Hungry pair ate and ran - into owner
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1293332.htmlThe couple stretched a leisurely meal over five hours at Temple Restaurant, a high-end French-Asian restaurant at 1201 Harmon Place in downtown Minneapolis last month.
It featured several appetizers, two entrees of freshwater prawns, a good steak and plenty of pricey cocktails.
Then about 10 p.m., when the waiter was bringing dessert, they sneaked out, leaving an unpaid bill of $410.09.
Owner Thom Pham, who had seated them at a sidewalk table, was fuming.
"I was thinking, I hope to God I see these people again," he said.
Three hours later, Pham got his wish.
Pham walked into Azia, the upscale Asian-fusion eatery he owns at 2550 Nicollet Av. S., and found the pair finishing off some expensive drinks after a hearty second dinner that included a rack of lamb.
"I thought, 'Oh my God, I can't believe my wishes are so powerful,' " Pham said.
When they tried to flee, Pham, a former judo instructor, chased Reginald Wilder into an alley, forced him to the ground and held him until police arrived. Lance Burrow was arrested a half block away.
According to a police report, Burrow was dressed as a woman and wearing a wig. There was no explanation how they happened to choose two restaurants owned by Pham.
"They were clearly either very dedicated fans of Mr. Pham's restaurants, or they were incredibly unlucky," said Lt. Amelia Huffman, a spokeswoman for the Minneapolis Police Department.
"I call it 'instant karma,' " said Pham.
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