When Was The Last Time You Dined And Dashed?

According to NYPD data from last year, New Yorkers are either a bunch of cheapskates or they're just getting worse at being sneaky. Arrests for "theft of service," or running out on your restaurant tab, jumped 20% from 315 arrests in 2009 to 376 in 2010. And no, it's not just jackass teenagers. Some of the crooks have bowties! Or kids! Chef Jehangir Mehta said, “People think it’s the young who cheat — [but] I feel like half the time it’s people with a little more savvy."

Chefs list a few different tactics used to get a free meal, including people leaving for a cigarette or "better cell service," parents using their kids as a distraction, or even people demanding free food because it's their birthday. Tara Rizzi of Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto said, "Granted, I’ve only been working in New York City for 3½ years, but I feel like [such incidents] have definitely increased.It’s always bizarre to see full-grown adults trying to argue with us about the charges of the food. The price is on the menu."

Even though many restaurateurs see this as just a hazard of the business and are generous enough to compensate servers for any lost tips, it doesn't mean the "trend" is any more justified. One server recalled a rich customer walking out and telling the owner, “You know what? When I’m done with my meal and I’m ready to go, I walk out. And if the server isn’t paying attention, I walk away. If they’re interested in me or my money, they’ll pay attention." And you know you've cheated a really first-class restaurant when they send New York's Finest to drop the check.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in Food on January 12, 2011 2:34 PM

Comments [rss]

masterjarvis

anyone that attempts to use poor service as an excuse for skipping out on a restaurant check is a piece of slime. sure its true that bad table service is annoying, but it does not grant you the right to walk out without paying. if anything, the only right that is granted to you is to not frequent that establishment. next people will be going to see a movie at the theatre and demanding their money back because they didnt like the movie they chose to see.

Guest

"Arrests for "theft of service," or running out on your restaurant tab,"

"Theft of Service" encompasses more than just running out of a restaurant without paying the tab. It is a charge that can be applied to anyone who does not pay for service received. It is often used to charge subway fare evaders, those who run out of cabs without paying, those who don't pay for hotel rooms, etc,.

rcltrh

I TOTALLY agree about the damned lack of the ability to get your server to bring you the check or even acknowledge your existence after they spend their 30 seconds with you taking your order. They take your order, then disappear. Someone else brings your food, someone else clears away the dishes, and then you have to ask busboys, managers, other waiters, etc to find your server to get the check - who then expects a nice fat tip for what, taking your order? I would never walk out without paying, but lots of places seem to deserve it.

Jonny Leather

You got everything right except you missed the part where one person asked you if you wanna see a dessert menu and you ask for the check, then 10 minutes later your actually waiter asks you if you'd like to see a dessert menu, then you wait 10 minutes for them to finally bring the check

jibbly

I wonder how the tips are split in these cases.

souper_crackers

I've been tempted a few times, when the service is so slow that it takes over 15 minutes to get the check. I was a server for 13 years, and I always looked forward to tables leaving. That's when I was reminded as to why I was a server (tips).