Eating out to get dearer, restaurants set to hike menu prices by 5%-10% from June

Kolkata: Several restaurants across Kolkata are set to raise menu prices by around 5%-10% from June. The hike has been prompted by the sharp rise in commercial LPG price along with a rise in prices of food ingredients, including chicken, fish, paneer, cream and cooking oil, they said. The last two-three months were a financially taxing period for restaurants in Kolkata, said Sudesh Poddar, president of the Hotel and Restaurants' Association of Eastern India and owner of Songhai-Manthan. "First, an LPG crisis hit us hard and then the price went up to Rs 3,200, a 40% hike. It followed an across-the-board price rise of ingredients that has increased our input costs. That apart, staff salaries have increased more due to the higher cost of living. We are effecting a 5%-10% hike from June," said Poddar.Amber's ‘Fish in Creamy White Sauce' and chicken roast could now be dearer, too. The restaurant is ‘working on' a price plan. "It could be a 5%-6% hike and has become necessary to cover our costs. Prices of eggs, chicken, mutton, fish, paneer, cream and cooking oil have increased sharply. Mutton and fish prices, in particular, have increased significantly other than LPG, which has added an extra Rs 1 lakh to our gas bill. Suppliers raised their rates two months ago and we have been absorbing the extra cost. The hike will just cover the extra costs," said owner Sanjay Khullar. Outlets of Specialty Restaurants, including Mainland China, Oh! Calcutta, Haka, Cafe Mezzuna, Flame & Grill and Hoppipola, could see a 4%-5% price rise. "We had been holding on to our prices but the rise in fuel prices made the hike necessary," said Anjan Chatterjee, MD, Specialty Restaurants.Oasis on Park Street will raise prices once its new menu cards arrive. "It could happen next week or by June 1. Prices of most ingredients, especially fish and meat, have gone up. But the LPG price hike has been a crippling blow. We have been forced to revise the rates. It will be a reasonable hike considering the price situation since we don't want to burden our customers," said Pratap Daryanani, owner of Oasis.While Trincas will stick to existing prices, some like Oudh 1590 and Chapter 2 have decided to wait. "We will wait for a fortnight and decide," said owner and co-founder of Oudh Shiladitya Chaudhury. Kwality on Park Street and WhatsUp Cafe on Southern Avenue will not raise prices.