We made reservations at 5:30PM for 4 on a Saturday and upon walking in were struck by the atmosphere of the restaurant ; though chaotic and brimming with people both waiting to be seated and dining inside already, there was an inviting energy that permeated the air. The music they had on was great, the lighting was even and nice on the eyes, the restaurant was kept clean and the tables, booth cushions, and table hardware all appeared to be in great condition, and they have funky setup with the sauce and dessert bars. The serving robot was also very neat. We waited an extra 15 minutes for our table, but they apologized and gave us snacks.

The dining experience itself was a thrill and something to be remembered because of how curated the preparation, service, and offerings were. We were taken care of by our server named Tracy from start to finish, and sharp details to enhance comfort were account for such as the provision of hair elastics, an apron, cleaning hand wipes and a box of tissues for the table.. I was thoroughly impressed but above all excited and pleased by the simultaneous sophistication and ease in the way we were served over the course of the evening.

The vegetables and meats were beautiful in presentation and of very high quality. The edammames and oranges at the sauce bar were fresh and thoughtfully prepared as well. We were pleased with everything we'd ordered, and enjoyed the broths- tomato on one side, and the Thai tom yum on the other. Both were richly satisfying and we were delighted to find a few shrimps and things inside them. With regards to dessert, the selection was extensive (different types of Boba, cool jellies, toppings, coconut milk and sugar syrups).

Onto the entertainment, we'd experienced two things that night that were surprising and that had induced in all of us a bewildered excitement. The first was the fresh noodle pulling routine ; a man dressed in white came out with a music speaker and performed a routine where he flinged and stretched the dough in ways that were both hypnotic and sometimes startling (snapping it across the table, spinning it in waves directly at you, etc.). He was very skillful and it made for a unique experience. The other entertainment was the dance of a performer dressed in a traditional costume of some sort. The music, which took over the restaurant, and their movements totally elevated the atmosphere.

Haidilao is its own universe containing within itself an energy and dynamic I feel is unique to it, especially in Markham/Toronto. Now that I know of this restaurant, if I feel compelled to experience that energy again I'll make another visit with some friends or family. Again, the entire experience from start to finish was so graciously curated and I appreciated the efficiency of our server Tracy, along with the cleanliness of the restaurant. At the end of our visit, I'd told my family that I felt as though from the moment we checked in with the hostess, our experience over the course of the evening had encountered a series of surprises at every corner.