proof

Pretty solid 'que, but room for improvement. Came here a while back (with my wife) for a weekend BBQ meal. We were seated on the cute little back patio. We ordered beers and as luck would have it, I was able to order their last available rack of ribs for the evening (my go-to barbecue item)! We also got some beef brisket and a few sides to share.Overall the meats were tasty, but there were a few issues with the meal. The ribs had a nice dry rub seasoning on them and were quite tender. The brisket also had a good bark, but was a tad dry. In terms of available sauces, the Kansas City sauce was thick and tangy, but the Proof sauce was not good at all...I just could not put my finger on what about it I didn't like n its flavor profile. The coleslaw was shredded with vinegar and quite dry, the mac-n-cheese was only semi-gooey and the fries (although tasty) were limp from being undercooked. Bottom line was thumbs up on the meats and thumbs sideways (or down) on the sides.Wil most certainly give them another try as I am a BBQ junky, hoping the outcomes are slightly better.

Hip little bbq restaurant in downtown Cleveland. Restaurant was clean, and nicely decorated. Menu was simple and prices were reasonable. I ordered 2 brisket tacos. My wife and son shared the pulled pork plate. As much as I wanted to love the brisket tacos, this didn't hit well. The brisket itself was a nice slice of tender meat, but it was drowned in sauce and had a weird raw carrot/slaw concoction that didn't really add anything to the taco. I ate one as served, then scraped everything off the second taco and ate it plain, this was better. In retrospect, I should have ordered the brisket plate. My wife and son's pork was also tender and well cooked, but was missing flavor. Maybe it isn't rubbed before smoking? They have a selection of sauces they seem proud of, and if you like BBQ sauce this will serve you well. The plate came with a side of fries and a cornbread muffin. Both were ok. We ordered an additional 1/2 pound of pulled pork to finish the meal. While I wasn't impressed personally, the food was cooked well. If I was in Cleveland again, I would consider trying the brisket plate.

Great server who was timely with the drinks and orders and friendly. I'm picky about barbecue since I'm from Kansas City. The KC style sauce they have is thick and sweet yes, but also has a little spicy kick I wasn't a fan of. It has hints of smoked cherry or maple. The white sauce is very vinegary and not my fave either. The brisket had a nice fat cap on the thick slices but the meat itself was dry unfortunately. The macaroni looked well topped but somehow lacked flavor which was unexpected given that it had a great appearance. The honey corn muffin it came with was moist, sweet, and delicious however!The pulled pork on the salad was pretty decent- not flavorful particularly but a good mix of moisture and fat. The salad was good sized with smoked tomato pieces which were really smokey and sadly yet again not to my liking. The cider vinaigrette was good and thick but very sweet. Overall not a terrible place for barbecue but definitely not good barbecue either.

Food was epic. The ribs weren't ready when I arrived so I got some wings as appetizers. These were excellent. Cooked perfectly with a delicious Buffalo sauce. I then ordered the pork ribs which were delectable fall off the bone tender with delicious sides. Completely recommend Proof. They also have a very nice drink menu as well.

Cool atmosphere, great menu, and even better food. Brisket was great came with well seasoned fries. Wings may have been the best part

I was thrilled to see Proof reopen, and it's truly better than ever. Chef Brandon Lassiter is so, so talented, and it was an honor to write about him and his food in a recent issue of Cleveland Magazine. The BBQ is great -- obviously. The pork nachos are decadent and massive (though they now helpfully come in a half-size), and the brisket tacos are juicy and flavorful. But for me, it's the smashburger that truly stands out. It's one of the best burgers I've ever eaten, and it's easily one of my top three favorite burgers in Cleveland. (Top two, maybe? In contention with only Cordelia and maybe Bearden's.) The vibe is laid-back and casual, like a nice, new version of a neighborhood dive -- and with much better food and liquor than most. The stuff is super friendly, and the back patio is perfect on a sunny day. Make this your new favorite spot!

Wow that was some bad brisket...like there's no way anyone would consider what I got decent bbq. It was so incredibly dry and old, all the marbling and fat had solidified a firm opaque white and was stiff as cardboard when I picked it up. I did order delivery, but this was most definitely not because of the delivery time, this was definitely leftovers or sitting out for a while. To give the benefit of doubt, I probably got a bad, leftover bunch and may not represent what others seemingly got in the reviews. But to allow such a quality pass and be served tells me all I need to know about the place and what corners it's willing to cut.

We've been here twice and enjoyed both visits. Pork belly appetizer is very tasty. Love sitting on their patio. We'll definitely go back again.

Always greeted with a smile, and it makes a joy to visit. Today there was a live band that sounded amazing. The overall vibe was jovial. I had the best bbq sauce ever I tried them all. Our food was delicious, and I can't wait to be back soon.

Saw them advertised on TV awhile back and finally made it there. Was not disappointed. The pulled pork and brisket was delicious. Try the Brussel sprouts and bread pudding. Amazing. Looking forward to having a drink on the outdoor patio. Waiter was helpful and the decor was comfortable.