Hunters Hill Via Napoli to be reborn as fresh pasta restaurant Ciao Bella Osteria

With Via Napoli in Hunters Hill shuttered, regulars of the highly rated northside Italian pizza joint have cause for alarm.

Owner Luigi Esposito confirmed Via Napoli won't return to the site, having sold the restaurant to long-term employee, manager Alessandro Toscano.

We tracked down Toscano, who confirmed he'll open Ciao Bella Osteria at the Gladesville Road site in April. The budding restaurateur, who has worked at Via Napoli for the past eight years, grew up in and around his parents' restaurant in Haberfield.

"We're building a big marble bar in the middle of the room where they [his parents] will make fresh pasta and gnocchi," he explains.

"The only thing I've kept is the pizza oven. We'll do five or six pizzas, but it'll be a funky, vibrant neighbourhood eatery with a focus on southern Italy."

In the short-term, Via Napoli fans will need to travel to its Surry Hills or Lane Cove venues for a slice of pizza. Esposito isn't plotting a Hunters Hill return, with the Hills District in his sights for his next venue.