Recession Busting Deals

I know, I know, the recession is over. Doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy a little meltdown-inspired deal. I’ve seen some pretty interesting things on the wine front in the restaurant business as a result of the downturn. For example, Amaya Indian Room on Bayview Avenue was charging a flat $19.29 mark-up on wines, and 1% of the closing DOW Jones industrial average for their prix fixe dinner for two (i.e. when they started the promotional offer, the average was just over 6000, meaning dinner for two went for $60). Now that it’s back closer to 10,000, they’ve ended the offer. Many other places, such as Crush Wine Bar on King Street in Toronto are charging low or no corkage fees on certain days, usually on Mondays or Tuesday. But one of the hardest-to-believe deals currently going is to be found at Eight Wine Bar in the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Every Friday evening at you can drink any one of 25 wines by the glass for just $1/oz. Yes, that’s right, regardless of the bottle cost, you can have a 5oz glass for $5, and there is some seriously interesting wine on the list to choose from. The specials extend to the bar menu, with all items on for $8. Check it out @ The Cosmopolitan Toronto Hotel, 8 Colborne Street, just South of Yonge & King. www.eightwinebar.com