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First time trying The Alley! The workers here were very nice and informative. They offered tiny samples of their Jasmine Milk Tea. I tried the iced Matcha Deerioca in their regular size for $6. Although I am not a fan of tapioca, I must say that theirs were done pretty well. It is made in house throughout the morning. The tapioca was soft and none of the pieces were stuck together. The tapioca, infused with brown sugar mixes slowly with the cold drink adding an overall nice effect since it is put in hot. You can't adjust the sweetness of the drink since most of the sugar comes from the tapioca. Thankfully, the drink is not overly sweet. The employees advised us to first take a sip without mixing the drink and then try it again after it is mixed. It's a unique experience and noticeably different in taste. Since their drinks are pricey for their size, this wouldn't be a place I frequent. However, I definitely want to go back to try their White Peach Oolong.
I love coming to this Alley location since the employees are always so kind! They greet you with a smile and make recommendations for drinks as well (e.g. they offered me a sample of their new Earl grey series when they found out that I always stick to the same drink, it was good by the way!) The space is quite small, but they also have a patio area for when the weather is warmer. It's not really problematic though, since the wait time for ordering and getting drinks isn't too long. I love the decor in terms of the wall and the stools! Aesthetic, just like the rest of their brand. I typically go for the MILK TEA TRIO since it already comes with a bunch of toppings. You can easily adjust the sweetness and ice levels to your liking, as per many other bubble tea shops. The difference is in their tapioca, which is made in house and very QQ (i.e. chewy). They also have a lot of other Instagram-worthy beverages if that's what you're after like the Northern Light series. Overall, always a positive experience!
Nestled in the quaint little village of Unionville, The Alley is situated in a tiny white house. The front garden is decorated with patio furnitures for customers to sit down and enjoy the beautiful day with their drinks. I went there with a specific drink in mind. The last time i was at the Alley, they sold out of the drink called Morning Dawn. So i thought i would try again. This time the girls told me to come back when the senior staff is there.... only the senior staff knows how to make the drink. This was a disappointment to learn that i have to match my busy schedule somehow with the schedule of those who know how to make the drink. Sad day. The positive is that they have pretty nice drinks on the menu, especially summer drinks. So refreshing. To be frank, i don't know if i want to risk disappointment again by going back to see if Morning Dawn is available.
Ambiance & atmosphere: It's a cute boba shop with nice decor. There's a few tables you can sit at; low and high tables. Service: The workers there were kind and patient with us. Price: A little bit on the smaller side for a small cup. Small was $5 and large for $5.50. Drinks we have tried: Royal No 9 milk tea, iron goddess tea latte, honey lime with aloe, brown sugar deerioca, Earl grey tea latte. - Royal No 9 has a hint of blueberry in the milk tea. - Iron Goddess tea latte uses tie guan yin tea. - Honey lime with aloe has bits of lime in it. - Their brown sugar deerioca has a good balance of milk and brown sugar boba; milk is just the right amount of richness and boba is a good amount of sweetness. - Earl grey tea latte has the fragrant taste the way an early grey tea should have. The drinks are delicious.
The Alley's 2nd location is so much better than the one at Commerce Gate! Love the front patio area overlooking Main Street Unionville! People watching and enjoying your drink is a lot of fun. Interior also well set up with more seating than their original location. I always order the Sweet Dew Oolong Tea with a touch of sugar. Just love the aroma and the clean taste of this tea. The staff was friendly and you are welcome to have a free tasting which is usually their unique Royal #9 Milk Tea. I would love to have a few more tables set up in the patio area on nicer day so I could really enjoy the Toronto short patio season!
This is the second location in the GTA of the alley bubble tea place. Location: In beautiful Unionville on main Street across the street from the mill. Its not where all the main stuff is. Parking: I think there's a few spaces by it but there's a lot of parking access the street at the mill. Decor: Its located in the cutest little house. With a white picket fence and some patio tables and chairs for some Al Frisco drinking. Inside its small. There's a few tables. The walls look like some thing you would find in a Wes Anderson movie. Cute! Food: They serve drinks. Bubble tea. They have a top 10 list and everything on it is fantastic. My favourite drink is I love Lemonway I'm not sure what Lemonway is but this drink is made with lime. Yum? Cost: Its pretty good. The drinks are huge and you can tell made with lots of care with quality products! I like this place. I. The summer you can grab a drink in a warm summer evening and walk through the tree lined paths. Yum!
