Once-sleepy Harbord Street leaped into the spotlight last year when it became the setting of Toronto’s latest NIMBY vs. business debate. Citing residents’ rights, crime and the strip’s uncertain future, deputy mayor Joe Pantalone tried to keep a new restaurant—Ici Bistro, helmed by famed chef J.P. Challet—from getting a liquor licence. His intervention may have had the opposite effect he was looking for: Torontonians turned their focus to the south Annex and realized that Harbord isn’t as stuffy (or dodgy) as the councillor would have them believe. With its gradually expanding array of shops, galleries and cafés, Harbord is fast becoming a destination for diners seeking an alternative to Ossington and Queen West. We take a look at 25 seminal spots, old and new, along a street in transition.
(Sam James photo, Jessica Darmanin; Harbord Bakery thumbnail, Danielle Scott)
i was very disappointed to see that the Harbord House was not mentioned in your listing of Harbord Street restaurants. It is a superplus pub that serves delicious food at reasonable prices. The owner, chefs, and wait staff are pleasant and go beyond to make your dining enjoyable.
January 12, 2010 at 2:22 pm | by cheryl zimmermanTerrazza is not just a burger place. It’s an Italian-inspired, casual cuisine, featuring thin-crust pizza, panini and pasta. Recently added menu items include a veal chop, pork chop and lamp spiedini all served with rice or potatoes and a salad.
January 19, 2010 at 10:36 pm | by Cathy LasagnaIt is on there!
April 11, 2010 at 9:31 pm | by JoannaYou left out the Knox Church Youth Dinner and Foodbank – at Spadina and Harbord. Some of the best delicious food in the city on Tuesday nights Nov-April for disadvantaged youth!
May 10, 2010 at 11:28 am | by HankWhat about Wonder Works, and the Women’s Bookstore?
August 22, 2010 at 6:00 pm | by GrannyUmmmm…Cheryl?!? Were we reading the same article?!? Just finished the blurb on “Harbord House”!! Specifically, page 12 of 27 in case you wanted to take another look…..”just sayin’ is all…..” Cheers!!
October 8, 2010 at 7:15 am | by Don MitchellThe 27-page click-through was SO ANNOYING. At least update your website and allow us to use Flash or something so that the whole page doesn’t have to reload every time. This was a good article but VERY frustrating on a slow internet connection. Come on. We know — and accept — that ad revenue is important, and that you receive 27x as much ad revenue for this click-through than for a single-page article, but you have to make this easier somehow. SO FRUSTRATING.
November 13, 2010 at 4:02 pm | by Ron RobertsMessis is still fantastic after all these years. Harbord and Ossington are now the two streets with the best food in the city (and yes – Spadina…).
November 18, 2010 at 12:22 pm | by TeeWhy is it necessary to have to click dozens of times to see the content!!! Surely you can list all on one page and then require a second click to dig deeper. The forced/excessive navigation keeps me from returning to your site.
February 27, 2011 at 2:50 pm | by Mika BThe Harbord House is there – everytime I open this link to find a restaurant I see the same comment expressing disappointment. When actually it is that she did not read well enough. Please remove the post that is incorrect, it would be better for you.
August 17, 2011 at 1:52 pm | by Virginia Gross