After launching in December 2014, Sydney’s Dragoncello restaurant will close its doors for good this weekend.
The Surry Hills diner was launched by chef Roy McVeigh, who’s previously tossed pans at insitutions including Berowra Waters Inn and Guillaume at Bennelong. He was joined by sommelier, Stuart Sanders, whose CV includes stints at Koi, Three Weeds and The Beresford.
A statement issued by Dragoncello said the closure is the result of extensive delays during the launch of the restaurant’s second level, together with reduced foot traffic that MvVeigh attributes to Sydney’s lockout laws, introduced by the O’Farrell government in 2014.
“Head chef Roy McVeigh has had to make the difficult decision to close Dragoncello’s doors for the final time on 24 July, 2016. Roy and the Dragoncello team would like to thank everyone for the support of Dragoncello and hopes that one day, Sydney’s dining and nightlife will once again thrive and stand tall.”
A number of other Sydney venues have blamed their demise on the infamous trading restrictions, including Hugos Lounge in Kings Cross, La Cita Restaurant and Bar, and more recently, The Keystone Group, which operates brands including Cargo Bar, Jamie’s Italian and The Winery, before entering receivership last month.
