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Mezes
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
456 Danforth AveToronto, ON M4K 1P4
Neighbourhoods: Greektown, Riverdale
(416) 778-5150
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 12 am
Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
45 reviews for Mezes
Review Highlights
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"The lamb chops were very juicy and flavorful." In 6 reviews -
"Chicken souvlaki is delicious." In 9 reviews -
"The dip platter is excellent (especially the tzatziki and..." In 4 reviews
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45 reviews in English
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Review from Justine H.
Toronto, ON
4/3/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Restaurant: Mezes
Cuisine: Greek
Location: Greektown
Address: 456 Danforth Ave
Price Range: $10~15
1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very Good 5: Excellent
Food: 5
Service: 4
Ambiance: 4
Overall: 4.5
Extra information:
* Open for lunch & dinner
* Open 7 days a week
* http://www.mezes.ca
One foodie tip I continuously follow is that when I meet someone from different culture, I always ask them what they think is the best/authentic restaurant in town. I've done this for as long as I can remember, and it usually guides me toward the right direction. Sure, there were couple times where it was a miss, but most of the time- I can depend on them.
Also, if you ever ask this question, people are usually very happy to answer you. They usually like the fact that you are interested in their cuisine and wants to explore into it. Anyways, I say this because I found out about this restaurant through a co-worker who's Greek. He told me that he thinks they serve the most authentic Greek food in Toronto and that was enough to convince me. If you know me, you know I don't like half-assed fusion food!
On a slow monday afternoon, I dropped by Mezes to check out their food. I did arrive a little later in the afternoon around 1:30PM and the restaurant was pretty empty. We were seated by the window which was awesome cause it was a nice, sunny day!
Once you walk into the restaurant, you can def feel touches of Greece here and there. I loved the colorful details along the wall and details with interior design.
Ordered: Kria Poikilia (small) 4/5
* 4 types of dip: Tzatziki, Taramosalata, Homous and Melitzanosalata served with pita bread for $8.95
* I love it when they have platters like this so I get to try more things
* Tzatziki was super fresh and not too sour, just the right amount of creaminess of the yogurt with refreshing cucumber scent and lots of garlic
* It was my first time trying Taramosalata Dip which is a red caviar dip with purred potatoes, extra virgin olive oil and lemon
* Taramosalata dip was probably my least favorite, it was good but I didn't like the starchy taste from the potato (almost like light potato salad)
* Homous was thick and bursting with flavors of onion and garlic
* Melitzanosalata Dip is made with baked eggplant, onion, garlic and extra virgin olive oil
* This dip tasted like light veggie dip which went perfectly with the pita bread
* This was served with 2 garlic pita bread, it was warm and cut into 4 pieces
* I could have used more pita bread since there was so much dip
Saganaki 5/5
* Flavorful Kefalograviera cheese pan-browned and then flambeed with brandy for $9.95
* Does not include pita bread ( need to order one as a side)
* I've tried this at other locations, but never a proper one where they actually flambeed it properly at your table!
* Cheese is very much like mozarella cheese but less stringly, lighter and has much more flavor
* Even with the pita bread, it is a little salty but overall, it's just cheesy goodness in your mouth!
Ordered: Kalamari 5/5
* Plate of deep fried kalamari served with Tzatziki dip for $12.95
* One of the best I've ever had!! and I am quite picky with these
* They use bigger kalamari that is super fresh
* Batter is very light and it doesn't overpower the kalamari
* Their Tzatziki dip is SO good I completely over-loaded on them (heaven)
* This is a big dish so it would be good shared as an appetizer
* Must Get when you visit
Fakkes 3/5
* Meal size Lentil soup with vegetables, fresh herbs, extra virgin olive oil and lemon for $7.45
* My mom wanted soup so we ordered this but I am just not a big fan of lentil
* But I did try some and it is very tasty- I just wouldn't choose to order it as my main dish
* It is a good vegetarian option if you want something healthy
Ordered: Lamb Souvlaki Dinner 4/5
* Lamb Souvlaki served with rice, salad and roast potatoes for $19.95
* They ask you how you like the lamb cooked, I asked for medium rare
* Given it's price and how it is a dinner plate, it is big in portion
* I was surprised to see how the salad wasn't your typical Greek salad with the chopped up cucumber and tomato pieces? (which I would have preferred if there was a option)
* Rice was light and roasted potatoes were cooked perfectly, fluffy!
* There was about 5~6 big chunks of the lamb which was cooked just right
* The meat had bit of fat on them which I liked so that it's not too dry
* It's also served with side of Tzatziki dip (can't get enough!!)
