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Looking for a memorable casual dining experience in Scottsdale, Arizona?  Then look no farther than the newly opened Proof, an American Canteen, at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North.

Following a $2.5 million renovation, the décor of the restaurant draws upon the area’s history as a stagecoach hitching post and the frontier spirit of the Wild West, with a railroad track running perpendicular through the dining room as well as black and white pictures of conductors and railroad workers.

Guests can take in the outdoors from every angle with walls that open to views of Pinnacle Peak and extensive patio dining.  Televisions, games and a bustling bar bring buzzing energy to the restaurant on a nightly basis.

Executive Sous Chef Jesse Hansen and his innovative culinary team have drawn upon classic American favorites to build the menu.  Guests can expect menu items such as fried green tomatoes, shrimp and oyster po’boys, and chicken and waffles with bacon and bourbon syrup.

Proof Canteen Soda Fountain

An old fashioned soda fountain serves up nostalgic milkshakes, malts and floats, or guests can order a hand-sliced sandwich or charcuterie board at the counter.

Children will delight in the special touches throughout.  A seasonal selection of handmade candies is available for purchase, and might include caramels, peppermint sticks, fudge, salt water taffy and flavored popcorn.

Special “TV dinner” menus for kids combine classic favorites with melamine dinner ware, and nostalgic cartoons are broadcast during breakfast.

For adults, the restaurant highlights small batch and craft distilled American spirits, with an emphasis on bourbon and whiskey, as well as wines from across the United States.  More than 50 microbrews are available, with six beers on draft, while a wine selection of more than 50 bottles includes four wines on tap, served in chemist beakers.

The music mix and TV programming in Proof changes from sunrise to sunset; breakfast features American sitcom theme songs and vintage cartoons.  Lunchtime shows classic westerns on the screen and bluegrass, country and light jazz on the airwaves.  Tune in as the sun goes down with higher-energy professional and collegiate sports on the screens, and American rock, jazz and funk in the background.  Local live music plays on select nights.

Our experience…

We walked in on a Tuesday night to an absolutely packed house.  General Manager Graham Williamson, outfitted in denim, gingham, and a bow-tie, stopped to greet us and started us off with a flight of specially sourced micro-brews.  Graham told us, “we’ve got 50 beers, 50 wines, and 50 spirits from all 50 states”.

Piping hot, and on the heels of our micro-brews came Grilled Cheese 2x4s + Tomato Soup (vermont cheddar, sunizona tomatoes).  Oh my, the perfect size for dipping in our cast-iron pot of soup!

With big smiles on their faces, our hosts also brought us their famous Pretzel Knots.  It’s pretzel bread accompanied by a spicy cheese sauce.  Holy Comfort Food Batman!

And then, to our great surprise came Chop & Pop (chopped vegetables, popcorn croutons, green goddess dressing).  Popcorn in our salad.  Who’da thunk?  It was good!

We had a very difficult time deciding on a comfort food entrée. What with options like Arizona’s Own Gumbo, Double-Cut Pork Chops, Chicken and Waffles, Veggie Pot Pie, Shrimp & Grits, and even a very tempting “3 Meatloaf” with bacon-wrapped veal, pork and beef with buttermilk mash potatoes.

But alas, we settled on Stripped Bass Cioppino (tomato broth, arizona sweet shrimp, dungeness crab, mussels).

… and Beer Can Chicken (roasted veggies, buttermilk mashed potatoes).

As expected, the cioppino was very good, but the beer can chicken completely stole the show!

We heard talk of special seasonings, stuffing, and the chicken cooking for hours over an open can of beer. Wow!  I want to go back there right now for more.  I never would have dreamed of being so excited about a plate of chicken.  It was that good!  You’ve got to try it!  Really!

Now, as you might imagine, our bellies were getting quite full.  However, we were told that there was no getting out of the restaurant without sampling a little something from the soda fountain. So, out came a Tripple Chocolate Whopper Malt (dark chocolate ice cream, crushed malt balls, brownie bits).

There really should be a law against something tasting that good.  I’m fairly certain that folks might develop an addiction after one of these babies.

And, as if that wasn’t enough sweet goodness, they also sent out Apple Rhubarb Crumble Pie (vanilla bean ice cream).

Phew!  That was good.  We just love vanilla ice cream melting on a piping-hot piece of apple-rhubarb pie.  Don’t you?

Well, what a wonderful experience.  I can’t tell you how happy we are to have Proof, an American Canteen just down the road from our home.  We’ve already been sharing the experience with our neighbors and I’m certain that you’ll soon find a large table full of baby boomers from our street gleefully enjoying this great new restaurant.

We highly recommend it and suggest that you get a reservation soon!

Link: Proof, an American Canteen

Disclosure: our fabulous dining experience was provided by the kind folks at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North.  Thanks!  

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