The restaurant, located at 2445 Hotel Circle Place, shared the appeal through its Instagram account on November 8, posting a photograph beneath the question, "Have you seen this man?"
According to The Remy, the incident occurred several weeks earlier, when a customer allegedly used multiple counterfeit $100 bills to pay for his meal. The restaurant claims the transaction resulted in the loss of several hundred dollars.
"Unfortunately this guy came in and dropped a few hundred fake $100 bills," the restaurant wrote in its Instagram caption, encouraging followers to share the post and send information through direct messages.
The accompanying graphic alleges that the individual used counterfeit money to obtain food without providing valid payment. The restaurant has not publicly specified the exact dollar amount, how many bills were involved, or how employees determined the currency was counterfeit.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the restaurant's account does not establish whether the customer knew the bills were counterfeit. The individual's identity has not been confirmed, and the photograph alone does not establish criminal wrongdoing.
The post quickly attracted comments from San Diego residents, with some expressing outrage over the alleged incident and others questioning whether the restaurant had sufficient evidence to publicly identify the customer.
Several commenters suggested that staff should have checked the bills before accepting them, while others recommended counterfeit-detection equipment and additional employee training. Some questioned whether the individual might have received the counterfeit currency unknowingly.
The restaurant's decision to publish the photograph also prompted a broader debate over publicly accusing someone of wrongdoing before the circumstances have been established. Although social media can help businesses identify individuals involved in disputed transactions, it can also expose people to harassment or mistaken identification.
The Remy's post did not indicate whether the incident had been reported to the San Diego Police Department or the U.S. Secret Service, the federal agency responsible for investigating counterfeit U.S. currency.
The alleged incident represents another unwelcome development for the Mission Valley restaurant, which experienced a fire earlier this year. On February 3, firefighters responded to an early-morning blaze that damaged portions of the building's exterior and roof. The fire was contained before spreading into the main dining room, and no injuries were reported. Authorities initially said the cause remained under investigation.
The Remy opened in May 2023 inside the former Hunter Steakhouse building, replacing a restaurant that had served the Mission Valley area for more than half a century. The property was extensively renovated under restaurateur Jonathan Frank, also associated with San Diego's Home & Away restaurants, and reopened as an upscale steakhouse specializing in beef, seafood, cocktails and wine.
The restaurant has now turned to its online following in hopes of learning more about the disputed transaction. Anyone with firsthand information can contact The Remy directly, although allegations of counterfeit currency are best investigated by law enforcement rather than adjudicated through social media.
The Remy Cocktails & Meat is located at 2445 Hotel Circle Place in San Diego's Mission Valley. For more information, visit theremysd.com.
Originally published on November 8, 2026.