Mumbai restaurants to hike prices by 10-15% from next week; your idli

MUMBAI: For a Mumbaikar who begins the day with idli at a neighbourhood Udupi restaurant and depends on a simple dal-rice meal for lunch, eating out could soon take a bigger bite out of the monthly budget.

Restaurants across the city are likely to increase menu prices by 10% to 15% in the coming weeks, the Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHAR) announced on Wednesday, citing rising cooking-gas, food, rental, labour and transportation costs.

The rise will come into effect from next week, said AHAR President Vijay Shetty.

The increase may look modest on an individual bill. But for office-goers who eat out daily, students living away from home, delivery-dependent professionals and families that order meals when time is short, the additional expense could accumulate over a month.

On every menu the rise will be minimum Rs 10 if calculated on an average for menus such as idli, dosai and daal rice," Shetty said.