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Casa Imperial Fine Chinese Cuisine
Category: Restaurants Chinese Dim Sum Dim Sum [Edit]
4125 Steeles Ave EScarborough, ON M1W 3T4
Neighbourhood: Scarborough
(416) 756-2788
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
39 reviews for Casa Imperial Fine Chinese Cuisine
Review Highlights
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"Deep fried dough with rice noodle roll: always a favourite..." In 2 reviews -
"It's like having high tea but with dim sum." In 3 reviews -
"A victorian mansion full of gold, glitter, and gleaming..." In 9 reviews
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39 reviews in English
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Review from Johnny H.
Toronto, ON
4/14/2012 3 photos
As far as Chinese cuisine goes, this is top of its class. I discovered this place in summer of 2010. And I have yet to find a Chinese restaurant that can top Casa Imperial (CI) in terms of service, food, price and awesomely lavish decor in Toronto area.
Formerly a steakhouse, the decor puts some real palaces to shame. Bright lighting, high ceiling, delicate trimming details, large paintings, elegant decorative pieces, etc. Chair designs, wallpaper and lack of windows can somewhat add to cheap buffet hall feel in some angles, but it still is a fancy place.Had there been enough red colors, it could have added a bit more Chinese atmosphere. The building structure is very interesting as well. There are different levels here and there. The upper east side of the building looks very cozy and intimate. If you are bored waiting for your foods to come out, take a walk.
Food doesn't disappoint. Loved the peking duck. You must have peking duck at CI. I'm no Chinese cuisine expert, but I've eaten enough peking ducks - that's the only thing I know how to order at Chinese restaurants....- to know a good peking duck when I see one. And the dim sums/dumplings are very fresh and steady in its calm flavors. If you are planning to have dim sum lunch at Pearl, forge about it. Just head to CI because they've got the good stuff. We had many other dishes from soups to broiled fish so far, and they were all satisfying. But dim sum is the real killer. There are some items on the menu that are considered delicacies. Like a bird nest. Yeah, bird nest is a delicacy, and apparently it is good for health.
Servers are well-mannered and they answer to your questions with enthusiasm. They are knowledgable with the menu and foods in general as well. And they are dressed well too! Tables are large, and there is decent space between tables to give privacy. It can get a bit noisy.
And the most amazing part is the price. Order several dishes, and you still may not break $100 barrier. But the course menus for group dining is a bit more expensive than other Chinese restaurants.
I love dining at CI, but I can't really seem to order new items on the menu. Only thing I know is peking duck, spicy soup, chowmein noodle and rice. Hopefully next time, I will venture into uncharted territories of Chinese food. -
Review from Sarah L.
Markham, ON
4/14/2012
I've been here a couple of times for family dinners and dim sum. I must say, the last time I went, I was disappointed!
Their service sucked; their waitresses were so terrible when collecting plates and handing out dishes. This is one of my biggest pet peeves!!! The food was decent, but a little oily.
I hope to never go back again -
Review from Koz T.
Calgary, AB
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food Quality: 4/5
Service: 1/5
Parking: 2/5
Dining Area: 5/5
Value: 3/5
This place is quite pretentious and obviously for those who want to be seen. It is NOT a place you go to with close friends or family for a relaxed time. The staff were rude and the price insane for the portion size. For a special occasion? Maybe. -
Review from Yvonne K.
5/14/2012
the food here is outstanding! I came last sept for a wedding and we had a the full 10 course meal. Each item was served and eaten really quickly. I haven't been here on a regular day for lunch or dinner but I am sure that it is amazing. It is really great service and the lavish decor gives it the 'imperial' feel.
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Review from Haohan X.
Hamilton, ON
5/9/2012
Had breakfast tea at casa imperial this morning, the dim sums was actually impeccable, white tuna an bacon tart, bird tart tart and BBQ pork are on my favorite list right now. But the congee is way too over-priced.
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Review from Josephine C.
Markham, ON
2/1/2012
Been here several times for lunch/dinner. Each time I was impressed by the food, the decor, and the service. The restaurant is actually an old mansion on Steeles Ave. I drove by not being able to find the place a few times because the entrance is so hidden.
Whether it's dim sum, seafood, or peking duck, you can't go wrong here. Prices are on the high end but you get what you pay for.
Recommended to anyone looking for upscale chinese food in Markham. -
Review from Theresa W.
