Wine library and pizzeria set for Thirroul as Sydney chefs move to the northern Illawarra

Husband and wife team Matt and Jo Taylor-Watkins (both chefs) along with Sam Jones have taken over Cin Cin, on the corner of Lawrence Hargrave Drive and Phillip Street in Thirroul, and are in the process of giving it a mighty face lift.

Read more: Why Cin Cin pizzeria is moving out of Thirroul

The end result will be Bar Franko, a wine bar and restaurant with a bright coastal vibe, expected to open some time in April.

"It's such a vibrant little town, when you pull into it it's got so much character," Mr Jones told the Mercury.

"Our aim is to be a family-friendly venue or it could be a date night venue, and also a function venue ... everyone's included, no-ones excluded."

He said it wouldn't be anything like their former venture - Woollahra's sophisticated Wine Library - but would boast a wine list of 80 titles, including up to 20 which could bought by-the-glass.

The food is to include a large section of share plates, antipasto items and the trio's interpretation on pizza.

"The goal for us is to have a staple in Thirroul, something of good quality," Mr Jones said.

"We just want to be proud of our venue and have people come and enjoy it, and have the food speak for itself."

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He said the area could be "hit or miss" for hospitality ventures, but hoped their "professionalism" would make cement them as a mainstay.

As for what happened for Cin Cin, fans shouldn't fret as the popular eatery owned by the Guiliani family is moving to Gwynneville.

Adrian Guiliani told the Mercury after putting their other venture, Balgownie's Il Nido, on the market they decided there were too many emotional ties so opted to sell their Thirroul business instead.

Cin Cin served its final meal in the northern Illawarra at the end of February and is set to be resurrected in May or June.

The Guiliani's have owned many popular restaurants around the Illawarra since the mid-1970s, including Costa Azzurra in Fairy Meadow, Guiliani's in Warrawong and the original Pinocchios Pizza in Windang. In 1999 they opened Il Nido in Balgownie.

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