PHOTO: From Full House to Empty Tables: One Sydney Restaurant’s Gut-Wrenching Goodbye. Zafferano Trattoria Mediterranea CONCRETE PLAYGROUND
Sydney’s once-vibrant hospitality scene has suffered another devastating blow as Zafferano Trattoria Mediterranea, a beloved Italian restaurant in Paddington, announces its sudden closure.
Owners Isobel Galloway and chef Simone Crivello say they’re not shutting the doors due to failure—but because Australia’s economy has already collapsed, even if no one in power wants to admit it.
“We’re in a recession—whether they want to say it or not,” Galloway declared.
“People can’t afford to go out. Small businesses are dying in silence.”
📉“Cost of Living Has Killed Us”: Small Businesses Left to Crumble
Zafferano opened in March 2021, weathering the pandemic and thriving in the early rebound. But now, the couple says Sydney has lost its spark—and its spending power.
Galloway, in a powerful farewell video now circulating online, claimed:
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Rent and supply costs have skyrocketed
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Dining out has become unaffordable for many Australians
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Politicians have ignored the slow-burn devastation
“It’s not just our restaurant—this is happening everywhere,” she said. “Community and culture are being erased by inflation and inaction.”
🧾The Real Cost of a Plate of Pasta in 2025
One viewer of Galloway’s video summed it up perfectly:
“That $33 pasta plate now costs 40% more to make since Covid, and for the customer it’s risen 20%. How can anyone afford that?”
Australians aren’t dining out—not because they don’t want to—but because their income is being swallowed by rent, mortgages, groceries, petrol, and power bills.
💣A Ticking Time Bomb: Business Failures Soaring in Australia
This is not an isolated incident. In 2023–24, Australia recorded a terrifying milestone:
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11,049 businesses went into external administration
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That’s the highest insolvency rate on record since ASIC began tracking data in 1999
Restaurants, retail shops, creative ventures, and even trade businesses are collapsing under the weight of:
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Soaring energy costs
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New industrial relations laws
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Rising input prices
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A consumer base with no disposable income
🏙️Sydney Property and Small Business: A Culture on the Brink?
Zafferano’s closure isn’t just the end of a restaurant—it’s a symbol of what’s happening to Sydney.
“Without small businesses, culture dies. All that’s left are chain stores and boarded-up windows,” Galloway said.
The couple is now urging Sydneysiders to reflect:
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Who are you supporting with your money?
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What kind of city do you want to live in?
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Will you fight to preserve community, creativity, and choice?
💬Public Reaction: “Thank You for Saying What We’re All Thinking”
Galloway’s viral video struck a national nerve:
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“Finally someone being honest about what’s going on!”
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“We’ve been in a recession for two years. Small business is on life support.”
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“This is Melbourne too—we’re just as bad. Thank you for calling it out.”
Even the Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor weighed in:
“This government has the wrong priorities—bad workplace laws, rising energy costs, and red tape are killing our small businesses.”
🛑Final Word: A Wake-Up Call Australia Can’t Ignore
As Zafferano prepares to serve its last meal, the message from its owners is crystal clear:
“This isn’t a goodbye. It’s a wake-up call.”
If governments, communities, and consumers don’t act fast, Sydney won’t just lose another restaurant—it’ll lose its identity.
SOURCE: THE DAILY MAIL