Deanes Eipic restaurant (Belfast, Northern Ireland) was forced to close after 26 years because operating costs were out of control.
According to Time Out, the tasting menu at Deanes Eipic costs 100 euros - quite a lot for a regular meal but not bad for a Michelin-starred restaurant. However, this restaurant is located in Northern Ireland, not Paris (France) or London (England), so the number of customers is smaller. Locals also do not have enough money to eat here.
Alex Greene, the restaurant’s head chef, says people have high expectations when they dine at Deanes Eipic. The cost of meeting those expectations has doubled since the pandemic. But the restaurant can’t afford to double its prices because it’s a small town.
Tartare dish at Deanes Eipic restaurant. Photo: Deanes Eipic
Other factors that have forced restaurants to close include customers' increasing price sensitivity, Brexit, and the cost of living crisis.
Deanes Eipic follows a traditional culinary model. Chef Greene says the market for traditional food is still there, but is being squeezed by the rise of modern Michelin-starred restaurants. In addition, Deanes Eipic, and the UK industry in general, is facing a shortage of workers.
“It’s very difficult to find the right staff in terms of dedication and knowledge, and if you do find them, they’re very expensive,” Greene said.
Deanes Eipic was opened by Northern Irish chef Michael Deane in 1997 and won a Michelin star just a year after opening. After Deanes Eipic closed, the city had two Michelin-starred restaurants, The Muddlers Club and OX.
Hoai Anh (According to Time Out )
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