Essence of Unionville in Markham

8500 Warden Ave., Markham, ON L6G 1A5, Canada

★★★★☆
(152 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant

About

Essence of Unionville restaurant is currently closed due to updated protocols. Takeout available through UberEats and DoorDash daily from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm.

Website
essenceofunionville.com
Address
8500 Warden Ave., Markham, ON L6G 1A5, Canada
Plus Code
VM37+PX Markham, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Monday
6:30 AM–2 PM – 5–10 PM
Tuesday
6:30 AM–2 PM – 5–10 PM
Wednesday
6:30 AM–2 PM – 5–10 PM
Thursday
6:30 AM–2 PM – 5–10 PM
Friday
6:30 AM–2 PM – 5–10 PM
Saturday
6:30 AM–10 PM
Sunday
6:30 AM–10 PM

Services

Service options
Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Great cocktails
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Small plates Spirits Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets Wi-Fi Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Family friendly Groups LGBTQ+ friendly Transgender safe space
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs Kids' menu
Parking
Free parking lot Paid parking lot Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.1
★★★★☆
152 reviews

Most Mentioned

brunch (23) buffet (21) sandwiches (10) hotel (9) afternoon tea (8) oysters (7) christmas (6) scones (5) bday (5) manager (5)
5 stars
81
4 stars
31
3 stars
18
2 stars
11
1 stars
11
★★★★★
December 20, 2024

My family had a wonderful time at the Essence at Unionville for Sunday Brunch! We were celebrating family members who had December birthdays. We had booked the private room in the back. The service was excellent. We really enjoyed the presentation of the birthday 🎂 cakes with our names on nameplates - that was quite special and a nice surprise! We will definitely come back again!

★★★
December 8, 2024

Title: Disappointing Experience for a Milestone Celebration We chose this restaurant to celebrate a very special 65th birthday after a challenging year of cancer treatments, largely because of previous great experiences. Unfortunately, this visit fell far below expectations. Despite including details about the occasion in a note beforehand, this went completely unacknowledged. Instead, the focus seemed to be on accommodating influencers, who not only received prime seating but also handled food with the same utensils across dishes, leading to cross-contamination. This raises serious health and safety concerns, especially for an upscale establishment that charges premium prices. Paying customers, like us, were given poor seating and made to feel like an afterthought. It was disheartening, particularly on a day that was meant to be memorable for positive reasons. While the restaurant may respond to negative reviews, it seems little is done to improve based on feedback. I hope this review prompts a change, as word of mouth carries more weight than curated influencer content.

★★★
September 1, 2024

3 stars means good. Grilled Strip loin is good in medium rare. Lobster pasta is creamy and fresh. Halibut fillet did not overcook, and it is not too salty. You can taste the freshness of the seafood. The cheesecake is just average, so so. Anyway, if you want to have an ok meal and don't need to line up, this is a good option.

★★★★★
August 18, 2024

A great hotel restaurant where I ate a prime rib burger with mushrooms, onions, and bacon with a side of truffle fries. Bit on the pricy end but I think it’s worth it. It was certainly delicious, especially when it’s late at night.

★★★★★
February 25, 2024

Quiet weekend brunch spot that serves up delightful dishes in the heart of Markham. Afternoon tea set is ~$50, it includes 5 x finger sandwiches, a scone with homemade cream cheese and raspberry jam preserve, plus a small selection of sweets. I liked my PEI lobster roll, it's on a homemade brioche and the lobster meat was fresh and had right amount of mayo mixed in. Cappuccino in almond milk was normal, decent coffee blend was used. The beef shank risotto had the perfect amount of cream and it's not overly seasonsed. High ceilings, lots of space and tables to choose from. No background music is played. Makes conversations with your table mates a breeze. Decor is contemporary, all the dining ware and furniture are clean. Servers were friendly and courteous. I prefer the Essence of Unionville brunch/lunch experience more than nearby IG worthy brunch spots.

★★★★
February 22, 2024

Attended the 2024 Markham Jazzlicious Winterfest with the Prix Fixe Menu at $65 per person, fantastic jazz performance with Matt Dusk and his trio jazz band, beautiful presentation of dishes by Chef Jitin Gaba, excellent service by friendly professional staff.

