As reported by the Daily Mailpolice say 34-year-old Pei Chung visited several well-known Manhattan and Brooklyn eateries, including Peter Luger and Francie, and allegedly refused to pay the large tabs she accumulated. Prosecutors claim that in some cases, she offered to promote the restaurants on social media in exchange for waiving the bill.

John Winterman, co-owner of Francie, said Chung once left the restaurant with an unpaid bill of about US$188 after ordering items including foie gras and carpaccio. He said she told staff she would write a blog post instead of paying and later claimed she was waiting for family to send money. Ultimately, she left without settling her bill.

Police say that following the incident, she returned to Francie several times but was turned away due to her outstanding balance. When she eventually gained entry weeks later, she ran up an additional US$83 tab and again refused to pay. Staff then called authorities, and she was arrested in front of diners.

In another incident at Peter Luger, Chung allegedly ran up a US$146 bill and was later found hiding in a restroom after disappearing for 45 minutes. A waiter told police Chung said to him: “Is there anything else I can do for you because I don’t want to pay this check.” The staff interpreted this as offering sexual favors in lieu of payment.

Lavender Lake is also listed among the restaurants reporting unpaid checks, including one for roughly US$97 in October, according to staff and police reports.

According to the New York PostMeadowsweet in Brooklyn is also an alleged victim of Chung.

“She’s going into established restaurants dressed to the nines, racking up hundreds of dollars in food, defrauding them, then posting on Instagram like the restaurant hired her,” said a source close to the eatery.

Chung has been arrested five times since late October on charges of theft of services. Her case is pending in Brooklyn criminal court.

Her Instagram account, which has more than 14,000 followers, frequently features designer items such as Prada heels, Louis Vuitton handbags, and Hermès belts.