A RESTAURANT owner is warning others to be on their guard against diners who invent complaints at the end of their meal to avoid paying the bill.

Geraldine Leventis, proprietor of Raoul’s in Hammersmith Grove, says she has twice been the victim of tricksters who appear to enjoy a meal and make no complaint until they are presented with the bill.

Mrs Leventis, who owns the independent deli and restaurant chain with branches in Notting Hill and Maida Vale, said the latest incident involved a party of nine diners who ran up a bill of £300 at the Hammersmith restaurant earlier this month. She is convinced they planned the evening, partly because they were unknown to the restaurant and paid in cash.

"They consumed everything and had a perfectly good evening, then made some excuse about the noise at the next table," she said. "We had a similar incident at our Maida Vale restaurant a few months ago, which was unconnected."

The party of nine argued over the bill for an hour, until the duty manager called the police. The customers offered to pay for the food, but refused to stump up for their drinks, which had come to £95.

"Clearly, these people know that if they offer to pay something they’re within their legal rights," she said. "It had obviously been planned. They hadn’t been in before and paid in cash, not with a credit card which could be traced. Most people don’t carry that much cash around."

Mrs Leventis said chain restaurants regularly give out vouchers if their customers are unhappy.

“But we don’t do that. I’m all for people not paying if there’s been a problem, but in this case there was not one word of complaint until the end.”

She said the police were unable to make any arrests because the party agreed to pay part of the bill.

A police spokesman said their actions were determined by the circumstances of the dispute between the parties.

"In some cases it may be considered a civil dispute if the customer feels the food wasn’t good. But, in general, if someone made no complaint or is unable to pay, they can be arrested under the Fraud Act 2006 for obtaining services dishonestly. In this case, the restaurant had come to an agreement with the customer."