Pamela's Parkside Grill has remade former Regina's into its own space

Here's what happens when an artist buys a landmark restaurant in downtown Arlington Heights and redecorates the dining room.

In two days, working alongside contractors and her husband, Howard Maybloom, Pamela Olin-Maybloom transformed the 25-year-old Regina's Ristorante into Pamela's Parkside Grill.

They ripped out a wall, repainted the room complete with a ceiling mural showing a peek of sky and installed artwork throughout.

"As wonderful and intimate and quaint as it was, we wanted to open it up and bring some air into the space," said Olin-Maybloom. "We wanted to bring the park inside."

And in more clement weather, big windows will open onto Harmony Park.

She describes the new color on the walls as sun-dappled green, and notes the biplane pulling an "Eat at Pamela's" banner on the ceiling.

Maybloom, executive chef, is the one with the restaurant education and experience, including stints in management for The Four Seasons and Brasserie in Manhattan. He also was involved with restaurants in this area, although not recently. His wife, who calls herself "welder babe" in some circles, teaches artistic welding at Harper College.

The theme for Pamela's is fine dining in a comfortable environment, said Olin-Maybloom. The menu features steaks, veal, ribs and lamb; fish and seafood; salads and a vegetarian dish. Desserts are a highlight, to attract the after-theater crowd.

Works by area artists will be installed every month, with a reception for the artists from 5-9 p.m. the first Thursday of ech month, starting Feb. 4.

Olin-Maybloom also wants artists to decorate table tops in the restaurant, which at the end of the year will be sold to raise money for charity - minus enough to buy new tables.

The place also will have live entertainment, starting Jan. 30 with singer Cindi Cronin.

Despite the economy, the Mayblooms think this is a good business to be in because "everybody's gotta eat," said Olin-Maybloom. "We also figure we will work harder for ourselves than for anybody else."

Although Maybloom had known Phil Campanella for 20 years, he learned Regina's was for sale by seeing a classified ad. An easy commute from their home across the street made the purchase more attractive to the Mayblooms, who retained Regina's staff and some of its recipes.

Phil and Regina Campanella still operate their other restaurant, Regina's Via Trent Uno in West Dundee.

Arlington Heights does not have a gallery to showcase local artists, noted Olin-Maybloom, who said she started selling her own work in restaurants and coffee houses when she was a child.

"They never took a large percentage, and you have a captive audience of people waiting to eat. It was my dream I never thought would be realized of having an old-style salon where artists and others can gather, exchange ideas and foster each other."

Pamela's winter hours are 5-11 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday brunch.

Weekday lunches except for Monday will start in February.