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Destiny Tea Cafe
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Food Tea Rooms Coffee & Tea, Tea Rooms [Edit]
633 Silver Star BlvdScarborough, ON M1V 5N1
Neighbourhood: Scarborough
(416) 222-7799
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for Destiny Tea Cafe
19 reviews in English
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Review from Sanzo L.
Scarborough, ON
4/26/2012 7 photos
Meh. Came here twice with co-workers. It's a lot better than Go For Tea but some of the food is a bit overpriced. The bubble tea is really good and the desserts are really good too. I guess the main courses are a-okay. Not the greatest but service was WAY better than Go For Tea.
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Review from Mel C.
10/25/2011
This is one of my hangout place with my friends when we can't think of anywhere else to go and we don't want to go to far.
I come here mostly for drinks at night. The drinks here are slightly pricey but since we stay here for hours on end, it's worth the price. I would get food once and while such as crepes/cakes/popcorn chicken/snacks. I think the food here is decent. I wouldn't come here for a full meal but as far as snacks and desserts go, they do a fairly good job.
The service here is not the greatest. Sometimes the wait time for the drinks take forever and if you want water, you better ask for it the moment you're seated or else you'll never get it.
Although the venue is large, sometimes there is a crazy line to get a table on the weekends. -
Review from Karl R.
Many good things about this place maybe to make up for the service. 1) It's huge. 2) It has free, passwordless wireless. I'm really sick of finding small places in North York always packed to the gills with York and Seneca students and you can't get a table for a 45 minute sit down.
I had the sweet 'n' sour fried chicken strips and rice. Oh heaven. It was good. For about $8 you also got a salad and spring roll plus a bubble tea. The salad and spring roll seemed more filler.
No weird stuffed animals in baby milk bottles for sale like Tea Shop 188. That just leaves me sad. And confused. http://www.yelp.ca/biz... -
Review from Flouny S.
Toronto, ON
9/8/2011
I would give this place 3 stars if the service wasn't so bad.
Only come here if you don't have anything to do for a few hours and don't mind waiting half an hour to get a menu, and even then you'll have to wave down a server to get one.
The place looks nice, food is not bad but the service. Avoid this place if you are in a hurry, especially if you only have an hour or two to spare.
If I had alot of time on my hands and I was in this are I'd come here again -
Review from Yvonne T.
As usual, lousy service. Actually wait... there has to BE service for me to actually deem it lousy... I ordered the Date & Longan Tea and my DC had the Avocado Milk Tea. We also ordered Pad Thai and the Spicy Popcorn Chicken.
The milk tea didn't taste anything like avocado. If anything, it tasted more like banana. But you can't expect much from artificially flavoured powder. (For the REAL stuff, go to Ten Ren). The Date & Longan tea was good - not overly sweet.
On to our food. First and foremost, they need to hire new dish washers, or just plainly open their eyes and look before giving dirty utensils to your customers. It was gross! The popcorn chicken sucks compared to Go For Tea. The batter was not as good, and the chunks of chicken are huge. Popcorn chicken tastes better in smaller chunks because its crispier. The Pad Thai was kind of bland, and the lime wedge that accompanied it was so dry. I went to squeeze it and I think 2 or 3 drops came out f it (and it wasn't like it was a small lime wedge either).
We only came here because Go For Tea was too long a wait.Listed in: Cheap Date
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Review from Jason S.
Toronto, ON
6/22/2011
4 stars for the interior space, 3 stars for the food
My friend was pretty excited to take me here so we went and I was kinda underwhelmed. The interior is unlike any other tea house I've ever been to but the bubble tea was just average (I ordered avocado milk tea). I'll probably come back but try another flavour next time. -
Review from Isabella L.
