[Merged] The new Destiny Tea House/Restaurant @ East Beaver Creek in Richmond Hill
Destiny Tea House, the chain of bbt house. The notable big one at Midland and Steeles, across from Pacific Mall has opened another post-modern location at the same plaza where Honest Lawyers, Jack Astors, Moxies, The Keg, Boston Pizza, Demetres is located in Richmond Hill on Hwy 7 and 404.
If you've been to Go For Tea, this place tries to duplicate the setting and actually rises above and beyond Go For Tea.
First, the decor is similar to GFT except in a lighter tone of colors. The high ceiling walls feature the same incandescent lights you've come to know and love. It has a very clean and white feeling to it. Like all of Destiny's locations, there's a section where its raised above the rest, just like GFT. Except this one features a very cool hanging center piece from top to bottom.
Once you enter through the really big doors at the front, there is a receptionist booth right in the center. I feel sorry for her as the main doors allows the cold winter wind to enter and hits directly the booth. Behind her is the main bar, around it are more seats and tables for couples and mid-sized parties.
On your left once you enter, is the section of the restaurant clearly for big and large groups. On your right, is the section aimed for couples and small parties. The right side has one elongated table with seats across from each other, probably for couples with light colored flower pots in the center. Chairs are not hard wood like GFT but comfortable cushions chairs.
The left side features the same, except the seating on the inside are plush cushions with throw pillows while the seats on the outside aisle are white leather cushions on wood, again, wayy more comfortable than GFT's all wooden seats.
The lighting is a lot brighter, not dimmed and dark like GFT where you require a tea light candle at your table. One of the girls with my party joked that, "wow you can see everyone clearly in here , maybe there's a reason why Go For Tea has dark lighting. Maybe its best not to see everyone clearly at all." =P
The prices and drinks are your standard Destiny fanfare, same likewise with the food. Tonight I ordered the Seafood Udon to go with my Green Mango Slush with small green mango bits. The Udon was great, wasn't spicy and had a minor sour taste to it - kind of like Tom Yum soup. Service was great, features the same kind of Chinese girls who are tall in stature, but speak proper English with no accents. But there were a few who weren't so tall... lol
Looks wise for the girls, GFT is better, but not significantly.
Destiny has always been cheaper for drinks, ranging from $3.99 for your black tea up to $6.99 for the more exotic juice drinks with real fruit inside it in a big mug that looks to be like 1L or more. They have two washrooms - one on each side so you don't have to run to one centralized washroom like you do at GFT.
I came with a party of 8 and we all agreed that this will be our new hang out place from now on for all of our bbt needs on a Friday evening.
Lookout GFT cuz you have some serious competition across the street. A place built upon a separate building all on its own, unlike GFT which is attached to many separate other businesses.
Did I mention that there is a secluded VIP upstairs area where you can't even see the patrons? The stairs leading up to it are behind the bar. I can faintly hear music coming from up there, maybe a live band or a DJ perhaps... I don't know, I did not go up...nor do I know what one must do to allow entry.
Overall, we were pleased and would definitely go back again. Service was prompt, and omg, the waitresses actually showed emotion and smiled during our ordering!!
We came around 12:30am so we have no idea if there would be a long line up like you would run into GFT on a weekend.
If you've been to Go For Tea, this place tries to duplicate the setting and actually rises above and beyond Go For Tea.
First, the decor is similar to GFT except in a lighter tone of colors. The high ceiling walls feature the same incandescent lights you've come to know and love. It has a very clean and white feeling to it. Like all of Destiny's locations, there's a section where its raised above the rest, just like GFT. Except this one features a very cool hanging center piece from top to bottom.
Once you enter through the really big doors at the front, there is a receptionist booth right in the center. I feel sorry for her as the main doors allows the cold winter wind to enter and hits directly the booth. Behind her is the main bar, around it are more seats and tables for couples and mid-sized parties.
On your left once you enter, is the section of the restaurant clearly for big and large groups. On your right, is the section aimed for couples and small parties. The right side has one elongated table with seats across from each other, probably for couples with light colored flower pots in the center. Chairs are not hard wood like GFT but comfortable cushions chairs.
The left side features the same, except the seating on the inside are plush cushions with throw pillows while the seats on the outside aisle are white leather cushions on wood, again, wayy more comfortable than GFT's all wooden seats.
The lighting is a lot brighter, not dimmed and dark like GFT where you require a tea light candle at your table. One of the girls with my party joked that, "wow you can see everyone clearly in here , maybe there's a reason why Go For Tea has dark lighting. Maybe its best not to see everyone clearly at all." =P
The prices and drinks are your standard Destiny fanfare, same likewise with the food. Tonight I ordered the Seafood Udon to go with my Green Mango Slush with small green mango bits. The Udon was great, wasn't spicy and had a minor sour taste to it - kind of like Tom Yum soup. Service was great, features the same kind of Chinese girls who are tall in stature, but speak proper English with no accents. But there were a few who weren't so tall... lol
Looks wise for the girls, GFT is better, but not significantly.
Destiny has always been cheaper for drinks, ranging from $3.99 for your black tea up to $6.99 for the more exotic juice drinks with real fruit inside it in a big mug that looks to be like 1L or more. They have two washrooms - one on each side so you don't have to run to one centralized washroom like you do at GFT.
I came with a party of 8 and we all agreed that this will be our new hang out place from now on for all of our bbt needs on a Friday evening.
Lookout GFT cuz you have some serious competition across the street. A place built upon a separate building all on its own, unlike GFT which is attached to many separate other businesses.
Did I mention that there is a secluded VIP upstairs area where you can't even see the patrons? The stairs leading up to it are behind the bar. I can faintly hear music coming from up there, maybe a live band or a DJ perhaps... I don't know, I did not go up...nor do I know what one must do to allow entry.
Overall, we were pleased and would definitely go back again. Service was prompt, and omg, the waitresses actually showed emotion and smiled during our ordering!!
We came around 12:30am so we have no idea if there would be a long line up like you would run into GFT on a weekend.
