Journeyman

My girlfriend and I went to Journeyman last Friday night. We’ve never had small plates before so it was a fun and tasty experience.
First I’d like to say that the staff are very attentive and friendly without getting to the point where it gets annoying.
We aren’t big drinkers so we didn’t end up getting any alcohol but they have a very big selection of wines and beers.
We both thought the food was great. Our favorites were the mushroom soup and the second dessert course that I forget exactly what it was but it was ice cream, caramelized apple, salted caramel sauce (which was AMAZING) in a moose type thing with some other stuff that I forget. I could have eaten a few more bowls of that; it was soooo good.
We had a great time. The food was great, waitstaff was great, the interior is really nice (we didn’t feel cramped like most restaurants we’ve been to), and the noise level is really reasonable.
The only thing my girlfriend and I wish they did was have a little card explaining what each dish was. They explain it when they bring you the dishes but I feel like you’re amazed at what you’re getting because it looks and smells so good that you try and pay attention to what they say but forget right after. I don’t know if management at Journeyman read some of these reviews but I think it would really help the customer understand the dishes a little better. Other than that we had an amazing time and will definitely be going back.

Definitely an experience! We went on a rainy Wednesday night and basically had the whole restaurant to ourselves. We chose to sit at the chefs table (the bar that sits next to the kitchen). Since it is a pre-​fixe menu, we were immediately asked about any allergies or restrictions and then told that we would be taken care of. There were 9 courses, all of which were extremely seasonal. As expected, some were incredible and others were just not in our wheelhouse, but clearly a lot of love and thought went into each course. The standouts were a squash ravioli and a mushroom dish. I intended to take pics of each course, but stopped after first two. Will probably try again in another season!

Journeyman was an enjoyable albeit challenging eating experience. My expectations for the meal were extremely high, perhaps too high. I enjoyed some excellent dishes, some questionable dishes, and loved the service. The breakdown:
Amuse bouche: Reindeer moss. Delicious, fun, and beautiful.
1^st: A play on sushi, made with lobster and salmon roe wrapped in cucumber. Very good.
2^nd: Arctic char, seared, with blueberry and snap peas. I was prepared to not love this, but I loved it. The fish was spectacular and the sweet accompaniment was great.
3^rd: Head cheese inside a squash blossom. This was one of the challenging dishes. It tasted good, but was an obstacle for me texturally. Obviously, that’s a «me problem» and not an issue with the prep, but I do think this dish could have benefitted from the addition of something crunchy.
4^th: Milk curd, yeast, whitefish roe. This was a cold soup of sorts. Again, surprising from a textural standpoint, but delicious flavors.
5^th: Yellow eye bean. This dish blew me away. It was beans, thin-​sliced turnip, and shishito peppers. And it was my favorite dish of the evening. It was so rich and savory, despite it being meatless. Amazing.
6^th: Ham & clam. It is what it says. I wasn’t too enamored with this dish. The house ham was great, the clams were good, but the cabbage was glazed/​coated in some sort of maple glaze, which made it extremely difficult to chew.
7^th: Duck breast. Great fat layer on the duck breast, served with an awesome roasted carrot and a harissa sauce.
Cheese course in between. Some funky stuff was eaten.
8^th: Nasturtium and kombucha. There was sorbet involved, and it was turbo fruity and floral. Excellent.
The main downside of the meal was my pescatarian girlfriend’s experience. Look, I know that if you modify a tasting course, you shouldn’t expect the same level of precision as if you chose the standard menu. However, since Journeyman said they could accommodate her restriction ahead of time, we went for it. Most of the stuff was fine, but there were two major question marks:
1. Her replacement for the head cheese dish was a salted fish fillet. You know how salty salt cod is? Take a piece of salt cod and bake it in a salt crust. Then salt it and serve it. That’s how salty this dish was. It was inedibly salty. It almost seemed like a kitchen experiment in salt-​cured fish.
2. Instead of a duck breast, she was given a beefsteak tomato. This was the biggest course of the night, and I think a more appropriate substitution would have been some sort of protein.
Service was friendly, knowledgable, and fun. The two gents serving us were happy to share their knowledge of cheese and champagne with us, and if there were any food-​related questions they couldn’t answer, they were quick to go to the kitchen and ask the chefs. The kitchen is open and right in the center of the space. The space itself is small, but open and inviting.
All in all, a fun and exciting meal. There were some dishes that pushed my limits a bit, but that’s what a restaurant like this does. Very inventive and drop-​dead gorgeous food.

Journeyman is a good place if you are a foodie, or want to go out for a special occasion — we enjoyed the unpretentious atmosphere of the place, impeccable presentation of the dishes, and very inventive flavor combinations. We also liked the suggested wine pairing — the wines were unusual, and went well with the food.

