Yet another Sydney restaurant has announced a major change amid a tumultuous period for the hospitality industry.

The Vo family, who have run Phuong Restaurant – an iconic Vietnamese institution in Crows Nest – for the past 35 years, shared on Sunday evening that they would be leaving the venue and ‘moving on’.

‘The time has come for us to say farewell,’ the close-knit team wrote alongside a snap of the family.

‘Tonight will be our final night serving the Crows Nest community, and the Vo family would like to take this moment to extend our deepest gratitude.’

They went on to thank customers for ‘welcoming us into your lives, celebrations and family dinners,’ and touched on the ‘highs and challenges’ they have faced.

‘It has been an honour to serve you, to share our food and culture, and to be part of this community for so many decades,’ they continued.

‘Phuong Restaurant has never been just about food – it has been about people, connection, and family. Over the years, we have seen generations come through our doors, and we will cherish every smile, every story, and every shared meal.

‘As we close this chapter, we do so with full hearts. Thank you for making Phuong Restaurant a part of your lives and memories. We will always hold this community close to ours.’

The post went viral, with thousands expressing their sadness over the news.

However, others were relieved to learn that the restaurant itself would remain, after mistakenly believing that Phuong would be closing for good.

‘It’s been in the neighbourhood since I was born, NO,’ one wrote.

‘We have so many memories over decades now where our family have celebrated in your restaurant we absolutely love the food. Very sad that you are leaving but best of luck for your next chapter. It’s the end of an era,’ another added.

‘Devastated… thank you for all the gorgeous meals,’ one more wrote.

The cosy venue is known for its well-priced, fresh and delicious dishes, including summer rolls, crab shells and its famous Vietnamese stuffed chicken.

It has received hundreds of five-star reviews from loyal customers, many of whom have been regulars for as long as they can remember.

‘This place has been here so long it’s an institution! The food is all fresh and tasty with the special sizzling beef probably their signature dish. Everyone gets it,’ one patron reflected.

It’s been a difficult time for Sydney’s hospitality industry of late, with a wave of shock closures announced in recent weeks.

These include the likes of Red Lantern, Mr yip, Monopole and, perhaps most mysteriously, Moon Phasea renowned bakery just a stone’s throw from Phuong in St Leonards.

The latter, nominated for several awards thanks to its delicious croissants, left customers with a vague note announcing it was going on ‘pause’ from September 21.

The Daily Mail understands this ‘pause’ is in fact permanent and the shop will not be reopening.

The store, recently named in the 2025 Good Food Essential Sydney Cafes & Bakeries guide, opened in 2023 and was run by married couple Frances and Jiyoon Song – a pastry chef and a barista-coffee roaster, respectively.

North Shore residents had previously raised suspicions that the popular bakery’s closure might be more than a temporary shutdown after the store deactivated its entire social media presence.

‘Something’s not quite right,’ one person wrote at the time.

‘It’s a jungle out there,’ another quite rightly summed up.