I am a tapas hater... I reluctantly came to this restaurant because it seemed like the only true non-chain restaurant on Franklin, and we wanted to be within walking distance of our hotel. Omg, am I a reformed tapas lover? Or perhaps just a Proximo lover? I think... yes. We weren't super hungry, so we only ordered 5 plates total for the two of us, and we still left delicious food on the table. We sat at the bar, which overlooked the immaculately clean kitchen, and got to chat with the expo chef, Ben, who was conversational and personal but also left plenty of room for my date and me to feel private. Ryan, our waiter, recommended a fabulous albariño, which more than made up for not having cocktails on the menu. The biggest takeaway: the chef in charge was kind and communicative with all staff. It was truly a pleasure to watch this kitchen operate. If you leave the restaurant without trying the tuna ceviche, consider yourself unlucky. Holy smokes -- I would order 5 helpings of that every single time. We're out-of-towners but will be back, and we'll be telling our friends all about this lovely establishment. Congrats to all on an amazing new restaurant, and best of luck. Anyone looking for something better than bar food on Franklin -- GO HERE! read more

Proximo - Menu - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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We are from California, so we are trying the top rated restaurants on Franklin while in town. This place is solid for tapas--not amazing, but very good. The service was excellent, with energetic young students from UNC who know the menu well and team up to cover each other. Our server was engaging and knowledgeable about the food and the wine choices. The atmosphere is warm and cozy. I will say that the booths are close together, so we could hear the conversations at tables behind and in front of us. It kept us entertained. We had: - the dates stuffed with pistachios and wrapped in bacon - the flounder - the steak with chimichuri - the olives - pan con tomate - potatoes bravas - tuna ceviche - crumble - cinnamon cake It was all very good. The best dishes were the potatoes bravas and the steak. Th rest was pretty mediocre. We had a broke of white Rioja--it went well with the food and was a good deal at $56. read more

Proximo - The cinnamon cake. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Seriously easy to miss if you're strolling through Franklin. Cozy space with counter seating and booths in the back. Tried some more traditional tapas but with a twist, such as the outstanding Alubia Blanca, Gambas and Jamon. the Zanahorias were excellent, even had the Cubano, not Spanish traditional but still well done. Fortunately there was room for the chocolate cremeux, decadently rich. Loved the counter seating to view the busy prep action. Reservations are best, otherwise you're taking a chance without one. Super casual, savory dishes, and maybe my new favorite restaurant in CH. read more

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Unexpectedly excellent is the first thing that comes to mind in describing the food we had. The menu is on the smaller side relative to other tapas restaurants in the area, so I was a little uncertain if the choices would ultimately be things we liked. They execute a smaller menu exceptionally well. While some of the items were common to Spanish tapas menus, the preparation was unique and thus surprising. The service was friendly and attentive, food came quickly, and the atmosphere was pleasantly dimly lit with nice decor and a noise level conducive to conversation on a date night. Highly recommended, and highly recommend making reservations if you prefer a dining room table. read more

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Excellent Excellent Excellent. Great food friendly and knowledgeable staff. First of what we hope to be many visits

The vibe here was very good, the service was good, not overly attentive but still good. The food was good not great, wine selection was limited but adequate. All in all it was a good dining experience but nothing special enough to bring me back again, especially for the prices attached to food that didn't do much for me. read more

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I was hoping to sit at the small bar where the cooking is done, but unfortunately, a couple had made a reservation. And since I was only in town from San Diego for a few days, I ending up accepting a table and was simply gobsmacked from that moment on. The room is small and rectangular-ish and will remind many people of some of the best restaurants that are squeezed into premium real estate spaces. Once seated, though, you could have just as easily felt like you were in New York, London, Tokyo, or Mexico City. For a bocadillo, I started with the Pan Con Tomate, two slices of perfectly-warmed baguette with garlic and vine-ripened tomatoes whose silkiness could have just as easily been worn as eaten. My next course, a tapas frias, or cold plate, was the Yellowfin Tuna with Escabeche, Sunchoke, and Dill. Escabeche is commonly used as a fish marinade, especially in Spanish, Mexican, and Filipino cuisine and is frequently, but not always, vinegar-based. This concoction worked well, given its disparate components. It was also a very generous portion and I'm glad my server recommended it. For my tapas calientes, or - surprise! - hot plate, I had the costillas, Pork Belly with shaved Honeycrisp Apples and amontillado, a type of medium dry sherry, darker in color than Fino. Let's just put it this way: If I had to choose my last meal right now, I'd have more time on earth to think about other things. The sweet/tart character profile of the apples, coupled with the two meaty ribs, was like a marriage of colors on the color wheel. It was superb. Next, mi postre. I chose the Chocolate Crémeux with Burnt Orange Caramel and Hazelnuts. I could have just as easily chosen liquid orgasm, it was that consuming. Scoop after diabetic-inducing scoop, I felt my dopamine levels rising to ever greater heights. And while the food, energy, talent, and ridiculously inexpensive prices - remember, I'm from California - will keep Próximo open well into the future, part of that is due to servers like Eleanor, my server. I took most of her suggestions and she was SPOT on. But it was her child-like enthusiasm for the food and what the restaurant is trying to be that made this one of the best dining nights of my life (and I've been blessed to have eaten all around the world). I was in Chapel HIll because my brother had died a week before. And for just a few hours the pain quieted just enough for me to have a remarkable evening. Thank you to entire staff for a flawless performance. read more

