The art gallery at 21C Museum Hotel is one of my favorite local attractions, so I had high hopes and expectations for my first meal at Proof on Main in Louisville, the restaurant housed within 21C Museum Hotel. The food and service at Proof were simply amazing – every detail was carefully attended to, and every bite of food was as extraordinary as the first.
Review
With the lack of convenient parking in Downtown Louisville, it's refreshing to be able to pull right up to Proof on Main and have someone park your car for you. When we entered the restaurant's front doors, there was no one behind the host counter, and no one greeted us. We realized quickly that the host was engaged in a conversation a few steps away from the host counter, and he ignored us for so long that we thought we'd entered the restaurant through the wrong doors. I was immediately put off by this, but luckily it wasn't a predictor of the experience as a whole at Proof.
We were immediately brought water, bread, and menus. Our waiter arrived a couple of minutes after we were seated and took our drink orders. I ordered the Capri Martini – though I am not normally a martini drinker, I love limoncello and couldn't resist. The Capri Martini is a blend of limoncello, triple sec, orange juice, and champagne, and it was the only martini I've ever drank that didn't taste overwhelmingly like liquor. My husband started off the night with a Cold Gold and later had a Naughty Presbyterian. He spoke very highly of both.
We started with a relish tasting platter as an appetizer. The tasting platter is composed of a serving of each of Proof's four relishes. Our favorite by far was the Peperonata Relish, made with the sweetest red peppers I've ever eaten, capers, and oregano.
For our main entrees, my husband ordered the Braised Local Goat, and I ordered the Ricotta Cavatelli. My husband's goat was amazing. It was perfectly seasoned and incredibly tender – I wanted to steal it from him and eat it in place of my own. My Ricotta Cavatelli was interesting and flavorful, made of Berkshire bacon, rutabaga, cranberry, and sage, but I was a little turned off by the large amount of bacon in the dish. I felt that it overwhelmed the other flavors.
The food and cocktails were remarkable, but a big part of our amazing experience was our waiter, Ryan Amole. Ryan was everything you look for in a waiter – knowledgeable about the menu items, prompt, and friendly. Often the servers at upscale restaurants take on a distanced, snobbish personality, but Ryan was friendly and fun, making our night relaxed and full of humor.
My only gripe, other than not being greeted at the door, was that a member of the wait staff came and asked if I would like my food boxed, but he never brought it back to the table. I didn't mention it – I didn't want to end a wonderful meal by complaining.
Recommendations
- Peperonata Relish
- Braised Local Goat
- Capri Martini
- Cold Gold
- Naughty Presbyterian
Pros
- Amazing Cocktails
- Diverse, Original, Flavorful Food
- Fantastic Service
- Fun, Trendy Atmosphere
Cons
- Price – For four cocktails, an appetizer, two entrees, a shared dessert, and a tip, we spent $150. For most people, a dinner at Proof is more of a special occasion meal than a typical Friday night sit-down dinner.
