If you don’t mind going to a restaurant that is super casual, with simple decor, ugly art work, and a no frills kind of place but has really good food at reasonable prices then I recommend Proof Pizza and Pasta. It is located at 3328 N. Miami on the corner of 34th street, which is in Midtown and not too far from the Wynwood district. Don’t let me scare you, it is still an inviting space and clean.
This little gem of a place comes with a good pedigree. It was created by chefs Justin Flit and Matt Depante who worked at DBGB, Grammercy Tavern, Bourbon Steak and the Dutch. They took their experience and created Proof. They are doing a more casual thing and they are taking Miami by storm.
We decided to eat outside where there are cooling fans and twinkle lights (there is a major heat wave going on the end of December).
The menu is small, everything is made in house with an emphasis on locally sourced products.
I can recommend the Shaved Brussels Sprouts made with apple cider, Gorgonzola ( don’t worry it is very mild ) pecans and dried cranberries. This dish is fabulous! We also tried the Burrata with herb pesto, olive oil and a homemade flatbread- wow! We also loved the Roasted beets which were diced with Farro, Pistachio granola and spiced honey. I am not usually a fan of Beets but this preparation was delicious.
For our pasta selection we had the Gemelli Bolognese with basil and whipped ricotta. I never thought you would never ever hear this coming out of my mouth but it could have used a touch more salt and maybe a dash of Chili flakes. The one disappointment of the night was the Angel Hair with Crab, Calabrian chili and lemon breadcrumbs. I have had this dish in the past and it was very good, but tonight it was so fishy tasting we had to send it back. I am not trying to make excuses for them but maybe it was Sunday after Christmas and they didn’t receive a fresh delivery.
The pizza was tender, not soggy and nicely charred. We went for the Margherita with Mozzarella di Bufala and basil and the Meatball Pizza with chili oil, roasted garlic and mozzarella. I also had my eye on my the Oxtail pizza too, but there had to be room for dessert.
There were 3 choices for dessert and we chose the fritters, which were a little too sweet for this sweet tooth and a lovely Macaron Sandwich filled with Cinnamon ice cream.
Our service tonight could have been better. Our server Cara forgot the cutlery and our waiter forgot half of our order. One of my pet peeves is people that have trouble saying, “I’m sorry” (I find this especially in Miami). But the front desk and Bartender were very nice and kind to our grandkids.
You can bring your own wine for a reasonable corkage fee, or order a craft beer or simple wine. Nothing on the menu is over $16. Now that is refreshing!
All in all we really enjoyed our dinner, with a laid back vibe and really good food to boot. This restaurant got a 3.5 rating in the Miami Herald last year and it is no wonder with beautifully presented and well prepared food.
Recommend.
Happy dining,
Shanea