Restaurant side salads now optional as the price of lettuce soars
Some Aussie pubs are considering making side salads optional with the increased price of lettuce making it too expensive to offer to everyone.
Lettuce, that once used to cost $2 is currently selling for $12 meaning hospitality business owners have to make compromises to their menu.
Chef at Wheatsheaf Pub in Allendale North, Chelsea Harris, said her venue had started asking patrons if they would like the side salad with their schnitzel and chips after realising many patrons only ate the meal.
“It’s not something we generally do but so many people send back plates with salads untouched and it’s such a waste,' she told The Advertiser.
“In my area alone, we are finding it incredibly difficult to keep up with the increasing prices of all produce.”
Ms Harris said her business was happy to offer extra chips instead of the lettuce after recently paying $35 for a 1.5kg box of lettuce
But it’s not just lettuce that is leading to menu changes.
Frank Hannon-Tan, an Adelaide restaurateur said the increasing cost of basic ingredients as well as meat and seafood was forcing many businesses to adapt.
He is still offering side salads and said it was a 'divisive issue' that required businesses to 'tread carefully'.
Irit Jackson, 15th June 2022
