Don Ciccio brought the shutters down on its Hampstead Lane osteria and pizzeria last week, exactly six years after opening.
A note on its website indicates where it felt responsibility lies.
“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,” it fumes.
The message praises the restaurant’s staff for their passion and “enduring the humiliation of entire evenings with an empty dining room”.
Although addressed to the residents of Highgate, neighbouring villages, North London and London in general, it takes particular aim at neighbours.
“To those who lived a few doors away yet ordered delivery from somewhere else, thank you for your commitment to distance.”
And the restaurant adds a dig at the village’s amenity group: “To the Highgate Society — thank you for never replying to any of our proposals for collaboration.”
The note points out that “it wasn’t enough” that Don Ciccio was Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice 2023 – 2024 – 2025 and held a 4.7 stars Google rating, with 700 reviews, or that it changed its menu seasonally to explore the flavours of Italy.
And, it says, despite serving customers during lockdown when it was the only restaurant open: “Thank-you for never visiting us once the pandemic ended.”
The note signs off: “We are guests in this country, and as guests, we will not complain.
“We’ll simply say: addio.”
The restaurant served up Italian dishes such as bruschetta, penne all’Arabbiata, pasta al ragu, and pizzas topped with the likes of porchetta and scamorza cheese.
Although Don Ciccio has 192 positive reviews, recent visitors were less impressed, with one in September posting on Tripadvisor of their “terrible experience”.
“The first course took half an hour to arrive and waitress very surly. Main course took more than a hour to arrive and was terrible. Tiny piece seabass with mashed potato and teaspoon of crispy kale. Cost £26. Cod with roast potatoes and beans has three thin slices of potato and three beans, cost £26.”
Another customer in August wrote of a “flabbergastingly funny” experience including being charged for still mineral water but being served “tap water in an old, grimy, used, previously sparkling water container.”
They added that they ordered heirloom tomato salad that was “just standard red tomatoes,” and requested a simple Caccio Peppe pasta “but the waiter and sous chef seemingly had never heard of parmesan or black pepper. Yes – we were also speechless!”
Andrew Sulston, Chair of the Highgate Society said: “We are always very sorry when any local business closes.
“Because Highgate Society has no paid staff and all our activities are run by volunteers, we unfortunately cannot always follow up on all requests.”
