A man who posed as a waiter made off with $186 in cash from unsuspecting patrons at two restaurants, police said yesterday.
Wearing a button-down dark blue or black shirt, a yellow tie and khaki pants, the spiky-haired 20-something pinched the first check at Hobson's Choice, 77 Hudson St., at about 7:20 p.m. Thursday, police said.
The man approached two women who had recently received their bill and asked if they needed anything else before paying.
The women - a 22-year-old from Secaucus and a 28-year-old from Hoboken - said no and handed him $90 in cash, police said. Waitstaff at Hobson's Choice have no dress code, a Hobson's employee said.
The man next went Margherita's Pizza and Cafe, at 740 Washington St., about 9 p.m. that night, gave his name as "Steve," and asked to be put on the wait-list for a table.
He sat in the waiting area for about 20 minutes and then approached three women and asked them if they were ready to pay, police said.
"He took the money from them and walked straight out of the restaurant," said Anthony Buzzerio, a manager at the restaurant.
The women - a 41-year-old from Manhattan, a 42-year-old from Woodbridge, and a 42-year-old from Scotch Plains - told cops they gave the man $96 for a $66 bill and expected change. The report did not explain why the women paid so much extra, police said.
Margherita's waitstaff wear black polo shirts with the store's logo on the front, Buzzerio said.
"The man was dressed very professionally," Buzzerio said. "Obviously (the customers) were a little confused."
Buzzerio said the restaurant absorbed the cost of the meal. "One we saw that they had put the money on the table - we wouldn't charge the customers twice."
"This is the first time I've come across something like this," Buzzerio added. "Hopefully he gets what's coming to him."
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