In the first four months of 2009, the average cost to dine in a Buenos Aires restaurant has risen between 25% and 50%, 425 restaurants have closed, and the average menu has seen 75% inflation over the last 18 months. That's according to an article in today's Crítica that traces the declining fortunes of the Buenos Aires restaurant industry. Booming until recently, the restaurant industry is being buffeted by overexpansion, rising costs and falling demand. It's not a pretty picture.

Según analistas de Claves, la industria gastronómica –que facturó 38.429 millones de pesos en 2008– espera cerrar 2009 con una contracción del consumo del 30 por ciento.

(Photo: Crítica)