Vancouver, BC
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
My parents have been wanting to check out this place for a while now, and what better occasion to go than when their favourite (read: only) daughter is back in town. Since I've already been to Casa Imperial several times, I was really excited to see if this restaurant would be as good.
The place itself is gorgeous inside. It's definitely strange for a Chinese restaurant. I don't know how wedding banquets can be held here, so the restaurant is split up so much with different floors and stairs. It seemed quite small, and much longer / narrower than I imagined from the outside.
I suppose most people come here strictly because the food is amazing, because our service was so far off the mark. We had the hardest time getting anyone to come by our table to take our order, refill our teapot, get our bill, etc. despite servers and hosts chatting away to more frequent diners at the tables next to us. It made us feel completely unwelcome, and halfway through our meal we were ready to leave :(
The food is the only saving grace. The sticky rice is fantastic and contains a lot of filling. The pea shoot and king mushroom dumpling had a great flavour to it, and the honey short ribs (as always) were a hit. We also ordered the squid tentacles, but it never arrived so we cancelled it just so we could get out sooner.
The place is posh for sure, there's no early morning dim sum discount (unless you're friends with one of the hosts I assume), so I don't think we'll come back here often. Since the food quality is the same as Casa Imperial, I think we'll just head back there instead - I find the people there so much nicer. -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
Dim sum at Casa Imperial is always a delight, save for the price. The wait is always long, so either come super early, super late, or make a reservation.
Now onto the food!
Honey sesame pan fried short rib- last time I ordered this, it was a tad chewy. This time, it was perfect! I couldn't stop eating it!
Crispy shrimp won ton in sweet and sour sauce: this was good, but not spectacular. Kind of reminds me of the shrimp rolls that I always get at Ambassador, since the dipping sauce is almost identical. But the shrimp rolls were more whimsical and fun.
Har Gow- can't go to dim sum without ordering this, and these were quite delicious.
Pan fried chives and conpoy dumpling: I really enjoyed these dumplings, as they were very juicy and full of aromatic chives!
Deep fried dough with rice noodle roll: always a favourite of mine. This time, the deep fried dough was super crunchy, even more than usual. Perhaps they were over-fried? Regardless, I loved the addition of conpoy. The dipping sauces, however, were rather bland.
For dessert, milk and papaya puff: the pastry was delicate and flaky, and the rich cream filling was quite wonderful.
It was another wonderful dim sum experience at Casa Imperial. I wish they have some sort of early bird special though.Listed in: 30-Day Yelp Challenge
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/2/2011
I love dim sum at Casa Imperial! There are highs and lows, but the food is generally very good. Of… Read more »
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Review from Yvonne T.
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Casa Imperial is housed in a historic mansion that was formerly a steakhouse. The decor is very Western and not at all what you'd expect of a dim sum restaurant. Walls adorned with replica paintings of medieval Europe while chandeliers hang from the ceiling really make you feel like you're here for high tea.
The dim sum servers are dressed in (tasteful) French-maid-like attire (this ain't Hooters boys!) and even the China is very European.
You will pay a premium to have dim sum at Casa Imperial but it is worth every penny. In addition to the standard dim sum items you will also find premium/specialty items such as Swallow's Nest Egg Tarts and Dried Scallops (Conpoy) sprinkled Fried Doughnut wrapped in Rice Noodles for example.
The premium you pay is reflected in the ingredients as well as the filling (e.g. more shrimp than wrapper in the dumplings), quality and service. Dim sum restaurants usually are not conducive to having a conversation that is not publicized because its usually very loud but Casa provides for a relaxing experience, especially if you get put in one of the smaller dining areas. The table we had was in a smaller room of about 4 tables.
All in all we ordered 11 dishes between 3 people and the bill was about $75 with tax and tip. We were stuffed to the nines and walked out with happy tummies. -
Review from Jessica Z.
3/6/2012 6 photos
My boyfriend and I came here for dimsum around noon or a bit later. When we got here, we were asked to wait because the place was full, but after a few minutes we were seated downstairs and given their menus as well as a slip of paper where you check off what you want.
Our food started coming out promptly. I'll start with the favorites. I'll start with our favorite, a shark fin and seafood soup (don't remember the exact name.) The seafood was fresh and the soup complimented it well. The siu mai was big and delicious! Next is the super har gao. The shrimp inside was good and har gao itself was pretty big. The seafood dumpling and conch was very good, you should definitely try that!
