The Goodyear House — Restaurant in Charlotte

It's simply not worth it, and to me they're shady. I'll start off with the good, rice balls weren't bad and the banana pudding dessert was good. Everything else was simply meh. Expensive meh at that. To start with, I booked a tent for winterfest or whatever they call it. I thought it would be a nice private place for my wife and I to have a date night. There was a $35 tent rental that was not mentioned when I called and placed the reservation. Not a huge deal by itself but seems like something you might mention. It was also stated that the tents were heated, I mean why wouldn't they be if they're only used during the winter months? Thank goodness we went on a warm day (60 when we arrived and 50 when we left) because the piddly little electric heater was definitely not doing it's job. I ended up moving it and sitting it directly beside my wife so that she could be more comfortable. Any colder than 60 and I do not recommend getting a tent unless your entire party is very hot natured. As stated we came for a date night, but found out that it happened to be restaurant week as well so we ended up doing the Queens feast ($50pp). Much of their regular menu was on there. I got the Queens feast special old fashioned, heavy on the syrup low on the bourbon. Certainly not $14 good and I'm quite familiar with old fashioneds as I order them regularly. For appetizers we chose the rice balls and the marinated shrimp. Rice balls were good (and warm which helped) and the shrimp was ok, some strange flavors there. For entrees we went with the recommended pasta and chicken. I was wanting the pork collar but was told that "it's been coming out charred and dry". Sad they have menu items that they can't cook properly. Wife's pasta was ok but kinda small, my chicken was good but a handful to cut/eat given the way that it's served. It was also inconvenient that our table was insanely unlevel so the gravy was running off the side of my plate. Desserts were pretty good collectively, cheesecake was average but the banana pudding dessert we thought was really good. Now here's where they really lost me. Our bill was $193 for one cocktail and two $50 Queens feast meals. $200 and I had chicken. $200 and my wife had meatless pasta. Ultimately the issue is the 20% gratuity added onto our party of 2 because we got the Queens feast. Call me crazy, but that seems really shady to me. Just be transparent about it. I feel like we were talked into the Queens feast by the waitress because she knew about the tip, we however were unaware. And I'm not saying that she did a bad job and didn't deserve a tip, but remember that tent rental I mentioned? Yep, $35 and that was included in the 20%. So I paid $42 to eat dinner in the cold. Ultimately the place seems like a bad value, just makes it a little worse when you feel like they're dishonest people. We definitely won't be back. Oh, and it's Noda so be prepared to fight over parking, walk 3 miles, or pay...

So, I’d say this is more like 3.5 stars but I can’t do half stars so here we are. My friend made brunch reservations on a Sunday at 2. They weren’t packed but the parties kept coming in despite the later time - they’re doing something right!

The Good: the ambience is out. Of. This. World. Seriously, the place is gorgeous. Part old house with modern additions that made it feel like I was in a treehouse with the abundance of wood and natural light. It was picture perfect outside on their back patio. String lights, igloos, woodsy goodness - just stunning. I definitely want to come back in the evening and sit outside.

The Meh: so, the food didn’t wow me as much as I thought it would. Nothing was bad but nothing was noteworthy either. My friends said their Goopy Burger was good which I think I’d get next time. I got the Autumn Rose cocktail, which was decent, and the Chilaquiles - they were a touch bland for me. To be fair, my mother is from Mexico and I grew up eating Chilaquiles for breakfast so this is NOT an unbiased opinion. I also tried my friend’s shaken fry bag and they were just ok, too. Maybe she didn’t shake it enough to get the garlic seasoning on there properly. Service was efficient but both hostess and server seemed aloof/stressed/a combo of both? Ultimately, we got our needs met so that’s fine.

The Bad: Reservations, which I can see are a necessity, are tricky when we’re talking about the outdoor igloos. When you go to make reservations using the link on their website, it immediately takes you to an OpenTable page for the Igloos at Goodyear House. These igloos are $25 and go towards charity. In the grand scheme of Charlotte igloos, that’s a fair price and they go towards a good cause. However, you really do have to read the fine print at the bottom of the reservation to see that your card (that you type in when making the reservation) will be charged $25 when you come for your reservation. My friend did not realize or notice this when making the reservation and was shocked when we showed up, were told we had an igloo, and explained it was an extra $25. We weren’t prepared for the extra fee so we asked if we could waive the igloo and sit elsewhere (plus, it was SUCH a gorgeous day- we really didn’t want to be in an igloo). Ultimately, we were able to be accommodated inside, after waiting 10-15 mins-ish after our reservation time, but not without my friend growing very frustrated.

I do think there needs to be a clearer distinction between the igloos/their subsequent fee and reservations everywhere else - especially since the reservation link defaults to reserving the igloos. I would like to come back to try something else and to sit outside (not in an igloo) to enjoy...

Located in the vibrant NoDa neighborhood of Charlotte, the Goodyear House is a casual dining experience with a charming patio and warm hospitality. Since dining there when it first opened, we have wanted to try the Goodyear. The service was exceptional—we were greeted and sat quickly after being offered in/outside. We opted for outside at a picnic table, but after a while, our backs started to ache from not having support.

The cocktail menu complements the food beautifully, offering a mix of classic and innovative drinks. Built On Hospitality Old Fashioned—A sophisticated take on a timeless classic, delivering a smooth yet complex sip. It is a perfect choice for a bourbon lover like me. Boom, Roasted - was a delightful mix of smoky warmth and nutty sweetness. Apple and Spice -combined Queen Charlotte Reserve rum, apple cider, Drambuie, and fresh lemon, creating a well-balanced blend of spiced warmth and citrus brightness. Pomegranate Fizz is Light and refreshing with Its tart, citrusy profile. The menu showcases the restaurant’s ability to balance rich, comforting flavors with refined technique. Crispy Rice Balls was a delightful start. These Carolina Gold rice balls were perfectly fried to a crisp exterior while remaining creamy. The Warm Cheese is a must-try for cheese lovers. This dish featured Green Hill cheese paired with burnt honey, pecans, and pink lady apples. The Beef Tartare - The American Wagyu beef is fresh but tastes salted with a mix of aioli, cornichon, capers, and potato sticks. For dinner we had Shrimp & Grits is a take on the Southern classic, Maltagliati. This hand-torn pasta dish was a standout. They were out of Grilled NC Trout, but they substituted cod. The bavette was au Poivre steak cooked to perfection, but it was oversalted. Dessert was terrific with a brownie sundae and lemon poppy cake - delish! Overall, the food was very good - and the service was terrific - but for the value - it...