Summary: I love Mezes, they serve simple Greek food- nothing fancy and that's what I enjoy. They stick to what they know and everything tastes super fresh and the strong flavors just makes it better. I think I found my favorite Greek spot in Toronto, I am def going back to try other items from the menu. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Service!! I need Service!!
I have no idea why the host kept seating me in a section with just 1 waiter working a table of 12, two tables of 3 and 1 table of 2... while one waiter only has 1 table in his section?
Waiting Waiting even for a glass of water and acknowledging from the waiter that I exist was just frustrating!! I just want something simple and fast!! I just want my order to go in BEFORE that party of 12...
Chicken Souvlaki on Pita ($8.95) with a Side Salad ($2.95)
- Grilled Chicken goes well with the tzatziki
- Pita bread is warm and has a little crispy to it
- salad is quite standard but at least is fresh
Mezes does have good atmosphere, especially with all these tables ordering Saganaki, OPA!
Seems like everyone is fighting to sit on that smallish patios... the inside of the restaurant does get a little stuffy and hot with all this flaming cheese and grilling going on! -
Review from Winnie C.
Toronto, ON
3/31/2012
My sis and I randomly came across Mezes a few months ago. Since then, I have been back a few times.
My favs: Dip platter (the shrimp cocktail dip, baba ganoush dip are soooo DELICIOUS), deep fried calamari ( I heard grilled ones are good too, but their deep fried was really GOOD... super tender, done just perfectly), pork soulvaki is great too!
If you are craving for calamari, this is the place to be!
In terms of atmosphere, it's more on the casual side and service is so-so... -
Review from Alex L.
Calgary, AB
3/13/2012
The gyros alone justify the trip out to Danforth and the wait in line. And there is always a wait in line. Always.
The gyros come with fries stuffed which is exactly how it is served in Greece. Also you cant beat the price for a gyro big enough for dinner.The grilled octopus was a delicious suprise. Cooked to perfection without being chewy from over or under cooking.
The atmosphere is happy and hectic, a place to have a good meal with friends, probably not the place for a romantic dinner. -
Review from Mariko M.
2/1/2012
Came here for dinner on a Wednesday night.
It was pretty busy for midweek. I had the opportunity to people watch whilst waiting for the DC. There were a lot of dates taking place in the dining room.
Service was 'meh.' Asked whether or not we had been helped got quite annoying. Yes - we are waiting for a table as instructed five times by various Mezes employees (!).
Had the chicken souvlaki on a pita as my main.
For $9, it was pretty skimpy. More veggies would have added to my meal.
This place is a-ok.
Not going to go out of my way to eat here, but at the same time I'm not going to go out of my way to avoid Mezes. -
Review from Lisasia C.
Toronto, ON
5/10/2012
Nice service and great food. I had the Saganaki and the lamb Souvlaki dinner and it was very good. It was a bit pricey though but it was well worth it. Would definitely go back.
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Review from Anne M.
Toronto, ON
5/8/2012
Went to this restaurant with the whole family. We enjoyed the variety of appetizers and pita bread-very tasty. We also enjoyed our souvlaki and fish dinners and greek salad. The atmosphere is very Mediterranean. Would definitely go back.
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Review from Lauren M.
A new fav on the Danforth! (Thank you big tall Greek boy for the recommendation!)
The food quality here is amazing. Today I met the girls for lunch and we shared a few things. The gigantes beans were delicious, even better than most of the ones I had when traveling in Greece last month. The tappenade here was ridiculous too. I was oogling food on the other tables and it also looked awesome.
Price point was a little higher than others on the Danforth, but given food quality and authenticity it's worth the extra few $$. The menu has a lot of good treats that cannot be found at many other places on the Danforth (yum, GIGANTES!)
Service was fast and efficient, but not as friendly as the folks at Pantheon. Oh well :)
Decor is okay. Not a traditional taverna style (Pantheon, Athens restaurant) nor a date/romanticy place (Ouzeri, Pan) but somewhere in between the two.
Nice plates, too beautiful to smash.Listed in: Lauren M's BIG FAT GREEK LIST
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Review from Reynold P.
Toronto, ON
11/6/2011
It's been a while since I sat in a Greek Restaurant. I've always liked it, but never found a good enough reason to venture out to the Danforth for a meal.
I ended up here for a family lunch. It was my brother's choice and I thought it was a good idea. Greek food, Greek desserts, and window shopping after wards.
Mezes was a decent restaurant. The space was nicely decorated, medium sized and hosted enough customers to make us feel like we made a good choice going in.
For appetizers, we had dip platter with pita, calamari, and saganaki (flambeed cheese). Dips were good, calamari was tender and the cheese was salty, gooey, and delicious.
For the entree I shared the Aegean Fare Platter which was a chicken and beef stew with onions, peppers and mushrooms. The sauce was tomato, wine, and brandy. It was far too sour and it didn't come with rice to mellow it out.
