Tasty price plan set to cut high meal costs

A NEW food pricing campaign will cut the cost of meals in hotels and restaurants across the country.

Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue yesterday launched the Value Menu Restaurant Guide which will offer meals at record low prices.

Participating pubs, restaurants and hotels will give customers the choice of meals at fixed prices of €10, €20 and €30.

The move is aiming to satisfy customers amid claims that meal costs have soared in recent years.

The first edition of the guide has a list of 200 restaurants and hotels. The guide will soon include 1,000 establishments, according to the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI).

“This is our response to talk that there is no value for money anymore. There is a perception that meals have become brutally expensive and hopefully this promotion will change that,” RAI president Tom Mythen said.

The campaign was the brainchild of the RAI and is being supported by the Irish Hotels Federation, vintners and Bord Fáilte.

Mr O’Donoghue said the campaign will benefit diners from both home and abroad.

“In recent years, a small but significant minority of visitors have expressed dissatisfaction with price, particularly for budget restaurants,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

Mr Mythen added that the new guide brought together a number of existing initiatives.

“Many restaurants already provide special offers, like early-bird, pre-theatre or tourist menus, but now people will be more informed about exactly what is on offer and how to avail of it,” he said.

The special menu offer will be available on both lunch and dinner menus in some establishments.

The fixed price meals will typically include two courses - a main with starter or dessert.

The exact menus are being decided by the participating bars and hotels.

Many restaurants will also include a bottle of wine on the menu and the Dublin-based wine company Febvre is a partner in the promotion.

The new restaurant guide is available free of charge from tourist offices nationwide.