Since 2014, Jamie’s Italian – the Italian restaurant chain brought to us by much-loved Brit chef Jamie Oliver – has served hungry Hongkongers in Causeway Bay since 2014, with a subsequent branch opening later in TST’s Harbour City. All this is about to change, however, as both eateries are set to close their doors tomorrow, on February 28.
According to the restaurants’ operators, both branches have gone through tough times in recent months, with the civil unrest in the city initially driving customer numbers down in the latter stages of 2019, and the recent outbreak of the coronavirus apparently proving the straw that broke the camel’s back for Oliver’s HK outposts.
Unfortunate as it may be – especially as it comes as part of a string of recent venue closures and event cancellations – it’s hardly a huge shock. Tourism numbers are down to a fraction of what they were this time last year, and Hongkong dwellers are generally eating out much less these days in the wake of the virus outbreak. Let’s hope this isn’t the last we see of Jamie and his pukka restaurants in our city.