Came here for brunch to meet up with a friend who lives nearby. Standard brunch items and quality - definitely wouldn't go out of my way to try this. I ordered a customized three eggs omelette. Two things that stood out to me: 1) Adding cheese was $2 vs. adding meat (bacon, ham, sausage) was $0.95. 2) Zucchini was an option. I ordered an omelette with sausage, zucchini and swiss cheese. It came with either potatoes or salad, and choice of bread. It was definitely a hearty meal. Service was attentive. However, the bathroom (at least for the women's) was not so cleaned.... read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Customized 3 eggs omelette, salad instead of potatoes, whole wheat toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Interesting decor that has become old. The establishment looks dark and dingy, floors on the sticky side and seats were ... Place has seen better days. Came for their dessert special. Their cheese cakes came in big slices and they were heavy. Cake selection was limited. Probably would not come again. read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Came here for breakfast yesterday for the first time. Im not sure why it took me so long to finally try this place out. I think it needs some promotion or flyers around the area. I feel like not a lot of people know this testaurant. I'mIt was pretty quiet with a few small tables being occupied but considering other bresakfast restaurants like sunset Grill being quite busy, not sure why this restaurant wasn't too busy but. They mdybre quite busy on the weekends. The breakfast menu was preetty standard with eggs and ham/bacon or sausage snd toast and french toast which I don't see that often so that was nice. Overall service was good snd the restaurant is quite spacious so great place for friends gsthering. Hiighly recommendedWe will definitely be back. read more

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[Good] Symposium Burger - Default comes with 2 patties. It's a fairly hefty burger that tastes pretty good. There is a single patty version but if you're decently hungry, stick with the double patty. Spiced Rub Chicken Dinner - Spices tasted as I would've expected. I think I would call it Cajun with a hint of cumin. Nice cook on the chicken as it was juicy. Roasted potatoes were seasoned nicely with salt. The carrots tasted a bit sketchy though. Ice cream - Not sure what brand they serve here but the chocolate ice cream that came with the kid's meal was excellent. [Bad] Washrooms are old and dirty looking with the roll of paper towels just out by the sink counter as opposed to in the dispenser. [Worth it?] I think it's worth it as the prices are reasonable for the portions you get. The children's menu is also reasonably priced. So far the food tastes pretty good each time we've been as well. I wouldn't mind returning once in a while. read more

On a very cold Canadian morning we went to this cafe because it was the closest one to my friends house. She did warn me about how slow their service but they outdid her warning ! There was only ONE table inside the restaurant besides us It took over 10 minutes before the server came. We had two breakfasts - one with two eggs and one French toast breakfast. We ordered coffee as well It took another 15 minutes before the food arrived. Coffee came only 5 minutes before When the French toast came , I asked the server for maple syrup and he said that it would be an extra $2. It was not listed in their menu as extra charge because they even bragged about real maple syrup was provided. After I said "no thanks ", the server came with a partially open tiny bottle and said it is from him. I was a bit surprised The food overall was okay - it was food. The fruit cup had strawberries and banana but they looked sad so I skipped. After eating the food with the "charity " maple syrup, I waited for another 15 minutes for the server to appear and asked for coffee refill and more cream He gave us half a cup of coffee each and disappeared I ended up using milk in my coffee because the cream never came and never did the server When we decided to leave, it took a while to get the bill and the server was actually chatting with another table This is definitely a restaurant with possible regular customers and we could tell the difference on how we were treated We probably had to go back when we see desperate and hopefully not soon enough read more

