Karelia Kitchen - Toronto

Recently moved to the neighborhood and have been wanting to try out this cute little place!! Came for brunch and we loved it! Very interesting menu, we had

I give this restaurant 4.5 stars and it has the potential to be a 5-star experience. It has surpassed my previous favorite brunch spot, Le Baratin.

I went to Karelia Kitchen for some evening tea and refreshments.

We came for a Groupon, travelling across the city for super cheap tea and cake. What we got was a couple of amazing desserts, lovely drinks and sunny service.We called to make a reservation and this set the tone for the whole experience - friendly, eager to find a slot to fit us in and just a jolly yet professional interaction that left a smile on my face.We arrived to a warm welcome and prompt seating. We had a choice of teas or coffee and a cake selected from the counter display.I had blackcurrant tea (fragrant and refreshing) and a black cherry cheesecake. I couldn't quite believe the whole thing was for me - a towering round individual chilled cheesecake, edged in generous pistachio and topped with a dark fruity jelly and a couple of glacé black cherries. The cheesecake was creamy and indulgent without feeling heavy. The jelly had the right balance of sugar and sharp. As I say, we were on a deal so it was even cheaper, but the menu price was $7. I was grinning through the whole thing.My husband had earl gray tea and a substantial slice of Russian honey cake. It was dense and the perfect stickiness - it felt luxurious without being cloying. The honey flavour was delicate - a flowery aftertaste, almost, bringing a sophisticated sweetness. I'm not a honey lover and we went halfsies, it was so good. It was served with a dollop of whipped cream, which was welcome but not essential. Again it was around the $7 mark.In short, I couldn't fault it. It's not a fussy place - definitely a café feel, it's not high tea at The Ritz - but the atmosphere is relaxed and warm. My family are coming to visit soon, and I'm going to take them across town just for the cakes.(Also worth noting that the savoury food looked amazing too, but we didn't have any room for that. It's a Scandinavian-influenced menu so delicious looking salads and plenty of smoked fish...)

I purchased a GROUPON after reading extensive reviews about this establishment. We were not disappointed. The service was attentive. All The cakes were scrumptious. The French Press coffee was great as was the pot of tea. The place was exceptionally clean. I will definitely recommend this to anyone who values afternoon tea and treats between 3 pm and 5 pm.