Proximo

Somehow, this new jewel of a restaurant magically appeared in the middle of the block directly across from the UNC campus, in a stretch that historically catered to either students or tourists visiting for a sporting event. Cutting to the chase: It's another excellent offering by Chef Brandon Sharp (Hawthorne & Wood, Bluebird). It's great. You should go. The details: Elevated Spanish tapas. Small plates, authentic top shelf-ingredients, thoughtful flavor and texture pairings, both authentic and re-imagined Spanish dishes, excellently curated Spanish wines, knowledgeable and friendly qait staff. Sit at the counter for the 'show' (full view of the kitchen), or in the back for cozy and dimly lit booths. Highly recommended!

Boy did this place live up to the hype. Every single dish was incredible- the attention to detail was exceptional. Sitting at the counter you get a front line view of all the dishes coming out- Brandon the chef was very cordial with us and asked how our experience was going. Our server (Madeline?) was also great- answered any questions we had about any dishes, and made sure to discuss portion sizing since it’s all tapas. Next time we go we’ll bring friends so we can order more of the menu!!

Great Experience at Proximo! This was my first time at Proximo, and I had a fantastic experience. The service was impressively quick, and the ambiance was both cozy and intimate. We ordered the evening special--shrimp & chorizo paella--which was absolutely delicious. While waiting, we enjoyed a selection of appetizers, including seared cauliflower, warm olives, yellowfin tuna, and patatas bravas (not pictured). Every dish was bursting with flavor and freshness! Overall, an excellent visit--I'll definitely be back!

A cozy, romantic little spot! I’d recommend getting a reservation, since it is a smaller space and pretty popular. Very well priced tapas that were high quality and creative! Our server was stellar as well. No complaints here, we’ll be back for another date night!

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 time around.

Amazing food! Amazing little pocket in chapel hill that transports you to Spain! Delicious sangria. Definitely on the pricey side- especially for a college town! But honestly the food was so yummy we couldn’t complain!

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 overall price.

A new restaurant serving delicious Spanish tapas. The small restaurant is quite crowded as there is limited seating especially for dinner. The service is very friendly and helpful. The waitress can help to pair the tapas with the drinks. Had a fantastic time trying out various tapas with my family. Will be back to try out more different tapas.

If you are in the mood for Tapas - this place is incredible! The ribs, yellowfin tuna, and everything was amazing. Perfectly cooked, full of flavor, and a nice atmosphere. If you like Bock beers - the Estrella 1906 Reserva is very good. Highly recommend!

Chef Brandon has done it again! This Spanish Tapas place is outstanding. In a narrow location on Franklin Street, we were thrilled with our choice to reserve seats at the counter. Here we had a bird's eye view of the kitchen, got to watch everything being prepared and were able to preview a few of the plates before we even ordered. The service was great, the food was amazing and the concept was so fun for our group of six. It was an overall fantastic dining experience and we will definitely be back!

This place is a must-try for anyone looking for a cozy, romantic night out. The high-quality food was executed well and we enjoyed the Chef's elevated twists on classic Spanish tapas. Two of us shared 2-3 plates from each section of the menu and left very full. My party arrived a few minutes before our reservation but were quickly welcomed in & treated like we were regulars. Our server was excellent - friendly, attentive and gave us some good menu recommendations too!

Went to Proximo on a Friday evening with a reservation. Loved the ambiance of this small restaurant and the staff was friendly. In fact, it might have been too friendly; our, waiter checked in on us a lot (a lot), even before we'd had a chance to taste a dish. Overall the service seemed rushed. We asked for our selections to come out in order, but they all appeared within 10 minutes. We were in and out of the restaurant in under and hour, unusual for a tapas experience. We found the food to be good but not great nor memorable. We judge any tapas restaurant by their patatas bravas. Here, the chef chooses to brown the potatoes on one side rather than all side, resulting in potatoes that are not crisp as we like them, and the sauce was plated underneath the potatoes not on top. The meatballs were good. The bikini (ham and cheese sandwich) was the highlight, loving the addition of honey to the sandwich. I can recommend Proximo but with tempered expectations.

We tried it out tonight for the first time. Really enjoyed the food. Very nice and attentive staff! Will go back

Delicious meal at the counter with my husband - Aidan was our server, and we enjoyed the jamon iberico to start, followed by the patatas bravas, bikini, and filete. Would highly recommend to others looking for a date night & flavorful food!

Beautiful ambiance, small restaurant but cozy and quiet. Friendly and attentive staff, expensive plates but you get what you pay for. Everything we tried was notably excellent but I'd highly recommend the potatoes and cheese plates.

Delicious! Try the queso de oveja and filet mignon. The space is small, so be sure to make a reservation.

Excellent meal in a beautiful spot just off of campus. Will definitely be back. A nice variety of seafood.

Had to cancel my reservation well in advance of the booking time. Charged me $20 fee even though they almost instantly rebooked the time to another customer (the time disappeared in Resy and there were zero reservations available for that evening). Not impressed with this practice.

Able to get a table as a walk-in shortly after they opened for dinner on a Saturday evening - amazing! We were seated quickly after a short wait at their standing bar, where we were able to order snacks and drinks. This is a small and lovely space, ideal for an intimate date night. The front of house manager, hostess, and our server were all extremely friendly and polite. We ordered a variety of tapas, a bottle of wine, and tried both desserts on the menu. 10/10 for each dish!! Would highly recommend the tuna, though my favorite was the boquerones. Can't wait to come here again!!

The pork ribs were absolutely phenomenal, will be coming back soon!!! every dish was delightful to taste, and the aesthetic of the restaurant is beautiful

Happened upon this place quite by accident on its first day of business (9/20/24). Staff was excellent, food was excellent. The decor is tasteful and unique. I will say, however, that the lightning borders on dismal at most tables. I was grateful for a seat at the bar, where there was plenty of light to see my fiancé by. I was unaware of the acclaimed talent behind this place until after I left, but there was a palpable sense that Franklin Street is being elevated. Though Chapel Hill is in crying need of a successor to Ye Olde Waffle Shoppe in the same segment, we have been blessed with a bar that's more than worthy to stand in its place. I have little doubt that Próximo will prosper, owing mostly, beyond the high quality of the food, to the large and cheerfully disposed staff.

Proximo has not yet opened (9/20/2024). Expected to open in a few months, according to the wait staff. Not a firm date as yet.