Food: 1. Steak and eggs: I ordered the steak to be cooked to medium rare and it looks like it is cooked to what I want from the color of the meat but the steak is very dry (as you can see - there is no juice from the meat on the plate), the steak is warm not hot as I would expect it to be if it is cooked fresh. It makes me think if this was meat from leftovers. Also I don't like my meat served cut. The pita is also dry, cold and tasteless. There is supposed to be 3 eggs - I ordered it scrambled but it looks like the portion is closer to 1-2 eggs - perhaps they will really tiny eggs? 2. Egg Benedict tastes normal but it is missing some fruits. Benedicts are usually served with fruits in most restaurants during brunch hours. Service: Decent experience. Server was polite and attentive. Patio is nice but it is facing kennedy road so it could be noisy. Cost: Fairly priced but the quality of the food isn't very good. Verdict: 3 /5 but if it wasn't for extra efforts during pandemic. I would give it a 2-2.5 read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Steak and eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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I remember when this location just opened. I was working across the street at the time and came here a few times for lunch and dinner. I'm not sure why I haven't written a review before now. It's never too late. On this occasion, we came here for a late dinner. Most of us ordered the Chicken Wings or the Fish & Chips, the special of the day. It seemed to take a while for our food to arrive but it gave us some time to chat among us. The wings, a one-pound serving, came with carrots and celery. Although the various flavours were good, my friends who ordered this would have preferred less saucy versions, maybe even sauce on the side. The Fish & Chips were available with two or three pieces of fish and we ordered two pieces. They did make a mistake and brought one of the orders with three pieces. With each piece being generously sized, I would have to be absolutely starving to eat three pieces! Taste-wise, it wasn't bad but the batter could have been crispier. We had a slice of cheesecake and chocolate cake to finish our evening. Surprisingly, they weren't overly sweet. Not bad. The food and service were above average and the ambiance was nice but the temperature in the restaurant was freezing! It felt like they had a door propped open, with the occasional gust hitting us. This contributed to the food getting cold quickly. read more

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It's too bad that the aesthetic was nice and the food passable, but it's the small things that would make me never want to come here again. My mom and I came for lunch yesterday (Tuesday 1:50pm). There were only 3 tables of people, and maybe 3 staff (2 wait staff and 1 manager type). Very not busy. And yet, there was a dirty crumpled napkin under a table. We were greeted then seated. We were asked what to drink and we both said water with no ice. The water came in plastic cups with no straws. We had to wait 10 min for her to appear again to order AND ask for straws. And when she gave us the straws, they had no wrappers, were the cheap red/white striped ones, and she placed them on some napkins. You'd think à place like symposium wirh à classy aesthetic would have had better straws. Or at least do paper straws to be trendy! We waited 22 min for our bowls to appear: shrimp carbonara and peanut satay chicken. 22!!! Don't come if you're starving. My mom says that this would be a good place for uni students to study because nobody would come to serve/bother you. Lol. Food was passable. I can't believe the shrimp carbonara had no veg. At least add a few pieces broccoli to add colour! Or some slices of carrot. Yikes. Présentation was pretty meh and not thoughtful. The sauce from peanut satay didnt even taste like satay... Had no kick in it. Overall disappointing. I don't know how they could stay in business so long. read more

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This place was taken over by a new owner a few months ago. You can definitely see an improvement in the service and the quality of the food preparation. I have eaten here a few times in the morning, over the past few months. Large number breakfast options. Early bird specials are a very good deal. Worth another look. read more

The food was delicious, but what happened at the end was embarrassing, with 12 or more families from a ringette team had breakfast here, however, after spending over a $1000 between the families and kids, most had paid their bills and stepped out for the next upcoming game, the coach was finishing off her breakfast when the manager (we assumed was the manager) came to our table and told us, we need to clear our since he needs our table, it still had 3 or 4 empty booths and 1 or 2 tables which seats 2 or more customers, what!!! Anyway, all the bill were paid so I'm guessing he no longer needed our support, btw, they added gratuity to every bill, even if you we a family of 3 or a family of 5, which we didn't mind since the food was good, WE WONT BE BACK!!! read more