Overall, it's a calm family restaurant. Nothing special popped out of the menu. The basics of Greek cuisine were offered, nothing else. The food was good and priced a tad bit expensive but still fair. Service was nice and available too. It's worth the visit! -
Review from Elle G.
9/14/2011
Mezes is a Greektown institution. It's been here for quite sometime. it is one of our regular Greektown haunts.
They actually do the "mezes" thing pretty well. Think greek tapas.
What do they do well:
- Fried Calamari appetizer -- it's generous, and very light on the batter -- and cooked just right
- Horatiki salad -- fresh and love the feta
- Hummous with pita -- it's not the really smooth style, more coarse, it's great!
- Souvlaki - they do great souvlaki here -- as a pita sandwich or a platter
- French Fries - ok -- I know this might sound strange but this is one thing they also do very well. They are like what my mom used to make from scratch. They are standard cut, fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside and hot when they come to your table. Best on the Danforth
Service is always friendly and timely. They have a nice little patio in the front. They have lots of other great items on the menu including a combo mezes appetizer platter with 4 dips that we have had in the past.
Anyways -- it's a good spot on the Danforth and they always seem busy so lots of other folks must agree! -
Review from S D.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2012
This is one of my favourite Greek restaurants. The lamb souvlaki and baklava were delicious.
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Review from Jonathan S.
York, ON
12/22/2010
The stretch of Danforth Avenue that makes up Toronto's Greektown straddles the line between faux-ethnic tourist trap and living neighbourhood. Emerging from Pape subway station in the middle of the neighbourhood, you're assaulted by a row of restaurants, cafés, dodgy clothing stores and specialty markets. There are also massive social halls, churches, and professional buildings, all in various states of repair.
Mezes is a fixture of the strip, and with good reason. The room is big and clean; tables placed just far enough to be comfortable, while close enough for you to ask the diners next door "what is that you're eating". And you will, because the food is fabulous.
A piece of advice: even though the sesame-studded baguette is fresh, skip it an save room. Start with the dip platter. The small sees four mounds of Meditteranean mush sided with warm, crisp, quartered Greek pita...and unlike the puffy store-bought versions, these flatbreads are delightfully thin; perfect vehicles for piquantly pink taramosalata, creamy-smoky eggplant, soon-to-be-omnipresent tzaziki, and hummus, which really doesn't belong in a Greek restaurant, but it's tasty so we'll give it a pass.
A massive plate of fried calamari arrives, sided with more tzaziki and a wedge of lemon. It's more than enough for three hungry people. The squid is cooked perfectly, flash fried just to silkiness; the batter is crisp. The tzaziki is a perfect foil for the first few blisteringly-hot mouthfuls, but it's reappearance throughout the meal generates yogurt fatigue.
From there, dishes arrive fast and furious; hot banana peppers stuffed with tomato and more cheese push the boundaries of my spice tolerance (tzaziki to the rescue!). Keftedes (which are meatballs, but that's like calling a croque monsieur a grilled cheese sandwich) come with a smokey, complex tomato sauce that would also suit the aforementioned calamari. Fried zucchini topped with cheese allow us to fool ourselves into thinking we're eating healthy. We decimate the plate.
Horitaki (Greek "Village" salad, made without lettuce) is slicked with fine olive oil. It boasts ripe olives and feta that registers as somehow both crumbly and creamy. It's too late for tomatoes, though. They're insipid, but the red onions are crisp and sweet.
The final dish is a small school of large-ish shrimp, baked in a saltier and brinier tomato-based sauce, sprinkled with cheese. By this time we're stuffed, and the shrimp barely registers except for overcooking. The sauce, however, makes hypocrites of us all. We dive into the bread basket to sop it up.
A limited but sufficient selection of beer and wine are available. Percolated coffee, as David letterman would say, is "useless, warm brown water". Greek coffee (finely ground and strongly brewed with a heap of sugar) is a tastier, jazzier option. A small piece of chocolate baklava takes us through the rabbit hole on a massive sugar high. -
Review from Jess W.
Toronto, ON
8/10/2011 3 photos
2.5 stars - not bad / not great.
I came here many years ago and had a good experience, so one night when I was craving greek food, my boyfriend and I made our way over to Greektown. We arrived at Mezes just after 9 and were able to get seated right away, even though it was still pretty busy.
We decided to go with the Assorted pites - A sample of all their pites: Spanakopita, one Tirokafteropita and one Pantzaropita ($8.95).
