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| - The name, Alchemy Coffee, is very misleading. With such a name, one expects grand transmutations and elixirs that grant immortality. Neither were demonstrated while I visited.
Pragmatics aside, Alchemy Coffee offered a pleasant brunch experience. As previous reviewers have mentioned, space is a rare commodity in this establishment. Upon arrival, my companion and I scanned the room and there were exactly 2 vacant seats. Perfect! But not really, because the 2 seats were part of a 4-seater table with 2 other patrons. No worries though, it's the 21st century and Markham is fairly progressive, so surely, these 2 patrons are well-socialized. But nope! They proceeded to talk colourfully about various lewd topics, but I digress.
We decided to order the Classic Brekkie, Buttermilk Pancakes, a cappuccino, and a coffee. In my opinion, all of these items were pretty standard except for the Buttermilk Pancakes. The pancakes were stacked elegantly with a dollop of blueberry paste placed atop and a garnish of cornflakes. The pancakes were fluffy and sweet; each bite enveloping you in bliss while enveloping your organs in a layer of fat (cemented by the condensed milk served on the side).
The brunch was a bit awkward, to be honest. You have to seat yourself, read the menu on the chalk wall, go up to the counter, order food, and then they bring food to you. None of this was spelled out, and so most patrons entered with puzzled looks on their faces. "Do I seat myself or do I wait for a host? Do I wait by the counter for my food or will they bring it to me?" A simple fix would be to add some signage.
My experience at Alchemy wasn't perfect, but still pleasant. These types of cafes are rare in Markham, and so I've given them more leeway.
Suggestions for improvement:
1) Lease that whole abandoned strip plaza and knock down some walls, increase seating, profit.
2) Post some signage indicating that patrons should seat themselves. Better yet, hire a host to seat patrons and provide menus. They could capitalize on the tips and provide a better service.
Just as alchemists in the ancient medieval and Renaissance periods strived to perfect their chemistry, so too should Alchemy Coffee in their serving of brunch.
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