Food way okay, portion size was reasonable. Menu is extensive. Service was good. Nothing very special. read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Brownie cheesecake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Symposium Cafe feels like the embodiment of the "Canadian Dream". Imagine taking a stroll (or driving your minivan) from your suburban home on a Sunday morning, and ending up at this restaurant. Oh look, right next to you, the rolling green hills of a golf club. You are greeted with average-tasting North American brunch items, but also the smiles of servers that soaked in the essence of Canadian friendliness. If there's one word for Symposium, it's cozy. It's situated in a cozy plaza on the edge of a cozy suburb. It's got a big, bright, cozy feeling inside with high ceilings and great decor. Large groups can sit very comfortably. Even the people are cozy. Speaking of the people, they are the reason this Symposium is my go-to place for large brunch groups. Exhibit 1: I've never been told no when I call in to book a group of 10-20 people for brunch. We've also never been rushed out of the restaurant. Now, I don't know if it's because they never seem that busy, but hey, it works to my advantage! Exhibit 2: One time, the manager very kindly called me back after I made a reservation and informed me another large group had booked at the same time. It's not that they can't accommodate us, he was worried that we would get our food a little slower because the kitchen has to handle two large table orders at once. So he asked if we'd like to move our reservation by 30 mins, which we did. Good Service 101: this is it. Exhibit 3: I've never had to wait an unreasonable amount of time for my food. Whether it was 2 people or 16 people, the food came at a reasonably staggered pace. Exhibit 4: They're all really nice. Like they actually want you to be there. Amazing. Food? Well, like I said, It's average. My pants are not blown off but I'm not angry at my plate either. Plus, they have the calorie count on the menu for all you macro counters out there. I've never been here for dinner, but the brunch prices are aligned with my expectations for brunch food. Things range from $8-$20 with a beverage option at $1.95 (e.g. tea, coffee, americano, latte, hot chocolate, etc). If you want alcohol, they've got a nice, long list of cocktails and a nice, tall wall of liquor bottles. No, their eggs are not the smoothest, their waffles are not the fluffiest. Their benedicts are not the most impressive and their lattes are way too sweet and don't taste enough like coffee. BUT, I have and I will come back to Symposium again and again. No, their food is not the best, but where else can I book in a party of 10+ for brunch with such ease and comfort? Nowhere. (75/100) - 2017 read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

After covid allot of these places got hit hard and staff got cut. Even with the lack of staff we got decent service. we ordered broccoli and cheddar soup, butter chicken poutine and tried the new classic bacon and onion perogies. I ordered a unique to symposium alcoholic drink and the bartender didn't get it right but went back and fixed it. Turned out great. The menu is not as big as it used to but nevertheless there is something here for everyone! read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Great food and service! Really enjoyed eating here, had the pad Thai and Chocomisu for dessert.

Me and my friend came here for drinks on the patio and we did not enjoy our experience. Setting: the restaurant was pretty much empty when we came in at 1:30 p.m. There was one server for inside and outside. We asked if we could sit on the patio and he seemed hesitant to seat us out there but allowed it anyway. It was evident that others have been out on the patio before us as garbage from the table beside us was still there. Our table was caked in a layer of dust, probably from the fall/winter so we wiped it down ourselves with wet naps. A freshly chewed piece of gum was stuck on the back of a menu and when my friend set it down, it stuck to the table and left a sticky, minty mess. Drinks: We ordered a pitcher of margarita for $22 which doesn't sound too terrible. We got around 1L of margarita which came with 6 oz of tequila and two glasses with salted rims. The margarita came out a bright turquoise colour and when I tried the drink, it straight up tasted like tequila water with food colouring. None of the triple sec or lime flavours were evident at all, as stated on the list of ingredients. I have never had a drink taste this bad in my entire life. Service: The waiter was nice but unprofessional. He saw us once to seat us, once to hand us the drink menu and our drink and then never again for the hour and a half we sat out there. Conclusion: Symposium is not where you want to be to get a cocktail in Markham. read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Pitcher of Margarita - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Bad experience. Decided to try this place out for their early bird breakfast (weekdays before 11am). My husband got their regular eggs breakfast and I got their western sandwich. It states on the menu that all early bird sandwiches come with your choice of a fruit cup or breakfast potatoes. I opted for the fruit cup but they said they were out of fruit. No biggie, I said I was fine with the breakfast potatoes. A few minutes later, the waitress comes back and apologizes and says that the chef said my breakfast sandwich did not come with breakfast potatoes and that it would be an extra cost if I wanted them. I was a bit confused and mentioned that the menu clearly states that they do come with, and she continues to say "the chef said no" - she then said that their computer system wouldn't allow the breakfast potatoes to be "free" and that they were going to change the menus that day to reflect "their new early breakfast sandwich without the potatoes"... I didn't want to argue or pay for potatoes that I was technically owed so I said no to the potatoes. Also - the waitress had asked if I wanted cheese or tomatoes with my sandwich and I said yes to the tomatoes. After what happened with the potatoes, I asked if the tomatoes were an extra cost and she said yes 35 cents, which was fine so I still opted for it. Again not a big deal but I would have appreciated it if she was transparent about the extra cost from the get go. Overall a negative experience and left feeling super nickled and dimed. We will not be returning. read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Western sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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I'm surprised that I have never heard of Symposium Cafe. Apparently, they are all over Ontario, and with many more stores opening soon in the GTA! They also have fantastic daily specials posted on their website - '7 reasons to keep coming back' - awesome deals! Located in a small plaza on the SW corner of Kennedy and Major Mackenzie, this lovely cafe has a cozy, causal and friendly atmosphere. You can definitely smell the sweet aroma of crepes and waffles right when you walk in :D Super packed on this Friday night, be sure to make a reservation! Overall, food was quite good. We ordered a few items to share :) I really enjoyed the pulled pork flat bread - it was very delicious - made with a thin crispy dough topped with lots of pulled pork and cheeses *must order flat breads*!! The marinara mussels had a very tasty broth; I shall come back on Wednesday for their mussels special ;) Salmon with pesto sauce on rice was nicely presented, and the sauce went well with the salmon (I'm not a big fan of salmon, but I will give this a pass!) And lastly, we ended our meal with waffles topped with fresh fruits and vanilla ice cream :D #spoiled Okay, on to service. I liked that fact that the manager always addressed me by my name and made sure my party of 9 was doing alright from time to time that evening. However, I was not too pleased with a couple things that had happened during dinner service - minus the minor issues of slow service and that my salmon order was missed (I understand that it is still a relatively new establishment, so I'm not too picky about that.) 1) Chairs were missing from our reserved table. A couple of my friends had to awkwardly stand and wait for chairs to become available while others were seated. Offer temporary folding chairs or stools perhaps? 2) Ordered a bottle of rosé wine, but waiter decided to give me a dry red wine instead because they ran out of rosé and said that it is similar to a rosé. Uh, no. Please don't make that decision for me. I would rather pick something else; I dislike red. I will still come back and give this place another try... they have such a large menu from breakfast, lunch to dinner and late night desserts. I'm sure service will improve over time and with more training. Keep up the good work, Symposium! read more

