Pacific razor clams are a seasonal specialty at Voyager. (Restaurant photos)
Voyager in Ferndale, which bills itself as a "neighborhood seafood restaurant with an oyster obsession," is named one of the top 10 restaurants in America for 2018 by Food & Wine magazine, just a year after opening.
Owner Eli Boyer, left, poses with chefs Justin Tootla and Jennifer Jacks.
Elyse Inamine writes:
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.
The restaurant at 600 Vester St. is owned by Metro Detroit native Eli Boyer, who opened Gold Cash Gold four years ago in Detroit's Corktown area and added Voyager in March 2017.
The co-chefs are Jennifer Jacks and Justin Tootla, a couple who met as Culinary Institute of America students in Hyde Park, N.Y.