- Spanakopita (spinach pie): the filling was just too salty for my liking
- Tirokafteropita (feta cheese, hot peppers and yogurt): Didn't really taste much of the hot peppers, overall just an okay pite
- Pantzaropita (beets, leeks): the filling was so flavourful and delicious. easily my favourite one (although i'm not sure that's saying very much)
Our next dish was the Grilled Kalamari - Fresh grilled kalamari, dressed with a balsamic vinegrette and topped with fresh onions ($13.95). It was grilled nicely and wasn't too chewy. The balsamic vinegrette was also nice. This was a decent dish.
Since we had ordered two starters, we decided to share the Pork Souvlaki Dinner - Served with salad, roast potatoes, and rice ($16.95). The pork was on the dry side, but tasted okay with the tzaziki sauce. The rice and potatoes were pretty standard. Just a meh dish... and overall, just a meh experience. -
Review from Tina H.
2/11/2011
This place is delicious. The specialty liquor from Greece that is mixed with lemonade and isn't ouzo is great. Order that!
Chicken souvlaki is delicious. Greek salad is delicious. Everything is good, solid Greek food.
I'll be back when I want Greek food again.Listed in: My "Go Back to this…
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Review from Geoffrey W.
Toronto, ON
3/8/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I've eaten here for weekday lunches four or five times now. It's always been excellent. Friendly service, big portions, great food, not too busy. It might be different in the evenings or on the weekends.
I've enjoyed:
- Kotopoulo Horatiko
- Taramosalata
- Homous
- Dolmades
- Octapodi Skaras (not like any octopus I've had elsewhere; tasty)
The lamb chops by the piece are decent without being spectacular. -
Review from Mauricio A.
Toronto, ON
6/21/2011
I have been coming here for 12 years now, on and off with huge gaps in between. Originally I used to come for the Mezes platters with some of the guys, both the small one and the large one (large about $15). So why do I find myself there from time to time? Maybe nostalgia? I am not sure.
I have gone to other places but for some reason this one keeps coming up. For example, I do like their patio --which is covered, and I like to sit there in the summer for people watching and sitting with friends (4-6 tops) as the patio is not that big. And when I wanted something cheap to eat, I would sit, get a glass of wine and a few lamb or pork souvlakis which comes with pita and tzatziki for about $2.50 each, although they are more like $3.99-ish now.
However the problem I find is that I have seen the prices creep up over the years while say, the variety of Mezes got a bit cheaper in selection so that has rubbed me the wrong way. Since I expect the quality of the food to at least catch up with prices or at least try to stay the same, not worse. Which it has slightly so some might call it expensive.
Having said that, it is a relatively safe place for anniversaries and maybe second dates, it's tasty but I had better. We recently took a family member who *never* had Greek food and we had the meat platter ($45-ish) plus a large Mezes and a few appetizers and a bottle of wine ($130 in the end for three people) and although again it was not the best I ever had, everyone seems quite satisfied. Plus the couches on the edges of the tables are comfortable and the overall vibe of the place is somewhat rustic with some Mediterranean colour accents.
As someone else said, because they are long bench/couches against the wall, maybe one might feel that the party next to you might be a bit close, personally I do not mind it. I mean, in the old country, things are like that and no one cares. So it depends on your cultural and personal preference.
Some might say that it might be a bit expensive for what it is and I might agree, hence I do not go as often as I used to 6 years ago, although at the same time, this place is always packed during the dinner rush. Sometimes the line goes out the door. So they are doing something right. But currently I have a current opening for another *Greek Base* to try out though.
Funny gossip of note: Many years ago, apparently the the wife of the owner cheated with one of the servers, just like the wife of the owner of Mr. Greek. Why I know that, I used to get along with some of the waiters a few years ago. Mind you, I do not know how much of that is true. Although the part about the wife of the owner of Mr. Greek is true. -
Review from Keith C.
11/28/2010
Been here a couple of times with my family because we wanted something Greek and were in the area. I really enjoy the food here and it is authentic Greek food. I like to think I know because I traveled throughout Greece one summer and thoroughly loved their food. The restaurant was packed when we got there but we did manage to snag a table for 6 people after waiting for 10 minutes which was freakin awesome!
I really enjoy the grilled kalamari. There's something about not frying these and then applying some balsamic vinagrette with fresh onions that really appeals to me. I also like the kalamari gemisto because the pairing of the squid with feta cheese is just very delicious.
My family never really likes an eggplant dip (baba ganoush per se) but I thoroughly enjoy the Melitzanosalata.
I usually get the lamb souvlaki because it's really really tender. The beef souvlaki is also pretty good and so is the pork souvlaki. My parents usually go for a fish dish and the red snapper that they got one time was absolutely fantastic that I had to get it the next time I went. That next time, it just wasn't as good as the first time but it was still delicious.