Here are the okays. There's nothing wrong with them, but at the same time they taste pretty standard. First was our beef tripe in XO sauce, which tasted okay. Nothing special. Same goes for their spare ribs with taro in black bean sauce. The jumbo shrimp and chives steamed noodle was okay, but the jumbo shrimp lives up to it's name. I didn't try the baked abalone and chicken pie, but my boyfriend said it was okay. By then I was already too full to eat it.
Finally, when it was time for dessert, we ordered a mango pudding (which we checked off when we first ordered.) However, they forgot about that ordered so we waited until finally we mentioned it and it came out not too long after. It came out in a shape of a fish and there were two of them as well. It was pretty delicious. This was the only bad incident of our meal and I guess since it was dessert after all, they focused on all the other foods first and forgot to bring it, but it was no big deal since they handled the situation well.
Overall, I would come here again.The portions are pretty generous compared to a lot of other dimsum places, but it is a bit pricier as well. It came out to be $61 before tax for 9 dishes so almost $7 a dish. But I guess it's worth the treat once in a while. -
Review from Annie L.
Markham, ON
3/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
It'll be my first and LAST visit!
I decided to visit this establishment because our usual place was packed (Ginger and Onion) on Sunday. My girlfriend and I decided to visit Casa Imperial since it's down the street and thought it'll probably be less people cause it's a expensive than others. Also, my cousin gave it good reviews. Oh my, I wish I haven't visited this place. I should've known, my cousin eats for material things and not with her stomach and tongue!
It's cute cause it's in a Mansion but it doesn't work with dim sum, probably for a western restaurant. When I walked in, it felt strange cause it's awkward. I feel it's not being appreciated by Asians. It has the finer things with fancy tableware and waitress and waiters in butler and maid outfits but it lacks in quality of taste. The difference in old fashion vs fine dining dim sum. I prefer my old lady/non-English speaking cart ladies. The quality is there with expensive garnish (shark fin flakes on siu mai, beef tripe in xo sauce, and etc..) but it didn't taste good. I've been to better fine dining that given me the WOW factor and this was just LAME!
Decor was horrible! Asian establishments are known for being a hole in the wall, not likely going to spend lots of money decorating or fixing up. And they didn't, the castle-like restaurant was dirty and dusty, and not overall maintained (other than adding more tables in the hallway) since what seems like centuries. We were seated upstairs (2nd FL), very tight and crammed. We had a 2 seater table by the chandelier, and tiny table with big chairs with barely any leg room. I'm Asian and it was tight, can't imagine for my girlfriend who has long legs. We we're in between the walkway downstairs, people had to squeeze by (customers and staff). I was a little appalled cause we were seated next to the chandelier with glass rail. How nice it was to eat and see the chandelier covered with dust. EWWW!
Food was decent. Decent to the point, it'll probably taste better at a Asian food court that serves dim sum. Not worth the money! We usually eat 5-7 plates of dim sum at ginger and onion, which costs between $20-$25 including tips. Casa Imperial cost us $43 including tips for 5 plates of dim sum. We've ordered Crispy Pork Buns, Chicken Feet, Siu Mai, Sticky Rice in lotus leaf, and Papaya and Custard cake. Out of five things we've ordered. We only liked 1, which was sticky rice. It's easy to make, my grandma makes it all the time.
Overall, if you want to be ripped off, eat rubbish dim sum, and crammed space. This is the place! -
Review from Wendy C.
3/14/2011
Comments and rating based on dim sum experience only.
Why go to this place when there are at least a half dozen restaurants in the area that offer similar quality food at less price? -- where else can you have the unique experience of having Chinese dim sum in a (non-Chinese) mansion?
Dim Sum Style -- order from a dim sum menu, no push carts. Because the food is prepared fresh after you've placed the order, it's the way to go.
Quality and Selection -- "standard" selections plus a few speciality creations like Sticky Rice Dumpling with whole conpoy (dried scallops), chicken fillet with lemon grass, etc. I really like steamed rice noodle roll with dough fritter and dried scallops inside (the menu says "deep fried dough w/ conpoy), the fritter is perfectly crispy and the rice rolls moist and silky smooth.
Service -- attentive enough. The noisy level seems to be lower in this restaurant compared to other Chinese restaurants, so if you want to have a quiet conversation, it's possible.
