A couple allegedly ‘dined and dashed’ from a Tenerife restaurant, reportedly even taking their leftovers with them. Traditional Spanish eatery El Cañonazo in Santa Cruz de Tenerife posted a video on Instagram of a couple with blurred faces, seemingly exiting the restaurant without paying.
CCTV captures alleged incident
The incident took place on Saturday, August 22, with the El Tablero eatery's CCTV capturing footage of the alleged ‘dine and dash’. In the clip, the couple appeared to depart the restaurant calmly.
Adding to the staff's fury, the man could be seen carrying their leftovers out in a silver container, having just enjoyed lunch at the restaurant. El Cañonazo's managers expressed their anger in the post's caption.
They said: “We’re so angry, and to make matters worse, there’s nothing we can do about it; we can’t publish their faces or report them because nobody’s helping us… It’s so infuriating! What would you do?”
Rise in incidents across the Canaries
It marks the latest in a reported rise in ‘dine and dash’ incidents across the Canary Islands’ hospitality industry. Local newspaper Diario de Avisos reports that it's fuelled both frustration and financial losses.
Data protection laws prevent the release of the alleged offenders' faces publicly without court approval. And it appears to have left El Cañonazo feeling powerless.
Other restaurants affected
Merely 10 days prior to the incident, the Japanese restaurant Aiko Sushi, situated in the centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, disclosed that they'd been lumbered with an unpaid bill totalling 144.50 euros (about £123) from August 12.
Two women left the establishment without paying, but had left a phone number for the purposes of making the reservation. Aiko Sushi tried to call the number but was allegedly blocked, so it had to resort to legal action.
Similarly, La Vespa restaurant in La Matanza de Acentejo experienced a dine-and-dash in June, this time by a family of four. A couple and their two minors enjoyed a large meal, but claimed their card wasn't working.
Having pledged to return with cash that day, staff spotted them waiting at a bus stop - allegedly to leave the area. Traditional eatery El Fogón in La Laguna saw a group of young people dashing on a 200 euro (around £170) tab in March.
However, in an unexpected turn, the father of one of the alleged culprits went to the restaurant to settle the entire bill after the incident surfaced on social media. He also apologised for his son's behaviour.
One incident in the Cruz Chica area involved two customers who left without paying. They left a mobile phone behind in the restaurant and were quickly identified.
And in yet another case at Arepera 23 in Caletillas, diners reportedly walked out on a €120 bill (about £100). It came after a dispute over an item on the bill.
