Step Inside Voyager, Ferndale’s New Oyster Destination

Seafood-centric eatery, Voyager, opened its doors in Ferndale last week in small, renovated garage off just a few blocks off the main Nine Mile strip. The restaurant touts an extensive rotating list of raw shellfish, fish dishes, and tropical cocktails in a casual-yet-sophisticated dining atmosphere.

Voyager is the latest project from Eli Boyer, a restaurateur who developed his chops in Chicago and returned to his native metro Detroit several years ago to help launch Gold Cash Gold (he cut ties with that restaurant in 2015). With him in the venture are chefs Justin Tootla and Jennifer Jackson, bringing more perspective from the Chicago restaurant scene as well as the Midwest pop-up dining circuit.

Designed by local firm, Five Eighths Architecture, the space manages recall the nautical details without being overly direct. Inset wall mirrors with curved corners, for example, give the feel of portholes on a ship without going fully circular. The raw bar with its piles of oysters waiting to be pried open is placed front and center at Voyager with an eye-catching red backdrop offsetting it from the rest of the eatery’s relatively neutral color palette. All together the 1,400-square-foot eatery seats around 40 patrons, though Voyager will expand into patio service in the warmer months.

Photographers Michelle and Chris Gerard visited the restaurant ahead of Friday evening service to get a closer look at the space. Take a tour of the restaurant in the gallery below.

Michelle and Chris Gerard

Gerard + Belevender

Michelle and Chris Gerard

Voyager is located at 600 Vester Street in Ferndale. The restaurant opens from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Happy hour starts at 4 p.m. daily. Website.

• Voyager Sails Into Ferndale on Thursday [ED]

• All Voyager Coverage [ED]

• All Eater Inside Coverage [ED]