★★★★
November 25, 2023

We’ve been to brunch at Essence of Unionville many times and for the most part it is a great experience. The food layout is organized and attractive. Everything is kept clean and tidy around the buffet areas. There is something for everyone from seafood, salads, hot entrees (fish, chicken and roast beef) to breakfast with made to order eggs or omelettes. Finishing off with fruits and various desserts. Overall the food is delicious. Wait staff is attentive and accommodating. I would recommend brunch here on a Sunday to mellow out from a hectic weekend.

★★★★★
April 27, 2023

Came here for a high tea baby shower. Great service and staff. The staff were very patient and friendly with us. The portion sizes were huge and plentiful. The high tea experience was one of a kind. Looking forward to going back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

Patrick is an amazing server. Warm, friendly, makes me feel at home. Thank you!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 24, 2024

Patrick is an absolute pleasure to deal with. Service is phenomenal!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 24, 2024

One of the best high tea in GTA the staff was so nice and the manager provided excellent service. We threw a baby shower for our friend and it was a fantastic experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Very lovely experience of afternoon tea.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Great selection Parking: Give the license plate in the book for free parking Food : 5/5 |

September 22, 2024

UPDATE Mgmt response below they give illusion that they are looking into my situation.... however NO ONE called me or posted pls provide your information below to have us contact you. FYI warning to their type of reaction or response. False. DO NOT COME HERE! I wanted to post this as a warning of our poor experience June 11 2024. I did reserve a table for four adults celebrating my moms bday yesterday. The only reason gave service a 1 star is because the gentleman the male server who greeted us yesterday @11:15am was very kind professional and easy to talk to. We left closer to 12;25pm or so.... I ordered 3 salmon lunch meals poke bowl and one lobster roll coffee and one tea..cranberry juice for my niece. $257.64 TIP: $36.00 Total: $292.64 total Avg costs per adult for four of us was $60-70 per person pretty expensive lunch for Horrible bad experience by female server when we were almost done.. I provided decent and generous tip considering level of horrible experience only because I appreciate servers & hard their work is.I didnt want to fault him on the female server brief but horrible interaction with us....(The nice gentleman served us before this female server started by time we had our food he ended his shift)By @noon the gentleman said hisshift ended and he would be leaving. I wanted to ensure that he would receive my tip and asked about tipping. He advised that the lady who is now here will take over and they do share tips and he kindly thanked me for thinking of him... As we were finishing our lunch I took out of my bag a small dufflet chocolate cake. The lady server saw it and said you cannot bring cake into the restaurant if you want it will be an additional $25.00 additional charge like a corking fee! I wasnt aware of this policy and i said Oh I didnt know of this and i was surprised. I told her that its my moms bday officially today. She said that the restaurant can give her a slice of cake . I didnt know about this policy. She said to me in a rude manner all restaurants charge you if you bring a cake in.I told her that I had few b-days with friends one of my friends took me to an Italian restaurant she brought in a bday cake small size one and it wasnt an issue Markham this past Feb 2024. She just gave me a rude look...*Btw there was no one in the entire rest we were there 11:15am 12;25pm yesterday empty We are almost finished our lunch but i can tell you our interaction was minimal with her as she wasnt as friendly or even cared to ask if we needed anything before i brought the cake out..**She rudely said to us as well some people come in to order coffee only and bring out a cake... Well, we would never do that and obviously i ordered 3 salmon lunch meals, one poke tuna lunch bowl and one lobster appetizer one cranberry jujice one coffee one tea subtotal bill: $257.64 and i added $36.00 total: $292.64 I know most people would not even to TIP if it was her alone.. she may get 5.00 tip but out of respect to the male server who was kind and friendly and asked if i needed anything when we got our food.She gave my mom a slice of bday cake. We Thanked her a few times... but we couldnt light the candle she left for 5min trying get lighter stating no one had a lighter....making the bday experience further worse... When we were leaving she ODDLY Said Happy bday to my mom yet she never addressed that to her during our lunch and my niece said no one was in the restaurant i guess she doesnt like people she had many opportunities to ask if we needed anything.or even wish my mom a happy birthday but she was too focused on being rude and had a stern look on her face at all times..I dont see how you can treat people like this and for those wondering why I didnt ask for the manager ?? No one was there and i didnt want to make an issue out of the policy she stated. its how she treated us and her look and demeanour that i felt she couldve been nicer as well my niece said to me when we left how odd out of bar staff and kitchen no one has a lighter. very strange why bother asking?

