Leaving a restaurant without paying?
Discussion
ks to do it)I haven't personally, but I know one guy who did. This happened at a well-known Michelin Starred restaurant in London. He did what he describes as a 'Vom & Run' - he'd got rather rat-arsed, and puked over the handbag of someone sitting at the next table. He and his companion (now wife) did a very sharp runner at that point. He did telephone the restaurant the day after and paid by card, although I don't know what happened about the handbag owner.
Nope - but I have unintentionally walked out of a bar without paying a tab. We were in rounds on a bit of a day time spree in Stockholm. Beers ordered, lovely. Finished them up, all three of us must've made an assumption that one of us had paid at least.
Even said thank you and bye to the barman on the way out.
Only realised about 4 hours and several bars later..
Even said thank you and bye to the barman on the way out.
Only realised about 4 hours and several bars later..
I was in thailand on a trip. Nobody was there to pay for the drinks I got at the pre paid meal and the show was going to start shortly. So just left to the show.
They got me at my gate entrance though so I paid them. Dont know how they found me in crowds of thousands, they dont miss a thing haha.
They got me at my gate entrance though so I paid them. Dont know how they found me in crowds of thousands, they dont miss a thing haha.
I did once, unintentionally. In a pub where you normally order at the bar, we walked in just before the kitchen was about to close, to the waitress quickly took our order at the table as we were sitting down, to take it to the kitchen asap (this was Christmas Eve I think). We stayed in the pub all afternoon and eventually left, having bought and paid for rounds at the bar all night.
It wasn't until the next day that we realised we had never paid for the food!
I have been tempted to walk out sometimes though, after the third time asking for the bill...
It wasn't until the next day that we realised we had never paid for the food!
I have been tempted to walk out sometimes though, after the third time asking for the bill...
Never not paid the bill but after a meal for 5 that totalled over £100 paid by credit card. Payment system was one that gave the option of a tip. I input 10 not realising the system took that as 10p! Worse than no tip.
Realised when I looked at bill & payment slip the next day. Went back a few days later for a drink & gave the waitress a £10 pound note.
Realised when I looked at bill & payment slip the next day. Went back a few days later for a drink & gave the waitress a £10 pound note.
Done it twice, both times due to inedible food that took an age to arrive and no offers to replace.
Paid for the drinks and left.
One was a local Indian restaurant which has a very good name but must've been an off night. The other was a world renowned seafood restaurant in Paris - the food and service was horrendous!
Paid for the drinks and left.
One was a local Indian restaurant which has a very good name but must've been an off night. The other was a world renowned seafood restaurant in Paris - the food and service was horrendous!
I took my wife to Rick Steins at Sandbanks for a birthday meal, it was a Thursday night and the restaurant was only about 1/3rd full.
Fast-forward 90 minutes or so and after some very underwhelming food with nonchalant service I ask for the bill.
After 15 minutes no sign of the bill so I politely ask again, another 15 minutes and still no bill and I'm aware that our sitter for the night needs to leave by 10:00pm.
I asked again, but we appeared to get a different member of staff every time, I reminded them we'd been waiting 30 minutes for our bill and that now I wasn't very happy.
We waited 10 more minutes and then I stood up, got our coats and we walked out without paying.
Without doubt it would have been the worst £100 I'd ever spent, fortunately I didn't pay so it represented excellent value for money.
Fast-forward 90 minutes or so and after some very underwhelming food with nonchalant service I ask for the bill.
After 15 minutes no sign of the bill so I politely ask again, another 15 minutes and still no bill and I'm aware that our sitter for the night needs to leave by 10:00pm.
I asked again, but we appeared to get a different member of staff every time, I reminded them we'd been waiting 30 minutes for our bill and that now I wasn't very happy.
We waited 10 more minutes and then I stood up, got our coats and we walked out without paying.
Without doubt it would have been the worst £100 I'd ever spent, fortunately I didn't pay so it represented excellent value for money.
Seems this couple have turned it into an 'occupation'
https://www.edp24.co.uk/business/dine-and-dash-suf...
https://www.edp24.co.uk/business/dine-and-dash-suf...
Done it once, completely by accident. My local 'Loungers' bar, had an extended Sunday lunch session in there, several bottles of Vino Tinto.
On getting home, I tweeted how great an afternoon we had, tagging them in the tweet. They responded ... "we noticed, you left your card behind the bar, pop in tomorrow to settle your tab!" .... I strolled in the next day very apologetic.
During the summer we were chatting to the landlord of a popular gastropub in the New Forest, he reckoned that he was seeing 10 'walkers' a week, an increase on previous years. He attributed it to people either taking advantage of more people being outdoors because of Covid, or just forgetting because of all the additional faff you have to do at the moment just to go to the pub.
I see his point: I drove our car from Gordano services to Reading with the fuel filler hanging out last week, because I was distracted by my wife obsessing so much about me putting gloves on to handle the fuel hose, I momentarily lost concentration and forgot to put the cap back on, first time ever in 31yrs of driving.
