In the Arden/Arcade ‘hood, residents, tired of having to shuttle downtown to eat at a high-priced chain steakhouse located in a mall, are abuzz with the arrival of their very own high-end chain steakhouse located in a mall. Ruth’s Chris (or is it Ruth Chris’? (or Ruth’s Chris’ (or maybe Ruth’s Kris (which is the way you would describe some lesbian who is a friend of yours but you happen to know a lot of lesbians named Kris so you have to describe her by who she’s dating which would, of course, be Ruth, like, “Not Kris Kelly! Kris Stephenson, you know, Ruth’s Kris!)))) is open and ready for business in the old home of Mace’s in the Pavilions shopping centre. As people flock to this nationally proven commodity, might I point out a little gem tucked away in the bejeweled embrace of the Pavilions, a gem that has grown a little duller since Vlade left the capital city, L’Image.
I’ve been to L’Image several times, for lunch, breakfast and dinner and every time have found the service friendly and attentive, the atmosphere comfortable and the food delicious. Owners Vlade Divac and his wife Ana did a great job in opening L’Image and outfitting it with a great menu and decent notoriety. I doubt that anyone who has visited and eaten at L’Image has anything to complain about regarding the food. The main problem with the place is that it’s tucked away in the back of an overpriced mall with no street visibility and, since the departure of the Flopper, no star appeal.
Each time I’ve visited, the dining room has been nearly empty, the giant picture of Napoleon on the wall looking a little lonely and forlorn. I could go into how the basic French menu has recently been invigorated by a young up-and-coming homegrown chef. I could talk about how fine the ingredients are in every dish. I could talk about how they have a magazine rack by the hostess station (perhaps an overly optimistic installation when they were picturing long lines and overbooked weekends). But I won’t bore you with the details. Just do me and yourself a favor: Drop by L’Image for breakfast, lunch or dinner before you go to your inaugural meal at Ruths’s Chriss’s’ and let me know which of the two really deserves all the attention.
Lâ€Image
Pavilions Shopping Centre, Fair Oaks Blvd- Sacramento
Food **** Atmosphere *** Service ***
Dinner for two $60-$80
The Sac Rag 