For summerlicious this year I only made it out to one restaurant, partly due to scheduling and partly due to budgeting (we bought a house! Future dedicated post to come!). Looking through the list of restaurants priced at $28 or $38 for dinner, the one menu that jumped out was Biff’s, which also met the criteria of being located downtown and a new spot for me. I have friends who visit weekly for their $1 after 5pm oyster deal and generally all had positive thoughts about the French Bistro.

Atmosphere: Biff’s decor was traditional with intimate lighting, leather benches and dark wood tables. The restaurant was pretty big with a bar area, main dining area and multiple private rooms. I could see this being a popular venue for corporate events during the holidays. With our reservation being just after 5pm on a Thursday the restaurant was fairly quiet, even during Summerlicious, but started to fill up around 7pm. Many of the diners around us at tables were much older while a more suit and tie audience occupied the bar.

Service: Our server was very friendly. He chatted with us, checked in on us often and I felt like he genuinely wanted to make sure we enjoyed our dinner. However, when he came by to top up my friend’s beer, he poured it straight into the glass making it all head to the point where the glass even spilled over once he left. I appreciated the good intention, but it was a bizarre move. Either he didn’t know how to properly pour beer, or forgot the can was beer. Either way, he walked away before we could react beyond being a bit shocked. Aside from that misstep, service was great. Our dishes arrived promptly. The bill did as well, without being asked for, which was again a bit odd. However, our server did tell us to take our time and that it wasn’t a rush. Maybe he was changing shifts?

Food: To start, I choose the Tomato and Cucumber Gazpacho for my appetizer, my go to whenever I see it on a Summerlicious menu. The bowl of cold soup was served with slices of cucumber and a sweet balsamic drizzle, refreshing for a hot summer day. A touch more olive oil would have been nice.

For my main, my friend went with the safe bet of Beef Tri-tip Steak while my curiosity was piqued by the Maple Mustard Pork Croquette. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I do wish I had stuck to the steak. The croquette was made of seasoned shredded pork, battered and fried, served on a crushed potato salad with cabbage and a smoky aioli. I liked the flavour of the croquette, but it was a lot of pork and after eating half, the texture was quite monotonous. I wouldn’t got as far as to say I didn’t like the dish, but I do think I would’ve enjoyed another entree more.

Both of us went with Chocolate Cake for dessert which was dense and rich. Overall, summerlicious at Biff’s was good, not amazing and fairly priced.

Driving north on the DVP my eyes are always drawn to the white Aga Khan Museum. Designed by award winning architect Fumihiko Maki and inspired by light, the museum was opened in 2014 and features historic and cultural artifacts from Muslim civilizations all over the world. In addition to the museum’s core collection, there are also several temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Stephen and I had the amazing opportunity to tour the museum after hours with a group of other bloggers after sampling some of the new menu items at Diwan, the restaurant at Aga Khan managed by The McEwan Group.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Our evening started with mocktails at Diwan, which was beautifully decorated with hand carved wall panels from Damascus. Tall wood pillars and a large square ceiling was incorporated into the structure of the restaurant itself. Weather permitting, there was also a huge outdoor patio with a view of the Aga Khan park. Diwan’s menu was inspired by Middle Eastern, North African and Indian cuisines. Some bites we tasted included Lamb Kofta meatballs with a corn, coconut curry and a Advieh Spiced Calamari. My favourite dish was the Masala Chicken Fries, which was strongly spiced and served with a delicious garlic aioli.

After the menu tasting, we were treated to a private tour of the current temporary exhibition “Syrian Symphony”, which featured work from a few of Syria’s leading artists and musicians examining the recent conflict in their home country. The exhibit flowed through the 4 movements of a symphony with visual, video and musical creations. I was blown away by how intimate each piece felt and how strong the message of hope shone through despite the turmoil and destruction. It was an incredibly moving and powerful exhibit. I felt that the “Syrian Symphony” was easily one of the best thought out and engrossing exhibitions I’ve ever visited at any museum in the world. Another part of the exhibit I loved was the interactive feature at the end where each visitor was encouraged to choose an placard with and icon that described how they felt and add their feeling to everyone else’s.

We also had the chance to walk through the core collection of the museum and spent a moment taking in the crisp evening air outside in the indoor courtyard. For me, another highlight of the evening was walking through the tranquil Aga Khan park and taking in the view of the fully lit Ismaili Centre Toronto. This summer, the Aga Khan Park will be hosting a variety of events from movie screenings to musical performances. Check out their website for a full list of family friendly activities.

Diwan will be participating in this year’s summerlicious with a $28 lunch menu. Reservations have been quickly filling up already and the restaurant is often booked full for the entire event.