Ive waited a year to hit up journeyman and it did not disappoint. We sat at the counter looking in the kitchen which was super fun. Everyone was very attentive and the food was superb.

This was my second visit, and it just keep getting better. The refinement in preparation is astounding, and this is all done without pretension or fuss. It is a laid back food lover’s dream. In Manhattan you have to either pull rank or fight to get a table in a restaurant of this quality. The team has managed to evolve the service and food, while still maintaining an experience which is consistent. That is not an easy thing to do, especially with dishes that dazzle.

The best dining experience I have ever had.
I’ve been to wd-​50 (NYC), moto (Chicago), aquavit (NYC), l’espalier (Boston) and other michelin star /​fine dining restaurants, but Journeyman trumps the others, in food, service, creativity, and elegance.
The menu is prix fixe and updates frequently, so just trust the chefs that you’ll have an absolutely amazing meal. A few recommendations:
1. Ask questions. The owners and servers overhead a few questions that my boyfriend and I had, and proactively came over to show us a few raw ingredients of what we were eating. Super interesting and helpful!
2. Be adventurous with drinks. I got a creamy lemongrass mocktail and my boyfriend got a burnt beer — both were recommended by the owner and were so unique and delicious!
3. Make online reservations in advance. It’ll just make the experience better — less hassle, no wait.
4. Sign up for their emails. They have special food events occasionally, and they’re super creative.

So so so amazing!

2^nd visit, this time for the American Spring series. Beautiful food, carefully crafted plates and knowledgeable servers who really care about the experience.

Wow, what an experience! We went for our one year anniversary in early May.
Note, you make reservations online in advance, and the price of dinner varies based on the popularity of the time you choose. (So be prepared to pony up more cash to eat at a normal dinner hour.) Reservations are non-​refundable.
Each course was beautiful. There were about eight courses total, including the cheese course that we added before dessert. We also did the wine pairing, which I’d recommend.
Beautiful but… Idk. Spring is a tricky time for all seasonal restaurants, because few things are at peak season (besides asparagus).
I wouldn’t hesitate to agree that the food was impressive. Super impressive! Technically masterful! But truthfully, I didn’t really enjoy eating it. The flavors didn’t pop for me. It was great to look at, and I appreciate all the work that went into every single course, but at the end of the day…
I’m sorry! I feel terrible, I wish I’d loved it! But I think it was just not my style.
You should still definitely go and see if it fits you! I know many people who love this place. I’m just not one of them.

I had one of the best meals of my life here. I was kind of wary since my SO has strange allergies (allergic to many raw fruits and vegetables, some nuts) and so I had to submit a miniature dissertation on what he could/couldn’t eat through their excellent online booking system.
We showed up before the dinner rush (around 5:30 or so), and were blown away by the service, the meal, and the respectful attention that was given to every aspect of the dining experience. The food was spectacular. I felt spiritually inspired by a few of the courses; that was how the complex and multi-​faceted the food was. It felt like a universe had opened up for me with each bite. I know it sounds sentimental, but that’s how I felt! AND they accommodated all of our allergy restrictions. I could’ve kissed the chef.
As far as I can tell, the menu changes monthly, but each meal is slightly tailored to the diners. Another party arrived halfway through our meal and sat next to us, so we could see how their meal had been creatively altered from ours. At the end, we received a copy of the menu; I was going to ask for one, but I’m glad they anticipated this. It is a meal you won’t want to forget.
I would recommend going before the dinner rush, as we loved the quiet and focused feel of the restaurant at that time. I also would not eat the bread they give you. It is good, but even as a hefty eater, I was stuffed by the time dessert rolled around because I had eaten the bread.
I am counting the days until I return to Journeyman.

Journeyman is special. It’s not really about having a meal. Rather, it is a dining experience, with surprises around every corner. Each little course — this is a 9-​course pairing menu with a couple of amuse bouche bites — is exquisite. Lovely to look at, but also loaded with complex flavors which had me wondering «Hmmm, how do they make this?». The wine list is absolutely the most adventurous and exciting I have ever seen — a 2001 white wine aged 140 months on the lees? Nearly extinct varietals from all over the world, back vintages that make you wonder if there’s a misprint, plus clever descriptions for the wines that made me smile. Right now they are featuring California wines for the $ 55 pairing menu — can you imagine a domestic sparkling Gruner Veltliner/​Verdelho made in the Charmat method? This was fun dining.
One caveat: If you are a fussy eater, ask for salad dressing «on the side», think a 32 oz. steak is a perfect meal, or you only drink Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, stay home — the adventure of Journeyman will be lost on you.

