Proof Kitchen and Lounge

Really nice place! Came here for dinner as a group of four on a Tuesday. It has a clean and modern feel on the inside. They accent their décor with math (hence the name Proof) including a challenge written on the wall that kept us talking. Our waiter seemed overly flustered that night – he thought it was Wednesday, he forgot a few things we asked him to do, he asked us if we wanted any water when all of our glasses had just been filled, and our bill included items from other tables around us, making our total almost twice what it should have been – but I don’t want to lower the whole restaurant’s score just because of him. They had Tim Lewis playing live, which was amazing. Cocktails (JPM, Smoky and the Pear) were great. We shared the 1816 Charcuterie and the Nosh – both were delicious. I won’t list all of our entrees but they were also very nicely done. Would definitely come here again if I was living back in Waterloo.

Went here with a big group, so service and speed was decent for how many of us there were. Mostly concerned with the food. It was good, but wow those prices. I had a burger and fries, and it was around $ 25 – 30 before drinks. This was at the beginning of the year. Definitely not worth the price for the amount or quality of food. You can get better for cheaper from other places. But I guess you’re paying for the ambiance of the restaurant.

Good spot not far from a couple large insurance companies in town.
Had the pickerel one day and the steak frites another day. Very pleased both times.
Waitress was very good. It is difficult to get iced tea in Canada other than that Nestea sweet crap. Nonetheless I usually ask if they have it. Rather than just telling us that they did not have unsweetened tea this waitress offered to brew a pot of tea and ice it for us. Great customer service.

I went here for drinks on a Friday night in March, so a few months after it opened. Place was dead. It was also freezing cold and I needed to either use a blanket or have my coat on. Not cool. We had a tequila inspired cocktail off the menu that was okay. I ordered an amaretto sour. It was very good. The second was not as good though, must have switched bartenders. Service was okay. I’d give it another chance for lunch or dinner. Even though you’re in a hotel it doesn’t really feel that way which is nice.

#fail. Had high expectations, but was disappointment. Food was mediocre and it was slow to arrive. Nice looking place and good cocktails! For a similar price and atmosphere, would recommend the Bauer Kitchen or Beer Town.

Really liked this place! My antioxidant salad and dulce de leche cheesecake were both good, but the real highlight was my papardelle with shrimp, double smoked bacon, oyster mushrooms, kale, and lemon ricotta. The pasta was freshly made (I don’t know this for sure, but if it’s not you could have fooled me!) and the flavours were fantastic!
The atmosphere was chic and modern, although I found the restaurant unusually loud, making it hard to carry out a conversation. A+ service too — our waitress was very friendly and helpful!

First time I went to Proof it was after a Christmas party held at the Delta hotel; which Proof is in. A group of us went down to the lounge for cocktails afterward and I instantly loved the place. The cocktails were great. I’m a huge classic cocktail lover and order a martini perfect (half dry/​half sweet vermouth) off menu at every decent bar I find. It’s my litmus test. The martini mixed up for me at Proof was PERFECT.
So tonight I returned for dinner in the restaurant proper and wasn’t disappointed.
Prompt friendly service from the hostess and our server. This time around I ordered a Manhattan which was great (this is now my official cocktail bar). I started with the beef cheek aranccini (deep fried risotto balls) in pomodoro with beautiful tiny mushrooms, micro greens and Parma on top. There were 3 good sized balls which were crunchy on the outside and light and creamy inside with lots of gooey cheese and a good amount of the beef cheek filling.
I ordered the buttercup ravioli for my main. I perfect light pasta dish. The ravioli had that wonderful texture that you only get with fresh made pasta. The squash filling was rich without being overly sweet the way squash ravioli often is. Is was served with walnuts. I’ve had a version of this other places and the walnuts are always candied in some way that makes them cloyingly sweet; not here! The walnuts tasted lightly toasted but there wasn’t any surgery glaze all over them masking the flavor of my pasta under sweetness, yeah! Micro greens and a creamy, tangy goat cheese that perfectly cuts the richness while complimenting the Squash’s natural sweetness topped it off.
The feature dessert tonight was an orange (blossom?) infused cheese cake with gelled champagne and Riesling sorbet. It was delicious! Only issue was with how big it was! I was expecting a dainty little cake and got an over generous slice of super moist, rich New York style cheesecake which was more the enough for two.

This is decent but only slightly above a Milestone or Moxies restaurant.
Food:
1. Carbonara flat bread: meh… Reminded me nothing of a carbonara
2. Beef cheek oranchini: good sauce, good taste little meat but it’s was good
3. Chicken supreme: moist and perfectly chard crust. My husband really enjoyed it
4. Burger: both of my friends ordered this and loved it. They absolutely loved it
5. «Tenderloin steak»: ordered tenderloin for $ 29 plus the shrimp and fingering potatoes. Decent but they brought me the side trimming of a sirloin steak which isn’t even on the menu and they didn’t even adjust the price. I told the waitress I was very hungry and that I would eat it. However, I expect at least an apology and I would think it fair that you reduce the cost of my steak plate because it’s a cut of steak your restaurant doesn’t even offer!!! I feel offended that they would think so little of their customers.
Service: Unrefined and just plain bad.
hostess too timid to tell you the table is ready.
Waitress: appeared confused and afraid of questions regarding the beer selection. Seemed uncomfortable like it was her first day or just plainly lacking basic knowledge.
After I told her about the steak she said she would let someone know but it was never addressed by her or anyone else.
Come if you feel like having elevated pub food that is overpriced.
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Don’t know what the other two people are taking about because we just went for my boyfriend’s birthday and the food was great and the drinks were great and the service was great!
We had one of the burgers, the grilled cheese, oyster pasta, and the shared st Jacobs platter. The meat ball and burrata thing on the shared platter was super good. The calamari and wings were average but good enough.
The guys ordered the Jpm (the mixed whiskey drink) and they both loved it and one girl got a sangria and it was beautifully presented and tasted good!
Some also for the fancy coffees at the end and it’s also intense but good.
The server was very pleasant and knew the food well and also knew about the architect of the restaurant (inspired by the design or another architect for the Perimeter Institute). And when we asked about the «ADA» drink (was it named after the programmer or program) she even went to find the answer for us.
Definitely coming back and recommend!