A restaurant in San Francisco is facing serious allegations of deceptive business practices, potentially impacting its reputation and customer trust. On February 17, 2025, Alexander Xue filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, against LLH TGO LLC, the owner of the steakhouse "Miller & Lux," accusing them of secretly adding undisclosed fees to customer bills.
The complaint stems from an incident on January 27, 2025, when Xue dined at Miller & Lux and discovered a hidden charge labeled "Health & Wellness" on his bill. This fee amounted to $43.96 or 7% of his pre-tax subtotal of $628.00. Xue asserts that this charge was not disclosed on any menu or advertisement, violating California's consumer protection laws. The lawsuit alleges that LLH TGO LLC engaged in unfair competition by misleading customers with undisclosed fees and false advertising practices. According to Xue, these actions breach several sections of the Business and Professions Code and the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA).
Xue's complaint highlights that California law prohibits businesses from engaging in "drip pricing," where additional charges are added without prior disclosure during a transaction. Although restaurants have certain exemptions under this law, they must clearly display all fees with explanations on their menus or advertisements—a requirement Xue claims LLH TGO LLC failed to meet.
In his legal filing, Xue seeks injunctive relief to prevent the restaurant from continuing these practices and demands refunds for himself and other affected customers who unknowingly paid these hidden fees. Additionally, he requests compensation for legal costs incurred during the suit.
Representing himself pro se, Alexander Xue is determined to hold LLH TGO LLC accountable for what he describes as unlawful business conduct. The case is being heard under Case Number CGC-25-622455 by the Superior Court of California in San Francisco County.