I love that The Alley opened in Main Street Unionville, it is a nice addition to the variety of restaurants that are currently there. This location is a bit larger than their other location and has a few tables both outside and inside to enjoy the bubble tea. I tried the Garden Milk Tea which is topped with crushed oreos and a peppermint leaf with regular sugar level and it was delicious. The ice inside the drink helps keep the crushed oreo afloat. Parking is a bit harder to find on the weekend especially on Saturday. Overall, I would definitely come back to try their other drinks!
Well...it's been 2 years since my last review of this place, so I guess it's time for an update. I would say the price is worth it for the bbt's here. I mean they're now approximately the same across the numerous bbt chains that have opened up along the years. I would say that The Alley is probably my usual go to place for the better milk teas considering the number of check ins I have in this location alone. That Royal number 9 will always hit that sweet spot for me because of the unique flavour. Since I've been coming here more often, I've also tried the strawberry lulu and winter melon which were a tad too sweet for my liking, I'd recommend sticking to their classic milk teas. I have also since found out that you don't have to put money into their app to collect points which is nice. Customer service is alright although you have to wait a little longer sometimes for your drinks especially now as the weather gets nicer. As always, mainstreet is a nice location to hangout and have a drink. They put out some tables for you to enjoy some nice company with friends and of course to try out the various restaurants along the street.
THE ALLEY jasmine green tea +aloe (L) & deerico fever (R) . 4/5 . Got these 2 drinks at The Alley today on Main St Unionville! On the left is my favourite jasmine green tea in large with no ice, regular sugar (it was way too hot for a milk tea, I needed something refreshing ). Even with no ice dilution, the drink didn't have a strong tea taste. The aloe was a nice touch because it did add some sweetness. Overall, the drink isn't bad, and it has the perfect amount of sweetness (not overly sweet)! . On the right is the deerico fever (fixed size, sugar, and ice). The tapioca was just the rice amount of chewiness, and the sweetness in the drink actually leaned towards honey instead of brown sugar. You can choose from fresh milk and soy milk (for all my lactose-intolerence friends~) . jasmine green tea ($5.50) +aloe ($0.5) & deerico fever ($6)
Finally, I got to visit the new Alley at Unionville.. after anxiously waiting for them to open in May, the Alley finally opened their their second location in Markham last weekend. I tried to go there last Sunday but it was closed by the time I got there :( Tried to go again Monday but they closed early at 5 pm..Tuesday wasn't open. I finally made it today at exactly 530pm... Their new location has taken over the Touhenboku Cafe. The Alley decor is still in process but it seems simplistic but yet homey. It does have chairs to sit than the original location and the size of the place seems bigger than the original location at Commerce Gate, which is a good thing :) I quickly ordered my favourite drink at the Alley: The Royal Nbr 9 and brought it to the movies haha There is minimal temporary parking at the park (6-8 spots) but it is best to park in the Unionvile parking lots and walk over if planning to stay longer. Now that the Alley has opened a location closer, I might drop by more often haha ... The Alley is currently in their soft opening but will be in full hours in the weeks to come. There are a few promotions happening. Full menu is available but please be patient as the staff is new. The second location is currently not giving out stamps but the program shall be in effect soon.
