January is a slow month in the restaurant biz. Even without an impending economic slump, the combination of cold weather and big holiday bills means the first few weeks of the new year are the slowest of the whole calendar year and the most likely time to see restaurant folk heading off to Mexico to soak up some sun - if they can afford it.
The big predictions for 2009 are all about belt-tightening; cooking more at home and eating out less. But there will always be a segment of the population that has to eat out (business lunches, entertaining clients), as well as a fairly sizeable group who will still frequent their favourite restaurants as long as they're working and can afford to. (And who should if they can afford to - the economy depends on it!) But the expense accounts are smaller this year, and despite the fact that Canadians still spend the smallest percentage of their income on food compared to people in other countries (9% in Canada versus 11% in the US and 18% in the UK), we're all looking for value for money when it comes to our restaurant spending.
This is good news for customers (and, hopefully proprietors) of all the little Mom & Pop restaurants where two can eat huge bowls of pho or stacks of tacos for under $25, but for the more high-end dining establishments to stay afloat, they've got to remain competitive. In this day and age, that means the prix fixe menu.
Toronto went prix fixe crazy back in 2003 when the city created Winterlicious. Copied from a similar idea started in NYC in 2002 to encourage tourism after the World Trade Centre attacks, the prix fixe dining festival was a boon for Toronto restaurants, packing in customers in a season that was normally very slow. Over the years, Winterlicious has spawned Summerlicious, as well as a variety of neighbourhood 'Licious events hosted by local Business Improvement Area Groups. Individual restaurants that did not qualify to participate in the City-run 'Licious events have created their own prix fixe events focusing on local and/or seasonal foods.
And now it's not a matter of who is offering a prix fixe menu, but who isn't? Places that have made their mark on the city with their prix fixe offerings such as Sidecar or Sultan's Tent continue to do well, and everywhere from Maro to Magic Oven are getting in on the game. Restaurants that enjoyed the success of Summer and Winterlicious continue to offer prix fixe menus because they realize it's good for business. Even Marc Thuet's Bite Me is offering a daily four-course tasting menu for $48 per person, a fantastic deal when you take into account that many of the mains are normally in the $25 - $30 range. And my (non-TasteTO) mailbox is regularly inundated with postcards from local restaurants advertising prix fixe specials - the latest one being a steak prix fixe at Fred's Not Here.
There are some factors that make for good prix fixe versus not so great prix fixe, however, and the trick to getting good value for money is in whether the menu on offer really works out to a deal.
Choices
Does the prix fixe menu offer a decent variety of choices in each category? There should be at least two different appetizers and two different desserts, and the appetizers should be something more interesting than soup or salad. Also look for something more creative than salmon or chicken for the entrées. An ideal prix fixe menu is one in which the chef embraces the challenge to their creativity and comes up with interesting dishes despite the reduced budget.
Vegetarian and Allergic Options
Are there vegetarian options in each category? What about options for guests with food allergies? Group meals often hinge on going someplace where the one vegetarian or food allergy sufferer can eat something on the menu, and if that place also allows that person to be able to have what everyone else is having, all the better. Alternatively, will the kitchen allow substitutions to dishes on their prix fixe menu? During events like Winterlicious, many places are too slammed to fuss with substitutions, so this is a good thing to check ahead of time.
Value For Money
Is the prix fixe menu actually a better deal than ordering the individual items separately? Generally this is the case for standard protein-based dishes (chicken, fish, steak), but it doesn't always work out to a deal for vegetarian entrées. Do the math before ordering.
Other Tips
It's wise to remember that prix fixe menus can often be loss-leaders, and restaurateurs and hoping that you'll pad the order with plenty of drinks to make up the difference; we advise ordering at least one paid beverage (it doesn't have to be booze if you don't want), but please have something more than tap water to drink. Also, servers are doing the same amount of work they'd be doing if you ordered off the regular menu, so it never hurts to top up your tip a few percent. The recession is hitting them as well. And finally, don't be surprised if your prix fixe portions are smaller than what they'd be if you ordered the same dish from the regular menu - how do you think the restaurant is able to offer this meal at a reduced price anyway?
