Meh - that is how I really feel after coming to the downtown location. It's in a place that caters to university students and doesn't capture the Chinese diner feel I get when I visit Phoenix near my parents in Markham.
The interior is actually quite nice - it's on the second floor, but the exterior signage is very noticeable so kudos to them on that. The banquette seats are comfortable, and there is a TV to keep you up to date with what's happening on CP24.
You order from the counter and they give you a Buzz pad for pick up when your food is ready. Given that we ordered 5 items, it was quite a pain that we had to go up 5 times because nothing came out together. I would've much rather waited a little longer for one full run as I wasn't sure if I should start eating before my buzzer went off again.
I am not sure of the prices compared to uptown, but it felt more expensive - maybe because everything was served on bamboo / eco-friendly disposable plates. The portions felt small and everything was just subpar. While there was a drink special and a dessert promo happening for their grand opening, nothing was worth more than what we were paying for - red bean ice, was exactly that - full of ice; the crepe was tiny and overloads of whip cream to take over the plate.
The only plus was that the Hainese chicken was consistent with their uptown locations, so at least you can feel confident that the dish they are well known for did not disappoint.
Otherwise, this place is mediocre at best...