For over a decade, Contessa Balmain was a staple of Sydney's Balmain community for its fabulous omelettes and warm atmosphere. But there’s heart-breaking news about this well-known restaurant.

The popular Italian restaurant/café in Sydney's inner west area has shut its doors, shocking its loyal customers.

Contessa Balmain’s owner, Head Chef Marco Adoncello, left notes in the restaurant’s window on Monday morning.

The restaurant will not be reopening, with Adoncello’s note blaming the landlord for their closure.

The sign read: 'Due to physical and mental health reasons, Marco is no longer able to keep the doors of Contessa Balmain open. Every attempt was made to keep the legacy alive, but unfortunately the selfish actions of the landlord squashed any hopes of that happening.'

Marco Adoncello posted this heartbreaking note in Contessa Balmain’s window on Monday morning. Credit: dailymail.co.uk

It continued: 'Marco apologises for the very difficult decision and kindly thanks all the wonderful customers of Contessa for their support over the past ten years. You will all be dearly missed.'

Locals expressed their sadness on social media about the closure of the beloved restaurant.

One customer wrote, ‘Contessa served the best omelettes in the land, we have been massive regulars of Marco & his wonderful café. Sending love and thanks to Marco and the entire Contessa family for being such a huge part of the community.’

‘Gut-wrenching. Marco welcomed us to Balmain when we moved there by offering us orange cake. Went there religiously,’ said another sad customer.

Unfortunately, this closure not only signals the end of an era for locals who have been enjoyng Marco's cooking for the past decade, but also signals the dire state of Australia at present.

‘If Contessa can’t survive, who can?’ said one commenter online.

‘If they can’t make it work then good luck trying to find anybody else to take over the lease. Landlord has done a real disservice,’ another person said.

But it appears the Adoncellos regret putting the sign after Daily Mail Australia reached out to them. According to Rose Adoncello, Marco’s wife, they still hope there can be negotiations to work things out.

Marco's case is not unique, and we hear similar stories of difficulty navigating the economic landscape.

Recently, a tenant took her feud with her landlord on social media, where the landlord’s real estate agent demanded her to pay $1,000 repair costs for a ‘minimal scratch on a panel of a timber floor.’ You can check this story here.

Rose Adoncello (left) said they still that things will work out for Contessa Balmain by negotiating with the landlord after an ugly split. Credit: Facebook

Key Takeaways

• The owner of Contessa Balmain café in Sydney's inner-west, Marco Adoncello, left a note in the restaurant's window, blaming the forced closure on his 'selfish' landlord.
• Adoncello expressed his mental and physical health reasons and regretted the 'very difficult decision'.
• There has been widespread sadness and frustration among the local clientele and on social media.
• The restaurant owners, Marco and Rose Adoncello, hope to negotiate with the landlord, expressing regret at putting the signup.

Do you have any good memories at Contessa Balmain? Share them with us in the comments below!

 

[Suzanne rose]

They were open today , my son lives down the road from the cafe , and he grabs a coffee every morning.
We went for brunch there a couple of weeks ago when my son and his partner moved there .
Their prices are expensive , hubby got an omelette $25 I got a toasted sandwich $18 plus our coffees . My son paid, and the bill came to over $100 for 4 of us for brunch .

The coffees good

Wgen I read this article I called to ask my son if this was the same cafe , he said yes but it was only closed for a couple of days .

 

[Mina vriesekolk]

Maybe the landlord had a change of heart and feeling a little guilty ?

 

[Kaio-Adams]

For over a decade, Contessa Balmain was a staple of Sydney's Balmain community for its fabulous omelettes and warm atmosphere. But there’s heart-breaking news about this well-known restaurant.

The popular Italian restaurant/café in Sydney's inner west area has shut its doors, shocking its loyal customers.

Contessa Balmain’s owner, Head Chef Marco Adoncello, left notes in the restaurant’s window on Monday morning.

The restaurant will not be reopening, with Adoncello’s note blaming the landlord for their closure.

The sign read: 'Due to physical and mental health reasons, Marco is no longer able to keep the doors of Contessa Balmain open. Every attempt was made to keep the legacy alive, but unfortunately the selfish actions of the landlord squashed any hopes of that happening.'

