Chef Alessandro Pavoni moves on from Sotto Sopra

Alessandro Pavoni has sold his hatted northern beaches restaurant business, Sotto Sopra.

The Italian chef finishes up at the Newport restaurant on June 30.

And the new owners? Doug Fraser, who put eggplant parmigiana on the map at Suburbia in Manly and before that owned and sold Barbuto in Narrabeen, has snapped up Sotto Sopra with his wife Kylie.

They plan to rename it Lovat, opening as a modern Australian brasserie.

"Barbuto was my favourite place up here when they were there, I'm going to be their best customer. I own the building (Sotto Sopra), so it was really important to find the right people to take over."

Pavoni, who operates Ormeggio at the Spit and is strongly tipped to be opening a restaurant at James Packer's Barangaroo development (the chef declined to comment), says the sale of Sotto Sopra was hastened by head chef Mattia Rossi and his wife, pastry chef Flavia, expecting a baby and looking to step away from the restaurant.

Sotto Sopra's will punch out its signatures in its final weeks.

Fans of the chicken liver crostini and spaghetti with black garlic and chilli take note.