Just realized our menu prices went up 22% in 3 years and nobody said a word

I was going through old receipts from 2021 the other day and found one of our early menus from when we opened the shop. Compared it to what we charge now for the same dishes. My salmon special was $18 back then, now it's $23. That's like a 22% jump over 3 years. I didn't even notice it happening because we just bumped things a buck or two every time food costs went up. So here's the debate: is that just how it works now in this industry, or are we pricing ourselves out of regular customers? Half of me thinks people expect it because everything costs more, the other half worries we're gonna lose the lunch crowd that used to come twice a week. Anyone else look at their old prices and get shocked?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliot_patel19d agoTop Commenter

Man that salmon special was one of our best sellers back in 2021 too. Noticed something weird though our regulars actually seem happier now because we quietly upgraded the plate sizes and sides when we raised prices so they feel like theyre getting more bang for their buck even if the actual food cost didnt go up that much.

jordanblack19d ago

Wait, you quietly upsized the portions without telling anyone? That's genius.

-1

patricialee18d ago

Notice how that works everywhere once you start looking for it... coffee shops doing the same thing with their cup sizes, even streaming services adding a few more shows to the same price tier. It's like this quiet little trick where they don't lower the price but just give you slightly more for what you're already paying. Makes you wonder how many other small upgrades we walk right past without a second thought.