Good food and wine with friendly service

Fantastic value! I've enjoyed every meal I've had here (and there have been many). Suitable for couples or large groups. Delicious! Can't wait to go back.

Great meal, great service. We'll be back

We took our Montreal visitors there for a meal over the holidays and everyone raved about it. We were a group of 11 people and the waiter was extremely attentive. The food was amazing. My husband and I are from Toronto, and we hadn't been there in a while and after our meal, we wondered why. The food was incredible,... more

Excellent value nr. University of Toronto

We enjoyed a memorable meal at Messis - food, service and ambiance were
outstanding. It was a special occasion, as we were meeting old friends we'd not see for years. Longtime residents of the Toronto area, they were not familiar with this restaurant, but had nothing but praise for it as well. Our entrées were well prepared, tasty and imaginative.... more

Love Messis

My husband and I have been dining at Messis for many years. It is our “go to” place when we want to get together with friends in the area. Recently, we had dinner with friends and, as always, really enjoyed our meal. We always have difficulty deciding on what to order as there are so many selections that we enjoy.... more

service great - food, just OK

2 of us dined at Messis for dinner recently. Food was just OK - calamari appetizer was boring - no dipping sauce & strange sweet noodles underneath. Goat cheese/fig appetizer was OK - though so sweet, could have been dessert. Lamb rack dinner, which my partner had was very good, while my pasta was again - boring! I did like... more

Get the dessert

service was fine, appetizers ho hum (could have been better), entre very good Duck & Lamb, Wine = good list reasonable priding. blueberry strudel YOU MUST GET THIS! it was excellent.
overall i'd go even with my own money, but i'd think twice before i ordered the calamri (not that great) also the goat cheesse with fig wrapped phylo did... more

Don't waste your $$$

One of the worst experiences we had in any restaurant. It started with the rude hostess, loud environment and ended we bland and tasteless food- even the desert was not a redeeming point...I would give it a miss and drop in to the place across the street where costumers actually are respected and the food is amazing (Splendido).

Not innovative

We have dined here many times since it has opened and in general have been quite pleased, although the menu changes very little from one year to the next. It is never too noisy to converse and there is something on the menu for everyone, although as a long time customer, I would be happy to see a major menu... more

Amazing Birthday Dinner

WOW! Great food, amazing service and a wonderful way to spend a birthday evening. Both of us were very impressed and looking forward to our next visit!!

Good food, but could do with better ambiance

This is not a place for a cozy/intimate dinner ,but the food we had was very good and tasty. May need more wait staff and attention to details.

Wow

On a short trip to Toronto with six of us, we took the suggestion of a friend who lives near by and we were not disappointed. The favorite amongst our group was the halibut. Fresh. Generous portion. We all shared and and we were all wowed. The other entres were also five star. Lamb being the next favorite. Thoughtful and... more

Excellent value for money--the food is consistently great, portions are a good size and here I like the sides as much as the mains (the chef does magic with the vegetables).

Very Friendly Service, Great Casual Food

I love this place. The food is always fresh and delicious. It is a great place for a weekday, casual meal in a very pedestrian friendly neighbourhood. The staff are enthusiastic, friendly and go out of their way to make the dining experience memorable. I have been here many times and the quality is consistent.

good quality; good price

A small but intriguing menu with lots of daily specials. Friendly, efficient and knowledgeable service. Interesting and delicious combinations of flavours from the fig and feta in phyllo appetizer to the duck confit, halibut in pear sauce and rack of lamb mains. And the wine list offers a number of half bottles.

Fantastic food

I have frequented this establishment many times and have never been dissappointed. They prepare their steak and salmon exactly as you ask and their wild blueberry dessert is to die for.

Always reliable

Been there many times and have never been disappointed. Reasonably priced menu, great food and great service. Another wonderfully consistent restaurant whose owners don't let it get to their heads.

Well worth a visit

We arrived on a Sunday evening at about 6:00 PM, just before the restaurant got very busy. Tables are a little close together but this is understandable because the place itself is not very big. We... more

Mobile review

Service was good, food average. Apps were a little bit disappointing (calamari on soggy peanut noodles; scallops on soggy salad). Main (ribeye with mashed taters) was well-cooked and flavorful. Dessert creme brule was lumpy as though not cooked at the right temperature. Trifle was nice. Probably significant to note was clientele was 90% seniors. We are in our 30s and felt out of place. Probably... more

The Best Value and Quality combined with great service

I have been to Messis MANY times for the obvious reason that it has fabulous food (the Veal chop is outstanding), a terrific and well-priced wine list and first rate service. I must confess that a... more

Best well kept secret

Excellent food, service, and atomosphere. What more could you ask for.

This is a favourite, not to be missed

a dream restaurant on davenport, with a wonderful menu, creative and delicious. Good service and a lovely patio for the warmer evenings.

