shelling out forty-one dollars for charred cauliflower- a glimpse into dining out in Toronto at the moment
Yeah, Man! The Famous $41 Roasted Cauliflower
Remember that jaw-dropping roasted head of cauliflower from Fat Pasha back in 2014? That badass dish put this Anthony Rose-helmed joint on the map. It was a spectacle on a plate, a main event like a holiday centerpiece, drizzled with pomegranate gems and a knife sticking out its top. Yeah, it was a bit pricey at $25, but remember, it was meant for sharing at the table, not for Instagram likes.
Fast forward a few years, and it's now setting you back $41. I must admit, I was surprised, but not shocked. These days, casual mains at Toronto restaurants are hovering around $30, and this $41 cauliflower is just a symbol of modern dining in the city. With costs climbing for everything from groceries to rent, dining out feels like the ultimate indulgence these days.
Less people are heading to restaurants these days. When I asked readers about this, they shared their pain. "Thirty per cent tip options for self-serve dining," one wrote, followed by a facepalm emoji. "I'm on a fixed income," said another, "so with the ever-rising costs of everything, there's very little to no income left for eating out. I don't begrudge (restaurants for) the increase, but ... you can't get blood from a stone." Many are cooking more, using loyalty programs, or venturing to places like Markham and Scarborough, where their dollar stretches a bit further.
Restaurants are also facing the heat. According to Restaurants Canada, food costs rose by 24%, labor by 18%, and insurance by a whopping 24% between 2022 and the spring of 2024. Many are still paying off pandemic-era losses.
So, how did we end up here? And how are both diners and restaurant owners adapting?
Diners: Tightening the Belt
When I asked readers if they'd noticed the rising price of going out to eat, a chorus of "yes" resounded. Many said they were cooking more, using loyalty programs, or heading to places like Markham and Scarborough, where their dollar goes further.
Evan Shuster, who co-runs a mental health training firm with his wife, says they and their friends host regular dinner parties instead of going out. "We all feel the pain," he says. "But why not just host each other? It scratches the itch, and we end up spending less."
Kelly Higginson, CEO of Restaurants Canada, says many diners have reached their limit. "In some ways, we hit the ceiling for a lot of people," she says. "We've continued to see this significant retraction in spending in the last five years."
In its latest report on the state of dining in Canada, Restaurants Canada notes that menu prices were 3.4% higher this past November compared to the same month in 2023. Twenty-six per cent of Canadians said they ate out less, and those who still went to sit-down restaurants often opted for shared dishes or skipped drinks.
Per-person spending on restaurants dipped to $2,344 in 2024, down from $2,417 in 2023 and below the inflation-adjusted average of $2,554 in 2019. One in four Canadians with a household income under $50,000 didn't dine out at all last summer.
Restaurants: Coping with Surging Expenses
Restaurants are grappling with escalating costs. According to Restaurants Canada, food costs rose by 24%, labor by 18%, and insurance by 24% between 2022 and the spring of 2024. Many are still paying off pandemic-era losses.
Food economics professor Michael von Massow notes that restaurants tend to purchase more big-ticket items, like meat, which have seen steep price increases. In fact, while the average grocery price rose by 3.2% from March 2024 to March 2025, beef prices spiked 12.9%, butter by 4.7%, and coffee by 11%.
There's also a psychological factor: "When our budgets get squeezed, we notice price increases more," says von Massow. "Going out is the most expensive way to get food."
Chantecler, a small bistro near Christie Pits Park, first opened in 2012 in Parkdale as a casual neighborhood spot. After a fire forced its closure, it reopened in 2023 in its current location. Owner Jacob Wharton-Shukster says he now faces pressure to keep prices low (with mains starting around the mid-$20s) while meeting rising expectations from diners who view his restaurant as an affordable alternative to fine dining.
"We're the ones facing the most scrutiny," he says, "because diners are at a breaking point. Food costs more, so of course people want more out of it..."
To elevate the experience, Chantecler offers coat check, which it didn't before. When they reopened in 2023, the steak tartare was $19. Now, it's $24, though there's a $10 version during happy hour.
The Future of Dining
Restaurants Canada is pushing for the permanent elimination of GST on restaurant meals, citing its latest report released Monday, which shows a 4.3% increase in overall commercial food sales compared to January of the previous year (adjusted for inflation). Full-service restaurants saw the largest sales boost during the January GST holiday.
Still, the report notes ongoing tariff uncertainty from the U.S. has caused Canadians' confidence in the economy to dip in March 2025, reaching its lowest point since the start of the pandemic. This has created an uncertain outlook for the dining industry over the next two years, with sales expected to dip slightly.
Von Massow questions whether the surge in dining out is sustainable and doesn't expect menu prices to drop. He says the trend can only continue if wages - especially for lower-income earners - begin to rise.
"Affordability, particularly housing costs, will also play a key role in the future of Toronto's restaurant scene," says Chantecler's Wharton-Shukster.
- The unexpected rise in the price of the famed $41 roasted cauliflower in Toronto restaurants reflects the escalating expenses in the city's dining scene.
- Despite the high cost, the roasted cauliflower is a symbol of modern dining, showcasing the creativity and finesse that restaurants in Toronto offer.
- In response to these rising costs, many diners are tightening their belts by cooking more at home, using loyalty programs, or venturing to areas like Markham and Scarborough where expenses are lower.
- Kevin Higginson, CEO of Restaurants Canada, acknowledges that a significant number of people have reached their limit in terms of dining expenses.
- In its latest report on the state of dining in Canada, Restaurants Canada notes a 3.4% increase in menu prices across the country.
- Restaurants are also grappling with surging expenses, particularly food costs, labor costs, and insurance premiums.
- Food economics professor Michael von Massow points out that restaurants tend to purchase more big-ticket items, like meat, which have seen steep price increases.
- Chantecler, a small bistro in Toronto, faces pressure to keep prices low while meeting rising expectations from diners, who view the restaurant as an affordable alternative to fine dining.
- To adapt to these challenges, Chantecler offers coat check, a luxury service not previously provided, and adjusts prices for popular dishes during certain times of the day to accommodate various budgets.
