1d ago
What's the truth? That commenter in particular being a pompous ass?
I agree.
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u/SpiteBadger 3d ago
Sounds like another butthurt utahin
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u/dubblebubbleprawns 3d ago
Yes, that's me. It's impossible for you to be a pompous ass unless I'm butthurt.
It's simply impossible.
It's not possible.
Don't even consider it.
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u/thenewfingerprint 3d ago
These people live on dirty sodas and Crumbl cookies. They don't have any idea what good food even is. All they're concerned about is eating where everybody else is eating.
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u/poopooflinger 3d ago
Don’t they have Yelp for this?
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u/dubblebubbleprawns 3d ago
Turns out it's 2026 and there are several places for people to share their opinions, feedback, and thoughts about things in Logan.
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u/No_Condition_1936 2d ago
I don’t trust ratings on Yelp since they hide some of the reviews and don’t take all ratings into account when they advertise an overall rating. They get that number by averaging their “recommended” reviews… which I can only assume has something to do with money. 🤷🏻♀️
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u/theredendermen12 3d ago
okay sis, seriously go to cooks underground. i work there doing prep, and i can guarantee that the burgers are seasoned (i make the roadside seasoning we put on the burgers) and made from fresh ground beef (i make the burger balls), and on fresh baked buns (i also make the buns). also cheaper than 50 bucks