Missouri restaurant gets even with ‘Dine-and-dasher’ who tried paying for burger, sides with $1,000 bill
A local Missouri restaurant, Michael’s Bar and Grill, recently found themselves in a sticky situation when a dine-and-dasher scammed them out of a meal by paying with a fake bill. The incident occurred when a customer ordered a burger and multiple sides, totaling $40, and handed the server what appeared to be a $100 bill. However, upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be a fake $1,000 bill, commonly used as “ancestor money” in Chinese tradition for rituals.
After realizing the costly error, the restaurant took matters into their own hands by posting a picture of the culprit on social media. The image of the dine-and-dasher was shared on Facebook, exposing his crime to the public. Surprisingly, the tactic seemed to have worked as the fraudster returned the next day, paid his bill, apologized for his actions, and even left a tip for the servers, demonstrating his remorse.
This incident shed light on a growing trend of dine-and-dashing in the area, prompting the restaurant to take further action. In an effort to deter future thefts, Michael’s Bar and Grill began posting images of tab skippers on their Facebook page, creating a virtual wall of shame for offenders. The establishment hopes that by publicly shaming those who attempt to cheat them, they can prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Employees of the 46-year-old restaurant expressed their frustration with the recent spike in dine-and-dash incidents, citing the need for increased security measures such as cameras, license plate readers, and facial recognition technology. Server Kristina Moriarty emphasized the importance of taking a stand against such behavior, stating that small businesses like theirs are frequently targeted by dishonest individuals.
Bartender Dawn Lamb echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the restaurant’s commitment to exposing and deterring dine-and-dashers. By holding individuals accountable for their actions and making the public aware of their deeds, Michael’s Bar and Grill hopes to protect themselves and other businesses from falling victim to similar schemes in the future.
