One of my favourite restaurants has just put its prices up by 10-15% and reduced Portion Sizes by a third, which is yet another example of the stupidity of Spanish businesses during this recession/depression.

It is a churrasqueria (grill restaurant) that does steaks, solomillo, rabbit, pinchos, chicken, tuna steaks and a selection of tapas.  It's nothing fancy.  It's a glorified take away really, with plastic seats but a large, pleasant terrace.  It's usually packed with local Spanish, which is always a good sign.  The food is simple but amazing and the Portion sizes are massive.

I went last Saturday around 9:30pm and noticed it was very quiet.  There were a couple of guys waiting to pick up take aways, and there were 2 other tables with people (around 20 empty tables).  I thought it was a bit strange.  It's usually packed at this time.

Anyway, I ordered a drink then checked the menu to see what I fancied.  I noticed that a lot of the prices had been put up by 10-15%. Fair enought I thought.  It was still good value since the portion sizes were massive.

I ordered the pork solomillo meal deal, which comes with a drink, a salad starter, bread and the pork solomillo with chips and rice.

The salad arrived and it was a very basic mixed salad of lettuce, carrot, tomato and onion.  Previously you used to get pieces of chicken as well.

My main course then arrived and I immediately noticed that the amount of chips and rice was quite a lot less than previously.  Probably about a third less.

I then realised why the place was so quiet.  The local Spanish has sussed them out and had taken their business elsewhere.

A similar thing happened to another place a couple of years ago.  We had an amazing tapas bar that used to be rammed with local Spanish and the odd expat like us.  It was such good value.  You could eat and drink well for around 10-12 Euros per person.  It was sold a couple of years ago.  The new owners kept the same menu, but put up the prices by 20-30% and reduced the portion sizes.  The result was that the local Spanish deserted the place so now it has to pander to the ex pat market with Abba and Rat Pack tribute bands.  Sad really.

Anyway, my meal came to 12 Euros which is still good value but it's disappointing that they feel they can get away with putting up prices and reducing portion sizes in the current climate.  But this seems to be the Spanish approach to dealing with a recession sadly.