Toronto, ON
11/2/2010 2 photos
UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ UTNZ... I swear that's what I heard from outside 'cause inside it sure as hell looks like a well-refurbished club, but instead there were catchy korean pop songs playing. Yay... I hate catchy korean pop songs 'cause they're insanely catchy. *Frustrated*
So yeah, this place is monstrously big in a good way. There is also free wi-fi so a lot of people had their laptops. There is also another floor, but that for people with a party of 6 or more (I'm pretty sure). Although, I'd love to grab a few of my friends JUST to sit up there, haha.
I never tried their bubble tea before... but I did have their BEEF BRISKET noodle and I tried my friend's spicy noodle? The beef brisket noodle was not pleasing to the eyes 'cause the soup base was evily dark, which didn't even taste good. Also, the beef was chewy and just dissapointing.
Had a try of my friends noodle, which smelled great and tasted better than mine with the spices.
My friend ordered a Rose Tea which comes in a pot and you get unlimited water refulls. It was only okay. I would have much preferred Jasmine tea or Green tea 'cause the rose tea tasted too perfume-like.
Overall: I'd only come back for free wi-fi or just because it's so comfortable here. Other than that....y'no. -
Review from Larry L.
Toronto, ON
12/6/2010
I used to frequent this location at least once a month when it first opened. It had great bbt and a fantastic atmosphere. I played many a games of Monopoly on its tables (how the heck do they make $$?). I even took my parents there once, and they loved it!
That being said, I disappeared from the scene for a year and when I returned, I heard about the insect disaster. I was crestfallen... and found the FB chatter that started it all hilarious in its spelling/grammer mistakes.
Going back after the reno, I was terribly disappointed. It had lots all of its previous charm and been changed into a faceless, nameless typical bbt lounge - much like their other location in highway 7. While their selection was the same as before, you can see from the number of people around, how much difference atmosphere makes in choosing your bbt hangout.
Try again Destiny owners - this time don't change a winning formula! -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
9/23/2010 6 photos
I come to Destiny Tea Cafe after the cockroach incident... so I am going to review it based on how it is now..
The place is nicely decorated and it is huge. We came on a Monday early evening so the place is not busy. I do like those round booth seating, they are quite comfy and relaxing.
They did mixed up our hot tea orders.. and they never come until we ask someone to check on that.
Fellow yelper did manage to get 2 for 1 chocolate cake.. that is an extra 0.5 star for that. The cake is store bought and it is not too sweet and quite delicious.
I might come back if my friend wants to come..but Destiny Tea Cafe for sure not my usual hang out joint! -
Review from Irene C.
9/15/2008
This place is awesome! open super late, i came here on a sunday night looking for my midnight snack.
the super thick texas toast with coconut and condensed milk (super fatty but it tastes heavenly.)
milk tea with boba
mango slush (they use real fruit here by the way) with tapioca and aloe. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD, served in this enormous glass.
the menu is pretty extensive as far as teas are concerned. all the fruit stuff is made from fresh fruit and seem like theyre super good, they have some exotic flavors that i haven't tried before too.
the place is furnished in all wood with an asian theme, very elaborate. nothing like what we have in San francisco. seats a lot of people, no wait, service was pretty quick, and they don't expect you to get up and leave after you're done eating. people stick around and hang out and chill, read magazines, play games, listen to chinese music. overall young crowd of chinese locals hang out here at night.
unlike san francisco, theres PLENTY of parking in the lot.Listed in: Asian cafes
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Review from Bijan V.
2/26/2009
All that needs to be said:
http://www.redflagdeal...
More info: http://www.facebook.co...
Summary: COCKROACHES IN DRINKS, horrible management, cops involved, etc.
DON'T GO TO DESTINY! -
Review from Karen S.
12/20/2009 2 photos
Oh, Destiny, you're trying so hard to pick yourself up after the "cockroach incident"... and it just isn't working. Having closed after the incident, it re-envisioned itself as a modern, cavernous lounge from its previous Asian dark wood interior. The crowds haven't come back though, and I wouldn't have come back at all either if someone in the group didn't insist on visiting (having not heard of the incident as I later found out while sipping on my drink).