I went here a few years ago, and was very impressed with the chefs making everything for you in a open kitchen. The attention to detail was incredible. Although I couldn’t help but laugh at the meal size of the multiple course choices, I was pleasantly suprised that the food was SO flavorful and delicious that I was full at round 3! Pair your food with a bottle of wine and you’ll be in heaven. .or at least in restaurant heaven. 0:)

I’ve been to Journeyman three times since they opened and it is truly a unique eating experience. The dishes are small but very very fine and executed with intense attention to detail. Plus, it’s 9 courses with a few little extras and bread so you’ll leave full, but not exploding and having tasted sooo much more than you would going to your typical restaurant. Each bite is delicate and exquisite revealing complex flavors.
I like their ticket system where you pay per person ahead of time for 9 courses and it includes tax and gratuity. You have no choice as far as picking food from a menu (other than special dietary requests) as they only do 9-​course tastings. The upside of this is that they focus solely on what they’re making that night and can change seasonally or weekly, not sticking with a fixed menu and always making a ton of different dishes. For $ 55 you can also get wine pairings (5 glasses) which were very interesting and unique.
The restaurant is very clean and well done. It can be fairly quiet if it’s slow or later at night, but Journeyman is all about the food and the wine (or Back Bar’s amazing cocktails) so if you’re looking to be distracted by a bustling restaurant and music and you just want a solid hearty meal that just tastes pretty good (I also really appreciate these things) then you may feel awkward here, as some reviewers have mentioned.
If you want to have a unique, delicate and beautiful eating experience with your SO or a small group of foodies then Journeyman is the place for you.

Where are all these good reviews coming from? Did we go to the same restaurant?
Basically, read any of the other 1 – 2 star reviews, ANY of them. They all echo the experience I had in the disappointment with the food, service, ambiance, especially considering the high price.
Save your money and just go to Back Bar (next door, same ownership) for an excellent cocktail (the ONLY thing I liked at Journeyman was my cocktail) in a much more pleasurable setting! 5 trips there would be money more well spent than another one to Journeyman.

Probably the best restaurant in Boston and just about anywhere else I have been to.
I’ve been here a few times over the years, each time has been memorable.
They ditched their menu in favor of the «give us money and we’ll feed you» plan, which some may not be comfortable with. I find it fun being surprised every course. Really creative stuff, and even if you get a course you don’t love taste-​wise, it’s still easy to appreciate it’s creativity and appearance. This is definitely for people who prefer a more modern twist on their food. Also, I have had the best desserts of my life here.
Cool, hip space. Friendly and upscale without pretension. Also, it is attached to the best bar in town next door.
A great place to impress someone in.

Amazing food and service!!! Cant believe they dont have more reviews. We had a 9 course meal with wine pairings and it was one of the best multi-​course meals I have had. Very attentive and knowledgable staff. We sat at the chefs’ table and watched them work their magic. Had some great conversations and an overall fantastic time.

I like fancy restaurants when it is my birthday and that’s about all. So on my birthday, I headed out to Journeyman and was quite impressed. The owners are a husband and wife duo who have the farm-​to-​table movement down to a perfect obsession. Most of the foods come from local farms, butcheries, cheese shops, and even their drinks (which are a must) come from handcrafted bitters. If you are looking for a special meal, but don’t want to pay the hefty cost of a normal fare — go for the Four for Forty: Tasting Menu $ 40, Alcohol Pairing $ 30, available after 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Love this place and yes — everything is just as tasty as it is fresh.

This is by far the most well hidden and special restaurant I have been to in Boston. The street is a dead end, but it also looks like an alleyway. There is parking around (a bit hard to find), and definitely some in the back. I was surprised, really surprised, to see that it is tucked at such an odd location. That is also perhaps why it is not very well known YET. Given that it was Valentine’s Day and not every table was booked. People in Boston are definitely missing out!
The Valentine’s Day prix-​fixe menu was $ 85/​person, with alcoholic and non-​alcoholic pairing available. I opted for a bottle of wine instead, while my bf got some sort of whiskey that I can’t comment on. Not a whiskey girl! The wine I got was Arbois, Poulsard from the Jura (France) wine region. It is a type of CORAL wine, which I have never heard of. and it’s delicious! Very light for a red-​ish wine. Easy to drink even for people who dislike wine. I also need to give props to my servers because I asked way too many questions (and every single one of them was answered so well! It actually made the dinner more enjoyable).
Amuse-​bouche: Flax seed rice chips with Greek yogurt. The best part was the greek yogurt; sour and opened up our appetite for the rest of the meal. The rice chips wasn’t as crispy, a bit soft to the bite. can be improved.
First course: Island creek oyster (raw) with chopped radish, lemon zest, with gelatin on top. It was fresh, and a mouthful. I wasn’t sure how to go about it. Ended up taking multiple bites and took off the gelatin. The gelatin tasted a bit strange to me (it’s made from seaweed infused water). Creative, and a bit funny. The presentation is amazing though, just like the rest of the meal.
Second course: Raw scallop with Apple celery infused tapioca pearl, potato chip on top. Simple but special. The chef gave us two different dipping sauce as well.
Third course: Coffee roasted carrots with pesto and pine nut purée. I have to admit the presentation was nice, but lacking. But you know what they say: Never judge food by its presentation. This was easily one of my favorite course. And I don’t even like carrots all that much!
Fourth course: Lightly breaded, pan fried monkfish with escargot and reduced powdery butter. This was also one of my favorites. The monkfish and escargot were cooked so well, and so tender. All the toppings and extra touches were nothing short of amazing.
Fifth course: Roast lamb and shoulder with pickled mushroom, artichoke and radish. The lamb shoulder is JUICY and TENDER! There’s a lot of little things in there, a taste here and there. The chef is too crazy!
Sixth course: Matcha cake and rhubarb sorbet. Best dessert ever! I wish I can get the rhubarb sorbet every day. The matcha flavor was very hint, and I love that it was not a typical super sweet dessert to end my dinner. It’s mild and sour, exactly my type of dessert!
Seventh course: Cherry on top of sour cherry layered chocolate cake, general mill’s cocoa puffs, and crème fraîche. Another dessert that isn’t just sweet. I love that I can finish both desserts! I’m usually one bite and done with desserts.
Overall: Very creative. Very, very well executed. They did not provide us with the menu until the end so we can taste it as it’s presented. The atmosphere is very laid back, clean, and open. It can easily look like someone’s apartment. The servers, again, were super sweet and fun to converse with!

