Proof + Pantry

I had been looking forward to coming here for some time and I was not disappointed. I especially loved the atmosphere and servers — everyone we came into contact with was really friendly, had great suggestions, and was very helpful.
I was the only one of the four of us who got a cocktail — Cards on the Table, a sort of strawberry margarita — and it was tasty.
We started with the bone marrow which had great contrasting flavors, especially loved the hazelnuts. For entrée, I had the rock shrimp risotto. It was far from the best dish at the table, unfortunately, and is the reason I’m giving the restaurant 4 stars instead of 5. It was *unbelievably* fishy. My brother-​in-​law had the standout dish with the short rib bourguignon and housemade pasta. The beef tongue ravioli and pantry burger were excellent as well.
We got both desserts to split amongst the four of us and were not disappointed. That pumpkin spice verrines made me forget that pumpkin spice is for basic bitches. It was excellent.
Recommend. I’ll likely be back.

Fantastic location, ambience, service and food! Seriously no complaints after a string of disappointing dining experiences elsewhere. We ordered the cheese plate to go with our wine. The wine selection is extensive and the staff is very knowledgeable. The cheese plate was quite filling so my husband I shared the salmon entrée. The salmon was perfectly cooked, the vegetables were fresh and succulent and the horse radish purée was to die for. We ended the night with a pairing of the Panna cotta and Pumpkin Verrine duo. Our preference was hands down the pumpkin which was so unique and yet comfortingly familiar. Great place for date night or a fun cosy gathering of friends. Our servers Jeffrey and Heather tag teamed seamlessly and were super efficient and attentive. Overall fantastic experience and I highly recommend.

My husband and I were in downtown Dallas to attend an event at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. We arrived in plenty of time to walk a block to nearby restaurants for dinner before our event. There were several restaurants and bars to choose from, but to our surprise most were not opened … however, it was mid week and well before 5PM.
We peeked inside this place and immediately loved the atmosphere. We were told they did not begin serving dinner until 5PM, but were invited in anyway by Lee. As we wanted to begin our evening with a cocktail we found a cozy seat at the bar. And, this is where our fabulous experience began with Austin!!! We asked for something with whiskey besides just the usual whiskey&coke … And, Wow!!! … Did Austin deliver!!! I told Austin he’s like a chef behind the bar. And, while he refers to himself as a Bar Chef (and I must agree) I believe he is Dallas’ hidden treasure of a Mixologist !!! He made two completely different, but yet equally tasty and awesome drinks for us. Our taste buds were dancing!!! He really took care of us. Then, my husband wanted something a little different … staying with whiskey, of course. And, again, Austin delivered!!! Like I said, an awesome mixologist!!! Great conversation, great drinks, great atmosphere. So if you just want a cocktail this place is perfect!!!
But, like I said, we were there for dinner. And, now, our table was ready. But we were not ready for the food!!! OMG!!! We were again greeted and then seated by Lee and he introduced us to our waiter for the evening, Jeffrey. These two gentlemen were informative, attentive and really took care of with class and sophistication. Are we in a 5 Star restaurant? Yes! Yes, I believe we are!!! We started with the beet salad… light and full of flavor. Amazing! I chose the Shrimp Risotto and my husband chose the Pork Chop. Both were Outstanding!!! The pork chop looked so delicious … thick, juicy and tender. You must get the greens, the mushrooms and the chickpea along with each savory bite of the pork chop. Heavenly! My risotto was light, creamy and so flavorful. Shrimp was fresh and cooked to perfection. Again, you must get all of this dish in every bite. My husband NEVER shares his food, however, he insisted that I try several bites throughout our dinner. We did learn that our chefs were Jeremy and Fabian, true Culinary Artists. Our palettes have found their passion!!! We met the manager, Benjamin, as we were leaving and thanked him for such a wonderful staff and experience!
This place has everything that you want in a wining/​dining experience … cocktails, food, atmosphere (soft and inviting music in the background) and the entire staff make this a true gem in the city!!! We didn’t have a dessert, but I can only Imagine!!! My taste buds are watering!!! We will be back again and again!!! Can’t wait to try the Salmon and definitely will have dessert next time! This place makes us want to move into the city, but we will tell you … IT IS WORTH THE DRIVE!!!
Terri Callahan-​Floyd
JTLC Travel

