Beetcafe.com
rockford illinois entertainment guide
Date: 10/31/2002
Paragon On State
by Patrick McDonough
patrick@beetcafe.com
It was four years ago this December that the once vacant building at 205 West State Street, reopened as Paragon On State. It took only two months to remodel what had once been a Kinko's, and transform it into a beautiful dining space filled with an eclectic mix of artwork and obvious nuances from owner Mary Olson's various travels around the country. Olson said that she had always regarded the site as a perfect location for a gourmet restaurant in downtown Rockford. The building is within walking distance of a number of entertainment venues including The Coronado Theater, The Metro Centre, The New American Theatre and Davis Park.

When asked about the name Paragon, Olson explained that it is the Greek word for excellence. It is rather apparent when talking with her that it is more than just a name. It is a standard by which she strives to uphold in three main areas: the menu, the ambience and the customer service.

Olson likes to change the menu 2-3 times a year to keep it interesting. For example during the summer she likes to have a lighter list of entrees, but said that the menu tends to be richer during the winter months. She feels it's important to continually change the menu in order to keep patrons coming back. Chief Executive Chef, Jeff McCord, plays a major roll in what could appear on the next season's menu. Every week he, along with suggestions from Olson and the four other Chefs at Paragon, experiment with new dishes. They could either be a variation of an existing entrée or appetizer, or a new dish all together. Then they are offered as specials on either Friday or Saturday nights. If they are well received then they may be worked into the next menu change.

Every entrée is prepared fresh according to each patron's specifications. The fruit and vegetables are purchased fresh every morning from the local produce store 320. When shopping there, if Olson notices a certain fruit such as the pomegranate in season, she will buy a number of them and create a desert to add to the specials list for that evening. The meat and seafood is shipped fresh daily from the same purveyors that supply well-known Chicago restaurants Gibson's and Hugo's with their ingredients.

Another of the areas in which Olson strives for excellence is the ambience that can only be described as one of a kind. Upon entering the restaurant the first thing I notice is the warm colors from the rich wood in and above the bar and dropped ceiling accented by the low light and wrought iron candle sconces along the walls. When deciding on the color schemes and lighting for the restaurant Olson said that she, "brought colors and feelings from restaurants [she] visited all over the United States." She also commissioned two different local artists to create permanent works to adorn the walls and add to the eclectic mix. One is a triptych painting by artist Jason Farris that covers one entire wall in a small conference room adjacent to the bar. The other a mural painted on the west wall by artist Perry Donzi. There is also an art gallery in which every 6 weeks a new exhibit is in place.

The ambience is augmented by a fireplace surrounded by comfortable leather furniture close enough to the windows that in the winter you can watch the snow fall but still be near enough to the fire to stay warm. From here there is also a great vantage point from which to enjoy an after dinner drink and listen to one of many live bands that Paragon showcases both Friday and Saturday nights.

When it comes to customer service, Olson considers this area to be of the utmost importance. She sees her wait staff as an extension of herself. What they do and say reflects strongly on the restaurant and her. She holds employee seminars in which the employees taste the various wines Paragon offers and then learns from Chef McCord which wine would go best with which entrees. Olson knows that a lot of advertising, both good and bad, is carried out through word of mouth. So in the rare case that a patron is unhappy for any reason she will work quickly to remedy the situation. She feels ardently that her customers should be treated as she herself would want to be treated.

So the next time you are downtown and in need of a fabulous meal, or you may need to unwind after a long day, or you are in the mood for a little live music or a chance to see a local artists work, then stop on in to Paragon on State, I guarantee you won't regret it.
Contact Information
Mary Olson
Paragon on State
205 West State St.
Rockford, IL 61101
815.963.1660
www.paragononstate.com
Cost
Dinner: $15-$28 (Average around $20)
Lunch: Average around $8
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