<div class="tldr">At least six independent restaurants in Brooklyn, including locations in Park Slope and Williamsburg, raised menu prices in June 2024 due to escalating ingredient costs.</div>\n\n<ul class="key-facts">\n <li>Wholesale dairy, produce, and seafood prices have increased 8-13% since March 2024.</li>\n <li>Operators including Buttermilk Channel and Llama Inn report summer menu adjustments.</li>\n <li>Some restaurants have reduced portion sizes as an alternative to price hikes.</li>\n</ul>\n\nRising ingredient costs have prompted a number of Brooklyn restaurants to adjust their menu pricing this summer. Owners and managers point to double-digit increases in categories such as eggs, cheese, leafy greens, and shellfish, based on invoices reviewed in June 2024.\n\nOperators like Doug Crowell of Buttermilk Channel in Carroll Gardens report that dairy and produce costs are at their highest levels in three years. Several restaurants, including Llama Inn and Edith's Eatery, have either increased prices by 5 to 12 percent or have changed menu items to reflect more stable ingredients.\n\nSome restaurants are opting to reduce portion sizes rather than raise prices across the board. At Lilia in Williamsburg, smaller pasta portions have been introduced since late May. Owners say this approach helps limit sticker shock while absorbing cost pressures.\n\nIndustry groups including the New York State Restaurant Association note these adjustments follow ongoing supply chain issues and labor cost increases that have persisted since the pandemic. Restaurant operators in Brooklyn say they continue to communicate openly with customers about changes, citing transparency as a priority.\n\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>\n<h2>Which ingredients have seen the highest price increases?</h2>\n<p>Operators report eggs, cheese, leafy greens, and shellfish have seen the steepest increases, with some items up 13% since March 2024. Dairy products and fresh seafood have been the most difficult to source at stable prices, leading to changes in menu planning across several Brooklyn venues.</p>\n<h2>How are restaurants communicating price changes to customers?</h2>\n<p>Most affected Brooklyn restaurants post updated menus both in-house and online. Some, like Buttermilk Channel, provide a brief note explaining the reasons for price adjustments, citing increases in ingredient and supplier costs since the spring.</p>\n<h2>Are these changes expected to last through the summer?</h2>\n<p>According to the New York State Restaurant Association, most operators expect elevated ingredient costs to continue at least through September 2024. Restaurant owners say they will monitor supplier pricing before making further adjustments in the fall.</p>