Diners only have a few days to experience its Amalfi-inspired cooking.
Guy Grossi’s Settimo has announced its closure at The Westin Brisbane. The restaurant will host its last service at the Mary Street hotel this Saturday.
“Our partnership with Guy Grossi comes to a natural close,” read a message posted to social media on Monday. “We’re incredibly grateful for everything we’ve created and celebrated together.”
But the venue is not closing entirely – the 150-seat space will reopen as a new concept under existing executive chef Massimo Speroni.
Neither Grossi nor a representative from The Westin Brisbane was available for comment on Tuesday, but a statement supplied by the hotel said the restaurant’s closure was in conjunction with the February 21 end of its current contract with the celebrity chef.
“Over the past three years, The Westin Brisbane has been proud to partner with chef Guy Grossi,” the statement read. “Settimo was created as a collaborative vision between Guy and The Westin Brisbane, bringing a vibrant taste of Italy to the heart of the city.
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“We are incredibly grateful for what we have built together and the contribution Settimo has made to Brisbane’s dining scene over the past three years.
“Looking ahead, The Westin Brisbane is excited to introduce a new restaurant concept in the near future, led by our award-winning executive chef Massimo.”
The closure of Settimo follows the October sale of the Grossi family’s Melbourne restaurant empire – including Florentino, Cellar Bar and Grossi Grill – to Edition Hospitality Group. It leaves just Garum, at The Westin Perth, under Guy Grossi’s stewardship.
That sale came eight months after The Age and Good Food published an investigation that revealed a history of sexual harassment allegations raised by female staff and industry leaders against Grossi and his staff.
In response, Grossi issued a public apology to one woman, while denying the allegation, and admitted a second groping allegation but said it was an accident.
He otherwise defended his behaviour and denied allegations raised by staff.
Matt Shea is Food and Culture Editor at Brisbane Times. He is a former editor and editor-at-large at Broadsheet Brisbane, and has written for Escape, Qantas Magazine, the Guardian, Jetstar Magazine and SilverKris, among many others.
