I went in for the first time yesterday to pick up three special order fruit pies(cherry, apple and blackberry-peach). The café has a cool industrial feel to it and both the clerk and baker were exceptionally nice. The pies were so so good(and still slightly warm when I got them!), beautiful presentation and a big hit for my office party. Haven’t tried the coffee yet but will be back… and to try some more of those baked goods!
Tuesday S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Kansas City, MO
The pastries are amazing. Excellent quality… maybe even some of the best I have had in the city. The environment is welcoming and so is the staff. being a barista can be an art form if done right and this crew definitely does it right. I come to this place often and I have never had less than a great experience.
Clayton R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Kansas City, MO
This is my new favorite coffee spot in town. The location is very convenient for several condo buildings in the Garment District, especially SOHO Lofts(hence the name). The windows are open on nice days, so you get free smells as you walk out in the morning, which is absolutely delightful. It’s only open until 2pm, which is fine with me, because this place doesn’t try to be anything it isn’t; it’s a gorgeous little coffee shop /bakery that offers amazing baked goods and cheap drinks. I am a tea/coffee hound, and I have pretty high standards for price/quality. I’ve been hard on some of the more popular local spots in the River Market and elsewhere that I don’t think meet my standards on one or the other. Some offer ridiculously small cups for a high price, some have terrible/inconsisten service. This place has neither. It has a very friendly staff, cheaply priced drinks that are nicely made, and some of the best smelling baked goods in the area. I would come in here to work for an hour or so just to smell the cinnamon rolls. Their entire baking operation is viewable down a hallway, so you can see them hard at work making hand crafted items. Also, some nights, a worker will be in there preparing dough to rise for the next morning; this is NOT Starbucks, where they take their Caramel Salted Treats out of the freezer, or throw their English muffin sandwiches in the microwave, this is an honest to God bakery, and I have a soft spot for shops like this. The service is very friendly. Not overbearing, not in your face, but a chill vibe that is pleasant on an early morning. You’re not going to get a «Whaddya WANT» like you might in a busy line at a chain coffee store. Just a casual inquiry. The seating is not as comfortable or plentiful as you might expect, but the vast majority of customers are in-and-outers, so I understand that. Still, it’d be nice to have a nook with a couple soft chairs to cozy up in on a cold morning with a hot drink and a scone. If you read some of the negative reviews, they are more condemnations of a lack of food that used to be served here and price to quality issues. I would urge anyone who thinks they are overpriced to present me with a locally owned(or chain, for that matter) coffee shop that can get me a decent sized Cappucino for about tres dolares. Also, you can’t get too angry at a place for something that used to be there(i.e., condemning El Patron because it replaced your favorite Italian restaurant — not their fault!). This is a great spot, and I haven’t found a better option in the area. Places like Quay and Opera House in the River Market are near the top of my list, after changes in ownership, but they’ll be hard pressed to compete with this place for its convenience, ambiance and quality of products.
Faith B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Kansas City, MO
I wandered in here one morning recently when all I needed in the world was a hot, fast breakfast to get me through the work morning. You know those kind of days. Usually they follow evenings of too much fun. The daily quiche was veggie friendly(although clearly not vegan) and rich in flavor and it was warmed perfectly — still warm when I got it into the office. I also found it impossible to resist a chocolate scone with hot pepper. Yummy! I’ve stopped one other time since my «discovery» and really enjoyed that quiche of the day, as well. I look forward to checking it for lunch soon.
Scott T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Lawrence, KS
My first visit for a latte and scone and I’m giving them a very solid 4 stars. The baked goods here are obviously high quality. The almond sugar scone was moist and fresh, right amount of crispness on the outside yet soft and delicious inside. The latte was excellent… clearly the result of a barista that knew what she was doing. This is a great neighborhood destination for coffee and sandwiches and I must return for the latter. Like what I see. Appears from the reviews they’ve been in transition and whatever they’re doing, I hope they continue on the right path. Highly recommended.
Stephanie P.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Kansas City, MO
Admittedly, I stopped going to Soho because the dark haired girl barista quit and the owner was making coffee and espresso drinks. She clearly didn’t know anything about either, and I stopped going. I stopped in a couple months ago and found the new changes surprisingly amazing. I love the modern rustic feel they gave it. I actually love that long table in the front. It’s gorgeous and looks hand made. The idea there was to give the place a more hip feel. A lot of new places have an open community seating concept, which reminds me of coffee shops in Europe. The bakery items are A LOTDIFFERENT now that new owners hired new staff. The baked goods seem healthier, if that’s possible, and more diverse. I got a blackberry peach muffin and a maple bacon muffin. Wow to both. The previous owner always had bright little sugar cookies or cakes, but the new Soho delivers on the pastries(chocolate scone= divine). Now for my favorite part, the drinks! The barista they have is a barista, and he knows his coffee. I have never had a better latte than here at Soho. I also love the fact that they didn’t raise their prices either. I can get a 12oz latte for 3.85. That’s reasonable to me, considering how good it is. I would pay more for that kind of quality. I wish they had some outdoor seating. That is my only wish! Don’t get rid of that barista man please!
Joe W.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Kansas City, MO
Really, really good bakery items. Friendly staff. Soho used to be the best lunch spot in Quality Hill. They changed management Dec 2011. BTW their website is no longer updated. Soho USED to have a wonderful menu, daily specials like rich mac and cheese served with tomato soup, and also had a regular menu of high quality salads, homemade soups, sandwiches, coffee, and amazing bakery items. There would be a line at lunch time, and people loved the place. The new management remodeled, a good thing because they got rid of that awful bright painted lime green wall, but they also replaced the 11 tables with one long skinny table and a few stools. Where are people supposed to sit? Do they not want people eating lunch there? They only offer COLD pre-made sandwiches that are made somewhere else, and sit in the fridge. I walked past everyday at lunch time and its totally empty inside. Nothing but four bored employees wandering around.
