If you’re headed to the Kentucky Derby — or even just planning summer travel — be sure to work in at least one meal at Louisville’s Proof on Main.

Turn back the clock just a couple of years in downtown Louisville, and you would mostly find deserted streets and darkened storefronts. The florescent drone of a nearby Denny’s counting as practically the only option for theatergoers looking for a nearby bite after the show.

Fast forward to present day. Downtown Louisville is buzzing with that specific energy of a thriving city center. Music is pulsing, happy diners spill out to street side patios, the valet lines stretch down the blocks. The transformation is nothing short of extraordinary. And if Main Street is the central artery of this happy scene, then Proof on Main must surely be the heartbeat.

A recent visit to this hotspot was an eye-opening experience – and not just because of the food. Proof on Main’s bar and restaurant were conceived simultaneously with the 21C Museum Hotel and art gallery. Together, they occupy four late-18th century buildings that were united by architects commissioned by owners Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson. The original brickwork, arches and leaded glass transoms offer solid embrace to the neutral palate of the interior spaces – a conservative backdrop and stunning contrast for the owners’ vast collection of aggressively modern art installations.

A late-ish dinner began with one of the bar’s cocktail concoctions, the Oleana ($10), a refreshing hit of fresh lime muddled with vanilla bean and topped with cachaca (a Brazilian sugarcane liquor). Then it was on to wine and the eclectic, concise, even slightly off-kilter (in a good way!) wine list. A lightly spicy, aromatic Gewürztraminer fit the bill nicely.

Executive Chef Michael Paley shows a playful approach to his Tuscan-influenced, modern American menu, including bar bites like warm ricotta with fresh horseradish and truffle oil ($10), chickpea and ham fritters ($9) and roasted octopus with parsley and garlic ($13).

Across the board, the food offers loads of flavor, with a nice mix of local ingredients and techniques combined with a healthy dose of forward thinking. Compelling smoked chicken with bread salad(order fast – it sells out!), delicious swordfish with Meyer lemon, pan roasted Berkshire pork with pear marmalade, a savory bison carpaccio starter topped with parmesan, celery, pine nuts and white anchovies, and sweet tooth satisfying desserts like the warm vanilla pudding cake with bourbon soaked cherries – all satisfied the eyes and the taste buds.

Service was mostly good, with only occasional attitude-full moments that were easily overlooked.

Proof on Main
702 W. Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Tel: 502-217-6360
www.proofonmain.com