“Someone once told me that ‘there will never be good food on Montford,'” says chef Bruce Moffett. “So when I decided to prove them wrong, I knew my brother Kerry was the right chef for the challenge.” 

The Moffett brothers did prove ’em wrong. 

Context: Bruce and Kerry Moffett opened Good Food on Montford in 2009, following the success of Bruce’s first Charlotte restaurant, Barrington’s.

• Kerry and Bruce worked together until 2014, when Kerry moved to Texas to be closer to family. Now, he’s back.

Why it matters: At the time of Good Food’s opening, a menu with globally inspired small plates — featuring ingredients from local farms — was a novel concept. 

• That year, Good Food was recognized locally — named “restaurateurs of the year” by Charlotte magazine — and nationally — becoming a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant in 2010. 
• Good Food on Montford has maintained its standing on this city’s best restaurant lists year after year. So have Moffett’s two other restaurants — Barrington’s and Stagioni. 

Yes, but: The pandemic decimated the service industry, and we’re still seeing ripple effects. Restaurant margins were thin before the pandemic — and now inflation has weighed on profitability even further. Owners will tell you it’s hard to find employees; restaurant-goers will tell you it’s hard to find good service.

• Bruce is the first to admit that things could be better. “Post COVID we’ve really struggled to get consistency with our food and our chefs at Good Food,” he said. “So now that [Kerry’s] back, we’re planning on really producing a more elevated and consistent experience for guests.”

What’s happening: Kerry’s been back at Good Food for a couple of weeks now. If you visit, you probably won’t notice major changes, but little things that add up to the top-level fine-dining experience that Good Food is known for.

• A few subtle changes include mentorship in the back of the house and new dishes. Kerry will also help in the kitchen.
• Kerry’s presence will also allow Bruce to focus on other projects, like potentially another celebrity wedding or re-visiting his N.C. Red concept.

My thought bubble: Charlotteans love the shiny and new — we flock to the newest thing and are quick to judge.

• With countless new options opening each week, there’s something to be said about the tried and true options like Good Food.

I went to check Good Food out for myself recently. The restaurant wasn’t as hustling and bustling as newer restaurants are, and reservations were easy to get. But the food, as the name suggests, was damn good.