Masil M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Seattle, WA
I drove out of my way to visit this coffee shop based on the reviews. The coffee was good. Nice beans, good flavor. I had a cinnamon roll and it was not what I expected, it was better. Maybe I’ve spent too much time at the mall, because the bun was flaky and buttery like a croissant. There was just the right amount of topping, so it wasn’t overly sweet and didn’t overwhelm the cinnamon flavor. Noms! The other pastries looked quite good. The only savory option they had was a biscuit though. I do wish that more bakeries would offer savory pastries, sometimes you just don’t want to eat sweets first thing. The décor was good and spacious. I’m a fan of open kitchen areas, so that was nice to see. The barista was friendly. The place was chill and good for hanging out for a while.
Dave N.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Kansas City, MO
My wish has been granted. A new owner/manager stepped in to this location(from the Filling Station) and really stepped SOHO’s game up. 1. They now use Oddly Correct beans for coffee, and Broadway for espresso. 2. They hired a barista who knows how to prepare high quality espresso drinks. 3. They made some minor, but very well placed renovations I walk over to visit SOHO more times in a week(sometimes in a day) than I would like to admit! A *very* solid place for coffee and espresso drinks, bakery goods and even lunch.
Alicia H.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Kansas City, KS
It was my Friday to take in breakfast for my group at work. I wanted to shake up my routine a bit so I hopped onto to Unilocal to check out local bakeries in the vicinity of my office. Noting the positive reviews for SOHO, I figured it was worth a visit. I was not disappointed. The place was a little warm. The cordial man working explained though that there were some issues with the HVAC system, which contributed to the heat. I felt bad for them and others in the building. I do hope that situation has been worked out. Otherwise, I was thrilled with the abounding options of baked goods and coffee! Muffins. Scones. Turnovers. Popovers. Options of both savory and sweet! And I appreciated the fact they didn’t cover everything in glaze like some other places. Really, I don’t understand dipping a scone or muffin in glaze. It ruins the flavor and turns a lovely baked item into a sickeningly sweet turd. I had trouble making decisions and I ended up with more than I thought I needed! I couldn’t try all the items but I did have some of a pear and pistachio scone. This was a great flavor combination. The mild tartness of the pear was balanced out nicely and the pistachio provided a bit of a crunch and a tad but of salt. I also cut off a small but of a sausage turnover. The crust was buttery and delicious and the sausage had a nice spice and flavor. To top this trip off, I got a cup of coffee. Soho serves Oddly Correct Coffee, which has become a favorite of mine. So, I was happy to see it. Overall, I had a great experience and can’t help but give it five stars. I do feel slightly conflicted about it though because As noted by others, the place closes at 2 p.m. and is not open on weekends. This makes me a sad panda. But it’s good!
Ray L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Seattle, WA
Wait, I haven’t reviewed this? I fell in love with this place one of my first morning in KC. I dropped by for an Americano on my way to work, and decided at last second to grab a blueberry muffin. I got in my car and was going to wait till I got to the office to eat it. But I’m glad I didn’t. I was already so in love with the perfectly crusty top, but just lost it when I realized that the inside was still warm. This was the freshest muffin I’ve ever had, outside of my own kitchen. Having this bakery so close to my apartment is such a treat. I loved this place a few months ago, and now love it even more with the light remodeling. They’ve added a bigger display case to truly show off their variety of awesomely baked goods. Everything I’ve had here is great, but fresh muffins still top my list. I do love my Americanos here too. Nice and bold. To top it all off, the people who work here are awesome. At times when they didn’t have plain croissants, they’ve offered to make a new batch for me. They also love dogs(as I do) and give out free, homemade doggie treats. One suggestion to the owners: if you can, please stay open longer and on the weekends!
Sara D.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Kansas City, MO
Remember the classic television show Friends? SOHO café and bakery is a close resemblance to Central Perk, the café featured in Friends: casual and comfy yet intriguingly sophisticated, as well. The café has an impressive breakfast and lunch menu written in beautiful handwriting on the chalk board menus including delicious breakfast croissants and mouth watering paninis. The best part of SOHO is their«to die for» lattes. The chai latte is so smooth and delicious that even the foam will leave your lips longing for more. Not only does SOHO provide exceptional drinks, but their customer service is superb. The baristas are friendly, with pleasant smiles they have excellent recommendations on what they think are their best dishes. SOHO is the perfect place for a pleasing snack or a precisely pleasant drink.
Bridget K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Sonoma, CA
Absolutely hands down the best key lime pie & the best carrot cake you can get in this city! I’m in the wedding industry so I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to sample a lot of cakes, and the ones coming from Soho are the best! The icing is always smooth & fluffy, the cakes moist for days, and you can actually taste the flavor they’re supposed to be. This is not like HyVee carrot cake where you taste cinnamon & walnuts, this is the real deal! Even my boyfriend who doesn’t really like sweets loves the treats from here! I’ve never eaten in house, I only call in my cake/pie order & pick it up, but the gals behind the counter are always friendly. The prices on the board look average for the coffee shops that I frequent, and I’ve never been in the area around lunch time so I’m not sure what that cuisine is like, but based on the cakes I’ll bet it’s awesome.