Mabu Station

Mabu Station (5457 Yonge Street)

647-430-2175

Mabu Station is a Taiwanese-style bubble tea place. Me and Jo just wanted something to snack on while waiting to go for lunch. 

Mocha and popcorn chicken

The chicken was fresh, crispy, and salty. I like salty, so it was okay. The drink was okay, but nothing to rave about. All in all, our cravings were satisfied. 

Would I return? Most of the things on the menu seemed a bit expensive for what they were, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Every time I walk past this location, there seems to be quite a bit of people in there. They greet most Asians in Mandarin, and do not seem to switch languages after English responses. Our server was nice enough, and he was deeply apologetic in a funny kind of way when he forgot to get our bill after we had asked for it. 

Yogoberri

Yogoberri (6070 Yonge Street, North York)

416-512-0488

Over in Koreatown North, there is this second floor dessert place. This is actually from a long time ago so I don't remember much...

I shared this waffle with Andrea. This may have been the first time I've ever tried frozen yogurt. It tasted sort of like sour cheese. The others mentioned that this isn't what frozen yogurt usually tastes like... this kind tasted more like real yogurt, according to them. Regardless, I didn't really like it too much. The waffle was okay.

Would I return? Maaaaybe... but probably not. I don't think I like frozen yogurt (or yoghurt, depending on how complicated you like to make things). 

Total damage: approximately $5 for my half of the waffle.

Most

Most (5449 Yonge Street, Toronto)

Peach something something green tea.

Saw this place as I was walking by Yonge Street. It looked clean enough. There are wooden benches and tables, and a wide strip of chalk board around going around the room. My drink tasted decent enough. There was peach taste. And tea taste. And yet, I wasn't impressed overall. For one, my butt started hurting a few minutes after sitting down on those hard benches with no backing. The dessert selection seemed a little meagre and pricey. When Jo asked if the gelato on the menu was actually gelato (as opposed to ice cream), she was told that it was ice cream. 

Would I return? Well... my drink was a bit too pricey, my butt and back weren't comfortable, and there was nothing on the menu that looked super exciting. I'd say that my return would be most unlikely.

Total damage: something like $8 for my drink!

Pastel

Pastel Creperie & Dessert House (5417 Yonge Street, Toronto)

647-352-5588

info@pasteldesserts.com

Hours:

Tues - Thurs: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Fri - Sat: 12 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Sun: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m.

I didn't even want cake at the time, but their display of desserts trampled on my self-discipline. Another enticing feature was the photo album of their menu we were handed. The pictures and descriptions made almost everything look like I should've been craving it.

Frozen banana chocolate drink

This looked like a right chocolate milkshake when it was put down in front of me. To be honest, the first sip tasted like the banana medicine from when I was a kid. Outside of the association I had given it with being sick, it was enjoyable. It tasted like there was definitely some real bananas in there, but the chocolate was subtle. It was quite filling, and could've easily been a meal for me.

Coffee mousse cake.

Their cakes are from Rahier Pâtisserie. I approve. They look elegant and taste fancy too. I really like coffee chocolate flavour combinations because the slight bitterness of coffee usually cuts the sweetness of the dessert. Inside, distinct layers (including a cakey layer) can be seen and noticed. I was very satisfied with this.

Jo's brownies and bananas crêpe. It included a free coffee or tea.

She opted to substitute the cookies and cream ice cream in the description for cappucino ice cream. She liked that the crêpe was thin, and found the plate quite filling... even though I ate a third of it. I prefer crêpes that are slightly crispy and browned, but this was passable. I think the ice cream substitution was a smart choice because it was awesome. It had full nuts (I think they were pecans) in it as well. 

Would I return? Yes. This place can get packed in the evenings, but that's usually a good sign. The cakes look really appetizing (Jo kept saying how the apple tart looked amazing) and I liked mine. Though Jo isn't a fan of savoury crêpes, she did mention how good they looked as the guy was making them for the other table. The staff is incredibly polite and approachable, and the interior design looks really clean. One wall looks kind of cool with its vertical tubes texture. There's a cute patio area with bright green chairs and small tables for those who wish to people watch on Yonge Street. 

