Great vegan friendly option, peaceful ambience. Most importantly, unique and tasty dishes.read more

I was looking for a place to do some studying cafe, and I decided to stop by STAE Cafe!…read more STAE Cafe was quite busy when I walked in. There's about 7 or 8 tables available, and I sat down at one of the smaller tables since those were the only ones available. There's QR codes on each table so you can order what you want through your phone. They also deliver your food/drinks to your table. I ordered the blueberry matcha latte, which I was pleasantly surprised about! It had just the right amount of sweetness, and the blueberry flavour pairs so well with the matcha. I'd definitely order it again! There is a 75 minute seating policy. however, I'm not too sure if they strictly enforce that. I did work for about an hour and there were people who came before me that were still there. It is a very busy cafe, so if you can't study in a noisy area, I would recommend bringing noise-cancelling headphones or going to a different cafe. Overall, the cafe has a great aesthetic and a short but quality menu. I'll be back when I'm craving a decent matcha!

A local coffee shop in a Markham plaza with quite an impressive menu, especially on their seasonal…read moredrinks. It was my first time here and i was surprised to see that they also have seating here as well. I was intrigued with their seasonal menu and I'm so glad I checked them out because their drinks were delicious and well rounded in flavour. Opted for their blueberry latte and peach jasmine cloud and both drinks were so delicious! The blueberry latte had a nice subtle blueberry flavour with the coffee. The peach jasmine cloud on the other hand was refreshing but had that savoury cheese foam on the top as well that worked well with the drink pairing. What a great local coffee shop with nicely curated drinks in Markham. Worth checking out for sure.

Cute small cafe in the area with a few tables inside. The staff was nice and answered any questions…read moreI had. They do offer decaf which was nice. We got a hot rose latte and an iced dirty matcha. The rose was subtle and not too sweet which I enjoyed. I thought the dirty matcha was a little too sweet for my liking but it was smooth otherwise. Price tag is a little high but I would come back to try other specialty drinks!

Came here on a Friday evening for dinner. Called ahead to make a reservation and they reserved two…read moretables for us to choose! Service was superb with very friendly servers - so friendly that even my toddler with stranger anxiety liked them and engaged with them! Atmosphere and view were great since it was sitting on Toogood Pond. Inside was really cute too. Tables, chairs, and even the booster were clean. Zero complaints! The only thing is the washroom is the public park washroom so it's not the prettiest and cleanest; there were some bugs and some smell. In terms of the menu, there aren't a lot of choices for pasta but it makes sense since it is a bistro. Ordered the Mortadella & Burrata and Tagliatelle al Ragu. Both were really delicious and the pasta tasted fresh even though we don't know if it's fresh pasta. Had a really good experience here and would definitely come back! This spot is perfect for date nights since there are many small tables and the vibe is just a date night vibe!

There are restaurants that earn their success through great food, relentless hospitality, and years…read moreof hard work. And then there are restaurants that win the geographic lottery. La Fonte sits on one of the most enviable pieces of restaurant real estate in Unionville. Perched beside Toogood Pond, with a patio facing west, it offers the kind of sunset view that would make a mediocre sandwich taste profound. If you're taking an evening stroll around the pond, there is essentially one place to stop, sit, sip a cappuccino, and watch the day disappear. La Fonte knows this. And perhaps that's the problem. On a cool evening, we approached the mostly empty patio with modest ambitions. No elaborate dinner. No special requests. Just coffee, a couple of treats, and a front-row seat to one of the best sunsets in Markham. The greeting? "Do you have a reservation?" No. Reasonable question. What followed was less reasonable. Instead of the traditional hospitality playbook--"Welcome, let me see what I can do"--we were informed they were busy - did I mention the empty patio? And immediately questioned about whether we intended to order food - what does what we intend to order matter if a seat can be made available? We did say we would like a seat on the deck/patio. We explained that it was our first visit and, not being blessed with psychic powers, we had no idea what they served. Snarky attitude in check - with pleasantries exiting the oral interface. A menu was handed to us and we were instructed to step aside and review it. Step aside....???!!!??? As if there were crowds of eager diners stacked ten deep behind us... There was nobody. Not a single soul waiting for a table. No line. No rush. No visible crisis requiring crowd-control measures. Just an oddly defensive interaction taking place on a mostly empty patio overlooking a beautiful pond. The conversation somehow became more absurd from there. Every answer seemed to generate another hurdle, another question, another subtle suggestion that perhaps our presence was creating administrative difficulties. Eventually, we did what any rational person does when hospitality turns into a bureaucratic exercise: we left. The funny part came later. Walking around to the opposite side of Toogood Pond, we could clearly see people casually strolling onto the patio and taking seats. No interrogation. No menu review committee. No apparent examination of intent. Just people walking on past the gatekeeper and sitting down. Which naturally raises the question: Is the secret to dining at La Fonte simply to ignore the front-of-house operation altogether? Not that we'd ever do that. Most of us were raised to believe civility matters. You wait to be seated. You speak politely. You respect the establishment's process. But La Fonte provided a fascinating case study in how that social contract can break down. Because when courtesy is met with indifference, and curiosity is met with suspicion, one begins to wonder whether good manners are simply putting oneself at a competitive disadvantage. The tragedy is that none of this has anything to do with the food. The kitchen may be wonderful. The coffee may be excellent. The patio is unquestionably spectacular. The problem is that the first course served at any restaurant isn't food. It's hospitality. Perhaps what seems to be nepotism at the gates is not the best hiring practice. And on this evening, La Fonte managed to take one of the most beautiful dining locations in Unionville and make it feel strangely unwelcome. That's a remarkable achievement, though probably not the one they were aiming for. Carpe diem, indeed. Just don't expect anyone at the front door to help you seize it. JEERS!!!

