Mr Mikes Steakhouse. (Jaryn Vecchio/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Restaurant Struggles

‘It can’t keep going the way it is’: P.A. restaurants struggling to keep up with rising food prices

Nov 16, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Prince Albert restaurants are struggling to keep up with the constant increases in food prices.

There’s no single reason as to why they continue to rise as the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the weather have all played a part. What is clear is that they are getting out of hand.

“I’ve never seen price increases as high as I have in the last year or so in my entire career,” said Rod O’Brien, the manager of the 40^th Street Grill. “They’re impossible to keep up with.”

He explained to paNOW that certain items have seen their prices double.

There was also one point where he refused to pay for tomatoes as they were too expensive. Besides this one instant, O’Brien noted they refused to remove items from their menu because of the cost.

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“Even if it means breaking even or possibly spending a bit more than we’re making.”

Due to the rising cost, the restaurant has had to raise its prices. This has coincided with a drop in customers, though O’Brien believes the majority of people understand why they did it but are just trying to be more careful with their money.

“I’m cooking at home far more than I used to,” he said. “Going out is definitely a treat.”

40th Street Grill. (Jaryn Vecchio/paNOW Staff)

The situation at 40^th Street Grill is not a unique one. Mr. Mikes Steakhouse is also facing similar, if not, the exact same issues.

“You think you’ll catch a break, and the prices will come down a little bit but… it’s just going, up, up, and up,” said Davinder Singh, general manager.

Upping their costs has helped them break even or even see a small profit on most nights. However, all of these changes to combat the increases appear to be having a major toll mentally.

“I have a lot of staff and I’m trying to give everybody enough hours and if you’re not busy, not making enough money, you can’t afford everybody,” Singh added.

Meanwhile, both Singh and O’Brien noted their plans, at least for now, are to try and weather the storm.

O’Brien added if he ran a family-owned restaurant, he may have started looking at other options.

“If I was owning my own restaurant right now… I don’t know if I would have made it through all of this,” he said. “It has to reach a tipping point. It can’t keep going the way it is.”

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow