There’s high national praise for one of Ferndale’s best dining spots, Voyager. Food & Wine Magazine has named them one of the top 10 restaurants of the year.
Eli Boyer, along with Co-Executive Chefs Jennifer Jackson and Justin Tootla opened Voyager in 2017, and it’s been a hit from the get-go.
Located just off of downtown Ferndale’s main strip, the seafood restaurant features a menu with creative dishes using a variety of proteins, but has “an oyster obsession.”
Voyager breaks the mold of your classic oyster bar (the usual shucked suspects; a musty imperial vibe) and looks good doing it. Restaurateur Eli Boyer built the place on his own terms, in a way that felt right for his hometown. A color-blocked, airy interior makes it the ultimate hangout, and Tootla and Jackson’s menu makes it a compelling destination.
The oyster selection ranges from Barnstable, Massachusetts, to Discovery Bay, Washington, but the best bites at Voyager reach further afield. Peel-and-eat shrimp are dusted with Old Bay and served with umami-packed Alabama comeback sauce. A Caesar salad arrives with creamy, crunchy fried sweetbreads.
“We’re beyond thrilled to receive this honor as one of Food & Wine’s Restaurants of the Year. When you open a restaurant as a small independent crew, your goals are simple: create a viable business by exceeding your guests’ expectations daily. To receive this award is beyond any expectations we’ve ever set, but it inspires us to aim even higher. It’s a testament not only to our incredibly talented team at the restaurant, but also to the support we’ve received from our loyal guests and from the greater Ferndale community,” says Boyer. “We’re looking forward to sharing more of our work as we continue this journey in Downtown Detroit with Lovers Only.”
Speaking of Lovers Only, that restaurant recently opened as well in downtown Detroit’s Capitol Park.
Cheers to Voyager. The visibility of Metro Detroit’s food scene is indeed on the upswing.
You can find Voyager online here and at 600 Vester Street in Ferndale.