Yet another Regal Palace branch in Ruby's location in Scarborough

[Royaljelly]

Just found out from another food forum that Regal Palace's group has opened up another branch at the old Ruby location in Scarborough. Initial dim sum reviews say prices are a bit high ($2.70 for a small) and not that good (but still busy everyday). Tough to have a high end dim sum place in that area, given the competition and clientele. Has any CH'ers tried it out yet?

The official name (as per front door photo) is Regal Chinese Cuisine and Banquet Hall

Here's some photos someone posted on the other forum:

Exterior - http://img220.imageshack.us/i/photohd.jpg/
Interior - http://img189.imageshack.us/i/photo4fs.jpg/
Pages 1-2 of dim sum menu - http://img341.imageshack.us/i/photo3u...

[nancyk121]

I recently went to Regal Chinese Cuisine and Banquet Hall. Although crowded at 11am, the food wasn't high quality. We ordered a sweet and sour rib/pork dish just to find the bone almost 95% covered with fat as opposed to the standard lean meat the dish is characterized by. Upon asking the waitress - and manager - why it is so and we saying that cannot eat pure fat (!), they simply replied, 'well, let me tell you how we do it here. This is the Cantonese way. You know what, I'm going to bring you the raw meat we use just to show you how lean it is. We do not return food, so you can order another dish at the same price"
I was utterly shocked. Rude and irresponsible preparation and presentation of food. Will not return and discourage others to go.

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Regal Chinese Cuisine
1571 Sandhurst Circle, Unit 107, Scarborough, ON M1V 1V2, CA

[thefoodpursuit]

I tried Regal last week for the first time and found the overall experience fantastic. Here’s a summary of what I thought:

-Yes, prices are steep compared to other dim sum restaurants but generally fair – accounting for the cost of some ingredients, size of the dishes, etc.
-Items are unique and presentation on their ‘special’ items are PRETTY. For example, I ordered a shrimp dim sum that was shaped into a bird and a fried custard dim sum that was shaped into a bumblebee. Pictures: http://www.thefoodpursuit.com/regal-c...
-Service: there when you need it, nothing too fancy, but reasonably polite.
-Food: delicious, fresh, and as I mentioned they paid particular attention to aesthetics. Nothing drastic I could be picky about, other than some fried dishes being on the oily side.
-Would I return? Yes, why not.

[dachopstix]

Went to it for dinner 2 weeks after it's opening - the decor was definitely different - no more reds and golds, a very sedate brown colouring thoughout. An interesting looking chandelier, lobby area has a new wall. Prices were decent, not much of a change from Ruby's original prices, menu was defnitely changed, a lot smaller, still had spelling mistakes though, heehee. While there, some renovations were still be done, mainly the hanging of the "Double Happiness" symbol and both the Dragon and Phoenix icons. Service started off very well - very attentive staff, quick service. This evenutally started to degrade though - had to ask for rice 3 times, took a while for tea to be refilled, plus had to ask 3 different staff members for the bill. Would I return, sure, why not? Still have to try the dim sum.

[Guzzler]

Does anyone know if you can order takeout off a menu (in English)?

[dachopstix]

Their menus, both dinner and dim sum, are in both english and chinese.

What were you planning on ordering?

[katdog]

My mother and I are going tonight for dinner. Has anyone been recently?

[T Long]

Not me and not for supper, but my better half goes regularly for dim sum lunches with her buddies and says its pretty "decent". Apparently the washrooms are kept relatively clean too which is usually a good sign. Please report back.

[FoodLoverr12]

4.8 stars! At first when i went, the orders were slow, but i guess it happens to every retaurant in the beginning since there was so much business. After like a few days it got MUCH MUCH better. I go there for lunch about 3-4 times a week. The prices i would say they are okay, the portions are pretty big, well maybe considering that i eat with only about four people. I really like it here and i'd definitely reccommend it. I just hoped their interior was designed a bit better! A little nicer.. Its really good though still! I'd definitely go try it out. The food actually tastes really good for a Scarborough Chinese Cuisine.. I really like it here :)! Going back this Monday! 4.8 stars !

