Iconic high-end Hills restaurant closes suddenly
An epicurean Adelaide Hills restaurant has suddenly closed its doors after a lease agreement was terminated.
Adelaide Hills restaurant Ondeen is closing effective immediately, with founder and managing director Deborah Kingsbury saying she was “shocked and heartbroken” by the decision.
Kingsbury said the property’s landlord terminated the lease, which was up for renewal. InDaily confirmed with landlord Mark Schilling that the lease was terminated “for default”, a claim disputed by the restaurant owner.
Ondeen – opened in 2024 with much fanfare in the former Maximilian’s restaurant site in Verdun – is also home to a farm with four highland cows and two calves.
Kingsbury launched the restaurant with acclaimed Adelaide chef Kane Pollard, who was titled ‘culinary director’ at the time.
Pollard exited the business in November last year and was replaced by British-born chef Adam Bowden as head chef of the restaurant, with its fine dining championing local and sustainable ingredients. Its wine list showcases top South Australian and small-batch drops.
You might like
“We are shocked and heartbroken. Our lease was due for a two-year renewal at the end of November,” said Kingsbury, who started the business in its restored 1851 stone homestead.
“We have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in this property over the last two and a half years, and we have numerous functions, weddings and events booked in the months ahead.”
She said the closure followed the business trading through winter and the “real pressures of rising business costs”.
Stay informed, daily
“Through it all Ondeen has continued to grow, celebrating our first two award-winning years and achieving our strongest ever forward bookings,” she said.
“Right now our priority is our team, our guests, the couples and families with weddings and events booked with us, and our valued suppliers.
“We will be in contact with every one of them directly to work out a solution.”
Kingsbury said she was working through all available options to continue Ondeen.
“Ondeen is our heart and soul,” she said.
“We were well on our way to building one of South Australia’s most unique epicurean destinations, with a core belief and passion in highlighting the extraordinary growers, artisans and makers of the Adelaide Hills and the beauty of the land.
“That belief hasn’t changed and our focus is now on finding a resolution that gives us the opportunity to continue the work we have started, for our teams, partners, community and the thousands of guests who have supported us.”
The landlord had no further comment at the time of publication.
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