Abbey's Kitchen

Service was nice, but I didn't like having a table RIGHT in the middle of the room where people would squeeze past... more

Five for Five

I have had the rack of lamb for $25 and enjoyed it each time

Above average in all respects

Dinner review. Restaurant filled to capacity after we arrived at 6pm. Sat down right away without waiting but were warned we needed to leave by 8 which was great because we were there to eat. Menu was fairly simple but covered all bases. Our group ordered a wide selection. Mushroom soup, warm salad and mixed green salad appetizers. All were... more

Unfamiliar neighbourhood but great gem

Food was excellent! Chef is apparently French trained-so there are chops, pasta, fish and some things a little bit fusion-more for the sides,sauces and preparation. Everything on the menu looked fantastic. We all loved the food,service and atmosphere-it was very busy on a Tuesday night! Parking is very tough as it is pretty residential. Don't know if this was typical,but... more

First rate. Not to be missed

Eat outside if the weather is pleasant! The menu is great and will not overstretch your wallet. Save room for the desserts!
I have been here 12+ times... this is where several departments at U of Toronto take their visitors! It is not for a lack of local eating establishments... this one has everything. Food, service, wines, location and sometimes... more

"""Consistent very good food, generous portions and some innovative plates that make you come back. the patio is great when not covered."""

Very reasonably priced and one of the loveliest patios in town.

Mobile review

Great food, wonderful food. Terrific patio.

"""Restaurant becoming dated. Menu needs to change more often, too. What is there is cooked well."""

"""By far, my favorite dessert in Toronto is Messis' blueberry and white chocolate streudel. It is delicious!"""

Fun Night Out

Mesis on a Wednesday summer night was just hopping. The patio was very comfortable and we enjoyed the summer evening with great drinks-the classic gin martini with four olives (they could have been larger and sweeter) and kir royale. The specials were well done. Service was attentive and very friendly. The fish-the halibut should have been taken off the grill... more

needs some new ideas

Meh...

I've been here twice, both times because my mom loves it here. The service has been consistently great but the food consistently blah. The prices aren't frightening and the patio is lovely but I just don't think I'll be back. I had the risotto, my boyfriend the farfalle and we both agreed we could easily make something just as yummy at home.

Embarrassing and disappointing experience

I'm really sorry I took visitors from abroad to this restaurant which used to be dependably good. Their patio has been a popular summer destination for many years. We ordered scallops and got three tiny scallops (nothing special) for $10. We all ordered the special gourmet pizza of the day ($15). I was shocked when they brought what looked and... more

My sister (and yelper extraordinaire) will be very disappointed with this review (see her glowing 5-star review below), but I think Messis has gone downhill.  Either that or I've become snobbier - which is, I admit, a possibility.I remember Messis as being one of the tastier mid-range restaurants in the Annex/Harbord area, but it just can't compete with far better 93 Harbord next door.  We were... more

Consistently outstanding

Over the past few years, I have had the occasion to dine here and have found it to be excellent in all respects. The quality of the food, the stunning presentation, the friendly, proficient service all combine to make a terrific dining experience. They have a lovely patio in the summer. You cannot go wrong. The other night I had... more

Mobile review

This is definitely a gem of a restaurant on Harboard. The farfalle pasta and the halibut dish were excellent.

Came here for dinner with friend's on a Friday night and it was a great place to catch. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and quiet, perfect for catching up and lots of conversation. As far as the food goes, everyone at the table was happy with their meals, but nothing blew anyone away...The duct was tasty but nothing special. The lobster appetizer was probably the highlight of my meal. I... more

Nice atmosphere.They have half-bottles of wine. They only have a cocktail of the day and no menu, so if you're like me and like to pick a cocktail off a menu you're probably going to end up drinking wine or ordering something you know of already.Service was nice and friendly but a bit slow to start. Kitchen sends food out really quickly it seems. Tables are really close to each other so you can... more

I had not been here since accidentally suggesting it on a first date in 2002.  Well I didn't suggest it - I suggested Harbord St. when I meant Baldwin St.  My date thought I was a star because at that time it automatically meant going to Messis.  For some reason I forgot about this restaurant or it wasn't that good or I forgot about the date or the date wasn't that good.Anyway, I was blown away... more

Best Dessert in Toronto

After going to this place once, I had to keep coming back for their bbq shrimp risotto and blueberry phyllo dessert. On average I go to about one nice restaurant a week, and after all this time, Messis is definitely one of the top restaurants on my list. Mezza Notte is another one that I would highly recommend.

Once upon a time I went to University of Toronto, and lived at Bathurst and Harbord.  That means that twice a day, five days a week, for two years, the good people at Messis had to scrub my poor student drool off of the exterior windows.I FINALLY crossed the threshold for my graduation dinner, and let me tell you: anticipation is one sweet mother of a sauce.  The highlights I can still remember... more

The Normal Gourmand

I’ve heard Messis called one of the most underrated restaurants in Toronto. Having not been to enough places to... more

Had a nice walk over to Harbord Street and was impressed with Messis.   They have a nice wine list and I enjoyed a glass of bubbly.   The daily specials are incredible - there are so many of them and so much to choose from.  It was tough especially when also trying to connect with friends who I have not seen in 4 years.I loved the Halibut special - it was cooked to perfection and had a nice... more

Mobile review

Great hidden Italian gem in Toronto's Annex area. The grilled tiger shrimp risotto and the chicken fusilli pasta dishes were superb.

