It's around 3 p.m.
On Thursday.
A restaurant cook is frying up some pears, preparing for dinner.
Michael Rusconi owns the restaurant.
It's called Rusconi's American Kitchen.
You know, the concept was always to create a fine dining experience at a moderate price point,
and I've been very successful doing that.
Michael says over the last several years, it's been a lot harder to run this restaurant.
Things are just more expensive.
From the cost of beef, to labor, to fuel.
He sat down with Eliza Collins, our political reporter based in Phoenix.
I think fuel prices hurt people.
I know I'm affected because my deliveries have fuel surcharges on them that have increased.
What does the increase look like?
$25.
Per delivery?
Some are higher, some are lower.
Some are $10.
But I see that a lot more than I used to.
Michael's Restaurant is in North Phoenix, near Scottsdale.