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This cafe has daily menu specials. Food has been good and service as well. I ordered Eggs Benjamin. The refilled coffee is not the same as the first one. It was light in colour, doesn't taste coffee. I thought they gave me tea but it's coffee and taste water with colour. read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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I got really excited that Symposium open up right in my neighborhood. Why? Now I can get a $3.75 burger with $3.75 beer every Mondays! $4 Martini on Wednesdays with $9.95 mussels Date Night $40 for 2 and 1/2 L of Wine for $10 Daily Early Bird Breakfast and Dinner Specials on top of Happy Hour Special. Opens till 2 am on weekends and 1 am on weekdays when no one else really opens around here. The dining area is a little smaller the other locations I have been to. Just hope it won't get super busy. If you want to come catch a sport game, there are only 3 tv at the bar area. $3.75 Caesars from 11~3 pm... I love Specials! Btw, the burger was juicy and really good and so was the service! read more

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Over the past few years, we've dined at Symposium in Markham and have had generally good experiences. The menu offers lots of choice (but not too much), the food has been pretty good and the service has always been friendly. A couple of weeks ago, we stopped by for a Friday night dinner. We both ordered chicken parmigiana sandwiches and they were very delicious. Our server was very attentive and the owner/manager stopped by our table to make sure that everything was satisfactory. Not only were we satisfied, our expectations were exceeded. We're looking forward to returning again soon and enjoying the patio over the summer months. read more

Been to several Symposium locations, but the best one I've been to, hands-down, is the Markham locations at Kennedy and Major Mackenzie. Before I moved to Toronto (from Markham), Symposium Cafe in Markham was my go-to spot for late night eats and drinks -- but today, I decided to head over for their 2-for-1 cake slice special on Sundays! The staff has changed since the last time I visited the establishment, but the manager (or supervisor -- not too sure) was very good. He made sure that all customers were attended to and that the service provided was efficient and friendly (even though he was busy training new employees as well). In addition to the good service, the cakes were delicious. From the Hummingbird to the Brownie Chocolate Cheesecake to the Tuxedo cake, all portions were adequate (and they did not serve smaller slices of the cake than usual because of the special). Definitely miss this location -- and will be back again soon! P.S. Their flatbreads were also on special today -- be sure to try it if you get a chance! They are delicious! read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Hummingbird cake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Incredibly careful and clean environments inside and out. Probably the finest spinach dip served with warm triangle squares we've had. Jumbo hot wings like you would have in your favourite pub, and the world according to me was revealed in the most incredible carrot cake, served with what they are known for - incredible coffees. read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Their notorious Carrot Cake.... served without caramel drizzle. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Come here for dinner before they sent us a coupon so why not try this place out. They have special everyday and happy hour before 6pm and late night starting at 10pm. Can check the details on their website. I've ordered a Swiss mushroom burger and JD steak wrap average in $16. It comes with fries but they put so much salt on it so I need to take away some salt on each fries. The burger taste normal but I'm not too impressed with the steak wrap. First the wrap is small and second it's not very flavorful. With the same price I have many more options that serve better food so I may not consider coming back or maybe just once in a very while. They definitely need to improve their cooks to get more traffic read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Swiss mushroom burger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Leaving 1 star because zero is not an option. The worst dining experience I've ever had from terrible customer service, rude behaviour to lengthy waits for awful food. read more