Mezes is one of the better greek restaurants in Toronto. The layout of the seating is really cramped in certain areas. If you get a seating with a booth in one end, getting out can sometimes be an issue. One time, the guy sitting behind me would sometimes bump his chair into mine when he moved around which was kind of annoying. I had to drop them a star for that but if not for the cramped quarters, this would probably get a 5. -
Review from Nunya B.
Toronto, ON
6/2/2011
Been there a couple of times. First time it was a quieter night and was there for a birthday. The food was really good, and we looked forward to going back.
The second time we went it was on a weekend and busier. The food was a bit lack-luster this time.
so good food, but not consistent. -
Review from Ashleigh G.
Toronto, ON
11/7/2010
Anything East of Yonge is so foreign to me, I feel like I'm in another city. And with all the different Greek restaurants lining the street, it's easy to fall into a tourist trap in this destination neighborhood. The dip platter is excellent (especially the tzatziki and the taramosalata, they'll give you extra large portions of just the two, if you ask) and the mains are huge.
Just order some appetizers and share a main. Everything is simple, fresh, and delicious. Now that we know a great spot, we've been more excited to venture away from the west end and explore more of the city. -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
2/20/2011
Our go-to Greek place on the Danforth, Mezes will have a line even when every other place is empty. Wait in the line. It's worth it. Plus, they are very good at estimating the time you will wait - and they'll usually be quicker than they say.
The waiters are professional and service is fast. Food is great. I especially recommend the lamb chops - big, juicy lamb chops. Also good: the saganaki (the fried cheese everyone keeps talking about), the assorted dips, and the greek salad. I would prefer if they provided more pita bread instead of the italian-style bread (which is good, but doesn't taste as good with the Greek dips).
So, next time you are craving some good Greek food, skip the silent places, and wait in line at Mezes. You'll thank yourself.Listed in: Not your typical meat and…
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Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
11/25/2011
VIBE
This is one of the most popular Greek restaurants on The Danforth and whether you like it or not, there's always a line up to get a table, especially on a weekend. Expect to wait about 20 minutes on a Saturday night. That said, the hostess does try to seat you as quickly as possible. I last went here in August, 2011 and the vibe is very casual. Usually, someone is having a family meal, a birthday party or a group dinner here. It is a good date place though. In fact, the vibe is so casual that I saw a guy come in on a date adorned by two HOCKEY STICKS. WHO BRINGS A HOCKEY STICK ON A DATE? Most Canadian thing I've ever seen. It was quite hilarious. Moving along...
WE ATE
We were pretty starving so we had the bread that they bring out (note: don't come here if you're on the Zone diet. Greeks can't part with their carbs) and then we had the taramousalata, the fish roe caviar dip that is pink. I love this stuff and they make a very large portion that's creamy pink fish roey goodness. We were able to substitute our iceberg lettuce salads with the greek village salad (no iceberg but green pepper, kalamata olives, cucumber , tomato and plenty of feta) and though it was $2 extra, wroth the cost (I hate that they do this but it's life). Our mains were the chicken souvlaki dinner and the lamb souvlaki dinner. The souvlaki portions huge and juicy and not dry unlike Mr. Greek's version. Served with rice, we were stuffed. As others have said, Mezes is not cheap (and I think they have raised their prices over the years). With two glasses of wine each, our meal came to $100. I won't go there for a while, but it was a great meal and I highly recommend it. This on my top three Greek restaurants list in the city (and I live in the Danforth area, so am familiar with the other options).
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Mezes is Greek for appetizer. Pick a little. Take a little. One Greek restaurant to appetize your senses. -
Review from Jennifer R L.
London, ON
1/5/2011
We were here with a large group of friends for lunch on a thursday before new years. The place was really nice inside, more of a romantic place to have dinner rather than lunch with friends, though. The service was decent in speed and the waiters were very nice.
The cheapest thing on the menu were the lunch souvlakis. I got the chicken souvlaki on pita with salad. The portion size was decent and the flavours were amazing, the only thing was that the chicken tasted really dry. The group also got some saganaki (which is flaming cheese! It's really just for the experience.) The cheese was tasty, but a bit too salty. The portion size was good though, since we couldn't finish it.
Overall I would go back, but for dinner! -
Review from Monica B.
Toronto, ON
10/18/2010
I've been to Mezes many times in the past, but I stopped going here when I found better options for Greek restaurants.
Their food is good but some dishes can be slightly bland or too salted; the portions are okay, and it's a bit pricey- especially the entrees. They have a good selection of appetizers, combination platters, entrees, salads, soups, and desserts. The staff is nice and service is okay, but it wouldn't hurt if the servers could put a smile on their faces once in a while.
The restaurant is decorated nicely. I hate how the tables are placed too close together. It can get very uncomfortable when strangers are dining right next to you on both sides. That's my major problem about this place. I really don't feel comfortable in the tight setting while dining.
