A 35-year-old woman, Pei Chung, has been arrested in New York City for allegedly dining at multiple high-end restaurants and refusing to pay for her meals. Known as the ‘dine-and-dash diva,’ Chung has been banned from at least seven restaurants since late October, according to police records. Her modus operandi involves arriving at restaurants dressed in expensive attire, equipped with high-resolution cameras and lighting gear, and then allegedly leaving without settling her bills. As of Tuesday, Chung is being held on $4,500 bail at Rikers Island jail, with a court appearance scheduled for this week. She faces multiple charges of misdemeanor theft of services. Restaurant staff have documented her unusual behavior on social media and in local news stories. For instance, at Peter Luger Steak House, she reportedly offered items from her handbag, including a pair of scissors, as payment and later posted a glowing review of the meal online. Other restaurateurs have accused her of offering to review their food or post photos on her social media account as payment, while some claim she simply walked out without paying. Chung, who has 26,000 followers on Instagram, did not respond to a message from the BBC. Her case has sparked discussions about the role of influencers in fine dining and restaurant policies regarding their presence. Tom Rowse, founder of Hole In The Wall, one of the affected restaurants, noted that Chung’s actions brought more exposure than coordinated influencer campaigns, even after they took back their food.
NYC ‘diva’ food influencer arrested for skipping out on restaurant bills