I am not sure what the point of the Roman motif is. I understand that it is related to the 'Symposium' name, but given the menu it is barely germane. I had breakfast here at around 10:00 am and the dining room had three occupied tables, which works for me. The waiter was quick to come over to take our order, but he was slow with the bill. There are not any refills or quality checks here. I had ham and eggs which was fine. No problems and it was exactly as I ordered. My acquaintances had French toast, etc. and thought it was fine as well. Nothing special, but not bad. Th prices are a a little expensive though. The plaza doesn't have enough parking spaces. I think there is a Tim Hortons there, which should explain it (yuck!). read more

I used to really like this place and enjoyed their foods, as well as desserts. However, I've found that it has gone downhill in terms of both food and service lately across different locations. I had the Eggs Benjamin and it was quite good and filling. My friend had the Brie, Mushroom, Spinach omelette and she liked it as well, IF THE RYE BREAD DIDN'T HAVE MOLD ON IT. That's a health hazard and they didn't really do much about it. When we addressed the issue to her, she simply said she will show it to her manager. After speaking to her manager, she asked if my friend wanted another piece from a new loaf. The manager should have come out to apologize at the least. So disgusting. NB: while writing this review, the table behind us sent their food back too because they found mold on their bread as well. If you come here, maybe don't get anything with bread. After I wrote this and got the bill, the server actually told us they comped the item with the moldy bread so at least something was done about it. I'm just surprised the manager did not personally address the issue with us, since he wasn't busy and was just watching TV. read more

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Went here for lunch the other day and I'd say it definitely wasn't as great as the last time. If you generally follow my reviews, I review from start to finish and you might even laugh once or twice. Anyways.. to the review.. Lunch on a weekday with two friends, lots of parking near symposium café. Went in and I was not greeted, I went and found my friend who got there earlier and had a booth. The server never really asked if we were ready to order for about 20 minutes. Now, this is tricky because some customers complain about servers rushing them to order - but 20 minutes? Thankfully, we were waiting on a friend who not yet arrived yet. However, I find it strange it would take so long for the server to even ask. After the last of our party arrived, I ordered a burger with sweet potato fries ($1.50 extra), mayo on the side and a corona with a lime (I was flattered that the server asked me for ID, because it hadn't happened in a long while). When the food came to the table, I noticed right away the plates were all cracked and chipped! They didn't look good at all. The burger was alright, but the sweet potato fries? They gave me such a tiny portion. It was either comparable or less than McDonald's small sized fries. The servers never came to check on our table and ask if we were doing alright. Anyways, I requested the full bill because I hadn't seen my friends in a while and I thought I'd treat them. Everything is pretty standard so far, I pay, and we sit and talk some more. About 20 minutes later, the server comes and says, "oh, sorry, we forgot to actually charge you for the corona, do you mind?" Well, no, I don't mind because I did drink my beer but things are not smooth and aren't like a well-oiled machine here. Additionally, it wasn't busy - the last time I came here it was much better. 2.5/5 If you need something to eat, sure. But I wouldn't recommend this place to a friend. read more

