For a pittance paupers can dine like princes and princesses at the suffix-tastic Summerlicious. Taking over the city's finest eateries for over two weeks of refined gluttony, the 2008 edition runs from July 4th to July 20th. Prix fixe lunches range from $15 to $20, with dinners running from $25 to $35. Now press your pants, prop up your perfumed consort, and peruse the Martiniboys.com guide for the best that the annual foodie-titillating festival has to offer.


Auberge du Pommier
To see what all the fuss is about, step into Bonacini's much-heralded eating establishment. But be forewarned: it's a bit of a trek. For a taste of the South of France, head toward Yonge and the 401 - seriously. The French are phenomenal at five things: making existential films, cutting cool fashion, baking, making wine, and cooking. Avoid the usually high tariff at this foodie Mecca by dining on the exceptional $35 prix fixe Summerlicious menu. Though it won't be their usually French fanfare, the trip will still be rewarding.




Katsura
Japanese resto monikers have a marked aggression; a boldness that would make any Iron Chef or WWE brawler proud. Take a moment to mesh your foodie curiosity and your ring announcer aspirations. If your confining cubicle prohibits you from yelling out, save it for Katsura - I told you it's fun to say - the restaurant that encourages excited outbursts at the chef's table. An array of colourful seafood (both raw and cooked) is manipulated into artful shapes and elegantly presented. Go see for yourself. Katsura!



Provence
If you have ever had the fortune of dining in Southern France's culinary Mecca, then you know what kind of quality to demand from a restaurant named Provence. The moniker is more than a tertiary thematic detail or a curious arrogance; it's the key to the beaming soul of this Cabbagetown restaurant. Nestled strategically on one of Cabbagetown's many one-way streets, this Victorian cottage emulates the feel of southern France. Servers hovering over linen-covered tables are hardly fussy or pretentious; in fact, you will be pleasantly surprised by their relaxed attitude and vast knowledge of wines. Be prepared for a post-dining jaunt to exhaust the arteries after the heart-unhealthy meal. But, damn, it tastes so good!



Bistro Tournesol
This Dupont Street staple is a tiny jewel of a restaurant known for its double-quick meals for the pre-theatre crowd heading over to the Tarragon. For the best that this place has to offer, reserve a table after 8:00pm when the crowd moves on to the show. The owners of this gem take the word Tournesol (French for sunflower) to heart, filling the soothing Dupont Street space with a glowing profusion of all things sunflower. It's almost always full of people, most of who seem to be on touchy first dates, getting their fix; or, in this case, prix fixe.




Six Steps Restaurant
Because 12 Steps are for quitters, this neoteric Medi(not meta, you foolish undergrad)terranean spot on Colborne took over the former Spinello space. With well pedigreed chefs, Paul Boehmer (Opus, The Spoke, Ultra) and Paul Lietaer and a well-executed card of requisite Strait of Gibraltar fish and meat fare, Six Steps lures discerning diners and foodie amateurs of the Lower East ilk. If you fall within said categories, book your table accordingly. The fest is always a good excuse to go farther a field than you're used to: try the Mediterranean.



Southern Accent
There's nothing sexier than your university Prof's Southern accent that makes his Harvard education that less intimidating. His simple utterance of “aww shucks” with the matching body lingo can make you melt on the spot. If you are without said professor, Southern Accent will do the trick instead (though flirting glances and the occasional blush are not to be expected). Book your reservation early, or pass the 15-minute wait with a reading by the in-house psychics (though the reading costs more than your dinner). Perhaps a chance encounter with my southern Prof is in the cards?



Truffles
With a name that's devoted to France's favourite fungus, it would be correct to assume that this bistro specializes in fine French cuisine - naturally. The Four Seasons is known for housing immaculate restaurants within their hotels, and the Triple A rated Truffles is no exception. Dine among murals of French gardens, sculptures of Uffizi boars, and soaring ceilings. It's an upper echelon dining experience that will have you considering buying a pig and heading to the woods just to try to recreate the fix. This should be obvious, but: jeans, t-shirts, and baseball caps are not acceptable attire (neither is truffling wear).



Ultra Supper Club
Looking for the chic-ster community? Then Ultra Supper Club is the place for you. On any given night, tables give way to dancing at this hyperactive Queen Street S-Club (remember them?). Due to some brilliant design work, columns rise through open spaces to a height of two stories. Those drapings aren't mosquito nets, but "privacy" curtains enclosing "pods" whose folds create the illusion of grooves like those on the columns of a Roman temple. Though certain factions still lament the loss of Bamboo - it has been years, get over it - Ultra has made the space its own. Where else can you fine-dine and dance without wearing a tuxedo? (Shhh, that was rhetorical). Work off dinner by shaking your booty post-nosh.