A Montreal restaurant received strong community support after a group of diners left without paying on Christmas Eve.

Abdul Raziq Khan, the owner of Mama Khan, a small family-run restaurant on St-Denis Street, said he was shocked by the incident, but a kind stranger later stepped in and paid the bill. Since its opening in 2021, the small restaurant has focused on giving back to the community. The restaurant offers free tutoring for high school students, free meals during Ramadan, and a pay-it-forward program where customers can buy meals for people in need. Khan says supporting people facing food insecurity in Montreal has always been a key part of their mission.

On Christmas Eve, a group of eight diners, who said they were from out of town, left the restaurant without paying after saying the meal was too expensive, leaving an unpaid bill of $160. He shared the story on social media, and the community quickly stepped in to cover the loss.

Khan posted a video about the incident, which was watched thousands of times, and the messages of support lifted his spirits. One of those messages offered to pay the full $160 bill, while more people donated, including one person who gave $1,000 and another who added a tip for the waiter. Khan said the money will be used to give back to the community, noting that $1,000 can provide about 200 meals.

Source: Annabelle Olivier, CBC