NYC Blogger Walks Out on $300 Tab at New Orleans Restaurant

Another week, another influencer story lighting up social media, and this time, New Orleans is in the spotlight.

Restaurant owners Bella Blue and Andrew Principe of Pulcinella! say a New York City food blogger, Diane Kronstad, allegedly ran up a $300 bill before refusing to pay, then left a two-star Google review calling the restaurant “not worth the hype” and its location “sketchy.”

The restaurant, located on St. Bernard Avenue with a burlesque bar upstairs, opened in October 2024. Screenshots show Kronstad messaged Pulcinella! through her Instagram account, Fashions Digest, offering to review the restaurant.

When asked if the visit would require comped meals, she responded, “No payment necessary for the visit.”

Restaurant Owners Speak Out

Principe said the blogger and a guest ordered “pretty much everything on the menu,” including multiple entrees and wine. When presented with the nearly $300 check, the blogger allegedly expected it to be comped.

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“I just wanted them to leave a tip for their server,” Principe told WWL-TV. “Instead, they left without paying anything. I ended up covering the bill myself.”

Screenshots and receipts shared on social media fueled outrage online.

A Reddit thread and TikTok posts from Bella Blue gained traction, with thousands of comments supporting the restaurant.

Blogger Defends Herself

Kronstad later responded to People Magazine, saying the incident was a misunderstanding and that in the world of restaurant PR, free meals in exchange for content are “common practice.” She claims she planned to tip but felt the situation had become “unsafe and unpredictable.”

Despite her explanation, Pulcinella! has received an outpouring of local support, with many praising the owners for speaking up against what they call influencer “grifting.”

A Growing Conversation in the Food Scene

The viral saga has sparked a wider conversation about influencer culture in the restaurant industry. While many content creators pay for meals and provide valuable exposure, stories like this leave a sour taste for restaurant owners already battling thin margins and summer slowdowns.

As for Pulcinella!, the owners say the ordeal was a learning experience and now have stricter guidelines for influencer visits.