In view of my own experience at Sojo, I find it easy to believe the accounts of appalling service there.

My experience was fortunately nowhere near as bad as what others have reported. I went in to check it out, at lunchtime. I was shown to a table. After a few minutes, a waitress offered to take my order. I pointed out that I did not have a menu, and asked for one. I was told "we don't have menus for customers, the only one is in the window, you'll have to go outside to read it". So I went outside - and after a minute of standing in the rain reading their menu, I realised that I was only a minute's walk from the Oriental Condor, which has good chinese food and normal sane service; so I went there instead.

I went Sojo with my husband for lunch when I was 3 months pregnant. However after long time of my husband order been served and I asked when was mine. The waiter then said very casually that they did not have the ingredients for my dish. I said that why you did not tell me at the beginning so that I can choose another dish. Then she allowed to choose another dish. By then my husband had finished his lunch. Eventually my 2nd order has come but was not cooked properly, the noodles were raw. So I asked to talk to the owner. Then the owner was very angry to me said, you should had shared with your husband's dish. It is not a big deal. If you do not like it you do not have to pay but do not come back again. He was so horrible to me. I was in tears and could not swallow any food. SO we paid the dish and left with empty stomach and tears. Never want to go there ever.

I would have to say that the previous poster's review is somewhat surprising, given I have been to Sojo many times and received wonderful service. Not only that, but the food is absolutely top notch, the best Chinese food I have had outside London. It is extremely reasonable for price and even better value if you share the dishes. I thoroughly recommend it. I would, however, stop short of ordering the managers to give you food for free and just remind waiters that you are waiting for food.

The waiter brought me the wrong dish, acknowledged his mistake, then said he would try to bring me the correct dish as soon as possible. He then served the others at my table. When my order still hadn't arrived half an hour later, I complained to the person in charge, and suggested that the least they could do is give me my order for free. Instead of apologizing, the person in charge threatened to call the police if I didn't pay for my order. I've never been treated so rudely in a restaurant. In the end, the person in charge finally did apologize and gave me the order for free, but I'll certainly never go back.

My son and his partner are regular customers and have been telling us about it for some time now - so when we met up with them in Oxford earlier this week - as it was his Birthday - I suggested that we had a Birthday lunch at SOJO.

He called me again yesterday to thank me for Lunch - and I have to say that I cannot wait to pay a second visit for another delicious meal.

Birthdays or not - this is eating on another level - the choice is amazing - the service faultless - and the whole atmosphere is just so vibrant yet relaxing

A thoroughly wonderful experience

Max

This place is the nuts. Some of the best chinese i have ever had.