Tetsuya’s to close its doors in July

Fine dining establishment Tetsuya’s will permanently close on July 31.

The internationally acclaimed, iconic restaurant has operated for 35 years and is best known for its eight-course degustation menu.

Chef and owner Tetsuya Wakuda has had difficulty relocating the restaurant, with plans to do so recently falling over.

The Kent Street site was earmarked for development after its sale in 2018.

“Our plans to relocate Tetsuya’s to a new site after it closes at the end of July have unfortunately not worked out and I have made the very difficult decision to permanently close the restaurant,” Wakuda said in a statement.

“We have spent the last 18 months planning the move and the new restaurant so this was not an easy decision, but sometimes things just don’t go to plan.”

Wakuda has been in Australia since 1982 and opened Tetsuya’s in 1989 in Rozelle.

The restaurant has won multiple awards and became famous for its fusion of Japanese and French cuisines, especially its signature confit ocean trout.

The beloved owner spread his wings internationally, setting up successful establishments in Singapore, Las Vegas and Dubai.

However, the Sydney venue has struggled in recent years through the pandemic and cost of living pressures.

Staff uncertainty about the restaurant’s future grew as relocation plans remained unclear, leading to the departure of executive chef Josh Raine in February.

Jonathan Jackson, 14^th May 2024