This year for Summerlicious none of the menus really enticed me. I still decided to use the event as an excuse to grab dinner with friends and only looked at dinner menus at the $28 or $38 price point. After waffling between restaurants, we ended up at Bannock, an O&B restaurant in heart of downtown. For $28 the 3 course dinner was a good value, but perhaps wrongly, I had higher expectations.

Atmosphere: With the facade of Bannock being under construction the entrance was little hard to find. Inside, the restaurant separated into two sections. On the right was a “grab and go” area and on the left the “dine in” restaurant. Decor was modern with natural wood chairs that contrasted the light tabletops. Throughout dinner, the room was lively and we had to raise our voices to maintain a conversation.

Service: Our server was friendly and always made sure drinks were full. Courses arrived together and we had no trouble getting anyone’s attention. Overall, there wasn’t any aspect of service that was super memorable, which is how I like the majority of my meals to be.

Food: For dinner, I ordered the Ontario Heirloom Tomato Salad for my main, which also had sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and garlic brittle. I was expecting slices of tomatoes or bite size chunks, instead the tomatoes were large wedges, or halves and just piled in the center of the plate with sad shreds of garnish. The tomatoes were ripe and sweet but wasn’t seasoned enough for my taste.

A friend and I split our mains, allowing both of us to try dishes. All of the mains sounded promising and we chose the Northern Woods Mushroom and Gouda Pizza and the Birch BBQ Tri-tip Steak. Between the two, I prefered the pizza, which had a thin crust fresh arugula and strong earthy flavours. With the steak dish, the portion was large and cooked well, but again I thought it was underseasoned. Maybe I really need to cut back on salt in our own kitchen. Served with the steak was charred ratatouille, avocado and blue corn tortillas. Ok, but nothing spectacular.

Dessert was the highlight of dinner. Between the three of use, we ordered a Citrus Mousse Mess and two slices of Vanilla Cheesecake. Heavenly. None of us were tempted by the Crickets on a Log, real roasted crickets on a stalk of celery.

Being on vacation for all of June meant I could only squeeze in one Summerlicious meal this year. After looking through all the menus, Bestellen’s spoke to me the loudest. Charcuterie appetizer and steak entree, it was really an easy choice.

Atmosphere: Compared to the storefront, Bestellen had a surprisingly large dining area that was narrow and long. As we were shown to our table, we walked by the steak aging room that showed off beautiful hunks of meat, my kind of eye candy. The lighting was dim, while not ideal for photos, it was romantic and intimate. Decor was a masculine with dark walls, exposed pipes, natural wood planks and a giant mural of meat.

Service: Our server was friendly and accommodating. He checked up on us frequently, asked about beer refills and was generously a great experience. Our food arrived without any delays and I felt looked after.

Food: The Hubby and I usually try to order different menu items so we can share and try more dishes. At Bestellen, we maintained this strategy for the appetizer and dessert, but we both wanted the steak. I started with the Grilled Squid appetizer while he had the Charcuterie.

The squid was cooked to just done, making it very tender and easy to chew. It was lightly seasoned and really carried the flavour of the Romesco sauce and fennel. The charred scallions added an edge of umami to the dish, a light refresh start. Considering this was a set menu for $35, I was impressed with the size of the charcuterie plate, there was 2-3 slices of each meat, plenty to share. While not a full offering, I found the plate to be a good sample of what Bestellen’s full menu has to offer.

All three of us ended up ordering the Dry Aged Striploin entree with crispy fingerling potatoes, salsa verde and charred rapini. Again the portion was generous for the price and the aged steak cooked to a perfect medium. The meat was an excellent cut, tender and juicy. Of all the summerlicious meals I’ve had, this was hands down the best beef dish. In fact, even compared to a popular steakhouse I visited later that month, Bestellen had them beat.

For dessert we split the Chocolate Budino and Lemon and Pistachio cake. The square of cake was served hot warm with candied lemon strings and sherry cream, a rich but not overly sweet plate. The budino on the other hand was thick, chocolatey, topped with fresh whipped cream and decadent. Any chocolate lover would have been satisfied.

For me, Summerlicious has always been an opportunity to try new restaurants or re-visit establishments that has delivered in the past. Some restaurants can be overwhelmed by the volume of diners and there’s a notable drop in service or food. Bestellen was excellent, which makes me eager to visit again and taste their full menu.

Of all my summerlicious picks this year, I was most excited for dinner at Cafe Boulud. Due to scheduling conflicts, I had to move this reservation 3 times, but I was determined to make it and the meal was worth every effort. Cafe Boulud was, hands down, my favourite summerlicious menu this year.