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

I was warmly greeted even though the restaurant was about to close. The staff were very friendly.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Patrick was the best server ever!!!

★★★★
September 22, 2024

Very pleasant service, always welcoming Parking: Always enough room even though the hotel is very busy Food : 4/5 |

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Meriam is always so pleasant. Pleasure to be in the lounge

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Kedest is the best

★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

The evening was very good. Service was excellent. Mohammed was very professional and helpful.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Awesome place ..

Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Update: (July 13, 24) First thing first, 5 days came and gone, no direct or indirect contact of any kind from them, leaving a reply with an empty promise pretending to rectify their fault by leaving a reply saying I will be contacted direct but never follow through, this is the level of Customer service they are giving. I must remind the owner, I was your customer, I didnt get pay to inspect your business and your system. When there was an error in your system, how you fix your system has nothing to do with me as a customer, how you dealt with the situation was most important. The whole situation only ONE party took a lost and it definitely was me (CUSTOMER) I literally paid for YOUR mistake on the spot. May I remind the owner, all these happened on Fathers Day, my objections were going no where when I brought up the error to the manager, so I had only 2 choices, pay or ruined Fathers Day for everyone there. So I rather it just ruined MY own Fathers Day. Think about it, is basically I provided a better service then their manager . Original review: We went for Fathers Day special on Sunday, needed to be prebook online. With the booking confirmation page clearly stated ALL taxes and fees are included. When we were there that day, EVERYTHING was extra, with 15% service charge AND even added tax for service charge. Their manager handled the situation by telling me to go after their online booking system, surely didnt want to let this ruin our Fathers Day and it didnt seem like I had a choice anyway. It should definitely be made aware of for everyone though.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Great bar staff. All smiles and friendpy

★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Join mothers day hi tea and our experience is not good,food looks nice but taste is terrible. there are people bring outside food and sit in hallway, the hotel management should be better. Next year go somewhere else. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

The garden salad is one of the best salads I ve had in a long time

★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Not many food options for brunch. But quiet place. Free parking. Service was quick too. Yummy food though. Brunch has free Mimosas so thats a win.

April 22, 2024

Avoid this afternoon tea! Suffered mild food poisoning My girlfriends and I brought our young kids to enjoy afternoon tea on a quiet Sunday. Service was slow as was waiting for our sandwiches to come out. Since there were only 1 waitress for all the tables. We were also not served the food in the same time frame. All the adults that had the same chicken salad sandwich/ egg chive sandwich experienced the symptoms (sweats, cramping, diarrhea) in the nighttime. The next morning I Immediately contacted the hotel and restaurant to notify them. But the responses and phone calls I got back was disappointing as they lightly apologized and insisted the kitchen inspection was fine and they prepared everything fresh . We spent a good dollar at this establishment and to result in many hours of upset stomach was not ideal, to say the least. We will definitely not return anytime in near future.

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Our group stayed at the Hilton and decided to dine at this in house restaurant after checking out their menu on line. The beef tenderloin was cooked perfectly. We were all extremely happy with our meals and the server was very pleasant and competent. Furniture could use an upgrade and the lighting very bright but the food so tasty it didn t matter. Would definitely eat here again if staying at this hotel.

★★
February 22, 2024

Its my first time ordering the Christmas Turkey To Go from Hilton Essence of Unionville. The turkey was small for 12 pounds, lack of flavour and extremely dry. The stuffing was also dry and tasteless. Only the vegetables and the soup have good flavour. Its definitely not worth $325 for this meal. Ill never order Christmas takeout from this place again.

★★★★
January 22, 2024

Went with my family to their Christmas Eve buffet dinner. It was a wonderful evening. The check-in process was smooth, friendly and professional. The dining room was full so we were booked for the ballroom area which was actually even better. Food was good especially the soup and roast beef. But some items were just ok. For the service, we believed our server was just a part-timer. We noticed the servers for other tables were so attentive but our server was not. Despite this, we were having good time and will come again next year.

★★
January 22, 2024

I came here with my significant other for the new year s eve buffet dinner which was around $332 after tax and tips for two people. We booked our seats through opentable in which our time slot was 7:45 pm. When we got there at 7:50, the food was 2/3 empty at the buffet bar. The hot food was not hot. The crab legs were not fresh. The carving station meat was very dry and tough. All the food prepared was very similar to their lunch buffets. There was raw oysters however no one informed us that it had to be ordered from the waiter. The buffet was over at 9 pm. Everyone sat around on their phones from 9pm to midnight to wait for the balloon drop and count down. They didn t have any activities in the meantime. We all gather at the dance floor waiting for the DJ to count down however that also didn t happen. Long story short: mediocre food and service , definitely not worth the price.