Over the next few weeks, TasteTO writers will be reviewing different prix fixe menus throughout the city. We've got a cross-section of specials to share with you featuring all types of cuisine, and using some of the above criteria, we'll try and determine whose prix fixe menus are worth checking out and where it's better to take a pass - even at a reduced price. In the meantime, here is a list of just a few Toronto restaurants offering prix fixe deals - go on out there and eat cheaply!
360 CN Tower
301 Front Street West
416-362-5411
$47 - 3 course lunch, $58 - 4 course lunch; $55 - 3 course dinner, $68 - 4 course dinner
Amuse Bouche
96 Tecumseth Street
416-800-1468
$60 - 4 course dinner; $70 - 5 course dinner; $95 - chef's tasting menu
Batifole
744 Gerrard Street East
416-462-9965
$35 - 3 course dinner
Bite Me
609 King Street West
416-603-2999
$48 - recession tasting menu
Bodega
30 Baldwin Street
416-977-1287
$29.95 - 3 course dinner, wine pairings an additional $16
Brant House
522 King Street West
416-800-1323
$35 - 3 course dinner; $40 - 4 course dinner
Cafe du Lac
2350 Lakeshore Boulevard West
416-848-7381
$20 - 3 course dinner (Tuesdays); $25 - 2 course rib special
Coco Lezzone
602 College Street
416-535-1489
$30 - 3 course dinner
Crush Wine Bar
455 King Street West
416-977-1234
$20 - 3 course lunch; $35 - 3 course dinner
Dhaba
309 King Street West
416-740-6622
4 course and 6 course menus
Fieramosca
36A Prince Arthur Avenue
416-323-0636
$60 - 3 course dinner
Jamie Kennedy Gardiner
111 Queens Park
416-586-8080
$60 - 3 course dinner (Friday only)
Jules Bistro Cafe
147 Spadina Avenue
416-348-8886
$24.95 - 3 course dinner
La Maquette
111 King Street East
416-366-8191
$25 - 3 course lunch, $45 - 3 course dinner
La Palette
256 Augusta Avenue
416-929-4900
$30 - 3 course (specially marked items from the regular menu)
Le Select
432 Wellington Street West
416-596-6405
$35 - 3 courses
Mambo
120 Danforth Avenue
416-778-7004
$30 - 3 courses
Maro
135 Liberty Street
416-588-2888
$35 - 3 course dinner
Midi Bistro
168 McCaul Street
416-977-2929
$16.75 - 2 course lunch with beverage; $28 -2 course or $32 - 3 course dinner
Perigee
Cannery Building, 55 Mill Street, The Distillery Historic District
416-364-1397
$65 - 3 course pre-theatre menu
POP Bistro
686 Queen Street East
416-461-9663
$30 - 3 course dinner
Provence
12 Amelia Street
416-924-9901
$20 - 2 course lunch (specific items only). $37 - 3 course dinner
Riva Supper Lounge
584 College Street
416-588-7377
$45 - $55 - a variety of 3 course dinners
Scaramouche
1 Benvenuto Place
416-961-8011
$52 - 3 course Lobsterlicious (Mon - Thurs; Jan 12th - Feb 10th; price subject to market availability)
Sidecar
577 College Street
416-536-7000
$22 - 3 course dinner, Sunday to Wednesday
Southern Accent
595 Markham Street
416- 536-3211
$27 - 3 course dinner; $19.95 - 3 course Sunday night dinner
The Sultan's Tent
49 Front Street East
416-961-0601
$39.95 - 4 course dinner
Trapezzi
505 Danforth Avenue
416-465-8778
$29.95 - 3 course dinner (special WinterDelicious prix fixe $24.95)
Tutti Matti
364 Adelaide Street West
416-597-8839
$15 - 3 course lunch
Zucca
2150 Yonge Street
416-488-5774
$25 - 3 course dinner (Sun - Tues)
The prox fixe at Bistro Tournesol is fantastic.
Hi Chris,
I couldn't find any info about Bistro Tournesal's prix fixe on their website, so I didn't include it - didn't want to send readers in search of something that didn't exist. But I've heard it's quite good, so thanks for the recommendation.