Pros: Nice homey feel Cons: Parking not in proximity of actual location I'm a fan of the Alley located at Commerce Gate. My main gripe is that it's very tiny and cramped. You're completely relegated to take out unless you want a bunch of people lining up right behind you for the entirety of your stay. So when my wife told me of a location in Main Street Unionville, I was all in. So the location here is bigger, but it's still on the tiny side. That being said, it's not cramped at all. You have 4 full size tables capable of seating 4 each and a patio outside for when the weather is good. The place also has a very homey feel which I like. It feels like a cabin more than a tea place if you ask me. The Alley doesn't have as much selection as the other tea chains you see out there. What they have though, they do pretty well. I have never been disappointed by them. I tend to try different flavours as much as possible for variety when I come to these places. Price wise, it what you expect from a place like this. Nothing stands out as being too expensive or really cheap. Parking can be a bit tricky. I'm not sure how street parking works at Main Street Unionville either. There didn't seem to be many cars parked outside so the best parking option is the big lots they have on the other side of the streets. It's about a good 3-5 minute walk from there to the location. When the weather is frigid cold, it's not the most fun walk. All in all, I definitely like this location more than the location at Commerce Gate. Both are great product wise, but this location gives off a better relaxed feel that's comforting.
It's hard to stand out as a bubble tea place, especially in overly saturated areas such as Markham. However The Alley is a place that finally offers unique tasting traditional flavours. I tried the Sweet Dew fresh milk tea, matcha deerioca & the Royal number 9 milk tea. All were delicious. Especially the Sweet Dew & Matcha. I'm not even sure how to explain the matcha drink- it's not overly sweet and much of the sugar comes from the tapioca. Employees will advise you to drink the tapioca first and then mix the drink. It's unique and hard to describe but try it if you're not into the sweeter drinks! The sweet Dew is sweet of course but so yummy. Definitely a cool twist in a milk tea . Their tapioca is also good, I'm picky with my tapioca and places such as coco & real fruit have bland tapioca but The Alley's is good. One of the first cool things I noticed is that at the Unionville location they actually view their own mint and take it fresh off the plant, wash it, then place it right on your drink. It is a little pricier but I think it's worth it. You get aesthetically pleasing cafes and quality bubble tea. Definitely recommend this place! especially with the influx of locations opening up you can't miss one.
[LOCATION] - 4/5 Located at Main Street Unionville inside a cute little white house. There aren't any designated parking spots for this place. I usually just park at the Old Unionville Train Station on Station Lane. [SERVICE] - 4/5 Staff were very friendly. They offered samples of their Royal No. 9 Milk Tea and explained that they infused a unique blueberry flavour in this signature drink. [DÉCOR] - 5/5 Both the exterior and interior were aesthetically pleasing with a natural and earthy theme. [FOOD QUALITY] - 5/5 I really like how the natural décor visually reflects how this place uses high-quality and natural ingredients in their tea. [ORDER] - 4/5 Royal No. 9 Milk Tea (Regular) - $5.00: after I tried the sample, I ordered the Royal No. 9 Milk tea with less sugar. I think the drink tasted alright, but the blueberry flavour was not as apparent in my drink in comparison to the original. So, don't mess with the original one! The tapioca was also a little too soft. Fortunately, the tea was still very aromatic and the overall drink was fragrant and smooth. [OVERALL] - 4/5 Overall, I would recommend this quaint location of The Alley for the beautiful décor and high-quality tea.
There was a 50% off drinks offer during 3-6pm when I went into the shop. I thought it was all drinks could be 50% off, but actually 2 drinks that be in the event. I selected the Black Gold Milky Beer. Guests ordered the drinks and went out to wait for them. And the cashier will bring it out once done. This was the first time that I tried The Alley. The price is a bit high if not having this 50% off event. But good to try and the taste was good. I felt the taste was a little different than the other bubble tea shop. Seems the sugar was kind of honey. read more
I was in the area after having lunch with a friend and wanted to grab a drink. I decided to drop by here since this is the the only bubble tea shop in the area. I ordered the alley trio milk tea, it's good that it includes toppings. The service was great and I loved the drink. I do find the prices are a bit on the pricey side compared to other bubble tea shops so this wouldn't usually be my go to places. read more
