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THE DISH

New to this year’s Summerlicious lineup is High Park Brewery, a laid-back beer hall that’s one of just five out of more than 200 participating restaurants offering the lowest price points — $20 for lunch and $25 for dinner. Bonus: the brewery also features vegan and gluten-free options, a large parking lot, outdoor patio and accessible dining space.

For dinner, I start with the Corny Hugs — crispy fried balls of mashed potatoes, mozzarella, cheddar, and sweet corn, served with a jalapeño crema and a small salad for a creamy, tangy contrast. The main is a three-ounce smashed burger with lacy, crispy edges, served on a potato bun with shredded iceberg lettuce, pickles, American cheese, and Russian dressing. A lighter option is the kale and quinoa salad. For dessert, opt for the warm, gooey brownie square drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream — a step above the usual ‘licious ice cream offering. Ordering the burger and brownie à la carte would normally run you $18, so this is a solid deal.

WHAT IS SUMMERLICIOUS

Most ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½nians are familiar with the city’s annual two-week dining promotion, where participating restaurants offer a three-course prix-fixe menu at lower-than-usual prices. It began in 2003 with Winterlicious, launched to boost restaurant traffic during the post-holiday slump, and was followed by Summerlicious. Back then, lunch menus started at $10 and dinner at $20 — not far off from today’s prices. Now, it’s more of a way for restaurants to attract new diners. “We have a lot of return customers because we’re in a residential area, so (Summerlicious) is a way to target people from around the city and maybe see some new faces,â€� says High Park Brewery chef Emili Algeer.

ALSO ON THE MENU

The best way to sample the dozen beers on tap is with a $12 flight of four pours. Events coordinator Margaret Clark recommends first-timers try the , , , and my pick: the , a citrusy, mango-forward summer brew that pairs well with the Summerlicious menu. The fridges are stocked with cans from High Park Brewery and Lost Craft Beer (the two merged in 2021), along with ready-to-drink cocktails and non-alcoholic options like iced teas and espresso. Pet owners take note: there’s a dog-friendly menu, including a bowl of chicken livers, mashed pumpkin and green beans.

EXPLORE THE AREA

The brewery is just beyond the norther boundaries of the Junction and St. Clair Aveue West. A few blocks east is the Stock Yards Village shopping complex of your typical mall stores, plus a gigantic outlet of Asian supermarket Nations. Or you can head south on Runnymede Rd. and make a left turn at Dundas Street West to hit up Malta Bake Shop, a charming husband and wife-owned Maltese bakery and cafe for a coffee and a few pastizzi to snack on.