Restaurant’s revenge on two diners who allegedly bailed on $200 bill

An Adelaide restaurant has taken to social media to shame two young patrons they allege feasted on food and alcohol before they skipped out without paying their sizeable bill. 

Tequila n Tacos at Port Noarlunga in the city’s south-east posted CCTV of the two men to Facebook on Friday night.

‘This isn’t the kind of post we like doing, however, tonight these young men dined at our restaurant and unfortunately after finishing nearly $200 worth of alcohol & food, they put their hoodies on and ran (literally) away without paying,’ the caption said. 

The post gained traction in the local community with many followers of the restaurant’s page sharing it and others commenting in support of the hardworking staff.

Restaurant manager Viv Dhir said he chose to share CCTV of the men online in the hope they would square away their bill before he resorted to getting police involved. 

‘We were pretty upset about it, losing $200 is like losing an entire person’s wage for the day,’ he told The Adelaide Advertiser.

‘The hospitality industry is going through a crisis at the moment and people are on their knees, something like that could be make or break for a lot of businesses.’

He said the pair had ordered food from the Mexican restaurant’s menu along with tequila shots and, brazenly, the most expensive cocktail the venue offers.

Hospitality venues across the country are feeling the heat after a particularly difficult few years.

First, lockdowns and capacity limits during the Covid-19 pandemic decimated the business of cafés, restaurant and bars.

This was then followed by supply chain disruptions and an inflation spike that has not only made it more expensive to stock venues, but has also seen a reduction in customers as they tighten their belts. 

Mr Dhir, who opened Tequila n Tacos with his wife Jacinta in 2014, said while the business is popular it has not been easy and his family was ‘feeling the crunch’.

‘People should be more considerate and do the right thing, if you don’t have the money, then don’t come and eat here.’

He said patrons had previously accidentally walked out without paying but this was the first occasion they’d had customers who deliberately waited till staff were busy and did a runner.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Dhir for further comment. 

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