Your Summerlicious table guide has arrived

Summerlicious is one of Toronto’s best excuses to eat well. For two and a half weeks every July, some of the city’s sought-after dining rooms roll out prix fixe menus that make bucket-list reservations a little easier to snag. The trick, of course, is knowing where to go.

This year, Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality (O&B) — whose crown jewels include Canoe and Auberge du Pommier — brings 20 participating restaurants to the table, spanning neighbourhoods across the city, from Berczy Square to the Financial District to The Well. Prix fixe menus run from $27 to $75, which means whether you’re meeting for a quick power lunch, date night, or a group celebration, there’s an O&B table for it. The real question is less where to eat than what kind of mood you’re after. Here’s where to start.

For a night out that oozes peak indulgence: Aera

8 Spadina Ave., suite 3800, aerarestaurant.com

Dinner: $75

Breathtaking views from the 38th floor of The Well make the perfect backdrop for luxurious dinners at Aera with your friends and family in tow. Standout starters, from delicate tuna tataki and the vibrant sunset roll to an elegant heirloom beet salad, showcase seasonal flavours. For mains, you can’t go wrong with the Ontario sirloin topped with sake peppercorn sauce — a nod to the restaurant’s modern steakhouse roots — or the rigatoni with burrata cream. Pair either with a crisp martini or bold Argentinian cab to carry you through the night.

For the long lunch conversations that spill into dinnertime: Maison Selby

592 Sherbourne St., maisonselby.com

Lunch: $48; Dinner: $65

Midtown’s Maison Selby moves at the easy pace of a Parisian brasserie. Set inside a three-storey Victorian mansion, the restaurant is the kind of spot where lunch on the streetside terrace stretches into the afternoon. The menu reinvents French classics with seasonal Ontario ingredients, from jambon beurre and striped bass to steelhead crudo with cucumber cream and summer squash, a salade de pissenlit topped with dandelion and field greens, and bucatini tossed with fresh Ontario zucchini. Pair it all with the signature élixir d’émeraude, made with a pineapple-honey gin crafted by Dillon’s for Maison Selby, or the tout nu, a crisp, floral cocktail with notes of cranberry and amarena cherry.

For the power lunch you’ll actually enjoy: Jump

18 Wellington St. W., jumprestaurant.com 

Lunch: $41; Dinner: $55

Commerce Court’s Jump pairs the energy of a Manhattan café with one of the Financial District’s best-kept secrets: a courtyard patio perfect for lunch meetings, after-work drinks or al fresco dinners. Inside, North American cuisine meets Italian influences, with shareables like wild mushroom soup with truffle gastrique and fig and prosciutto crostini, alongside mains such as the chicken caprese panino with basil pesto or miso-glazed Atlantic salmon. Pair it all with a spirit-forward cocktail or a selection from over 90 types of scotch and whiskey.

For a patio that makes the most out of Toronto summers: The Joneses

33 Yonge St., #100, thejonesesrestaurant.com

Lunch: $41; Dinner: $55

On the corner of Yonge and Wellington, you’ll find The Joneses, a cozy mid-century bar, lounge and restaurant that features a must-have for summer dining: a rain-or-shine patio. With a crowd-pleasing menu and a spacious dining area, The Joneses is positioning itself as a go-to for groups. Dine on baked ziti and spicy tuna sushi pizza, and make sure to leave plenty of room for the coffee-infused chocolate cake or New York cheesecake.

For a laid-back uptown night that feels like a well-kept secret: Parcheggio

2901 Bayview Ave., parcheggio.ca

Lunch: $34; Dinner: $45

Parcheggio earns its spot as the unpretentious option for Italian cuisine. A comforting neighbourhood staple, Parcheggio is just as good for group gatherings as it is for a relaxed date night out on the patio. Try the cheesy arancini to start, then order the seared Atlantic salmon piccata or the crispy brick chicken for a hearty meal. For dessert, treat yourself to a childhood classic: the vanilla & raisin semifreddo ice cream sammie.

For the “one more round” crowd: Ceci Bar

33 Yonge St., cecibar.com

Lunch: $34; Dinner: $45

Berczy Square’s Ceci Bar adds a twist to your otherwise usual spots for work lunches and after-work spritzes. Hand-painted murals and vibrant textiles transport diners to Mexico. Whether you’re sharing plates inside or out on the summery patio, Pan-Latin favourites like the patatas bravas and gaucho beef empanada are filling yet flavourful. Order classic margs or a pitcher of peach rosé sangria for the table. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the cherry crumble cake or the margarita panna cotta.

Summerlicious runs July 3–19, 2026. Prix fixe menus range from $27 to $75 across all 20 O&B locations. Reservations go fast. Book your table today at oliverbonacini.com.