Journeyman

This post has been a long time in the making! Journeyman is a small tasting menu-only restaurant in Somerville's Union Square (seriously, that neighborhood is blowing up!). The restaurant had been on our list for quite some time, but the menu set-up - a $75 tasting with an optional wine pairing for an additional $55 - made it a perfect indulgent birthday celebration location. If you are looking at this post and thinking about when food is freshest, you will notice that this meal is indeed from this past spring (whoops!). Journeyman changes their menu based on what is in season, making each dinner a new experience.

Oyster Amuse Bouche!

We almost had trouble locating the restaurant, since the front door is back behind Bronwyn, and the space is marked with a tiny sign. The interior has an industrial feel to it, with vaulted ceilings and exposed duct work. However, the wooden tables and wall accents balance things out and make the restaurant feel warmer. Since we were a group of 6 (the maximum party size) our server suggested that rather than wine pairings we go with bottles because it probably would work out to be a better price for us (thank you for the tip!).

Spring Salad with Peas and Fava Beans

Five of us got the standard tasting menu and Nick went with the vegetarian so that we could experience all the options. While I only photographed my food, I must say that the vegetarian option was well thought out and had a variety of ingredients. Nick eats meat, but the menu was just that tempting - no meat needed. Each plate was so complex with a number of different ingredients, but each flavor was perfectly balanced. Even better was that after the four savory courses we opted for a cheese course with a huge variety of nutty, tangy, creamy and utterly delicious items.

Salmon with Uni and Rhubarb

Egg over Polenta with Ramps

Look at that Yolk!

Steak with Peas and Semolina

Optional Cheese Course?  Yes please!

Pineapple Dessert

Banana Dessert

Chocolate Dessert

Overall, we had a great meal! We were all so full after we left - even though our plates really had a tasting size, it was so well timed that you never feel like you needed more. I would highly recommend a night out at Journeyman. Sometimes tasting menus can be a bit scary because you never know what you're going to get, and you have to put your full trust in the chef. At Journeyman, the tasting menu utilized both traditional and a few non-traditional items so that it is not intimidating to the majority of diners. The more intimate setting makes it a different experience (and better price) than a similar menu at the better known places.

Do you like tasting menus?