Texas BBQ Restaurant Removes Brisket From Menu Due to Soaring Beef Prices
Butter's BBQ owner cited rising costs and unpredictability of beef prices as the primary reasons for the drastic menu change.
A Texas barbecue restaurant has removed brisket from its regular menu due to significant increases in beef prices, which owner Andrew Soto said have been steadily climbing for about five years. Butter's BBQ, located in Sinton, a town near Corpus Christi, made the decision after brisket costs began consuming over 70% of the restaurant's grocery budget.
Soto told Fox News Digital that while prices have fluctuated over the years, the last eight months to a year saw a rapid ascent. The restaurant attempted to mitigate the issue by adjusting prices and reducing the amount of brisket prepared, but this led to a decrease in foot traffic and sales. The final impetus for the menu change came when a food representative informed Soto that brisket prices had increased by nearly $1 per pound.
"It became too much of a gamble," Soto explained, referring to the uncertainty of purchasing large quantities of beef at higher prices and whether those costs could be recouped through sales. The restaurant plans to implement an online pre-order system for brisket, allowing customers to purchase it in advance.
According to the USDA's Economic Research Service, beef and veal prices were 5.9% higher in August compared to the previous year, with a projected increase of 9.4% for the current year. This trend has made it difficult for restaurants like Butter's BBQ to maintain their standard offerings.
While brisket is a staple in Texas barbecue culture, Soto is encouraging patrons to explore other options, such as pork ribs and sausage, which are now being prioritized. The restaurant is also experimenting with alternatives like beef cheek.
In a Facebook post announcing the change, Butter's BBQ stated, "We apologize tremendously, we've done all we can to combat the constant price hikes, but we can no longer sustain our current business model with brisket eating up over 70% of our total grocery costs." The owner emphasized that the decision was made to protect the business and its livelihood, adding, "We're just trying to protect our business and our livelihood."