First time trying The Alley! The workers here were very nice and informative. They offered tiny samples of their Jasmine Milk Tea. I tried the iced Matcha Deerioca in their regular size for $6. Although I am not a fan of tapioca, I must say that theirs were done pretty well. It is made in house throughout the morning. The tapioca was soft and none of the pieces were stuck together. The tapioca, infused with brown sugar mixes slowly with the cold drink adding an overall nice effect since it is put in hot. You can't adjust the sweetness of the drink since most of the sugar comes from the tapioca. Thankfully, the drink is not overly sweet. The employees advised us to first take a sip without mixing the drink and then try it again after it is mixed. It's a unique experience and noticeably different in taste. Since their drinks are pricey for their size, this wouldn't be a place I frequent. However, I definitely want to go back to try their White Peach Oolong. read more
I love coming to this Alley location since the employees are always so kind! They greet you with a smile and make recommendations for drinks as well (e.g. they offered me a sample of their new Earl grey series when they found out that I always stick to the same drink, it was good by the way!) The space is quite small, but they also have a patio area for when the weather is warmer. It's not really problematic though, since the wait time for ordering and getting drinks isn't too long. I love the decor in terms of the wall and the stools! Aesthetic, just like the rest of their brand. I typically go for the MILK TEA TRIO since it already comes with a bunch of toppings. You can easily adjust the sweetness and ice levels to your liking, as per many other bubble tea shops. The difference is in their tapioca, which is made in house and very QQ (i.e. chewy). They also have a lot of other Instagram-worthy beverages if that's what you're after like the Northern Light series. Overall, always a positive experience! read more
6 years ago
2 years ago
Nestled in the quaint little village of Unionville, The Alley is situated in a tiny white house. The front garden is decorated with patio furnitures for customers to sit down and enjoy the beautiful day with their drinks. I went there with a specific drink in mind. The last time i was at the Alley, they sold out of the drink called Morning Dawn. So i thought i would try again. This time the girls told me to come back when the senior staff is there.... only the senior staff knows how to make the drink. This was a disappointment to learn that i have to match my busy schedule somehow with the schedule of those who know how to make the drink. Sad day. The positive is that they have pretty nice drinks on the menu, especially summer drinks. So refreshing. To be frank, i don't know if i want to risk disappointment again by going back to see if Morning Dawn is available. read more
7 years ago
Ambiance & atmosphere: It's a cute boba shop with nice decor. There's a few tables you can sit at; low and high tables. Service: The workers there were kind and patient with us. Price: A little bit on the smaller side for a small cup. Small was $5 and large for $5.50. Drinks we have tried: Royal No 9 milk tea, iron goddess tea latte, honey lime with aloe, brown sugar deerioca, Earl grey tea latte. - Royal No 9 has a hint of blueberry in the milk tea. - Iron Goddess tea latte uses tie guan yin tea. - Honey lime with aloe has bits of lime in it. - Their brown sugar deerioca has a good balance of milk and brown sugar boba; milk is just the right amount of richness and boba is a good amount of sweetness. - Earl grey tea latte has the fragrant taste the way an early grey tea should have. The drinks are delicious. read more
9 years ago
The Alley's 2nd location is so much better than the one at Commerce Gate! Love the front patio area overlooking Main Street Unionville! People watching and enjoying your drink is a lot of fun. Interior also well set up with more seating than their original location. I always order the Sweet Dew Oolong Tea with a touch of sugar. Just love the aroma and the clean taste of this tea. The staff was friendly and you are welcome to have a free tasting which is usually their unique Royal #9 Milk Tea. I would love to have a few more tables set up in the patio area on nicer day so I could really enjoy the Toronto short patio season! read more
9 years ago
This is the second location in the GTA of the alley bubble tea place. Location: In beautiful Unionville on main Street across the street from the mill. Its not where all the main stuff is. Parking: I think there's a few spaces by it but there's a lot of parking access the street at the mill. Decor: Its located in the cutest little house. With a white picket fence and some patio tables and chairs for some Al Frisco drinking. Inside its small. There's a few tables. The walls look like some thing you would find in a Wes Anderson movie. Cute! Food: They serve drinks. Bubble tea. They have a top 10 list and everything on it is fantastic. My favourite drink is I love Lemonway I'm not sure what Lemonway is but this drink is made with lime. Yum? Cost: Its pretty good. The drinks are huge and you can tell made with lots of care with quality products! I like this place. I. The summer you can grab a drink in a warm summer evening and walk through the tree lined paths. Yum! read more