Keep this on the to-go list? -- It's not a get-a-quick-bite dim sum place, but a nice place to take guests to. -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
2/14/2011
Casa Imperial took my Virginity. First time in my life I've EVER spent $7.10(!) on Har Gow, OMG. It got me all emotional, I felt my Wallet getting gooey wet. They put their Name next to the word "Har Gow" so how can a first-timer avoid doing that obligatory check-mark? CHECK
I felt instantly pretentious just stepping inside this Mansion, "ME" pretentious because some items on the Menu cost more than the clothes on my back. I'm the old-school Dim Sum-er with even older-school mentally with 1990s pricing. I haven't quite caught up to the 21st century with the Health Trend and over-the-top Ingredients. Age-Gap? CHECK
Impressive decor, good service, elegant table-setting...
Lotto 649(Cloud 649) - 5, 14, 19, 24, 54 and 59 Bonus Letter - T($1.20pp)
#5 Super Har Gow($7.10) - ...... (....still t h i n king)
#14 Braised Beef Tendon($5.10) - Mix Feelings
#19 Winter Melon Roll($5.10) - Healthy Alternative
#24 Chicken Feet w/Gluten($4.10) - A-OK
#54 Crisp Bean Curd Roll($5.10) - New Trendy Cool
#59 Seafood & Beef Congee($5.10) - Me Likey This
Note: Seating #B3 where "B" probably stands for Basement is a nice Table selection with windows next to it. Much more peaceful and serene than the First floor madness that is typical of Dim Sum time.
Note(#2): Arrive before 11 am Sunday or else get ready to dual-off with that Benz for the next parking spot.Listed in: Southern Chinese Food
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Review from Maggie L.
9/1/2011
Been here 4 times and can't seem to find a food related flaw. Just the washrooms are a bit creepy and stinky. Be warned the food here isn't cheap. Well worth the price you pay.
I've only come here for dim sum and it's delicious.
Recommendations:
HawGou: Skins are springy and the shrimp is deveined (poop removed) and always fresh.
Honey Ribs: This is a must try. My husband has fallen madly in love with this dish. I asked if he wanted to marry it and he said 'it doesn't nag at me so sure'
ChiuZhouFunGuo: The stuffing is delicious and they put in fresh peanuts instead of the stale ones I've tried in other places. (not to be named) Also they put Chinese celery instead, extra umph of taste.
PlainRiceNoodles: Very freshly made as well and springy, very smooth and silky. Goes great with the dipping sauce it comes with.
Pumpkin Congee: Delicious! They make it so good. My husband hates pumpkin but he's go for second on this dish.
Papaya Turnover: I think that's the best way I can describe it. It's papaya in this milky cream insides a fluffy crunchy pilo type multi-layer pastry. -
Review from Herman S.
Markham, ON
5/8/2011
I have always been against paying top dollar for chinese cuisine. No matter where you go, it's just the same stuff right?
Hell NO!!
This will be the first of a few reviews on Chinese Fine Dining. It's great to see Restaurateurs taking a step back looking at what's important and setting that bar for both DimSum and Dinner.
If you're planning on a cheap meal, this place won't be for you. Expect to pay a premium, but receiving premium quality back. I've been here numerious times for DimSum and Dinner, it's been consistantly top notch each and everytime.
Here's a little history lesson. The head chef is the Original Chef from "Sun Kwong" @ Kennedy & Finch when they first opened. He's brings the old school chinese chef qualities, done fresh and with minimum grease and practically no MSG serving us great food.
I believe reviewers that knock this place are used to eating greasy spoon chinese food which pretend to be high end. Can't really blame them, it's been a long time since the foodies of Toronto has experienced good Chinese food. -
Review from Isabella L.
Toronto, ON
12/3/2010
This place sets dim sum standards. It used to be an fancy white restaurant, but then the asians took over. Brap brap!! But, do not fear 'cause the food is really good here. No lie.
Man, I remember coming here when it first opened and their menu was most likely last-minute without spell check edited by an 80 yr old china man straight off the boat. I'd always get a good laugh at that. NO worries though, the menu has been edited with almost no or little errors now.
