The former owner of cafes across Melbourne which have featured in the Good Food Guide is facing claims of underpayment and trading while insolvent.

Clare Hu was the owner and operator of Bluff Town in Sandringham, The Resident in Ashburton, Stepping Stone in South Yarra and V in South Yarra.

Lauded as "an (almost) overnight Gen Y success story", the property developer turned cafe owner had plans to expand her business to China.

Clare Hu owned multiple cafes across Melbourne. Credit:Jamie Boys

However, former employees said Ms Hu built her cafe empire by underpaying them, with workers at The Resident cafe owed $169,000.