I love that The Alley opened in Main Street Unionville, it is a nice addition to the variety of restaurants that are currently there. This location is a bit larger than their other location and has a few tables both outside and inside to enjoy the bubble tea. I tried the Garden Milk Tea which is topped with crushed oreos and a peppermint leaf with regular sugar level and it was delicious. The ice inside the drink helps keep the crushed oreo afloat. Parking is a bit harder to find on the weekend especially on Saturday. Overall, I would definitely come back to try their other drinks! read more
Well...it's been 2 years since my last review of this place, so I guess it's time for an update. I would say the price is worth it for the bbt's here. I mean they're now approximately the same across the numerous bbt chains that have opened up along the years. I would say that The Alley is probably my usual go to place for the better milk teas considering the number of check ins I have in this location alone. That Royal number 9 will always hit that sweet spot for me because of the unique flavour. Since I've been coming here more often, I've also tried the strawberry lulu and winter melon which were a tad too sweet for my liking, I'd recommend sticking to their classic milk teas. I have also since found out that you don't have to put money into their app to collect points which is nice. Customer service is alright although you have to wait a little longer sometimes for your drinks especially now as the weather gets nicer. As always, mainstreet is a nice location to hangout and have a drink. They put out some tables for you to enjoy some nice company with friends and of course to try out the various restaurants along the street. read more
6 years ago
THE ALLEY jasmine green tea +aloe (L) & deerico fever (R) . 4/5 . Got these 2 drinks at The Alley today on Main St Unionville! On the left is my favourite jasmine green tea in large with no ice, regular sugar (it was way too hot for a milk tea, I needed something refreshing ). Even with no ice dilution, the drink didn't have a strong tea taste. The aloe was a nice touch because it did add some sweetness. Overall, the drink isn't bad, and it has the perfect amount of sweetness (not overly sweet)! . On the right is the deerico fever (fixed size, sugar, and ice). The tapioca was just the rice amount of chewiness, and the sweetness in the drink actually leaned towards honey instead of brown sugar. You can choose from fresh milk and soy milk (for all my lactose-intolerence friends~) . jasmine green tea ($5.50) +aloe ($0.5) & deerico fever ($6) read more
Finally, I got to visit the new Alley at Unionville.. after anxiously waiting for them to open in May, the Alley finally opened their their second location in Markham last weekend. I tried to go there last Sunday but it was closed by the time I got there :( Tried to go again Monday but they closed early at 5 pm..Tuesday wasn't open. I finally made it today at exactly 530pm... Their new location has taken over the Touhenboku Cafe. The Alley decor is still in process but it seems simplistic but yet homey. It does have chairs to sit than the original location and the size of the place seems bigger than the original location at Commerce Gate, which is a good thing :) I quickly ordered my favourite drink at the Alley: The Royal Nbr 9 and brought it to the movies haha There is minimal temporary parking at the park (6-8 spots) but it is best to park in the Unionvile parking lots and walk over if planning to stay longer. Now that the Alley has opened a location closer, I might drop by more often haha ... The Alley is currently in their soft opening but will be in full hours in the weeks to come. There are a few promotions happening. Full menu is available but please be patient as the staff is new. The second location is currently not giving out stamps but the program shall be in effect soon. read more
Pros: Nice homey feel Cons: Parking not in proximity of actual location I'm a fan of the Alley located at Commerce Gate. My main gripe is that it's very tiny and cramped. You're completely relegated to take out unless you want a bunch of people lining up right behind you for the entirety of your stay. So when my wife told me of a location in Main Street Unionville, I was all in. So the location here is bigger, but it's still on the tiny side. That being said, it's not cramped at all. You have 4 full size tables capable of seating 4 each and a patio outside for when the weather is good. The place also has a very homey feel which I like. It feels like a cabin more than a tea place if you ask me. The Alley doesn't have as much selection as the other tea chains you see out there. What they have though, they do pretty well. I