But on to the show stopper, the head knocker or the drool starter..? FOOD. DIM SUM. The works. These guys set the standard for asian dim sum. Seriously, everything has their own distinct flavour that is just delicious. The BBQ pork has some pinenuts which is different and tastes amazing. Flaky, flavourful, and piping hot. Also the clam congee is SO good. The congee absorbs the flavour of the clams and vegetable ingredients and just makes it taste so fresh and gives it a natural sweet flavour. Amazing. Also, their pan-fried sticky rice has SO much ingredients it's crazy. Each bite will leave you a variety of either sausage, mushroom, green onion, etc. These guys do not cheap out. ALMOST FORGOT, order the mango dessert if they have it, (Menu sometimes changes) it's so fuckin' good. Chewy texture with fresh mango taste.
The service here is great. But then again, we've been here since it opened so like any asian place if you're a regular, you will get genuine smiles, immediate discounts and attentive staff. But, I remember the staff were always very nice.
Overall: You get the idea.Listed in: Chopsticks
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Review from Kobe L.
North York, ON
2/27/2011
It's like having high tea but with dim sum. This converted mansion has a Victorian style atmosphere, complete with matching tea sets.
Short ribs were noticeably the best I've had in Toronto. They have unique items and definitely looks like they are 1) trying and 2) trying to offer something above the other dim sum restaurants-- and you definitely hope so, especially for the price they charge.
Food wise, it tasted good. Not completely sure if it is worth the substantial price difference yet. Service was attentive. Definitely fancier than most dim sum restaurants.
ps. Left on the table was a pamphlet with their banquets meals $2K a table??? The layout being awkward for a wedding aside, really couldn't see how the meal was different over the $1K meal. -
Review from Diane L.
11/5/2008 7 photos
I have never step foot into such a beautiful Chinese restaurant. As you enter their private lot, you are driving through the gates of what used to be a mansion. When you walk into the dining room, you feel as if you're dining in a British tearoom. The interior is adorned with beautiful paintings and chandeliers, the staff are all dressed in formal uniforms, and the utensils and plates are all very intricate. Case in point: this is not your typical Chinese restaurant.
The dim sum, on the other hand, was kind of a miss. My aunt and uncle kept raving about Casa Imperial's steamed dumplings. But I think they were having an off day, as the dumpling skins crumbled between my chopsticks. It's definitely not a good sign when you can't even take a bite out of your ha gow (shrimp dumpling) without the shrimp falling out of your dumpling skin. But they do have other great offerings: Chinese mustard and clam congee, black pepper baby beef ribs, rice noodles, and their rice and noodle dishes.
Prices are a bit high, but I think the fabulous dining experience makes up for it. I took a peek at their wedding banquet menu offerings and almost choked on my food. The cheapest menu was listed at $778, while the most expensive was listed at $2288! Regardless of the high prices, it's evident that Torontonians are a big fan of this place. I came here at 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon and there was still a wait for a table! -
Review from Karman L.
8/7/2008
Casa Imperial is a dim sum restaurant inside this giant old Victorian style house.
It's a fancy decorated place (tall ceiling, British style decor). Which is weird when you are here for dim sum.
Anyway, dim sum is good here, big variety. Price is a little steep tho. -
Review from Tak L.
7/21/2010
This is probably the fanciest and best dim-sum place I'll ever go to. The restaurant is on Steeles Ave, but is a little hard to spot because it is lined with Canadian flags and looks like an embassy rather than a restaurant.
The prices for the dim-sum are comparable to any other dim-sum place, and the food you get is as hot and fresh as it can get. Maybe it could be a little more expensive, but it is well worth it.
Eating dim-sum in a old castle formerly occupied by a Scottish person is odd, but definitely go and try it for yourself!
Oh, and no you don't have to dress up. -
Review from Brian P.
11/17/2008
So, my uncle and aunt were raving about how great the food here was, but it really wasn't that great. I mean don't get me wrong, the food was good, but i guess my aunt and uncle were raving about how great it was, that I had very high expectations about this place. The food is good though, but some of the items they need to work on. Like the skins for the dumplings were very crumbly... right when I try to pick one up with my chop stick, everything falls apart.
Anyways, this is one of the nicest restaurants... actually no, one of the nicest Chinese restaurants I've stepped into. So my uncle tells me this place use to be a French restaurant, and they turned it into a upscale Chinese restaurant. The place is amazing. Its just remarkable to be able to dine in a restaurant like this. They just have to work on the dumpling skin! -
Review from Jeff K.