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Second time at Proximo, and still trying new things. For those that have not been, Proximo took over the Ye Olde Waffle Shop space, so it is long and narrow. The tables in the back are a bit less crowded, but the ones in the middle are across from the prep area, so lots of staff coming and going. We tried the aceitunas (olives), jamon iberico, and pan con tomate for starters, the atun (yellowfin) for a cold plate, and the patatas bravas, vieiras (scallops), pollo, albondigas (meatballs) and costillas (ribs) for hot plates. Most plates were big enough for 2 to share. As is often the case with tapas, it's difficult to decide how many items to order. Although staff was attentive (particularly so as we were across from the prep area), it does take time to get additional items served - this is one area for improvement. If you can, get a foursome together and double the fun! read more

I went here for a birthday dinner and it was so special! I love tapas and everything we ordered was delicious. Our server had a lot of great recommendations. I also loved the low lighting and decor inside. Perfect place for a romantic birthday dinner with my partner! They even brought me a little chocolate with a candle :) read more

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If I ever find myself in a position to need a 'last meal' it would be from here. It's fancy tapas, but you could do it on a budget if you wanted, and the higher priced items are justified. It's an innovative mix of textures and flavors that you wouldn't come up with on your own at home. Great for date night or a cute place to show a friend and catch up. Parking is annoying bc it's Franklin St, but not hard by annyy means, and service here is always top notch. Best seats are at the counter where you can watch prep, cooking, and food running. Menu items change periodically and there's enough that you can always try something new BUT I always order the patatas bravas. Can't go wrong with a crispy tater. read more

Proximo - Patatas Bravas and Scallops (Vieiras?) - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

My first time having the tapas style cuisine and it was better than I could've ever expected. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly, providing great service and great suggestions. Would highly recommend reservations at the counter, as the experience of being able to watch them make the food makes it that much better. I would highly recommend the pan con tomate + dátiles, tocino, and patatas bravas. If you're a dessert person, probably any of them, but pastel was our favorite. 5 stars is an understatement. Everything was exceptional and intentional. Would HIGHLY recommend trying Proximo. read more

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Compared to some Tapas places in the region, it is thankfully not noisy. It's so long and narrow like a Tokyo noodle shop, how could it be? It is so dark that be sure to know how to operate your cell-phone flashlight. At least the menus get hung up on the wall so you can keep referring to them. There is only beer & wine and not liquor. The various dishes were nice and not so skimpy as in some places. So for 3 people we ordered maybe 6 and a dessert. Quite good, although maybe not as exotically imaginative as in some other places. read more

Second visit to proximo, formerly Ye ol' waffle shop (for 50 years or so) An excellent addition to Chapel Hill dining. Tapas not waffles here. Olives, roasted almonds, a delicious white bean spread plus a special paella. Food is fabulous. The place is very dark. Wait staff brought pen lights to read the menu (the font was very tiny as well) Could have been more generous with bread servings. Superior service. read more

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Stumbled upon this gem last night. New to chapel hill and here for a school tour, wasn't sure what we'd find. The place is small so we were lucky it was a weeknight and were able to to get a table. Super cute place. Long and thin so tables only along one side. Very intimate. We HD the sardines, the warm olives, the duck breast, the yellowfin tuna, the white bean puree and the lamb. Everything thing was surprising in its composition. There were so many first bites that we had that evoked an ooo and oh wow from Bo h me and my son. I wish we weren't only visiting as this would be my go to place. read more

