Don Ciccio Osteria Italiana, located on Hampstead Lane, has closed after six years and accused the community of Highgate and its neighbours for never supporting it.
An impassioned message on the restaurant’s website says the restaurant, which opened in October 2019, has closed ‘due to a lack of customers’ and went on to blame local residents for the closure.
Part of the message reads: “To our faithful customers — we’ll miss you. Perhaps one day we’ll meet again, in Italy. To the community of Highgate and its neighbours — thank you for never supporting us, not even once.
“To those we served during lockdown, when we were the only restaurant open, thank you for never visiting us once the pandemic ended.
“To the Highgate Society — thank you for never replying to any of our proposals for collaboration.
“To those who lived a few doors away yet ordered delivery from somewhere else — thank you for your commitment to distance.”
It adds sarcastically: "In short: thank you all for supporting us so perfectly."
The restaurant goes on to say that it might be the first Italian restaurant to close “not for bad food, bad reviews, or bad luck — but for the sheer indifference of our neighbours.”
In the message, addressed to ‘residents of Highgate, of the neighbouring villages, of North London, and of London in general’, Don Ciccio points out that it was named Traveller’s Choice on Tripadvisor in 2023, 2024, and 2025 and held 4.7 stars on Google, with 700 reviews.
“We are guests in this country, and as guests, we will not complain,” it adds.