These restaurants will pay for your petrol. Plus, hatted daytrip dining with free PT

Anyone who drives needs no reminder about the high price of petrol. Despite the federal government temporarily halving the fuel excise, costs are staying up as a result of conflict in the Middle East. But while cost-of-living concerns continue mounting across the board, some Melbourne restaurants are finding ways to ease the burden for prospective diners.

Restaurateur Omar El Deek has rolled out a “fuel on us” initiative at his Italian venues – Cosi and Cucinetta in South Yarra, and Vaporetto in Hawthorn – where throughout April, customers can be reimbursed for up to 50 per cent of that day’s transport costs. Just show an Uber, taxi or petrol receipt to have as much as $25 taken off your bill.

“In this economy, we are all suffering,” says El Deek. “It’s too easy to increase pricing, which is what most [restaurants] are doing, which I understand. It’s tough out there.”

“But for us, it’s not the time to make money,” he says. “It’s time to think long term.”

As Cosi marks 30 years, El Deek sees the initiative as an investment in the longevity of the business. “It’s time to stand out in this moment and genuinely give something back to our customers ... a small gesture [to] spread some hope and positivity at a time when there’s not much.”

Elsewhere, Thornbury’s plant-based diner Ballard’s has taken 10 per cent off its set menu, dropping the price from $72 to $65. In Torquay, two-hatted fine diner Samesyn is offering “a night out on us” to someone in need, via a nomination system. And other restaurants, such as Malvern’s Sincero, scrapped surcharges over the Easter long weekend.

These are calculated hits to the bottom line for operators who, with most of their peers, are also paying emergency fuel levies to suppliers as the latter navigate higher diesel and petrol prices.

“The day petrol went up, we got emails [about levies] from 25 suppliers,” says El Deek.

While average petrol prices have dropped by 20 per cent since the fuel excise was halved, diesel prices remain above $3 a litre, affecting the agriculture and transport industries that hospitality venues rely on.

‘For us, it’s not the time to make money. It’s time to think long term.’

Unable to absorb the extra costs, some venues have gone the other way, passing them on to customers with a specific fuel surcharge. That’s the recommendation of the Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association (ARCA), a member-based hospitality industry body.

“Restaurants and cafes around Australia are being hit with a double-whammy of costs of produce and protein on the rise due to supply-chain issues caused by the conflict in the Middle East and ... fuel and delivery surcharges by suppliers on top of base price increases,” an ARCA spokesperson said.

“With profits on average less than 3 per cent, the segment cannot continue to bear the brunt of the pressure, and following ACCC pricing regulations, [venues] are encouraged to strike a balance between losing money and adding a temporary fee to relieve pressure.”

Another pressure valve for everyday Melburnians is the state government’sfree month of public transport. If you’re a fine-dining fan who’s willing to brave a potential crowd, leave the car at home during April and optimise the opportunity to travel out of town to one of Victoria’s hatted destination diners for free on a Metro or V/Line train.