Free parking is available, but it looks a bit complicated.

Total damage: $11.50-ish each.

Rockaberry

Rockaberry Café (4275, rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, Québec)
514-844-9479
Hours:
11 a.m. - ?? daily.

I finally found some of my Montreal food pics from I don't know when.

Anyway, Saint Denis Street has got to be one of my favourite streets for food in Montreal. Admittedly, I'm not super familiar with all of Montreal, but walking along rue St-Denis makes me happy. It has all sorts of restaurants, less people than on St. Catherine, and less tourists to ask me where Super Sexe is.

Rockaberry specializes in pies. So we ordered pies.

Most notably to me were the cheese pies. I had never tried a cheese pie before this visit. They're sort of like softer, creamier, bloated cheesecake. I liked the texture and the taste of my Oreo cheese pie, and I also liked how it looked pouffy. I randomly have cravings for it, but I have not yet found a Toronto equivalent of this Montreal cafe to fulfill my cheese pie yearnings (not that I've been trying that much, but still).

Would I return? Yessssss.

Total damage: can't remember.

Cheers to Mia for showing me the way to cheese pies!

Ten Ren's

Ten Ren Tea (330 Highway 7 East, Richmond Hill)

905-881-8896

Ten Ren has some decently priced lunch specials during the weekdays. 

I ordered this grandpa noodles combo.

It comes with three mini sides (2 vegetable, 1 spring roll), and a small salad (that has raisins). The yolk part of the boiled egg was kind of dry, but expected. The grandpa noodles were okay but pretty plain. It also came with a drink, and I chose mango iced tea (I think). The drink was pretty refreshing and light tasting.

It should be noted that different Ten Ren locations have different prices. I've heard that the Ten Ren at Empress Walk on Yonge Street is noticeably cheaper than the one on Highway 7. 

Lorraine mentioned that she didn't actually like their noodles that much, but that it was a good place to hang out and talk. I have to agree that it wasn't empty, but it was peaceful enough to have a lengthy conversation without screaming or being rushed out. 

Total damage: free for me thanks to Lorraine!

Capriccio

Capriccio Café (5379 Yonge Street, North York, Ontario)

647-351-5550

info@capricciocafe.ca

Hours:

Mon - Sat 10 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Sun 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Cappuccino cheesecake ($4.50)

Very dense, and it had an intense coffee taste to it. I liked it, but I think I prefer the chocolate cheesecake.  Most of their cakes are from Dufflet, and I now suspect that the ones that aren't are from Pauline's. I don't know who Pauline is, but from my experience in the past, she makes damn good cheesecakes. That is, if this is the same Pauline that I'm thinking of. Why do I suspect Pauline to be the mystery cake supplier? Well, I saw a truck with her logo parked outside Capriccio one day.

Would I return? Yup. This cafe is comfortable, I like the cheesecakes, and the staff is quite pleasant.

Destiny

Destiny (165 York Boulevard, Richmond Hill, Ontario)

905-889-7899

Chocolate drink that came with my combo meal.

It was pretty gross. Tasted like dirty water. I should have picked something else.

Kung pao chicken... or some other Westernized Chinese dish.

It was really spicy.

Melon-flavoured ice cream wrapped in a crepe.

... not a fan. I also had to rush to eat this as they served this to me before I finished my chicken. The remaining crepe was swimming in a pool of green by the end of it. 

Destiny

Destiny (165 York Boulevard, Richmond Hill, Ontario)

905-889-7899

Chocolate milkshake.

I ordered this because I'm honestly sick of getting artificial mango-flavoured beverages at bubble tea joints. It was okay. It had that artificial chocolate ice cream taste to it.

