Sohao Cafe — Restaurant in Gainesville

beware that 18% gratuity is included by default for a party of 4 or more

I have been to Gator suyaki, and now Sohao, for more than 5 years. I am quite disappointed, however, after dining in recently and finding out that they automatically include a 18% gratuity in the bill for a party of 4 or more people.

To be clear, I am not disappointed by the gratuity per se, but by the way they presented this information, which almost makes me feel being ripped off by them.

I was first provided an itemized receipt, which states that 18% gratuity is included (but I was never reminded by anyone of that). Then, when they take your credit card and bring back the second receipt for you to sign & leave a tip, the first itemized receipt is not presented. There is only a subtotal on that second receipt, and also a designated spot on that second receipt for you to leave a tip -- as if you have not left a tip. It is a very deceptive way to cheat customers who do not pay much attention to the itemized receipt before their credit card was charged.

I ended up paying a tip of 38% because of this. I do not deny that it is my responsibility to pay attention to the first receipt before it was taken from me and never brought back. However, I do want to leave this review so that others can be aware of this.

This is not the way to do business, especially in the college town where a lot of students are not rich enough to be cheated like this.

updated after seeing the owner's reply I am 100% sure that I was not provided an itemized receipt after my card is swiped. This is not the first time --It happened to me three times at least, with different servers. I clearly know and remember this because I work for the university and need the itemized receipt to be reimbursed for my dining expense. For the most recent three times (though I was only with a party of four or more once), I had to ask for the itemized receipt because there was not one present when I filled out the tip. Again, my issue is that the itemized receipt was not present when people fill out the tip. The owner was either obviously lying, or there is insufficient training to three different servers at the very least, by stating that the staff is always bringing back the...

Wonderful food.

I went at an odd time this afternoon, so maybe that's why the atmosphere in Sohao was echoing and vaguely oppressive with its dark, modern atmosphere and utter lack of patrons. I went up to the counter and ordered the roast duck bao ($9) and a pork skewer ($1.50). My food was out within 10 minutes and, in short, was absolutely wonderful. The roast duck bao was a soft, succulent pile of meat with some small skewers of lightly sauteed scallion resting in a steamed bun that was presented like a taco and is going to be in my dreams tonight. The pork skewer was succulent and the sesame chili seasoning sauce delicious.

I was curious, so I then ordered the pork belly bento ($10). Again, the meat was delicious and perfectly cooked with a good mix of thick meaty and fatty pieces, the rice was amazingly soft and even the vinegared, deseeded cucumber, spiralized carrot and lettuce salad and pickled egg was excellent.

Everything looked beautiful and was cooked to perfection. In the future I can't wait to try their soups, and I think that ordering an assortment of meat and vegetable skewers could a fun thing to try.

Overall, I can't wait to go back! Please come out and support these guys because if they go out of business I dont know if I can stand to loose such...

Everything Sohao makes is so good! I've been to many Asian eateries here in Gainesville. Every time my parents come to visit, my 94-year-old grandma won't do anything but Asian food. We've gone to all sorts but she just loves this place, and she is such a picky eater. For her, if it doesn't taste authentic, she'll be pretty upset. She was quiet while eating here... to my family, that's a big sign that she likes what's she ordered haha! She even steals food from our plates!

Everything is lovely and presentable, the food is a good sized portion during lunch specials, everything is delicious and flavorful... I've gotten all sorts of things here and I love ALL of it.

The people here are very polite, every waiter or waitress I've gotten has been very sweet and comes and checks on us. I've never felt neglected here. When my friends visit, they HAVE to stop here. We've contemplated trying something new every time for lunch but they just can't help but fall back to here. And I'm totally fine with it! The location is very nice, too! It's also the place where I've had my first ever Takoyaki (sooo good, but it seems to be popular enough...