Chat Bar — Restaurant in Markham

My husband and I went to Chat Bar for a date night and it was one of the worst experiences we've ever had. From the start, when we came in, we were told to sit at a table without two normal chairs with backs. One was with a stool. We asked to sit at another table that was almost completely clean but they made us stand for them to clean it, for about 10minutes. We felt like dummies. We asked to sit a couple times but the waiter insisted we wait, while we saw him go back and forth serving other tables.

Most of the meals SEEM inexpensive. However, each skewer has about 15 grams on it, an extremely meager amount. So we got 16 skewers, of 4 types, and I think we got about 200 grams of meat in total, of which we paid $40 for. We also had to wait a long time, about half an hour, even though when we asked in the beginning how long it will take, they said it "will be very fast."

To top it all off, we also ordered rice with braised pork. We made sure to order what they said was the only rice dish that was non spicy. So we asked for it to be non spicy version, several times, to make sure they understood. He wrote it down.

Well, our waiter did not pass the message on and when we ate the dish, it was extremely spicy. So we checked with him and turns out he forgot to ask the chef to make it non spicy. He had to double check that he had in fact wrote it down.

Then he said three times that they will make another one that isn't spicy, like our original order. We waited 10 min. Then he came to us, and he said that they will remove the spicy dish from our bill, which seemed obvious to us. He told us again that we will get another one. He said we can also eat the spicy one with a lot of water. Which seemed funny, as it was so spicy it burned. We ate just the top with a few pieces of meat, which was edible, and left the rest, about 2/3rds left.

Then we waited another 20 minutes, and I called him again to ask him what's going on. He said that we won't be getting the non spicy replacement, which they repeatedly said we're going to get. We didn't understand, and he said that when I said that it's extremely spicy, that the manager decided not to give us a replacement.

I asked him "When did the manager make this decision?"

He said, "About 15 minutes ago."

So why did he make us wait all this time? We were very nice to them and didn't make a fuss. We were very patient even though their service was terrible. We didn't understand why the waiters were running from place to place, when there were only 10 customers to serve (5/6 couples) and were impatient and rushing.

Overall, really terrible experience and we came out hungry and with $40 less in our pockets with nothing to show for it. It was also for the experience and the atmosphere, none of which was there. Food was really nothing special, they don't know how to treat meat. The spices, although not spicy for the skewers, had too much, and it was too exaggerated, which clouded over the natural taste of the meat and shows that they are inexperienced with it.

We came since we saw it has so many good reviews and it's crazy that it was such a disappointment. Are many...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Chat Bar, and my experience was nothing short of extraordinary, largely thanks to the impeccable service provided by Jiayi. From the moment I stepped into the restaurant, Jiayi made me feel incredibly welcome and valued. Despite being new to the area, I was treated with such warmth and friendliness that I felt like a local.

Jiayi’s attentiveness was evident from the start. She greeted me with a genuine smile and promptly guided me to a comfortable seat. Throughout my visit, Jiayi consistently checked in to ensure that I was completely satisfied, without ever being intrusive. Her polite and professional demeanor set a high standard for service excellence.

One of the highlights of my visit was Jiayi’s thorough knowledge of the menu. She patiently answered all my questions and made excellent recommendations that suited my tastes perfectly. The food at Chat Bar was absolutely delicious, each dish bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. It was clear that great care and skill went into every aspect of the meal, and Jiayi’s enthusiasm and understanding of the offerings only enhanced the dining experience.

What truly stood out was Jiayi’s ability to anticipate my needs. Whether it was refilling my drink, ensuring my meal was prepared to my liking, or simply engaging in pleasant conversation, she was always one step ahead. Her dedication to providing top-notch service made my dining experience at Chat Bar memorable and enjoyable.

I cannot recommend Chat Bar highly enough, thanks in large part to the exceptional service provided by Jiayi. Her commitment to customer satisfaction and her warm, welcoming nature made my visit special. If you’re looking for a place with delicious food and outstanding service, look no further than Chat Bar. Jiayi and the entire team truly go above and beyond to ensure a fantastic dining experience. I will definitely be returning!

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Me and my friends went for a scenic walk in Unionville and dropped by Chat Bar serving izakaya-style Chinese Chuan'r (aka. Chinese skewers). Chuan'r literally translates to "the atmosphere of smoke and fire". The term applies to this style of cooking, not only because fire and smoke are physical features of chuan'r, but because the experience evokes a natural and lively atmosphere.

We mainly ordered beef short ribs, pork belly, chicken skin/wings and lamb skewers. Each of these skewers were crispy juicy and seasoned just right. The portions were good enough for all of us to share.

Other items we tried were corn and the rice cake. The rice cake was absolutely legendary and I would definitely recommend giving this a try. They also serve veggies on the side so be sure to get steamed rice if the items are too salty for you.

You can choose your own spice level. If you are unsure of everyone's spice tolerance, I would recommend getting the spice on the side instead.

Overall, the service was excellent, as a staff came by regularly to refill our water, emptying plates and also disposing our bucket of empty skewers quite often. The space of the table is quite small so it may get uncomfortable after long periods of sitting.

Beware that all of your food comes out at once so the mini food stand would get filled up very easily.

It is the the perfect place for people to casually get together over a delicious meal while also having relaxed conversations, drink a beer 🍻, enjoy the company of those around them, and treasure their time here. Chuan'r is all about sharing. It's a great opportunity to make new friends.

I would personally come back again to try out other items...