Overall, this is an okay restaurant. However, I'm not a huge fan personally.Listed in: Greektown
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Review from Joanne S.
Toronto, ON
3/8/2011
Dinner around 7pm, 2 guests including myself.
We each ordered two appetizers (4)...how many showed up? 3. Maybe if the waiter took time to write orders down, we wouldn't have been sitting there waiting for our next plate while he passed by and gave us dirty looks.
Dip platter (small) very good, I just wish it came with more pitas. As another user mentioned it was a little salty, but still good.
The dolmades were disgusting. I don't know how they're supposed to taste but 1. I couldn't taste the meat, so right off what's the point of paying that price? 2. all I could taste was the bitter lemon sauce. I ate a quarter of the dish and wasn't asked if everything was okay. It made me nauseous. Maybe it's an acquired taste.
My friend had the cheese on bread thing. She enjoyed that thoroughly.
We didn't get our trio of pies and that was what I was most looking forward to.
The atmosphere was pretentious, and from what I experience they have very little right to be. Don't just work on the deco coming into the restaurant, work on it all. I don't want to sit next to a statue of a cat with one eye missing while I eat. I don't want to sit at a table that I could barely get into because the chair cannot be pulled out. I don't think you can even call it a table if it can't hold three apps. -
Review from Irena C.
9/10/2010
I was visiting Toronto and staying with my friend's Greek family. My friend took me here as it's her favorite Greek restaurant in the city. I trusted her since she's Greek :)
This is definitely the best Greek restaurant I've been to. Most of the food is outstanding. My favorites included the lamb chops, baba ganoush, tzatziki, homous, taramosalata, and tirokafteri. The Greek salad and the stuffed spicy peppers were just ok. Feta Dodonis is a must-have however you decide to get it. Saganaki is also a fun experience as they light it up at your table.
If you're in Toronto, this restaurant is a must. Expect to wait to be seated for dinner. Our wait was only 20 minutes or so though, which wasn't too bad. -
Review from Kari S.
7/24/2009
I had to needle my friend to eat here and it proved worth the effort. A quick visual survey of the patrons noted that many were Greek, and among them, many were old, Greek men. Older Greek gentlemen sitting around, gabbing and sipping kaffe or ouzo really upped the authentic vibe. Although heavily Hellenic, the other patrons proved to be a real eclectic mix of couples on dates and families enjoying an early supper. !Oupa!
Overall, the general atmosphere was relaxing and welcoming. The walls were adorned with metal vines that held my attention for a while. The waitstaff was both friendly and mellow... and the food fantastic! When dining out, I often like to go for food that either I can't make or would otherwise be too labor intensive. So, I chose moussaka as a main dish. It's a simple dish (like a Greek noodle-less lasagna)of potatoes, eggplant, zuchhini, bechamel and ground meat but takes some serious time to put together. Their version was smooth, buttery and oh-so-pleasantly filling. My friend ordered chicken souvlaki. She must have loved it for when I went to grab a bite of chicken from her plate, I swear I heard her growl.
We ate entirely too much food when there as we also split two appetizers (mezes): pita + Melitzanosalata (eggplant) dip and an olive sampler plate in addition to the rice, salad, and potatoes that came with our meal. Then, we ordered some baklava to share but had to take it to go (and ate it on the car ride back to New York). When we arrived back state-side, we both felt a little sick but happy. Mostly happy. -
Review from Leslie J.
7/10/2009
So this is def my fave Greek restaurant in Danforth..
Their dips (like I mentioned previously in Ouzeri) are delicious! You can get a combination of eggplant (like baba ghanoush), salmon roe, tzatziki, and humous with crispy pita bread.
Quick Greek lesson (for those that aren't too familiar):
Saganaki - Seared Kefalograviera Cheese Flambeed With Ouzo. (typically salty, but entertaining if you like to watch cheese get set on fire for a hot second)
Gigantes - Giant Lima Beans Baked Fresh Herbs, Vegetables And Tomatoes. (i'm a big fan of this)
Anyway, pretty much EVERYTHING I've tried here so far is good.
The restaurant setting is nice and the staff is family-friendly.
I come out here anytime I come up to Toronto with my family. It doesn't disappoint.Listed in: Oh Canadia!
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Review from Adam P.
Toronto, ON
7/28/2009
With the many restaurants on the Danforth, this place is always busy at prime hours and it has always left me scratching my head. So one day I tried it out and left completely unimpressed. Usually when a place is packed there is something special about it, but obviously I'm the exception here.
