Deal Details

It seems like with the price increase to 45 dollars that it is becoming less and less of a deal to go to Summerlicious/Winterlicious.  I mean yes those same restaurants might charge 100 dollars per person, but from the last few times I’ve gone, they give you half the food and half the service.  Does anyone still think its a great deal anymore?

Not all the participating restaurants are in the highest bracket so there are some places that I would still consider to be a great deal.  Besides, it’s a good chance to eat at places that might normally be out of reach. Having said that, they’re going for quantity (of people) over quality so the food/service will be of lower quality than normal.

Summer/Winterlicious is always better if you focus on smaller resturaunts and on off nights.  If you go to Canoe, you’ll be getting essentially Canoe catering rather than the type of meal if you went and ordered on a regular night. It’s still good but more like a good meal at a wedding than fine dining.  It’s a good deal but have to pick wisely and keep expectations low.

Sorry and I do apologize for ranting, but fine dining in Toronto is non existent. I have never received a decent service in this city and I have eaten in a lot of different places, all over the world. I am not bashing the city, but this place needs to get a clue. I am talking about posh downtown establishments, not regular (local) mom and pop places which are mostly fine.

Summerlicious and Winterlicious are dying slow deaths and are IMO no longer worth it. The meals used to be good, but now the majority suck. You wouldn’t ordinarily dine at a restaurant where the entire staff is disgruntled, so why is this any different?

Insiders serve up stories on Winterlicious
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/581814

A Word of Winterlicious Warning
http://torontoist.com/2009/01/winterlicious_winternautious.php

Winterlicious - Majority terrible, why people still bother going?!!
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/595654

Summerlicious: To avoid or not to avoid
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/532429

I agreed that summerlicious and winterlicious sucks very much nowadays with the new pricing and also the quality of service and food portions as noted above.

And to the comment about “keeping expectations low”, if I have to go to fine dining and keep my expectations low, I go to burger king, why go to fine dining.

And yes, toronto’s dining scene sucks comparing to some of the nearby city (except certain ethnicity restaurants).  Montreal is awesome for most part on the price, NY is well rounded but around 30% higher in price.