An Australian TV and radio presenter says she’s “still in shock” after a stranger’s “incredible accidental kindness” at one of the country’s fanciest restaurants.
Sami Lukis claims she was having dinner in Sydney at Nobu – a well-known celebrity hotspot where a seven-course meal can cost as much as $180 – on Monday night in Sydney when she was told a mysterious customer wasn’t just paying her bill , but also paid every single table.
“An incredible random favor tonight from a stranger who paid the bill for EVERY table at Sydney’s Nobu restaurant (including mine). Thanks to an incredibly generous stranger. And I really hope you see that,” she tweeted after dining at the exclusive restaurant, which opened in 2020 at the Crown Sydney.
Described on its own website as the world’s best-known Japanese restaurant, Nobu has gained worldwide recognition since internationally renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa opened his first location in New York City in 1994.
The chain now has more than 50 restaurants around the world, including Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, and customers are often urged to make reservations ahead of time.
The revered dishes don’t come cheap, however, with the famous and most popular entree — black cod in miso — costing a whopping $65.
Mystery Diner pays $400 for just one table
In an article written for 9Honey on Tuesday, Ms Lukis said she was invited to Nobu by a friend who was visiting the town for a few days. Although the dinner was his call because of a “stupid bet” he lost to the radio host, Ms Lukis said the couple “got the shock [their] alive,” when her waitress broke the good news.
“I just want you to know that your check tonight was taken care of by one of the other guests here,” she quoted the waiter, wondering if it was a prank.
Ms. Lukis and her friend thought they had misheard and called the waitress back to the table for clarification. The waiter informed them again that their “entire check” was done because “someone at the restaurant wanted to do something nice for everyone here tonight”.
With her bill “easily” reaching $400, Ms. Lukis and her friend’s eyes widened as they began scanning the people and tables around them.
“It was late at night and most people had already left, but there were at least 10 tables left and about 30 other people were looking around with the same shocked looks on their faces as we were,” she wrote. “I’m probably also wondering what would inspire someone to show off to complete strangers in such an outlandish way.”
The mystery diner’s generous gesture has sparked some debate online, with some Twitter users arguing the money could have been better spent on charity. Yahoo News Australia has reached out to Nobu Sydney for comment.
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