THE PRICE HIKE

The ugly face of global food inflation doesn’t discriminate. It affects rich people places like The Lion. And it affects poor people places like, um, vast swaths of Asia. In the middle, it affects Brooklyn hangouts owned by grizzly men with facial hair. So it goes that STEAK continues to get more expensive at Frankies Prime Meats in Carroll Gardens, brought to us by the the bearded duo behind Frankies 457 and Frankies Spuntino. 

The cote de boeuf has gone up to $2.85/oz., up from $2.75/oz. earlier this summer, up from $2.15/oz. in March, and up from $1.80/oz in March of 2010, a total hike of 58%. So a giant 42 ouncer that would have cost $76 last year is now $120. The steaks here can run as “small” as 32oz ($91.20).  

So BUY HOLD or SELL? At these Manhattan prices, we say HOLD and hit The Dutch for steak. And while we appreciate the honest by-the-ounce pricing, we at The Price Hike prefer when restaurants do the math for us and state how much the entree will cost. Frankies Fans (count The Price Hike in that group) should rather hit Prime Meats for oysters and pretzels and then swing by Frankies 457 next door for the world’s best braciole.