First five star review I have given to a Dallas restaurant. Food was spectacular and service is highly attentive without being overbearing. Had to wait a bit longer for the food than at most other restaurants of the same caliber, but damn that wait was worth it ! Ordered the porkchop for myself and cauliflower stalks for my fiancé. With regards to the porkchop entrée, every item in the dish was prepared phenomenally, from the squash and polenta to the meat itself (cooked medium).
We ordered the dulce de leche panna cotta. One word to describe it: decadent. The panna cotta was served in two large shot glasses in three layers (from top to bottom): espresso foam, dark and white chocolate flakes and ribbons, panna cotta.
Did not order a cocktail this time but the menu definitely looked enticing.
Will be back soon!

My new favorite restaurant in town! The food is absolutely INCREDIBLE. I loved every single thing we got, I wanted to do it over all again by the time we were done. It also has a such a cute and trendy interior, great beer selection, and cocktail menu. Wines are a little pricey, but they have a great selection. We ordered the cauliflower and ricotta dish, truffle pasta, and the whole chicken platter. Nothing disappointed. Everything was full of rich flavor, prepared in a unique way. I loved it and cannot wait to come back!

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why people are not obsessed with this place. Because I am raging obsessed. The drinks alone should get you in the door. In fact, that is usually how I pregame. Because the man behind the bar menu is the same man that converted me to whiskey a year ago.
I know what you’re thinking.
«But Tania, they mainly do shared plates for dinner here.»
I know, sweet child, I know.
«What if I want fish and my companion wants chicken?»
Well, you dump your companion, that’s what.
In all seriousness, don’t let the bulk food options deter you. Don’t let pricing deter you. Because the food is worthwhile. They keep it classy by letting fresh ingredients speak for themselves — they are secure enough in their preparation that there is no need to mask it with rough flavors. Tip: Bone Marrow + Whole Fish makes for a happy time.
You know what else tickles my fancy? Brunch. One look at the simple menu and you might be underwhelmed but the preparation is where it counts, my friends. They don’t need to overload your palette with foreign ingredients because they cook simple things WELL. The benedict comes as a pair and a cluster of sweet potato hash. While the homemade pasta with burgundy truffle speaks for itself.

Proof and Pantry was a second choice, only after being disappointed by the other options in the area before an opera. But what I found was an unexpected, atypical little place with an edgy menu and an ambience that can’t decide if it wants to be urban chic, or… a pantry…
My breakfast was titled something like, «cauliflower, eggs, ham, and gruyère cheese» but turned out to be an iron skillet filled with a little but of everything, including some guilt-​erasing spinach, that totally worked! I would definitely order it again. The service was perfect. The price of coffee is high ($ 6.00 per order), but comes in a French press and tastes freshly roasted.
In all, the experience was pleasant and the cuisine was innovative. I’ll be back soon for dinner. :)

I’ve been in Dallas for six months and have been searching for a restaurant to blow up my tastebuds. Proof + Pantry set my mouth ablaze with extraordinarily prepared cocktails and carefully cultivated culinary delights! Oh, Dallas, I am in love! Thank you, thank you for answering this food lovers call.
To start, I asked our attentive waiter to surprise me with a cocktail. He brought me a divine treat which I happily sipped on. We ordered the baby beet salad and cauliflower stalks to begin our journey into dinner. As a lover of beets, I appreciated the amount of beets in the salad, but would not have complained if there were more. Generally I am not a cauliflower fan, I did find myself really enjoying the dish.
My main dish was the beef roulade and it was flawless. Cooked to a perfect rare temperature and served with turnips, onions, and squash. Did I mention flawless? As I shared a private moment with my beautiful beef, our waiter set another cocktail at my side. He must have thought I was not enjoying the splendid cocktail I was already sipping on. BOTH cocktails were fab, I was just trying to be good.
Proof + Pantry has amazing cocktails, great service, and extraordinary food. Cannot wait to visit again!

