When eating out becomes a luxury

Trying to organise an event, everywhere I turn hands are stretched out for a cut. This economy is so non-generative that as soon as something – anything – is happening, the dollar signs blink on.
My son tells me it now costs US$15 to get a simple men’s haircut. In Jo’burg its R60 – half the price. A friend’s daughter was quoted US$1?500 for a video of her wedding!
I feel like I’m in the middle of Money – a track from 1973 Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon – where everything is about personal gain

Money / Get away
You get a good job with good pay and you’re okay
Money /It’s a gas / Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
New car, caviar, four star daydream / Think I’ll buy me a football team
Money/ Well, get back
I’m all right Jack/ Keep your hands off of my stack
Money /It’s a hit/ Don’t give me that do goody good bullshit
I’m in the high-fidelity first class travelling set/ I think I need a Lear jet
Venue owners blame high prices on landlords charging punitive rents but the end result is pressure on the ordinary person. Some consumption is indeed pretty conspicuous – side by side with increasing desperation from the many who don’t have a piece of any pie.
Eating out is, I suppose, deemed a luxury, which is a signal for some to charge what they like. A sandwich at Café Expresso’s airport outlet costs US$8, as does a plate of chips (called potato wedges to justify the exorbitant price.) Homemade lemonade at Café Nush is US$3. Why? This is something that comes complimentary to your table at the Shop Café, one of the few restaurants that makes you feel welcome and cared for as a customer rather than as an ATM.
So I approached La Serenata on Enterprise Road already irritable.  Nicely refurbished the restaurant is cool and spacious. We chose a table next to the large plate glass windows enjoying a water feature in the garden. On arrival we were the only clients for mid-week lunch but an hour later a couple more tables were occupied.
Prices are quite hefty – starters averaging US$8 and mains mostly over US$20. La Serenata has a Mediterranean theme and advertises itself as five star silver service.  We wanted to eat meze style as the mains seemed quite substantial for a hot day so we chose a selection of starters to share. Best choice was beef carpaccio (US$8) – excellent with a peppery flavour. Initial doubts at the cream cheese topping were dispelled when we tasted it.
Less successful were the stuffed queen prawns (US$9) – a mixture of prawn and mushroom duxelles in a deep fried coating. The prawn/mushroom combo didn’t work for us and I thought the mushrooms tastier on their own.
Spicy lamb koftas, served with a tzatziki sauce were fine – and the salad (US$7) of pecans, grapes and feta was refreshing. Service was good if a little over-attentive – and we had to wait a while for our meal. Although we were graciously served four starters, we felt staff would have been happier serving the conventional two courses.
We skipped dessert (US$8) though I loved the sound of the chocolate truffle cake with blueberry coolie. (sic)
Lunch for two (including the usual US$2 waters) was US$39. Not exactly cheap – and maybe better for a special dinner rather than as a regular lunchtime haunt.

– g.jeke@yahoo.com