Irish people seem to be “allergic” to eating out in the face of high costs, according to one Galway chef and restaurateur.
Galway chef and restaurateur JP McMahon said as a person who owns three restaurants, it’s incredibly difficult to see people complain about restaurant prices when he and other restaurateurs are under pressure.
“I'd love for wine to be €5 - I remember the days when you could get four pints for £10,” he told Lunchtime Live.
“But I remember my first job, the minimum wage was £1.50 an hour, and the minimum wage now is about €14."
He said energy prices, taxation and insurance also contribute to higher costs from the restaurant to the customer.
“20-seater restaurants cost €10,000 to insure,” he said.
I paid €35 for two glasses of wine in Copenhagen in a wine bar. Was I ripped off? I don't believe so. I wouldn't go into places that rip you off. You can generally tell before you go in 😜
— Dr. Jp McMahon (@mistereatgalway) August 1, 2023
“There are every few restaurateurs I know who are driving Ferraris," he said.
Comparing restaurants with supermarkets also won’t make your meal any cheaper.
“We have to stop using the supermarket as a barometer for what value is,” Mr McMahon said.
“When you’re eating at home, you’re making the dinner yourself. When you eat out, it is a luxury.
“I don’t think any restaurant with integrity is making a killing.”
Don't then. Eat at home.
— Dr. Jp McMahon (@mistereatgalway) August 1, 2023
Many Irish people believe going out is simply too expensive as the price at the end of your meal rises higher.
Lorraine told Lunchtime Live the higher cost of wine or a pint has stimied social lives.
“It just targets the older people,” she said. “The man that likes to have a pint at the weekend."
Lorraine said a drink in a pub is often Irish people’s “way of socialising” - and people have an even stronger desire to go out following COVID-19 lockdowns.
"We were all locked up for so long,” she said. “We didn’t have the chance to socialise.
“[But] you're talking €8 or €9 for a drink,” she said. “You might be able to get the bus there, but you’re getting the taxi home.”
Specialty milk
Joan said she is sick of the extra add-ons to the price of a cup of coffee.
“They’re putting up to 80c extra on the price of coffee [for oat milk], which is really ridiculous,” she said.
“[Oat milk] is it’s not a specialty milk – every time I'm in a coffee shop, it would four out of five people are buying it.
“It's an environmentally more friendly option – they're just hiking it up because more people want it.”
Mr McMahon said oat milk is typically “three times” the cost of dairy milk for coffeeshops, so they have to charge more.
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