Paragon Restaurant

118 S. Girls School Rd., Indianapolis, IN

317-271-3514

Overall:A-(4.2/5.0 stars)
Value:A+(5.0/5.0 stars)
Atmosphere:B(3.5/5.0 stars)
Service:A(4.5/5.0 stars)
Taste:B(3.5/5.0 stars)
Presentation:B+(4.0/5.0 stars)
Paragon Restaurant

Reuben Details

Sandwich Name: Reuben on Rye Bread ($4.99)

Menu Description: Reuben on Rye Bread with Sauerkraut and Swiss Cheese

Included Side Items: Comes with fries, a lettuce slice, a tomato slice, a pickle spear and one of the following: soup, salad, coleslaw, cottage cheese, apple sauce or peaches. All meals come with large rolls and a basket of crackers.

Presentation: The sandwich was cut straight down the middle and served on a plate next to Thousand Island dressing in a plastic cup, a leaf of lettuce, a tomato slice, and a pickle spear on one side. The fries were placed on the other side of the sandwich. The sandwich had a slice of swiss cheese directly against the bottom slice of bread. Above the cheese slice was a pile of corned beef topped with sauerkraut.

Dimensions: 585 cm3 (13 cm x 10 cm x 4.5 cm)

Bulk-to-Cost Ratio: 117 cm3/dollar


Review -

Review Date: Jan 13, 2004

Overall:A(4.5/5.0 stars)
Value:A+(5.0/5.0 stars)
Atmosphere:B(3.5/5.0 stars)
Service:A(4.5/5.0 stars)
Taste:B(3.5/5.0 stars)
Presentation:B+(4.0/5.0 stars)

The only place you could get more food for your money would be an all-you-can eat buffet. The meat on the Reuben was very tender and crumbly. I thought that the thousand island dressing was too sweet--I don't think I've ever had it that sweet before--but at least it was on the side. The bread was toasted lightly and didn't taste too bad. I couldn't taste a lot of sauerkraut or Swiss on mine due to the large quantity of corned beef. I highly recommend this place. The staff and management are warm and welcoming and very attentive. If you're hungry, this is the place to go. The $4.99 we paid was the lunch special price--the price only goes up to $5.99 for dinner.


Review -

Review Date: Jan 13, 2004

Overall:A-(4.2/5.0 stars)
Value:A+(5.0/5.0 stars)
Atmosphere:A-(4.2/5.0 stars)
Service:A(4.5/5.0 stars)
Taste:B(3.5/5.0 stars)
Presentation:A+(5.0/5.0 stars)

This is a nice, well-lit establishment. The patrons tend to be older than most of the places we've rated, and the decor seems oriented towards their tastes. The atmosphere is very diner-like, in a good way: friendly waitstaff serving lots of regular customers. I have only two small quibbles about the seating. First, there's a cluttered corner where various equipment is kept, and it's rather unsightly (strangely, it also blocks access to a door with a glowing EXIT sign, but that's just as well, since the door actually leads into the kitchen instead of outside). Second, the smoking section is in the front, and you have to stand in it while you wait to pay your bill. There's no atmospheric music, which is fine by me. The conversation from other patrons is a bit loud, but we didn't have trouble hearing each other. The first thing the waitress does when you sit is bring a basket of rolls and crackers. The rolls are fairly tasty, but you should avoid them if you have a light appetite; when your Reuben arrives (on real China with metal utensils) it will be accompanied by fries, lettuce, a tomato slice, a pickle spear, and your choice of side item. I can't recommend the peaches as a side; they tasted metallic, as if they'd been in their can for a long time. Soup or salad is probably your best choice. The fries are pretty unexciting, but tolerably good with the addition of salt and ketchup. The sandwich itself is of good size, with plenty of tender corned beef. For some reason some of my beef was _under_ my sandwich, I suppose as a result of building so many Reubens in a hurry. The bread is a nicely-flavored rye, well grilled, lined with Swiss on the inside of each slice. I didn't really taste the Swiss, but I could feel its texture. The beef likewise had a mild flavor, not totally bland but not very noticeable either. Kraut was piled high, and in those quantities added good flavor to the sandwich. Dressing was on the side, and seemed to be of a different recipe than the norm: Chris noted that it was unusually sweet, and it had green and red bits in it. On the whole, a decent but not exceptional Reuben. In general, the food is of unexceptional quality, but served in such quantities and at such low cost that the Paragon is an excellent choice for the hungry Reuben-eater on a tight budget. Next time I'll somehow save room for some baklava.


Review -

Review Date: Jan 13, 2004

Overall:A-(4.2/5.0 stars)
Value:A+(5.0/5.0 stars)
Atmosphere:A-(4.2/5.0 stars)
Service:A-(4.2/5.0 stars)
Taste:B+(4.0/5.0 stars)
Presentation:A-(4.2/5.0 stars)

If you leave the Paragon hungry, you've got some issues. They give you a lot of food. My $4.99 got me a huge roll, a large salad, the Reuben itself, and a lot of fries. I'm planning on a nap after completing this review. Anyway, about the Reuben. The corned beef was very tender and was basically falling apart. The sauerkraut was of average quality, but of above average quantity. They had an interesting thousand island that was sweeter than typical. Overall, the Reuben was above average, and the value was outstanding.


Review -

Review Date: Jan 13, 2004

Overall:B+(4.0/5.0 stars)
Value:A(4.5/5.0 stars)
Atmosphere:B(3.5/5.0 stars)
Service:A(4.5/5.0 stars)
Taste:B+(4.0/5.0 stars)
Presentation:B+(4.0/5.0 stars)

I enjoyed the Reuben, however the sauce was a little too sweet for me. The sandwich itself was falling apart and made it very difficult for me to eat. I can't complain about the quantity and value, for the price I don't know that I've ever gotten so much food. The overall atmosphere was not very original.


Review -

Review Date: Jan 13, 2004

Overall:B(3.5/5.0 stars)
Value:A(4.5/5.0 stars)
Atmosphere:C(2.5/5.0 stars)
Service:B(3.5/5.0 stars)
Taste:B(3.5/5.0 stars)
Presentation:B(3.5/5.0 stars)

The value rocked! 5 bucks for a mega-meal. The reuben itself was merely adequate. Lots of salad and hot buns!


Review -

Review Date: Jan 13, 2004

Overall:B+(4.0/5.0 stars)
Value:A+(5.0/5.0 stars)
Atmosphere:B(3.5/5.0 stars)
Service:A(4.5/5.0 stars)
Taste:B-(3.2/5.0 stars)
Presentation:B+(4.0/5.0 stars)

You will not leave this place hungry. The Reuben was only slightly above average but the value was very high. Rolls, soup, fries, cola, and sandwich all for $6 simply can not be beat. I would say that $7.80 would have still been a fair price for my meal. I don't reccomend the Reuben (too much kraut and the sauce was rather sweet without the needed tang), or the Gyro (tried this on my last visit and made a trip to hospital for an allergic reaction--not fun) but I do recommend this place. Generally good food at a great price.


Review -

Review Date: Jan 13, 2004

Overall:A+(5.0/5.0 stars)
Value:A(4.5/5.0 stars)
Atmosphere:A(4.5/5.0 stars)
Service:A(4.5/5.0 stars)
Taste:B(3.5/5.0 stars)
Presentation:C(2.5/5.0 stars)

The first half of the sandwich was great, the second half had too much kraut and not enough meat. The sauce was sweet and good. The meat was not that spicy. Overall, great experience, atmosphere, and good food. All of this plus they offered me free baklava! This place is now my favorite #1 restaurant!