A self-styled food influencer dubbed the 'dine-and-dash diva' has found herself behind bars after an alleged campaign of skipping out on expensive restaurant bills across New York City's most exclusive dining establishments.
The Lavish Dine-and-Dash Pattern
Pei Chung, 34, developed what authorities describe as a habitual pattern of visiting high-end restaurants, ordering extensively from menus, and then attempting to leave without settling her substantial bills. The Instagram influencer allegedly targeted multiple Williamsburg restaurants, hitting at least six establishments including Michelin-starred brasserie Francie twice.
During one particularly extravagant meal in October, Chung reportedly indulged in $15 foie gras, $32 carpaccio, $28 bucatini, $52 lamb, and $19 hot chocolate mousse before allegedly departing without paying. Her taste for luxury extended beyond food to her appearance, with witnesses noting she wore Prada, Louis Vuitton and Hermes during her restaurant visits.
The Downfall at Mole Restaurant
Chung's alleged run came to an abrupt end on Friday when she visited Mole restaurant in Brooklyn for what would have been her third attempt at their menu. The establishment's staff had grown wise to her methods and were prepared when she ordered $149 worth of food and subsequently refused payment.
Her arrest led to an arraignment on theft of services charges on Saturday, with authorities jailing her on Rikers Island under $4,500 cash bail. This amount covered both the recent charge and previous failures to appear in court for earlier dine-and-dash warrants.
Restaurant Industry Reacts
The manager at Peter Luger steakhouse, where Chung allegedly ordered nearly $150 worth of steak, sides and dessert before offering kitchen scissors from her handbag as payment, expressed relief at her arrest. "I'm glad there's some sort of recognition being brought to the matter," they told the New York Post. "She was getting away with it – way too often. And it's just not right."
Remarkably, Chung had developed something of a following online, with the owner of Mole noting: "It's only in New York City where someone like this becomes a folk hero." The influencer was known to bring her own lighting equipment and camera to document her meals, posting pictures and glowing reviews despite her payment refusals.
Chung's legal troubles extend beyond restaurant bills, as she reportedly faces eviction from her $3,350 per-month Williamsburg apartment owned by former New York governor Eliot Spitzer. Her case highlights the growing tension between restaurants' reliance on social media influencers for promotion and the vulnerability of businesses to fraudulent behaviour.