On getting home, I tweeted how great an afternoon we had, tagging them in the tweet. They responded ... "we noticed, you left your card behind the bar, pop in tomorrow to settle your tab!" .... I strolled in the next day very apologetic.
During the summer we were chatting to the landlord of a popular gastropub in the New Forest, he reckoned that he was seeing 10 'walkers' a week, an increase on previous years. He attributed it to people either taking advantage of more people being outdoors because of Covid, or just forgetting because of all the additional faff you have to do at the moment just to go to the pub.
I see his point: I drove our car from Gordano services to Reading with the fuel filler hanging out last week, because I was distracted by my wife obsessing so much about me putting gloves on to handle the fuel hose, I momentarily lost concentration and forgot to put the cap back on, first time ever in 31yrs of driving.
Ive done it a couple of times
First time was when we ordered and waited and waited and waited ... 90 mins and no starters (and it wasn't particularly busy) so got up and walked out. Technically we didn't eat but did have a drinks bill.
Second time, I had asked for the bill 5 times. Again it wasn't that busy, prob 60% occupancy, always an excuse etc... so we got up and left. If the staff can't be bothered to sort out a simple bill after asking the same person 5 times for it they are in the wrong job.
Neither place exists anymore (unsurprisingly)
First time was when we ordered and waited and waited and waited ... 90 mins and no starters (and it wasn't particularly busy) so got up and walked out. Technically we didn't eat but did have a drinks bill.
Second time, I had asked for the bill 5 times. Again it wasn't that busy, prob 60% occupancy, always an excuse etc... so we got up and left. If the staff can't be bothered to sort out a simple bill after asking the same person 5 times for it they are in the wrong job.
Neither place exists anymore (unsurprisingly)
Fastpedeller said:
Seems this couple have turned it into an 'occupation'
https://www.edp24.co.uk/business/dine-and-dash-suf...
Hopefully the plod catch them.https://www.edp24.co.uk/business/dine-and-dash-suf...
Once.
At a steakhouse.
Wife and I had a chateaubriand and a bottle of barolo, it was delicious.
Asked to see the desert menu, and waited, and waited.
Eventually a waitress came over and asked us if as we were finished, would we please leave, they need the table for someone else.
I told her I'd asked for the desert menu half an hour ago, and was yet to see one, but of course, I'll happily get up and walk out now.
So we did. Still not sure if she thought I'd already settled the bill.
At a steakhouse.
Wife and I had a chateaubriand and a bottle of barolo, it was delicious.
Asked to see the desert menu, and waited, and waited.
Eventually a waitress came over and asked us if as we were finished, would we please leave, they need the table for someone else.
I told her I'd asked for the desert menu half an hour ago, and was yet to see one, but of course, I'll happily get up and walk out now.
So we did. Still not sure if she thought I'd already settled the bill.
Done it an a black cab taxi once, before they had the auto locking doors. Pre planned so the taxi would stop next to a gennel for us to run down. We were too drunk to account for the snow and it was so slippy that for every step forward we took, we slid two steps back. We finally managed to get away when we turned around to walk back to the taxi 
My mates did it at a Harry Ramsdens chip shop restaurant in Blackpool. I didn't want any part in it but told them I would stand across the road and watch. I got fed up with waiting for them to come out and got distracted by their takeaway counter which I went to, completely missing the waiter chasing them out and down the road. Nice chips though.
FA57 VWT said:
I took my wife to Rick Steins at Sandbanks for a birthday meal, it was a Thursday night and the restaurant was only about 1/3rd full.
Fast-forward 90 minutes or so and after some very underwhelming food with nonchalant service I ask for the bill.
After 15 minutes no sign of the bill so I politely ask again, another 15 minutes and still no bill and I'm aware that our sitter for the night needs to leave by 10:00pm.
I asked again, but we appeared to get a different member of staff every time, I reminded them we'd been waiting 30 minutes for our bill and that now I wasn't very happy.
We waited 10 more minutes and then I stood up, got our coats and we walked out without paying.
Without doubt it would have been the worst £100 I'd ever spent, fortunately I didn't pay so it represented excellent value for money.
To be honest if he knew about that appalling service he would have waved the bill anyway. Seems a very nice chap when I met him. Fast-forward 90 minutes or so and after some very underwhelming food with nonchalant service I ask for the bill.
After 15 minutes no sign of the bill so I politely ask again, another 15 minutes and still no bill and I'm aware that our sitter for the night needs to leave by 10:00pm.
I asked again, but we appeared to get a different member of staff every time, I reminded them we'd been waiting 30 minutes for our bill and that now I wasn't very happy.
We waited 10 more minutes and then I stood up, got our coats and we walked out without paying.
Without doubt it would have been the worst £100 I'd ever spent, fortunately I didn't pay so it represented excellent value for money.
Once, intentionally. We'd been to the cinema with the kids and went for a pizza in Pizza Shed. We ordered and after some delay our starters and drinks came. Once we had finished the empties were collected then - nothing. I went up to the servers three times asking about our mains - they are on the way, I was told. After 30 minutes we walked out and went for a chippy.
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