3/23/2010
I actually missed this place when I drove by because it just looks like one of the houses in my neighborhood.
It was definitely not funny at the moment, because it took me forever to try to get back.
I gotta say though, this is one interesting place. Converting a house into a restaurant provide unique challenges in delivering food to the table. It's especially true when you are serving dim sum. Due to that restriction, they weren't able to push those interesting carts around. That kinda killed the typical dim sum atmosphere a bit. The food definitely made up for the missing carts. I was told that dim sums are like this in Toronto area. I guess this is the Toronto style fusion dim sum. It's DELICIOUS. Too bad you can't find it outside of the toronto area. -
Review from Terrie C.
9/20/2011
No one likes overpriced food but sometimes you just have to pay to try out new things. Honestly, Chinese cuisine is generally not expensive, the reason is because throughout the world in many many countries, Chinese cuisine exists in a lot of places- there are trends of the chinese 'takeout' or 'fast food' or 'cheap eats'. So we have typically grown accustomed to that notion of the inexpensive category in eating that has so much flavor and "heat/fire" without the big bucks. However, of course there will be renditions or spin-offs where people will turn it around and then charge big bucks. I am not against that type of transformation at all. It's like turning ratatouille into a $100 dish but it was always known as the poor person's food. Or if you go to Harlem to pay $30 for fried chicken because this restaurant decided to make it a delicacy. But you see - these are just new ways that restaurants evolve their food/service/theme. This is just a background scenario to lead into Casa Imperial. A house that was renovated into a dining hall - that resembles a catering hall for wedding venues.
In any case, this is probably one of the finest dimsum places that I have ever tried. The quality and overall dishes are superb. I've had excellent and FRESH dimsum in San Franscisco, Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Fresh is not only referring to the basic ingredients but fresh in how it's made, when it's made. So for example, fresh, in my definition entails as soon as you bite into the noodle part of a shrimp wrapped noodle, the noodle part of it has a slight al dente bouncey texture that goes to show that they made it on the spot. If that dish was made a few hours ago, the noodles would've hardened up. so it's really made right when you order. For those who have tried abalone - an expensive seafood, there is a abalone mini pies (very expensive!!!)
Weekends - expect AT LEAST an hour's wait. Almost everyone accepts that wait - and no one complains. So it's a pleasant wait :) for everybody! (a rarity that happens in good ole' NYC!)
With the decor, plate settings and atmosphere - FORGET about it, the photos all speak for themselves. It was not only breath-taking but astonishly elegant and over-the-top - a hint of old-Italian culture, mixed with Versaille elements, alongside some antiquity nostalgia. At the same time, it is SO CLEAN. The plates, settings, cups and tablescapes were all organized neatly...which is is why I'm saying to forget talking about it.. it's just too perfect.
Again, this is the best of the best in dimsum. It is comparable to what I think are the world's top dimsum places in HK, Guangzhou and San Fran, U.S. I have yet to try the dimsum in Vancouver. -
Review from Jason V.
North York, ON
9/16/2011
Outstanding dim sum! The Peking duck is too die for. Your going to drop alot of cash but its totally worth it.
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Review from W S.
8/12/2010
To be honest, I'm not really sure how to rate this: It's average when compared to the dimsum joints in Chicago, but subpar compared to the many other wonderful Toronto spots...and it's pricier to boot. Given all of that, I'm not really sure why there was such a long line to get in.
While the food seems special on paper (swallow's nest egg tart, anyone?), it didn't really translate into reality. In fact, for the price, it was definitely missing the finer points of excellent dimsum, such as delicate wrappings or intricate designs. To be fair, they did try...but did not succeed.
And lastly, there was just something off about the ambiance. Look, I like dimsum and I like museums, but eating dimsum in a museum didn't really synergize for me the way it might have for others. We were seated in a smaller room of only three other tables; it definitely felt more like a museum than a restaurant in there, and as unrefined as it sounds, dimsum just isn't dimsum without having to yell over the din of a hundred other raucous diners. And I echo other reviewers' sentiments that the place as a whole is a bit snooty.
Go here once just for the experience, but go get better food elsewhere after that. -
Review from Steph L.
2/14/2010
Hello guv'nuh,
A spot of tea with those dumplings?
This morning I had dim sum here with my family for Lunar New Year.
The first thing I noticed was the decor.
