Gooeyz is now inside Woodland's Backyard, located at 668 Grandview Ave. Credit: Jacob Hollar / Lantern reporter

Gooeyz is now inside Woodland’s Backyard, located at 668 Grandview Ave.
Credit: Jacob Hollar / Lantern reporter

When Gooeyz left the South Campus Gateway in November, it seemed like the end of a cheesier era.

But the grilled cheese eatery didn’t stay closed for long.

“See ya soon!” Gooeyz teased Facebook followers Dec. 18.

And lo and behold, less than two months after closing shop at the South Campus Gateway, Gooeyz came back to us.

The grilled cheese restaurant had reopened, Woodland’s Backyard tweeted from its account, @WoodlandsBkyard, Dec. 19.The two businesses are co-branding at the Woodland’s venue at 668 Grandview Ave.

The partnership, while still nascent, is proving in some ways to be a departure from the original Gooeyz.

Most noticeably, in its new home, Gooeyz has transitioned from a quirky walk-in eatery to a sports bar.

This isn’t to say, though, that the two businesses won’t mesh well as the they evolve together.

But for now, some of the charm of Gooeyz’s former Gateway location is missing. The sports bar atmosphere of Woodland’s Backyard is generally indistinguishable from a myriad of other sports bars.

There are billiards tables, a bar and televisions beyond counting. Woodland’s offers all the trappings of a cookie-cutter sports bar and little of the character of Gooeyz’s former location.

Part of this, undoubtedly, is because of the newness of the partnership. As the businesses evolve, perhaps Gooeyz will bring some cheesy charm to the venue.

The giant “Gooeyz” neon sign and that colossal skillet are, after all, still missing.

Thankfully, the menu remains a constant to win customers into the new location.

In a sweeping replacement of Woodland’s Backyard’s previous food offerings, all of the ooey-gooey goodness we came to know and love in the Gateway is back on the menu.

The signature grilled cheese sandwiches are still there. Gooeyz “poutinz” — the restaurant’s take on the classic Canadian comfort food, poutine — are still there.

You can still have your ooey-gooey cheese fries.

And it’s all still delicious.

As part of the sports bar style of Woodland’s Backyard, service is now tableside. That’s right: You still get to have an amazing grilled cheese sandwich, but now a server will bring it to you. Gone are the days of retrieving your own refills.

The tableside service is a welcome addition to Gooeyz. I don’t know about you, but when I’m covered in cheese and grease from devouring one of those fantastic sandwiches, I don’t want to leave the table and parade the evidence of my slovenly enjoyment of a tantalizing grilled cheese around the restaurant. People are trying to eat, after all.

And now, I don’t have to. Only my server and my dining company will have to suffer through my euphoric devouring of a Gooeyz grilled cheese sandwich.

The Woodland’s Backyard and Gooeyz partnership is definitely one to keep an eye on, especially as the joint venture between the two evolves. For now, however, the return of those scrumptious sandwiches is enough to be excited about.

Gooeyz is open Tuesday to Thursday, 3-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 

Grade: B+