After reading other reviews on this restaurant maybe I didn't approach it the right way. It seems the best way to enjoy the place is to order and share a bunch of different plates. I went to my staple chicken souvlaki and my wife had some sort of meatloaf style meal. I didn't have any complaints about the food (although my wife didn't really like the meatloaf as she thought it was very salty), and the service was fine. I do believe they had a good selection on wines, but I'm not a wine drinker so I didn't get the benefit of this.
The reason why I would choose other restaurants over this one is for 2 reasons
1) the tables are set way to close together, and its almost like you are eating with strangers
2) they charge for extra tzatziki (this irks me)
People generally seem to have a good time at this place, but my Greek dining structure is not suited for this place. -
Review from Ana W.
8/9/2010
Craving for lamb chops!
I came here over the weekend with friends for the Taste of Danforth. They were one of the few stands that served lamb chops. I had a craving. Lamb chops ($4), shrimp skewers ($4), and the chicken skewers for $2.5. It was a steal!
I love lamb and I walked pretty darn far to find a stand that served lamb chops. They were extra tasty when you dipped them in Tzatziki sauce. The lamb chops were very juicy and flavorful. I love the smokiness too. If it wasn't for the long lineup... I may have gone inside for a sit down meal.
Great little find. I'd definitely go back to try out other dishes. -
Review from Hailey E.
Toronto, ON
3/2/2009
Since I was in Greece on my honeymoon in May I haven't been able to find Greek food in Canada that compared to the fresh produce and delicious flavours served by restaurants on the islands... other than at Mezes on the Danforth. This is the most delicious restaurant in Greek Town, the service is fantastic and the ambiance is close to something you'd actually find in Greece!
We went on Friday night for dinner (with friends from out of town) and opted to share a whole bunch of small plates. We enjoyed a bottle of Greek Cab Sauv and a few Mythos beers, while tucking into plates of spanakopita, stuffed hot peppers, chicken souvlaki, greek salad, hummus, tzaziki, saganaki (OPA!) and lots and lots of fresh, warm pita!
Needless to say we were stuffed... but so, so happy!! -
Review from Matt A.
1/4/2010
I almost froze walking from the subway station the other afternoon trying to find this place, but after nearly contracting frostbite in single digit temperatures, the trek was well worth it. I went on a quiet afternoon with my friend when only a few other tables were full, so we received prompt and attentive service.
I started out with a plate of humous as an appetizer, that was served with pita glazed with a light olive oil. From there I had the lamb "Kleftiko", which was pieces of roasted lamb with onions, spinach, tomatoes and cheese wrapped in a phylo dough shell. This course came accompanied with a very generous portion of rice and salad. Having finished the humous plate myself, the main course made me feel like a glutton suffering from a serious food coma!
I felt the meal itself was flavorful and satisfying, so the walk back to the train station in the freezing winter didn't seem all that bad afterwards. I would not hesitate to return on a repeat trip to Toronto. -
Review from Frank D.
Toronto, ON
3/14/2009 1 photo
I've been to Mezes many times over the last five years and I keep going back for two reasons, the people and the food. I've come to know the owners well simply because they made an effort get to know me and because the staff are genuinely good people who care about what they do.
Everything I have had on the menu is awesome. I recommend going with a group of friends and ordering appetizers and side dishes so that you are able to try a bit of everything. My favorite items are the grilled calamari, the saganaki, the spanakopita, and the piperies kafts gemistes. If you have no idea what these dishes are, I suggest you go to Mezes and find out for yourself.
TIP: Ask for Tony and tell him that you are friend's with Konstantinos. -
Review from B R.
1/2/2011
Wow, what a find. We were walking around Danforth looking for good eats. This place just looked right. We went in, and were lucky to be seated quickly.
The food was great, service was good, and the atmosphere was outstanding. For some reason I think of an old mafioso place where everyone is family and there is a genuine warmth of character (except during the assassination runs!).
I have eaten many times at 'nice' places in the SF Bay Area, and not one place compares to Mezes. All the high-end SF places have a tonne of annoying attitude with snooty waiters. I felt comfortable and at home at Mezes. It was like the movies!
Go there. You won't be disappointed. -
Review from Charlene E.
3/12/2010
I've eaten here several times with my good friend from Toronto and finally had to drag my husband here on our last visit. It was a bit of an adventure to get there on the subway from downtown but we found it without a problem.
The food is SO good and I love the atmosphere of the restaurant. We were there for lunch so started with Greek salads and then shared the Kria Poikilia, which is 4 delicious dips served with pita. We both love homous and Tzatziki but we had to ask our server about the pinkish dip that was amazingly good. It was Taramosalata, cod roe, potatoes and olive oil I think. A few glasses of white wine made for a perfect lunch on the Danforth. Now I have to get him back there for dinner! -
Review from Alek L.
