'Adios amigo': Sydney restaurant closes down after sudden walkouts
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Sydney has been a diverse melting pot of cultures and cuisines.
However, the city's bustling culinary scene has been left in a state of surprise and disappointment after a famous restaurant abruptly shut its doors.
Mexican restaurant Comedor, located in Newtown, unexpectedly closed its doors on Wednesday, 11 December.
Comedor, a recent awardee in Good Food's 2025 Restaurant Awards, announced its sudden closure on social media.
'Comedor is remaining closed until further notice,' the post wrote.
Comedor also extended its apologies to customers with reservations and promised to welcome guests again soon.
The closure came on the heels of a walkout by the head chef and a significant portion of the kitchen staff.
The walkout sparked speculations among the restaurant's customers, especially during a bustling period for the hospitality industry.
Comedor's former head chef, Alejandro Huerta, shed light on the situation.
Huerta revealed the cause of his departure, along with most of Comedor's kitchen team.
'I was happy with what we achieved, but it wasn't a great place to work,' Huerta stated in an interview.
'It was a heartbreaking experience, not an easy decision to make.'
The walkout's timing was particularly poignant, as it happened weeks after his team celebrated their recent accolade.
Huerta then took to social media to express his gratitude towards the 'amazing team and everyone that's involved in this project'.
In response to the closure, Walt Shellshear, the spokesperson for Comedor's owners, downplayed the extent of the walkout.
Mr Shellshear stated that 'just two chefs' only left the restaurant.
'Right now, we are taking time to reassess the next steps and plan out 2025,' He shared in a separate interview.
'The new year will see an exciting new team, and everything will be revealed in due time once locked in.'
The controversies surrounding Comedor have extended beyond its hot kitchen.
The restaurant faced criticism from locals over a proposed deck extension into the Camperdown Memorial Rest Park.
Despite 70 per cent of the public opposing the plan, the Inner West Council granted Comedor a five-year lease in November.
Community members expressed their frustration about the decision and emphasised the need to heed community concerns instead of pushing contested developments.
Several questions now linger about Comedor's future and its impact on the local dining scene.
What do you think of this hot and spicy feud? Share your thoughts and favourite local food spots with us in the comments section below.
However, the city's bustling culinary scene has been left in a state of surprise and disappointment after a famous restaurant abruptly shut its doors.
Mexican restaurant Comedor, located in Newtown, unexpectedly closed its doors on Wednesday, 11 December.
Comedor, a recent awardee in Good Food's 2025 Restaurant Awards, announced its sudden closure on social media.
'Comedor is remaining closed until further notice,' the post wrote.
Comedor boasted an extensive Mexican menu and often served full tables. Image Credit: Instagram/Comedor
Comedor also extended its apologies to customers with reservations and promised to welcome guests again soon.
The closure came on the heels of a walkout by the head chef and a significant portion of the kitchen staff.
The walkout sparked speculations among the restaurant's customers, especially during a bustling period for the hospitality industry.
Comedor's former head chef, Alejandro Huerta, shed light on the situation.
Huerta revealed the cause of his departure, along with most of Comedor's kitchen team.
'I was happy with what we achieved, but it wasn't a great place to work,' Huerta stated in an interview.
'It was a heartbreaking experience, not an easy decision to make.'
The walkout's timing was particularly poignant, as it happened weeks after his team celebrated their recent accolade.
Huerta then took to social media to express his gratitude towards the 'amazing team and everyone that's involved in this project'.
In response to the closure, Walt Shellshear, the spokesperson for Comedor's owners, downplayed the extent of the walkout.
Mr Shellshear stated that 'just two chefs' only left the restaurant.
'Right now, we are taking time to reassess the next steps and plan out 2025,' He shared in a separate interview.
'The new year will see an exciting new team, and everything will be revealed in due time once locked in.'
The controversies surrounding Comedor have extended beyond its hot kitchen.
The restaurant faced criticism from locals over a proposed deck extension into the Camperdown Memorial Rest Park.
Despite 70 per cent of the public opposing the plan, the Inner West Council granted Comedor a five-year lease in November.
Community members expressed their frustration about the decision and emphasised the need to heed community concerns instead of pushing contested developments.
Several questions now linger about Comedor's future and its impact on the local dining scene.