Atmosphere: Located in the Four Season hotel in Yorkville, Cafe Boulud’s decor was contemporary, modern and decorated with paintings of pop culture icons. The space was open with lots of natural lighting provided by the full glass walls. Our reservation was for 5:30pm on a Sunday and the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable while still refined. I’m adding Cafe Boulud to my catalogue of special occasion and fancy brunch restaurants.

Service: Our server was friendly and attentive. Each dish was accompanied with a detailed description as it was served. Service was surprisingly quick with our meal only lasting an hour and a half. There was no lull between courses and plates were cleared right away. We didn’t linger over our food that day since The Fiance had a flight to catch early Monday morning and we appreciated the efficiency. This was especially nice as we didn’t feel rushed at any point.

Food: After placing our order, two amuse-bouche bites were served. The squares were crispy chickpea, topped with a pepper sauce; a yummy start with a mix of textures. For appetizers, I ordered the tuna tartare while The Fiance has the Terrine of Lamb Leg. I fell in love with my tartare; the crisp beans, rich olive oil, soft baby potatoes and fresh tuna were amazing. Every bite was perfect and I didn’t want to share. The Terrine of lamb leg was also good, not very gamey but meaty. Presentation of both dishes were pretty.

Sticking to fish that night, I had the BC Pink Salmon for my entree while The Fiance ordered the Beef Brisket. Both dishes were delicious with their own merits. My salmon was flakey and soft, perfect to my liking. I loved the nuttiness from the fresh raw radish and the spice from the raw slices of jalapeno. The entire dish was light and summery. While the brisket was a heavier protein, the flavours were still fresh and light with the grilled watermelon, kimchi leek and airy crispy rice topping. The brisket itself was tender, juicy and a generous portion size. Usually, The Fiance and I swap plates half way through to sample each other’s entrees. This time though, our own orders matched each of our palettes so perfectly that we were both less than eager to switch.

Dessert consisted of a Peach Sundae and Chocolate Cake plate. I loved that both desserts were rich and indulgent without being overly sweet or dense. The creme fraiche ice cream was airy and highlighted the freshness of the peaches. The toasted marshmallow ice cream was amazing, not as good as Gregg’s but close. I also liked the use to dark chocolate.

This year for our group summerlicious meal, I wanted to try an established restaurant, one that has proven to deliver great meals over time. Having had lovely dinners at other Oliver & Bonacini’s restaurants, Luma and Auberge du Pommier, I had high expectations for Jump. Unfortunately, while the service and atmosphere were top-notch, the food was underwhelming.

Atmosphere: Walking into Jump, I felt the decor was masculine and contemporary. I loved the wall of scotches and the glass wine cellar. Cube pendant lights hung below the glass ceiling, which made the transition from natural to artificial light smooth and barely noticed. With the strong leather furniture, dark wood tables and dark wall drapes, I felt like a cigar and scotch neat were needed (although we went with wine for the table). Our fellow diners ranged from groups of Asian girls to older couples and families out for a nice meal.

Service: Our server was outstanding. She was friendly, efficient and professional. Water and wine glasses were kept full, each dish arrived promptly and we had no trouble having the bill split. One of my friends ordered the soup for her appetizer, didn’t enjoy it and our server was more than happy to switch her bowl for a plate of salmon tartare.

Food: As per all meals during summerlicious, I tempered my expectations. Even so, for a $35 dinner menu, I was disappointed. There was a lack of finesse to the dishes that may have been due to a busy kitchen but still couldn’t be overlooked. One friend had bones in his sea bream while The Fiance had greens that were yellow in his salad. These small details really put a damper on the meal.

We started with an order of Jump fries while we waited for our entire party to arrive. It was a good plate to share and snack on. The tomato mayo was light and still more mayo than tomato.

For appetizers, I ordered the Salmon Tartare while The Fiance had the Prosciutto Cotto Salad. Between the two, the salmon tartare, an okay plate, was by far the winner. Every component of the salad dish was mild in flavour and I expected the green goddess dressing to be more tangy than it was. Entrees were better. I enjoyed my broiled sea bream, which had a nice crispy skin and I liked the sweetness of the corn succotash. The fish was tender and flakey and the kernels of popcorn added a crunch. Both The Fiance and I liked the flavours of the Beef Cheek Vindaloo, but the piece I had was 90% tendon and hard to chew through. The level of spice was good, hot but not sweat inducing and the pilaf was a great blend of savoury and sweet.

