MADISON, Wis. -- The state is looking into several wage claims filed by former workers of the Tilted Kilt restaurant on the East Side of Madison.

Some said the owner of the statewide restaurant business has left them without jobs -- or paychecks.

Before hanging up, the former owner of the restaurant told WISC-TV by phone that the workers will all get paid on Monday. But some said they've heard that before.

"He keeps saying, 'Tomorrow... tomorrow... tomorrow,' but when he writes the checks he knows they're going to bounce," said Jaimee Mendoza, of Madison, a former restaurant kitchen manager.

Mendoza said he is frustrated and fearful. He has a pregnant wife and two children to feed and is on the verge of being referred to bill collectors.

He said that's because his former employer, the owner of the Madison-based Country Kitchen International and Kitchen Investment Group, owes him $4,000 in wages.

Mendoza said two checks have already bounced, including one in June for more than $1,200. It was returned by the bank marked "Not Sufficient Funds."

Mendoza said he worked hard for former Tilted Kilt owner Charles Myers.

"Sometimes I worked 16 to 18 hours a day to take care of his business, and he just walked away with my bills and walked away with my paycheck," Mendoza said.

Mendoza is one of five former East Side Tilted Kilt restaurant workers who filed wage claims with the state this week against the restaurant and Myers.

Other people still working for Myers' businesses said they, too, are worried about getting paid or having checks bounce.

They also said they fear for other restaurant workers, in addition to those at the East Side Tilted Kilt.

Mendoza said that former restaurant was suddenly shut down in late May when the owner and landlord showed up with the police, saying Myers was three to four months behind in the rent.

Mendoza said he knows of at least seven other former Tilted Kilt workers who are also owed money.

Country Kitchen International workers said Myers owns seven Country Kitchens in Wisconsin and one in Illinois, but they said one in Fond du Lac is about to close due to dire money problems.

The restaurant manager in Fond du Lac said that Country Kitchen will shut down Sunday but had no further comment.