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Inflation doesn’t discriminate, especially in the restaurant industry. Local restaurants brave enough to stay in business while labor costs and raw goods prices are skyrocketing have had to come up with creative ways to make ends meet.
Wendy Waren, senior vice president of communications at the Louisiana Restaurant Association, says most of the trends she has observed from Louisiana restaurants this year are in response to the uptick in expenses.
“How people view dining out has greatly changed with the economy,” Waren says. “Everyone is feeling some kind of price pressure. Whether you’re a diner or an operator.”
Here are some of the most common ways Waren says local restaurants are responding to inflation and how they are making the most out of their dollar.
Downsized menus: The days of flipping through a multipage menu are gone. Local restaurants are gravitating toward more streamlined menus in an effort to cut down on food and labor costs.
More small plates, fewer big entrees: Restaurants are placing more emphasis on small plates, rather than large entrees. Smaller plates tend to be more cost efficient for the customer. However, oftentimes customers end up ordering more than one small plate so they still end up spending the same amount or close to the price of a regular entree.
Focus on craft cocktails: More restaurants are advertising craft cocktails instead of beer and wine. Craft cocktails generate a greater profit and open the door for nonalcoholic mocktail options. Mocktails are a more profitable beverage than your average water, soda or tea. One of the most trendy craft cocktails on Baton Rouge menus is espresso martinis.
Fewer servers: To reduce labor costs, many eateries are cutting back on staff size and pivoting to customers ordering at the counter instead of having table service.
Vendor hopping: Prepandemic and inflation, local restaurants prided themselves in purchasing their goods from the same vendors. Now, many business owners have had to shop around to find the most affordable and consistently stocked suppliers.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated since its original publication.
