Can you believe it? Chef Steve Schimoler was taken aback when he saw two brothers rack up a $160 tab at his Cleveland, OH, restaurant, Crop.
In 2015, they ordered some of the most expensive menu items, then dined and dashed. Schimoler didn't realize this until he reviewed security footage where the two men pretended to go outside for a smoke, and then left the restaurant.
"Top-shelf champagne, foie gras, short ribs," Schimoler told WKYC. "All in, like they are really super foodies. Said they were gonna have a cigarette. They take off. We immediately connected the dots. We looked at both videos, immediately identified these two brothers."
But that wasn't the end of it! The siblings appeared to be out on a dine-and-dash spree, hitting three more restaurants and racking up tabs as high as $300. In fact, within three days, they dine and dashed six times at various downtown Cleveland restaurants.
Schimoler posted a heads-up on Facebook to other restaurants in the area. Within 10 minutes of seeing the post, another restaurant owner, David Flowers of Johnny's, spotted the brothers.
"About 10 minutes later, I look up, and there was Matt Gareau," said Flowers. "Sure enough, when he saw an opportunity, he tried to bolt for the door. He said he didn't have any money, he was going to meet his aunt, and he'd be back later."
Flowers spread the word and Schmioler showed up at Johnny's. Flowers pinned the thief to the ground and Schimoler gleefully took a photo. They had caught the culprit. The alleged thieves were identified as Matt and Scott Gareau.
"Six times in three days! And to me, that can be summed up in two words: BS," said Schimoler.
What's funny is that the two men had worked at Johnny's before being banned. Flowers also said that had the men asked, he would have provided them with a free meal if they were truly down on their luck.
"Next time, just ask me for a sandwich. I'd be happy to help you out," said Flowers.
Please SHARE this story if you're glad these restaurants worked together to stop the dine-and-dash spree!
