Never before have I left a review, but a three hour flight delay and the questionable ethicality of Sora's gratuity system has compelled me to.
It seemed to be the best option in the terminal (others being Starbucks, vending machines, or standard fast food). It was unclear whether one should seat themself, but after a few minutes of waiting unnoticed I chose a small booth table and busied myself by writing postcards. I continued to sit unattended for around five minutes before fetching myself a menu. It was paired-down and a little overpriced, but overall standard for airport fare. Ten minutes in I still had not received so much as a glass of water.
I ordered the tempura udon, which seemed substantial, with a much better CPD (calorie per dollar) than sushi. It came swiftly enough, and the portion was sizable. I found it strange that they immersed tempura shrimp in broth (I had assumed it would be on the side) but I guess that's what I ordered. I was ravenous, and the meal was more than satisfactory-- until the check arrived.
I typically tip 20% for average service, but made a mental note to only put forth 10% due to the blasé waitstaff. Unfortunately, I didn't have any say in the matter. I paid my bill, which outlined my meal and NJ food tax, and totaled $23.45. When the waitress (whose attitude was laissez faire at best) returned the bill, it stated that I'd been charged $27.41-- nearly four more dollars than I'd expected.
When I inquired about the extra charge, the woman obstinately claimed that it was "the system." I brought this up with another waitress but her reasoning was similarly insufficient. Their replies to my claim that unannounced gratuity was exploitive were flimsy. Maybe they're just cogs in the machine, but they're knowingly part of a smarmy system. I was indignant, but not alone-- this appears to be a complaint from many.
Ultimately I didn't want to go full-on Karen so I cut my losses (only two dollars if you factor in the tip I would have left) and decided to leave this review as a form of catharsis. The following lessons were imparted by the udon:
1.) Flying on budget airlines comes at a cost (time, money, and being heckled incessantly about various upgrades).
2.) Read your receipts!
3.) Cash is king.
Unfortunately, this establishment will continue to dupe hungry and unsuspecting travelers for there will always be people like myself who merely assessed the options at their face value.
To add insult to injury, the eggs were overdone.
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