To preface: we went here after Aurora last night
The restaurant was 100% not able to handle the amount of tables they sat. We saw 4 tables walk out and leave during the time we were there. Although 1 left due to the cost of the food.
On that note, this place is pricey. Don’t expect to go here and get full off only spending $ 15 (their cheapest food items are around that price.)
They were out of chicken when we went.
Our server had to come back after serving our food and ask what drinks we had ordered.
The bone barrow is good but the amount of actual marrow you get is barely enough to fill half a shot glass.
The muscles are great.
I would definitely not come here again. Nothing stood out that was actually worth the cost. Service was marginal. Décor was trying way too hard to be hipster. Food was really mediocre.

Great dinner spot! My favorites were the scallops and the amazing moscow mule. Definitely a must when in Dallas.

QUICK HIT (Must Go vs. Consider Checking It Out vs. Pass/Don’t Bother): Consider Checking It Out. 3.5 Stars***
I have been to Proof and Pantry twice now for dinner. Each time I felt that the meal overall was quite good with certain items outshining others. I enjoyed the creativity of the menu, however, some of the more ambitious dishes fell flat of expectations. Good plating. Flavors blended nicely. The constant shifting of menu items is what compels me to continue to come back and experience the chef’s culinary ingenuity.
Though I am never one to complain about dining costs, I do feel that a few of the dishes did not merit its accompanying price (minus BULK items). Drinks — both unique and traditional offerings — were well made. Service was standard.
Tips:
–Valet parking is offered in One Arts Plaza. $ 5. Get your valet validated by the host/​hostess.
My advice if you were to dine at P&P is to go as a group (4 or more). The menu is definitely geared towards larger groups, even if unintentionally so. This is also more cost-​effective and allows you to sample several items on the menu. Why? They have at least 3 BULK dishes. These are dishes of either chicken, fish, or ribeye that is designated to serve 2 – 4 diners. I would recommend doing a bulk item and then choosing a few small dishes as appetizers/​snacks.

My cousin recently had a birthday brunch for her flirty 30 (I guess «dirty 30» isn’t a thing any more) and Proof + Pantry is where we ended up on a Sunday afternoon for brunch. Despite having a bit of difficulty navigating the parking situation (I opted to park in the parking garage), I was the first person of the party to show up so I decided to spend my time waiting at the bar where I was immediately greeted with a glass of water. The bartender was extremely gracious and checked in on me but did not pester me to the point of annoying me.
Finally everyone showed up and we were taken to our tables, which were two tables right next to each other. On Sundays brunch is served until 3 and we ordered shortly before the cut off. While the food itself was somewhat mediocre to me, the service is what makes Proof + Pantry such an upstanding establishment. Most restaurants would not allow you to order right before closing and be so nice about it. I felt bad because the party I was with was enjoying the moment but also creating more work for the staff.
While I was not really impressed with the brunch menu, I would definitely return to sample their rotating lunch or dinner menu with a smaller crew.

