Essence of Unionville

Review summary

1. L

   Linda

   VIP

   Toronto

   14 reviews

   4.0

   14 reviews

   Dined on 8 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 3

   Overall, the afternoon tea experience was enjoyable, but there were a few minor issues that affected the experience. The ambiance was pleasant, though the noise from a staff member pushing a heavy-duty floor cleaner across the dining room during tea service was distracting. That said, the service by Paul stood out as exceptional—attentive, professional, and engaging, adding a positive touch to the experience. The food was a highlight, with the sandwiches and desserts being particularly delightful. However, the mention of "warm raisin and plain scones from our bakery" in the menu was a bit misleading, as only one scone (a raisin one) was provided. In situations like this, it would be better for the establishment to substitute with another scone to keep the promise of two. When I asked the server, if the tea should have two scones, as the menu wording seems to indicate two scones with the afternoon tea. They indicated “no, it is only one scone.” The wording should be adjusted to "warm raisin OR plain scone" instead of "AND," which would avoid confusion. Why ask when making the reservation through “Open Table” about the reason for the booking (ie. birthday or anniversary) if the occasion is not acknowledged. It was indicated on my reservation it was my sister’s birthday. A slightly broader tea selection would have been appreciated, but considering the price point, I would still recommend this afternoon tea. It offered good value for money despite the minor hiccups.
   

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2. N

   Nila

   Toronto

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on 26 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had an incredible experience at Essence of Unionville. We decided we'd celebrate my mother's birthday with Sunday brunch and could not have been happier with our choice. The staff truly went above and beyond to make sure we had a good time and the food was delicious. There was a wide variety of options to choose from, including an amazing selection of desserts. To top it all off, the staff came over with some birthday cake and even sang happy birthday to my mother. We will definitely be coming back! Thank you to everyone at the Essence of Unionville for making my mother's birthday so special.
   

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3. L

   Lynn

   Toronto

   5 reviews

   4.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on 24 January 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Very spacious room Was not busy for a Friday night One staff looking after the tables Food was good, risotto with short ribs was a fav, Sea bass was also good Pricing was a little steep but it was a special occasion for so we were treated well! Lighting needs to be adjusted for dining, overhead lighting was too bright like cafeteria lighting :( Otherwise a good time had by all We will be back to try brunch
   

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4. A

   Anna

   Toronto

   8 reviews

   4.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on 7 January 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Very good service. Food is good too. Very relaxing evening.
   

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5. S

   Sanjukta

   Toronto

   32 reviews

   5.0

   32 reviews

   Dined on 5 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Our high tea experience this afternoon was lovely. Delicious food, good tea, good service and a relaxing ambiance.
   

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6. A

   Anson

   VIP

   Toronto

   5 reviews

   4.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on 25 December 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Basically it was an good experience and food was decent. Is a little bit pricey but overall I think the value is good
   

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7. M

   Mert

   Toronto

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on 25 December 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 3

   The staff were very friendly and helpful, which is expected from a restaurant located within a hotel. However, considering the price of $100 per person (plus tips and no taxes for now), the selection at the open buffet was underwhelming. The quality of the meat products, charcuterie, and sushi was disappointing. Comparatively, you can find a much wider variety of dishes with better-quality ingredients at places like Dragon Legend or Mandarin, all for about 40% less.
   

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8. P

   Peter

   Toronto

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 22 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   very good taste, good service, free parking but need to write down the licence plate in the front desk. Will come again.
   

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9. T

   Tamara

   VIP

   Toronto

   5 reviews

   3.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on 22 December 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   The main drawback to this restaurant is the rude hostess at the front. According to this hostess, if you don’t book weeks in advance, she won’t be able to find the reservation, lol. Once you speak to the manager and get seated, everyone else that works here are polite and attentive. There is a variety of food, and if you have a picky eater they will try and make something that else for them. The live music is a nice touch. If you go in the winter, cold air from the front door of the hotel keeps blowing in, so wear a jacket. The location is very close to home and we would probably go more often, but we prefer to avoid the fussy hostess.
   

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10. C

    Christine

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Great service and arrangement. Food is good and cheese cake is delicious.
    

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