A victorian mansion full of gold, glitter, and gleaming chandeliers.
The servers had these maid like uniforms which was cool.
The teacups were English style with handles! And the teapots were so fancy and decorative. It was like having high tea, but with chopsticks.
The food was above average but nothing to really rave about.
They had a large variety of dumplings and some nice veggie ones too.
The sticky rice came in smaller than usual cute little packets, tasty savory goodness.
The crab claws were massive!
Noodles came in giant portions.
Egg tarts were flaky, sweet, and delicious.
I gave the place 4 stars because of the restaurant's efforts to transform dim sum into a fine dining experience. The food was not quite 4 stars worthy.
But really, I wouldn't come here unless someone really wanted to eat here.
Double the price of regular dim sum, but not double the enjoyment (in my opinion).
I found everything a bit stuffy and slightly pretentious including the clientele.
I'd take someone here if I wanted to show them how fancy you can make dim sum, but it's not the place for an authentic dim sum experience.
Just not my style, but I can see why other people like the place. -
Review from Michael C.
6/5/2009
This is quite possibly the FANCIEST Chinese restaurant I've ever been in, and I've been to quite a lot. Though, a word of warning, if you want to sit on the 2nd floor area for dinner, be prepared to pay an extra $2 CAD per dish. While the upper area is nice, I would only suggest doing that for special guests. Otherwise, sit in the lower area when possible.
The food was good, not death-defying incredible, but good. I would give it 3 stars for the food, but 5 stars for the presentation of the food, so it rounds out for 4-star food.
The place definitely deserves a 5 star because it is the cleanest, and best looking Chinese restaurant I've ever been to. Bravo!
The service was top-notch. The staff took care of us late into closing time (we were the last people there).
The price was definitely high up there. EEEXXXPENSIVE! But, you need to give it a go.
All in all, I would recommend this spot , but with a few warnings before stepping in. -
Review from Vivian Y.
Updated - 7/14/2009
Came here again because my parents know I loved this place last time but the food wasn't nearly as good this time around. Mom tells me that some of their chefs left to another restaurant. could it be true? tell me where they went!!!
Anywhoo, still has the best lotus wrapped sticky rice chicken in the city! The rest is still good but not as awesome..... try their lo mein - very nice and light!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/30/2008
Having lived in Toronto for almost 10 years and had witnessed this particular mansion undergo… Read more »
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Review from David G.
Toronto, ON
2/8/2010 6 Check-ins Here
An unfamiliar atmosphere when one thinks of a dim sum tea house, Casa Imperial is one of the strangest, yet best tasting restaurant.
Housed in what can only be described as a Victorian-era manor, the first time one passes by, one can only assume that it is a place for parties, functions and other formal gatherings. However, it is open to the public and once inside, the old English atmosphere continues to befuddle and bewilder.
Never mind this, onto the most important part, the food.
The food initially comes across as pretentious and unnecessarily dressed-up, but upon further inspection, the addition of key ingredients serves to add a complex nuance to a simple flavor.
Simply put, the food tastes better.
Also appreciated is a lack of MSG present in the items, as that is not always the case.
The quality of all of the traditional items is top notch, and the special items are very good too.
Definitely my favorite dim sum restaurant based on food quality alone in the GTA, though the price does leave something to be desired. -
Review from Thomas P.
Scarborough, ON
5/24/2011
Been to this place a couple of years back. The place is classy, friendly and service as far as I can remember was grrreat! A must for anyone into fine, authentic Chinese food.
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Review from Tony Y.
10/23/2011
Honestly, from some of the Chowhound comments, I was expecting much more from this place. In all fairness, the Dim Sum here is not that great. Considering the higher pricing charged "relatively speaking", it should have been better. There were 8 dishes ordered, not one made my cut as being exceptional or uniquely different from the rest. The flour used on the wrapping/skin is not high quality flour since I am somewhat gluten sensitive and the food here triggered it. Decor, just plain awful, not that Asians care much about decor, it's always about the food and maybe the service for promptness/friendliness/courtesy. Conclusion, there is nothing awful here BUT just nothing w/ a "WOW" factor, you know what I mean. In my opinion, the best Chinese/Dim Sum in Toronto was the year 2004, summer months, Golden Court in Markham. Anyone who had the good fortune to dine there during that glorious time would know what I mean by a great Chinese restaurant in all aspects from early morning Dim Sum thru late night snack/dinner, w/o skipping a beat. I really miss that...
