Toowoomba restaurants shut amid cost crisis, diners blame high prices

Toowoomba diners have abandoned restaurants for home-cooked meals as rising costs force multiple venues to close their doors across the city. Here’s what you had to say.

The closure of at least half a dozen popular Toowoomba restaurants in the past few months including The Plate, Encores, Muller Bros, Hog’s Breath Cafe and Picnic Point Cafe has led many to question the future of the hospitality industry in the Garden City.

After two decades working and owning restaurants around southeast Queensland, owner of HOST Kyle ‘Zev’ Zevenbergen spoke to the issues impacting the hospitality industry including rising wages, overheads, rent and ingredients as well as changing diner habits.

Since then hundreds of commenters have weighed in and given their thoughts on the struggling Toowoomba hospitality industry.

Here’s what you had to say.

Frustration with High Costs and Taxes

Many commenters said they were displeased with the rising costs of dining out, particularly the high prices of food and alcohol. They attribute these issues to ever increasing taxes.

Mark Fairhurst

“Can one honestly eat and drink for less than $200 per head? My family regularly dined out enjoying various cuisines and we find the best value lands at roughly $250 per, not including tips or valet parking.”

Bill Taylor

“The prices many places charge are frikken bonkers. I haven’t eaten out in five years. People who think paying $40 for breakfast are a strange breed to me.”

Paul McDonagh

“$20 for a pint in Brisbane now at various suburban pubs. It’s a joke. Gruberment is killing and selling the nation.”

Cameron Wegener

“Is it because a beer costs $20 now and over 1/2 of that is tax?”

Darlene Stevens

“We hardly go to hotels because of this. Too expensive. Glass soft drink $5.40 a glass. Pubs will become a dying race because of this.”

Shawn Leigh

“We use to go out about three times a week but now with beer at $10-$15, same for wine, $20-$25 for a hamburger or fish and chips, it is more like once a month.”

Karen Galvin

“We can buy a carton and go home and throw 10 steaks on the barbie … just as good or if not better. Gone are the days you and your mates could have a session at the local pub on a Sunday arvo.”

Supun Warusawithana

“As a fellow entrepreneur in the food game, I feel this deep. Running a restaurant in these economic conditions takes heart, hustle, and crazy resilience. We’re not just cooking food — we’re fighting to keep our teams, dreams, and communities alive every single day. Massive respect to everyone still pushing through — we’ve got this! Let’s keep rising, adapting, and bringing the fire!”

Criticism of Government Policies

Many commenters also levelled criticism at the government, with some blaming it for economic challenges, including high taxes and increased living costs. Other commenters attributed the struggles of small businesses to government policies.

Richard Lewington

“Thank your federal government, everything has gone through the roof!!”

Pete Maddison

“The current administration has had THREE YEARS to fix things. They’ve done SFA, they’re useless.”

Tony Murphy

“Any Labor voters out there? How’s socialism working out so far?”

Lorraine Brown

“The Government is NOT doing enough for small businesses. Many small businesses are closing at a rate we have never seen before.”

Peter Hayden

“Labor govt increased the alcohol tax. The left wing idiots in Canberra are to blame for this. But hey you voted for it. It’s what you wanted.”

Glen Needs

“Tip of the iceberg, power prices and tax. Thanks labour.”

Ross Dalle Cort

“Thanks you to all levels of government, banks, WHO, WEF for forcing this small business to close, the life blood of any economy.”

Preference for Affordable Alternatives

Many commenters also expressed a preference for more affordable dining options, such as pub meals or home-cooked meals, due to the high costs associated with dining out at restaurants.

Graham Stenton

“I went to sushi train with my granddaughters. Five of us with drinks $125.00. What the.”

Mark Genrich

“Saw a steak meal in Brisbane $72 we went to butchers cooked our own glass wine and an apple cider $26.”

Rhonda Miles

“Instead of going out buy quality ingredients and cook ourselves and entertain our friends at home which is loads of fun and the quality is often better than when we go out and less noisy so we can talk with our friends.”

Max Powel

“If you go to any pub between Wednesday and Sunday night, the restaurant/bistro is full. 80% of Toowoomba people are middle class. Middle class people prefer to go to pubs than to a restaurant. That’s not science, it’s just what it is.”

Spice Smith

“So the everyday working person is going to go to the venue with the cheaper prices.”

Tamerea Fritz

“I think many businesses are struggling because the food is way too fancy for the price. But you do want quality food for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, if you want good service, you need good staff, and they’re not cheap, neither is quality meat, quality fresh food and vegetables.”