A flush beam is appealing because the finished room looks as though nothing happened. Achieving that absence can be the most complicated part of the opening.
Separate the visual wish from the structural solution
Ask the structural engineer which arrangements are feasible for the actual house. Beam depth, joist direction, connections, bearings, posts, and the supporting structure all matter. The material name alone does not tell you whether the beam can disappear into the ceiling.
A dropped beam may offer a workable arrangement, but it is not automatically the cheapest or simplest option in every house. Services and access can change the comparison. Request the consequences of both designs rather than relying on a generic price premium.
Look at what the ceiling line will meet
Mark the proposed underside and supports on an elevation. Include tall cabinets, pendant lights, doors, and the principal view through the room. A dropped beam can deliberately define the dining area. It can also cut awkwardly across a cabinet if considered too late.
Compare complete scopes
Toronto’s permit guidance includes structural and wall alterations. The drawings and scope should explain the full support arrangement and any affected services, not simply label a beam "flush".
Choose a flush solution when the continuous ceiling is valuable enough to justify the feasible design and its disruption. Choose a dropped solution when the room can use that line well. Our advice is to approve the room and the structural scheme together. Hiding one element is not the same as simplifying the job.