[T Long]

I get that you really like it, but could you elaborate on your statement "really good for a Scarborough Chinese Cuisine". That statement could be taken as a negative!...was that your intent? And I'm guessing your rating is 4.8 stars out of 5 stars?...but it's still a guess. Can you give an example of the price.... being OK is kind of vague to me. I don't understand how the number of people you eat with reflects on the size of the portions. I guess I don't really understand your review.

[T Long]

Went to Regal Chinese Cuisine for dim sum and thought it was OK. Food-wise, there was lots of variety and quality wise I thought above average (comparable to Sam Woo Seafood for eg). Very comfortable setting. They have a neat promo going on....20% off if at least one of your party is a senior (guessing that means over 65) and no tea charge with dim sum. The place is huge and at 12:30 today, there was a line-up waiting for tables. Our group had a "senior", so the value was outstanding!

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Sam Woo Seafood
325 Bamburgh Cir, Scarborough, ON M1W 3Y1, CA

Regal Chinese Cuisine
1571 Sandhurst Circle, Unit 107, Scarborough, ON M1V 1V2, CA

[Charles Yu]

Interesting!! You are the first person I know who gives this place a positive review!! Everyone I know who tried it within the past few months ALL gave it a huge thumbs down???!!! May be they have responded to foodie's negative comments??!!

[T Long]

For me this is just another example that it's best to form one's own opinion by trying a place first hand. However, if you were to carefully read the comments already posted on this thread, you will note that most of the negative comments are hear-say, that is they are not first hand accountings. Also I think most of the comments are at least 4 months old....for a place that's only been officially opened for about 5 months. There were only two previous posts from actual diners...one was much more positive than mine and the other had some negative comments about service, but did end by saying he/she would return. Going in, I was not expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised. For mid-range dim sum, this place has a lot going for it. The dim sum scene in N.Toronto/Markham/Scarborough is currently having a price war and as a result there are inconsistencies cropping up, but that aside I think Regal is "in the game". I would definitely return, especially if I could drag along an old-age pensioner! You should encourage your friends/relatives that expressed the first hand negative comments to join Chowhound and contribute reviews. I for one would enjoy reading them.

[Charles Yu]

I'm not referring to remarks made by fellow chowhounders on this board but direct feed back from my relatives and friends who had tried it.
Anyways, you are right, I should give it a try first before opening my mouth! However, on the other hand, why bother or waste my money and drive all the way from Richmond Hill, if all I heard was negative remarks?! Furthermore, there are TWO Regals just 5 minutes from me!! The one on Hwy#7 even have the '#1 bun under the sky'!! However, service was so lousy, I have second thoughts going back there!

[T Long]

One reason that I read Chowhound is that among my friends and relatives, I find very few share my passion or views on restaurants and food. I was thinking we were kindred spirits when I read about your recent experiences with a Markham establishment serving Japanese cuisine. That aside, I don't think you should try any place with other than an open mind.

[BokChoi]

I walked in the day before they opened, and the day of. I asked an exiting patron how the food was and she responded "Not too bad..." and then I followed up with "So it's not very good?" and she said "....no, it's not very good". I promptly left and decided not to give a try. I would be interested to hear if there's any good opinion of the food here. Before I left I peaked at the tables to see the quality of the food, and most tables had NO food on it (most were waiting for their first dish) - I'd say 80% of the tables were waiting, while the rest had small piles of partially eaten food in the middle of the table that looked piled up and ready to be taken away. This was the first day of opening, so it could just be due to inexperience/ being unprepared.

[jennjen18]

Regal Palace's group - what other restaurants fall under them?

[Royaljelly]

Supposed to be run by "Ellen's Food Group", the other 2 locations of Regal Palace are on Yonge and another in Hwy 7 (both Richmond Hill). Charles Yu wrote on them a few times already (#1 bun under the sky @ Hwy7 location).

Dim Sum at Regal Palace's new Yonge location
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/676296

Wow! What recession? - Another high end Dim Sum restaurant in Richmond Hill!
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/633177

[Yum2MyTum]

Oh my. This is exciting and disappointing news (it's too bad to hear that the quality isn't good... ). I'm sure I'll check it out eventually and will post as soon as I do. Thanks for the heads up Royaljelly!

[DUH CAR]

Where is it?

[Royaljelly]

Here's Ruby's old address (in Woodside square)
1571 Sandhurst Circle (Finch/McCowan)