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Went there for the Christmas brunch buffet, very disappointed for that price. The food is only fair, definitely not worth the money. I the hot dishes are very cheap and common, the turkey is good, the roast beef is not fresh, the waiter never come and refill our orange juice. Coffee was never served. 15% gratuity was added automatically but not tell us. Very minimal Christmas decoration, atmosphere not good.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Had Christmas Brunch here today. The Manager in charge of seating was very accomadating and made everyone feel welcome. Our Waiter, Patrick, did a great job. He was very personable and made our brunch an enjoyable experience.

December 22, 2023

We went here for Christmas dinner. Hoping for a nice dinner, but turn out to be a very bad experience. The food quality is not good, and the service is lacking. Worst of all is that our seat is too close to the live music and it was too loud for my kid. There are two empty seats inside, so we asked the manager to switch there, and the manager keep saying no and do nothing about it. His attitude is also really bad. Those table inside are still empty when we leave. The price is not cheap, but the experience is really bad. Worst Christmas dinner experience. It used to be a good restaurant, but now it s poorly managed. Very disappointed

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Honestly wasnt sure what to expect as I know this restaurant at Hilton has gone through so many changes since the Embassy Suites days, but the high tea menu was delicious!! Ive been to a lot of high teas around the city and this wasnt the typical cookie cutter sandwiches on wonderbread that many do. Portions were more than enough so we had lots of takeout. Only thing I would mention is that the tea was your basic teabag and they were served in the white dimsum teapots. Atmosphere was very quiet as we went at 11 am on a Saturday.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

nice place to enjoy , comfortable, delicious !

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We were lucky to get tickets to Emily Barlow performance at the Essence as they were hosting Jazzlicious festival in Markham. The performance was absolutely amazing, we loved the performer and the band. As for the food, I guess we had very high expectations because of all these promotional emails about their amazing star chef and how its going to be an incredible dining experience. The food was fine but nothing really special, and the price tag was relatively high, we paid $250 for the dinner for two (incl. $40 wine bottle). The tickets for the performance were purchased separately. Again, maybe our expectations for the food were a bit high, yet we had a good time, so I recommend this restaurant, especially when they have some music events. Parking: Hilton parking, need to register your license plate with the reception

December 22, 2023

Used to come here quite frequently for brunch back in the day. Came for a family brunch and left quite disappointed. Nothing was hot, the seafood station was awful, oysters were inedible, crab was extremely fishy, but shrimp were good. No pancakes or waffles, desserts and pastries were clearly store bought. For basically 70 bucks per person, you re better off going to alchemy coffee or another breakfast place in the area and buying the whole menu.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent service, decor and atmosphere, and food! I enjoyed breakfast and dinner, and late evening cocktails, and couldn t be more impressed. Patrick in particular was outstanding!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We went for Sunday brunch and the food was quite good, but.. a few things to note- the crab legs were a bit salty and I was surprised that they didn t offer bread (just croissants, scones and pastries).. they also didn t ask if we wanted drinks, just served water, orange juice and coffee/tea. Other than that, there was plenty of food and it was overall tasty. I would go back again, but will be mindful it s not a typical buffet with all the fixings ! Also, parking is free if your visiting for a meal, just leave your licence plate at the restaurant front desk

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I had ordered for a linguini (with only shrimps in it)- which wasn t worth the price. Have had better Luigni served with various seafood. Manhattan was ok again not great. Overall the experience was average at this place

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Nothing extra ordinary food but a good place to eat n relax.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Solid menu, prompt service. Hit the spot for dinners during my stay. Butter chicken & Burger were great!