Dessert that night was the highlight. I chose the Buttermilk Panna Cotta while The Fiance had the Peach and Passion Fruit Trifle. Both options satisfied my sweet tooth with the trifle being slightly better with more texture in each bite. The panna cotta was rich, creamy and complimented wonderfully with the drunken blueberry sauce. Each spoonful of the trifle was crunchy (meringue) and creamy (custard), and sweet (peach) and sour (passion fruit).

Based on this summerlicious experience alone, O&B has lots of other great restaurants I would re-visit or check out before returning to Jump.

Globe Bistro is an established restaurant in Greektown that offers a menu focused on local ingredients. Although I had made reservations during summerlicious, only myself and one other person ordered off the set menu. Everyone else opted for the Swine and Dine.

Atmosphere: The decor was modern contemporary. Two large art pieces decorated the formal dining area and wooden sculptures filled the remaining wall space. Our group of seven was seated comfortably for a late lunch and quiet background music allowed for easy conversation.

Service: For the majority of our meal, service was standard, professional and friendly. It was only near the end, when we were ready to get our bill when we ran into a long wait. The dining area had cleared out and it took a good 10 minutes to flag down a server.

Food: After perusing the $20 summerlicious and weekend brunch menu, the majority of our party was swayed by The Swine and Dine. I stuck to set menu, because I knew I could eat off the Fiance’s plate and because I wanted dessert. Globe Bistro did offer to add any summerlicious dessert items to a regular order for just $8.

For my lunch, I chose the Tuna Crudo, Fried Chicken Thighs and Chocolate Ice Cream Cake. Two triangles of tuna were served with pressed watermelon, raw watercress and radish garnish. The dish was light and summery. Raw watercress has a great nutty flavour and went well with the watermelon and fish. When the fried chicken arrived, I was disappointed with the simple presentation. The colours were flat and the garnish was minimal. Digging into the dish, my opinion didn’t improve much. I liked the use of dark meat and the chicken was flavourful and tender, just a bit oily. The popcorn grits however, I didn’t enjoy. The texture was porridgey and thick while I prefer grits to be smoother. Dessert was a highlight with a combination of hazelnuts and chocolate, one of my favourites.

Onto the Swine and Dine, which was the better choice looking back. The dish was made up of 3 eggs, cooked any way, potato hash and pork 7 ways including sausage, bacon and pork belly. Portions were generous, well priced and every component was delicious. I loved the variety on the plate and exploring each piece. My favourite was the pork belly, soft, and perfect caramelized fat. This was a great plate, perfect for an indulgent brunch (or recovery after a night out).

My first summerlicious stop this year was dinner at Ganzi Osteria. I had heard great reviews on twitterverse about the restaurant and liked the options of their set menu. I do temper my expectations during summerlicious to account for a set menu, rushed service and sometimes pre-prepared plates, but I still believe the meal to be reflective of how the restaurant operates normally.

Atmosphere: Ganzi Osteria is situated inside a beautiful, red brick, mansion with a spacious paved patio surrounded by hedges. There is more space on the patio than inside the house itself. It was a warm day so we started out on the patio but had to move inside when it started to rain. The interior of the mansion was well preserved, doors had been removed to create a more open concept and marble tables were spread out. Dark woodwork and elaborate chandeliers mixed with bright contemporary artwork in each room.

Service: For the most part service was professional and efficient. When the skies began to darken outside, our server asked if we’d like to move inside. When we agreed, he went off to find us a table but we didn’t see him again before it started to rain. This left us scrambling to move our plates, wine and cutlery inside ourselves. It was a bit of a mad dash to not have a sopping wet steak. Had there been umbrellas outside or any kind of cover, I would’ve happily waited out the droplets, but as is, my dinner was getting wet. We were quickly settled at a table inside and once our server found us again, service returned to normal. The space is versatile and would be lovely for a private event, large group or romantic dinner.

Food: In general, while I liked all of my dishes, nothing stood out or wowed. For appetizers, I ordered the Grilled Scallops while my friend had the Leek and Potato soup. We were both expecting a creamy soup rather than broth based. The flavours were savoury and rich but I wasn’t sure if I liked the chunks of goat cheese, which overpowered the rest of the dish. My scallops were good, buttery and served with a splash of balsamic reduction.

I was trying to avoid carbs that day (needed to fit into a dress that weekend) so I went with the Steak Tagliata, cooked medium rare, for my main. The steak itself was cooked to my order and the portion size was very generous. I wasn’t a huge fan of the gravy and could’ve done without it. The roasted local vegetables were delicious, fresh and naturally sweet. My friend had the Tilapia Marinara and was also content with her dish. Both of us chose the tiramisu for dessert. The cake was just the right amount of coffee, chocolate and cream, topped with a fresh raspberry.

