Eating out? Be prepared to shell out more as restaurants hike rates

High food inflation forces restaurants to hike prices; ban on service charge will likely lead to further increases in the prices of dishes on the menu

The steep rise in food prices has left a bad taste in the mouth of restaurant owners. To deal with the high cost of inputs, many have already increased the prices on their menus, while others are planning to do the same in the coming weeks, forcing customers to fork out much more when they dine out.

“On an average, there has been a 10-15 per cent increase in the prices of dishes on the menu. While some have already implemented the higher prices, others are in the process of doing so,” says Pradeep Shetty, joint honorary secretary, Federation of