Would I return? I guess. It's basically a large place to hang out. It's a two-floor Asian hang out place with really high ceilings, and pricey drinks. The second storey is for larger groups. This place serve the youngish Asian crowd with money. And Jay Chou. Apparently he was there after his concert in Toronto.

Though for about the same price, I must say that I'd probably rather go to Starbucks and get one of their fatty frappuccinos... which are now half price during 3-5 p.m. until May 15th. Their drinks aren't astonishing either, but Java chip makes me happy sometimes.

Total damage: approximately $5.

Café Aries

Aries Café (5322 Yonge Street, North York, Ontario)

416-226-5434

I'm actually not sure whether this place is called Aries Café or if it's called Café Aries. The sign is a bit confusing. 

This Korean-owned cafe is decorated in a fun way with balloons on the ceiling. I kind of like the environment it creates. There are coffee and cake combos, but not with the hazelnut coffee I ordered.

Hazelnut coffee with cappuccino cake.

The coffee didn't really have that super strong hazelnut flavour that I get from the instant kind at the grocery store, but it was maybe a little too subtle. The cake slice was a bit small. The cream was more of a mousse, and the flavour was really light. The top had a clear, shiny, glaze over it. The cake had that not-so-sweet Asian dessert feel to it. Makes sense since this is Koreatown after all. 

Dolo's cheesecake.

It had a homemade taste to it. I thought it was nice, but Dolo prefers denser cheesecake. It also had the clear, shiny glaze over it.

Would I return? I might. It seems like a good, relaxed environment to sit and talk over coffee. The prices aren't ridiculous, and the cakes were okay enough. I actually read that the ginger tea was supposed to be pretty potent, so I might go back to try that.

Total damage: approximately $5-6 for my cake and coffee.

Caffé Demetré

Caffé Demetré (100 York Boulevard, Richmond Hill, Ontario)
905-881-8406
Hours:
Monday-Thursday 2 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 2 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.
Sunday 2 p.m. - 11:30 p.m



I was craving cake for a week before we finally went and got some. 

Tiramisu cheesecake.

Cheesecake part is nice and dense. Tiramisu part is more like vanilla, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I liked the top cocoa part bit. Jo wasn't a fan of the crunchy outside. 

Chocolate cake.

Warmed up, it was pretty nice. It made it softer and meltier. This cake was also dense, and I liked the crunchy chocolate cookie bits on the bottom outside. It was sweet, but not as sweet as it looks. 

In the end, Jo and I had trouble finishing these two slices of cake. 

Would I return? Yes. When it's not overcrowded, it's a pretty relaxed place to hang out and eat cake. 

Total damage: free for me thanks to Josie!

Check out Professor Crunchy's post.

Capriccio

Capriccio Café (5379 Yonge Street, North York, Ontario)

647-351-5550

info@capricciocafe.ca

Hours:

Mon - Sat 10 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Sun 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Red velvet cheesecake and chocolate cheesecake.

Dorothy liked the density of her red velvet cheesecake. I tried a bit of hers and it was delicious. The frosting was also cream cheesy. My chocolate cheesecake was also dense. The top and bottom section blended into one in my mouth. There was a slight tartness to mine as well. 

Would I return? Yes. The gentleman who greeted us was very friendly. Though there were a variety of Dufflet cakes to choose from, we went with the Capriccio marked cakes that seemed better decorated. The environment is very comfortable and clean looking. The walls are decorated with different plates, tea pots, and mugs in a very homestyle yet pretty kind of way. There was a steady stream of mellow pop music playing in the background (e.g. James Blunt, Jason Mraz). There weren't many cake options left at late weekday hour we went at, but there were enough for us to have to think about it. This place also offers gelato and Dorothy mentioned that the chocolate gelato looked very chocolatey. I liked the cake I ordered, but the coffee seemed a little weak. 

Total damage: free for me thanks to Dorothy! Cheers!

L'Opéra

L'Opéra (5291 Yonge Street, North York, Ontario)

416-733-8830

The first thing I thought when I walked into this cafe was "date night". It has that dim lighting, comfortable atmosphere thing going for it and judging by the patrons that night, it works. 

