Comments on: Summerlicious reservations down at top restaurants

By: satya

satya — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 07:46:57 +0000

wow. very old and controversial comments. my two cents, as a worker at a fine dining restaurant in toronto that does summer licious is about the 15% comment. I DO agree, as someone who works in the industry but still struggles to make ends meet, that YES tipping should be about the level of service you get. However, I think there is a bit of a misconception that needs to be rectified. When you work as a server in the industry you tip-out a certain percentage (based on sales) to the house. If you don’t make that 15% you sometimes end up having to tip out more to the house than you actually make, meaning you are paying the restaurant to serve there, and losing money. Obviously people should tip based on how they felt the service/food/experience went. Just don’t think the server is walking away with all of that money. And don’t think that servers are all calloused people hoping to earn as much as possible. There are many, many people in this industry who truly care about making your experience amazing!

By: Stop for Food, the summer’s other prix fix festival, is underway | Aprons & Icons | torontolife.com/daily

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:56:39 +0000

[...] the heels of yet another whine-infused Summerlicious (with the garbage strike adding fodder to the usual grumblings), Stop for Food offers a second (and [...]

By: EF

EF — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:55:42 +0000

Wow, final note: I, like everyone, order cocktails, wine, coffee, and a digestif with my summerlicious meal. When the prices were at $15/$20, the bill was reasonable, and I had the chance to sample a resto without paying hundreds. I have, on many occassions, gone back to the summerlicious resto if the experience was good enough, often bringing larger parties with me.

Personally, I think steve should get out of canoe (one, trevor, susur etc) and head over to the roadhouse himself, since his comments would be better suited to that environment.

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:41:31 +0000

The problem with fine dining restaurants participating in Summerlicious is that it doesn’t really give the parton the full experience of that restaurant. I think it’s a nice idea, but basically you’re just allowing someone to experience the ambiance.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:39:24 +0000

People who dont want to tip are a special breed indeed. Making less than the minimum wage, thinking you dont have to tip unless you are blown away is crap!

I like restaurants giving ‘regular’ folks a chance to eat well and also be able to afford it. Gee, it is only two weeks. The place I was working at, didnt do Summerlicious but offered a prix fixe for 25 bucks. The quality excellent and the service (at least from moi) excellent as well.

Steve post your number so when I land another job I can serve you. I like 20% cake, and you sound fun!

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:12:49 +0000

Steve,

While I do not frequent roadhouses or request more free bread or peanuts-I AM one of those people that enjoys the experience of Summerlicious simply because neither I nor my family can afford expensive nights out.

I read your comments…and I was honestly hurt and saddened. I had no idea people like yourselves were out there looking down on the Summerlicious diners.

I hope tearing down other people makes you feel better about yourself. Although it does not seem you need much help in that regard.

I can’t wait to get to the roadhouse!

By: Theirry

Theirry — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:55:09 +0000

Also, i just remembered one meal at a resto during Summerlicious which is now, funnily enough, out of business. My dessert was a lemon tart which, when it was delivered to our table, had obviously been sliced in half (anyone else run into the “Summerlicious half service”?). No ice cream or garnish to hide the knife slice, just a straight cut and serve. To say we thought they were taking the piss was an understatement.

By: Theirry

Theirry — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:48:01 +0000

It was novel at first, but now its passe to most because of the service and treatment you come to expect during the “2 weeks of hell” (as one sous chef friend of mine said to me). It seems that resto’s think you can’t afford their regular menu and are hence coming during Summerlicious, when in reality most people are just trying a new place without having to sink a 2nd mortgage worth of cash into the meal, that is, without tax and tip of course.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:40:41 +0000

I have tried Summerlicious and Winterlicious events several times, and I usually have ended up being dissapointed. I now avoid Summerlicious and avoid restaurants participating in the event until it’s over. In the past I have found the service is rushed, the restaurants overcrowded, the food is very obviously prepared in a assembly line manner, and I would rather pay full price and enjoy my meal than get a “deal” on something that is sub-standard.

Having said that, I also want to add that I always order tap water. I hate sparkling water, and I simply can’t taste the difference between the bottled stuff and what we get out of the tap. That doesn’t make me cheap, it makes me smart for not paying for something that I can’t taste the benefit of.

By: Final throes: Where to find a table during the last weekend of Summerlicious | De-licious | torontolife.com/daily

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:11:25 +0000

[...] dog days of Summerlicious are here, and with reservations down at top restaurants across the city, many tables are sitting empty at some of the city’s finest spots. This might be [...]

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:54:00 +0000

Lisa – are you boasting about all your degrees? I can’t believe someone as educated as you would miss the point I am making.
My comments have nouthing to do with tap water you silly people!
During summerlicious these fine restaurants are hoping you blow a little more cake than the bargain dinner cost.It’s the people that go for the cheap dinner and absolutely nouthing else. That’s what I’m talking about.
Steve-you are a star with the $ 700.00 chow down. I hope your evening ended well (if you know what I mean).
Please lighten up kids-I’m just keepin’ it real here!

Right this way Magda- your table at Burger King is ready!

By: lisa

lisa — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:39:00 +0000

hmmm I was trying to think when I last owned a pair of birks – high school maybe? No, undergrad, long before two post-graduate degrees. If you’re not at the roadhouse Steve, maybe I’d like it there better.

No one at Canoe or any other restaurant has ever complained when I asked for tap water. Funny how some assume that because I ask for tap water I’m not also spending $$ on the wine.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:08:34 +0000

Steve,

Don’t be so critical over people who drink tap water. i dislike sparkling water and studies have shown that tap water is better than most still waters you purchase. I order wine with my meal and have always supported restaurants. I am not afraid to spend money on food (maximum was $700.00 for two at Charlie Trotters in Chicago). Although I am not from Toronto, I fly their often because I love the city, it’s culture, and food. Restaurants agree to participate in Summerlicious and people get a chance to dine that they may not otherwise do.
Sure there are issues (like tipping or “snooty’ servers – but that can happen without Summerlicious). Don’t be so critical of what people order (“fine” diners order tap water too).

By: Magda

Magda — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:20:14 +0000

This is an interesting discussion.
I can purely relate to both sides, but when it comes to tipping I cant stand the Americanized custom.
I dont understand why it is practically required to give a tip; after all in my opinion a tip is something additional that you pay if you are overwhelmed with the quality of service- it is not included in the cost of your meal. Waiters have become snobby and expectant. I dont think that the amount of the tip should matter; what you recieved(as teh waiter) is what you deserved. Stating that you should tip “15%” or even “20%” is ridiculous. You should tip however much you think their service was worth. I dont mean to compare, because someone will reply with “you live in Canada, deal with it” but in Europe, tips are not expected at ALL. Its a matter of culture, I think, and how Canada and the US dont really have a culture. If you go to a restaurant in an European country, you will 1) recieve far better service and 2) if you do decide to tip, the waiter will be SO greatful. Whereas here, if you dont tip “enough” your already recieving dirty looks.
And Steve; if you comment and end it with “your table at the roadhouse is ready” i will not be impressed.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:27:07 +0000

Dani – of course you are more than welcome to take in Toronto’s finest restaurants – with one condition.
Please promise me that when you finish school and start making big cake you will go back to Canoe and pay retail.
Places like Canoe cost millions to build and thousands daily to operate.
Summerlicious is a “loss leader” sales promotion providing product at cost or even below cost.
One more thing – 15 % tip is sooo 90′s – it’s 20 points now!