★★★
December 22, 2023

Disappointing High Tea. The sandwiches were not very creative and lacked flavour. Some dessert tasted stale while others were not as described (e.g. salted caramel Madeline was not a Madeline and did not taste like salted caramel. The cream with the scones was more like cream cheese icing in flavour and consistency.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent place for a date. Very pricey so make sure you got money lol. Great food

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great food and great service!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I booked out the private room for a small celebration with my party of 11 and the restaurant was incredible. In particular, our server Barbara was attentive and kind - she took extra time to help us with the menu choices and took into account all the special instructions for the meals. She clearly explained the bill to us and even took multiple pictures for the group throughout the night both in the restaurant and the Hilton! The staff were all very accommodating and let us in a bit earlier than our reservation to set up the table with our decor. The private room was spacious and had a very high-end atmosphere and came with our dedicated server. We had ordered off the set menu beforehand and the waitress made notes of who was sitting at each seat so she could bring out everyones food choices swiftly throughout the night. I definitely would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to host a small private event such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The best place for afternoon teas, however, I hope they change the menu monthly or at least rotate the selections monthly.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Bar well stocked, but food could use more actual allergy options when offering so many labels on menu.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food is very tasty and well prepared (very high level) The staff very friendly and welcoming and always makes sure that everything is ok. Highly recommended Food : 5/5

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I cannot say enough about how amazing this Hilton restaurant is Chef Nikhil is so talented and always uses the highest quality ingredients and the fresh herbs are so flavourful We always ask to sit in Barbara s section , she is very accurate with our orders , and Barbara has a brilliant personality and makes us always feel welcome to be dining here We have dined here for high tea , lunch brunch and dinners and have never been disappointed Whichever the occasion be it a business lunch or special celebration or simply a dinner out when I Markham Essence of Union restaurant is a must Kid-friendliness: I do not have children ,but I often see children in the restaurant And I especially love to see the young children enjoying tea with mums and grandmothers

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The Sunday brunch experience, priced at $65 per person, regrettably did not meet the anticipated standard. Discerning patrons might observe that the variety of offerings, relative to their quality, appears somewhat constrained for an establishment of this prestige. Individuals primarily focused on gastronomic pleasure may discover Mandarin or Dragon Legend to present a more compelling alternative, with a notably broader selection of options often at three to four times the value. It is worth noting a couple of operational considerations; there was a notable delay in replenishing the prime rib, resulting in overcooked servings being served for an extended period, and an absence of available bowls for the sole soup offering.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Lovely decor and very tasty food.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

There for the pris-fixe Thanksgiving. Raul was fabulous, handled special diets very well, vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free. Food was good, started with scallop ceviche, salad or soup, linguine with guinciale, I had the branzino for main, and pecan pie for dessert. Vegan substitute included a Thai vegetable curry and berry dessert. Dietary restrictions: They handled restrictions and substitutions very well Parking: Complementary parking by registering license plate Wheelchair accessibility: Ground floor, and barrier free

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The breakfast brunch and service was amazing!

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Disappointing for the choices available and quality of food available. Staff were thoughtful and friendly.

★★
December 22, 2023

I made a reservation through the link on their website which stated as the holiday brunch. I used to love Hilton a lot and am a gold member myself. I booked for 9:45am and when I arrived on time, they told me that they were going to take the food away in 15 mins because they the buffet ends at 10. Thats the first thing that makes me feel weird, why would you let people book for a buffet 15 mins before closing? And it was definity not a holiday brunch buffet (just typical hotel breakfast buffet). I made the reservation though the holiday buffet link on their website, but it is obvious that the holiday buffet hasnt started yet, then why let people book through that link? Its really confusing. In addition, the lady who seated us kept repeating it is 28 dollars each for so many times. Even after i told her that i would go with the buffet after she recommended it to us while i was debating over having the buffet or to order from the menu instead. Although the waiters were kind enough and tried to remind us to grab more food. At around 11am, I was talking with my aunt and uncle. The waiter just came to our table with the bill and the machine (which I didnt even ask for). I felt like she just wanted us to go. As for the food, it was alright but definitely not what I expected. The service was poor. Would never go again.

December 22, 2023

A group of us went to Essence of Unionville for the Mistletoe Christmas Lunch Buffet. It was the worst Christmas buffet weve ever experienced. For the price they charged, its nothing worth to the anticipated standard. First theres no Christmas atmosphere at all as the restaurant was pretty empty. We looked around and it seemed like only our table and another table a couple had this lunch buffet. I wonder why they wouldnt cancel the event. Food was terrible because first there were limited choices and most of the hot plates were only room temperature and not hot. Service was not great either because the attitude of the staff there did not appear to appreciate your business very much. The waiter who attended our table was okay. We asked for hot water n he went to get hot water for us. Then we overheard his supervisor who approached him n questioned him why he gave us hot water. Afterwards he disappeared from serving us. Essence of Unionville used to have good food n service in the past. From this Mistletoe lunch buffet experience, it was so very disappointing n we regrettably have picked this restaurant to spend our Christmas lunch. Its a very unpleasant experience and we would never go back again.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

If you are looking for a high tea place. This is the perfect placed. Price was reasonable, service was great and the food was great. 100% recommend.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Came here on Christmas Day and they were understaff. Not recommended.