Here's a question: if so much money was spent on interior design to make it look a bit more upscale, why are we being served out of plastic cups? For upwards of $5 a drink in a sit down place, I expect to be served in something a little more... ceramic or maybe glass? Everyone in my group felt like we were drinking overpriced takeout bubble tea in an environment that is just trying much too hard to be hip and hitting all the wrong notes.
We were sitting on the second floor which has some super slouchy couches. After taking down our drink orders, the drinks in the aforementioned plastic cups came pretty quickly, which was nice. When it came time to pay, however, the lone waitress for the entire upstairs floor was very difficult to flag down. Also, we quickly noticed that the sound system doesn't really extend to this floor. Whether this is a good or bad thing is a toss up - at least we could hear each other talk.
The drinks:
Mango slush. 2 people in the group had this. One said it was super mango-y. The other was unimpressed. "It tastes like something from 7/11." "It tastes very artificial - like they put too much powder in it."
Fresh fruit yogurt - Kiwi. They didn't skimp on the fruit for $5.99, which was good. For a yogurt drink, it was more watery and milky rather than the 'yogurty' drink that you'd expect.
Taro ice cream drink. My friend had expected taro ice cream. What he got was vanilla ice cream with some purple taro syrup on top. For $6.99, he was expecting something a bit more exotic and authentic.
Honeydew milk tea. It was OK. A bit too sweet, but OK.
Mango green tea with lychee jelly. Lots of lychee deliciousness, which is great... but where's the mango taste? Other than neon yellow colouring, I could have been having a lychee green tea.
Jasmine tea. Lovely scent... coming out of a paper cup... for $3.99.
Destiny is trying really hard, down to the 20% off cakes for the holidays and the short short short briefs that the waitresses are wearing as uniforms *shakes head*. It's good for large groups in a relaxed, roomy, uptown location. Just not worth going back to for overpriced sugar water though. -
Review from Sameer D.
Markham, ON
1/22/2010
This place is MONSTER huge and I just can't understand why! love the renovations, pretty chic compared to what it looked like before. Been here a few times and always satisfied with my Taro bubble tea with coconut jelly.
The service needs improvement mos def. Seriously, whats going on. I can't really comment on the menu as I only get my usual bubble tea from here... though once I got some kind of slushie and it was ok.
I just read Karen S's comments about the "cockroach incident" .... yes cockroaches! shut down? LOL that explains so much. Gotta give Destiny an A for effort though, they are definitely trying hard to embrace their new image.
I don't know if I'll be coming back here... not worth the wait times or the horrible service. -
Review from Garett N.
12/30/2009
The bubble tea was alright. I was amazed at how big it was.
On the downside, the service was terrible. It took over 30 minutes for us to get our orders taken and another 30 minutes for our drinks to arrive. Really? How hard is it to make a strawberry milk tea? Of course, I can't make that stuff myself... -
Review from Curtis C.
Scarborough, ON
1/24/2010
I've had the pleasure (most of the time) of visiting approximately 20+ times since the renovation of this restaurant. I'm not affiliated with this place, I promise!
My trips here include lunch/brunch on weekends as well as dinner and late night bubble tea throughout the week. This includes groups larger than 10 as well as on my own.
Venue:
The design of the restaurant is very modern - clean edges, dark colours, orderly randomness. Very well done (I've noticed some ugly modifications to the second floor railing in the last few weeks implying there may have been a safety issue? inconclusive).
The tables are sturdy, and the chairs are acceptable (unless you get one of the booth seats - my heart goes out to you).
If you are in a larger group, you are usually seated on the second level, and stuck with plastic cups unless you order a hot drink. Not a big deal - unless you have some sort of plastic phobia.
Most of the waiter/waitresses are extremely friendly and speak english well enough (although lately, engrish may be the more accurate word).