Clockwise from top left: lychee mango cake, tiramisu, cheese pie.

The mango mousse was really light, but flavourful. The tiramisu might have been missing some liquor-soaked biscuits. The cheese pie tasted like creamy cheesecake, but not as creamy as the cheese pie I had in Montreal. (Hm, that reminds me...) It didn't have sauce on display, but the options were some sort of berry sauce or chocolate. I asked to verify that I'd get chocolate but that was the only sauce I was offered anyway. 

Cappuccino

The cappuccino was very fragrant and milky. 

Mocha drink

James's drink looked very pretty. 

Would I return? Yes. The desserts were tasty. I don't know if they were authentically French, but I liked them. They seemed more like French desserts modified for Asian taste buds. It makes sense since the cafe sits in the heart of Koreatown North. I like the effort in the frothy swirls of the warm drinks.

Total damage: approximately $7-something for my cheese pie and cappuccino.

Cafe Princess

Cafe Princess (5590 Yonge Street, North York, Ontario)

416-733-9600

Renée likes this place probably because it's called Cafe Princess. So we checked it out. Our group was on the larger side so they gave us one of the private rooms in the back. With the room in the back, it certainly had the feel of being at home. Can't say I saw much of the rest of the place. 

I can't remember what drink I ordered... mocha latte perhaps?

Andrea's banana split

IT's decorated with fruits and Pocky sticks.

Jess's taro (or was it sweet potato) latte. 

When we asked the server if this new drink was any good, she hesitated before saying that some customers liked it and some didn't. Honesty is a bonus. I tried a bit of it and thought it tasted strange.

Renée's waffle. 

With their cakes being of the La Rocca variety you can get at Loblaws, this is probably one of the more exciting things this place has to offer. The scoops of ice cream are quite large, and there's a wafer cookie! It's also priced cheaper than say, Caffe Demetre. 

Would I return? Sure. It's a nice place that's pretty quiet and peaceful. The food and drinks aren't spectacular, but it seems like a relaxing place to hang out, couches and all. 

Total damage: approximately $5 for my drink.

Pâtisserie La Cigogne

Yet more cake!

Pâtisserie La Cigogne (1626 Bayview Avenue, Toronto)

Right when we walked into this patisserie, we noticed the display of exciting cakes behind the glass. The staff were a lot less exciting than the cakes. It took an unusually long time for someone to come by and help us, considering that they all saw us as we walked in. I couldn't tell if we were being ignored or if they were giving us time to choose. I hope it was the latter because being ignored as a customer is very annoying.

Sheila went for the Croq-Pistache:
The Croq-Pistache had nice layers and Sheila really liked it. That's not surprising though since she loves pistachio-flavoured stuff.

I went for The Paradise:

I liked how my cake looked like an orange. You could definitely taste the orange, as well as a bit of liquor. I appreciated this, but Sheila did not.

As I age, I find myself preferring lighter cakes that aren't too sweet. Both cakes were nice and light.

I want to try their other cakes, but I don't want to be ignored again.

Damage: free for me, thanks to Sheila!

Ruelo Patisserie

Ruelo Patisserie (550 Highway 7 East, Richmond Hill)

More cake!

The cakes here are rather pint-sized.

Zuyu(?) something:
It has the volume of about two golf balls. When I tried to cut through the centre with my spoon, the pink jelly thing just plopped right out. I wasn't really much of a fan of its texture - reminded me a bit like stale gelatin. The white part was nice though. It had a really light flavour, and it wasn't heavy at all.
Ruelo cake and some mango thing in the background:
Andrea really liked the white part of the mango mousse cup. She noted some coconut flavour.

The Ruelo cake was pretty good. I liked the crunchy bits inside. It's surprisingly not overbearingly sweet.
The cakes are pretty good and it's clear that they put thought into their creation, but this is definitely not the cheapest cake shop around.

Total damage: approximately $15 for the mango thing and the two little cakes.