101284 Wed Oct 20 10:50:39 -0700 2004 9 23 Ontario (including Toronto) 0 548138 Anyone been to Messis on Harbord? Any comments? Wed Oct 20 10:50:39 -0700 2004 0 Nyleve 1 548164 I hadn't been there for many years but was there a few weeks ago with a group of friends. The menu has been revamped and expanded since the last time I was there - I think they've also reduced their prices. There were lots of interesting options and everyone in our group enjoyed their meals (sorry, I'm blanking on the specifics of what we ate). I wouldn't classify it as a special occasion place but for a nice dinner out and good value, I'd certainly recommend it. Wed Oct 20 22:22:39 -0700 2004 548138 0 peppermint pate 2 548183 Thanks for the reply. Decided to go to 93 Harbord instead. Thu Oct 21 15:29:45 -0700 2004 548164 0 Nyleve 3 548190 I went to 93 Harbord earlier in the summer. I liked the room and the service but found most of the dishes to be underflavoured. How did you find it? Thu Oct 21 17:06:07 -0700 2004 548183 0 peppermint pate 4 548209 We're going on Saturday. I'll report on dinner afterward. I've been there once before, not long after they opened. So I assume things have changed a bit since then. Fri Oct 22 10:13:17 -0700 2004 548190 0 Nyleve 5 548214 So are the chowhound dining group, tee hee. Wave if you see us. Fri Oct 22 12:03:50 -0700 2004 548209 0 Jacquilynne 6 548237 Cool. Except we'll be having an early (extremely early) dinner (5:30) - pre-concert. If you're still there at 7:30, we're 4 middle aged women with at least 2 bottles of wine on the table. Sat Oct 23 11:25:09 -0700 2004 548214 0 Nyleve 7 548244 Yes...saw you Chowhounders at the long table near the open kitchen. Too shy to say hello, but walked past you on the way to the, um, facilities before leaving at around 7:30. Anyway we enjoyed dinner immensely. There were 4 of us (2 vegetarians). We began with the 3 vegetarian appetizers which we shared. I loved the red and yellow beets on bulgar. Lovely. I found the grilled eggplant app a bit tough and tasteless, and the pear and (some kind of middle eastern) cheese salad was nice but non memorable. The mains were excellent, though. I had the duck breast with pomegranate sauce which was wonderful. The duck had a properly crisped skin, very tender and the pomegranate sauce and fresh pomegranate seeds went beautifully with it. The accompanying couscous was light and nicely seasoned. Another friend had the vegetable tagine which was nice - full of butternut squash and I can't remember what else. Would have preferred it on couscous but it was served with a type of basmati pilaf. Someone else had the rack of lamb which she ordered "medium" and came quite rare. (I would have preferred it rare but she is squeamish.) Sent it back to the kitchen and it returned properly cooked and nicely rearranged on the plate. The lamb was very tender but didn't send me into raptures, although I do love lamb. I suspect in a place like that you're better off with the braised lamb dishes than the rack. And finally, one of us had the seafood risotto, which I didn't taste but she loved. Had to leave without dessert (we were running late), so can't report. Our meals came to about $52 each (including tip and two bottles of wine) which I think is incredibly reasonable for the quality of food and ambiance of the restaurant. Sun Oct 24 11:43:55 -0700 2004 548237 0 Nyleve 8 548245 Sorry - should have renamed above post as a report. Here it is now. Sun Oct 24 11:45:54 -0700 2004 548244 0 Nyleve 8 550231 The resturant you went to want NOT called Messis...Messis is next door at 97 Harbord. The restaurant you were at is simply called "93 Harbord". Messis is world apart! Sun Jul 10 02:04:37 -0700 2005 548244 0 Miqualle