A popular restaurant in Sydney’s inner west has abruptly closed after its head chef walked out on the owners.
Comedor, a Mexican cuisine restaurant located in Newtown, announced the closure on its social media accounts on Friday.
“Dining room will remain closed until further notice,” the publication reads.
“We sincerely apologize to those who had reservations and look forward to welcoming them back very soon.”
The post left locals wondering what caused the sudden closure despite it being a busy time of year for the industry.
However, the now former head chef, Alejandro Huerta, stated that the closure occurred after his resignation and that of most of the kitchen team.
“I was happy with what we accomplished, but it wasn’t a great place to work,” he told Good Food.
“It was a heartbreaking experience, it was not an easy decision to make.”
Popular Newtown restaurant Comedor (pictured) has announced it will remain closed until further notice after a dispute between staff sparked a mass strike weeks after receiving its first hat.
The walkout came a little less than a month after Huerta helped lead the restaurant’s kitchen to receive a hat at Good Food’s 2025 Restaurant Awards.
Huerta took to social media to thank her “incredible team and everyone involved in this project” after a glowing review earlier this year.
But a spokesman for Comedor owner Walt Shellshear refuted the claim of a near-total strike, insisting that “only two chefs remained.”
“At this time, we are taking the time to reassess next steps and plan for 2025,” the statement to the Sydney Morning Herald read.
“The new year will see an exciting new team and everything will be revealed in due time once it is finalized.”
There is currently no set date for fans of the restaurant to expect its return.
While the restaurant was a huge success, it also received criticism from locals trying to stop a proposed platform extending into Camperdown Memorial Rest Park.
The restaurant’s head chef Alejandro Huerta (pictured, center) said it was a “heartbreaking” decision to leave the restaurant, but said it was “not a great place to work.”
About 70 per cent of public comments on the proposed plan opposed converting public land into a terrace and takeaway cafe.
But their efforts failed after Inner West Council granted Comedor a five-year lease in November.
One resident said the decision to go ahead despite fierce opposition from locals was “baffling”, a sentiment echoed by regular park user Pip Hinman.
“You need to listen to the community and just stop, not listen to the community and move on,” Hinman told the alphabet.
Newtown real estate agent Charles Bailey led the council meeting on behalf of the Dining Room’s owner, Walter Shellshear, who was interstate.
He defended the site as a “genuine addition” to the public park, adding that it employs 20 people and provides business to local suppliers.