The Japanese restaurant Umiko, awarded two Soles Repsol, announces its reopening on Los Madrazo street after eight months of closure marked by controversy. It highlights the reactions of former employees and customers who report unpaid wages and a dismissal for an alleged theft of 80,000 euros.
The restaurant Umiko, honoured with two Soles Repsol, has announced its reopening for this autumn in Madrid, as reported by elespanol.com. The news has reignited criticism from former employees and customers who are still demanding explanations for the abrupt closure of the establishment in December 2025.
The restaurant's Instagram account, inactive for months, posted a message on August 19 confirming a "new stage". Among the congratulatory comments, several users recall that the restaurant left "a month and a half of unpaid wages" and accused the staff of theft.
The establishment, located at calle Los Madrazo, 6, is seeking and training staff for its upcoming opening. Neither the previous nor the current owners and advisors have wished to comment to this outlet.
The controversy dates back to December 2025, when management informed employees that they would be dismissed in six days and that the restaurant would close on December 6. According to sources close to the situation, there was a conflict among partners, unpaid debts with suppliers, and a drop in sales, partly due to not achieving a Michelin star.
The company Blowfish, owner of Umiko, accused former advisors and chefs Juan Alcaide and Pablo Álvaro, along with other workers, of "theft and misappropriation of goods" valued at 80,000 euros, as stated in the dismissal letter accessed by elespanol.com. Those affected deny the allegations and claim they were following orders to move equipment and other items days before the closure.
The legal service for the workers believes that the accusation was a tactic to buy time and facilitate the suspension of payments. Between December and January 20, employees did not receive their wages, could not apply for unemployment benefits, nor work at another company, a situation they describe as "labour kidnapping".
"The restaurant staff lived day by day. We were left with a December without wages, with no possibility of billing in any other way, without information, and being accused of being thieves," lament the consulted sources. The restaurant has not provided its version of these events.
Customers who purchased dinner vouchers and were unable to redeem them have also not received a response regarding the refund of their money. In light of the reopening, several users are demanding explanations: "Can you at least respond to this issue? I think we deserve an answer... and to see how you are going to manage it."
You may also like
