I knew there was a Vietnamese cafe in the Commerce Gate plaza . This plaza is notorious for having…read morethe most packed bubble tea shops in the GTA. We never had a chance to come here to have a cup of coffee. We happened to come here before 10:00 AM. Those tea shops weren't open yet, so we got to enter Phin La . The first impression of their coffee menu is: why does it have so many colors in their drinks? And why are there many ingredients which feel like they shouldn't be in coffee? Banana, ube, sesame, etc. Whatsoever, I recall I ordered the sesame and banana latte. Surprisingly, it had an indescribable but well-mixed flavor. One sip was enough to tell me it was better than any specialty drink at Starbucks. Vietnamese cafes have done some crazy and playful experiments on all kinds of toppings for coffee. I will definitely come back .

Located in the Commerce Gate Plaza, parking was busy but expected during the lunch hour. Phin La is…read morein the corner of the mall but can also be accessed from outside. If youre lucky, you can snag parking spots right outside the store. They serve up unique Asian fusion and Vietnamese drinks. Pictured below is the ube match latte. The matcha was great. The ratio of milk to everything else was perfect. But the star of the show was the ube cream! It was so thick, I was able to coat the straw with it and really savor every little bit (even scraped the inside of the cup)! The deep purple color so appetizing. Lastly, I give it the highest Asian compliment "it wasnt too sweet". Highly recommend.

Banh Mi Nana serves two items: Banh Mi and Coffee…read more They have a little shop with about 8-10 seats and most people who order takeout. They are a cash/debit only business. Their Banh Mi is one of the best in the GTA, it's basically a double/extra meat Banh Mi with all the toppings. It also reheats well at home. We got one per person and it was a filling lunch. Would stop by again when in the neighborhood!

I finally came around to trying the banh mi here and was quite happy with it. The bread is very…read morelight and crispy without being chewy, and it was generously filled with ham, paté, mayo and pork floss. I personally found the pickled veg to be bland and didn't bring the sweet/sour balance that was needed. The paté also has a mushroom taste which was interesting. Overall it's a good banh mi and worth trying, especially if you're in the area.

Came here on a cold winter walk and wanted something to warm up. The interior was very minimal and…read morespacey, looked nice for a meet up or to study. I tried the matcha drop, which was a bit on the pricey side (aren't they all these days) and tasted very mild. Overall, I'd give this spot another try for their espresso based drinks, maybe that would be better.

I stopped by Coffee Lunar after lunch because I needed a caffeine boost before completely passing…read moreout from the food coma. Thankfully, the vanilla bean latte absolutely did the job--and it was genuinely delicious too. The house blend espresso was smooth and creamy, with a rich chocolatey note without tasting overly roasted, exactly the way I like it. The vanilla bean flavour was also really pleasant, adding just the right amount of sweetness and aroma without overpowering the coffee. All in all, it was a near-perfect latte. The only downside was the price--I paid about $9 for a large with three shots, which felt a bit steep. Still, it was a very satisfying cup of java. I also appreciated the fact that it is doggo friendly as it has a jar of treats for your pups. I'll bring little morty over sometimes.

We continue to go to this incredible pastry shop whenever the mood strikes. Their creations are…read moresecond to none. The quality and the finish are at an artistic level. And I haven't even begun to talk about the flavors. Their signature dish/pastry is the Mont Blanc. It is highly sought after, and often run out before the afternoon. We made a point of going there yesterday, from my partner's birthday to get some special treats. We were not disappointed. Despite being jampacked, as it often is, there was a good supply of the pastries we sought. New to the mix, is their version of a tiramisu. It is off the charts! The pastry chef is truly an artist. If you wish to try possibly the best pastries in the entire GTA, this is the place to go. The staff are friendly and extremely helpful. It also pays a call ahead to ensure that you can get the products that you're looking for.

Has a lot of variety in pastries, croissants, danishes, chocolates and so much more!…read more Went in on a weekend and the space was crammed so we had to opt for takeout. Tried the hot chocolate and it was okay, not too sweet. Tried the Apple turnover which was a little chewy - should have warmed it up just a little. Also got their custard puff and it tasted really good. I loved how pretty their cakes looked but I didn't want to do a takeout so had to skip it.

Library coffee is a meticulous coffee lab that is dedicated to roasting beans with precision and…read morebalance. That level of care really comes through in the cup; you can taste the depth and intentionality in every sip. I ordered the vanilla bean iced latte, and it was easily one of the best espresso bases I've had in a while. The shot itself was rich and layered: deep, chocolatey, and nutty striking a really nice balance between bitterness and acidity. It finished with a smooth, almost creamy note that made the whole drink incredibly enjoyable. The only downside is the size-to-price ratio. At around CAD $8.50 for what felt like a 10 oz drink, it's definitely on the pricier side for something that goes down this easily. Still, I'd absolutely come back when I'm in the mood for a more premium coffee experience. (Funny note - the barista and I had a small rant together about how people order "iced cappuccino" and macchiato expecting Starbucks milk sugary drink instead of the "proper" shot with dollop of foam. I understand their pain hahah)

