Proximo — Restaurant in Chapel Hill

I want to start this review but saying what a breath of fresh air it is to have Proximo downtown on Franklin Street. The owners have done wonders with the tight space that was vacated by Ye Olde Waffle House years ago. Regarding the food and experience - our party of three ordered about 3 to 4 plates per person, which is what the server recommended to start with. We also ordered the paella special. We had so many great plates, several that were good, some were just okay, and maybe only one that was just meh.

Home runs: the pork ribs were out of this world good and were garnished with some delicious pieces of peach. The yellowfin tuna was great as well and we thoroughly enjoyed the watermelon gazpacho. Our son did not share the jumbo lump crab with us but he said it was his favorite and that it deserves to be up here.

Plates that were pretty good: We liked the crispy potatoes and the scallops. The olives were decent and a nice starter. We had the chocolate mousse dessert and I really enjoyed it. The Jamon Iberico was good but not great. For $19, one of the pricier items on the menu, I was hoping for more (the bread it was served with was on point, however).

Misses: the only item we ordered that was a miss was the hot ham and cheese sandwich, which the server recommended for my son. He didn't care for it. He was expecting something similar to a grilled cheese sandwich. I tried it and thought it was either rushed or incomplete...something seemed off. Anyways - for ordering so many different tapas I felt that they got nearly everything right which is saying something.

That brings me to the paella. I didn't catch the full name and description of the paella special as it was very loud at time we were ordering. It received mixed reviews from my crew. My wife and son weren't fans of it but it really grew on me. Besides the chorizo and shrimp this paella variety had a lot of olives.. and by a lot I mean it was more olivey than any paella I've ever tasted. Now, I love olives so I thought it was pretty damn good. Not everyone will feel the same way and I wouldn't be surprised if they serve different varieties of paella depending on the week or time of year.

I highly recommend Proximo if you have a group of 3 or 4 friends and want a different experience eating out in Chapel Hill. As for myself - I look forward to going back very soon and sitting at the counter (we sat at a table in the back corner). We tried a lot tonight but there's still half the menu I haven't tried. Plus I would like some of that jumbo lump crab next...

Beautiful Meal with a Few Caveats

We walked into Proximo on a whim as four hungry diners hoping for a last-minute Friday night table and were lucky enough to be seated after a short 30-minute wait. But I do recommend reservations as they fill quickly. The space is tiny but in the best way: cozy, warm, and evocative of a tucked-away restaurant in Madrid. From the first bite, we knew we were in for something special.

Standouts included the watermelon with gazpacho bright, refreshing, and perfectly balanced and the anchovies, which were exceptional (though we missed the potato chips we’d seen in earlier photos; those would’ve taken it over the top). The pork ribs (costillas) with peach were outstanding fall-off-the-bone tender with a smoky-sweet glaze we’re still talking about. The ham and cheese sando I’ll definitely try to make (most unsuccessfully) back home one night.

The only real miss was the filet, which was unfortunately quite chewy, not ideal for beef lovers visiting from Texas. And while everything we ate was delicious, the pricing made us pause. With the small plate format, we expected traditional tapas pricing, but our final bill felt more like a full-course dinner than a casual tapas night. Two people had pomegranate mocktails, and we shared a range of dishes, but the check was closer to what we’d expect at a high-end restaurant.

That said, Eleanor, our server, was wonderful who was warm, knowledgeable, and attentive without being overbearing.

Would we recommend it? Absolutely. Would we return regularly? Probably not at that price point. For example, a portion of 2 small sized ribs was $13. But if you’re looking for a special night out that feels like a European escape, Proximo delivers on flavor,...

We've been to our fair share of tapas spots and all of the chef's current digs. Proximo was good, but I think it's trying too hard. The service was excellent. Our server knew everything (except what a paella was). He helped pair some fabulous wines and cordials. The cheese selections and the desserts were absolutely top notch and memorable. The other dishes were just alright. Unfortunately our ribs were a bit dry and the iberico was somewhat tasteless. The wine selection is short but unique and the lack of liquor license is a bit odd, considering their other spots have them. The price was great, but the dishes are rushed. Like, supersonic speed coming from the kitchen. I expected to spend some time there but everything happened so fast, we were in and out...not like a typical tapas. So, take that for what you will and maybe because it's a small seated area, their expectation is you come and go? Not sure, but I think they're trying something here that misses the mark.

Quick Edit: I don't know what some of the reviews are saying that you have difficulty choosing dishes and couldn't order all of them. Honestly, this place is so affordable. If you're a foodie, and you're coming here to review, there's no reason you can't fit the bill to try them all. We almost completed the menu and with a bottle of reserve wine and were quite happy with the...