This Melbourne café’s ridiculous $19 Vegemite avocado toast caused massive customer backlash
- Replies 16
Keeping up with inflation and managing our finances is a continuous undertaking. Another dismay is seeing how small conveniences are becoming increasingly expensive. Recently, one Melbourne café learned that lesson the hard way, as its $19 Vegemite Avo Toast became the talk of the town.
Located in the upscale suburb of South Yarra, Norman is a 'sleek and modern' café that prides itself on offering unique breakfast and brunch choices. However, one potential diner was anything but pleased with the café's pricing for their interpretation of the beloved Australian classic—Vegemite and avocado on toast.
The unhappy customer took to social media, sharing a picture of the menu that featured the 'Normans Vegemite Avo Toast,' which includes butter, Vegemite, avocado, and whipped feta on rye bread, and vented their frustrations over the 'inflated' price. In the post, the irked patron remarked, 'Understanding things are more expensive now but c'mon.'
Many might wonder what justifies such a hefty price for a simple dish. Is it just the exotic locale in Melbourne's affluent South Yarra, or does the price reflect the increasing cost of ingredients?
Interestingly enough, many commenters on the Reddit post seemed to agree that the price was reasonable, taking into account the café's location and the popular demand for avocado toast as a brunch staple.
Yaz, the director of Norman café, defended the menu item by pointing out that avo on toast is generally similarly priced in other cafés, and it's considered to be a substantial breakfast or brunch choice. Despite business costs rising by approximately 10% in the past year and a half, he shared that their menu prices have remained consistent, and they haven't passed these additional expenses onto the customer.
First and foremost, it’s important to recognise the costs that go into creating a meal in a restaurant setting, including food sourcing, preparation time, store rent and staff wages. This means that the price restaurant owners charge needs to be enough to cover those expenses while still keeping the menu item competitive compared to rival businesses.
In the past five years, the expenses associated with purchasing food have surged by 20-30 per cent, primarily due to factors such as drought, soaring energy prices, and concerns regarding food waste. This surge in costs places additional pressure on restaurant owners as they strive to manage their operations effectively.
Location, too, plays a role in menu pricing, as prices tend to reflect the affluence of the area in which a restaurant is located. For high-end restaurants, that means offering premium items on the menu to match the standards and expectations of patrons.
As we consider the seemingly high prices of a humble piece of toast like Vegemite and avocado at the Norman café in Melbourne, it's important to take into account the various factors that contribute to pricing decisions.
We possess the wisdom to make choices that align with our budgets and personal preferences. Suppose the price of the Vegemite avocado toast doesn't resonate well with us. In that case, we have the freedom to explore alternative treats at different cafés or unleash our culinary creativity at home to craft our own masterpiece.
With that in mind, we'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. How do you approach dining out and managing prices? Have you ever encountered a surprisingly high-priced item on a menu? Share your insights and experiences with us – we value your thoughts!
Located in the upscale suburb of South Yarra, Norman is a 'sleek and modern' café that prides itself on offering unique breakfast and brunch choices. However, one potential diner was anything but pleased with the café's pricing for their interpretation of the beloved Australian classic—Vegemite and avocado on toast.
At the Norman café in Melbourne, you can indulge in a delicious combination of Vegemite and avocado on toast, priced at $19. Source: Reddit
The unhappy customer took to social media, sharing a picture of the menu that featured the 'Normans Vegemite Avo Toast,' which includes butter, Vegemite, avocado, and whipped feta on rye bread, and vented their frustrations over the 'inflated' price. In the post, the irked patron remarked, 'Understanding things are more expensive now but c'mon.'
Many might wonder what justifies such a hefty price for a simple dish. Is it just the exotic locale in Melbourne's affluent South Yarra, or does the price reflect the increasing cost of ingredients?
Interestingly enough, many commenters on the Reddit post seemed to agree that the price was reasonable, taking into account the café's location and the popular demand for avocado toast as a brunch staple.
Yaz, the director of Norman café, defended the menu item by pointing out that avo on toast is generally similarly priced in other cafés, and it's considered to be a substantial breakfast or brunch choice. Despite business costs rising by approximately 10% in the past year and a half, he shared that their menu prices have remained consistent, and they haven't passed these additional expenses onto the customer.
What’s Behind the High Prices in Cafes and Restaurants?
As demonstrated by the recent outrage over the $19 Vegemite and avocado toast at Norman Café in South Yarra, food prices can cause heated debates. So what are the factors that contribute to the high prices on restaurant menus?First and foremost, it’s important to recognise the costs that go into creating a meal in a restaurant setting, including food sourcing, preparation time, store rent and staff wages. This means that the price restaurant owners charge needs to be enough to cover those expenses while still keeping the menu item competitive compared to rival businesses.
In the past five years, the expenses associated with purchasing food have surged by 20-30 per cent, primarily due to factors such as drought, soaring energy prices, and concerns regarding food waste. This surge in costs places additional pressure on restaurant owners as they strive to manage their operations effectively.
Location, too, plays a role in menu pricing, as prices tend to reflect the affluence of the area in which a restaurant is located. For high-end restaurants, that means offering premium items on the menu to match the standards and expectations of patrons.
As we consider the seemingly high prices of a humble piece of toast like Vegemite and avocado at the Norman café in Melbourne, it's important to take into account the various factors that contribute to pricing decisions.
We possess the wisdom to make choices that align with our budgets and personal preferences. Suppose the price of the Vegemite avocado toast doesn't resonate well with us. In that case, we have the freedom to explore alternative treats at different cafés or unleash our culinary creativity at home to craft our own masterpiece.
With that in mind, we'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. How do you approach dining out and managing prices? Have you ever encountered a surprisingly high-priced item on a menu? Share your insights and experiences with us – we value your thoughts!
.png){kind=icon}
