New York Bagel & Sandwiches

Houston Restaurants Are Hesitant to Increase Prices, But Rising Egg Costs Are Making It Hard | Eater Houston

"Owner Michael Saghian emphasizes how central eggs are to the business: “The number one item sold on our menu every single day is our two-egg special. Almost everything here revolves around eggs. And then, we’re a bakery; everything’s baked with eggs,” Saghian says. The two-location deli (which celebrates its 50th anniversary in October) goes through about 50 cases of eggs a day; with cases recently priced at roughly $118 each, Saghian says he’s lost $10,000 in a month on eggs alone. He recalls wild price swings: in 2021 the average cost was between $25 to $30, it dipped to around $8 to $9 a case during the pandemic, rose to between $60 to $80 in 2022, and is now double or triple those earlier highs. For now, he and others are reluctant to raise menu prices: “We try to keep our prices as low as possible. We’re not a modern-day, fancy brunch place,” he says. “We’re an old-school diner, and you know you’re gonna get value for your money as long as we can help it. But if this goes on for months and months, I won’t be able to [keep prices the same].” Saghian also notes logistical friction to changing prices: “It takes us a good month to even be able to update and change prices because we have paper copy menus that go out on the tables,” and he would also need to update online listings and delivery partners." - Brittany Britto Garley