Summerlicious 2014: the 67 restaurants that have our stamp of approval

As any ‘Licious veteran knows, the prix-fixe festival’s discount meals can feel like an amazing deal or a terrible scam, depending on where you end up. That’s why we took the time to examine the 2014 master list of participants, which includes over 200 Toronto restaurants, and whittle it down to a much more manageable 67 spots—all of which have been tried and tested by Toronto Life reviewers. Restaurants start taking reservations on Thursday, June 19, and it’s important to go in with a game plan. With that in mind, here it is: your Summerlicious shortlist, complete with menus, maps and links to Toronto Life reviews.

As in previous years, the northern chunk of downtown, which includes Yorkville and Harbord Village, packs the chi-chiest dining rooms on this year’s Summerlicious map. The list includes the ever-swanky Café Boulud, celeb hangout La Société and fine-dining destination Splendido, which is debuting a new prix-fixe lunch option.

93 Harbord
93 Harbord St., 416-922-5914
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $25

Byzantium
499 Church St., 416-922-3859
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $25

Café Boulud
60 Yorkville Ave., 416-963-6000
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $45

Chiado
864 College St., 416-538-1910
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

Crème Brasserie
162 Cumberland St., 416-962-7363
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

John & Sons Oyster House
1 Balmoral Ave., 416-515-0551
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

L’Unita
134 Avenue Rd., 416-964-8686
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $35

La Société
131 Bloor St. W., 416-551-9929
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

Loire
119 Harbord St., 416-850-8330
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $35

Mideastro Yorkville
27 Yorkville Ave., 416-477-2427
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $35

Mistura
265 Davenport Rd., 416-515-0009
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $45

Museum Tavern
208 Bloor St., 416-920-0110
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

One
116 Yorkville Ave., 416-961-9600
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

Pukka
778 St Clair Ave. W., 416-342-1906
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

Sassafraz
100 Cumberland St., 416-964-2222
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

Splendido
88 Harbord St., 416-929-7788
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

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The options in King West and the Financial District—prime territory for tourists and business-lunchers alike—are once again predictably plentiful. Many of the restaurants on the map are longtime ‘Licious participants (including Canoe, always an excellent choice). This year, they’re joined by Momofuku Daishō and Noodle Bar, as well as Weslodge, nightlife king Charles Khabouth’s clubby King West pub.

Azure
225 Front St. W., 416-597-8142
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

Bangkok Garden
18 Elm St., 416-977-6748
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

Bannock
401 Bay St., 416-861-6996
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

Biagio
155 King St. E., 416-366-4040
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

Brassaii
461 King St. W., 416-598-4730
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner $45

Bymark
66 Wellington St. W., 417-777-1144
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

Canoe
66 Wellington St. W., 416-364-0054
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

O&B Canteen
330 King St. W., 647-288-2710
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner $25

Oro
45 Elm St., 416-597-0155
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner $45

Crush Wine Bar
455 King St. W., 416-977-1234
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

Epic
100 Front St., 416-860-6949
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

Estiatorio Volos
133 Richmond St., 416-861-1211
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

Frank
317 Dundas St. W., 416-979-6688
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

Lee
601 King St. W., 416-504-7867
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $45

Little Anthony’s
121 Richmond St. W., 416-368-2223
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

Luma
350 King St. W., 647-288-4715
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

Matahari Grill
39 Baldwin St., 416-596-2832
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

Momofuku Daishō
190 University Ave., 647-253-8000
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

Momofuku Noodle Bar
190 University Ave., 647-253-8000
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

Nota Bene
180 Queen St. W., 416-977-6400
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

Stock
325 Bay St., 31^st Floor, 416-637-5550
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

The Fifth Grill and Terrace
225 Richmond St., 416-979-3005
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $45

Tutti Matti
364 Adelaide St. W., 416-597-8839
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

Weslodge
480 King St. W., 416-274-8766
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

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For some reason, east-end restaurants continue to be poorly represented on the Summerlicious map, despite Queen East’s transformation from a sleepy, rundown strip to a dining destination. Here are two stand-out spots among the few participating restaurants east of the DVP.

Globe Bistro
124 Danforth Ave., 416-466-2000
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

Pan on the Danforth
516 Danforth Ave., 416-466-8158
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

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While most west-end restaurants remain Summerlicious-shy, there are some new joiners this year, including L’Ouvrier on Dundas West and Rock Lobster on the Ossington strip. Susur Lee’s Bent is participating again this year, as is Parts and Labour in Parkdale.

Bent
777 Dundas St. W., 647-352-0092
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $35

Lamesa
669 Queen St. W., 647-346-2377
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $25

L’Ouvrier
791 Dundas St. W., 416-901-9581
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $35

Maialino Enoteca
1688 Queen St. W., 416-551-5251
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $25

Merlot
2994 Bloor St. W., 416-236-0081
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

Parts and Labour
1566 Queen St. W., 416-588-7750
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $35

Quinta
1282 Dundas St. W., 416-534-0407
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $25

Southern Accent
595 Markham St., 416-536-3211
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $25

Rock Lobster
110 Ossington Ave., 416-533-1800
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $25

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This year’s uptown options include a familiar mix of special occasion spots—Auberge du Pommier, North 44—and more casual eateries, like cozy trattoria L’il Baci and Mark McEwan’s Fabbrica.

Amaya Bread Bar
3305 Yonge St., 416-487-1100
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

Amaya: The Indian Room
1701 Bayview Ave., 416-322-3270
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

Auberge du Pommier
4150 Yonge St., 416-222-2220
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

Celestin
623 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-544-9035
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $25 | Dinner: $45

Fabbrica
49 Karl Fraser Rd., 416-391-0307
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $25

Five Doors North
2088 Yonge St., 416-480-6234
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $25

Frida
999 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-787-2221
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $25

Il Mulino
1060 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-780-1173
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $45

Katsura
900 York Mills Rd., 416-444-2511
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

Lil’ Baci Yonge
2013 Yonge St., 647-748-6300
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

North 44
2537 Yonge St., 416-487-4897
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $45

Origin North
2901 Bayview Ave., 416-479-8833
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

Pizza e Pazzi
1182 St. Clair W., 647-352-7882
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

Quince
2110 Yonge St., 416-488-2110
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $20 | Dinner: $35

Tabülé
2009 Yonge St., 416-483-3747
Read our review | See the menu
Lunch: $15 | Dinner: $25

Zucca
2150 Yonge St., 416-488-5774
Read our review | See the menu
Dinner: $35

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