Mystery behind Westfield restaurant closures

When Xanthi restaurant found itself in the hands of liquidators last week - as revealed on goodfood.com.au - with debts believed to be just shy of $1 million, the big question was, how has yet another rising food star bitten the dust at Westfield Sydney?

Xanthi's owner-chef David Tsirekas rode into town after glowing success at Perama in Petersham. He departs decidedly lighter in the pocket after Xanthi shut, following Becasse, Cara & Co and Spiedo as high-profile closures at the shopping centre. Everyone has an opinion as to why the higher-end restaurants have suffered. From the location of some of the restaurants, to signage, city parking and lack of a shopping centre staple - a cinema.

Sydneysiders perhaps see shopping centres in a different light than say, in Asia, where eating in a shopping centre is regarded as more desirable than it is in Australia . "It was the little pieces that added up to create a perfect storm," says Becasse owner-chef Justin North of his ill-fated fine dining experience.