Nice place for breakfast/brunch. Comfortable seating and good service. The menu is pretty extensive; portion size is decent and prices are fair. I was so busy taking a picture of everyone else's meal that I forgot to take a picture of mine. I got the Tuscan Benedict and unfortunately, I didn't like the tomato infused Hollandaise sauce. Kind of tasted like bland pasta sauce. Comes with 3 poached eggs and grated gouda to top it off (could have used a bit more smoked gouda though). The breakfast potatoes were great and I really liked my hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. I've enjoyed some of their other breakfast items too, like the more generic Eggs Benedict and 3 eggs with farmers sausage. Worth a visit and they have daily specials as well! read more

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Went there on Canada Day with my family and there were no tables on the patio but we are the only table inside. We ordered coffee and breakfast and it probably took at least 15 to 20 minutes for the coffee to come along. Almost an hour later our food was still not at the table and we followed up and they said that there's still other people who ordered ahead of us and that there was only one person in the kitchen So there's literally nothing they can do. We had a toddler and we were extremely frustrated that they didn't even tell us that when we sat down it would be this ridiculous of a wait. So we asked for the bill and they still charged us full price for the expensive coffees which would have tasted better if I had made it at home. Will not be returning and would not recommend. read more

Let's be honest. There are a lot of places that do then same concept. The customer service here could be better. Sometimes it doesn't seem like their servers care enough to check up on your table to make sure everything is okay. Their washroom is clean. The decor is very cozy. Their food...I am not sure cause I have never tried it. I only come here for dessert. I have an obsession with Carrot Cake and their sky high Carrot Cake is amazing. The cream cheese frosting is creamy, buttery and just sweet enough. The cake is moist and fluffy with a few fruits tossed in there to provide contrast of texture and taste to the cream cheese frosting. Every time I come here I get the Carrot Cake (unless they don't have it than I have to, reluctantly and painfully, choose a different dessert). Please keep in mind that there are always a good amount of people enjoying themselves at this location. I see that these people do order their food and seem to enjoy it. I also have noticed that they have many good deals such as date night for 2 for $48. Burgers for $5 as long as your purchase ANY drink. Their portions looks huge. Will he coming back here one day for a meal. :) read more

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I came to this location long ago for brunch on a weekday, experience was alright so decide to come back again for a quick lunch. It was a Thursday lunch hour. I was surprised it was somewhat busy considering there isn't any office buildings around. However they were so understaffed, only 2 servers, running all over the place trying to catch their breath. Some of the other concerns I would like to raise. 1. I asked for water without ice, but the water came with ice. Not a big deal, I asked the server to switch it out for me. she questioned me back if that was what I asked for initially. I wasn't even giving her attitude or anything. 2. I ordered fish tacos. I was surprised it comes with a side because it wasn't on the menu. The server gave me a few options which french onion soup was one, and I went with that. All the food arrived except my soup...... She explained she forgot about my soup, again, not a big deal.. and the soup got here 20mins later. 3. The server came to check if every thing is ok. I genuinely just want to provide feedback because the food was so bad I only ate half of the taco and half of the soup. I was not expecting any compensation because it could be just not my liking. What I found unacceptable was instead of taking my feedback to the kitchen, she said everyone has their off days. Maybe today is the chefs off day.... Speaking as if I should just accept the food the way it was served without complaints. 4. The bill got here and found out i was charged extra for the french onion soup. Why? Beats me. Nothing was printed on the menu so there's nothing much I could do. I wish she explained to me clearly if there is going to be extra charge. All she asked when I ordered was "what would you like for the side? Fries, sweet potato fries, salad or soup?" read more

I agree with Chris C. The food and services are decent. The ambiance is good. The wine list is passable for a bistro, though maybe not good enough for a lounge. The price is higher than I am used to. Overall, the food quality ranged from average to good. I ordered a French Onion soup as starter. It was hearty and not too salty. It could have more cheese. For main, I ordered a steak wrap. The wrap was loaded with lots of steak strips. The steak strips were fresh, tender and flavourful. i liked that the chef didn't go cheap on ingredients. The wrap was a tad too saucy. The juice leaked, and it quickly became messy to eat the wraps. My dining mate ordered a Haddock sandwich, which actually came in a bun, not two slices of bread. He said the fish fillets were tender, moist, fresh enough (no hint of fishiness). He wished the fish fillets were bigger. We ordered a Chocolate Banana Split as dessert. It was good portioned, too. This restaurant is strategically located in the Angus Glen neighborhood, just north of the Unionville neighborhood. And there isn't another true Western dining venue in these 2 hoods. I think they can charge these prices as long as the millionaires in these 2 hoods are willing to pay. Affordability is not an issue to them. read more

