The Alley — Restaurant in Toronto

4.5 stars... possibly 5. I can see why The Alley is getting a lot of love... it's very good. Possibly one of my favourites in recent memory but I feel like I need to return to try more to see if it's a 5 star!

The Alley sits at the base of a newer building and is a stone's throw away from Yonge st. It's clean, modern, and quite spacious for a place in the heart of Toronto. Unlike other spots on Yonge, It has nice light and higher ceilings. It has a fair amount of seating if you want to enjoy your tea there and even the take out area wouldnt be too crowded since it's wider than the 3 other nearby bubble tea places. The aesthetics is a-dork-able... I think it's so cute. It plays off their 'mascot' which is a reindeer. The antlers and face is peppered about the room. Their takeaway container has the antlers coming out of the cardboard and is used to anchor the string that holds it like a drawstring bag. Im doing it no justice in explaining how adorkable it is... just look at my pics. IT'S SO CUTE!

Another great thing about this place... service. Quick, efficient, happy, and completely knowledgeable and full patience to explain their menu. You need that explanation because this isn't your usual powdery regular bubble tea. OH noooo... this is the real deal. Freshly brewed tea with in house made boba that are perfect QQ chewy texture. There are so many different teas to chose from as your base... assam, green tea, iron goddess, jasmine, oolong... you get the idea. They also have several instagram worthy ones that have a lovely gradient of colours. With the super friendly staff, I decided to go with their best seller and totally appreciated the small sample to try before hand.... Royal Tea No.9.

Royal Tea No.9 - Explained as a medium strength black tea with blueberry flavour. I remember my first bubble tea actually being a powdery and insanely sugary blueberry bubble tea. I WISHED this was my first bubble tea because this would have gotten me addicted to bubble tea but it'd be a happy addiction! This had a nice mellow black tea flavour that was really clear from the first sip... like a nice mellow English Breakfast. Then the blueberry flavour hits you at the end and it's not a sugary fake scent... this reminded me truly of the fruit! I got mine half sweet and feel thats just the perfect sweetness for me to balance off the natural black tea flavour. I LOVED the pearls! They mentioned they make it in house and it was perfectly chewy and soft. Not overcooked. I can understand why this would be their best seller. Definitely beats all other new spots I've tried recently. 4.5/5

With a huge menu of new and innovative different drinks, I'm loving their offering and it makes me want to come back to try new things. I usually stick to the basics... Roasted or regular black milk tea. Not here! I'm completely sold on their great service, bubble tea, and possibly the cutest thing I've seen in a restaurant in...

Bad Attitude Employee. Incredibly rude and dramatically condescending.

I have spent a LOT of money at the various Alley locations across the city however after today...that comes to an end. While inside this location, there was 3 people, and myself and my sister made 5 .... from the INSIDE of the place it looked like the sign outside said 6 maximum. so we pulled in a 10 YEAR OLD KID to sit on the bench to cool off. The weather was 39C with humidity.

The person asked one of us to leave, we looked at the sign from the inside which looked like 6 maximum so didn't understand why. In addition, one of their employees came in after us and stood in line to which the man behind the counter said there were four people already. We said we were there before that person and he said 'that is an employee' and yes, we were there first, so why do we have to leave?

After trying to explain the 5 or 6 thing and us HONESTLY not getting it and now even more confused with the 'employee in line after you came in goes first rule...he storms out from around the counter, RIPS the sign off the glass door and shoves it in our face and goes "SEE 5!!!!". Oh. My. God. The sign must have said 6 before and was changed to five at some point (which made it still look like 6 when you viewed it from the inside).

Needless to say after the overly dramatic and incredibly rude behavior we left without ordering (would have been 5 drinks). The other three customers inside that were there before us were visibly uncomfortable with the way the employee was acting. They actually left as well and stood outside.

Regardless...it was a 10 year old kid. Do you really think the police will fine you because a 10 year old was in the corner sitting on the bench during a day with a heat warning for the whole 5 minutes it would have taken us to order/get our drinks? Some logic would be good or if not that maybe a touch of compassion.

So congrats on the dramatic sign ripping / shouting "SEE FIVE'... I hope it made you feel good. Personally I never felt welcomed by you in my many previous visits with your 'better than you' attitude and today you put that on full display for everyone to see. Hopefully you will find a job that makes you happy somewhere else as this one clearly makes you miserable.

So long Alley and good luck with three other bubble tea places around the...

Cozy bubble tea spot with limited seating, albeit on the pricier side, presents a unique balance of pros and cons. The charm of such places lies in their intimate atmosphere, but their constrained space can sometimes impede the overall experience.

The limited seating arrangement in a cozy bubble tea joint often contributes to an inviting and intimate ambiance. The absence of large crowds and ample personal space can create a sense of exclusivity, making it an ideal setting for quiet conversations, solo reading, or even working remotely. This tranquility sets these establishments apart from bustling cafes and lends them a distinct charm.

However, this coziness comes at a price, both in terms of the cost of the bubble tea and the potential limitations it imposes. Pricier bubble tea can be justified by the quality of ingredients, unique flavors, or specialized preparation methods. Some customers are willing to pay extra for a premium tea experience, while others may find it a bit steep.

Yet, the limited seating can be a double-edged sword. While it fosters an intimate atmosphere, it can also deter potential customers, especially during peak hours. Finding a spot may become a challenge, and the temptation to linger and enjoy the cozy setting might be curtailed to accommodate others waiting for a seat. This spatial constraint can be a drawback, especially for those looking to unwind and savor their bubble tea at their own pace.

Bubble tea spot with limited seating offer a unique and intimate experience, but they come with a price tag and the potential inconvenience of securing a seat. The decision to frequent such places depends on individual preferences for atmosphere, willingness to pay for quality, and tolerance for...