A London restaurant has closed its doors for good after six years, and the owners have shared their honest and brutal thoughts on the news as they accused would-be customers of not supporting them
An Italian eatery in London has launched a scathing attack on nearby residents for failing to support them in a brutal statement announcing their permanent closure.
Don Ciccio osteria and pizzeria shut the doors of its establishment on Hampstead Lane, Highgate, for the final time last week – six years after first opening in October 2019. While the closure might have surprised some – given the restaurant’s immense popularity over the Covid pandemic – the Don Ciccio team didn’t hold back with their candid and harsh verdict on the situation, proceeding to point the finger at the local community and North London residents for forcing them to close down permanently.
On October 16, the Italian restaurant posted on their Facebook page to announce its closure, writing that they hoped it wasn’t a farewell, but rather ‘just arrivederci’ – meaning ‘goodbye until we meet again’.
However, they voiced further frustrations and fury in a separate statement published on their website – and they didn’t hold back their frustrations.
“We may be the first Italian restaurant to close not for bad food, bad reviews, or bad luck – but for the sheer indifference of our neighbours,” the statement declared.
The message also moaned that “it wasn’t enough” for Don Ciccio to secure a prestigious TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice award in 2023, 2024 and 2025, despite flaunting a 4.7-star rating on Google with 700 reviews and regularly updating its seasonal menu, featuring dishes including bruschetta, penne all’Arabbiata, pasta al ragu, and pizzas topped with ingredients like porchetta and scamorza cheese.
The local community and the restaurants neighbours in the Highgate area were also accused of ‘not being there’ for them, and the lack of customers was blamed for their closure.
“To our loyal customers – we’ll miss you. Maybe one day we’ll meet again, in Italy,” they expressed.
“To the community of Highgate and its neighbours – thank you for never supporting us, not even once.
“To those we served during lockdown, when we were the only restaurant open, thank you for never visiting us once the pandemic ended.”
However, it wasn’t just filled with negative accusations and thoughts, as the message continued to commend the restaurant’s staff for their passion and “enduring the humiliation of entire evenings with an empty dining room”.
The note concluded: “We are guests in this country, and as guests, we will not complain.
“We’ll simply say: addio.”
The restaurant had glowing reviews across several reviewing websites. Thrilled customers often praised the food, describing the restaurant as ‘a little gem’ in the middle of Highgate.