Excellent restaurant on Harbord! I came here with my family for a celebratory graduation dinner. We went on a wednesday without reservations and luckily snagged the last table. This place is spacious but fills up rather quickly. Lots of profs and students from U of T -- I overheard many charged philosophical debates over the course of my dinner! The place is elegant and understated, service is... more

I came here for a staff Christmas dinner, I didn't know what to expect but I definitely was not expecting such an upscale restaurant. I would NOT have shown up in what I was wearing if I had known this ahead of time! It's not snotty but because it was a weekday and most of the clientele was straight from work and what not I did feel underdressed.The great part of going to dinner with a big... more

All I can say is that this is a bit of a homecoming restaurant, meaning that you can always come here for a great dinner when you get overwhelmed by over-hyped restaurants with arrogant service and underwhelming mains.Here, the service is professional. The wine list is carefully selected. The meats are terrifically prepared. The veal chop is legendary but the fishes are never overcooked.... more

Messis is considered to be one of the cities most underrated restaurants, Messis serves up a wide variety of European cuisine and has a large but private outdoor patio. I recommend you come to this place and try it out for yourself. I do recommend you try their signature dish Roasted free range chicken breast.Stuffed with asiago cheese and spinach served with roasted sweet potato, eggplant,... more

Messis is a great little place on Harboard, located among a group of great little trendy places. The food was good, atmosphere was nice, and the acoustics allowed for easy conversation. The service on this busy Saturday was prompt and friendly. The clientele does seem to be predominately (i.e. all) middle-aged and older and white. We were the youngest couple eating there by at least 10 years.... more

Good flavourfull food served by excellent service.

I walked into Messis without any expectations with my U of T grad school friend for an impromptu catch up dinner. Although only a short walk away from the university, this more upscale spot is on Harbord restaurant row, and is not exactly student budget friendly, so it wasn't exactly surprising that the two of us were the youngest and most "casually" dressed patrons the other night. Backpack... more

Mobile review

The food here is terrible. The salads were overdressed, with wilted out-of-the-box lettuce flung on the plate. The pizza seemed to come out of a frozen food aisle and my friend said her pasta dish was something her stoner roommate from college would "cook". Avoid this place.

Messis is a small restaurant located in the Annex with delicious food and excellent service.The menu reflects many seasonal ingredients. The duck is crisp and perfectly cooked.Don't skip dessert though, their strudel is to die for!

I've never had a disappointing meal @ messis.  This is where I go for my favorite dessert in toronto - blueberry & chocolate strudel.

Messis Messy Cookin Ruined Combo Birthday/Anniversary Dinner

I don’t know what it is about restaurants with names that begin with M like Mistura and Messis but, for me, the M means Misfortune.

I have been to Messis numerous times over many years, beginning with the first date with my wife so it is a place with good memories and I never had a bad meal (Dinner) there, until the last one which was a complete disaster causing me and my wife to never return.... more

Foodhogger

Messis sports a minimalist, airy interior, definitely a good thing when seated elbow-to-elbow with love-sick couples... more

I love Martin the waiter

I love Martin the waiter here! Consistently good meal at a good price point. It used to be at the end of our street! Oh how I miss the Annex.... more

Really liked it years ago; haven't been in a long while

Really liked it years ago; haven't been in a long while.

Very average neighborhood destination. While not particularly objectionable in any particular area, dishes are pretty basic. I like eating there, but I do not feel excited coming or going. Some of their pastas dishes are KILLER though!!!

magnificent grilled shrimp and patio.

Delicious food, beautiful ingredients, clued-up waiting s...

Delicious food, beautiful ingredients, clued-up waiting staff and a nice relaxing patio!

Always a pleasure dining at Messis--a required stop when visiting Toronto.

The daughter of one of my oldest friends and her spouse booked Messis for their wedding-day dinner last Sunday. The food was -- in a word -- AMAZING. Staff were helpful and attentive; everyone felt comfortable, comforted; the choices of wine were bang on (my partner is a wine judge, and knows whereof he speaks. Me too.). Haydee coped with this instant crowd admirably. Messis is now on my... more

I had the best experience at Messis. Great food, the service was outstanding, and I would definitely go again. Perfect place for a date, because the atmosphere is funky...well worth it!

Staff, food and service excellent.

...been to a lot of Toronto restaurants, this is one of the best for service, atmosphere, food. Great location, dreamy patio.

Fabulous food and service at reasonable prices... a must try in the U of T area

Still the best value priced restaurant in Toronto with outstanding food.

The loveliest patio in the city!

changing menu always has something new and interesting

Great outdoor patio. Service could be better

A creative menu with great presentation in a warm, yet sometimes noisy atmosphere. The grilled fish dishes are wonderful as are the pastas.

Very good service, but boring menu.

Great food, wonderful waiters, great value and one of Toronto's best summer patios.