Corrected our mistake of not having a reservation the first time we came. Definitely come with a reservation, or else they will slap you will a 2 hour wait time when there's open seats. My friend and I were really intrigued about this new tapas restaurant right next to 4 Corners, so we ultimately ended up going. The menu was very unique, and it had many selections. As no surprise, we got all of the meat selections to try. We ordered the filet mignon, fish, chicken, and pork ribs. They were all delicious. I love trying the different things, and they were not too tiny portions. Great atmosphere, lively, colorful, fun. Our waiter was so polite! read more

Proximo - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Service was great. Food was overall very good. The dip items did not come with a very generous amount of bread. We had 5 in our group...table space was pretty tight. read more

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! read more

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This terrific tapas spot on Franklin St serves authentic Spanish dishes in a warm, intimate setting that's perfect for everything from a casual dinner to a cozy romantic escape. From tasty Iberian Ham and Patatas Bravas to flavorful Yellowfin Tuna and Short Ribs, everything we ordered was delicious, and the plates were the perfect size for a couple to share. Proximo also has an impressive list of Spanish wines by the bottle or glass, and a modest selection of desserts. Service was excellent throughout our visit and prices were reasonable. The restaurant is small, so come early or book ahead. Convenient parking is a short walk away in the Rosemary Street deck. Worth a visit if you're looking for a great meal in Chapel Hill. read more

Great tapas and staff was very helpful with our wine and stemware demands. My current favorite place in the chapel hill area. Small space so def make reservations. read more

Um...I know this may be seem blasphemous, but I'm pretty sure Proximo is the best restaurant on Franklin Street. Amazing tapas in what used to be a waffle shop. Go figure. There's probably a metaphor about Chapel Hill and the South, writ large, in there but I was too busy enjoying the food to flesh it out. You. Must. Go. read more

Food and service are always 10/10. This is the kind of spot that leaves you craving their food.

We had a disappointing experience here, other than our server, who was lovely. For $100+ dinner, though, we were hoping for delicious food. Each dish we tried was a "miss" - the complex flavors just didn't seem to work and it's as if they tried too hard to make them exciting/interesting and missed the mark on taste. Probably will not return. read more

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! read more

Delicious tapas. Great service. Will definitely go back. Enjoyed the patates, atun, cauliflower, pan con tamate, jamon. All good.

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! read more

Proximo - Swordfish - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Delicious tapas and super fast service. Small space but lively. Plus yummy Spanish wines that don't break the bank!

We've been to Proximo twice now, once for a regular dinner and the second for a cider pairing this week. The staff is incredibly attentive but still manage our privacy well, the ambiance is comfortable and casual with plenty of space per table, and the food is absolutely delicious. We especially love the white bean dip - you'll be begging for more! Their flounder was the highlight of the cider pairing during our most recent visit. Their menu rotates often, so it's worth going back in different seasons to check out the creative dishes inspired by the Spanish Basque countryside. The restrooms are very clean and well attended. You'll have an awesome evening here! read more

Had dinner with 4 of us. While i understand the idea of tapas where each small plate will come out as it is ready, I ordered 4 different items myself and each of them came out when everyone was completely done with all their food. Made the evening pretty uncomfortable as I tried to wolf down my food while everyone watched. The waitress came up with some lame excuse that it was due to what "I" ordered. Well you are getting a $80 tip on our dinner ($400 total bill). It should be YOUR job to ensure this doesn't happen. If the items I order were going to take longer then put that order in first. Not that hard....... On the food end, some of the items were stellar (crab, tuna). Some items were not all that great. Paella was dry, and kind of bland, and the octopus on the paella was well over cooked. Shrimp tapas was also overcooked. So overall, ya OK, but i expected more. Better Tapas places in Durham read more

Excellent food, service and wine. Really glad to have a place like this around. Great for a date night.

Delicious small plates, fun atmosphere. Tables are definitely cozy for 4 but since there are rotating small plates, it wasn't a problem. Limited drink menu (no liquor) was a bit of a bummer for me. I like having an option to have a cocktail before or after dinner. Wine selection was adequate. Service was excellent. Noise level was on the high side. read more

Favorite spot in chapel hill. Very good food, not ridiculously expensive, great ambiance. GET THE PAELLA!!!

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! read more

Proximo - Menu - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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

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

Sat at the counter. It's a small place so the counter was a bit more quiet and intimate than expected. Great service. Food was excellent

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! read more

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

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. read more

A total gem of a restaurant in Chapel Hill. Fantastic, innovative dishes, outstanding wine list, and a cozy-yet-modern atmosphere. The walkability to UNC and the Carolina Inn add to reasons I love this place. read more

We LOVE PROXIMO! Fab food, knowledgeable attentive service! It's a MUST for the Chapel Hill experience! Go Heels! Alexander Julian