T-Buds - Toronto, Ontario

Went for the mothers day brunch. The 'hot' foods were not quite warm. The scones were hard, the bread did not taste too fresh, and the quiches were a bit too salty for me. The macarons are too sugary, and no flavour I could discern. The dessert was too sweet ... for us, with the caramel flavored cheesecake, with caramel pieces on top and caramel sauce beside it along with candied pear, would be nicer if there was a pop of tartness. Service was a bit slow, not all tables were filled, but they might still be understaffed, we asked for a take out container 3-4 times before we got it. They were friendly, but not very attentive. We tried another high tea place the next day and my mother preferred that one. Don't think we will be returning unfortunately. Read more

Alli (I'm not certain of the spelling, sorry!), was absolutely amazing with his knowledge of tea. Who knew that certain teas were good for making meat rubs and gravy??? I won't say which - you have to go in, have a cup or three of tea, and be pleasant ☺ The ... servers were all very courteous, polite, and watchful without being annoying. They knew all the food offerings and ingredients, and were very patient with my group as we tried to figure out substitutions and such. Our fault for not calling ahead to ask. The service was impeccable, and appropriately timed. The food and tea are made as you order, so it isn't instant. The tea is steeped for the appropriate time (if you prefer a lighter or heavier brew, tell the server when you order! They will change the brewing time as needed). The lounge is small, so the atmosphere really depends on who else is there. A large birthday group = very lively and loud. Mostly couples = quiet and more intimate. You do have to do up a set of stairs to reach t-buds, and there isn't an elevator or lift option. It's Toronto so parking can be a pain in the tush, but there is paid street parking all around that area. My group went on a Sunday, and parking was easy and close. No idea if there's free WiFi, but it's a tea lounge. Enjoying the tea, food, and company is the goal. I'm very impressed by everything t-buds offered, and will definitely be back! Thank you Alli for chatting with us and sharing your tea knowledge. It really was an amazing experience. ☺ Read more

My friends and I have been going here for almost 2 years now, it’s a lovely place for halal afternoon tea :) I really enjoy their afternoon tea service, the sandwiches are amazing and have a lot of flavour. My favourites are the chicken mango chutney tea sandwich, the eggplant ... tea sandwich, the quiche, and the mushroom pastry. We prefer black teas, and our favourites are the Ceylon mountain valley and the Ceylon spring valley. The atmosphere is lovely, they have a great tea selection, and the staff are very friendly. The scones are very delicious- they’re sweet and buttery. I think we have been here about 20-25 times in total, never really had any bad experiences, just positive vibes :) I’ve been to a lot of afternoon tea places including the ones at big hotels to more indie shops, but t-buds is still my favourite, and the prices are extremely fair ($40-50 per person) and much more worth it and more delicious compared to the hotel afternoon tea places (which are priced at about $80-100 per person) :) anyway a great place for halal afternoon tea in a warm and cozy atmosphere!!! Read more

Visited for the afternoon tea experience. Prices are affordable and service was friendly, albeit being a bit absent. All of the savoury items, the teas and the scones were delicious, even if the sandwich breads were a bit on the dry side. The sweet items such as the cakes and macarons ... were fair. Read more

Delightful little place on Yonge Street near Lawrence Ave W. I would not recommend for those with mobility concerns as there are steep stairs to climb to get to the cozy tearoom. The soft jazz music playing in the background helped to create a relaxing atmosphere. Mom had the Spa Salad ... consisting of arugula, feta, and berries. The classic tea tray had an assortment of tasty sandwiches. If you don't have a sweet tooth, the preserve jam and the macaroons are sweet. Loved the selection of teas. Read more