Bitter Parting Shot: Italian Restaurant Owner Blames 'Indifferent' Locals for Closure

Strategic Insights -

In a shocking move, the owner of Italian restaurant Don Ciccio, Marco Claudio Valente, has publicly denounced the local community for its lack of support, claiming that their indifference is the reason for the restaurant's permanent closure. The restaurant, which operated for six years in affluent Highgate, north London, announced its closure on October 16, with a scathing final statement blaming the community for forcing them to shut down. Don Ciccio's departure marks the latest in a series of bitter exits in the area, with a bubble tea company also launching a parting shot at locals.

Key Takeaways:

  • Don Ciccio, an Italian restaurant in Highgate, north London, closed its doors permanently on October 16 after six years of operation.
  • Owner Marco Claudio Valente blamed the local community for its lack of support, stating that they were "indifferent" to the restaurant's presence.
  • The final statement on the restaurant's website claimed that they were forced to close due to the community's failure to support them, despite securing a prestigious TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice award in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
  • Staff at the restaurant were left "humiliated" by empty dining rooms, with some evenings having as little as £40 in revenue.
  • The restaurant's departure marks the latest in a series of bitter exits in the area, with a bubble tea company also launching a parting shot at locals.
  • Local residents and business owners have dismissed Valente's claims, suggesting that the area's high standards and competition from other local restaurants may have contributed to Don Ciccio's closure.

Statistics:

  • Don Ciccio operated for six years in Highgate, north London.
  • The restaurant secured a 4.7-star rating on Google.
  • Chef Marco Claudio Valente has experience in hospitality, with plans to use this expertise to open a new restaurant in London.
  • The local community is affluent, with Chris Underhill of Prickett & Ellis estate agents suggesting that this may not necessarily translate to a thriving dining scene.
  • The restaurant's final statement claimed to have had as little as £40 in revenue on some evenings.

Sources:

  • DailyMail
  • Instagram (Don Ciccio's post announcing closure)
  • TripAdvisor (Don Ciccio's Traveller's Choice award 2023, 2024, and 2025)
  • Google (4.7-star rating on Don Ciccio's Google listing)
  • Social media (statements from locals, including Chris Underhill and Mario Seyho)