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Not sure what happened, we had come for their buffet Sunday brunches in the past and it was great. However todays Valentines set menu was a complete miss. The oyster (only 1 is served) was rancid. Scallop carpaccio was tasteless, seemed like it had been plated since the morning and placed in the fridge until service. Gnocchi was bland/mushy/reheated. Dessert seemed like lunch leftovers. The entree (tenderloin) was okay and was the only dish I could finish. The bread was good. Service was okay but didnt really seem to care to ask why most of the dishes were left untouched. Felt embarrassed to bring my valentines here.

December 22, 2022

Disgusting food in the Valentine s Day tasting menu that tastes like it was reheated from the day before. Cake and bread were dry and tasteless. Servers did not clear dirty plates even though they saw them. Main course took forever to come and then they cooked well done instead of medium rare. Oyster did not taste fresh - they covered it up with a huge dose of sea salt. Gnocchi was mushy and gross. They also imposed gratuity as if they anticipate that their food and service to be so horrible. Update: we got food poisoning and upset stomach right after the meal.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Theres less selection than the pre-pandemic Afternoon Tea buffet, but more care has been put into the menu - sandwiches are much better now. Desserts are delicious as well - the citrus whipped cream is the best

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Very attentive service. Best burger and fries I have ever had. Breakfast options are adequate freshly prepare and tasty. I

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Can I tell you how excited we were to return to Essence of Unionville! After a long pandemic closure, their Sunday brunch buffets resumed earlier this year. It s still one of our favorite uptown brunch spots. The staff and management team, including our regular server, Barbara, warmly welcomed us back! The seating and décor changed a bit, but our favorite booth was still available. The buffet included: Herb Crusted Pork Loin with Pineapple Glaze, Artic Char, Roast Turkey, Prime Rib, Omelet Station, Smashed Potatoes with French Herbs, Rigatoni Pasta with Baby Spinach, Grilled Vegetables in Tomato Sauce, Vegetable Fried Rice, Maple Glazed Seasonal Vegetables, Eggs Benedict, Canadian Bacon & Sausages, Soup of the Day (Potato Leek), Sushi & California Rolls, Smoked Salmon, Peel & Eat Shrimps, Marinated Mussels, Crab Clusters, Mixed Green Salad, Penne Pasta Salad, Baby Kale & Red Cabbage Slaw, Quinoa Salad, Mexican Street Corn Salad, Cheese Platter, Assorted Fresh Fruit and Assorted Deli Meats. Croissants, Danishes, Scones, Kiwi Mousse, Chocolate Mousse, Assorted Tartlets, Carrot Cake, Green Tea Cake, Apple Crumble, New York Cheesecake, Crème Caramel, Chocolate Cake, Mango, Raspberry & Vanilla Sauce (delicious with their cheesecake) What a list right? I might have missed some items! The buffet was just as delicious as we remembered. The first thing I ate was a scone! My husband keeps telling me to stop eating all the carbs, but the scones are my favorite! Just like before, we were never rushed, and Barbara was lovely as always. We would get up, come back, and our juices were magically refilled. Tea and coffee is included in the price, and parking is complimentary (register your license plate with the hostess). Reservations are highly recommended! Current price: $49/per person

★★
December 22, 2022

We attended Mothers Day brunch and were very disappointed. They overpacked the dining room which made for huge lines at the buffet stations. Also, some of the food came out cold. It was very pricey for a brunch and the selection and service were sub par. We will mot return.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

great washroom

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Amazing staff, atmosphere and food! Highly recommend a visit if you haven t already.