Looking back, in that I was a solo diner here at Proof + Pantry, I feel as though I really didn’t give the restaurant a chance to shine. It should be known that a significant portion of Proof + Pantry’s menu caters to group dishes that are meant to be shared, leaving a bit of a limited selection to either solo diners or those who would like their own dish. Keep that in mind, but even if you’re a solo diner, there’s a bit of room for improvement at Proof + Pantry in the taste and value departments.
Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere?
I strolled in rather late on a Monday night, and found that I was one of only four people at Proof + Pantry. I was impressed by the bar, and was pleased to see that I could watch Basketball even though P+P is somewhat upscale. My server Tristan was a real highlight of the evening, and his friendly demeanor and knowledge of the concept and menu were comforting considering I’d never been here. All in all Proof + Pantry did a solid job with respect to the service and atmosphere.
Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?
It’s here that things began to fall apart a bit. With somewhat limited options for a solo diner, I opted to go for the Wild Morel Mushroom pasta dish as I’m a lover of all things cream and all things mushroom. With a price tag of $ 29.00 I was a bit taken aback. $ 29.00 for a pasta dish? Sure, I understand that Wild Morel Mushrooms are a bit of a luxury culinary item with delicate flavors, the necessity of a knowledgeable chef, and a relatively high price tag, but $ 29.00 had me fully expecting a mountain of pasta, and a mountain of pasta is very much not what I got as you’ll see in the picture below. This was at most six or so bites of pasta, and while the morel mushrooms were generously sprinkled around the dish, would it have really been so hard to double the pasta portion? I know that value isn’t what’s pitched at a place like Proof + Pantry, but especially in that it would have been so easy here, I was left disappointed. No Star Granted.
Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?
This was a pretty good pasta dish, but it wasn’t a great one. It isn’t often that I have Morel Mushrooms vs. the far more common black truffles, etc., so that was a treat, but while the pasta was seemingly homemade, it was coated in a cream sauce that was far too salty. This was disappointing considering there was just the right amount of it and the pasta did have the potential to be great. All in all, Single Star Granted.
Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?
With a bit of a price or portion adjustment Proof + Pantry could really have left a positive mark, and I’ll say again that the service and atmosphere are worth pitching, but when you’ve got stiff competition in the area you need to really shine, and Proof + Pantry didn’t do that. Plain and simple: I’ve experienced better. No Star Granted.

Proof + Pantry has proven to be another great brunch place to add on my regular go-​to list. P+P is located at One Art Plaza next to 7-​Eleven. It’s a bit hard to find this restaurant, as there isn’t sufficient visible signage when we drove up to the plaza.
The food is absolutely savory from smoothie drink, omelet special, fruit plate to french toast. Everything tasted fresh and well executed. Great service and really nice intimate ambience setting.
Highly recommend this place for brunch!

I had first stopped by Proof & Pantry after a meeting at One Arts Place; thinking I could grab and go a bite. But, as I stood at the reception checking out the menu, I decided to forgo that hit and run; at this price point, I prefer to return at a time when I can truly enjoy the dining experience.
After a show at the Dallas City Performance Hall, my daughter and I stopped in for a light bite. We shared the Burrata and followed with the Milk & Honey dessert. Ohhhh, I will have to return to confirm this opinion, but these two items must be the best on the menu because I can’t imagine anything better!
The Burrata was a sweet savory balance of tomato jam and melted cheeses. Even the doggone toast was delicious! I didn’t break my Lent abstinence from sweets; but, I vicariously enjoyed that dessert watching my daughter devour it with glee. Such tasty details! She reported that the tiny meringues held a surprise treasure of honey inside.
The service was attentive and friendly, we sat in the ‘pantry’(?) behind reception. It was a busy Thu night and the noise level was rather loud in the main room and just slightly less in that smaller area. As I stated before, a return visit for a complete meal is now a necessity… after Lent!

«This doesn’t feel like a place that would naturally be here.» Enigmatic Unilocaler JA commented on our spontaneous sojourn to Proof and Pantry, an awkward name I’m not sold on, mainly since I seem to want to say «poofsters and pasties.»
With attention to detail, P&P —
(another slight mistep or perhaps intentional reference to gay code for «party and play» ((drugs and casual sex)))
— does have an independent European artsy edge a step above the nice but sterile uptown bars.
My friend ordered a «Love them Ginger» which consisted of Apple brandy, bonal, ginger infused vermouth and lemon oil.
It was sweet and tasty, served in a cute little glass and reminded me of Lillet.
I had not noticed the drinks were uniquely categorized as ‘no proof’, ‘low proof’ and ‘high proof’.
I panicked.
«You know you ordered a ‘low proof’ cocktail?!»
«I k n o w.» He glared with his also unique snarl of contempt he will surprisingly punch box, contrasting to his unusual sagacious saintly demeanor.
He’s a light weight and I suppose these sweet alcoholic drinks cater to a significant set. Largely the drink menu seemed thoughtful and smart. Enough to prevent me from even glancing at the food offerings.
I ordered a nice Cabernet and the spot was a cozy retrieve downtown — appropriate for a wonderful drink and conversation.

