Eating Out becoming a Luxury?

Did White Rabbit owner pass the decrease in VAT on to his customers during Covid?

Restaurant owners are very quick now to whinge about the VAT restoration (not an increase, it has been put back to its original rate). I didn't hear a peep out of them when the rate was reduced from 13.5% to 9% a few years ago.

Ah, so they stealth increased their prices by keeping the VAT reduction for themselves, and now whinge about VAT increasing.

Clowns.

...try be a sme owner, before passing judgment, most sme's operate on a tightrope, while larger business/corporations enjoy the fullness of state protectionism.....

...so you fully understand this tightrope nature, and fully understand that overall running costs, such as, and in particular energy costs, has skyrocketed over the last couple of years.....

The clue is in the name, value added tax.

Restaurant charged €10 + VAT at 13.5% = €11.35

VAT reduced to 9%. Restaurant continued to charge €11.35. Price now became €10.41 + VAT.

VAT rate goes back to 13.5%. Restaurant now charges €12.88

If restaurants are shutting it is not because of VAT, or if it is, they shouldn't have pocketed the difference.

I'm not singling them out, just using them for an example of food trucks prices.

€16 is a lot for some rice out of a styrofoam container on the side of the road.

...yea we re in trouble, but nobody really seems to know what to do next, and the entities, established powers etc, in so called power, are simply pushing ahead with what they only know, and its not gonna work. half the planet is now entering important election cycles, and its clearly obvious, these established entities are in serious trouble, theyre gonna get hammered, and theyre not really understanding why...

...we need radical rethinking, but we still dont understand what that needs to be, or how to do it....

I beg to differ we regularly go to an old style hotel in small village over 50yrs old. Daily menu has 6 starters 6 dinners 6 desserts. Husband of owner has his own farm /butchers all meat produce comes from him & local suppliers. it's always packed with farmers builders during wk & locals from 2 bordering counties at wkends. The evening menu is more fine dining.

our usual bill is:

Turkey/ham €12

Beef €12

Kids 1/2 dinner €7 (14yrs,he comes sometimes) meat is only half size.

Dinner is served on plate with the meat a portion of mashed carrots&parsnips with a roastie. Server comes with an individual tray of mash/cabbage and serves us

On Sunday's garlic potatoes are complimentary.

Sticky toffee pudding €5.50 with ice cream / cream ( they have their own ice cream machine (we also share as its a big one)

2 pints coors €11 - I have miwadi (don't drink)

Both of us bill is 41.50 we usually leave a €5 tip so €46.50 all in

For 3 of us its €48.50 we'll round to €55 inc tip.

Sounds great but it's an outlier tbf.

I think it depends who's running the place and how much they value their customers. Some of the waiting staff are there over 20yrs always smiling so I'm sure their good to work for also.

You're the one that brought up early bird menus. I just googled one locally and they are the ones with the conditions, I'm not setting any conditions. I've already posted on thread how myself and my wife treat ourselves, we cook together and enjoy our meal together. I'd prefer to buy decent fish or meat with a decent bottle of wine, cook it and eat it when we both want than go to an early bird and order from a limited menu. Our way will still be cheaper.

Not sure what you're babbling about a car for so I won't respond to that, Motors forum is that way->

We would eat out a few times a year but it would be something high-end I am a good cook so it has to be something very good to impress me.

As for date night dinners, sometimes it is a hasel to go out, especially in the winter I would rather have the fire on a nice bottle of wine, chill out to music turn off the TV talk nonsense. I would do something like a crab/salmon starter, then either garlic chili prawns or a streak followed by either lemon tart or chocolate mousses.

Over Christmas, we eat out in the local pub a few times and the food is very good for pub food mains about 16 good value, it seems to be the mid-range restaurants that have become very expensive.

No it's not. However those meals were €7 when I bought them last and that was post pandemic. That is one hell of a jump in price.

I think pubs keep their prices low to attract people and then make their money on drinks.