have never been disappointed by them. I tend to try different flavours as much as possible for variety when I come to these places. Price wise, it what you expect from a place like this. Nothing stands out as being too expensive or really cheap. Parking can be a bit tricky. I'm not sure how street parking works at Main Street Unionville either. There didn't seem to be many cars parked outside so the best parking option is the big lots they have on the other side of the streets. It's about a good 3-5 minute walk from there to the location. When the weather is frigid cold, it's not the most fun walk. All in all, I definitely like this location more than the location at Commerce Gate. Both are great product wise, but this location gives off a better relaxed feel that's comforting. read more
8 years ago
It's hard to stand out as a bubble tea place, especially in overly saturated areas such as Markham. However The Alley is a place that finally offers unique tasting traditional flavours. I tried the Sweet Dew fresh milk tea, matcha deerioca & the Royal number 9 milk tea. All were delicious. Especially the Sweet Dew & Matcha. I'm not even sure how to explain the matcha drink- it's not overly sweet and much of the sugar comes from the tapioca. Employees will advise you to drink the tapioca first and then mix the drink. It's unique and hard to describe but try it if you're not into the sweeter drinks! The sweet Dew is sweet of course but so yummy. Definitely a cool twist in a milk tea . Their tapioca is also good, I'm picky with my tapioca and places such as coco & real fruit have bland tapioca but The Alley's is good. One of the first cool things I noticed is that at the Unionville location they actually view their own mint and take it fresh off the plant, wash it, then place it right on your drink. It is a little pricier but I think it's worth it. You get aesthetically pleasing cafes and quality bubble tea. Definitely recommend this place! especially with the influx of locations opening up you can't miss one. read more
[LOCATION] - 4/5 Located at Main Street Unionville inside a cute little white house. There aren't any designated parking spots for this place. I usually just park at the Old Unionville Train Station on Station Lane. [SERVICE] - 4/5 Staff were very friendly. They offered samples of their Royal No. 9 Milk Tea and explained that they infused a unique blueberry flavour in this signature drink. [DÉCOR] - 5/5 Both the exterior and interior were aesthetically pleasing with a natural and earthy theme. [FOOD QUALITY] - 5/5 I really like how the natural décor visually reflects how this place uses high-quality and natural ingredients in their tea. [ORDER] - 4/5 Royal No. 9 Milk Tea (Regular) - $5.00: after I tried the sample, I ordered the Royal No. 9 Milk tea with less sugar. I think the drink tasted alright, but the blueberry flavour was not as apparent in my drink in comparison to the original. So, don't mess with the original one! The tapioca was also a little too soft. Fortunately, the tea was still very aromatic and the overall drink was fragrant and smooth. [OVERALL] - 4/5 Overall, I would recommend this quaint location of The Alley for the beautiful décor and high-quality tea. read more
Known for interesting and innovative teas. Hmmm... not sure what to say. My brother has been raving over the Pineapple Brûlée Tea (seasonal) so we finally got to go try it. Kid got the deerioca with milk (bubbles cooked in brown sugar in your choice of milk or soy milk). While the drinks deserve a 5, here's the reason why the overall rating is a 3. In this day and age, people are becoming more "plastic" conscious. Vancouver is moving to ban plastic straws, and Starbucks is getting rid of theirs. I've been using my tumbler for coffees etc for YEARS! Other bubble tea places like Ten Ren and Chatime let me bring mine in. Here?! The girl said that they'd have to prepare the drink in a cup and I could pour it into mine. Um... Pardon me? So she repeats herself and I needed to clarify that they were making the drink and I'd have to pour it into my reusable mug. What's the point in bringing my own mug? She explained that she had to measure the tapioca and weigh something. There aren't any lines (like Starbucks) on the cup so I'm not sure how she's using the cup to measure. When I watched her, she "measured" the tapioca using a ladle, poured it into the single-use plastic cup, poured the milk into a measuring cup and from there, poured it into that single-use pollution vessel. Honestly it was quite infuriating. I really hope that Alley gets with it. P.S. One good thing about the Alley: their bubbles fit my stainless steel straws. read more
my friends and I all got the number 9 bubble tea which. It was $5 without tapioca with 50 cents extra for tapioca. there were quite a lot of people there and service was slow and we had to wait 15 minutes since only one person was waiting. we didn't mind tho since we weren't in a rush and the decor there is very beautiful the drink suprised us. It is unlike the typical milk tea. at first sip it taste like blueberries then had a floral taste then ends with a tea taste. one of my friends was not that much of a fan but blue and my other friend would get it again. will def trike more drinks from here !! read more
