QUIET DINNING: Del Popolo delivers smooth atmosphere and classic dining for moderate prices. RIGA - Practically every other week, a brand-new restaurant opens its doors and dresses its tables for the first time in the Latvian capital. And practically every other week, an established eatery is forced to close down after failing to build a loyal customer base and being hit by big losses. The days when a central Riga restaurant could seemingly charge what they wanted for a simple meal and an alcoholic drink are over. Tougher times and fiercer competition now mean that many establishments are looking at long-term survival as their main goal, rather than falling into the trap of concentrating solely on huge short-term profits. This is good news for customers in Riga. Over the past four or five years, prices have been going up...
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