A Hidden Gem with NYC Vibes & Central Perk Charm!…read more Took my bestie to Ravine Cafe today for bunch to celebrate her birthday, and we are still buzzing. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere hit that perfect sweet spot, that classy but cozy, with a definite New York City energy. Think lots natural light with big windows, warm and welcoming lighting, and that effortless "cool" that made us feel like we have stepped into Central Perk. Only things missing is the big orange couch and the oversized coffee mugs. The menu? Bougie without the sting. We both had the eggs Benny, while mine was the Cajun shrimp (unique and flavourful), hers was the classic bacon Benny. They were both beautifully plated, yet surprisingly reasonable for the quality. What really sealed it was the service. Staff was attentive and smiley, but the owner stole the show, came by, chatted for a solid 15 minutes, and shared the restaurant's backstory. Felt like old-school hospitality, not rushed commercially influenced like most of the commercial restaurants in the area. Perfect for a brunch gathering, a date, or just pretending you are in a rom-com. We will for sure be back, and with more friends. Thank you for the great service and amazing food!

It was my son's birthday, we went fr breakfast. Very clean spacious place . Staff is very…read morewelcoming . Service was good , ambiance is good too . The breakfast was good

Great service once again! Plenty of seating inside and outside. They have a prime location at the…read morecorner of Main St. Wherein their patio wraps around one end of the building, allowing for great views in the centre of Unionville. They have an amazing daily special: a hot sandwich with any Americano order! With three flavors to choose from, I got the ham and cheese which was made with a sweet bread and pressed into 2 neat triangles to seal in the mayo, ham and cheese filling. Simple yet satisfying. The other 2 flavors of free sandwiches to get with your coffee were unique, purple rice with cream chese. I have yet to try but the bright purple color was definately intriguing. The store literally has its doors open all day, its very inviting. They even have little doggy bowls filled with water outside the cafe! Will revisit and highly recommend.

Came here on a quiet weekday afternoon. A small little cafe…read moreat the start of unionville where you can catch up with a friend or get some work done! The worker was friendly, approachable and was able to explain highlight recommended menu items. Ordered the pistachio latte which was pleasant, not so sweet and yummy! Cozy, cute, but limited seating space. Would recommend if you're working alone or with one other person. Not enough space for big groups. But I also did notice they had an outdoor patio seating area as well! So perhaps a great patio day!

Tried this out with friends, and the food and atmosphere were amazing! It was very busy, yet the…read morelayout is not cramped in any way so it didn't bother us so much. There's plenty of games to bring to your table to play too. The menu was very cute! It came in the form of a newspaper, so I thought that was a nice stylistic choice. Lots of variety on food. I got the Rosé Bacon Penne Pasta, which had gochujang in it and it was the perfect level of spice! I've always wanted to try it, and now I'm dying to come back to have this dish again. The only thing I would say is that it's a bit of a small portion for its price, but was still worth it to get.

It seems the business may have changed ownership already with simple renovations done, but it is…read morestill very good in terms of both taste and service. We ordered a few dinners, and each dish was nicely prepared and well presented. The quality of the food remained consistent, and the flavors were enjoyable throughout the meal. The service was also attentive and friendly like before, which added to the overall experience. We really enjoyed our visit and were pleasantly surprised by how well everything was maintained. I would definitely recommend it and would be happy to come back again.

