Nestled on the 2nd floor of a shophouse along Clarke Quay, Hai Di Lao provides a steamboat experience with excellent customer service. If you are one who is particular about good service, this restaurant will definitely make your experience a memorable one.
Knowing it was going to be crowded, I reached Hai Di Lao at 5.30pm. I was ushered to my table and given a warm towel while being seated. The waitress promptly asked if I needed a drink and proceeded to pour me a cup of winter melon tea. I was definitely taken aback by their warm welcome! Firstly, the warm towel definitely scored points for a tired me. I was also so glad I wasn't coerced into deciding what I wanted to eat straight away. Instead, I was offered a welcome drink :)
Next came the introduction of the iPad menu. I was told that I could order through the iPad in either Mandarin or English. Hooray to the pictures on every dish which helped in me deciding what to eat.
I was also given an apron to protect my clothes and a ziplock bag to protect my phone! One is usually given aprons in most restaurants but a ziplock bag to protect a phone was definitely a bonus!
From the looks of it, each waitress was assigned to a designated area. Thus, this indeed helped to build rapport with the customers as I could easily signal to a familiar face when in need of help. Interestingly, the tables around us were mostly filled with Japanese people. I reckon they have a handful of Japanese patrons.
Fruits and tea being served before our steamboat session.
YAY to eating fruits b4 meals and healthy living!
My steamboat soup base
The bf chose the Mala and seafood flavour
Hai Di Lao provides a buffet spread of sauces for you to choose from.
They have the usuals like garlic with sesame oil to non-Chinese ones such as barbecue sauce.
A steamboat is not complete without whacking the beef!!
More beef and more food.
Slurp Slurp :)
The expensive $26 fish which tasted weird.
Prior to this, we had ordered a cheaper fish which cost us $13 and it tasted dam good.
So being humans with irrational behaviours, we assumed that more expensive = better tasting.
However, when this $26 fish came, low and behold, it tasted weird with the bones still inside the meat.
My kind and macho bf told the waitress about our bad experience with the $26 fish.
To our surprise, she waived the charges of the $26 fish and gave us another plate of the $13 fish.
I just wanna say, all throughout the conversation, she patiently listened to our side of the story and never once did she rebut us.
SUCH EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE.
10 brownie points :D
The final bill came up to $120 for two people which works out to $60 per pax.
FREE manicure service is also provided for patrons. As the queues for the manicure service are spiraling long, they allow you to come back another day just for your free manicure!
The whole experience reminded me of my time in Taipei because of the quality of food and service. Looking forward to having more of such restaurants in Singapore.
Hai Di Lao Hot Pot
3D River Valley Road
#02 - 04
Tel: 82636674
On to my #OOTD which I wore to Hai Di Lao
Peplum top, Klarra
Blue Jeans, Aeropostale, Ngee Ann City, B2-36
Heels, Nine West
Golden Aztec bangle, Louvisa