★★★
December 22, 2022

We came for the Afternoon Tea. The food was great, but the service was horrible. We saw hotel workers walking around and the restaurant was not busy.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We tried the Sunday brunch buffet and were pleasantly surprised! The staff was attentive and friendly - often coming by to check on us and refilling our water and juice. The food exceeded our expectations, and there were lots of options for a brunch! Our favourites were the salad bar, desserts and the roast beef. The place was busy, but not uncomfortably so. Reservations are highly recommended!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Very good and excellent good and tea. I love the vibes here that I celebrated my birthday here

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

A good option for afternoon tea uptown, with lots of seating. The kids afternoon tea menu is a nice touch and well-received! We really appreciated how family friendly it was. The quality of the adult afternoon tea was mixed; the scones were yummy, but the desserts and sandwiches were only okay (some were a little dry). Our server was very attentive and polite. Overall, a good experience!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I went for breakfast and had the salmon eggs benedict. They were generous with the slices of smoked salmon! My dish came with taters and I opted in for a side of chicken breakfast sausages. The interior decor is beautiful.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I had a very enjoyable dinner here. The decor and ambience is inviting and the food was fresh and tasty. Excellent service by our server Joseph. I would definitely recommend and come back again.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I wanted to try their afternoon tea long time ago and finally did it. The quality is average. The bread is not fresh and dry. The bagel is too hard to bite. Nothing special for the sweets. It is a fusion and not a typical British style. I expected loose leaf tea but it is only a tea bag. The tea pot is same as in Chinese restaurant!! I supposed to give 2 stars only. The extra star is for the environment and the staffs. Will I come back? Just for coffee is fine but definitely not for afternoon tea.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We were looking for a hotel with lunch buffet and so we came to Hilton Markham Suite. They have a decent Sunday buffet with a bit of everything. The service and food quality was ok. It was fresh but not everything tasted good. The price was not cheap but once in a while it s ok. The ambiance was nice and there was live piano music. However we found the music too loud and that made it difficult to chat with my family during our meal. Hopefully there will be some improvements next time we visit again.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Nice environment and great service

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We took a friend for high tea. The serving staff did not have any knowledge about the tea selections. They repeatedly set down the wrong food selections in front of each person, items were forgotten from one person s sweet tray, they served mouldy grapes, and though we were the only table in the restaurant, and they had 3 servers walking around, we had to search out or flag someone down to place our orders or refill hot water. Some of these points were mentioned to management and they gratefully acknowledged the information. That s about it.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Just had Sunday buffet with friends. A lot of choices for food and I found they are all delicious. The environment is open and modern while the service is excellent. I didnt take any photo but the photos other took well demonstrated everything. We will definitely use this place for friends gathering.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great place for brunch. Lots of shrimp, crab, and desserts.

★★★★
December 22, 2022

This place is always pretty and great service. Food quality is not stable though.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

This is a nice restaurant inside the Hilton Hotel at Markham. We went for afternoon tea on Sunday . A nice and quiet place for friends get together. We didnt ordered their tradition afternoon high tea . Only ordered coffee & dessert. Their cheese cake is very good ( forgot to take photo) . Service is good too ! For customers of the Hotel and restaurant , you need to register your cars plate number at the reception for free parking .

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I was there last Xmas dinner.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Beautiful environment with yummy food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Wonderful place to enjoy a lunch buffet for every occasion! The beef is good and the salmon is also good! Too many kinds of dessert to choose, but they are all good!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Wonderful service! My friends and I came for high tea, and I mentioned Im avoiding dairy and they were able to substitute my desserts and remove the cheese from sandwiches for me.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

We had afternoon tea and it was nothing short of amazing! Great variety in sandwiches, lovely desserts and awesome service! Definitely recommending it to my family and friends!!!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

My husband & I would like to thank the Essence of Unionville for their excellent customer service! Their food, room & in person restaurant services are so good especially if you have diet restrictions like gluten free. Special thanks to a special young lady (Miriam) who goes above & beyond her call of duty. We love that you remembered us even though you serve so many persons. Well always remember you Miriam . May the Lord continue to bless you all! E & P

★★★★
December 22, 2021

Great experience for Sunday Brunch. Special thanks to Peter, although he was not our service, he was kind, polite and made the experience very pleasant along with the rest of the team!

