A New York City food influencer has been banned from several restaurants after a string of alleged dine-and-dash incidents across Brooklyn, with police and staff detailing repeated unpaid bills and multiple arrests.
Authorities say Pei Chung, 34, targeted at least six restaurants in Williamsburg, repeatedly ordering meals and then refusing to pay, according to NBC News. The outlet reports Chung allegedly attempted the scheme at the acclaimed restaurant Francie on two separate occasions.
Police confirm Chung has been arrested six times on theft of services charges and released each time. The arrest pattern stretches across October and November and has prompted several eateries to bar her from returning, per staff accounts shared with local media.
A pattern of unpaid bills in Williamsburg
In October, Chung visited Peter Luger Steak House, the legendary Brooklyn institution known for its porterhouse. An employee told NBC New York that Chung ordered nearly 150 dollars in steak, sides, and dessert for herself, and later posted a glowing review on her food blog.
Staff said the red flags only appeared when the bill arrived. After spending hours at the table, Chung allegedly told servers she could not pay. Employees also said she tried to barter with items in her bags rather than settle the tab, which led the restaurant to call police. Officers escorted her out, and staff say she returned the next day but was quickly recognized and turned away.
Chung’s alleged nonpayment continued in mid November, police say. On November 15, she dined at Sea, a popular Thai restaurant in Williamsburg, and ordered more than 100 dollars worth of food. Surveillance video from the restaurant shows her speaking with staff as security stood by the exit.
According to employees at Sea, all of Chung’s credit cards were declined. Staff called police, and cell phone footage from the scene shows officers handcuffing her inside the restaurant.
Two days later, on Monday, November 17, an employee at 12 Chairs Café in Williamsburg told NBC New York that a woman matching Chung’s description ordered food and then refused to pay. In that instance, staff chose not to involve police and allowed her to leave.
Arrests, charges, and bans
Chung has been arrested six times on theft of services charges tied to unpaid restaurant bills, police say. Each time, she was released. The recurring incidents have prompted restaurants to warn staff, circulate internal alerts, and in some cases ban the influencer from returning, according to employees who spoke with local news outlets.
Thief of services is a misdemeanor offense in New York that can be charged when a person obtains a service, such as a meal, without paying. In the restaurant context, it is commonly associated with dine-and-dash incidents.
Francie, where staff say Chung allegedly tried the scheme twice, declined further on-the-record comment about the incidents but confirmed cooperation with authorities through local reporting. Peter Luger staff described the October encounter as unusual given the length of the visit and the attempt to barter. At Sea, managers relied on surveillance, security, and a call to police when payment could not be processed.
Police have not identified any broader scheme beyond the Williamsburg cluster of incidents, though the pattern has drawn attention from hospitality workers in the neighborhood. Several restaurants say they now recognize Chung and have taken steps to keep her from ordering without a confirmed method of payment.
Social media activity and what comes next
Chung has a following of more than 20,000 on Instagram and has not publicly commented on the allegations. She has remained active on social media, sharing food photos on Instagram Stories as recently as Tuesday, November 18, according to NBC News.
Court records indicate Chung is scheduled to appear in court later in November and will be represented by a public defender, per NBC News. No additional details about her legal strategy or potential plea were immediately available.
The case highlights an uneasy intersection between influencer culture and the restaurant industry. In Brooklyn’s bustling dining scene, word of mouth and social media can drive foot traffic, but staff say the alleged repeated nonpayment created operational headaches, from tying up tables during busy service to diverting managers and security for payment disputes.
Restaurants involved in the incidents have emphasized coordination with authorities and documentation. Sea’s combination of surveillance footage and on-site security, Peter Luger’s prompt call to police, and 12 Chairs Café’s restraint in opting not to escalate one encounter reflect different approaches to handling suspected theft of services. All underscore a simple point from staff: payment disputes are becoming a familiar and frustrating challenge.
While the allegations remain to be adjudicated in court, the reported pattern has already led to tangible consequences. Staff at several Williamsburg restaurants say they have alerted colleagues, flagged reservations, and warned hosts and servers to be cautious. Others have implemented tighter procedures for handling declined payments.
For now, police say the arrests speak to a recurring problem that unfolded over weeks and across multiple venues. As the case proceeds, participating restaurants are standing by their accounts, and authorities are relying on staff testimony, receipts, declined payment records, and surveillance video to document what happened.
Screen Rant will update this story as more information becomes available following Chung’s next court appearance.
