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Man charged after allegedly stabbing diners in attempted armed robbery

A man has been charged after allegedly stabbing a man in the neck and injuring another as they dined at a Chinese restaurant on the NSW Central Coast.

The pair attempted to stop a man who was allegedly trying to rob the Long Jetty Chinese Restaurant in Long Jetty last night.

The 30 year-old man wore a balaclava and held a knife as he allegedly threatened a 13-year-old girl working behind the counter about 6.30pm yesterday.

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Both diners were taken to hospital after allegedly being stabbed.

Two diners who eat at the restaurant every Saturday night, both aged 55, fought back and stopped the attempted robbery in its tracks.

They received help from chef Lian Hwong-Pa, who hit the man over the head and helped hold him down until police arrived.

"The man is so powerful, so strong, so I grabbed the empty bottle there, so I hit his head," he said.

He recalled seeing the girl being very scared when she was approached by the man.

"The young girl, so scary!" he said.

"Saw the knife, the guy said, 'give me your money!'"

One of the diners was stabbed in the neck and the other one suffered lacerations to his hand.

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The man allegedlly attempted to rob the Long Jetty Chinese Restaurant on the NSW Central Coast.

The man with stab wounds to the neck was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney in a stable condition, while the other man was taken to Gosford Hospital for treatment.

Superintendent Chad Gillies was scathing when discussing the man who allegedly targeted the restaurant.

"It's absolutely cowardly," he said.

"When you're [allegedly] threatening a 13-year-old shop attendant, it's completely unacceptable."

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Chef Lian Hwong-Pa helped apprehend the man.

The 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Wyong police Station, where he was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with intent to rob, as well as wounding and grievous bodily harm charges.

He faced court today, where bail was refused.

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