Neil Perry is flipping 200 burgers a day and has mortgaged his house to keep empire afloat

Neil Perry is one of Australia’s top celebrity chefs, but he has been forced to flip burgers to keep his struggling restaurant empire afloat amid the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown.

The 64-year-old was due to open his new swanky eatery, Margaret, in Sydney’s Double Bay recently, but has revealed that he and his team have resorted to making 200 burgers a day and doing takeaway orders to keep his business from going bust.

Desperate to keep his new restaurant from sinking over the coming months, he told The Sydney Morning Herald’s Private Sydney on Saturday: ‘I’ve mortgaged the house on this, though the bank has been pretty good… so far.’

‘I had some pretty dark moments in the first few weeks but at least this way, we’ve got the team together, the music is playing and there is a sense we are moving… I’m just not sure where to though.’

His family – wife Sam and their daughters – have also been helping the renowned chef with the restaurant, which he reportedly invest more than $4million of his own money into.

However, Neil confirmed that he and his business partner Jee De Bruyn had parted ways.

Although he did not divulge the reason for the split, in separate comments to the publication they each indicated that they remain on good terms.

Struggles: The 64-year-old was due to open his new swanky eatery, Margaret, in Sydney’s Double Bay recently, but has revealed that he and his team have resorted to making 200 burgers a day and doing takeaway orders to keep his business from going bust. Pictured right is Neil with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, left

Neil, who has been in the culinary business for more than four decades, also noted that he will be focusing on keeping Margaret up and running.

‘I’m not going to open another half dozen restaurants at this age, my focus is on this place now,’ he said. 

Aside from flipping burgers, Neil has been keeping on top of things by offering online cooking classes and high-end home delivery boxes. 

Weathering the storm: His family – wife Sam and their daughters – have also been helping the renowned chef with the restaurant, which he reportedly invest more than $4million of his own money into

Gourmet at home: Aside from flipping burgers, Neil has been keeping on top of things by offering online cooking classes and high-end home delivery boxes 

Neil owns a number of well-known restaurants across Australia including Rockpool, The Argyle, El Camino Cantina and The Burger Project. 

Earlier this year his eldest daughter, Josephine, tied the knot with her partner Michael Clift at family’s Rockpool restaurant in Sydney.

Speaking of the happy occasion to The Daily Telegraph, Neil revealed that rounds of champagne and cocktails were ‘flying around’ all night at the intimate bash. 

‘The problem with those kids is, jeez they can drink,’ he laughed. ‘The last round of drinks served at midnight was 60 negronis. It was… a big night.’

Happier occasions: Earlier this year his eldest daughter, Josephine, tied the knot with her partner Michael Clift at the family’s Rockpool restaurant in Sydney