Interesting dinner at Journeyman, but unfortunately not quite up to expectations. I love the concept, a blend of modernist and farm-​to-​table cuisine in a funky space (even the bathroom is clever). We had early reservations and were permitted to choose our table; the venue features a bar counter (with seven stools) with the kitchen literally on the other side and we opted for these seats. This set up was similar to Atera in New York. We had been expecting a bit of interaction with the chefs (as has been our experience in other restaurants featuring such open kitchens) but in general the chefs acted as though there was a physical barrier and only would speak if asked a direct question. Once food was plated the chef would walk away from you to place it on a counter for servers to deliver; a nice touch would be for the chefs to at least present a dish or two (and it was not a case of them being busy; for nearly an hour we were the only guests).
The food itself was interesting with the first few courses highlighted creative presentations of fresh seasonal produce with some exotic ingredients such as watermelon gherkins. The proteins included a local fish (sea bream), duck with shaved foie that had been frozen (which slowly melted gradually altering the texture of the dish), a pork course, intermezzo, dessert and mignardises. While the food was solid, in general each course was in the good, not great category (the pork was the weakest in that it was extremely chewy). I am not aware of other venues in the Boston area featuring modernist cuisine, so those not exposed to this style would likely would be impressed, but having dined in New York city, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco in recent months it lacked the whimsical nature of venues such as Atelier Crenn, Atera, El Ideas, Elizabeth, Moto and the like.
At $ 85 for the seven course menu (a five course is available for $ 65) the meal is pricey, but not exorbitant and actually reasonable for the quality and style of cuisine (Journeyman is tasting menu only). However at this price point I expect a high level of service. While the staff was nice, they were not particularly warm and were more about business then enhancing your dining experience. Of greater concern were more gaffes than would be expected. Journeyman indicated that they will accommodate all allergies/​aversions (and on most courses did so admirably) but we had mentioned we do not like offal and yet the duck was served with foie. Compounding this nobody intervened when both of us scraped the foie off the duck (there was quite a bit and as it melted the task became cumbersome). Compare this to a meal the other day at Menton where my wife disliked a component of a dish (but ate most of it) and next thing you know they brought us a completely different dish as a bonus course. While that was certainly over and above expectations, some acknowledgement by the chef or server was warranted at Journeyman. Other issues included my dessert wine was forgotten (I had opted for the wine pairings) and our primary server gave rather basic explanations of the dishes (not mentioning the more exotic ingredients used or anything about the preparation). The pace of the meal was also a bit rapid (likely because it was so empty the kitchen was primarily cooking for us); I had a hard time finishing my wines before the next course arrived and wound up only polishing off two of the pairings (quite rare for me).
As for the pairings, I liked that they used small batch wines, but none left me wanting more and they did not seem to enhance the food. I was also disappointed that the pairings were not as described on the website — a mixture of wines, beer, cider, fortified wine and sometimes spirits is referenced (I was poured wine only). I would recommend ordering drinks a la carte; a better value and the wine list is interesting as well as lists some enticing cocktails (created by the mixologist at Back Bar, a next door sister venue). There are also some wonderful mocktails, coffees and teas. This is a venue worth considering because the concept is wonderful and (so far as I know unique for the Boston area), but is one to skip if you have enjoyed modernist cuisine in other locales or are seeking polished service. Assuming this was not just an off night, Journeyman needs to invest in a seasoned general manager to breath some life into the venue and iron out service.