★★
December 22, 2021

Very disappointed! We had the afternoon tea the sandwich is not fresh, dessert is too cold. Very bad!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Went to Essence of Unionville brunch today with my wifey. I can say its amazing. The wait staff were extremely friendly and inviting. I had most interaction with ( Paul & Barbara ) They both were so nice and helpful. The servers and cooks behind the food stations were very approachable and quick to assist. Im already planning my next visit this end of the the month for a Halloween brunch . They have changed up the menu a little a bit. Some of food items are made to order. My wife really enjoyed the main course seared duck breast. I would definitely recommend going here for a try . Keep up the good work Essence of Unionville!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Went to breakfast with friends. Food was great, our waiter Mohamed was friendly and atmosphere was nice. I would recommend.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Incredibly slow service, clearly understaffed. Overpriced food poorly presented, almost laughable except for the cost. Margarita pizza was basically a cheese pizza with a bit of basil, & overcooked at that. The Unionville Breakfast was the most pathetic presentation imaginable, with two sad looking eggs, two mini sausages, & heaven knows what that potato was supposed to be. Shame on you, Hilton. Shame on you.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Good meal , but was on the pricey side

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Was here for a shower and while the service was good and so was the food, I was disappointed at how jammed packed they had us sitting, especially with covid cases going up and a new variant. The seating was so close that even without covid it would have been uncomfortable. Nowhere to put purses and jackets and you had to squeeze through like you were at a theater. They checked ID and vaccination status at the door but that doesnt mean people cant be carriers, or that you cant get sick. I made sure to keep my mask on when not eating, but more space would have been better all around.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

The lunch menu and the afternoon tea is good. But the hotel lobby is currently under renovation. The drilling noise was very disturbing during our meal. Basically its difficult to have a conversation. I dont understand why they have to do this during lunch hour or busy hour when customers are enjoying their food.

★★★
December 22, 2020

Worst Christmas buffet ever. Food choices r very limited compared to the price. Stop serving oyster from 7 pm. They took the chocolate fountain away before we got chance to try. Overpriced. Service is ok though. Food r really average.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Totally worth it! Live Music ! Hot All-you-can-eat buffet, omelette station, Seafood station with Oysters, great selection of desserts and attentive servers!

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Went for Breakfast Brunch on New Years day. This place was awesome. There were crab claws, crab legs, oysters, scallops, eggs Benedict, a whole charcuterie spread, a huge dessert table and more. Awesome service and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good Brunch Buffet Place. They do brunch every Sunday as well!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

2020 Valentines dinner with dessert buffet . Amazing food and live piano playing. Good wine list too.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Quite afternoon, good atmosphere and enjoyed the afternoon high tea buffet. Pretty decent spread for $24 per person. Another visit, Valentines Day dinner. For $66 per person.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Nice quiet place to meet with friends for a chat or business meetings. Friendly wait staff, attentive and patient. Great food, loss of one star because not much selection on the menu for lunch - I had the orecchiette which was a very decent portion for lunch and had great flavours.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Food was decent at best. I ordered a meat tenderloin and was given a very small portion, finished my meal within minutes. Waiter was nice and professional.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Enjoyed afternoon tea for a bridal shower. Fresh and delicious dishes and wonderful service. All social distancing and sanitizing guidelines were well maintained. Special thanks to Manager Jomon for taking care of our group

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Cant speak highly enough about this place

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Great spot

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

We were helped by Barbara who was fantastic! The food was great as I had the striploin, my friend had the lobster pasta and another had the pizza, all which tasted really good. We also ordered the afternoon tea set which was decently priced and had a nice small selection of pastries and sandwiches with the tea. We definitely would all go back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Came here for mother s day brunch buffet and it was amazing. Service was quick and organized for the amount of people. Food was great. From the hot lunch items to the seafood bar to the breakfast items to the dessert tables lined with pastries and cakes. They have something here for everyone. Definitely want to try the regular brunch buffet as well. It can get pricey and not too sure if it s because of the Mother s Day pricing, but well worth the money... great job and keep up the great work.

★★★
December 22, 2019

Smaller portions of food, however more expensive. Taste was nothing special, just average. Decor was unimpressive, and there were two old mushrooms under the table. Service was not very attentive, we had to look for them, and hope they would see us waving. We arrived home, and sat down to eat something. And we dont eat a lot in general. Will not be coming back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Great customer service and courtesy parking when meal within the hotel

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Like brunch

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Food-4 Service-4.5 Deco-4.5 Cleanliness-5 Value for the price- 4 Time to deliver-5

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Excellent value. Brunch will have pretty much everything you would get downtown at half the price.