NYC food influencer arrested for skipping out on restaurant bills

New York police are detaining a woman accused of dining at several high-end restaurants and then refusing to pay for her lavish meals.

Pei Chung, 35, has been arrested and banned from restaurants at least seven times since late October, according to police records.

The self-proclaimed food influencer has captured the attention of the city’s vibrant food scene in just a matter of weeks. She would dress in expensive outfits and arrive at restaurants with a high-resolution camera and lighting equipment, earning her the nickname “dinner and sprint diva.”

As of Tuesday, she was being held on bond at the Rikers Island jail, and she is scheduled to appear in court this week.

She is being held on $4,500 (£3,400) cash bail.

Restaurant staff have chronicled their bizarre behavior on social media and in local newspapers in recent weeks.

An employee at the popular Peter Luger Steak House told NBC News that after allegedly refusing to pay her check, she instead offered staff items from her purse, including a pair of scissors.

She also stayed inside the restaurant for several hours and then posted a glowing review of the expensive meal online.

Other restaurateurs claimed she offered to review their food or post photos to her social media account as payment, while still others accused her of simply walking out without paying.

Ms Chung did not respond to a message sent by the BBC to her Instagram account, where she has 26,000 followers.

She faces multiple misdemeanor charges of theft of services.

Her story brought attention to the role influencers play in fine dining and restaurant policies regarding the extent to which they should be welcomed or avoided.

Hole In The Wall, one of the restaurants she is accused of stealing from, claims they took back their food after Ms Chung said she wanted to pay with photos.

“She gives us more exposure than any of these influencers we’ve worked with,” founder Tom Rowse told the New York Times.

“Even after we took away her food, she posted about it, saying it was nice.”