8/29/2010
Finally have a chance/time to yelp out of my favorite Greek restaurant in Toronto, with no competition at all... tried in vain to beat the quality & service at some other Greek places in town but just can't help - I keep returning back! They put a spell on me!
The originality of all Greek menus in the city is, understandably disputed, however Mezes beats them all. You will indeed find some of the non-Greek items on the menu, but that is simply the consequence of the high demand - when every second customer asks you if you have Hummus dip in your menu, you will probably want to add it eventually to please them. However, without going too much into the originality & authenticity of the Greek food (I'll leave that for some other time) I must publicly declare that:
1) The service is unbeatable. Friendly. Polite. Fast. You can complain on anything and they will sincerely try to make you happy in any way they can. These guys must have a real good treatment by the owner - I can't explain the level of attention by anything else. The best example is, that once we had a dinner there, we were at the smaller table, looking around to find where to put our used plates, and the server immediately noticed that asking if they can help somehow. Beat that!
I took my mom for her birthday there, she raved for days after of how good it was - all of us and the servers together sang a happy birthday song, with them funnily mispronouncing her name, a moment to remember.
2) ANY item you choose from the menu is good quality. Souvlaki is the real stuff. Have it any way and you will be satisfied. You can combine and ask them for modifications as much as you want (a big plus in my book). Have a souvlaki over the salad, or in a pita, or a dinner with the best potatoes and rice but don't forget a side of super fresh feta!! (damn, I'm craving those potatoes now)
Lamb chops. As a side, or in a full dinner. Lamb souvlaki. Tons of appetizers (mezes) - dolmades (wine leaf rolls), grilled octopus, filo pastry with beets (awesome treat), you simply cannot go wrong here! The only thing I never tried, is Saganaki - it seems very heavy&greasy for my taste but I never fail to be amused by it's serving ritual and the cheery and grandiose "OPA" announcement.
By the time of the Soccer world cup, I also had a chance to discuss the results with the servers. Greeks are big soccer fans and the whole experience in total, IMHO, doesn't get more genuine than that. Their wines even reinforced my opinion that Greece has excellent, under-estimated and under-marketed wine industry. Some of the examples on their extensive Greek wine menu are the perfect example for that. Again you can fully trust the servers to recommend you a good bottle - or simply go with the house wine, both red and white are seriously good quality. -
Review from Melissa P.
3/15/2010
I came here for lunch on Sunday with a few friends. Everything was fine, but nothing knocked my socks off...well except for one item but I'll get to that.
We started with the dip sampler, which was ok...I found most of the dips to pretty bland and I could buy better at the grocery store. We also had the fried cheese (I'm forgetting its proper name- but its the one where they douse it in brandy and yell OPA! while serving to you). This was quite tasty and apparently the best thing on the menu because I'm pretty sure every single other patron also ordered this.
I had the chicken souvlaki pita as my meal. It was ok...a little on the dry and flavorless side.
I ordered the custard topped with phyllo dough for desert (again- I'm forgetting its proper name) which was completey flavorless and boring.
The servers were really nice and friendly and there was definitely nothing bad about the meal but I can't say it was even close to the best greek food I've ever had. -
Review from Cyn C.
7/5/2010
I liked the appetizer hummus, eggplant, and tahini dips. Super garlicky and delicious. The Dolmades were good, but too salty for me. Actually, all of the food seemed a bit salt-heavy for my palate. I had the fried calamari, which was good, but not as fried as I'd hoped. If you want lightly fried,
Portions are huge and service is excellent! -
Review from Brian C.
Toronto, ON
6/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
Food: I ordered 3 apps to snack on; stuffed potato, assorted pies, and saganaki.
Stuffed Potato: delicious.
Pies: good, but over salted.
Saganaki: never arrived.
So, food appears to be better than most but the service was pretty terrible. It took quite a while to get an order in, then 2 items were missed. When we were done, we were left unnattended for 20 minutes.
I get the impression that I had an unusual experience and will try again. -
Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
10/9/2008
The emphasis here is on sharing; and with a menu as appetizing looking as Mezes', it'd be difficult to limit yourself to your meal alone. So over lots of wine, my friend and I made our way through plates of dip, roasted lamb (her), various veggie filo puff pastries (me) and some kind of stuffed eggplant concoction (her). My friend was a bit critical of the taramosolata and compared it to mayonnaise mixed with tuna, and the pita was a bit wanting--it wasn't very soft and was drenched in grease--but everything else was lovely.
The atmosphere was lively and the mood was regularly punctuated with various waiters serving saganaki, which is pan-browned cheese that is later flambéed with brandy. -
Review from Al J.
Toronto, ON
5/11/2010
Good food had the chicken souvlaki
Light on the pita vs dip portion
