A restaurant in Widnes, Cheshire, has issued a warning regarding potential scams after an incident involving a family dining at their establishment. On Saturday, April 5, a couple and a young girl claimed to have found a piece of glass in a pasta dish at San Marino restaurant, leading to a dispute over their £64.85 bill.
The family reportedly demanded compensation after the woman alleged that the sharp object "almost broke" her veneers, which she claimed had cost her thousands of pounds. Following their complaint, the couple refused to pay for their meal and left the restaurant. However, staff were taken aback when CCTV footage purportedly showed the male diner extracting a clump of glass from his pocket before handing it to his partner, who was seen placing it in her napkin and subsequently calling a staff member over to report the incident.
Miraz Yolcu, the managing director of San Marino, expressed his disbelief at the situation, stating, "It was shocking to see the CCTV footage." He described how the family had entered the restaurant without a reservation and were happily accommodated. Miraz noted that everything seemed fine while they were eating until the woman raised her complaint about the glass.
He added, "The manager was saying 'sorry it just doesn't happen, it's impossible to find glass in the food. This is not glass that we use in the kitchen'." Following the incident, the restaurant management quickly reviewed the security footage, which confirmed their suspicions that the glass had not originated from the restaurant’s food.
San Marino's response involved sharing the CCTV footage on social media to raise awareness about such scams, highlighting the impact of false claims on small businesses. The video has garnered significant attention, receiving more than 115,000 views. Yolcu remarked, "It could be damaging to the restaurant's reputation," and noted the stress caused to staff by such accusations, which could have serious implications involving police and health inspections.
The incident has also been reported to Cheshire Police, who are currently investigating. A spokesperson from the police stated that they received a report at 1am on Sunday, April 6, regarding a theft or deception that occurred at the restaurant. The police were informed that the customers had reportedly left without paying after claiming to have found broken glass in their meal. After reviewing the CCTV footage, it raised suspicions that the glass had been planted by the customers themselves.
Yolcu cautioned other businesses to be vigilant against similar attempts and advised staff to maintain composure in such situations, suggesting that they check security footage and involve authorities when necessary. The restaurant has not only accounted for the disputed meal but seeks to ensure that such incidents do not adversely affect their operations or reputation moving forward.
Source: Noah Wire Services