Last year, during the summer, there was a time in which I came at least once every week and the servers started to recognize me. What kept me coming back? I am a big fan of the salad and fries, which is a bit weird for a Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant known for its pasta. While the pastas are delicious, they were also very big and creamy and I cannot possibly have them that often (especially after an order of their amazing fries). The salads use a really yummy Japanese-style dressing and the fries are a delicious Fusion experience (check out their Okonomiyaki or Nori fries).
What also kept me coming back was the coffee, which was $2 for all you can drink and it wasn't just crappy coffee you can get anywhere. The atmosphere of the place is just so lovely. It's a beautiful modern setting with soft acoustic music playing in the background. It almost feels like I've been transported to a small roadside cafe in Japan. I've eaten in a lot of places around Markham, there really doesn't seem to be any other place that has the same feel. I think Shiso Tree Cafe is a unique experience in a category of its own.