Uneasy Rhetoric

By inertia more than anything, I eat lunch out. I always make it seem as though I was just too rushed in the morning to put together a lunch, when secretly I know I enjoy that hour outside the office, in a place that is not my work.

When I worked in Silverton, Oregon, there were about four places worth going to for lunch, and a few more that might do on an occassional basis. Now that I work in Downtown Sacramento, the choices are enormous.

In Silverton we had hearty bar food, a very good Thai restaurant, an exquisite Mexican bakery, and the always dependable, the ubiquitous Subway. That is a lot of quality in a small area. Can Sacramento match up? Of course, but I’m hopeful that, with the increased density of restaurants, will also come increased quality.

Thus, I begin my series “Downtown Déjeuner.” Throughout the next year, I will eat at and review as many of the restaurants as possible within a four-block walk of the corner of 11th and J Street. I will do this at the same time that I attempt to reduce the number of times per week I eat lunch out to a more manageable two, on average.

In general my reviews will be based on first impressions, although I will indicate whether I’ve given a place a second chance.

I am self-limited to the four-block walk rule for now; eventually I might break it.

My criteria are straightforward because this is lunch. I don’t expect an eating event (although a little pampering never hurt anyone). Is the food good? Service okay? Fast? Are the servings adequate? Is this an affordable place to eat lunch? The rating system:

x = Maybe someone will buy them out.

* = below average.

** = average.

*** = above average.

**** = How long until they know me by name?

UPDATE: This project is no longer active (12/1/2005)