I decided to try The Alley again after being disappointed by the drinks I've gotten before. It was busy on a Saturday so it took a while to get my drink, but I didn't mind that. The drink was very watered down, I couldn't taste my favourite royal no.9 tea. Even my husband who usually doesn't like sweet drinks was wondering why it wasn't sweet and said it tasted very watered down. Which is strange because I got regular sugar. Sadly, I don't think I will be coming back. read more
6 years ago
9 years ago
I was so much more impressed by the experience at the Unionville location than the Richmond Hill one (1/5)...mainly because I ordered better items, but made me feel a lot better about the chain, so prob will return to correct that review. I got the white peach oolong less sweet with no ice this time. It was filled to the top even with no ice unlike some places that skimp out. The tea was strong and you can taste the difference in their house brew. The hints of peach was faint but didn't taste artificial. The drink was perfect and hit all the right notes. The only thing I would nitpick is that you can't really tell the white peach from regular peach, so slightly disappointed. Place is cute inside and the patio was super romantic after it gets dark. Limited seating but understandable for the location. read more
I have been going to the Richmond Hill location for as long as I can remember and I'm so excited it's finally near me! Management: Easy to spot with a big wooden sign. They offer a free sample as soon as you get near the cashier and they explain the current specials, which is helpful. I went after school so there was nobody else there - I would be interested to see how they handle a big line-up. Cleanliness: A rustic feel to the interior and all the tables were wiped and clean along with the chairs. The exterior is still in the works but I would say this place would fit more people than the RH location. Service: Knowledgeable, friendly, and asked me if I was sure I didn't want any sugar in my drink (thoughtful). They have a special right now where you can get one drink from the "black" list and one from the "white" list for $8.85, but I'll be listing the following items with their regular price: 1. Royal No. 9 Black Tea (Large $5.10 + $0.50 for tapioca): This is my favourite drink because they put a spin on the regular milk tea that everyone might be used to - they infuse it with blueberries! It's so creative and unique and the flavour is subtle but refreshing! I would recommend this to anyone! The tapioca is firm, which I prefer because it doesn't just melt in my mouth, but there's actually texture to it. 2. Apple of My Eye ($6.00 comes with aloe jelly) This is an apple vinegar slush drink with aloe jelly included and only comes in the large size. I'm not the biggest fan of aloe jelly so it was a bit too squishy for me. It was perfect for a hot summer day and the right amount of sour and sweet in my opinion (I've been told that I really like sour drinks and it's too sour for some of my friends so heed this warning if you don't like sour drinks) This drink doesn't come with sugar but honey instead and unfortunately, they don't customize the amount of honey. I will definitely come again and again and it seems like right after school is the best time to do it because I get the place all to myself to enjoy the delicious bubble tea! Bring a friend! The black and white special will be going on until the end of June! read more
After a lovely lunch at a local Chinese restaurant decided to step into this place for some tea. Having read some good reviews from fellow yelpers decided to give this a try. Located in Unionville, this location is ideal. Grab a tea and go for a lovely walk down Main Street Unionville. First impressions, this place was busy but I did like the decor inside and out, very unique indeed. Waited about 15 mins before we could order, the menu can be overwhelming but the girl at the counter was very helpful and patient. Ordered the deerioca matcha and it was lovely. A great place to checkout if your in the mood for something slightly different . read more
Heard of this bubble tea spot that has a location in Richmond hill. The milk tea is very smooth and I can understand why people love it so much. Since this is a new location, the people are still fairly new and the drinks took longer than usually because they are training but they are super super nice! The garden milk tea is just regular milk tea with ores crumbs on top and a mint garnish. There is a milk tea series and fresh milk tea series and the difference is that milk tea series is more creamy and the fresh milk is lighter. Would def come back! Bonus: because it's their grand opening we got 10% off! read more
9 years ago
