An observation about prices

Another recent post here jogged my memory about something I meant to mention a few weeks ago. I assume it's an effort to cope with having been shut down for months, but it seems as if the restaurants I've visited recently have raised prices significantly. We stopped in to one of my favorite spots recently for lunch only to find that my go-to dish has gone from $12 to $16. What that meant is that lunch for two is north of $50, more than I'm comfortable spending.

I sympathize with those struggling businesses and I don't know what else they could do, but I'm afraid that spot and a few others are off our rotation, just because we can't afford it.

I can assure you the restaurant is not gouging you- wholesale food prices have gone through the roof, in some cases doubled, during covid. The supply chain is disrupted, meat packers have slowed down and let off employees, natural disasters have destroyed crops- it all adds up to more expensive menu prices. If you don't believe it just look at the prices at Kroger or any local merchant.
So restaurant owners not only have diminished capacity, people's fears of eating in, and the additional cost of to go materials, but the added cost of product to deal with.
Restaurants are not making money at this time, they are barely squeaking by. I talk to restaurant owners and chefs every day and they are all trying to figure out how to give value during this crazy time, while at the same time holding on for dear life.

I don't see how most of these restaurants are going to survive many more months. I've always understood that most restaurants can barely make a small profit during normal times. I hope I'm wrong.

Gary is correct. I’ve got family in the Monterey area and they tell me so many crops have been devastated. Prices will continue to rise.
All the more reason to go back to local farmers and crops.

The Cali wildfires are not helping. Lettuce has gone up 1.5x its normal price. Beef markets are finally starting to stabilize, but pork and chicken are still higher than usual. Cheese prices are super high right now and citrus markets are also volatile. It's hard to effectively price anything right now with any consistency.