04/06/2024
If Jasprit Singh has learned anything during his time in the hospitality industry, it’s that two is almost always better than one. The serial restaurateur owns Raj on Taj locations in Hyde Park and Blackwood, and after taking over beloved Brighton café Juniper & Pine he soon realised that he was onto another winning formula.
The two trees in the name symbolise a generous cooking style that makes room for hearty classics inspired by the sturdy pine and aromatic spices that call to mind the fragrance of juniper. This inspired combination has helped the café establish itself as a local favourite in the seaside suburb, and Singh knew he wanted to bring his vision to Adelaide’s eastern suburbs as soon as he discovered the former 360 Gradi site at 405 Magill Road.
“When we saw this venue, we knew it was perfect,” he says. “It’s a large space with a classy dining area that has a wonderful atmosphere. It means that going out for dinner feels special, and we have a lovely outdoor dining area as well.” The venue had one more unique selling point: the imported Italian pizza oven installed by the former owners.
“That means we can make perfect hand-stretched pizzas using Italian ingredients like Caputo flour,” says Singh. “And once the oven heats up to 360 degrees it only takes three to four minutes to cook each pizza.”
But Juniper & Pine is more than just another pizza joint. Singh describes the cuisine as “a mix of Italian, American and modern Australian.” That means Italian classics like pizza, pasta and risotto sit alongside everything from fish & chips to Korean-style crispy chicken. And he’s also brought over several of Juniper & Pine’s signature dishes including prosciutto-wrapped chicken breast and hearty braised lamb shanks with rosemary and red wine jus.
The wine list follows a similar cross-cultural theme by highlighting both Italian and South Australian drops, while on weekends Juniper & Pine is open for breakfast.
Since opening in October last year, Singh says the reception from locals has been excellent, with one offering in particular proving popular. “A lot of customers really like our family-friendly deal on weeknights,” he says. “As long as an adult orders a meal, children can eat for free from the kids’ menu.”