I am IN LOVE with this place. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about their drinks and…read morefood. The building itself is so nice and cozy. Food is served in a fancy wooden tray, and you get to enjoy your food to some jazzy piano. The Almond Mocha cake is heavenly. The cake is moist and the frosting is sweet and flavorful. The Iced Dalgona is also lovely. It's visually beautiful and has a perfect balance of sweetness and milky-ness. I don't recommend asking for less sugar for this drink since it's perfect the way it is. Will come again the next time I'm in Toronto :)

Café Namoo is such a cute and special spot--everything about it feels warm and welcoming. The lady…read moreworking was the sweetest and so attentive, making sure we had the best experience. We shared the Mango Bingsu, and it was huge--easily enough for the five of us. The flavor was a solid 9/10, super refreshing and delicious. If they had crispy corn flakes on top, it would've been a straight 10/10 for me. We also got two Dalgona Lattes, one with oat milk, and she differentiated them with the coasters, which was such an adorable touch. Now I need to go back just to try more drinks! Parking was free but a little awkward--spots are at an angle, and the plaza can get busy. But honestly, it's worth it. When we went, a few moms were catching up over bingsu, and it was such a wholesome vibe. Can't wait to be back and explore more of the menu!

been coming here recently and it's better than i remember! the staff is so friendly and offers to…read moreadd espresso / syrup to your liking. i've been enjoying their osmanthus green tea latte

Consistently a 5 out of 5 Star coffee place in terms of coffee, ambiance, service…read more They have specialty coffees that seem to be updated every time I come here. Most recently I had their cocoa flavored latte and it did not disappoint. It comes with Cocoa, some of their classic syrup, there are 3.25% milk and espresso sauce. It is nice and sweet and definitely has a great mocha flavor without being too sweet. I came back the next day and got their green tea espresso latte which was also very good. I would definitely come back. The lady at the front desk is very nice and you can ask for more espresso shots if it is too sweet or other preference you have is usually honest free of charge.

Starving Artist is one of our go-to spots for breakfast in Markham. It's minutes from our house,…read moreand not only that we actually like the food. Although this is a busy brunch restaurant, the turnover happens fast, and we have never waited more than 30 minutes for a seat. Starving Artist has a wide array of coffees and teas as well as waffles and 'Bennies. We have tried quite a few of the drinks during our visits, and we have tried many of their signature dishes. The staff are great and always accommodating and very patient when my kids can't make up their minds about what they want to eat or drink. The servers have helped my kids on more than one occasion make up their minds. This is a great place for breakfast, brunch or even late afternoon coffee, and we try to go at least once a month.

Visited around 10:45 a.m. on a Tuesday. The café is tucked beside Shoppers Drug Mart, with plenty…read moreof parking available. You pass through a charming patio to enter, which was shaded nicely thanks to the size of the Shoppers building. Given the recent heatwave, we opted to sit indoors. We were greeted at the door and offered the choice between a two-person table tucked farther inside or a four-person table closer to other diners. We chose the smaller table for a bit more privacy and ease of conversation. Menus were provided right away, followed shortly by tap water. When our server checked in to ask about drinks, we let her know we were fine with just water. Later, when we were ready to order, she came promptly when we called her over. A standout moment: we ordered just one smoothie, and she kindly asked if we were sharing, then offered to split it into two cups without us even asking. A thoughtful and appreciated gesture. The Pineapple Banana Smoothie was a highlight. It was perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, and incredibly refreshing. My sister ordered the Halloumi Benedict. She noted that while the waffles leaned toward a sweeter flavor on their own, the combination of waffle, egg, and halloumi was well-balanced and worked beautifully together. The egg was jammy and spot-on in terms of taste, texture, and presentation. I had the Fully Loaded, which features a potato waffle topped with bacon bits, sour cream, chives, and cheese. It leaned a bit salty, but not overwhelmingly so, still quite enjoyable overall. I loved the potato waffle which has the slightly crispy edges but was soft to bite with a texture that resembled mash potatoes. As someone who isn't usually crazy about waffles, which was such a nice alternative. Each of our mains came with a side salad (lightly dressed and refreshing) and a choice of fruit salad, maple baked beans, or potato salad. We both chose the fruit salad, which was impressively varied with orange, grapefruit, watermelon, blueberry, blackberry, and banana. Note: Payment is cash or debit only.