View attachment 33034

Marco Adoncello posted this heartbreaking note in Contessa Balmain’s window on Monday morning. Credit: dailymail.co.uk

It continued: 'Marco apologises for the very difficult decision and kindly thanks all the wonderful customers of Contessa for their support over the past ten years. You will all be dearly missed.'

Locals expressed their sadness on social media about the closure of the beloved restaurant.

One customer wrote, ‘Contessa served the best omelettes in the land, we have been massive regulars of Marco & his wonderful café. Sending love and thanks to Marco and the entire Contessa family for being such a huge part of the community.’

‘Gut-wrenching. Marco welcomed us to Balmain when we moved there by offering us orange cake. Went there religiously,’ said another sad customer.

Unfortunately, this closure not only signals the end of an era for locals who have been enjoyng Marco's cooking for the past decade, but also signals the dire state of Australia at present.

‘If Contessa can’t survive, who can?’ said one commenter online.

‘If they can’t make it work then good luck trying to find anybody else to take over the lease. Landlord has done a real disservice,’ another person said.

But it appears the Adoncellos regret putting the sign after Daily Mail Australia reached out to them. According to Rose Adoncello, Marco’s wife, they still hope there can be negotiations to work things out.

Marco's case is not unique, and we hear similar stories of difficulty navigating the economic landscape.

Recently, a tenant took her feud with her landlord on social media, where the landlord’s real estate agent demanded her to pay $1,000 repair costs for a ‘minimal scratch on a panel of a timber floor.’ You can check this story here.

View attachment 33035

Rose Adoncello (left) said they still that things will work out for Contessa Balmain by negotiating with the landlord after an ugly split. Credit: Facebook

Key Takeaways

• The owner of Contessa Balmain café in Sydney's inner-west, Marco Adoncello, left a note in the restaurant's window, blaming the forced closure on his 'selfish' landlord.
• Adoncello expressed his mental and physical health reasons and regretted the 'very difficult decision'.
• There has been widespread sadness and frustration among the local clientele and on social media.
• The restaurant owners, Marco and Rose Adoncello, hope to negotiate with the landlord, expressing regret at putting the signup.

Do you have any good memories at Contessa Balmain? Share them with us in the comments below!

These landlords are getting creedier every day. If it wasn't for these people's business they wouldn't make money anyway. I don't know these people but reading thru this it's the landlord's wanting more, just like somewhere here in Victoria. Good luck guys hope things work out and God bless

 

[magpie1]

Think we will see more of this in the privately run restaurant food and hospitality business over the next 18 months or so.....rents will continue going up along with food, electricity, perhaps wages, and other essential items to run their business......in the meantime as prices go up for food and beverages more and more people will refrain from expensive restaurant meals and cook their own at home, where their own personal bills get higher and higher as well.

 

[IAN3005]

If the landlord has a change of mind.... 'STIFF CHEDDAR' there is NO WAY that I would stay..... the die has been cast.
If the landlord rents the premises at a lower rate I would sue.

 

[Suzanne rose]

If the landlord has a change of mind.... 'STIFF CHEDDAR' there is NO WAY that I would stay..... the die has been cast.
If the landlord rents the premises at a lower rate I would sue.

In this part of Sydney the landlord wouldn't have a problem renting it out , Balmain is 5 minutes to the city and is is beautiful part of Sydney

 

[IAN3005]

In this part of Sydney the landlord wouldn't have a problem renting it out , Balmain is 5 minutes to the city and is is beautiful part of Sydney

The rates in Australia are exorbitant no wonder an omelette costs $25... the day I pay that will be the date hell freezes over.
It's all in the ratios. The rent goes up and so the pieces must go up.
Ideally, the ratio should be no more than 6%-10%, any higher than that and prices must rise, maybe $35 for an omelette or $28 for a cup of coffee.

 

[Suzanne rose]

The rates in Australia are exorbitant no wonder an omelette costs $25... the day I pay that will be the date hell freezes over.
It's all in the ratios. The rent goes up and so the pieces must go up.
Ideally, the ratio should be no more than 6%-10%, any higher than that and prices must rise, maybe $35 for an omelette or $28 for a cup of coffee.

I wouldn't pay what we did pay. My son insisted taking us for brunch. For $20 I could have made an incredible brunch for 4