Hooray! It's Winterlicious, the time of year to try out some of Toronto's best restaurants at a fraction of their usual prices. Prix fixe menus run either $25, $35 or $45 per dinner, and $15, $20 or $25 for lunch. That gets you at least three choices for three courses. Designed to draw in diners during the SARS crisis of 2003, Winterlicious, and younger sister Summerlicious, have become Toronto foodie staples that help boost restaurant sales during down times in this lacklustre economy.
Note that not all of these are great values, and many restaurants will include the meals they can throw together fastest (you have to consider whether say the garden salad, pasta and cheesecake offered at some restos is worth the prix fixe, especially if, like me, you usually skip dessert).
Some diners complain about less-than-stellar treatment by resentful and harried staff who expect lower tips (especially given the recent debate over whether 20 per cent is the new norm) by letting us plebeians through their doors. But if you can navigate through the menus of more than 150 Toronto restaurants, you can certainly find some gems. Here are some links from critics to help you narrow it down:
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/1115091--winterlicious-5-restaurants-to-try
http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/de-licious/2012/01/10/winterlicious-2012-food-editors-picks/
This year, I'm doing something of a marathon (and will have to basically run a marathon to burn off all the calories). I have reservations at no less than six! I am amazed at, but couldn't help, myself.
Beginning this Saturday, the official kickoff to Winterlicious, I'll be heading to C5 restaurant in the ROM, Bymark in the financial district, Trevor on Wellington E, Luma in TIFF's Bell Lightbox, Lucien in St.Lawrence Market, and finally to the famed Canoe!
Most were fairly easy to get reservations at, especially if you're looking on a week night or lunch. But Canoe is always so rammed with Winterlicious reservations that they have set up a separate phone number for the event. Still, diners must be super eager and willing to make several calls back after hearing the busy signal so many times. A hint my friend gave me this year, however, if you (or someone who loves you) have an American Express card, you can make your reservations two days before its open season for everyone else.
Expect reviews on my experiences ASAP! And let me know what your experiences of Winter/ Summerlicious. Are they worth it?
I'm envious! I tried making reservations for Winterlicious one time at Canoe, and after about a week of calling, gave up.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that! It's seriously all about that Amex Front of the line scheme. I don't have one but you don't need to give all the numbers and expiry info, so try and find a friend who will share just their last four digits with you! I assume this applies to Summerlicious as well, so you can try your hand again in a few months.
ReplyDeleteOh Sunny, I hope you have a great time! I can't wait to read all about them. I have done summerlicious for a lunch before, and it was just so much fun to try out a new place and go somewhere a bit ritzy. I agree with you about checking the menus carefully -- it makes cost sense from the restaurants' point of view, but provides a challenge to the motivated diner.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great tips, Sunny....this sounds like a licious thing to do in the winter !
ReplyDeleteWriting up C5 review now! Unfortunately (or fortunately for my wallet and waistline) I had to drop my number of restos down to five, as my Bymark night was cancelled.
ReplyDelete