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Review from Anthony M.
Grimsby, ON
8/23/2011
food was good.. less than $20 per person and you will be stuffed
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Review from Francisca W.
1/24/2010 19 photos
there are more dim-sum restaurants in toronto than there are stars in the sky. generally, most of them are of decent quality--just a matter of how easier parking is, how long is the wait, and how much does the tab ring up in total.
we might have gone on a weekday (a year ago too, actually), or maybe it was early enough on a sunday (tourists traveling for the long weekend), so the first two aforementioned prerequisites were fulfilled w/o a hassle.
now don't be fooled by the victorian decor inside the building; this is still a chinese dim-sum place, although the tea set almost made me believe i was a guest in the buckingham palace (not that i've been... -_-).
food is great -- not food-gasm great, but definitely above average-- and guess how much the tab rang up? $60 for 4 of us, $15 a piece. not bad at all for the kind of fancy-schmancy setup and a nice, quiet environment that's very different from the typical dim-sum scene. (ok, nice and quiet until this group of noisy mid-aged ladies came in.)
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Review from Jonathan W.
Calgary, AB
7/26/2009
Been meaning to try this place forever...just got the take out meal but I'm quite impressed. Quality sticky rice (one of my acid test dishes) and solid all around dishes, shu-mai, har-gow (I think these are the English spellings). I believe the setting is what takes this place up a notch but I haven't seen it yet. You pay a premium for it though as dishes tend to be about 5% more than other dim sum places.
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Review from K W.
5/3/2011
Excellent Dim Sum
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Review from carlson j.
8/19/2010
We were a group of 10 with our boss and his boss. Ordered their special items which were very good though not excellent. Service was excellent. But the price is way more than it was worth. Yes it's nice decor and fine dining. But still. Would rate it $$$$
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Review from Jeff C.
6/22/2010
I have been to LA, SAN FRAN, VANCOUVER, NEW YORK, and HONG KONG.
This by far is the best dim-sum I have ever had in north america, this place can even compete with hong kong dim sum. If you are looking for dim sum this is place is a MUST!
Mind you the prices might be a tad higher, but DEFINITELY worth it. -
Review from Catherine R.
Port Hope, ON
2/27/2011
Wanted to have a lunch for my mother's birthday for a party of 28 people, of which 8 were children under 12. Have been there before for DimSum and it was very good, even though more expensive than other places. We live out of town (1.5 hrs away), but make the trip when we are in Toronto. I had called and spoke to Mr.Yam, the assistant manager to organize it and was told that I could reserve the small private room with 3 tables of 10 people. He quoted $600/table, which I thought was too much for a DimSum lunch but in fairness I am not Chinese and it was not easy to communicate. Mr.Yam took down my phone number and fax number and said he would fax me some information but never did. A week later, I decided to go to the restaurant in person for lunch to meet Mr.Yam. When I told him I didn't want to pay $600/table, he said that he could reserve 3 tables upstairs (shoved in a corner) and we could plan a simpler menu. He started writing out things in Chinese I couldn't understand, and by the time I knew it he had taken a deposit of $300 from my VISA to hold the date. I gave it to him in good faith, he seemed like a nice enough man. Then another man appeared with a hand-written paper (in Chinese of course) which he gave to Mr.Yam. I asked him to give me an English copy, but said he couldn't but said that it would be $450 a table (before tax, service and drinks). I asked for a copy but he laughed and said I couldn't read it anyway. I insisted, so he did. I left with my head just reeling, I couldn't understand why it would be so expensive. When I arrived home, my husband agreed it was outrageous to charge such a price and he called the next day to cancel. Mr.Yam started to say we couldn't but then agreed to refund my Visa if my husband made the 1.5 hour trip back to the restaurant. When he went back to Casa Imperial, Mr.Yam said he wouldn't refund us and tried to give us gift certificates instead. My husband told him he would call our lawyer and they just laughed and said to go ahead. My stupidity for giving him a deposit but nontheless the fact that we are not their normal affluent Chinese clientel made it easier to take our money. Charging more than $45 a head for lunch is outrageous, especially since 8 of our party are between 2 and 10 years old!
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Review from M T.
Toronto, ON
12/31/2009
food is always good.. very busy.. service is usually good.. love their chiu chow style dumpling..
