Leichhardt's Tuscany Ristorante shuts down

Tuscany Ristorante in Leichhardt, which garnered lashings of media coverage in 2011 as the innocent backdrop to inquiries by the Independent Commission Against Corruption into some of its customers, has closed.

Located on Norton Street, Tuscany will be remembered more for one of its diners, "Tiffanie" the prostitute, than its signature fillet of beef with porcini.

Tuscany's public profile briefly soared again in 2012, for food-related reasons, when an A-list team of chefs swept through the restaurant, earning good reviews.

With the restaurant now papered up, it is yet another Italian food casualty for the once grand food precinct.

Last year, when chef Giovanni Spinazzola closed La Trattoria, he told Good Food Leichhardt's Little Italy was on its knees.

He blamed rents, parking meters and competing eat streets.

A spokeswoman for the centre where Tuscany traded said the space would be divided into two, with Grill'd and Sushi Maru opening up there.

"Tuscany advised us last year that they did not wish to renew their lease at Norton Plaza, which came to an end March 15," she said.