I didn't know much of this place, but glad it was suggested. Across from NextDoor The Alley is a newly franchised Bubble tea/ milk tea type of place. Its small, cute, warm inside, almost feels like you're in a narrow cabin-hut. They've got a lot of drink options from hot, cold, tapioca, milk, teas, etc. but overall focuses on the quality of ingredients. I decided to try their Matcha milk tea which was delicious....so good I ordered a second one to-go lol. Their prices are reasonable. Only draw back is looking for parking, especially in the summer since its right on main street. read more
6 years ago
Not sure what's going on with this location recently. There seems to be a change in staff, and not only did they get our bbt orders wrong today (even though the receipt was correct) and also gave us the wrong tea bags. Now I have to drive back out to get them exchanged. The quality of the drinks are still good, otherwise their bad customer service would warrant a lower rating. read more
Not 100% what the hype is about The Alley. It's honestly just like any other bubble tea place, just the drink names (and drinks) are a tad bit fancier. Tried out the highly recommended Morning Dawn and it was mediocre. The drink is literally 50% ice... Tasted more like water than whatever flavour(s) it was supposed to taste like. Definitely not worth $7.50. The location is small and cozy. However, if you come during the colder seasons, don't count on finding a seat. Get your drink to-go. Location is definitely not suited for large groups during colder seasons. They do, however, have a patio with picnic tables, which would be suitable for summer days/nights. TL;DR: over-hyped and over-priced. read more
7 years ago
Walked in because I was in the area and checked it out. Saw a unicorn colour (Rainbow Dawn) drink on the menu, so decided to order it to try. It took them 15mins to make 2 bottles of them, but that was ok, I had time to wait. :) It was a bit pricy (around $8.50 per bottle..if I recall right) but it was fun to try it. Tasty was fruity and refreshing! read more
Tucked away in a little white house and gives off cozy vibes. Decided to stop by for drinks after a walk in Unionville Village. Drinks were just the right level of sweetness and you can really taste the tea and milk. Staff were friendly and recommended drinks to us. There was a bit of a wait since there were only 2 people working. read more
3.5 stars. Location is in my neighbourhood and very convenient. I went here within the first few days it opened as I always wanted to try The Alley in Richmond Hill but never got the chance. I ordered the Royal No. 9 Milk Tea because I liked the sample they let me try. The blueberry flavour disappears as you continue drinking the drink and I personally found the tapioca balls too hard. It's a bit on the pricey side of bubble tea (~$6). I also wanted to study here but unfortunately the wifi was not very cooperative and kept diconnecting. Overall, I liked the experience here. Because of the price, I think it's more of a "once in a while" treat. read more
This is the new location of Alley. It's actually a very good location with only 1 other bubble tea competitor. The layout and design of this place is very nice. They even have "patio" seating outside which is nice. When I first walked in the I was greeted by friendly staff. They said hi and gave us a few recommendations. I tried a Sample of their royal tea no. 9 which is apparently infuses with blueberries, it was a very unique flavour. I ended up getting the garden drink. It was basically milk tea with tapioca and Oreo bits. It was both visually appealing and tasty ! I like the bubble tea but the likelihood of me getting a cider or ice cream on Main Street is higher. However if you're in for bbt I would def recommend this location over tea shop read more
I was introduced to the Alley by a good friend at the original location on West beaver creek, and we were excited when the Main st. Unionville location opened! So much closer to home. The alley is slowly growing to be my favourite bubble tea joint out of the multitude of joints that seem to be opening around the city. In comparison to (my still #1) joint in chatime, the alley is a great contrast in that it's a lot more "tea-flavoured" and natural tasting vs Chatime and other places like CoCo or Real Fruit. Even at 100% sugar, drinks at the Alley don't even come close to the 50% sugar level at chatime in my opinion! Personal favourites would have to be the Iron Goddess Milk Tea and the Royal #9, both with tapioca :3 Again, even at 100% sugar, they don't taste super sweet! I've also had the Jasmine green tea, and it was a pleasant surprise. Location wise, personally it's great. 15 minutes from home vs almost 30min is a big difference for one. However it is on main street unionville, which does get busy, especially when there are events happening at the square which is right beside it. I usually swing by around 9pm and parking's easy to get since they've got a decent lot in the back. read more
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