Cafe Bon Bon — Restaurant in Richmond Hill

Food: 2 Stars Service: 3 Stars Ambience: 2 Stars Value: 2 Stars Sanitary: 2 Stars Overall: 2.2 Stars

I had high expectations for Café Bon Bon given its strong ratings and reviews, but my experience was far from what I had hoped. From the moment I stepped in, the atmosphere felt off. The space lacked warmth and charm, and there was no background music to create a cozy or inviting ambiance. Instead, the only sounds filling the café were the clatter of dishes, loud conversations, and the noise coming from the open kitchen. The ventilation was poor, so the entire café was filled with an overwhelming smell from the kitchen, making it uncomfortable to sit and enjoy our time there.

We ordered a cappuccino, an americano, an iced matcha latte, and the chocolate soufflé pancakes. The cappuccino was one of the most disappointing aspects of the visit—it was shockingly overpriced for the portion size, which was barely two sips. For what they charged, I expected something more substantial. The americano was fine, but nothing special or memorable. The iced matcha latte was decent, though not outstanding, and didn't stand out compared to matcha lattes from other cafés.

The biggest letdown of the visit was the chocolate soufflé pancakes. The presentation was uninspiring, which wouldn’t have been an issue if the taste had been exceptional, but unfortunately, it was the opposite. The pancakes had an overwhelming eggy smell, and the flavour leaned more towards an omelette rather than a dessert. It was an odd and unpleasant experience, especially for something that’s supposed to be light, fluffy, and indulgent. The Nutella sauce was also disappointing—it had a watery consistency, resembling chocolate milk rather than an actual sauce. This made the dish even more underwhelming, as the sauce didn’t provide the rich, decadent flavour you’d expect from Nutella.

Seating was another issue. The chairs were uncomfortable, and while the café offers WiFi and charging spots, it didn’t feel like a place where you’d want to sit and work for any extended period. The setup made it feel more like a restaurant than a relaxed café space. In terms of cleanliness, I noticed layers of dust on the shelves, which was off-putting. The utensils also looked overused, which raised concerns about hygiene and whether proper care was being taken to maintain the space.

From a value perspective, Café Bon Bon seems to be trying to position itself as an elevated café experience, but the quality simply doesn’t match the pricing. The portions are small, the execution of the food and drinks is inconsistent, and the overall experience does not justify the cost. With so many amazing cafés in the city that offer a much better atmosphere, higher-quality food, and a better value for money, Café Bon Bon fell short in almost every aspect.

Given the high ratings, I had hoped for a much better experience, but unfortunately, it was disappointing from start to finish. I wouldn’t recommend this café, especially when there are so many other great spots to check out instead.

xx...

Dropped by Cafe Bon Bon for dessert since it was popping up all over my feeds and found it to be just ok. Aesthetically, the place is beautiful and the service was quite good but the food was subpar. We ordered their Soufflé Pancakes ($14), an Affogato ($8) and a Matcha Latte ($6) and got a free Iron Goddess soft serve.

The Soufflé Pancake was ready in about 20 minutes after ordering (no extra wait as the restaurant was not very busy). It was soft and light around the sides but I found the centre to be a little wet (instead of custardy) and I suspect it might have needed an extra 30-60 seconds cooking time. It also had a very eggy flavour which some might like but I much preferred the souffle pancakes at Hanabusa. The fruits on the side added a nice pop of color but was not incredibly sweet. The one thing I did REALLY enjoy was the Iron Goddess soft serve that came with the pancake. It was extremely fragrant and aromatic.

The Affogato was not bad - vanilla bean soft serve is topped with a shot of hot espresso and crumbled candied walnuts. The ice cream itself was average but the esspresso shot was strong and bold and mixed with the creaminess of the soft serve, created a velvety aromatic experience. The nuts added a sweetness and bit of crunch to this dessert.

The Matcha Latte was a complete fail in my opinion. It looked pretty but after getting past the top layer of foam, it tasted very watery and bland. For $6, I expected MUCH better.

If you're looking for a nice place to sit down with a friend; or if you're itching to try the famous Japanese Soufflé Pancakes and are unwilling to go downtown, this is a good option. I'm hoping that they will put the Iron Goddess soft serve as an item on the menu since it was quite good. I heard from some one that you can order it on its own but it's $5 for a cup (which isn't that bag).

Given the price point and general quality of the dishes I tried, I would give it a 1.5 but bumped up to two for good service and decor.

For their soft opening, Cafe Bon Bon is offering 10% off and a free soft serve for those who follow them on...

I had the opportunity to taste Cafe Bon Bon once, and the feeling I got from it can only be described as 'okay'. Today, I courageously ventured south again, crossing the 404, offering up my stomach.

At exactly 12 o'clock noon, I called to make a reservation, and they told me, 'You'll need to wait for half an hour, dear, and then we'll call you.' Full of anticipation, I arrived at the restaurant at 12:40, eagerly asking, 'Is it my turn now?' The answer was a vague 'It'll be soon.' As expected, I waited for another half an hour, that's how it is with trendy restaurants, you need to have the endurance for queuing.

Mushroom deluxe with steak (Image 2) Based on the enthusiastic recommendation on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), I chose this dish without hesitation. And the result? Well, it felt like encountering the eighth wonder of the world among the seven wonders. It was priced at $19 + $10, which made my wallet feel a bit lighter, but it didn't make my appetite soar. The medium rare beef had a texture somewhat reminiscent of chewing on a good-looking eraser. The mushroom and special sauce had a good taste, and the egg and side dishes were all standard. I give this dish a rating of:3/5.

Thai curry seafood linguine The flavor of this pasta is a bit heavy, which perfectly suits my taste and brought tears to my eyes. It's filled with rich crab meat, like a treasure trove from the ocean. I might choose it again with determination on my next visit. I give this dish a rating of: 4/5.

Soufflé pancakes This is a popular dessert that I discovered on Xiaohongshu. As soon as I saw it, my sugar detector exploded. The pancakes were freshly baked, hot and fluffy, topped with sweet Berry cream and served with a scoop of ice cream. It's the epitome of culinary delight! I give this dessert a rating of: 4/5.

Overall, the restaurant has a modern decor, exquisite presentation, and the taste is decent, like a trendy and fresh male idol. However, the waiting time for queuing is long, and the ambiance is a bit reminiscent of a market, which left me slightly...