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Came in for breakfast today. Symposium really has a great set up and that goes for all the locations. Its always cozy, well decorated and clean inside. It also smelled delicious because of the waffles. Price wise, you pay an identical price to what you would have payed at eggsmart or anyother breakfast place. Maybe $1-$1.50 more, but not more than than that. Our server was actually great. He was very well mannered and knew how to talk to people. Most importantly, another person came around and topped up our coffee. Symposium is a Canadian company and that really makes me happy. For a reasonable price, you get to dine on good food in an above average nice atmosphere. read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Breakfast of Champions- $12.95 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Overpriced brunch and service was shoddy. We had to ask for everything when the wait staff should of brought it to us in the first place. Giving points for the nice atmosphere and how the food tasted. I personally can make the food in the comfort of my own home for a fraction of the price I paid there. read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Tastes good, but very expensive. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Like what Jennifer mentioned, I, too, got really excited that Symposium Cafè was opening. It has opened about a month ago - i just got back from a business trip and haven't ate and thought this would be a great time to pay a visit at this location. I have been going to Symposium since I was in my teens - before it was Symposium, it was called Plantations. Ordered today's special, manager served us, and I was very pleased with my overall experience at this location. From juicy burger to ice cream sandwich dessert. I am looking forward to the breakfast menu. =) read more

Symposium Cafe Restaurant Markham - Delicious Juicy Burger - Monday special only $3.75! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Worst experience ever. If you have to go to Symposium, go to the other locations. Came here for brunch since it was close by. Thought it would be full because of labour day Monday, so we went in to realize it was half empty. Waited there for 5-7 minutes and then the hostess tells me they're cleaning the tables. So we waited another minute to be seated, then got our menus. Looked through the menu and was ready to order, only to realize we had to wait another 5 minutes for our server to come over and ask what we wanted to drink (I thought water was pretty standard when they come over). So we ordered and waited another 5 minutes for my pint, another 35 minutes and still no food. I got pissed, chugged my beer and cancelled the rest of the crap we ordered. I paid for the beer without tipping, perhaps I should've drank it and left without paying. Its simple - if you can't serve promptly, take a damn day off. I was h-angry! read more

I am actually quite surprised of the low score reviews here! I've visited here twice, both in the afternoon, for breakfast options and regular entrees. The ambiance here is comfortable and relaxing, I especially love the comfy leather chairs in the middle that sink you right in! Talk about feeling at home... The food quality is amazing here, service is excellent, the servers check in on the table several times during my meal, I loved it. I've had pea meal bacon at many places and they're always too salty, but this place makes it just right. My favourite has to be the hot chocolate here, mmmm! I highly recommend this place for all you Markham people! I actually love this place more than the thornhill location. And they open fairly late read more

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I came here for an early dinner with my boyfriend. Right away, this restaurant reminds me of Cafe Mirage. Even the menu (especially the dessert) looks very similar to Cafe Mirage. I got the shrimp fusili and my boyfriend got wings. The portion of the shrimp fusili was quite big and I almost couldn't finish it. I didn't expect the pasta to be al dente and it wasn't which was fine. The actual flavour of the dish was very garlicky which I enjoyed. The service at this restaurant was average. I like how they have big, comfortable chairs but every time a waitress walks by, she bumps into my seat which can get quite annoying. I'm interested in trying some of their other stuff on the menu since it's reasonably priced so I'll be coming back here. read more

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Came here on a Monday around 1pm and the place was full! (Maybe because it was the end of the year and everyone was on their break?) 7/10 for food. I got the breakfast for champions which came with 3 strips of bacon, 3 eggs, waffle and fries. Bacon was done just right so I was pretty happy with that. Everything else was so average. Great big portion though! We barely finished 3/10 for service. First, no one greeted us until after 5 minutes waiting at the door. Then, we waited 30 minutes for our food and the waitress was always not available when we needed her. Overall I spent around $15. Pretty decent price for brunch. Will come again because they have a variety of choices for food but don't expect anything spectacular! read more

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We had breakfast at this place and its bad. Everything tasted like it came straight out from the freezer and they put little effort in presentation. The worst was the price though - they're charging the same amount as other nice cafes in the area and you could get a MUCH better meal there. Don't spend / waste your money here. read more