First Look: Sip Wine and Enjoy Pasta at Cronulla’s New Italian Restaurant
This Puglia-inspired joint offers authentic Italian with a twist
Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Cronulla
Sydney is one of those beautiful foodie cities whose heart always has room for one more restaurant. Already having earned a special spot in the hearts of many for their Alexandria location, its latest addition, Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, has landed right here in Cronulla.
Helmed by restaurateur Matteo Margiotta, the premise is simple, but also deeply personal; a heartfelt tribute to Puglia, blended with fond memories of his childhood home in Rome. “Think of Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare as my dream beach house,” Matteo shares. “Growing up, we didn’t have the luxury of a beach house. But this restaurant embodies the best memories from 2021, when my wife and two daughters and I spent three unforgettable weeks in Puglia for my brother’s wedding. We rented a beautiful house by the sea, and that’s the feeling I want our Cronulla restaurant to have,” he explains.
Matteo Margiotta & Chef Cristiano Patacca
Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare will enjoy dishes ideated by Matteo’s trusted right-hand man, Executive Chef Cristiano Patacca (previously at OTTO and est), with a strong focus on the sea. Signature dishes include a grigliata mista seafood platter, classic pici cacio e pepe, a rich lobster pasta, as well as bar bites and build-your-own charcuterie platters with a selection of cheese, salumi, and antipasti.
Pino’s draws inspiration from the shared longing for European summers by the coast, where traditional architecture graces the rugged cliffs and days are spent wandering stone-paved streets. The restaurant’s name itself is a tribute to Matteo’s father, a Shire local whose spirit is embodied in the charm of the venue and the authentic menu. “The menu reflects the kind of dishes my dad would adore, and it’s a joy to create something that pays tribute to him while he’s here to see it.”
“Our loyal customers from Alexandria are in for a sea change,” Cristiano says. “The menu here is all about the beachside location – it’s a celebration of seafood.”
Housed in the vine-laden site formerly occupied by 1908, and the Cronulla library many years before that, the restaurant’s fit-out (designed by Nic Graham) incites intimacy and speaks to the genuine nature of Pino’s.
Handmade terracotta tiles from Italy are paired with a palette of olive greens, 1700 bottles of wine line the wall within the private dining room, and a backlit bar is complemented by a cluster of lights and marble details.
With space to seat up to 190 people, Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare is a meeting place, an eatery, and an events space all in one, equally suited to a quiet meal for two as it is a milestone celebration.
The restaurant opened its doors on August 10, and is accepting reservations via pinosalmare.com.au. Saluti!