How much? The hidden costs of restaurant dishes

Two London chefs reveal the substantial hidden costs behind restaurant dishes that diners don't see. A £21 vegetable starter at Apricity yields only £1.65 profit after accounting for expensive ingredients like hand-harvested asparagus, labor-intensive preparation, and overhead costs like chimney cleaning and council fees, while a £36 beef dish at Teal profits just 44p due to rising food prices, VAT, and expenses like costly jus made from wine and stock. Both chefs highlight how menu prices barely cover expenses when factoring in rent, utilities, staff wages, and numerous unseen operational costs.