Uneasy Rhetoric

Downtown Déjeuner:
La Bou **1/2
901 K Street
$6-$8

La Bou is a Sacramento institution that has, over the years, grown to include a catering business and an unfortunate name change. Once upon a time it was the place to go to get your croissant and coffee.

The La Bou at 9th and K is a small eatery with an even smaller lunch menu: about three salads and the usual sandwich varieties. The spicy Asian Noodle Salad is quite good, but the sandwiches are nothing special except that sprouts come standard.

The utilitarian dining area is comfortable for dining in but can be a bit noisy when the crowds roll in. La Bou does get crowded but the service is very efficient. I waited only a little longer for my lunch at noon as I did a few days later at 1pm.

You won’t get any new taste sensations here, but if you’re in a hurry, La Bou is a good option.

Two stars for average food and ambiance as well as an unfortunate name. “La Bou” sounds like “la boue,” which means “mud” in French. What was wrong with “La Boulangerie”? Other than people would pronounce it like “Lah Boo-lanj-er-ay,” which drove me nuts.

An extra half star for service très vite!