Why popular wood-fired Italian restaurant Osteria il Coccia at Ettalong on NSW Central Coast was forced to close after a series of complaints by locals

Five years of hard work has literally gone up in smoke for a beloved wood-fired Italian restaurant on the central coast of New South Wales.

Osteria il Coccia, which opened in 2019, closed on Sunday, September 1, after complaints from Ettalong residents about smoke coming from the kitchen.

The restaurant, featured on the Netflix series Chef’s Table: BBQ, took a sophisticated approach to wood-fire cooking but couldn’t resolve complaints about smoke.

“This restaurant is our heart and soul, and it pains us to say goodbye,” owners Alex and Nico Coccia wrote on social media.

‘Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have had very little time to close our doors.’

Mr. Coccia prepared Osteria’s signature dishes, such as dry-aged pork chops with romesco, saltbush and caramelized onion, over a fire.

However, the smoke was not vented through the chimney, but flowed out the back of the building, leading to 20 complaints to the Central Coast Council.

Investigations by the municipality revealed that the restaurant’s ventilation system had not been properly installed, that the necessary air quality assessment had not been carried out and that it was not suitable for wood-fired cooking.

Osteria il Coccia, which opened in 2019, closed on Sunday 1 September after a series of complaints from Ettalong residents about smoke coming from the kitchen (pictured)

A council spokesman said it appreciated that Osteria il Coccia, which is located beneath three floors of apartments, is known for its wood-fired and charcoal cooking.

“However, these cooking methods produce smoke that needs to be carefully managed, especially since the restaurant is located close to residential areas,” the researchers said.

The Coccias called their last day “a mixed feeling … and we are grateful to everyone who came to say goodbye to us over the past two weeks.”

Alex Coccia said the closure order came as a shock to her and her husband.

“We built that restaurant from nothing and after five years we were in a good position to start expanding and get rid of our loans,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“We survived Covid, and everything that came after, and we never fell… it’s just a lot to process.”

The Coccia family installed a ventilation unit, which reduced, but did not eliminate, the impact of the smoke on their neighbors.

But that wasn’t enough and they still had to close.

Their landlord allowed them to terminate their lease on the condition that they vacate within six weeks and leave behind all kitchen appliances in exchange for the $70,000 owed.

The closure is expected to cost the Coccia family a total of approximately $200,000.

The couple had opened a second restaurant just two weeks ago, before they had to close Osteria il Coccia.

A council spokesman said it appreciated that Osteria il Coccia, which is located beneath three floors of apartments, was known for its wood-fired and charcoal cooking. “However, these cooking methods produce smoke which needs to be managed, particularly given the restaurant’s proximity to residential properties,” they said.

The more informal Carne & Cucina will remain open, but the Osteria’s staff may move there.

“We are now focusing our energies on our sister restaurant, Carne & Cucina, and it would be an honor to welcome you there,” the couple wrote on Instagram.

“Thank you for your continued support and the countless memories we have shared.”

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Alex and Nico Coccia for further comment.