A Brisbane restaurant owner has made the ‘irresponsible’ claim that customers could soon pay $100 for a piece of fish.

Hellenika owner Simon Gloftis told The Courier Mail the price of eating out could skyrocket due to pandemic-related food shortages, mandated wage rises and rising oil and freight costs.

“When I look at my margins, for me to make money on a serve of calamari, I would have to charge $80 a portion, so octopus and calamari I’m already losing money on. 

“I can see the days where we’re paying $100 for a piece of fish in a restaurant.”

Neil Breen categorically shut down the claims.

“I think it is totally and utterly irresponsible, what some of the restaurant owners have said in this story,” he said.

“I’m sorry but that is ridiculous.

“All going in the paper and saying ‘you’ll be paying $100 for a piece of fish’ does is stop people from going out to dinner.”

Neil did some investigating of his own.

“This morning I phoned a fish factory to get some prices…”

Press PLAY below to hear what Breenie found 

Simon Gloftis hit back at Breenie’s criticism, telling Sofie Formica people will “just choose their market”.

“People always want to punch up, too, by the way,” he said. “I remember having no money for most of my life … but I’d still want to eat somewhere better and I want to save up for a special occasion or I want to try and earn more money and go and have that nice piece of fish.

“People want to eat out.”

Press PLAY below to hear Simon Gloftis crunch the numbers behind his calamari claim 

Image: Getty