The description «Gastro Pub» on Unilocal doesn’t really mean what you think it would. It’s very cozy, trendy, and decked out with cute antiques. I like how it’s not loud inside in which you have to talk on the top of your lungs over dinner!
For starters they have a great drink list that has special drinks called «Cards in the table» that’s nice and fruity with enough strawberries for me.
I ordered the plate of ham and cheese selection for my charcuterie board. I really like the ham as it was not overly salty and had very minimal fat! The cheese could have more pieces but it was pretty good as well. The board came with buttered bread and pickled purple cauliflower.
Bone Marrow + marshmallow: the name sounds wired but it’s a good mix of smooth butteriness from the marrow and a touch of sweet from the marshmallow.
Foie Gras: cold and sphere shaped adorned fruit notes and crunchiness. Very odd texture and temp for foie gras. I prefer my foie gras to be spread on bread.
For dinner!
We ordered the following bulk items:
— whole fish: which came deboned, crispy, and light.
— chicken: the meat was not dry and was cut in generous portions with small slivers of asparagus and mushrooms.
— Rib eye: cooked perfectly, with bone and all. It wasn’t too seasoned but wasn’t under seasoned either.
— Lobster pappardelle: slightly soggy and sticking together with a hint of pesto and generous portions of lobster. It wasn’t the best dish, but not the worse.

This is a new establishment at One Arts Plaza and a great addition replacing the Mediterranean restaurant.
The menu has some great selections including the wine options. I work at One Arts and this has been a great stop to sit outside for lunch.
The competition is lite here and there are currently three restaurants with a forth to join the mix early 2015.
It’s worth a try. I recommend.

For weeks, I passed by Proof + Pantry on my walks with my dog without knowing what it was. The restaurant has no visible sign, so you have to know where it is before you go – on the side closest to Routh, next to Tei An.
I’ve been here twice for dinner. On both visits, I had the cauliflower stalks and the handmade pasta (which was on a menu that was separate from the main menu). The cauliflower stalks were served with shaved truffles and other garnishments that made the dish pleasing to the eye. And it wasn’t just the presentation — the dish tasted really good too! Mild, subtle truffle flavor with vegetables cooked to perfection.
The pasta is in a pesto sauce, and topped with charred lobster and a soft egg. Also beautiful to look at. On my first visit, the pasta was so good that I had to stop in the middle of chewing to exclaim, «Oh my God!» The only downside was that, after several bites, the saltiness of the dish felt a bit too pronounced. Interestingly, the pasta on my second visit tasted somewhat bland. Such an amazing dish with potential; if only the kitchen would find the right balance.
As for the bulk items, I tried the whole fish on the first visit and the chicken on my second visit. Both were delicious and large enough to be shared among two to three friends. And so pretty to look at! Notice a theme? ;o)
Finally, the setting of the restaurant is small and cozy. Definitely my type of vibe. Service was a little slow on my second visit, but one of our dishes was comped to make up for it so they at least get an «A» for effort.
All in all, I would give Proof + Pantry three-​and-​a-​half stars. But since Unilocal doesn’t have a half-​star system and because I see so much potential in this place, I’ll round up and happily give four stars.

Simply philosophy: Sharing is Caring and Proof + Pantry’s menu is designed for shared dining. In Dallas we do a few things pretty damn well, Eating and Drinking «social interaction» this place entails and encourages us to Be Dallas!
My Tuesday nights are now reserved for Nanna’s Meatball & Gravy! $ 24 gets you hearty salad, meatballs & spaghetti, freshly warm rolls paired with olive oil, & dessert. The quality shows instantly. freshly made pasta, veal & steak meatballs that transport you instantly to Italy. I chose a house cab & my night was legit. Leila attended our table & she truly defines great service.
Josh M was slinging drinks & doing it well, another one, another one, another one please… must of been the Aylesbury Vodka mules that kept me begging for more!
Looking forward to Oyster Night & exploring the menu
Perfect setting for
*date night
*bromance
*social hour