The Harbord Room team is taking over neighbouring Messis

Shinan Govani broke the news that the team from The Harbord Room is tightening its grip on Harbord Street with the acquisition of Messis, the long-standing (and much bigger) continental restaurant a few doors down. Harbord Room chef Cory Vitiello told The Dish that he takes possession March 1, and hopes to reopen with a new name and concept six weeks later, following a thorough renovation. The kitchen is going to be headed by Harbord Room chef de cuisine Curt Martin (Vitiello is mostly staying put) with a menu similar in style to the Harbord Room’s, if a little more accessible in price. After renovations are complete, the new, as-yet unnamed restaurant is going to have a lively back bar and a huge 60-seat patio. It’s not, however, going to have The Harbord Room’s trademark pink walls (those are staying put).