Summerlicious returns...Can't get no (airline) Satisfaction...

Ladies and gentlement, start your reservations. Well, pretty soon.

Summerlicious presented by American Express returns to Toronto for its eighth year, from July 9 to 25 this summer. A list of restaurants and their menus can be found at http://www.toronto.ca/summerlicious.

Summerlicious features three-course "prix fixe" menus ($15, $20 or $25 for lunch and $25, $35 or $45 for dinner) at 150 of the finest dining establishments across Toronto.

Restaurants will begin taking Summerlicious reservations on June 24. American Express Card members can go to the "Front of the Line" to book early reservations on June 22 and 23. New restaurants in this year’s lineup are Ame, Banu, Il Fornello, King St. Social, KiWe Kitchen, Lisbon by Night, Local Company, Nyood, Sagano and Stonegrill.

North 44 has a $45 prix fixe deal that should prove popular. Also on the list is Pure Spirits Oyster House in the Distillery District, where I ate last week and had a fine ahi steak.

It doesn't appear to be part of the deal, but I had a great prix fixe dinner Sunday night at Fare Bistro in Leslieville. The steak frites wasn't the largest portion I've ever had (only a seven-ounce steak, but my doctor would say that's plenty), but the frites were great and they made a really tasty carrot soup with a touch of cinnamon, plus a very nice creme brulee for dessert.

The service gets mixed reviews but our server was lovely and it's a great little spot. She said they're looking to expand, perhaps with a restaurant on the popular Bayview Ave. strip south of Eglinton.

THEY CAN'T GET NO....

A new study from the American Customer Satisfaction Index finds folks down south are happier this year with airlines than they were a year ago. But airlines still score pretty low overall.

The survey found that airlines this year got a 66 rating out of 100, up three per centage points from 2009. But they say that's not good compared to hotels, which received a 75 rating. And they say the ratings are likely to get worse for airlines given increased fares and potential delays.

Southwest Airlines dropped two per cent to a 79 rating, but that was still tops in the ACSI study. American rose 5 per cent but was still slumped at a 63 rating.

Hilton and Marriott topped the hotel charts with ratings of 80, followed by Hyatt at 79.

Papa John's pizza topped the fast food category with an 80 mark, followed by Pizza Hut and Little Caesar at 78. KFC and Burger King were 75 and 74, while McDonald's fell four per cent to a rather dismal rating of 67.

Topping the restaurant category was Olive Garden at a very solid 84, followed by Red Lobster at 83, Outback at 80 and Chili's at 78. I don't know about you, but that seems pretty high for Red Lobster. Olive Garden is fine, if unexciting. But it's reliable. Personally, I'd take Outback or Chili's over Red Lobster any day of the week...

101 WORST PLACES TO VISIT - slight change

In my blog yesterday I linked to an item about Catherine Price's wonderful book about the 101 worst places to visit. It wasn't quite the best website to link to. So if you want to have a peek, go to www.101worstplaces.com and see what you think. Her book comes out June 22.