Founder and managing director Andrei Lussmann said the downturn in the economy and increased costs had led to shuttering his eateries in Highgate and Berkhamsted.
Five other restaurants in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire remain open, and staff at the closed restaurants will be offered roles elsewhere.
He said the restructure would put them on a firmer footing to “combat the challenges of the sector”.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we’ve had to close these two restaurants,” he added.
“Make no mistake, it is tough running restaurants right now.
“The Highgate site simply didn’t work. The costs associated with opening and operating it in a market that quickly became very depressed meant we couldn’t move ahead with other plans for the business.
“This was compounded by the impact of last autumn’s Budget and the uncertainty leading up to last week’s Budget.”
“Our remaining five restaurants remain profitable and we’ll re-double our focus on ensuring they continue to be the locals’ favourite sustainable restaurant as they have been for many years.”
Andrei Lussmann opened his first restaurant in 2002 in Notting Hill, with the Highgate branch taking over the former Cote Brasserie in August 2024.
Mr Lussmann told the Ham&High at the time he was “blown away” by the community reception of the 130-seat restaurant, which focused on sustainably sourced fish, seasonal veg and high welfare organic meat.
“It’s fantastic to be back and we’ve been blown away by the welcome we’ve had from everyone here in Highgate,” he said.
“I was optimistic customers would enjoy what I like to think of as our classy but classless offering and so far, I’ve been proved right.”
In contrast to the sudden departure of Highgate restaurant Don Ciccio, which blasted customers for a lack of support, a note pinned to Lussmann’s door read: “Thanks for all your support, and your custom is most welcome at our other Lussmann’s restaurants.”
Posting on the N6 Community Facebook page one diner wrote: “The food was very very good… but the locals just didn’t use it at all.
“Come on locals, use it or lose it!”
Another commented that while the food was good it “lacked coziness and atmosphere” compared to Highgate’s many pubs, but said: “It’s a shame, restaurants such a tough business to be in.”