For the $25 price tag, dinner at Ganzi was a great deal. Looking at tables around us, if I hadn’t been avoiding carbs I would’ve ordered the pizza or penne dishes, both of which looked amazing. Clearly, I need to re-visit Ganzi when I can enjoy a big bowl of pasta.

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Wrapping up my Summerlicious 2013 reviews is a dinner visit to Parts and Labour in the Parkdale neighbourhood.

Atmosphere: I’m on the fence about communal tables. If I’m expecting them and am with a large group of friends, they’re great. If I’m not, sharing a table can strain my introvert bubble. Seating along the bar is also available. The light fixtures, decorated with fluorescent light bulbs were an interesting fixture and added to the industry feel of the decor along with bare, painted brick walls.

Service: The service was friendly and their twitter account is well maintained. I tweeted a question about parking early in the day and had a response within a few hours. During our meal the service was okay, available when needed and otherwise unobtrusive.

Food: From the $35 set Summerlicious menu, I ordered the steak tartare to start, halibut with braised white beans, herb leaf salad and soft boiled egg for my main and the lemon marshmallow pie for dessert. I also took a bite from my friend’s order of the mackerel with dill and fennel.

The steak tartare arrived with the yolk already spread on the plate and a small serving of hand cut chips and pickles. I like steak tartare and the dish was solid. The mackerel was the more unique choice and had complex flavours with a strong dill presence. For my main, the halibut was cooked to a nice tenderness, I loved the soft boiled egg and the herb salad had a great bite to it. The beans weren’t memorable, but added a filling component that one could take or leave. My favourite course was the dessert. The lemon marshmallow pie was tangy and sweet, creamy filling on top of a nice crust.

For medium to large groups, I’d readily recommend Parts and Labour as an option in the neighbourhood. The food was on point and atmosphere was relaxed and casual. For myself, I’d like to check out their brunch menu, I just wish Parkdale wasn’t such a trek from home.

Going through the list of participating Summerlicious restaurants, I was super excited to see Momofuku Daisho listed. Despite mixed reviews, there was never a doubt I’d be visiting the Momofuku location in Toronto at some point. Their Summerlicious menu presented a perfect opportunity to sample some of the key dishes from their regular menu.

Atmosphere: Walking into the restaurant, it wasn’t 100% clear where/how to head to the Daisho floor. After climbing the stairs from the Noodle bar, past the Milk bar and Nikai we found ourselves suddenly in the middle of an open dining area. A group of hostess’ stood at a table, but the area felt a little disorganized. We sat at the bar and could glimpse into the chef’s table of Shoto, which had a much more intimate feel. Daisho was brightly lit, surrounded by walls of windows and light wooden furniture. There were many tables for parties of 4-6 and every table stayed occupied during our meal.

Service: The bartender doubled as our server and he was friendly while busy. Food arrived quickly and our water and drinks were well tended. I always enjoy sitting at the bar and watching drinks being made. Our bartender took the time to answer our questions about his concoctions and was knowledgeable about the beer menu.

Food: Going into the meal, I was nervous. Firstly, at the $45 mark, this was a more expensive summerlicious meal. Secondly would have been the many mixed reviews I’d read online. Lastly, I was worried about portions. From all of my research it didn’t seem like the BF would be full. I was careful to level set our expectations beforehand and honestly, I quite enjoyed the meal and was happily full.

We ordered the shrimp and burger bun, the trout and pork chop for entrees and ended with the crack pie and fried strawberry pie. Before appetizers arrived, we were served an amuse bouche that was tangy and sweet. Between the two buns, the shrimp had more flavour with the spicy mayo and pickle. The burger bun was okay but not memorable; the bao itself was soft and moist.

The porkchop was not a traditional cut and instead had layers of fat and lean meat. The marbled fat packed a lot of flavour and the meat was super tender and moist. One of the best pork dishes I’ve tasted. I also enjoyed the trout, cooked perfectly, well seasoned and the raw radish was a fresh, crispy accompaniment. A palate cleanser of raspberry foam was served before dessert, which was a refreshing tangy and airy bite.

The slice of Crack Pie lived up to its hype. This was so amazing, the fried strawberry pie didn’t stand a chance although on it’s own it was a crisp, rich dessert. Relative to the Crack Pie, there was no comparison. I can easily see the crunchy oat crust and buttery filling becoming additive and with the opening of the Milk Bar on the second floor, it’s a real danger to my relationship with the scale.

Overall, I enjoyed my meal Daisho. The potions were compact, while on the pricey side so this wouldn’t be an everyday venue for me but I’d love to try their large format meal for a special occasion.