We’ve been big fans of our neighbours Pupp since we first heard they opened their doors to patrons and their dogs.
The dog-friendly café is nestled between Portobello and Christchurch, at 37 Clanbrassil St Lower.
Pupp offers a full Brunch and lunch menu and one item has earned much praise on Twitter.
This porridge with mixed-berry compote is unique because instead of having a set price, it simply asks patrons to pay what they can afford.
“Contributing to the community – whether it be local businesses, charities, or people/animals in need – has always been a critical part of the Pupp mission statement,” writes co-founder Paul Froggatt on their blog.
“One element of that mission is ensuring there’s something on the menu for everyone. Our pay-what-you-can-afford porridge has been a steadfast menu item since first opening.”
Similar to suspended coffees, Paul hopes the generosity of some patrons will allow others to eat for a fraction of the price.
“By “pay what you can afford”, we mean that the amount you pay for your meal is entirely up to you. Any contribution is welcome, whether it be a few cents or a few Euros. While we cover the cost of the ingredients and production, we hope that the generosity of some visitors will allow others to eat at a fraction of the price” writes Paul.
Bravo @PuppIreland offering patrons Porridge for “what you can afford” to pay. ?? pic.twitter.com/lRnZUMOBFf
— Seán Cannon-Earley (@seanearley) May 24, 2016
The system has worked really well for the café with most people opting to pay €4 for the dish.
“Having a pay-what-you-can option was something of an experiment – we weren’t too concerned about making profit from it, but worried that it wouldn’t be able to pay for itself if a lot of people opted for a minimal contribution.”
“We didn’t want to compromise on quality and taste, so tested a number of different options before settling on porridge made with organic oats and a seasonal homemade compote. It was important to make the pay-what-you-can dish just as appealing as the rest of our menu, and it has since become a popular selection for regulars (particularly on weekend mornings).”
The reaction has surprised the owners and is something they can now comfortably continue delivering without fear of costs.
“We encourage other restaurants to think about something similar. The generosity and support of our visitors has far exceeded our expectations, and any concerns about people taking advantage have proved completed unwarranted. To those who’ve ordered the porridge – we hope you enjoyed it, and thank you for contributing to the success of the experiment!”
Well done guys, serious kudos.
Check out more of Pupp on Facebook HERE and on Twitter HERE.
