It's nearly time for that favourite of semi-annual celebrations to occur - the 2006 edition of Summerlicious. Prices are slightly higher this year ($25 and $35 for a dinner, $5 greater than for Winterlicious; lunch prices remain the same) but the value is still unbeatable; now's your chance to eat at the restaurants that you usually only walk by.

Seating doesn't start until the 7th of July, but reservations (for Amex cardholders, everbody else has another two days) start today. Reservations are essential, and for some of the top restaurants, booking early is about the only chance you have of getting seats for the festival - unless you're willing to schedule your week around their seating plans. However, if you're just looking for a nice night out, and arn't bothered by the restaurant, you can generally make reservations the same day.

While some of the ultra-shmansy restaurants - Susur, par example - don't participate, many other top class ones do; I've done Canoe and Pangaea before, and I think that I'm putting Lobby or the restaurant @ king edward on my hit list for this summer.

Now's the time to eat like the fabled folk do.