Drinks:
See comment above re: plastic cups. Their selection is fantastic and a force to be reckon'd with. You will find a drink you like. The actual drinks - I'd rate a 3/5. Acceptable, average, oh, it's a good thing they have heat in here (yes, nothing memorable or attention keeping).
Food:
I've visited this location for three different feast purposes:
1) Dim Sum (only available in the morning/early lunch)
2) Dinner
3) Snacks
Dim sum at this location is a bit pricey, but the food definitely does not disappoint (at least it didn't when I went). It is quite a difference from the quality of food served at dinner. The portions are extremely fair and the msg added where it should be. Food that was deep fried was crispy and fresh.
Dinner ...
TBC -
Review from David B.
Toronto, ON
7/16/2011
I had some milkshake there. Tasted diluted, very sweet and devoid of any fruits. The atmosphere is VERY upscale though. The drinks are relatively pricey for that reason. The food is decently priced but I haven't tried it yet.
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Review from Secyw W.
Richmond Hill, ON
11/20/2010
I go to asian bubble tea places all the time. There are two locations for Destiny's Tea Cafe that I go to. The one in Scarborough and in Richmond Hill. The one in Scarborough looks better especially with their second floor that can look down at the first floor completely and seats are not that close together. The one in Richmond Hill, the second floor is all closed off. I really like the food at both Destiny's as they have dinner/lunch, huge variety of drinks, night snacks, and cakes. We had a friend's birthday there last week, and the Bailey Cheesecake was very good. The drinks I usually get are Mango Green Tea and Mixed Fruit Hot Tea (which is one of my favourites).
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Review from Simon N.
Scarborough, ON
8/5/2009
"The one with the nice comfy sofas upstairs."
The Good:
Great interior (looks like a night club after the renovations); free wi-fi; drinks are decent; very large with many tables; no limit for upstairs now (minimum of 6 people however);
The Bad:
"Large" drinks and "Small" drinks are the same size?; Might get packed sometimes; food is somewhat not worth it
Overview:
Ever since they renovated the place (coincided with the "cockroach" scandal where their business just tanked) it looks much more contemporary in styling (resembles a downtown lounge, but I don't believe they don't serve alcohol); however I don't think their menus/quality have changed much so if you're one of the many who've been here before their renovations, don't expect much. Drinks are reasonably priced but the food is somewhat expensive for the portions that you get. You don't really go there for the food though - it's more for just sitting around and hanging out with friends which I'm glad to say has improved a lot. I really like the renovated upstairs: there's no longer a minimum charge to sit upstairs rather now you need a minimum party size of 6. The sofas they have upstairs are really comfy! There's also free wi-fi which may also be a bad thing since I saw many high schoolers studying there, occupying much of the available seating. I had the Green Apple Green Tea with Tapioca (my favorite) and it tasted alright, nothing exceptional. But like you probably know, Destiny's quality in the past has varied from day to day depending on who prepared the drink. Mine was OK, but I've had friends who have complained about watered down drinks, tapioca being too hard, etc. Hopefully they're more consistent now with their "new look".
Service can be slow sometimes, especially when we went after the renovations and sat upstairs. They basically have one person servicing the entire top area and it was pretty hard to wave the person down.
One beef that I had with this place was that I had to pay $1.00 extra for a "large" drink but when the drinks arrived, we noticed no difference at all between the small and the large drinks. Maybe there was actually more in the cup itself, or maybe they made a mistake but I doubt it since two of us ordered large and three of us ordered small, but we all had the same size. Just a heads-up to all readers to ask what the difference is, if any.
Overall, a nice place to sit and hang with friends but don't expect the best quality beverages. -
Review from Misses M.
4/11/2010
Whenever I go up north to visit I always make sure to stop by and visit Destiny. First of all I love the comfy couches and the environment is chill. It's open late which is great as well. They serve the best condensed milk bread here. Definitely should visit if you're in the area.
