Hospitality industry in shock as Australia’s most feared restaurant critics John Lethlean QUITS 

John Lethlean has quit his job as Australia’s most feared food critic. 

The Australian restaurant critic shared the news in an Love Actually-inspired announcement video shared to Instagram on Friday. 

He held up a series of signs, explaining his design to take time off after suffering from burn out. 

‘I have news. 25 years is a long time,’ the first sign in the series read. 

‘It’s time for a change. I’m taking a break and moving on from The Australian (for now anyways),’ he continued. 

‘Less travel, food and booze. More boats and beach and lunch.’ 

He went on:  ‘Thank you to every restaurant that fed me and every person who read something I wrote.

‘It’s time for a change. I’m taking a break and moving on from The Australian (for now anyways) he wrote

‘Better to burn out. Maybe I’ll come back as an influencer. Couscous for comment. See you in the soup’ John concluded

‘Better to burn out. Maybe I’ll come back as an influencer. Couscous for comment. See you in the soup’ John concluded. 

He received comments from some of Australia’s best chefs including Peter Gilmore of Quay and Bennelong. 

‘Congratulations on 25 years John. Your voice will be missed best wishes for your next chapter’ he wrote in the comments. 

He received comments from some of Australia’s best chefs including Peter Gilmore of Quay and Bennelong

Firedoor Restaurant co-owner Lennox Hastie also chimed in, writing: ‘All the best mate’. 

Netflix star and chef Mark Best wrote in the comments: ‘See you on the other side’.

Chef Justin North added: ‘Congrats on a grate innings @johnlethlean… best wishes for the next chapter’.

Mr Lethlean is a food writer and restaurant critic for The Australian , where he writes an influential column in The Weekend Australian magazine, and has been considered an authority in the industry for more than 20 years

Mr Lethlean is a food writer and restaurant critic for The Australian, where he writes an influential column in The Weekend Australian magazine, and has been considered an authority in the industry for more than 20 years. 

He has used the hashtag ‘CouscousForComment’ in the past to call out influencers, including Married At First Sight’s Dean Wells. 

In August 2018, a ‘leaked’ email supposedly revealed Dean’s attempts at dining for free at a Melbourne restaurant. 

He has used the hashtag ‘CouscousForComment’ in the past to call out influencers, including Married At First Sight’s Dean Wells