Pub is called out for charging an exorbitant price for its chicken parmigiana – but its owner has hit back with a compelling response

A pub landlady has revealed why it costs diners a massive $33 for a chicken parmigiana after customers slammed the expensive price.

Simone Douglas, who runs the Duke of Brunswick Hotel in Adelaide, uploaded a post to Facebook breaking down the expenses associated with making the classic dish. 

Ms Douglas said that after taking into consideration the cost of ingredients, staff wages, bills and fees, her business was making a profit of just $2 for every chicken parmi with salad they sell. 

‘When I broke it down and ran the maths, I was like, ”Wow, that’s a lot of work for $2 profit at the end of the day”,’ Ms Douglas told The Advertiser. 

Customers had left scathing online reviews of the cost of the meal, prompting Ms Douglas to explain why the parmi came with its price tag.

She said the cost of running her business had grown by 40 per cent over the last five years.

‘We’re just happy to make a living, no one is getting rich. It’s exhausting when you have people leaving one or two star reviews because they think your pricing is exorbitant,’ Ms Douglas said. 

‘Some customers have teed off, saying it’s nothing with our food, service, the ambience … but that they wouldn’t come back because it’s $33 for a schnitzel, like we’re making a fortune off the back off that.’

Simone Douglas (pictured) who runs the Duke of Brunswick Hotel in Adelaide, said the pub makes very little in profit for every chicken parmi they sell to customers

Ms Douglas said that not all pubs and hotels are run by larger businesses and companies. 

She said family-run pubs, such as her own, couldn’t rely on gaming facilities like other establishments could.

The publican said she hoped customers could express a bit of kindness to pubs and restaurants as they struggle to keep their doors open during the cost of living crisis. 

Earlier, Aussie diners were left fuming by the cost of a ham and cheese toastie that was being sold at a cafe in Perth for $31.20. 

Figures from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission revealed a record 1,667 food services collapsed in the 12 months to June 30.

Leading Australian business analysis company CreditorWatch has forecast that one in 13 hospitality businesses will fail in the coming year.

Meanwhile, cafe owners have warned the average cost of a flat white could jump to $7. 

Hospitality businesses have considered increasing the price of coffee as businesses are pushed to the brink amid the cost of living crisis. 

Ms Douglas decided to ‘crunch the numbers’ and the figures revealed the family business makes just over $2 in profit for every chicken parmi with a salad they sell (pictured)