Expensive restaurants to get even more expensive

The effect of 14 percent inflation per annum will soon be visible in the menus of medium to ultra-expensive restaurants in Kathmandu. The Restaurant Association of Nepal has decided that restaurants will raise menu prices according to the increase in the prices of ingredients used.

Republica reports:

Top restaurants in the Valley are all set to increase their menu prices, stating that high rise in prices of popular commodities in the market have increased their cost of operations. They say they have no option but to raise their menu prices to meet their expenses.

Niroj Shrestha, manager of The Bakery Café, said they were holding internal discussions to increase the prices of popular dishes that they serve. "We will raise our menu prices by up to 15 percent within two months. This will help us meet our operations cost," he added. Shrestha said the eatery was operating in loss for the last couple of years as they have not raise menu prices since last year.

That means that a plate of momo now costing Rs. 150 will now cost around 180; a pizza of Rs. 300 could go upto 350 or even more. Soft drinks, now priced between Rs. 30 to 60, will probably be dearer by anywhere between Rs. 5 to 15, depending upon the establishment.

"The restaurant business in the country is very competitive. We are operating in loss as we haven´t raised our menu prices for the last nine weeks," Kedar Nidhi Pandey, manager of Hot Breads (Bakers and Confectioners) told myrepublica.com. He further informed that Hot Breads was preparing to raise its menu prices by seven percent.

Rameshwar Karki, manager of Alina´s Bakery Café, also said that his eatery was preparing to raise menu prices. "We are operating in loss for quite a long time, as the prices of major commodities that we consume have skyrocketed in the market in recent months," Karki said. He further added that the management committee of the restaurant was preparing to raise its menu prices by around 5 to 10 percent within three months.

OMIGOSH! Hot Breads too... Its all doom and gloom for the country now. At this pace, with the prices rising so fast,  jewelers will soon start selling them in small. This country has no, no future. The government should at least give a subsidy on momos, so at least we can hope for the future. Only moderately expensive Momo,  we'll miss you...<Sigh!>