‘The universe was on our side with this one': Group dine and dash on a $200 check, clocked-out server tracks them down and gets what's owed and them banned

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Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Jul 10, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

When did dine and dashing come back into style? What is this, 2003?? Sure, I get it, going out is expensive and simply existing is expensive these days. But like, then don't go out and eat an expensive meal?? Am I crazy for thinking that? If you are unfamiliar with what "dine and dash" means, good for you. It is when you go out to a restaurant and run out before paying the check. Usually, that leaves the server having to pay for your meal and that is just so mean. Gain some empathy, dude. 

 

Here, we have the classic dine and dash. It was a large group that racked up a check of $200 and then just left without paying. The server was freaking out, but super busy so didn't know what to do…

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  • They were just about to accept the fact they were going to have to pay for these strangers' meal, until a clocked-out coworker came to the rescue. They decided to saunter down the block and check the nearby bars for these thieves. Funny enough, they found them! They were stupid enough to only dash down the street to a local bar. Dummies. The consequences came following right after them! 

  • Cheezburger Image 10527193344
    via Unsplash+ (and Maria Moroz)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "I caught a dine and dash group."

    today my coworker had a dine and dash on a $200 table. we were just coming off of a super busy dinner service when he noticed that one of his tables was nowhere to be found. he was very panicked so i helped. him go through his receipts to see if maybe he had
    via Ok-Confidence8279
  • cashed them out and just forgot or if they had actually left. there was no cash on the table, no billfold, and no receipts that matched what their total bill was. since i had just been cut and had no open tables, i decided to check other restaurants and bars on our
    via Ok-Confidence8279
  • street and actually found them at a bar not far away. i had a chat with the bar manager and showed him proof that we had no payment from them, so he confronted them while i waited outside with their security.
    via Ok-Confidence8279
  • they came out and tried to argue that their bill was paid, but i showed them all the same information i showed the bar manager. one of the ladies tried to justify why they had left, claiming they waited for 30 minutes for their bill, nobody came out to check with them, they tried to get our attention to
    via Ok-Confidence8279
  • pay, etc. i simply said theft is theft and that there were two other servers that could have gotten their bill if they were finished instead of leaving without paying. i had even brought them a round of drinks when my coworker was busy with another table and i had other tables around them so it's not like
    via Ok-Confidence8279
  • they didn't have a server nearby that they could have spoken to. the lady even said "you're lucky we came here and didn't just go home" to which i said, "you're lucky i haven't called my boss or the cops to handle this". it's
    via Ok-Confidence8279
  • important to note, this table. had made a reservation so we had their information in our books and could have easily tracked them down with police assistance. thankfully i was able to get what was owed and bring it back to my coworker after 10 minutes of back and forth
    via Ok-Confidence8279
  • between me, the group, and the bar staff/security. they were promptly kicked out and banned from both the bar and our restaurant. i've had dine and dashes before, but never anything over $100, let alone $200.
    via Ok-Confidence8279
  • i'm happy i was able to get the money for my coworker and also grateful that this group was stupid enough to walk to another bar down the street. i know situations where dine and dashes actually get caught are pretty rare, so i feel like the universe was on our side with this one.
    via Ok-Confidence8279
  • Cheezburger Image 10527212544
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • CharlizeAngels I love how far you went for your coworker. Bet it was super satisfying to get that money!!
    via CharlizeAngels
  • GoodStuff Only62 People that steal from places they already left their name or places they return to are so wild to me! 25 years ago when I was in high school, I had a "friend" that was into dine and dash.
    via GoodStuffOnly62
  • I channeled my boundary pushing into w d and boys so I was no angel, but shoplifting and dine and dash always seemed like the dumbest thing to do. Our town wasn't that big, actual cops are getting involved if caught, just dumb.
    via GoodStuffOnly62
  • The final straw of the friendship was her attempting to dine and dash at the Pizza Hut buffet we went to at least 2-3 times a month. I had gone to the bathroom and came back to an empty table, she had left and was trying to force me to participate in her D&D!
    via GoodStuffOnly62
  • I paid about $20 for 4 buffets and a tip, I remember being so p ed she'd risk getting arrested for a $5 buffet
    via GoodStuffOnly62
  • RaginBlazinCAT Sounds like... ... justice was SERVED...
    via RaginBlazinCAT
  • beollWARRIOR86 I once had a father and son leave after racking up a $230 tab, all my other tables took note and while. we did not catch them, I did make some insane tips off the others who saw it happen.
    via beollWARRIOR86
  • LaVidaLaVida You did the right thing. Teamwork is what you gave to help your co-worker.
    via LaVidaLaVida

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