Fine dining Ponsonby restaurant Sidart shuts its doors

Tuesday, 14 October 2025

Fine dining Ponsonby restaurant Sidart has gone into liquidation and closed its doors with immediate effect.

Owner and chef Lesley Chandra shared the difficult decision to close on social media.

“This decision was not made lightly, and we are deeply grateful for the support, memories, and experiences we’ve shared with each of you over the years.”

He thanked diners for their support and “the many conversations that turned into lasting memories”.

Owner and chef Lesley Chandra thanked diners, staff and suppliers for their support.

“It has been an honour to serve you.”

Chandra also thanked his team for their hard work an dedication, and his suppliers for helping Sidart “deliver the best possible experiences to our guests”.

“Thank you again for being part of the Sidart family. While this chapter ends, the memories and relationships built here will remain with us all.”

Liquidators from Baker Tilly Staples Rodway Auckland had been appointed.

Long-time customer and editor of Ponsonby News Martin Leach said he was “gutted” about Sidart’s closure.

“We always went for a posh night out. We were there last month and everything was sensational - friendly and professional.”

Chandra was keen to pick up some work as a chef at other restaurants, where he could focus on his craft. (Pictured is Chandra's fish curry with prawn and cassava, a recipe inspired by his mother's cooking.)

Speaking to Stuff from his daughter's gymnastics class, which he usually couldn't attend due to the demands of his job, Chandra said it was a challenging time for the hospitality industry and New Zealand as a whole.

“Times are tough, the economy is not so great.”

While the price of ingredients had gone up, including the basics like sugar and flour, patronage was down about 50-60% compared with 2023.

“We can’t really raise the prices up too much, otherwise we’ll have zero people.”

He made the call to close down Sidart after it became clear the situation wasn’t going to improve.

“If I didn’t get out, I wouldn’t be able to get out at all.”

Sidart founders Sid and Chand Sahrawat sold the restaurant to Chandra, a former employee, in 2021.

Staff shortages were also a factor, he said, adding that most of his employees had already managed to find jobs to go to.

Asked what was next for him, Chandra said he hoped to spend some time working as a chef for other restaurants, allowing him to focus on the creative side of his craft.

“Good and bad, there’s always an opportunity to learn.”

Sidart was opened by Sid and Chand Sahrawat in 2009. It went on to win multiple awards, including the Restaurant of the Year title at the Cuisine Magazine’s Good Food Awards in 2019.

Chandra said business was down 50-60% compared with 2023.

The business was sold to Chandra, a long-time friend who once worked for the couple, in 2021.

They told Stuff at the time they wanted to help Chandra realise his dream of owning his own restaurant, as they had done.

“When we were looking at opening our own restaurant we had this angel investor who just trusted us completely and was just happy to fund us for opening Sidart,” Sid previously said.

“And we always had that in mind, that when we get to that stage in our lives we would like to pay it forward.”

Chandra, originally from Fiji, became passionate for food after working as a “dishwasher” and in other kitchen roles as a 16-year-old, according to Sidart’s website.

He later completed a diploma in cookery in Auckland aged 19 and was tutored by chef and My Kitchen Rules judge Ben Bayly.

Bayly would go on to recommend Chandra to Sahrawat, who was looking for a head chef to join him in developing a menu for Cassia, an award-winning Indian restaurant in Auckland’s Sky City precinct, before spending time working in London.