I've always wondered what happens in these situations? I got close one time when I went to buy some stuff at Walmart and my card was dexlined(turns out my card was stolen, spent all my money on tik tok, called bank and charges were reversed in 2 days). I had to leave without getting the food I was trying to buy so it was a little difficult figuring out meals for those 2 days but I survived.
But at a restaurant, I can't give the meal back. I wouldn't assume they just write off the cost. If it was out of my control(like my example above) police should not really need to be involved. I doubt the old story of being forced to wash dishes for the night to pay for the meal is true.