The Goodyear House

"Those igloo tents are back in the backyard of Goodyear House in NoDa starting December 2.  Goodyear will pitch the tents, drape the garland, serve easy-eating food, and keep the chilly winter air at the door. If it’s not a whole meal, go for an Old Fashioned and a warm banana pudding." - Kayleigh Ruller

"Here, customers don’t have to sacrifice the sun if they want to sit inside, because it’s a half inside half outside situation with sweeping open windows and sunlight pulled into every corner. The layout is so clearly made for Charlotte’s warm weather that it’s hard not to feel sorry for the colder months. Start playfully with the marinated shrimp perched on saltines, and the absolutely adorable baby mushrooms, pickled and tart, in the beef tartare. Chef Chris Coleman and his team disguise the vegetable-ness of carrots by roasting them and placing them on a fluffy bed of herbed Boursin cheese draped in honey. Most food and seasonal cocktails here are fresh, light, and herbal, akin to a spring day." - Kayleigh Ruller

"The Goodyear House is a proper choice for a meet-the-fam dinner. It’s your typical chic-but-homey restored mill house in NoDa, with multiple dining rooms that open to a courtyard. The restaurant’s not too loud but buzzy enough to fill any awkward silences, which is good because things do get—to borrow Chelsea’s vocabulary—“uncomfy.” Clay and AD meet Clay’s mom and sister here, and they immediately begin to bicker about Clay’s work schedule. We can’t help but admire the sister, who mostly ignores everyone to focus on the marinated shrimp with mignonette butter, and a shaken fry bag, hopefully topped with garlic-herb-parm seasoning. The group never makes it beyond apps, which is a crying shame. The Goodyear House’s creative comfort food is not only the best on the show, but it’s even more enjoyable without the side of family drama." - tess allen

"The Goodyear House is a proper choice for a meet-the-fam dinner. It’s your typical chic-but-homey restored mill house in NoDa, with multiple dining rooms that open to a courtyard. The restaurant’s not too loud but buzzy enough to fill any awkward silences, and the food is good too—focus on the marinated shrimp with mignonette butter, and a shaken fry bag topped with garlic-herb-parm seasoning." - Tess Allen

"The abundant indoor and outdoor tables, porches, and nooks at the Goodyear House represent a growing home with a warm the-more-the-merrier charm. During the week, Goodyear House boasts a lively farmers-market-fresh lunch and dinner menu built largely on the foundation of Southern fare — the Devilish Toast or the North Carolina shrimp and Jimmy Red grits. On Sundays, alongside the acoustic music on the outdoor stage from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., it offers a special Sunday Funday menu, featuring a smoked cashew mac and cheese and a strawberry sumac French toast." - Kayleigh Ruller