Proof on Main

Saturday night we had dinner yet again at Proof. It's our "go to" place with friends from out of town, business associates, or just for a night when we want to feel we're not in Louisville. I think they have the best cocktail list in town (ever changing), who doesn't love to wander around the museum? The dining room has great energy and we've always had good service.

Here's the thing, I'm often wowed by the menu description; I'm never wowed by the food. I love the octopus app, but neither I nor my husband have ever had an entree that's made our toes curl. The food is good, perfectly fine, and we always go back, but I want to rave about my dinner each time and can't.

Over the years we've been going there (since they opened), I've run the gamut of entrees from burger to vegetarian, seafood to meat.

Am I missing something? Does anyone else feel this way?

I have eaten there three times, and have had bad food, decent food, and also good food, but never outstanding food.

I feel that many of today's cutting edge restaurants are exactly that, too cutting edge for my personal tastes. Everything is getting pushed to new limits, and often times not successfully.

With all of that said, this place seems to be doing very well, and there is something to be said about that.

[Robin Garr]

I like Proof, I like its cutting edge style, and I really like the 21c for the same reasons.

That being said, my feeling about Proof since Day One has been that Proof has been a little over-hyped because, Whoa! Wow! Some big restaurant guys from NEW YORK CITY actually noticed Little Louisville and came down here and opened a neat restaurant JUST LIKE THE ONE THEY HAVE IN NEW YORK CITY!!

Personally, I don't think Louisville has to define itself by New York or Chicago or anywhere else (or, lord forbid, "country" or "Southern." I like us best when we go with our own unique, historic character and stay authentic. Harrumph.

I had dinner there last night and I'll post some observations:

1. Octopus Appetizer is really really good in a hearty, rustic sort of way. Maybe a touch too acidic but we ate it all up and would have tackled another portion.

2. Salad - both my wife and I ordered that basic greens salad with vinagarette. The greens were fresh but the salad was way too under seasoned and under dressed. We spoke to the management and they offered to re-do our salads but we had a show to make and were on a tight schedule - skip the salad.

3. My son and I had the duck entree and my wife had the chicken. Everyone loved their main course. We had a side of Brussel sprouts that, as always, were perfectly cook and the bacon sends them over the top. All the meats were cooked perfectly and the bulgar wheat side that came with the duck was different and tasty for me. They also know how to take root veggies to high places.

4. Time pressure - no desserts for us.


One note about their wines "by the glass" - they in fact pour a small carafe. In my estimation it's about 1 and 1/2 to 1 and 3/4 of a normal conservative pour. Not a good value in my estimation.

On balance I like Proof a lot. I think their food is largely well executed but focused heavily in one style which is refined rustic - this certainly won't be to everyone's liking. A few bumps in the road and priced at a point where the value has to be considered - it remains one of over favorite downtown dining spots with Marketplace being our other fav.

When I last dined there on a trip home I had the Marrow Bones, Butternut Squash Soup and the Duck. While I would say it was all very, very good the location, bar, museum, and mensroom with the waterfall provide more Wow than the food.

21C is building a hotel/restaurant in Bentonville AR near the new Crystal Bridges American Art Museum that just opened. I am looking forward to it because we have just a few fine dining establishments in Northwest Arkansas and it will be a welcome addition.

I envy the dining options available to you that live in Louisville.

21C is building a hotel/restaurant in Bentonville AR near the new Crystal Bridges American Art Museum that just opened. I am looking forward to it because we have just a few fine dining establishments in Northwest Arkansas and it will be a welcome addition.

I envy the dining options available to you that live in Louisville.

At least it's not TOO far to drive to get the original Whataburger in Russellville from Fort Smith. They were always a favorite treat of mine if I had to drive from Little Rock to Fayetteville or Fort Smith.

I have been to Proof a few dozen times over the years. I guess I love the atmosphere, museum, drinks, and cheese/meat plates the best, but I've had some really outstanding food, also. Some that I remember:

-goat curry, I think, from one of his James Beard menus
-many of the pasta dishes, including one recently
-lots of the hot appetizers, including octopus and razor clam

I'm usually disappointed with the fish dishes--seems like he uses too many sweet elements on fish for my taste (I have this problem at lots of places, though. I just don't want anything sweet on fish).

I'm usually disappointed with the fish dishes--seems like he uses too many sweet elements on fish for my taste (I have this problem at lots of places, though. I just don't want anything sweet on fish).

Amen on the above.

I think Proof and the environment is fun, food is generally fine, and first-timers love it. I probably do more lunches there than dinners, and I find the menu to be substantive enough to be interesting even at lunch.

I agree that the menu is always interesting. As a matter of fact, I usually feel like I'm a judge on Top Chef, but so far no dishes have contained yuzu.

I am siding with Robin on this one. We don't need any New Yorkers, trying to tell us how to "rustic" up our restaurants. Just get off the main drag, and visit one of our quaint watering holes. We like to call them "dive bars"!!! The food is good and will leave you enough in your wallet to, "come on back y'all". And as far as I am concerned, I think I left some "myzu" on the sheets last night. Not interested!!!