Sydney Steakhouse Exposes Diner's Alleged Armpit Hair Scam for Free Meal
A premium Sydney restaurant has publicly released shocking CCTV footage that appears to capture a diner deliberately placing armpit hair on his food before complaining about it to avoid paying for an expensive meal.
Restaurant's Detailed Account of the Incident
Pony Dining, an upscale Argentinian-style steakhouse located in The Rocks area of Sydney, reported that a family of six dined at their establishment on Wednesday night. According to restaurant management, the group ordered multiple high-value items including a premium Tomahawk steak priced at approximately £100.
"Everything was very clean, they had a beautiful table," restaurant staff told local media. "We decided to check the CCTV after we noticed they were acting very weird during their visit."
The restaurant alleges that after their meal was served, the family complained about finding a hair in their food and demanded a full refund. When restaurant staff refused to provide a refund without investigation, the group reportedly attempted to leave without paying their substantial bill.
CCTV Footage Reveals Disturbing Actions
The surveillance video shared by Pony Dining appears to show a man wearing a white polo shirt looking around the restaurant before reaching into his armpit area. The footage then shows him pulling out what appears to be strands of hair and placing them on his plate.
"We don't usually share content like this," the restaurant wrote alongside the released footage. "This footage shows an incident which occurred in our venue. After the meal was served, the guest later raised a complaint regarding a hair in their meal and declined payment for all the food."
The restaurant further stated that during the interaction, their staff experienced what they described as "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour" from the customers.
Police Involvement and Industry Reaction
When the restaurant called police to intervene, officers initially advised that the matter appeared to be a civil dispute rather than a criminal matter, particularly since the restaurant had not yet reviewed their CCTV footage at that time.
"We tried to make them pay but he refused," explained restaurant staff. "We called the police however at that time we didn't have the footage so police advised it was a civil problem and nothing they can do at that stage. So they paid for drinks then left."
The released footage has generated significant online reaction, with many social media users calling for the diner to be publicly identified. Hospitality workers have also shared similar experiences of customers attempting similar scams to avoid paying restaurant bills.
"I'm a restaurant manager just next to you guys, and they did the exact same thing to me," one hospitality professional commented online. "They 'found a small rock' in their food and created a huge scene, then left without paying the full bill."
About Pony Dining Sydney
Pony Dining has established itself as a premier dining destination in Sydney, known for its premium Argentinian-style beef cuts and fresh seafood offerings. The restaurant's decision to publicly release the CCTV footage represents an unusual step for the hospitality industry, typically known for maintaining customer privacy even in difficult situations.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by restaurants dealing with customers attempting fraudulent complaints to obtain free meals, particularly at high-end establishments where bills can reach substantial amounts.
