Friday, 27 April 2007

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Tyra Banks settles restaurant bill after mix-up

Star apologises after leaving without paying

Tyra Banks finally paid a brunch bill Thursday after mistakenly leaving a Manhattan eatery without settling the check last weekend.

On Saturday, the supermodel ate at the Brooklyn Diner with music mogul Russell Simmons and his children – but the party left without paying, according to Alexis Reyes, who runs the Diner.

"Everybody waved goodbye and there was nothing in the billfold," Reyes tells PEOPLE. "We kind of figured it was okay. It was so chaotic, she thought someone must have paid the bill."

As Banks explained on The View Thursday morning, she had offered to pick up the check, then Simmons insisted he would, but ultimately neither did in a misunderstanding.

On Wednesday New York's Daily News reported that Banks and Simmons "dined and dashed," which made her realize the mistake.

"I read the [newspaper] and they're saying I'm cheap and I didn't pay the bill," Banks said on The View Thursday. "So I'm on my way after this with my $120 and I'm going to give it to them."

Indeed, Banks showed up to make good on the check, says Reyes.

"She was really apologetic and also she was really embarrassed," he says. "She was great. She was very much a lady."

As for the gratuity, Reyes says, "She left a wonderful tip. She was quite generous."