It’s like one of those “Wheel of Fortune” puzzles, isn’t it.

Personally, I’ll take the full 33d Street Bistro menu over the abridged/re-imagined Bistro 33 menu anyday, though the new, hip downtown location has its perks as well. But before I even get into the merits of food or drinks at either location, I think we need to have a bigger discussion about Sacramento restaurants. All 3 of them.

Okay, that’s hyperbole - of course there are more than 3 restaurants in Sacramento. There are lots - and lots of good ones too. But there are a few big gorillas in town - one 800 pounds and a few other young yet growing ones. Just click on the 33d Street Bistro link above. I didn’t have to bother linking to Bistro 33 because you get there through the same site. Obviously, the relationship between two such similarly named venues is no accident - Bistro 33 is the offspring of the original 33d Street Bistro on, uh, 33d Street in East Sac. Oh - and there’s a 3d 33d in Davis, PLUS the same group owns Riverside on, sigh, Riverside.

Then there’s Ernesto’s and Zocalo. Jack’s, Paesano’s, and the restaurant formerly known as Huki Lau (now Prontos), are all sister restaurants.

And then there’s the Paragary Restaurant Group which includes Paragary’s, Spataro, Esquire Grill, 2 Bernardos (in town), Monkey Bar, Blue Cue, Centro, R15, and whatever the hell ends up in that new development on L and 15th. Phew.

After proudly touting Sacramento’s bountiful options spread over a relatively small square mileage, I find myself wondering: are we really a one-trick-pony town when it comes to culinary ventures?

There are independent jewels all over the grid and beyond. But a large percentage of your dining dollars likely goes to the same few restaurateurs. What’s up with that? And does it show a lack of imagination or a brilliant entrepreneurial spirit?

I’ll spend my money at Spataro or 33d Street Bistro before I’d hit most of the others, even within the same family. But is there really a difference?