The Library Specialty Coffee seems to be highly regarded by Redditors in the area, and I was open…read moreto trying it again after a subpar experience at their downtown location a couple of years ago. My cousin and I arrived shortly after opening on New Year's Eve. The cafe has a small interior with minimal seating, mostly bench seating along the wall with small round coffee tables. Even though there was only one barista working that morning, she was efficient at taking orders and making drinks despite several orders happening at once. We did not feel like we were waiting very long. I ordered a pour-over with the Finca El Paraiso Peach Colombian beans, which use a thermal shock washed process. That was something I had not heard of before. The tasting notes listed nectarine, tropical fruit, and caramel, and it was recommended since I was looking for something more out of the ordinary. I enjoyed the wilder flavor profile, but it was hard to fully appreciate because the coffee tasted overly diluted. The barista mentioned she used a 15g to 250g bean-to-water ratio, which is higher than how I normally enjoy my pour-overs. My cousin ordered a flat white with whole milk that was very creamy with strong espresso notes. We also ordered a matcha latte for my other cousin, which was apparently too creamy. Overall, the beans themselves were good, but the pour-over leaned watery for my personal preference. The bag of beans used for the pour-over was priced at $32, which is only a bit more than double the cost of the pour-over itself. In hindsight, I felt slightly ripped off and should have just bought the beans instead.

Came here for a quick dinner before a movie. Located in Times Square. This place is huge, lots of…read moreseats about 4 booths. Very nice cozy interior, dark and light colours. Server is very sweet, greets you with a smile and kind but no name tag, don't know her name. Kitchen is open as well, nice touch. Menu is accessible via QR code, lots of options available. Food looks very delicious. Lots of drinks and food as well. Great options. Got the Bon Bon salmon rice, server was kind to let us know it's a bit spicy and went on to get it anyway. It was not that spicy, kind of forgot that it was spicy as you bite down. Salmon was cooked very well, not overcooked. Also ordered the brussel sprouts which is a favourite in the way it's cooked. So delicious! Yes I will be coming here again !

After refusing to wait 2 hours in line at another Markham brunch spot, we quickly came up with a…read moreplan b. Determined to have some brunch on mothers day, we found Cafe Bon Bon right around the corner. We were pleasantly surprised to hear upon calling that they would be able to seat us right away! We anticipated a chaotic parking situation being familiar with the usually busy Times Square plaza but was very easy to find parking this morning. Beautiful space with modern decor. Always happy to get a booth! We got the chicken and waffle - tender,juicy chicken that's perfectly crispy on the outside. These were served with soft warm waffles and a side of syrup. We got a nice flat white. The braised beef breakfast sandwich was so tasty and went great with the Bernaise sauce (like a deconstructed eggs Benny). Would have preferred the mixed greens on the outside of the sandwich as a side salad rather than in the sandwich. It was served with a decent portion of thick cut home fries, bonus they add yams in the mix! Our first time trying a soufflé pancake. Came with 3 on the plate (not pictured as we started eating before I could take a photo lol). The texture takes some getting used to as it's almost too soft (batter-like) but they were perfectly sweet accompanied by a nice thick chocolate sauce and SMALL pieces of fruit (the banana had a nice sweet crunchy sugary glaze). Wouldve given 5 stars but but the pancake couldve been served with larger pieces of fruit or atleast way more of it. It became more of a garnish than a topping as the fruit were so so soooooo tiny! Overall will be returning to try their soft shell crab options!!

Venue 5/5 Easy to…read moreaccess, park, and comfortable seating. Good selection of board games here. It's nice that there is one in Richmond hill now as the other location was near Markville before. Service 4/5 wasn't too busy when we went in afternoon. Easy to be seated, staff are attentive. Food 4/5 Eggs Benedict with Smoke Salmon was great. The chicken fettucine with spinach was also very tasty. The portions are comparable for a GTA uptown location. Will definitely revisit to try the rest of the menu.

I recently visited Corner Cafe for Saturday brunch and had a mixed experience…read more Located in a business park area of Richmond Hill along West Beaver Creek Road, the cafe is surrounded by offices and plazas. The space itself is bright, cozy, and modern. It's great for a casual brunch. The menu focuses on creative takes on classic brunch dishes, with most plates around $18-$25 and drinks about $6-$9. We tried the pork sausage shakshouka, pork jowl eggs benny, and a strawberry matcha latte. The drink was a standout--refreshing, nicely layered, and not overly sweet. The dishes themselves had good flavors and promising concepts. Unfortunately, the experience started off rough. Despite having a reservation, we waited over 30 minutes for a table during the busy Saturday brunch rush, and parking around the plaza was difficult. When the food arrived, the eggs in both the eggs benny and the shakshouka were overcooked, which was disappointing since runny yolks are key to both dishes. Overall, Corner Cafe has a nice vibe and an interesting brunch menu, but the long wait, tough parking, and inconsistent execution made the experience fall short this time.

The best Cantonese style flakey egg tarts. We drove from New York just to enjoy this and some of…read morethe best Cantonese food left in Toronto.

This is a no fuss, cash only bakery. If you're looking for egg tarts, there's a chance you might…read morenot get them. I came here twice looking for egg tarts and was quoted ~30 min wait time as they were sold out. On the third visit, we got them fresh out the oven the custardy filling barely set... not to sweet, of course! And the pastry is nice and flaky/buttery. They take cash only, if you don't have any on hand, there's an ATM in the centre.