Sabrina, 25, said she felt violated by the experienceShe’s made a series of concerning allegationsDo you know more? Email maisy.rae@dailymail.com.au

By MAISY RAE

Published: 20:40 EST, 16 February 2026 | Updated: 21:43 EST, 16 February 2026

A young woman has issued a warning after the owner of a popular restaurant allegedly sent her a late-night text after taking her number from the booking system.

Sabrina Renda, 25, was dining with a friend in Melbourne when the owner of the restaurant approached their table. 

While the pair enjoyed a cordial chat, she claims things took a darker turn when she returned home that night. 

‘I went to check my messages before I went to sleep, and 12.47am, I get this text,’ Ms Renda said in a video on TikTok.

She then showed a picture of the text message she alleges is from the owner. 

The message reads: ‘Hi, is this Sabrina? I know this is bad (reaching out to a client). I don’t do this normally. Hope you don’t mind me messaging you and if you think it’s bad then please accept my apologies.’

While the late-night message didn’t contain any explicit language, Ms Renda said she was left feeling ‘deeply unsettled’, ‘disturbed’ and ‘violated’.

‘It’s 12.47am and he’s almost incriminating himself, saying, “This is bad…”, that just tells me [he] has probably done this before if, with no invitation at all, you felt comfortable to reach out to me,’ she said.

Sabrina Renda (pictured) alleges she felt 'deeply disturbed' by a text message she received from the owner of a popular restaurant in Melbourne

Sabrina Renda (pictured) alleges she felt ‘deeply disturbed’ by a text message she received from the owner of a popular restaurant in Melbourne 

She added: ‘Once you have your details in a booking system for a restaurant, they should not go any further, they shouldn’t become personal details.

‘This man was old enough to be my father… old enough to f***ing creep me out and make me feel deeply unsettled and disturbed.’ 

Ms Renda also alleges the restaurant owner took a photo of her without her permission and hugged her after she extended her hand to shake. 

‘I felt so violated. It ruined what was otherwise a nice night,’ she said.

‘We all deserve to go out and enjoy a girls’ dinner without coming home to realise we were being creeped on the whole time.

‘This man clearly knew coming on to me in person would be inappropriate, so I’m not sure why he thought taking my number from my booking details and messaging me at 12.47am would be any less appropriate?’

Daily Mail has sent requests for comment to the restaurant and its owner. 

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